HTC Surround Review: A Pocket Boombox
by Brian Klug on November 13, 2010 2:01 AM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- Windows Phone 7
- HTC Surround
- Mobile
To shoot video on WP7, you tap the video switcher in the top left after launching the camera application. Unfortunately, if you’re always firing up the camera app to shoot video, you’re going to have to tap this every time, as the setting isn’t saved. Frustratingly, the resolution of videos you shoot in the camera app also isn’t saved - you need to explicitly demand 720P each time if you want it, otherwise you’ll just get VGA.
HD 720P videos recorded on the HTC Surround (and I’m assuming the same applies to the other WP7 devices) are shot in 24 FPS MPEG-4 with stereo AAC audio. I recorded 34 seconds of 720P video 34.8 MB in size, for an average bitrate of around 8 megabits/s.
Video quality itself is decent, but what I noticed across two HTC Surrounds was that the camera runs the autofocus routine very frequently during the video, resulting in a pretty apparent zoom in, zoom out effect that can be very distracting. If you’ve used an autofocus smartphone camera, you know exactly what I’m talking about. It runs it sporadically.
The other problem is that the audio track recorded on the Surround sounds like it’s underwater - literally. There’s something very strange about it, and it sounds this way regardless of what audio recording setting the Surround was set to (Stereo, Normal, or Noise Reduction).
I’m left with pretty mixed feelings about the Surround (and WP7) camera application. Settings should be preserved when quitting the application and coming back, icons don’t rotate or give visual feedback that shooting in portrait is supported, and the default of not shooting in the highest quality video mode has continually resulted in me cursing under my breath when I realize later that video I shot is VGA, not 720P. Then we have the strange underwater audio recording on the Surround itself. Hopefully these are things that are actively being worked on and will get fixed in a patch.
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leomax999 - Sunday, November 14, 2010 - link
Why dont i find a Nokia/SE phone review here in AT?strikeback03 - Monday, November 15, 2010 - link
There is an N900 review, that said as most are not available on US carriers, it seems unlikely the companies are going to send out review units to the press in countries where the phone won't be officially carried that often.craig0ry - Monday, November 15, 2010 - link
I'm sorry to post this here, but I have been trying to make my mind up about my next phone and I keep checking this website for the G2 review. I've read the preview... but I want the review before I jump ship to WinPhone7. Did I miss it somehow?Brian Klug - Monday, November 15, 2010 - link
Hey Craig0ry,I'm still waiting on T-Mobile to send a G2 my way. We definitely haven't forgotten and plan to do the full review as always when it gets here.
-Brian
banvetor - Monday, November 15, 2010 - link
Hi Brian,Thanks for the feedback. I understand that it is tougher for you to get international devices, but since more often than not they are not THAT different from the US ones, it is not such a big deal.
Anyway, for me a smartphone without a data plan is still very useful: it serves as my mp3 player, as my camera and as my portable gaming machine... in the case of my nokia, also as my gps! Do you need more than that? ;)
Looking forward for your next smartphone review!
Leo.
amdisbetter - Tuesday, November 16, 2010 - link
Is there going to be a review from AnandTech for the other WP7 phones as well? I'm looking to get the LG Optimus 7 this December since it seems the Samsung Omnia 7 isn't going to be offered in Canada :(teohhanhui - Wednesday, December 8, 2010 - link
I always find myself wishing I have a smartphone when I'm without a PC and need to check on something, or just do some quick browsing. In most of those times, there are actually free WiFi hotspots around. Unless data charges get much much lower (a.k.a. reasonable), I can't justify spending that much on unnecessary activities while on the go.Torgrimson - Saturday, January 15, 2011 - link
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dravidkotak - Tuesday, December 20, 2016 - link
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