Incredible AMOLED to SLCD Change and Verizon's UNWILLINGNESS to understand

[sovalon7]

Hello All,

I got the Droid Incredible on launch day, and I have loved the phone, with only minor problems compared to what everyone else is having.  Random reboots were the biggest offender.

Recently my Incredible went crazy and sometimes does not like to turn on for hours, even on a fully charged battery.  When I called Verizon they sent me out a new battery, didn't fix the problem.  Then they sent me out a new phone.  Since it didn't turn on, I argued to have it shipped next day air at no cost to me, which after "getting it approved by a manager", it was sent two day air.  Well it was supposed to arrive on Friday, with Next Day Air, so guess what, now I didn't get it until late Monday afternoon.  I kind of had an idea that I was going to receive one with an SLCD, not an AMOLED screen but I had no choice.  After a few days, with both phones side by side, I cannot stand the yellow hue compared to my old Incredible.

I contacted Verizon this morning and the lady knew about the changes in the screen, but she did not offer any solution other than to deal with it.  I asked to speak with a manager, she put me on hold for about 5 minutes, then came back and told me that the manager was unwilling to do anything.  I could however contact HTC to see if they could change screens.  And they won't be able to because HTC switched to SLCD on most of their phones now.

I think after being a new customer, and expecting at least good customer service since I am making a $2951.52, and !99.99 for the handset commitment to them for 2 years that they would be a little more willing to do something.  I wanted to see if I am way out of line on this.  It all comes down to personal preference and the AMOLED screen WAS a selling point with the Incredible.

I only wish Verizon would consider something to help with this, since I am getting an inferior screen in my opinion.

[jstuart91]

The Incredible has not switched away from the AMOLED screen. A few other HTC phones have been replacing AMOLED with SLCD, but the Incredible is not one of them...

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/38429/20100726/htc-ditches-samsung-amoled-display-for-sony-s-super-l...

[sovalon7]

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jstuart91 wrote:

The Incredible has not switched away from the AMOLED screen. A few other HTC phones have been replacing AMOLED with SLCD, but the Incredible is not one of them...

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/38429/20100726/htc-ditches-samsung-amoled-display-for-sony-s-super-l...

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This is 100% an SLCD display, as confirmed also with Verizon customer support, there is no mistaking the difference.

[Sborden]

Verizon support knows NOTHING,  i would take nothing they say as any kind of serious. I am surprised if they even know what an Incredible is

[sovalon7]

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Sborden wrote:

Verizon support knows NOTHING,  i would take nothing they say as any kind of serious. I am surprised if they even know what an Incredible is

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Point taken, and you are right.  I however, do know the difference and it is an SLCD.

[Sborden]

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sovalon7 wrote:

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Sborden wrote:

Verizon support knows NOTHING,  i would take nothing they say as any kind of serious. I am surprised if they even know what an Incredible is

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Point taken, and you are right.  I however, do know the difference and it is an SLCD.

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Not saying you do or dont sovalon, it may be, it may not i have no idea, but any information you get from VZ is probably wrong or a flat out lie.

[Lockup]

Out of curiosity what would you like them to do?  They are under no obligation to give you a replacement phone that is identical to yours.  Maybe they do not even have one.

[sovalon7]

Well if you go back to the initial reviews and product information, the AMOLED screen was a selling feature, as is the Galaxy S phones now.  At the time I had purchsed the Incredible, there was no phone with a bigger screen as such the EVO 4G, and at this time I was already locked into Verizon's contract.

I would be happywith them swapping my Incredible out with a Droid X, which also uses an LCD screen, but in turn for the sacrifice I would gain more screen real estate.

As far as what comes with a replacement phone: nothing.  It is just a phone in bubble wrap and a plain cardboard box with a return label and activation instructions so I do not know how much there is to go with that route.

[AZSALUKI]

is there not specs anywhere in the packaging? if the specs say one type of screen and your device has another, then you absolutely have a right to some type of resolution (although i don't know what.) i too, thought that they were still using the AMOLED screens. look into their (and htc's) marketing material. what does it say about the screen? if they are shipping these with the LCD's then that is more than false advertising. it is outright fraud (if the specs that came with the device state it has an AMOLED screen). the problem will be getting another vzn rep to acknowledge that it has a different screen (they really don't know what they are talking about (like the above posts said). but if you can go into a store and get them to admit it has a different screen then what the specs say, it is fraud, in my opinion.

[elmariachi]

 After a few days, with both phones side by side, I cannot stand the yellow hue compared to my old Incredible.

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I know I'm being sort of a jerk here and I apologize, but how do you know the yellow hue is due to the LCD screen and not a potential manufacturing defect?

[sovalon7]

I guess I cannot say that I know that for sure.  All i know is from what I have seen with video comparisons with the SLCD on a Nexus One to the AMOLED screen, my phones look the same.  One has a yellow hue to it while the other is more bright and more colorful.  It is very noticeable on bootup.

