Shortly after yesterday’s Sprint press conference, we managed to get our hands on the brand new HTC EVO 3D for a quick video demo. Company representatives were rather strict regarding things we could and could not demo, so we only had a chance to film certain aspects of the device. My hands on video recording shows off the design of the body and a few neat interface additions.

The Hardware

I had my HTC EVO 4G with me and I took it out for a size comparison. I was hoping for a smaller and sleeker body, but customers are getting just the opposite. The EVO 3D is approximately a tenth of an inch taller and thicker than last year’s model. To be fair, this smart phone has three cameras, a larger battery, a dual-core processor, and a 3D display which probably adds up quickly. Fortunately the extra bulk is not much, but HTC is still headed in the wrong direction.

The Software

Regarding software, the EVO 3D runs on the latest Android 2.3 Gingerbread with a new version of HTC Sense. Some new notable features include a lock screen with four customizable shortcuts for getting to into commonly used apps quickly. The home screen also features a new carousel view. The interface also features a slightly re-styled skin, with more transparencies. The interface was a bit choppy and slow at times. I should note that the entire operating system is still an early build and the Sprint representative we spoke with said it would become more polished at by launch.

I have generally been a big fan of HTC Sense, but the latest implementation on the EVO 3D seems to go too far. It has started to reach a point where the Android OS is becoming less and less recognizable. While I appreciate some minimal enhancements, the interface feels as though it is getting too bulky.

Other Thoughts

Last year’s EVO was the first 4G smart phone on the market. This week’s EVO is the first 3D smart phone on the market. Sprint is definitely keeping the trend with the successful brand name going strong with HTC hardware. I was honestly excited for this device, but the more I think about it, the more I realize that I have no use for 3D. There is almost no easily accessible 3D content at this time. That isn’t to say that companies should not push for new technologies, but that the capabilities are more than useless for customers. It is more of a novelty than function.

Links: HTC EVO 3D | Detailed Specs