Second Verizon Android phone to be an HTC, Motorola Sholes makes an appearance
By Nilay Patel 
posted Oct 6th 2009 1:04PM
posted Oct 6th 2009 1:04PM
P.S.- This also jibes perfectly with that HTC Desire rumor from last month, but we'd bet almost anything the internals are the same as the Hero.
[Thanks, Berry]
FUCK! I wanted this on TMO!!
oh snap!
perhaps i'll be switching from at&t to verizon and not sprint as originally planned.
I hope you dont want the HTC phone. Look at the bottom of it. I do not see a 3.5mm and if there isnt one on the top this phone is going to be a no-go for a lot of people.
Mr. Jobs is not going to be happy with this.
Folks, enjoy your Google iPhone apps while you can, because they ain't going to be around for much longer.
Also I think, competition wise, this is GREAT for the smartphone market. Apple can't have a lock on this market. Competition will drive innovation and pricing. Obviously, Verizon isn't getting the iPhone any time soon. Just my opinion.
Peace out!
BTW, Verizon, can you hear me now? Good, F you!
What's so special about the most expensive carrier getting new phones? I still can't believe anyone chooses to pay for Verizon's service.
1. Locked phones
2. Coverage on par with Sprint and AT&T
3. AT&T prices without unlocked GSM phones
Can anyone come up with an actual reason to get Verizon other than the "teh network" marketing crap that means exactly nothing? Seriously, Sprint: $70/month equivalent Verizon plan $165/month. So, unless you want an iPhone or unlocked GSM phone, why would you ever even consider Verizon?
People who play the lottery and people who use Verizon have something in common, neither one can do basic math.
@hold - unlimited everything on verizon is $139.99 i'm not sure where you got $165
@JXCgunrunna
So far both Hero variants have the 3.5 outlet on the top of the phone. I don't see why this would be different.
I bet you forgot to add on unlimited navigation and TV since Verizon's unlimited plan isn't actually unlimited.
also
ha! I had a feeling those were the phones. Is it possible that the HTC maybe the HTC Desire? I'm excited.
Argh, stop redesigning the HTC Hero and give me the original design. I would buy it instantly!
The Hero has only been redesigned once. This is a redesigned entry level Tattoo folks, not a Hero. This is the little brother to the Hero with lesser specs.
"We don't need another Hero"
-- Tina Turner
@troyboytn:
I think you need to read this cause that is in-fact a redesigned hero:
http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/10/06/htc-hero-hitting-verizon-in-november/
@projectdecember: Good try, buddy, but that's not the Sprint/US redesigned Hero. This is: http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim//2009/09/16/337704502440FT.jpg
It also doesn't look like a Tattoo, however, as it only has 3 physical buttons and a much smaller center one, versus the 5 on the Tattoo: http://www.talkandroid.com/wp-content/gallery/htc-tattoo/htc-tattoo-3.jpg
So, as mentioned in a prior Engadget article, this could be the new Google/Verizon device said to be "game-changing."
We'll just have to wait and see.
How hard and costly would it be to move the whole family over to Verizon? :)
Hi Scott,
I have three phones on the select family plan (1400 min, unlim text/pix) with 10 friends & family (out of network, landline, etc). Each phone pays about $44/mo (we divide it evenly even though an extra line is technically only $10), so about $132/mo total, which includes taxes. We never come close to using all of the minutes. I think the most we ever used was about 600. Granted, your bill may be a bit higher given the same specs since my employer offers a 17% discount. I think if you got the connect plan (select plus unlim. data) it's an extra $10 per line or somewhere around there.
Hope that helps!
Kelly
how is the htc hero game changing when sprint is going to have it first? what processor is in the shole? anyone know?
OMAP3 and we do not know if it is infact the Hero. And if it is, if Verizon has it for 150 or less it will be worth it.
If verizon has it for $150, they probably reduced the specs like they did on the Touch Pro.
