Droid Incredible

The HTC Droid Incredible (ADR6300) (also known as the HTC Incredible) is a smartphone manufactured by HTC Corporation using the Android operating system. It 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 device has been succeeded by the HTC Incredible S and the HTC ThunderBolt. The device's "end of life" was March 30, 2011.[4]

HTC Droid Incredible
ManufacturerHTC
SeriesDroid
Compatible networksCDMA2000/EV-DO Rev. A
First releasedApril 29, 2010 (2010-04-29)
DiscontinuedMarch 30, 2011 (2011-03-30)
PredecessorHTC Droid Eris
SuccessorHTC Incredible S
RelatedHTC Evo 4G
HTC ThunderBolt
Typesmartphone
Form factorSlate
Dimensions117.5 mm (4.63 in) H
58.5 mm (2.30 in) W
11.9 mm (0.47 in) D
Mass130 grams (4.6 oz)
Operating systemAndroid 2.1 (Eclair)
upgradeable to Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread) as of September 15, 2011
CPU1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon (QSD8650)
GPUAdreno 200
Memory512 MB DDR RAM
Storage1 GB ROM (748 MB free to user) plus 8 GB moviNAND
Removable storagemicroSD 2.0 memory card (supports up to 32 GB)
Battery1300 mAh lithium-ion
Talk time: Up to 313 minutes
Standby time: Up to 146 hours
Display3.7-inch 480 × 800 px WVGA AMOLED or super TFT LCD (S-LCD) at 252 ppi[1]
Rear camera8.0 megapixel back-facing camera with auto focus and dual LED flashes with 720p HD video recording (no front-facing camera)
ConnectivityWi-Fi (802.11b/g); Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP stereo and EDR; A-GPS; FM tuner, 3.5 mm TRSS connector, micro-USB, mobile MiFi Verizon Wireless hotspot
Data inputsMulti-touch capacitive touchscreen display, optical joystick, Push-buttons, ambient light sensors, 3-axis accelerometer, digital compass, Proximity sensor
OtherHTC Sense (with Friend Stream)
Hearing aid compatibilityM4/T3[2]

Features
Droid Incredible (back)

The device was released running Android 2.1 (Eclair) software, modified with HTC Sense, an overlay user interface for the Android operating system. Following the announcement of Android 2.2 (Froyo), HTC did not comment on whether the device would receive 2.2 or when, although it did state all equipped devices would be updated by Christmas 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.

It 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 device features an 8-megapixel camera with dual LED flash, optical mouse and a camcorder with resolution of up to 1280x720 (WXGA), which may be compressed in either MP4 or H.263 format.

It optionally supports tethering by Verizon Wireless 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 a television or 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 device. 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 device would receive Android 2.2 (Froyo) via an OTA update in late July or early August 2010.[8]

Before Verizon Wireless had officially announced the update, its technicians, speaking "officially unofficially" on Twitter, confirmed it. On August 13, 2010, Mashable reported that the device would begin to receive Android 2.2 (Froyo) on August 18, 2010. However, statements from official Verizon Wireless 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 an 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 included an updated version of HTC's "Sense" User Interface, which included 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 included: Adobe Flash Player 10, 720p video recording, 3G mobile hotspot (US$30/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, which users wanting the latest software were able to download to their computer, put on the SD card as a required name, after which the bootloader would pick it up.[12]

Verizon Wireless did not deploy the update as an OTA update after it was pulled back the week of August 16.[13]

On September 7, 2011, Verizon Wireless began deploying the Gingerbread (Android 2.3.4) 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 Wireless customers experienced problems with receiving text messages on the device. HTC representatives said they were fixing the system update to correct the text-messaging issue. Many of the HTC updates caused errors within the Incredible, changing the layout and sometimes even the device set up. Many device owners were critical of Verizon Wireless and HTC for slowing down the roll-out process. Although the upgrade was released OTA on September 7 and HTC and Verizon Wireless promised phone owners would receive the update "in September", many device 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 via an OTA update to customers. It was automatically sent to device users, and attempted to fix bugs which were known with the September release, including MMS problems. This patch, however, proved to be problematic for some users to install because their device claims to not have enough space or will not restart to complete the update, but community support found solutions to these problems.[16][17]

Support

The device supports full Adobe Flash Player 10.3.

It 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, and modifications

There are several hidden menus and commands available from the phone's keypad. The ones shown below work as of OS version 2.3.4. Note: "+call" means to press the "Call" button.

