Review: HTC Aria
Bluetooth
The HTC Aria gets a nice selection of Bluetooth options. I was easily able to pair the phone with my Bluetooth headset as well as a set of stereo Bluetooth speakers for music playback. The Aria can also push image files over Bluetooth to a connected computer for wireless transfers.
Clock
HTC loves clocks. There are a dozen or so clocks that you can add to the homescreen, including a world clock with two time settings, and a variety of styles. When you unlock the screen, there's a clock front and center to check the time quickly. In almost every app, the notification bar is visible up top with a small digital clock on it. To check the date, tap the notification bar and it appears.
GPS
AT&T provides an odd assortment of GPS options on the device. TeleNav makes AT&T Navigator, which is a very good navigation program, but it costs a monthly fee. Better to stick with Google Maps, which also offers turn-by-turn navigation at no cost. The phone also comes with AT&T Maps, which is like Navigator but without directions. It offered a nice assortment of points-of-interest and good location searching. Still, though the information might be better, the app didn't offer as many features as Google Maps. Pinching gestures did not work in AT&T Maps, which pretty much seals the deal for Google's software.
Other Extras
The HTC Aria will not allow you to load apps from sources beyond the Android App Market. A surprising number of major and interesting apps are available outside the Market's purview. Besides the Sirius XM app, the new Swype keyboard beta, for instance, is only available by direct download, and not through the app store. It's an annoying and strange policy AT&T has enacted, as Google doesn't restrict its own phones, and AT&T doesn't restrict BlackBerry or Windows Mobile devices in the same way. Only the Apple iPhone has similar restrictions.
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