HTC Trace vs Swype

It's old news that HTC has introduced a Swype-like keyboard which they called it the HTC Trace Keyboard. However, when I upgraded my HTC Sensation to Ice Cream Sandwich recently and I am too busy playing with Ice Cream Sandwich that I don't have time to reinstall the Swype keyboard (which is actually quite tedious to install compared to other Android app), I decided to give HTC Trace keyboard another try and I feel that the trace keyboard works better then it previously was.

I personally hated the Trace keyboard when I tried to use it the first time. The reason is simply because it SUCKS! It always give me the wrong words even though I've put more effort into tracing the right alphabets. And sometime when I tried to trace a word, it didn't register the swiping and treat it as a tap. So after some tries, I gave up and switch from Trace to Swype and I never look back after that.

So when I tried it after my ICS upgrade, I feel that the Trace keyboard has slightly improved. The tracing is much more accurate now and it almost get every words that I traced correctly. However, it will still register a swipe as a tap sometimes.

Even though the Trace Keyboard seems to have been improved, after using Swype for quite a long time, I could never go back to this Trace Keyboard. Here's some of the reason why I simply can't go back to the Trace Keyboard:-

1. Better text prediction
• One thing that really stands out about Swype is its great prediction. Sometimes you can simply scribble and it will still gives you the correct word.
2. Choice to add in new word
• Swype allows you to choose whether you want to add in a word that is not in your Swype Dictionary whereas Trace will automatically add in all the new words that does not exists in your dictionary even when you knew you will not be using this word ever again in your whole life.
3. Gestures support
• This is what I love most about Swype. If you can't live without your usual Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V or Ctrl+A then you will love the Swype gestures as it allows you to do these with some simple and familiar gestures. Simply swipe from the Swype icon on the bottom left of the keyboard to the character A (to select all), C (to copy the current selected text) or V (to paste the copied text). This is the best way to copy paste any text in your phone (at least in my opinion as it is way better then the usual copy paste in Android).

But using Swype in your ICS phone also means it will be more difficult to switch from typing/swiping to the new Google Voice Typing input that comes with ICS. This is because Swype is using Nuance voice-to-text instead of the Google's Voice Typing. Thus, if you wish to use the Google's Voice Typing feature, you will have to switch your input method back to the original keyboard.

So here you go, the comparison between the HTC Trace in ICS and the Swype keyboard. If you have any better keyboard to recommend, please leave a comment.

HTC Sensation ICS Update Reached Malaysia

ICS update has been pushing out for the HTC Sensation in several countries and now the update has finally reached Malaysia. As you can see from the screenshot above, the update will upgrade the HTC Sensation to Android 4.0 (a.k.a Ice Cream Sandwich) and HTC Sense 3.6 (not HTC Sense 4.0 though).

This update might not be in your notification yet but if you can't wait to grab it now (just like me!) then you can manually check for update in your phone setting. Simply go to your homescreen, press the menu button and then select Setting->About Phone->Software Updates and then click on the Check Now button. And then voila! your update will be on its way to your phone.

Some apps may not yet be optimized for ICS yet so some of your apps may not be working properly. Or you might even need to hard reset your phone (just like any other major updates previously). Anyway, just download and enjoy it for now.

I'll be enjoying mine now. Ciao.

OTA Update for HTC Desire HD with HTC Sense 3.0

HTC Desire HD Screenshot

HTC has been releasing OTA updates for Desire HD and Incredible S this month as Christmas/New Year present(?) and we're excited to know that finally the update is available for Desire HD in Malaysia!

The update is going to upgrade your phone to Android 2.3.5 and HTC Sense 3.0! Now, you can screenshot your phone and the awesome lock screen!
To check whether you have updates, go to Settings > About Phone > Software Updates and tap 'Check Now'. You will be notified if there's an update. Good Luck!

HTC Sensation Power Button Issue After Upgrading

Ever since I updated my HTC Sensation to Android 2.3.4, my power button has been acting up.

Firstly, when I hit the power button to turn the screen off, the screen goes off for half a second then comes back on again.
Secondly, when I hit the Home button, it automatically takes a screenshot (it should only take screenshot when I press power button followed by Home button). Both these scenarios happen 50% of the time.