  • ##33284+call (spells DEBUG) Loads "Field Trial" menu
  • ##7764726+call (spells PROGRAM) At password prompt, enter six zeros (000000). Loads "EPST" menu.
  • ##778+call (spells PST) Loads different EPST menu
  • ##775+call Loads different PRL menu
  • *#*#2432546#*#* (spells CHECKIN) Checks for updates. If check-in fails, an alert will appear in the notification bar.
  • *#*#4636#*#* (spells INFO) Loads "Testing" menu. Items: Phone Information; Battery information; Usage statistics; and Wifi information
  • *#*#7262626#*#* (Field test menu)
  • *#*#8255#*#* (spells TALK) Loads Gtalk Service Monitor
  • *#*#8350#*#* (spells TEL0) Disables voice dialer logging. Feedback message "Voice Dialer logging is disabled." should appear.
  • *#*#8351#*#* (spells TEL1) Enables voice dialer logging. Feedback message "Voice Dialer logging is enabled." should appear.
  • *#*#3424#*#* (service code) test menu

Root has been achieved, initially by causing a race condition in Google's Android Debug Bridge (adb),[18] and later with a "painless root" made by unrEVOked![19]

Since root has been achieved, several enhancements such as Wi-Fi tethering are now available. The phone has had functional ROMs of every version of CyanogenMod up to and including CM 11.[20]

Critical reception

In April 2010, Engadget stated: "the DROID Incredible is the best Android device that you can purchase in America right now."[21]

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."[22]

See also

References
  1. Selleck, Evan (June 25, 2010). "HTC Forced to Switch to Super TFT LCD from AMOLED Due to Shortages / Update: HTC Plans to Use Both". androidcommunity.com. Archived from the original on May 25, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
  2. "HTC Droid Incredible". Archived from the original on October 11, 2014. Retrieved June 20, 2010.
  3. "The Next Chapter in the Droid Saga Begins April 29". Archived from the original on April 24, 2010. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  4. "Motorola Droid X, Droid 2 & HTC Droid Incredible End-of-Life Coming in March 2011?". Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
  5. "Tethered Modem Connection – HTC Droid Incredible ADR6300". Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
  6. "Droid Incredible Tutorial/Comparison/Tips". Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
  7. "Droid Incredible Changes to Super TFT LCD Screens". 27 June 2010. Archived from the original on June 29, 2010. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  8. Munchbach, Andrew (July 19, 2010). "HTC Droid Incredible To Be Updated to Froyo End of July, Early August". Boy Genius Report (BGR). Archived from the original on October 24, 2010. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  9. Gibb, Kyle (July 19, 2010). "Verizon All But Confirms Droid Incredible's Getting Froyo Soon". Archived from the original on March 8, 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  10. Staff. "[tweet]". Twitter VZWSupport (via Twitter). Archived from the original on August 21, 2010. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  11. User post (September 2, 2012). "Froyo 2.2 Gripes – Your Thoughts?". htc-inredible.com (forum). Archived from the original on April 23, 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2012. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  12. "Exclusive Download: Official GB Build for Droid Incredible". Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  13. "Gingerbread Update for HTC Droid Incredible – Page 9". Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  14. "Verizon Rolls Out Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread to Original Droid Incredible". Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2011.
  15. "Get The Most Out of Your Droid Incredible by HTC" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 11, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2011.
  16. "For Those Who Want the Second GB Update/Patch". 16 November 2011. Archived from the original on December 5, 2011. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  17. "Second GB Update/Patch Won't Reboot Issue - Solved!". 17 November 2011. Archived from the original on December 5, 2011. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  18. "Droid Incredible Root Instructions Now Available". 14 June 2010. Archived from the original on 23 July 2010. Retrieved July 22, 2010.
  19. "Unrevoked3 Painlessly Roots the Droid Incredible". Archived from the original on July 19, 2010. Retrieved July 22, 2010.
  20. "Droid Incredible Android Development". Archived from the original on March 11, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  21. Topolsky, Joshua (April 19, 2010). "Droid Incredible Review". Engadget. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017. 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.
  22. Segan, Sascha (April 19, 2010). "Review of Droid Incredible by HTC (Verizon Wireless)". PC Magazine. Archived from the original on June 6, 2013. Retrieved August 26, 2017. It's our obvious Editors' Choice for Verizon Wireless smartphones and one of our highest-rated phones in the past year.
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