[elmariachi]

Personally I compared my old LG Voyager to my Dinc and at least Voyager's LCD screen didn't seem to have a yellow hue.

The other reason I ask is that the Iphone4 had a widely publicized issue in manufacturing where they weren't allowing the screens to cure correctly. This resulted in yellowish screens.

[sovalon7]

Yea, that went away though after a few days.  I have had mine since Monday so it may be a possibility.

[jstuart91]

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sovalon7 wrote:

I guess I cannot say that I know that for sure.  All i know is from what I have seen with video comparisons with the SLCD on a Nexus One to the AMOLED screen, my phones look the same.  One has a yellow hue to it while the other is more bright and more colorful.  It is very noticeable on bootup.

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Really? A video of another phone is how you're determining that you "100% have an SLCD display?" 

I would agree that you may have a defective unit, but do some research - HTC has not switched the Incredible to SLCD.

[JG69]

I'm not an expert in screen technology, but this is a link to an article posted on Droid-Life that is pretty clear that they've made the switch away from AMOLED displays:  http://www.droid-life.com/2010/06/27/droid-incredible-changes-to-super-tft-lcd-screens/

[Chillenout]

I refuse to take any crap that Verizon spews out..

If Verizon thinks they can screw you  and get away with it, they'll do it in a heartbeat.

So I usually end up contacting their Executive offices. They absolutely HATE when people complain to them.

In a calm manner you need to explain your story and what the reps told you.

If you have supporting documentation (shipping material) that the screen should be AMOLED but is NOT, notify them that if they refuse to correct it you'll go to the States Attorney Generals office, The FCC, the PUC, Consumer Affairs, and Better Business Bureau and any other regulatory department you can think of that has do to with communications.  

You need to send the email to Lowell McAdam, he's the the CEO of Verizon wireless. Also send the same email to the Region President of your area.

Here's the link for the CEO  & Region Presidents...click on their profile and at the bottom of the page is a contact link.

http://aboutus.vzw.com/leadership/executive/index.html

[FramCire]

Go ahead and contact the authorities.

If it is Incredible, IT IS AMOLED. PERIOD.

[AZSALUKI]

this is a quote from july 26:

“HTC is experiencing high-demand for many of our phones, specifically our phones with 3.7 inch displays.  The new SLCD display technology enables us to ramp up our production capabilities quickly to meet the high-demand,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation.  “The SLCD displays provide consumers with a comparable visual experience to HTC’s current 3.7 inch displays with some additional benefits including battery performance.”

http://jkontherun.com/2010/07/26/htc-says-no-to-amoled-nexus-one-lives-on/

the article does not specifically mention the incredible...but the CEO went on record and HTC did in fact issue a release that they would be switching to SLCD for many device with a 3.7 inch screen.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4ADRA_enUS362US363&q=htc+switch+amole...

this link has a bunch of articles (mostly blog sites) that contradict one and other...but the quote above is legit. so many sites and blogs are saying htc never did this....or that they did for some devices, but not the inc. however, the CEO said they were going to for phones with 3.7 inch display, so why wouldn't they switch the inc? that was the one that caused this whole mess (shortage).

[JoeBobHarris]

Sure was nice to walk in a Verizon store and walk out with a phone (yesterday). Frankly, I was hoping HTC would switch to SLCD if that would result in having inventory at the stores.

Yes, I understand the selling features of AMOLED (and even secretly wanted amoled). But, AMOLED's have poor outdoor performance right (reportedly)? So, I was looking at the trade-offs, and didn't care which display I got, so long as I could pick one up "at a store".

To repeat, for the minor differences, if SLCD means having stock "in-the-store" then, bring it on. It's important for HTC and Verizon to get this phone in the hands of users. It's a nice device (much lighter and thinner than Moto Droid and Sense UI is well done). Verizon customers need a choice other than "out-of-stock" 4.3" phones and bulky sliders like the Moto Droid 2.

SLCD is nice enough for that other HOT selling phone (you know the one everyone seems to have). I'm not watching movies on my phone or editing photos. It's a voice and communication device. It's a shame that display shortages crimped sales for as long as they did.

Enjoy.

[AZSALUKI]

the slcd is a bit easier to see in the sun but the amoled screen is superior. the issue is that they previously advertised it with one screen and then apparently switched to an inferior product. i have not seen specs on the new inc's (don't know if you can even find the screen type anywhere???). there's no problem if it does not say anywhere that it's an amoled. however, if it still does say amoled somewhere and they are using slcd, then it's fraud. i still have yet to see any real proof that they are using slcd???

[Asimoalex]

see i had the same problem as this i got my inc from laucning day i had random reboots too and they gave me 3 batterys before they sent a new one i argued as well and the deff changed the screens my old droid inc was Amlod (or how ever u spell it ) and this one is deff an SLCD i can see the diffrents in color espacly the blacks ...but thats about it and well the white color looking a little grayish but that it