So I sent it back for warranty. After a week, I got it back. They claimed that nothing is wrong with my power button and they tested it everyday. Nevertheless, they replaced me with a new back cover. However, the problem persists.

I sent it back to warranty again, stating that the problem is still there despite using a new back cover. After a week, finally I got my phone back and the problem is fixed now. According to them, they've replaced a part called Rigid Flex. Til now, I still don't understand why a software update could cause hardware malfunction.

HTC EVO 3D coming to Malaysia!

According to Cubic Platform, the HTC EVO 3D is coming to Malaysia by next week.
It was said that the available units are limited and some of the units come preloaded with movies as well (most probably 3D movies).
You can get more details from their Facebook page here.
Last but not least, the most important piece of information regaarding this phone...the RRP!
It was said that the RRP will be RM 2,199 (CHEAPER THAN HTC SENSATION!).

Here's the specification of this phone:-
Networks : CDMA 800 and 1900, WiMax 802.16e.
OS : Android 2.3 with HTC Sense 3.0.
Display : 4.3-inch S-LCD display (540 x 960).
Camera : Dual 5MP rear cameras for 3D, 1.3 MP front facing camera.
Memory : 1GB RAM, 4GB of internal storage.
WLAN : 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n Wi-Fi.
Bluetooth : Bluetooth 3.0.
GPS : A-GPS.
Battery : 1730 mAh LiIon battery.
Special features: 3D capable display, HTC Sense 3.0, 2D 1080p video capture.
Chipset : 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-core processor

New update for HTC Desire HD

There's a new update for Desire HD user which includes a fix for wi-fi connectivity issues that some users are experiencing with their devices. This update will bring the software version to 2.50.405.2.

The update isn't available for Malaysian user yet (which I've checked with my friend who is using the phone) but it shouldn't be long. If you did not receive a notification to update, you can manually check for the update by pressing the menu key while you're in the home screen->Settings->About Phone->Software updates and then click on the Check now button.

HTC Sensation OTA Update is available for Malaysia now!

The first OTA update for the HTC Sensation is out now for Asian devices which means Malaysia as well.

This update will bring some improvements but not to unlock the bootloader.

You can read about the improvements here.

HTC has also announced via their Facebook page that the update to unlock the bootloader will be available around August. Below is the message:-

"We wanted to provide an update on HTC’s progress with bringing bootloader unlocking to our newest phones. We know how excited some of you are for this capability, and we’ve put significant resources behind making this change as soon as possible. While we wish we could flip a simple switch and unlock all bootloaders across our device portfolio, this is actually a complex challenge that requires a new software build and extensive testing to deliver the best possible customer experience.

We’re thrilled to announce today that software updates to support bootloader unlocking will begin rolling out in August for the global HTC Sensation, followed by the HTC Sensation 4G on T-Mobile USA and the HTC EVO 3D on Sprint. We’re in the testing phase for the unlocking capability now, and we expect it to be fully operational by early September for devices that have received the software updates. We'll continue rolling out the unlocking capability over time to other devices as part of maintenance releases and new shipments.

HTC continues its commitment to unlocking bootloaders and supporting the developer community. Because of the importance of this community to us, please expect an update on this about every few weeks as we make progress toward launch. Thank you for your patience and continued support!"

August is coming soon and I can't wait for this update to roll out.

HTC Sensation OTA Update available for Europe

The first OTA update for the HTC Sensation is released but only for unbranded European devices which means devices that wasn't customize by carrier.

The update brings some changes that will make your phone smoother, better wi-fi performance and longer battery life.

Below is the review of the update courtesy of Sensation Devs.

"After a month of working with version 1.28, 1.35 leaked last weekend (thanks Football), so I flashed it right away!
This version was for ‘unbranded’ devices only, that means it has been made for devices without customization of carriers. This unbranded devices are normally called ‘vanilla’. The nice thing with unbranded devices is that you can flash the newest software update from HTC without waiting for your carrier to approve it. In practice the carriers release the updates months later than HTC because they have to put their customization (bootanimation, apps etc.) before they release them to the customers.