Perhaps it is a game changer because it comes with a user flashable ROM without rooting required.
@engadget,
I could be wrong, but I don't think thats a Hero
First!
And about freakin' time! I My contract with Verizon was up a couple months ago and I decided to pickup a Blackberry Tour for me and the wife. But what I really wanted was an Android-based phone, but didn't want to switch to T-Mobile. Although I probably won't qualify for an upgrade since I just renewed, I would definitely pick up an HTC Hero when it is released.
Failure is not an option. It’s bundled with your software
The Sholes looks pretty slim in his hands. Looks like my move to T-Mo may not happen after all... Especially since I have an upgrade credit pending.
Now I just have to see what processor is in the HTC. I like the rumors of the processor and screen on the Sholes, but Sense looks nice.
I'd wait and see how open the Android market will be on Verizon first.
I'm not saying it will be very restricted, but this is Verizon, they have a bit of a record...
FINALLY! Verizon is really getting some great smartphones.
damn, i was getting ready to renew my contract with Sprint, and get the Hero in a week!!! But now, the Sholes looks to be pretty badass..
I dont think it's the Hero, maybe the HTC Desire/ Passion that's been rumored. Heck, maybe 3rd time's the charm, a redesigned Hero for verizon
that thing dont look like the hero to me
Okay guys, we get it. it's not the hero...
But hey, my contract expires soon, Do I want sense? Or blur? Sense, blur, sense, blur.
Sense.
same boat here
you want blur for sure. blur is way more than just a simple UI, there's a whole service to it to keep your phone constantly refreshed with the latest social networking communities, s/w updates, etc.
sholes isnt getting motoblur
Well I have been trying to keep up with all of the leaked info about the sholes and other stuff in the Android world and it is almost not even a question whether or not the Hero will have the Sense UI since that is HTC's "thing", and as for the sholes/tao/droid/ It will NOT have Snese UI because the Sholes is by Motorola and it also is NOT going to have MotoBlur. It is still unknown whether or not there will be a custom UI on it but those two for sure are not going to be it.
I know that the Sholes will be running the new Android 2.0 (eclair) OS which is not yet released. This may or may not look totally different from present versions on Android.
dammit sholes is just too ugly
i agree. i dont understand why any can be excited for it.
You guys are probably looking at the red d-pad mock up. The most recent pics have it looking pretty decent.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/31/motorola-sholes-android-phone-for-verizon-appears-in-the-flesh/
but... i don't have any other pictures. i can't hang with this
It is a small pic, but it clearly shows a different looking form factor.
http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/10/05/verizon-wireless-sams-club-target-gearing-up-to-launch-motorola-droid-blackberry-storm-2-blackberry-curve-2-more/
http://gigglehd.com/zbxe/files/attach/images/296468/758/820/002/motorola-sholes.jpg
i just don't get why they'd put the earpiece on the part that slides up and not the mic part as well. that's just common sense. keeping a chin just for the mic is [shudder]
as terrible as the bigfoot is, its got better design going for it
so Hero or Sholes..which is better?
If the Sholes has Blur or stock Android it will lose to Sense IMO. As we've all said, the hardware looks nice, but is only proven by its UI.
Because I assume you've had hands-on experience with both and thus can tell everyone, on an omnipotent scale, what they prefer in a phone.
/sarcasm.
So far Sholes/Tao/Droid (whatever the hell they are going to call it) won't have Blur. It's supposed to be a goolge phone, so it will be stock Android.
are either of these phones gonna be 'world phones', i.e. have both CDMA and GSM bands and have a SIM slot, like the TP2 on Verizon has?
I am so glad that Verizon and Google are getting together on Android. I can hardly wait to see the new offerings from HTC. You can bet that Sprint's Hero will not be the only android thunder we hear this month.
I think sprint had it right with the way they changed the hero. That thing looks cheap and plastic above and im not even getting into that motorola trash on the right.