Droid Incredible

HTC Droid Incredible

Manufacturer	HTC
Carriers	Verizon Wireless
Compatible networks	CDMA2000/EV-DO Rev. A
First released	April 29, 2010; 18 months ago (2010-04-29)
Discontinued	March 30, 2011 (2011-03-30)
Predecessor	HTC DROID Eris
Successor	HTC Incredible S
Related	HTC Evo 4G HTC ThunderBolt
Type	smartphone
Form factor	Slate
Weight	130 grams (4.6 oz)
Operating system	Android 2.1 (Eclair) upgradeable to Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread) as of September 8, 2011
CPU	1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon (QSD8650)
GPU	Adreno 200
Memory	512 MB DDR RAM
Storage	1 GB ROM (748 MB free to user) plus 8 GB moviNAND
Removable storage	microSD 2.0 memory card (supports up to 32 GB)
Battery	1300 mAh lithium-ion Talk time: Up to 313 minutes Standby time: Up to 146 hours
Data inputs	Multi-touch capacitive touchscreen display, optical joystick, Push-buttons, ambient light sensors, 3-axis accelerometer, digital compass, Proximity sensor
Display	3.7-inch 480 × 800 px WVGA super TFT LCD (or S-LCD) at 252 ppi[1]
Rear camera	8.0 megapixel back facing camera with auto focus and dual LED flashes with 720p HD video recording (no front facing camera)
Connectivity	Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n); Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP stereo and EDR; A-GPS; FM tuner, 3.5 mm TRSS connector, micro-USB, mobile MiFi Verizon Wireless hotspot
Other	HTC Sense (with Friend Stream)
Hearing aid compatibility	M4/T3[2]

The HTC DROID Incredible (ADR6300) (also known as the HTC Incredible) is a smartphone manufactured by HTC Corporation using the Android operating system. The DROID Incredible was released on April 29, 2010,^[3] and is available through Verizon Wireless only. The device is similar to the Sprint HTC Evo 4G. The Incredible is to be succeeded by the HTC Incredible S and the HTC ThunderBolt. The DROID Incredible was taken off Verizon Wireless's website and is now selling remaining stock. The "end of life" was March 30, 2011.^[4]

Features

The DROID Incredible was released running Android 2.1 (Eclair) software, modified with HTC Sense, an overlay user interface for Android OS. Following the announcement of Android 2.2 (Froyo), HTC did not comment on whether the Incredible would receive 2.2 or when, although they did state all equipped devices would be updated by Christmas of 2010, and an update to the following version of Android, codenamed Gingerbread, would depend on its release by Google. The updates would come in the form of an over the air (OTA) update.

DROID Incredible has improvements over standard 2.1 devices including an FM tuner; a Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr-integrated social aggregation application called Friend Stream (as well as a Twitter client named Peep); a geotagging application for photos called Footprints; and a redesigned appearance and functionality for stock 2.1 applications. The smartphone features an 8-megapixel camera with dual LED flash, optical mouse and a camcorder with resolution of up to 800x480 (WVGA), which may be compressed in either MP4 or H.263 format.

Droid Incredible (back)

The Droid Incredible optionally supports tethering by Verizon with VZAccess Manager.^[5] Other ways of tethering may be possible. The device shares the AV output with micro USB output, providing the facility to see the video/YouTube/browser on TV/Projector via an extra (not bundled) composite cable accessory.^[6]

Display change

During summer 2010, HTC switched the AMOLED displays made by Samsung to Sony Super TFT LCD.^[7] The change was done to keep up with the high demand for the phone. HTC claims that there are "no discernible difference between the displays" and they even expect the change to go unnoticed.

