So-called "social" smartphones have tried, and as yet failed spectacularly to create any legitimate niche within the market. With 1+ billion on Facebook and many millions more using the likes of Twitter, the social smartphone should, at least on paper, be an easy sell; but as HTC found out with the ChaCha and Salsa, not everybody likes to dance is so keen to buy into the idea of a device tailored to the social networks. Undeterred, the "quietly brilliant" Taiwanese company looks set for another stab with its 'Myst' handset, and if a specs leak via Unwired View's evleaks is to be believed, the mid-range handset sounds like a decent effort.
The reason why so many commentators (including myself) have had mostly good things to say with regards to the HTC One, is because, well, it's beautiful. We're used to Android flagships packing in high-end specs (see HTC's previous two efforts), but with almost every top handset running Google's mobile platform, the build quality has always been a let-down. Frequently laden in shiny plastic, no significant Android device has really challenged the iPhone in the quality stakes, but with a beautiful aluminum unibody, Droidsters finally have a gadget to savor. In an attempt to ramp up anticipation for the One, HTC has released a video detailing just how it's all pieced together, with every hole and concave etched to precision. Check out the video after the break.
Today, I headed over to the official launch of the HTC One down in London's Oxford Street, and got a hands-on look at the Taiwanese company's latest and greatest smartphone device. There's no debating that, on paper, the device is a monster, but what's it like to hold? Is the build quality up to scratch? And does the "Boom" factor in the speaker or the "UltraPixel" element of the camera make any notable difference, or is it marketing jargon? I'll be answering all of these questions, and offering my initial reaction to the device after the break.
For HTC and Android enthusiasts everywhere, the HTC One, previously known as the HTC M7, has been a great source of excitement over the last few months as more information leaked onto the Web almost on a weekly basis. At last, the new phone was announced at two simultaneous events in both London and New York, confirming many of the previous leaks and rumors.
After the spec'd-out One X and One X+ failed to make the desired impression on an Android user base concerned primarily with Samsung-branded handsets, HTC is back with a new flagship device, and is doing its level best to gather some momentum behind it. The HTC One, which has been the subject of quite a few carefully-engineered leaks, is going to be showcased very, very soon - on February 19th, in fact - and in anticipation for its special launch event in New York City on that very date, the 'quietly brilliant' Taiwanese manufacturer has been running special promo page (complete with a countdown timer) on its Web page.
When it comes to the look and feel of the OS, Android gives much more freedom to users as opposed to any other comparable smartphone operating system. You can theme, make changes through widgets, customize the boot animation, and pretty much change every aspect of the OS itself, all the way from the battery indicator to how the dock behaves (or even exists at all). In fact, the level of customization is so deep, that items like recovery and flashing of ZIP files through it have been given a proper, functional GUI as well (AROMA installer, for instance). The same freedom is also enjoyed by various manufacturers, who have, over time, developed a unique identity of their own through their distinctive Android UI skins. And the most popular one of them, by far, seems to be HTC’s Sense UI.
Taiwanese electronics giant HTC is plotting two Windows RT-based tablets, according to a report by Bloomberg. The report cites the usual "sources familiar" with the matter, and as well as a an all-singing 12-inch version of the purported tablet duo, HTC is also said to be following market trends by also offering a much more pocketable 7-inch version.
We've seen a spate of all-in-one tool-kits for Android devices surface recently, and adding to the release of the AiO for the Nexus 4 and HTC One X+, the guys over at XDA Developers have rustled together a similar tool for the HTC Droid DNA. Last week, we showed you how to go about rooting the slick 4G device and also unlocking its bootloader, but if you found that particular tutorial to be a little daunting, you can not only root, but install drivers, flash custom recoveries and more with the toolkit.
HTC has had a pretty difficult year all told, but with the Windows Phone 8 duo in the 8X and 8S now making their way to market, and a recent licensing agreement reached with Apple, things are certainly looking up for the Taiwanese company. The HTC One X+ on Android offers an even beefier list of specs than the original One X released earlier this year, which wasn't exactly underpowered in itself, and if you want to have even more fun with your One X+, you'll be pleased to learn that the all-in-one toolkit has just been released for the device.
It was approximately ten days ago when Apple and HTC announced that they had come to a global settlement that would eventually see their ongoing legal dispute come to an extremely welcome end. Both Peter Chou and Tim Cook expressed their delight in reaching the agreement that they hoped would see their respective companies focusing in innovation and customer satisfaction rather than pumping endless resources into fighting one another in a courtroom. Although both HTC and Apple refused to publicly reveal the intricate details of the agreement, a US based Magistrate judge has ruled that Apple will be required to let Samsung in on the bigger picture and inform them exactly what deal has been reached between Apple and their Taiwanese rivals.
