Sprint prices the HTC EVO Shift 4G to free for a limited time

Far from being the most highly prized smartphone out there right now, but whenever a carrier prices a decent mid-range phone for free (no mail-in-rebates required), we can’t help but take notice.

For a limited time right now, you can pick up the almost year old HTC EVO Shift 4G for free with your signature on a 2-year agreement – and for a mid-range 4G device, that’s not too shabby at all. Of course, the QWERTY packing smartphone has been eclipsed long ago by many other devices, even the EVO 3D, but it’s nevertheless the only EVO branded device to pack a useful physical keyboard.

Needless to say, the pricing is undoubtedly fitting, especially knowing that the handset is nearing its 1-year birthday. Also, if you’re still interested in free phones, Sprint also has the Samsung Trender at zero dollars for a limited time as well.

Sprint prices the HTC EVO Shift 4G to free for a limited time
Currently, Sprint’s promotions on these two devices are only valid until January 7th – so you’ll need to come down with a decision relatively quick. Then again, seeing that CES is literally right around the corner, some might hold off and choose to go with something newer. Hey, at least the pricing is very easy going on the wallets right now!

The New HTC EVO 3D (Sprint)

Sprint has officially announced the HTC EVO 3D! Picking up where the EVO 4G left off, the EVO 3D continues with the incredible awesomeness. Packing specs like a 4.3 inch qHD high-res glasses-free 3D screen (so it’ll look awesome whether you’re viewing 3D pics and videos or 2D everything else), dual 5 megapixel camera to capture videos in 3D (or Full HD 1080p when not in 3D mode), front camera for video chat, Android 2.3 Gingerbread, dual core 1.2 GHZ processor and the latest and greatest version of HTC Sense (with some really cool looking animations and a much more improved lock screen to get you from locked to your app in one click), and of course 4G.

The 3D features are a fun addition, but it's the HTC Evo 3D's zippy performance and improved battery life that make this Android smartphone one of Sprint's best.

It's pretty fair to say that the HTC Evo 4G was one of the best and most popular Android smartphones of 2010. Now, just a little over a year later, we have its successor, the HTC Evo 3D. Introduced at CTIA 2011, the Evo 3D will be available from Sprint starting June 24 for $199.99 with a two-year contract. The Gingerbread handset ups the ante with a dual-core processor, a larger battery, and a glasses-free 3D display and 3D image and video capture. Adding 3D to the phone runs the risk of being a gimmicky ploy, and after some time playing with the features, we found 3D use was best in small doses. Fortunately, the Evo 3D offers plenty more to keep Sprint customers happy.

Design:

The HTC Evo 3D's design is updated but familiar, and anyone upgrading from the Evo 4G should feel right at home with the smartphone. At 5 inches tall by 2.6 inches wide by 0.48 inch thick and 6 ounces, the handset is roughly the same size as its predecessor. It's a good chunk of hardware, to be sure, but the Evo 3D feels narrower, so it's easier to hold and grip. It also has that high-quality construction we've come to expect from HTC, and we like the addition of the textured surface on back.

The phone is easy to use one-handed. As on the Evo, there are four touch-sensitive buttons below the display for the home, menu, back, and search functions. The smartphone offers both Swype and HTC's virtual keyboard for text entry. On the right side are a volume rocker, a large camera key, and a 2D/3D camera-mode switch, while a Micro-USB port sits on the left. The top of the device houses a 3.5mm headphone jack and a power button, with the front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera located just below it. On the back, you'll find the dual 5-megapixel cameras for 2D and 3D image and video capture.

Previous Evo 4G owners might notice a couple of missing features. First, there isn't a separate HDMI port on the Evo 3D; instead, you can use the Micro-USB port and an MHL adapter (not included in the box) to connect the smartphone to your HDTV. Also gone is the built-in kickstand.

The HTC Evo 3D comes packaged with an AC adapter, a USB cable, an 8GB microSD card, and reference material.

3D display:

Gracing the front of the HTC Evo 3D is a 4.3-inch qHD (540x960-pixel resolution) Super LCD. The screen is beautiful in itself, showing sharp text and images with bright colors, and it offers a smoother picture than the Evo's WVGA touch screen. However, there's another level to the smartphone's display. It features a parallax barrier that displays two different images on top of the screen, thus creating a 3D effect without the use of glasses.

It's the same technology used in the LG Optimus 3D and Nintendo 3DS and can be used to view 3D videos, photos, and games. To get you started, Sprint preloads the device with a full-length copy of "The Green Hornet 3D" and a demo version of Spider-Man 3D, the game. You can also view 3D videos from YouTube, as well as shoot your own 3D clips and photos using the dual 5-megapixel cameras on back of the phone. Sprint said 3D content will also be available via the preloaded Blockbuster application and the new HTC Watch video storefront.

We watched a few 3D YouTube clips (the preloaded copy of "The Green Hornet" would not play on our review unit for reasons unknown) and played Spider-Man 3D. Images popped from the screen, and it definitely gave the smartphone a bit of a wow factor. However, when compared with the Nintendo 3DS, the Evo 3D has a limited depth of field. We asked Senior Editor Scott Stein, who covers gaming in addition to laptops, to take a look and he agreed that the 3DS delivers a richer experience that goes deeper into the screen, whereas the Evo 3D offers more of a popping-out effect. It felt more like we were looking at one of those 3D lenticular postcards.

