HTC Windows Phone 8X Unlocked GSM Vouchers

rpv (California):
HTC 8X is definitely a incredible design and ergonomic. Windows 8 apps are a welcome change from iOS. Among the three ecosystems, I prefer Android, Windows 8, and iOS in that order. I got access to few Windows 8 phones to review. I will try to review them, but since I have not used for a period longer than a month I am not reviewing for reliability. 4.3" Super LCD 2, 720x1280 resolution, 342 ppi, Corning Gorilla Glass 2. Glass 2 is overlooked. Glass 3 is in the making and supposed to be even better. Stating following because this is highly underrated in reviews. From Corning's Gorilla Glass specs; WHAT MAKES GORILLA GLASS SO DAMAGE RESISTANT? The unique composition of Gorilla Glass allows for a deep layer of high compressive stress (created through an ion-exchange process). This compression acts as a sort of "armor," making the glass exceptionally tough and damage resistant. Ion exchange is a chemical strengthening process where large ions are "stuffed" into the glass surface, creating a state of compression. Gorilla Glass is specially designed to maximize this behavior.

1.5 GHz dual-core Qualcomm Krait processor, 16 GB internal flash, 1 GB RAM NO microSD slot! Battery is 1800 mAh Li-ion battery. Compared to a high end Android Galaxy Note II, which has a battery of 3100 mAh Battery. Battery is also not removable. __Not having a storage expansion slot is a bummer for lot of people! Not being able to remove battery is a double bummer.__ 8 MP camera is awesome, and HD videos were fantastic. For me, storage expansion and removal of battery is very important, so I was disappointed. This is the downside the unibody design. This is the reason for me giving a 4 star review.

I have used in the past extensively HTC Titan I and II which is pre Windows 8 (7.5) and I was surprised it has become more buttery smooth now. Apps are very smooth on 8X even compared to Nokia Lumia series. Apps are limited in Windows 8 marketplace. Yes, we have heard this a gazillion times. I tried with Navigon which turned out to be great in giving voice directions.

Engadget wrote after the release: "Yes, the 8X is a fantastic ambassador to Windows Phone 8, but after using it for several days, we're longing for a similar phone from HTC running Android -- at least until a stronger app ecosystem develops for Microsoft's latest mobile OS" This is a chicken and egg situation. Unless more phones are sold, developers don't have incentives to write apps. Apps are less now, because people are not buying in big droves. Windows Phone is now (early-mid 2013) the third-leading mobile phone platform, more than tripling its market share year-over-year. One recent report I read Android and iOS are ahead in games with 162.1 and 37.4 million shipments in 1Q13 and Windows phone came in 7 million. This is more than double from previous year. I really hope for Windows 8 platform to surge ahead because having a 3 way competition with iOS and Android is good for the ecosystem.
Gabriel Vicoveanu (Lawrence, MA United States):
It is surprisingly slick and fast. The battery it is acceptable. Bottom line I think it is a very good phone

 Eric L. Willard (Maryland):
This phone is aweful. I can't install iHeartRadio because the WVGA screen is incompatible with the app. That means no fm radio programs that I listen to every day. Pandora downloads at 3mb and has zero fm radio options.
When you plug in the charger, it vibrates every few seconds and I can find no fix for it online. At work it's constantly vibrating and annoying. While sleeping I have to unplug it so t's not vibrating all night. There is no indication that it is in fact charging while plugged in.
When you are charging it, it is impossible to turn it off so it can charge properly. With the window/screen stuck open, it takes longer to charge. It tries to dim down but the charging forces it back open. Also, when you are charging, if you press the power button to close the main screen, it will open up on it's own and will remain open as long as it's charging.
After 3 hours on a plugged in charger, the phone refused to charge and died. It will only charge on the USB charger.
If you have an app running, there's no icon to touch to see what apps are currently running in the background that are killing your battery. Pandora is one example. It lets you pause the app but not close it entirely.
The Facebook app is very limited and is almost completely text based. The images my friends upload or links they share show up as text messages. You have to click 2-3 pages to see the actual post.
I've only had one Android smartphone before and will be returning my Windows phone for a Droid Razor (HD or MAXX HD).
I tried going to the Explorer icon and it kept asking me to log onto my microsoft account and I was already logged into it. Also, Xbox/windows live is always logged on. It then forces you to use Bing which is a painfully boring search engine.
Only 16GB storage and after activation, it said I had just over 11Gb..Where did 5 whole GB go?
Zero Micro SD card slots so don't plan to expand the memory.
The screen is flashy and the icons nice to look at. That's all this phone is. A pretty piece of nothing.

EDIT:
After taking my phone back, I told the tech guy the same thing as in my review. He laughed and said he has heard the same things from multiple people. They took it back, no questions asked. I got my Samsung Galaxy phone in it's place and love it.