HTC is running an ambassador project dubbed #TeamHTC with events spread out all over the United States and just like many of you, I entered to be a part of the project. As a writer for HTCSource, I voluntarily dig for and spread news about the manufacturer and upcoming mobile devices because of a true passion I have for HTC and their products.
HTC graciously offered me the opportunity to attend a live music show at the House of Blues Chicago to see several artists with The Starting Line being the stars of the show. As an ambassador for #TeamHTC my mission was to “Take awesome pictures and share them.” Using common social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram I shared a bunch of photos throughout the day and used the hash tags #TeamHTC and #DroidDNA.
Take pictures. With what? If selected, HTC puts the latest and greatest hardware in your hands, like the HTC Droid DNA in my case, to capture high quality pictures and video of the event which HTC also provides you tickets to.
The HTC Droid DNA has an excellent rear facing camera, but with HTC it is not all about how many megapixels a camera has. HTC has a special chip called ImageChip combined with unique software HTC has a winning camera that is hard to beat. Also nice, is the 2 MP front camera that can now take advantage of the ImageChip and has a wider lens to fit more people in the shot.
For me, the day started with a 4am Megabus ride from Louisville, KY to Chicago, IL. Once I arrived, I used Google maps on my phone to help me find some place that was open so I could warn up and get out of the chilly rain. The first destination was a Starbucks, because practically everything else was closed since it was only 9am on a Sunday morning. I sipped on a cup of coffee and pulled out my phone to find the nearest Verizon Wireless store so I could get some protective gear on my new Droid DNA. I was really hoping to put a Zagg Invisibleshield on the glass, but the sales rep that helped me said they did not have any. I settled for a three pack of a basic screen protector that was specifically made for the Droid DNA’s 5″ display and I also purchased a gel case since it still allowed me to use my Monopod by iStabilizer.
From there I headed towards the House of Blues to get an idea of where the place was and to see what else was around it. I found a place to eat nearby called Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse and Bar. The Bears game was on so I sat at the bar and had an excellent burger and some Fat Tire. Afterwards, I walked across the street to my hotel so I could relax a bit before the show.
It was time for the show!
I walked down the street to the House of Blues and once I was inside I was greeted by a Rockin’ Santa Clause.
While at the counter to pick up my ticket I found an opportunity to tell the staff about my new phone. They admired how large the screen was and how well the Droid DNA was designed. After I picked up my ticket, I went upstairs to get a beer and find a good spot to watch the show.
The first group, Makeshift Prodigy played a cover of Zombie by The Cranberries as well as a handful of their own songs which rang really well in my ears, especially Some Kind of Miracle.
After a short interlude, the second band, Real Friends came out and played their set.
Finally, The Starting Line claimed the stage and after a short introduction the band played their hearts out for the full house of listeners that shook the House as they jumped up and down to the pop rock sound. I literally felt the house shaking, this crowd was great!
While at the concert the majority of my pictures were taken using the “Night” setting on my phone. This setting is called “Low Light” on my HTC One S, but on the new HTC Droid DNA it gets slightly renamed.
After the concert was over I stepped outside for a breath of fresh air by the water and I snapped a great High Def Resolution (HDR) photo of the city lights and the water.
Then I found a local brewery called Rock Bottom and had an amazing plate of chicken chorizo mac and cheese chased with a Bourbon Barrel Russian Imperial Stout.
The next day I walked around Chicago; while slowly making my way toward the bus stop I snapped a few shots using my iStabilizer Monopod with my HTC Droid DNA. I really wanted others to see how I was taking pictures so that it might draw them in so I could talk about both the mount and the phone. After I took the shot below, a group of ladies came up and I gave them some quick Christmas gift ideas for their gadget loving family members.
Overall, my experience with the Droid DNA and #TeamHTC was amazing. I could not pass up the opportunity to be a part of something like this for my favorite smartphone maker. I enjoyed sharing my experiences on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and even got to interact with a few online personalities along the way. My favorite post of the night was this:
Chicago is heavily iPhoned. I bet they have @htc #DroidDNA fever after I spun circles around them tonight at the House of Blues. #TeamHTC
— Andy Medders (@AndyMedders) December 10, 2012
The HTC Droid DNA has far exceeded my expectations. The size of the phone is comfortable in my hand and pocket, the screen looks great, the processor zips along faster than any phone I have used to date, and it kept going all day long. You should really think about adding this smartphone to your wish list this Christmas.
Thanks to HTC for enlisting me as an ambassador for #TeamHTC and stick around to see where my HTC Droid DNA takes me next.