You also have to view the screen pretty much dead-on, as the viewing angles for 3D are very limited. It's not a huge problem for videos since there's no need to really move the phone, but it is for games that use the phone's accelerometer as a way to control movement.

HTC Radar 4G quickly goes for half the cost at $49.99 on-contract thanks to Wirefly

Well people, today is finally the big day if you've been starving for a Windows Phone, since you can travel to your local T-Mobile retail store and purchase the very first “4G” enabled and Mango packed Windows Phone in the HTC Radar 4G. At $99.99 with a 2-year contract, the price is indeed fitting for its caliber, but if that’s not simply enough for your wallet, you might want to check out the offering that Wirefly has for the smartphone.

Whether you’re a new customer signing on for service or an existing loyal one with a qualified upgrade available, you can go to Wirefly’s web site and buy the Mango flavored smartphone for the easier to swallow price tag of $49.99. Sporting a price point that’s half the cost to what T-Mobile is asking for from its customers, it’s easily a no-brainer decision to snatch at the opportunity of picking up this handset right now – especially when it’s launch day.

However, if you’re basically in the market to buy it outright, just bear in mind that Wirefly is asking $439.99 for the handset. In any event, free standard shipping via FedEx is included with the purchase – making the cost for the device your sole priority.

HTC reports $625 million profit in Q3, rising smartphone demand

Despite legal spats with Apple and slowing world economy which allegedly forced it to reduce its orders for Q4, HTC reported steady final results from its fiscal third quarter. Handset shipments almost doubled compared to the same quarter in 2010, and shot up to 13.2 million units, 9% more than in Q2. Revenue reached $4.54 billion, 79% more than Q3 lat year.

HTC even managed to score a small increase in the average selling price of its smartphones, compared to last year's quarter, which went up to $344. The record sales and higher ASP brought on $625 million of profits - operating profit was almost 15% on 28% of gross. That number, however, was bested by Samsung for the first time, which became the second most profitable company from its mobile division after Apple in terms of margins in Q3.

Now for the less dry stuff. HTC claims that it is the mobile company that ships most 4G phones than anyone else, and mentioned that an LTE upgrade cycle is due in 2012, both in the US, and in other advanced LTE markets like South Korea and Japan. Thunderbolt S anyone? What caught our attention in the press release is also the fact that China exploded 9 times as far as shipped units goes, marked by the huge success of entry-level Android handsets with sharp design like the HTC Wildfire S.

The company is so certain in its future growth, despite the sagging economy, that it has completed its new factory in Taoyuan, which has the capacity to reach 40 million units per year. HTC is obviously betting on increasing smartphone demand, and when it materializes, the capacity will be there to meet it. For Q4 the company predicts a slightly smaller number of units sold and operating margins. Recently HTC became Taiwan's most valuable global brand.

HTC Rezound displayed on Verizon in-store ad

The HTC Rezound, formerly known as the HTC Vigor, has not yet been introduced by Verizon and HTC although we now expect the model to be introduced at a NYC event on November 3rd. And to show us that we are closing in on the unveiling of the device, Verizon has put up in some stores a display that includes the HTC Beats branded model along with a pair of other LTE enabled smartphones offered by the carrier.

This new poster, apparently back-lit and quite visible, shows off the LG Revolution, the Motorola DROID BIONIC and yes, the HTC Rezound. The picture of the device includes red soft keys, the Beats by Dre earphones that come in the box, and a picture of Joe Jonas on the phone's display. The last word we have on a potential launch date is November 10th based on the MAP list that leaked out a couple of weeks ago. On that date, speculation is that Verizon will also release the Motorola DROID RAZR and the Samsung GALAXY Nexus besides the HTC Rezound.

The HTC Rezound is expected to come to market with a 4.3 inch screen with 720p resolution and a dual-core 1.5GHz processor under the hood. 1GB of RAM should be on board and the phone is thought to have an 8MP camera on back and a front-facing 2MP shooter. The former captures 1080p HD video and Android 2.3.4 should be pre-installed. With Verizon pricing its other new LTE enabled phones at $299.99 with a signed 2-year contract, we would be surprised to see anything else on the phone's price tag, especially since it features the Beats audio technology and those cool earphones.

HTC EVO 3D: Awesome Phone

Welcome to the first real curtain call to the original HTC EVO 4G of yore, this being the HTC EVO 3D, a dual-core 4G HTC device with what may appear at first to have everything its predecessor had and more, what with the fashionably red-framed dual-LED flash-having 3D camera at the back. That’s not just one, but two cameras for a stereoscopic vision of the world through both photos and video. And the 3D doesn’t end there – a glasses-free 3D vision for your gaming and eventually alternate app supporting everyday experience.

The HTC EVO 3D builds on the original EVO 4G in every way possible. It’s thinner, it feels better in the hand, and it’s way more powerful. While the first EVO featured a 1GHz processor, the EVO 3D runs a smoking 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm CPU with a 4.3-inch 960 x 540 qHD display, dual 5-megapixel cameras around back for 3D photo and HD video capture, 1080p HD video playback, a front-facing camera, and a whopping 1,730 mAh battery.

HTC’s EVO 3D is the first device to hit the market in the U.S. with a stereoscopic 3D display, but that’s just an added feature. At the end of the day, the EVO 3D is a better, faster, thinner, lighter, and more capable EVO 4G.