[HTC Radar] LenAsh:
Just my two bob's worth... I recently "inherited" an HTC Radar on Orange UK that I was happy to try out against my solid and usable unbranded SE Neo on Android 2.3.4 (stock rooted 0.62 F/W for reference).

So, the Neo is 5 months old and is as reliable as my need to pass water after a few pints. Being factory unlocked, updates are easy and battery life is very good indeed, with bloatware a breeze to remove. Great phone and my 4th Android, but first SE.

After 10 days or so with the Radar, what's my early view? Mixed, and here's why.

NOTE: I am NOT knocking the phone!

The phone needed to be updated to 7740 from 7720; because it told me. Zune installed on the PC and job done. I did a full reset before just to make sure no dregs were left behind, which is always Good Practice.

I then set about removing the Orange bumf, like Orange Maps and Orange Wednesdays. Easy - just press and go. Nice.

Once I'd orientated myself with the OS and Metro, I popped my 3 UK daily SIM in and started using the phone in anger.

Funny #1 - switched off the phone to charge it from the mains - the phone booted. And always does. Weird.

Funny #2 - no "notification" LED at all. The power charge LED lights orange while charging and green once charged. But no notification LED. Inconvenient in meetings.

Funny #3 - No navigation with the maps app. No matter what I do, I cannot get voice or map nav. And the screen turns off. I installed "GPS Voice Navigation" and "GPS ON Navigation" and neither do that either. I can get the map to follow my movements, but the map is not full screen - rather too small and no autozoom. But at least I can keep the screen on.

Funny #4 - Not easy to completely silence the phone. Vibrate is quite "loud" and without turning it off by going through shedloads of settings, it's just not convenient.

Funny #5 - Volume control is just bizarre - if I turn the volume down while listening to music, the ringtone is also turned down. No independence. Caught me out a few times with missed calls.

Funny #6 - Screen brightness. Auto doesn't go down anything like far enough and the low manual setting is pathetic. 3 set levels is not granular enough, and auto should be just that - and full range. How long have HTC been making phones?

Funny #7 - The phone bleeps some kind of notification sometimes, but I cannot tell what has caused it. Messages and Emails are fine because of the tiles, but wtf was that then? Missed something, just don't know what.

Funny #8 - Smileys. How am I supposed to know what all the textual characters are? Why not show me the actual Smiley? Jeez.

Funny #9 - WiFi only reconnects 9 times out of 10. Bit basic? Sensitivity is good though. When it decides to reconnect.

Funny #10 - everyone says it - no SD card slot....

Funny #11 - Bluetooth, er, er, er.... might be me, but seems "variable".

Funny #12 - why does some of the notification bar content disappear? Only the time remains visible.... why??

Pain #1 - cannot flash/debrand/root/sideload...

Additionally, the phone signal is weak; on the same network, in the same places, I get signal dropout regularly. Never before. The FM radio sensitivity, again like for like, is awful. Tried different headsets in case the "antenna" was dross, but no go. Near a transmitter, fine. In the real world, not good at all.

Don't get me wrong, its a well made phone and the OS is smooth and fluid. More so than (Neo) Android, given the similar hardware spec. Superior screen too - it's amazing what a difference 0.1" makes, really. As a phone, provided it holds the signal, calls are clear. BUT, the hardware/firmware is rather lacking in terms of basic smartphone convenience features. Plus the OS has some unfortunate usability misses.

Compared with the Neo, it is still a work in progress. I shall keep it, I think, and wait for both OS and particularly HTC updates (please HTC, soon!).

I'm happy to be corrected or directed on any of the above. I would like nothing more than to enjoy the phone fully, and rely on it. I've not tried everything yet, like the alarm, but will do.