The New (But Outdated) HTC Thunderbolt
February 13, 2011 —While I was browsing through Facebook the other day, one of my friends posted a status saying that she will be getting a HTC Thunderbolt for her birthday. At that time, I was unaware that HTC will be releasing a new phone. So, I googled the device and did some research on it. The HTC Thunderbolt is an Android-based smartphone that will be released sometime later this month through the Verizon network. Now, when it comes to mobile devices such as smartphones, I usually look at Apple’s iPhone, as I consider that to be the best smartphone in the world. However, the HTC Thunderbolt certainly has some features that best the iPhone. Recently, the iPhone 4 became available on the Verizon network. To many Apple users, that is a huge miracle. In the past, the device was only available on the AT&T network, and many people suffered with AT&T’s poor signal strength and call quality. Some people even switched to Android-based devices, because those smartphones were available on the Verizon network. However, the iPhone 4 still has one tiny drawback: it is only available on Verizon’s 3G network (for now), not the new 4G LTE network.
And this is where HTC Thunderbolt reigns supreme over the iPhone 4. The HTC Thunderbolt is the first device to run on Verizon’s 4G LTE network. People using the Thunderbolt will experience faster download speeds, better web browsing experience, and reduced lag time when connected to the Verizon network. Furthermore, the HTC Thunderbolt can intergrate with Skype mobile, allowing users to video chat with their friends anywhere; Wi-Fi is not even required (the iPhone 4 requires Wi-Fi for video chat). Other features of the HTC Thunderbolt include an 8MP flash camera, HD video recording, and a 4.3” touchscreen. The iPhone only has a 5MP flash camera and a 3.5” screen.
With all these new features, you may be wondering why I say the Thunderbolt is an outdated phone. The hardware is certainly new and up-to-date, but its software is completely outdated. The HTC Thunderbolt will run Android OS 2.2, or Froyo. Froyo was released in May 2010. In December 2010, Google released Android OS 2.3, or Gingerbread, which featured a refined user interface, a redesigned keyboard with multi-touch capabilities, improved cut/paste features, to name a few. And so, this brings up the question: Why is the HTC Thunderbolt running on Froyo when it should be running on Gingerbread? Some may say that the problem can be solved by simply downloading the new OS onto your phone. Well, it does not work that way (unfortunately). Unlike Apple iOS devices, Android devices cannot be upgraded to newer OS versions. I am uncertain as to why that is the case, but if I had to guess, I would say it’s because the hardware on each Android device is designed specifically for a certain OS version.
Clearly, this is a huge issue for Android users. Some devices have wonderful hardware but outdated software. Other devices may have current software but outdated hardware. And so, Android users have to compromise when they buy their Android devices. Another problem is compatibility. Suppose you want to share data from one Android device to another. You may have to check to see if your partner has the same Android OS version as you do, because certain programs may not be compatible with other Android versions. Developers also face this problem. Because there are so many different versions of Android OS, they have to develop multiple versions of their applications, such that each version is compatible with a certain OS version. What a huge waste of time and resources!
The HTC Thunderbolt is certainly a cool-looking device. However, it is running on outdated software. This is going to be a big issue for people planning on buying the HTC Thunderbolt. Some may argue that they don’t care that much about the software, but I’m pretty sure they will, once they see someone else running a more current version or when Google releases a new OS version.
If you’re thinking of getting the HTC Thunderbolt, I’d say reconsider. You’re not really getting the full deal.