The HTC One M9 is a beautiful phone, with a nice burnished metal curved back. The HTC software comes with all sorts of very cool themes and wallpapers, a downloadable help file and various useful apps. It has some really nice features and is very responsive ..but it’s camera has a few issues…more on that later.
One of the features I LOVE that is available on Sprint is WiFi Calling. My home is apparently in the middle of a Black Hole because I’ve always had terrible reception there. I have to walk outside to the back yard in order to get enough signal to make calls. Inside the house: Horrible! So when Sprint started having their WiFi Calling feature my neighbors saw me Dancing The Happy Dance all over the block. Well, maybe not…However, connecting to the WiFi to get a decent signal makes a huge difference. This works with any WiFi – so if you happen to be at a coffee shop with free WiFi, all you have to do is connect.
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| From HTC Model: 0PAJ5 |
“Interruptions” – or as it’s called on some other phones “Do Not Disturb” is a useful addition. I love this feature because you set what you are willing to allow to get through during the specified times that you don’t wish to be disturbed. What is odd is that on other models (like the HTC – 0PAJ5) I was able to ADD several different times. For some reason with this model I can only choose ONE time to not be disturbed. I find this a bit annoying but I suppose I could always find an app that would give me additional controls
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| From HTC Model: 0PJA2 |
as you can see on this model 0PAJ5, I can tap the “+” on the upper right screen and add as many moments to NOT be disturbed. And I do love not being disturbed…
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| From HTC Model: 0PAJ5 |
I can easily access Interrupti
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| From HTC Model: 0PJA2 |
Fortunately I do have “Sleep mode” which turns off notifications and calls when I really want to sleep. Uses less energy too.
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| From HTC Model: 0PJA2 |
Another very cool feature:
Depending on where you are, the phone automatically supplies you with ‘custom’ apps on your Home screen that are immediately available. When you leave HOME, and are OUT or at WORK, other apps more useful become available on the Home page. You can, at any time manually access these apps
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| From HTC Model: 0PJA2 |
this is what I see when i’m OUT:
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| From HTC Model: 0PJA2 |
This is what I see when I’m HOME:
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| From HTC Model: 0PJA2 |
camera
There’s been complains about the camera for this model and after using it I can see why. It’s ok but there ARE situations that really don’t leave you with the best possible photo.
close up camera setting. Works fairly well here. Especially with indoor lighting
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| From HTC Model: 0PJA2 |
However…….
One main problem with this model’s camera is that on outdoor photos you can get washed out areas. Here, I was trying to get a nice shot of our red bud tree close up but the background gets REALLY bleached out. WOW.
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| From HTC Model: 0PJA2 |
I changed the camera settings to “Sunny” white balance. Notice the bleached out area at the top.
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| From HTC Model: 0PJA2 |
Here the settings are: auto white balance, ev- 1.5
This is a bit disappointing.
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| From HTC Model: 0PJA2 |
The camera CAN take some decent photos. Here’s an example that I’m fairly satisfied with. If you zoom in on the flower in the foreground there’s lots of very good detail.
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| From HTC Model: 0PJA2 |
and this. But you have to pick your moments carefully with this camera.
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| From HTC Model: 0PJA2 |
One of my mother’s Double Daffodils. Another satisfying photo.
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| From HTC Model: 0PJA2 |
But when I tried to get close up here, the background just bleaches out. ACK!
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| From HTC Model: 0PJA2 |
This day was overcast. The sky was NOT this washed out. It was just a pale blue. But it entirely disappears in the photo! So, the “problem” isn’t that it’s ‘too sunny’. It seems to be very sensitive to certain light conditions.
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| From HTC Model: 0PJA2 |
Sometimes you get lucky and something wonderful develops.
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| From HTC Model: 0PJA2 |
another more successful photo.
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| From HTC Model: 0PJA2 |
This phone does come with some fun effects. Here’s an example of the Prismatic effect made in the phone using the editing software
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| From HTC Model: 0PJA2 |
This was the original photo:
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| From HTC Model: 0PJA2 |
here, I added Snow elements and saved as video
I made it “snow” in the spring…
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| From HTC Model: 0PJA2 |
The camera issue is somewhat annoying, but it’s not a deal breaker – the phone is basically very good.