But ok, back to the update…
We are eagerly waiting for the update by HTC that will unlock the Sensation. Unfortunately, nothing changed after this update, the Sensation is still S-ON. This means you can only flash software made by HTC, no custom roms can be flashed yet. Too bad for the development community…

The new update brings a lot of improvements that you won’t see but feel.
HTC seems to work on optimizing the software to get the maximum performance out of this device. Besides the cosmetic improvements there are also some differences under the hood. Just to mention some, the agenda, camera, contacts, gallery, twitter and Sense have being improved, and there’s a new version of them on this update.

HTC Sense has been improved a lot, not in the looks, but in its performance.
Sense first consisted of several so-called modules, that were loaded separately depending on what the user did in Sense. This meant less memory usage, but more memory fragmentation. In detail, memory fragmentation increases the battery usage and can slow down the phone. Because people were complaining about the lag on Sense, HTC redesigned Sense and made it into 1 module instead of several separate modules. This results are positive, and Sense is now faster and a lot smoother.

This update includes a new, improved, radio.
After purchasing the phone, I wasn’t really satisfied with the signal strength. While any other HTC device had enough Wi-Fi signal to chill in the garden while browsing the internet, the Sensation was not getting any signal at all. Happily enough, HTC did a good job on the latest radio and now I won’t lose my wifi connection anymore when I’m moving far from the router. Despite this improvement, I still think they can do better with it.

Battery life – a hot topic now that smartphones become increasingly powerful and consume more power.
The battery life was good before the update, and now it is even better. Sense has been improved and optimized to use less power and the new radio manages the wireless connections of the phone efficiently and saves battery power. Also, charging is much faster now.

All in all, this update is worth the shot. Do not expect vast improvements but it will make your phone snappier, improve your Wi-Fi performance and make your battery last longer.

The full potential of the Sensation will be unleashed once we get root and S-OFF. Everyone is looking forward to custom roms, and I hope we can flash this beast soon!"

The update isn't available in Malaysia yet but hope it'll be soon.

HTC Sensation and Samsung Galaxy S II problems

Two of the long awaited Android smartphone namely the HTC Sensation and Samsung Galaxy S II has been made available to buyers for a not-very-long period but many proud owners of these devices has been reporting problems with their devices.

I've searched some popular forums and has compiled a list of some of the problems reported by these owners:-

HTC Sensation
- Death Grip issue where wi-fi signals will drop from full bar to 1 bar or sometimes even loses the signal altogether when you grip/squeeze the right top side of the phone.

- Multiple Screen Issues.

• First, the screen sometimes misses the first press which means that you may need to press several times before it register your touch.
• Second, when you scroll through your screen such as scrolling through your app drawer, it sometimes register the brushing as press thus opening app accidentally.
• Third, the lock screen sometimes display only in the upper part of the screen leaving a black screen on the lower part of the screen. And sometimes, the phone is difficult to unlock when you swipe the ring.
• Lastly, some of the third party widget will display multiple lines on the widget. The lines will move with the widget and will not disappear unless you remove the widget and add it back again. However, the lines will come back once a while and you will need to repeat these steps again.

Samsung Galaxy S II
- Pink/Red spot in camera

- Yellow tint on the left side of the screen. Mostly visible if the background is grey or black color

- Weak wi-fi signal compared to other device with the same distance. It only shows 1 or 2 bars when other device is showing full bar.
- Device gathers too much heat after playing games for a while (some reported as fast as 15 minute). It can goes up to around 60 celcius and sometimes might even shut itself off/freezes because of the overheat.

Well, I guess nothing is perfect but hope all this issues will be fixed soon with a software update if possible. If I miss any other problems, please let me know. I'll update the list.

HTC Sensation offered by Digi

Digi is offering the HTC Sensation with their Smart Plan and here's the details of the package offered:-
RRP: RM 2,299
12 Months Contract: RM 1,699
24 Months Contract: RM 1,399

Maxis is also offering the HTC Sensation too. Read it here

Now which one would you prefer?

