Camera
Without a dedicated hardware key for the camera, you’re relegated to firing up the 8-megapixel camera with the software shortcut. But it starts up and auto-focuses in less than 2 or 3 seconds. Picture quality is acceptable and so are videos.
Camera controls are extensive and sort of mindblowing for a camera phone.
• ISO up to 1250
• Adjustable metering mode: spot, center area, average
• Contrast, Saturation and Sharpness can be adjusted
• Shutter sound can be turned off
• Flicker adjustment: Auto, 50Hz, 60Hz
• Adjustable exposure: ±3
• Adjustable Image Properties: ±2 Contrast, Sharpness, Saturation
Software
Should Google release the next pastry themed update to Android in the near future, it’s unclear whether or not Incredible will be upgradeable. It’s running HTC’s Sense UI and features Leap, which is reminiscent of OS X’s Exposé. Leap is a shortcut to one of seven screens should you have widgets or programs residing on any one of them. You can pinch the homescreen or tap the home button (from the homescreen) to launch Leap.
A few other Sense specific apps include Car Panel, Desk Clock, and Friend Stream.
• Car Panel: Provides a shortcut to Footprints, Navigation, Voice Search, View Map, Search and Make a call while you’re driving with oversized icons.
• Desk Clock: It’s exactly what you think it is.
• Friend Stream: Aggregates status updates, photo uploads and links from your friends on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, etc.
Unlike devices with the “Google Experience” aka vanilla Android aka Nexus One, your previously purchased Android apps will not automatically sync on the Incredible. Bummer.
Dislikes
The following are personal nitpicks about the Incredible and shouldn’t sway your vote one way or another until you’ve played with one yourself.
• Battery percentage indicator would be awesome
• HTC Peep is a wonderful built-in Twitter client but I wish it were more like Tweetie or Echofon for the iPhone. It would be nice to know which updates are new and which ones I’ve already read. Retweets or mentions embedded within a message don’t show up under @s.
Should You Or Shouldn’t You
If the Incredible were a girl (or boy depending on your preference) then you may have found yourself the perfect mate. For now. It’s super lightweight and it’s the best smartphone and Android device available on Verizon. The Droid Incredible will be available 4/29 for $200 after a $100MIR and two-year contract.