HTC Thunderbolt

Pictured below with LauncherPro as opposed to the Sense UI.
This is pretty much how I like to setup my Android phone homescreen. But I'm always changing it around.
I wasn't going to include pics of the phone itself. There are tons of those already right here for you.

Initial Thoughts

• Extremely fast data speeds
• Fast Processor
• Large 4.3" SLCD display

Specifications

• 4.3" WVGA (800×480) SLCD capacitive touch screen
• Networks: LTE 700, CDMA EvDO revA
• 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8655
• Adreno 205 GPU
• WLAN: 802.11 b/g/n
• Bluetooth: 2.1 with EDR (3.0 when available)
• 768MB of RAM
• 8GB of internal storage
• 32GB microSD card included (Sandisk Class 4)
• 1400mAh battery
• 1.3MP front-facing camera
• 8MP rear camera with dual-LED flash
• DLNA compatible
• Special features: Kickstand, Dual mics with noise cancellation, Dolby Surround sound, Compass sensor, G-Sensor, Proximity sensor, Light sensor, 3.5mm audio jack, MicroUSB, FM radio, LTE SIM slot , TI audio DSP
• Dimensions: 4.75" x 2.44" x 0.56"
• Weight: 6.23oz

Pros

• Extremely fast data speeds
• Fast Processor
• Large 4.3" SLCD display

Cons

• Poor battery performance
• A plethora of unwanted preinstalled unremoveable apps
• Manufacture's Sense UI too integrated
• Can't use kickstand while charging?
• No space after an autocomplete word? Really?

My General Overview

     LTE is fast. I'm pretty far north of downtown Dallas, but I get great 4G here. Even in my apartment, tethered using Mobile Hotspot, I have no problems getting consistently over 15Mbps down and a good 4Mbps up. I know technology is advancing at quite a pace, but damn that's still awful fast to me!

     I'm not a fan of Sense UI, or any of the manufacture's and the way they force their UI on me. And on top of that, I find the bloatware to be a little insulting. But considering everyone else is doing it, I try not to let that affect my opinion. But I can understand why so many like the Sense UI. And their flip weather clock is nice.

     I do like the HTC camera app. Lots of options, easy to use, works well, and looks nice. The 720p videos look great too, but I haven't done any significant testing of that, or the 1.3mp front facing camera and the HTC video calling app.

     I've read some people mentioning the size/weight of the TBolt. I find it to be the perfect size and weight. My Droid X would always get wedged sideways in my pocket - no matter what pocket - it was just that perfect size to get stuck. Well the TBolt is just small enough, or the corners are just the right geometry that the phone feels perfect in my hands and never gets stuck in any of my pockets. That may not sound like much, but that's rather significant to someone that keeps phones in their pockets!

     One of my biggest issues with phones, is often the Bluetooth. I tend to use a phone as a phone (imagine that!), and so the most important thing (the only thing???) with a phone is simply phone audio. And since I use nothing but Bluetooth headsets, the Bluetooth headset profiles need to work correctly and without glitches. Unfortunately, this is still not always the case. However, HTC seems to have gotten it right on the Thunderbolt. I have paired a few different headests to my TBolt, and I can turn on any paired headset and it connects right up. And so far, zero glitches. You might say "yeah, so?", but that is a big deal. Often times a device will not do too well switching between headsets and connecting automatically - at least this is my experience in dealing with Bluetooth over the years. Too many devices/phones I've used have a rather high glitch to no-glitch ratio. So far the Thunderbolt appears to NOT be such a device.

Camera Samples

(click for full size)