Maxis Offers HTC Sensation and Samsung Galaxy S II

Maxis is offering both of the most anticipated dual-core android phone which is the HTC Sensation and the Samsung Galaxy S II.

Below is the package offered:-
HTC Sensation
RRP: RM 2,299
12 Months Contract: RM 1,799 (500MB) and RM 1,599 (1.5GB and 3GB)
18 Months Contract: RM 1,699 (500MB) and RM 1,499 (1.5GB and 3GB)
24 Months Contract: RM 1,599 (500MB) and RM 1,399 (1.5GB and 3GB)

Samsung Galaxy S II
RRP: RM 2,099
12 Months Contract: RM 1,799 (500MB) and RM 1,599 (1.5GB and 3GB)
18 Months Contract: RM 1,649 (500MB) and RM 1,499 (1.5GB and 3GB)
24 Months Contract: RM 1,599 (500MB) and RM 1,399 (1.5GB and 3GB)
From 22 June to 22 July 2011, you can save RM 200 when you contract the Samsung Galaxy S II for 24 months for both the 500MB and (1.5GB and 3GB) package.

Here's the link to the full specification of the HTC Sensation and the Samsung Galaxy S II.

Do read up on the review of each device before deciding on which one suits you more.

HTC Malaysia: Something coming on 10th June 2011

HTC malaysia has posted the above picture in their facebook yesterday and hinted that something is coming soon.

Today, they hinted again that it is something that comes in pink, white and grey. Some say is HTC Watch and some say it is HTC Wildfire S.

Well, details will be revealed tomorrow so I'll keep you updated on what exactly is coming soon.

Update: Turned out it was just a contest that will give away HTC Wilfire S.

Htc Sensation: Free Premium Navigation

Do you know your HTC Sensation comes with Premium Navigation? When you purchase you Sensation, you are given a voucher code inside your box.

Then from your phone, go to 'Location' app and then enter your voucher code. You will then be able to use the premium navigation for free.

However, the premium navigation comes with voice navigation but only for a 30-Days trial. After that, you will still be able to use the premium navigation but without voice.

Thus, if you are looking for voice navigation, you might want to consider other Navigation app but if you are fine without the voice (just like me) then having free premium navigation is good enough.

Update: Premium Navigation is free for life once you've entered the Voucher Code.

By the way, if you are using HTC Desire HD, you get this premium navigation for free as well. And the best part is that you won't even need to enter the voucher code. Just go to your 'Location' app and that's it.

Update: Other HTC Phone like Desire HD only comes with 30-Day trial unless you have the voucher code.

HTC Sensation Promotion (Malaysia). Read this before you buy!

HTC Sensation is available in Malaysia now and you can get it at RM 2,299.
However, before you purchase the phone, here's are the promotion I found and would like to share with you.

Cubic Platforms is selling the HTC Sensation at RM 2,299 bundled with HTC Original Car Charger and HTC Original Screen Protector worth RM 168. Cubic Platforms is located at Sunway Giza, Kota Damansara.

Sen Heng is also having a Smartphone Fair Promotion where you can get the HTC Sensation at RM 2,299 bundled with an in-car charger (not sure if it is HTC original car charger), bluetooth headset and 16GB microSD card worth RM 149. If you are a PlusOne member, you get additional RM 30 discount too!

Below is the brochure of Sen Heng's promotion. You can view the full brochure here

As you can see in the brochure, Sen Heng's promotion for HTC Sensation starts from 10th June until 30th June 2011. Thus, if you just can't wait any longer, might as well get it from Cubic Platforms.

If you are interested in other phones, do check out Sen Heng's brochure as they have promotions for other phones too :)

Update: Cubic Platforms actually bundled with HTC Original Car Upgrade Kit and not just the car charger. Means you get the car holder, windscreen suction mount and also the car charger.

HTC Sensation available in Malaysia (for real this time)

Cubic Platforms has just announced that they already have the HTC Sensation on hand now.
The HTC Sensation was supposed to be available on 1st June 2011 but was delayed (check my previous post here).

So, head on to Cubic Platforms now at Sunway Giza, Kota Damansara and try it out.
You can even purchased it right now at RM 2,299!

Well, no time to spare..heading to get it now...end.