Update to Android 2.2 (Froyo)

On July 19, 2010, it was leaked from HTC that the DROID Incredible would receive Android 2.2 (Froyo) via an OTA update in late July or early August 2010.^[8]

Before Verizon had officially announced the update, Verizon Techs speaking "officially unofficially" on Twitter confirmed it. On August 13, 2010 Mashable reported that HTC DROID Incredible would begin to receive Android 2.2 (Froyo) on August 18, 2010. However, statements from official Verizon sources indicated that this was a hoax.^[9] Verizon Wireless confirmed on August 27, 2010, that the device would begin receiving Android 2.2 through a OTA update beginning on that date.^[10][11]

Starting August 26, 2010, all new devices were shipped with Android 2.2 (Froyo). The software update from Android 2.1 v1 (Éclair) to 2.2 also includes an updated version of HTC's "Sense" User Interface, which includes minor updates to the media player, and a flashlight app which enables the camera's LED flash to operate as a flashlight. Other benefits of the update include: Adobe Flash player 10, 720p video recording, 3G mobile hotspot (US$20/mo for 2GB), and the ability to rotate the screen 270 degrees. The update also installed several applications which cannot be removed, and which run without being invoked by the phone's user: an Amazon MP3 applet, CityID, Skype Mobile, My Verizon Mobile, a stock tracking applet and VZ Navigator.

Update to Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)

On August 20, 2011, AndroidPolice.com obtained the official update build as an RUU, in which users wanting the latest software were to download it to their computer, put it on the SD card as a required name, and the bootloader would pick it up.^[12]

Verizon did not deploy the update as an Over-the-Air (OTA) update after it was pulled back the week of August 16.^[13]

On September 7, 2011, Verizon began deploying the Gingerbread (Android 2.3.4) Over-the-Air (OTA) update to customers.^[14] This update also fixed several outstanding issues that had been reported by customers regarding MMS messaging, Bluetooth connectivity, and the City ID app.^[15]

However, this update proved almost immediately to be problematic. Once the update was sent to some HTC phones, many Verizon customers experienced problems with receiving text messages on the Droid Incredible. HTC representatives say they are fixing the system update to correct the text messaging issue. Many Droid Incredible owners have been critical of Verizon and HTC for slowing down the roll-out process. Although the upgrade was released OTA on September 7 and HTC and Verizon promised phone owners would receive the update "in September," many Droid Incredible owners were still waiting for the update nearly four weeks later -- and after September had come and gone.

On November 15, 2011, the revised update to The Android 2.3.x (Gingerbread) was available OTA to customers. It will be automatically sent to Droid Incredible users, and attempts to fix bugs which were known with the September release, including MMS problems.

Support

The DROID Incredible supports full Flash 10.3.

The phone supports the following audio formats: AAC, AMR, OGG, M4A, MID, MP3, WAV and WMA. Supported video formats include: 3GP, 3G2, MP4 and WMV.

Platform development, hacking, modifications

There is a hidden "testing" menu on the device that can be accessed by typing *#*#4636#*#* aka *#*#info#*#* on the phone's keypad. It will bring up 5 categories: Phone Information, Battery Information, Battery History, Usage Statistics, and WiFi information.

Other hidden menus from dial pad: (1) ##debug+call, (2) ##program+call enter six zeros example: 000000, (3) *#*#7262626#*#* - Field test menu, (4) *#*#2432546#*#* aka *#*#checkin#*#* - checks for updates, (5) ##778 (+call for Epst menu), (6) *#*#8255#*#* - Gtalk service, (7) *#*#8351#*#* - voice dialer logging enable, (8) *#*#8350#*#* - voice dialer logging disable

Note: +call--> means to call

Root has been achieved, initially by causing a race condition in Google's Android Debug Bridge (adb),^[16] and later with a "painless root" made by unrEVOked!^[17]

Since root has been achieved, several enhancements such as Wi-Fi tethering are now available.

Critical reception

In April 2010, Engadget stated: "the DROID Incredible is the best Android device that you can purchase in America right now."^[18]

PC Magazine wrote "The DROID Incredible by HTC is an absolutely amazing device. The most powerful phone on the U.S. market today, it reflects and enhances the state of the art smartphone, with the full backing and support of the Verizon Wireless network."^[19]

See also

• Motorola Droid released November 6, 2009.
• Motorola Droid Pro optimized for business users, released November 18, 2010.
• Motorola Droid X Android 2.3 version hardware released in Mexico.
• Motorola Droid 2 released August 12, 2010.
• Motorola Droid X2 released May 19, 2011.
• Motorola Droid 3 released July 7, shipping with Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread).

