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Message: <blockquote data-quote="cwa107" data-source="post: 1057749" data-attributes="member: 24098">When connected in Disk drive mode, you can easily traverse the phone’s internal storage to transfer files and use it as though it were a traditional flash drive.  That’s one way to transfer music and video, but an even easier way is to use DoubleTwist, which is a free application that is sort of like iTunes for Android.  DoubleTwist synchronizes with iTunes and lets you easily sync your music collection.  It will also convert your videos on-the-fly and synchronize them to your Android phone as well.The HTC Sync software can be used to synchronize your Windows-based PIM software to Android, but as I mentioned previously, it’s not Mac-friendly.  Personally, I use Gmail for PIM tasks and Android syncs perfectly with the cloud, negating any need for other tools like MarkSpace’s Missing Sync for Android.  Despite the fact that native tethering for Android isn’t planned to be included until the 2.2 release, Verizon includes their own tethering package with the Incredible.  This comes at an added fee of $30/month (and no contract is required).  Fortunately, for those that don’t intend to use tethering heavily, there is a package called PDANet that you can use with your Mac for bluetooth and USB tethering and incur no additional charge.  The legalities of using this method are debatable according to discussions I’ve seen online, but apparently Verizon only polices third party tethering packages for those that use it heavily.  I have tested PDANet and found that it works perfectly with the Mac and transfer rates are pretty decent, easily acceptable for casual browsing and checking email.Another nice touch is the keyboard.  While you have your choice of soft keyboard to use with Android, the built-in HTC version works quite well and I’ve found that I can type every bit as quickly as I can on my iPod Touch.  Autocorrect is mostly seamless and there are multiple keyboard ‘pages’ for numbers entry.  You can also press and hold keys to use each keys’ alternate function.  In this way, I don’t miss the physical keyboard I could have had opted for with a different phone.  Copy and paste could be a little less cumbersome, but it’s no more so than it is on the iPhone, which in my opinion can be finicky.Finally, there’s the Android Marketplace.  While not nearly as comprehensive as the App Store, I have yet to find an instance where an app that I needed and was available for the iPhone didn’t have an equivalent on the Android Marketplace.  I will say that many of those apps aren’t built to the same quality levels as their iPhone counterparts, but I suspect that as the SDK and OS matures, this will improve.  For now, there are plenty of widgets, games and apps to keep you busy - and a good many of them are free.  For the apps that are available for sale, you will be prompted to use Google checkout - and this means having your credit card handy.  But one of the nice differences is that there is a short “return” window, under which you can remove and be refunded for a bad app.  That’s a nice change from the App Store’s policy of sticking you with an app no matter how bad it ends up being.  I have read a lot of griping about how apps need to be individually updated on Android.  While this is true, it’s not quite as cumbersome as it is on the iPhone, where you always have to enter your App Store password to kick off the process.  Instead, you just click on the update button and the phone does it’s thing.  So, while you will have to click to update each app, it’s just a click and certainly not irritating.Regardless, that’s one of several items that is supposed to be addressed in Android 2.2.   I’ll be interested to see how quickly Android 2.2 (which is on the verge of being released) is made available for the Incredible, but I won’t be upset if I’m stuck on 2.1 for awhile as it does work well.  There’s only one major deficiency I’m aware of at the moment that 2.2. claims to address  - and that’s Bluetooth voice dialing.  Although the phone will pair with Bluetooth headsets and car speakerphones, it won’t prompt you to “say a command” at the moment.  You can still pick up the phone and start dialing, but it’s not completely handsfree. All-in-all, I am pleased with the Incredible.  It’s a bit rough around the edges, which is a phrase I’ve seen applied to most Android phones since the original G1, but it works and does what it’s supposed to without too much drama.  I’ve experienced no crashes, spontaneous reboots or other glitches.  The voice quality is excellent, easily matching the best cell phones I’ve had in the past.  The battery life can be a little short with GPS, WiFi and lots of apps running, but an HTC-included power management widget makes it  breeze to toggle those things off when not needed.  In general, I’m getting about 48 hours to a charge in light use.  HTC includes a paltry 1300mAH battery, and apparently third parties have already released 1750mAH batteries in the same form-factor, larger capacities are available that require a change to the backplate for those that might need even more capacity.With all that said, if Verizon ever does get the iPhone and I don’t have a contractual obligation at that time, I’m pretty sure I’d go for it.  Until that time, the Incredible is indeed a viable alternative for me.</blockquote>

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