References

1. ^ Evan Selleck (June 25, 2010). "HTC Forced to Switch to Super TFT LCD from AMOLED Due to Shortages / Update: HTC Plans to Use Both". http://androidcommunity.com/. http://androidcommunity.com/htc-forced-to-switch-to-super-tft-lcd-from-amoled-due-to-shortages-20100625/. Retrieved 2 November 2010. 
2. ^ "HTC DROID Incredible". http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?item=phoneFirst&action=viewPhoneDetail&selectedPhoneId=5269. Retrieved 2010-06-20. 
3. ^ "The Next Chapter in the DROID Saga Begins April 29". http://phones.verizonwireless.com/htc/incredible/. Retrieved 25 April 2010. ^{[dead link]}
4. ^ "Motorola DROID X, DROID 2 & HTC DROID Incredible End-of-Life Coming in March 2011?". http://nexus404.com/Blog/2010/08/25/motorola-droid-x-droid-2-what-android-handsets-are-c/. Retrieved 2011-03-25. 
5. ^ "Tethered Modem Connection - HTC DROID Incredible ADR6300". http://search.vzw.com/?do=viewdoc&id=32239&supportview=1&p=-1. Retrieved 2010-06-18. 
6. ^ "DROID Incredible Tutorial/Comparison/tips". http://droidincrediblereview.blogspot.com. Retrieved 4 May 2010. 
7. ^ "Droid Incredible Changes to Super TFT LCD Screens". http://www.droid-life.com/2010/06/27/droid-incredible-changes-to-super-tft-lcd-screens/. Retrieved 27 June 2010. 
8. ^ "HTC DROID Incredible to be updated to Froyo end of July, early August". http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2010/07/19/htc-droid-incredible-htc-email/. Retrieved 22 July 2010. 
9. ^ "Verizon all but confirms DROID Incredible's getting Froyo soon". http://www.androidcentral.com/verizon-droid-incredible-froyo-all-but-confirmed. Retrieved 22 July 2010. 
10. ^ "Twitter VZWSupport". http://twitter.com/VZWSupport. Retrieved 27 August 2010. 
11. ^ "Froyo 2.2 Gripes - Your thoughts?". http://www.htc-incredible.com/general-htc-droid-incredible-discussion/froyo-2-2-gripes-your-thoughts. Retrieved 2 September 2010. 
12. ^ "Exclusive Download: Official GB Build for Droid Incredible". http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/08/20/exclusive-download-official-gingerbread-build-for-the-htc-droid-incredible/. Retrieved 22 August 2011. 
13. ^ "Gingerbread Update for HTC Droid Incredible - Page 9". http://community.vzw.com/t5/DROID-Incredible-by-HTC/Gingerbread-Update-for-HTC-Droid-Incredible/m-p/632211/message-uid/632211/highlight/true#U632211. Retrieved 22 August 2011. 
14. ^ "Verizon rolls out Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread to original Droid Incredible". http://grayson.blogs.tuscaloosanews.com/15066/verizon-rolls-out-android-2-3-4-gingerbread-to-original-droid-incredible/. Retrieved 7 September 2011. 
15. ^ "Get The Most out of Your Droid Incredible by HTC". http://support.vzw.com/pdf/system_update/incredible.pdf. Retrieved 7 September 2011. 
16. ^ "DROID Incredible root instructions now available". http://www.androidcentral.com/droid-incredible-root-instructions-now-available. Retrieved 22 July 2010. 
17. ^ "Unrevoked3 painlessly roots the DROID Incredible". http://lifehacker.com/5588775/unrevoked3-painlessly-roots-the-droid-incredible-other-htc-android-phones. Retrieved 22 July 2010. ^{[dead link]}
18. ^ Topolsky, Joshua (2010-04-19). "DROID Incredible review". Engadget. http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/19/droid-incredible-review/. "It's better than the DROID, better than the Nexus One, and certainly beats the pants off of any previous generation handsets like the Eris, myTouch, or Cliq. It's not just a very, very good Android phone (though it is); it's also an excellent smartphone no matter how you cut it. If you're on Verizon right now, you're finally getting really great options for phones, but the Incredible is currently sitting at the top of that heap with a good bit of distance to the next in line." 
19. ^ Segan, Sascha (2010-04-19). "Review of DROID Incredible by HTC (Verizon Wireless)". PC Magazine. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2362808,00.asp. "It's our obvious Editors' Choice for Verizon Wireless smartphones and one of our highest-rated phones in the past year."