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New HTC Desire Eye is the Perfect Selfie Phone

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A while back we took a look at HTC’s new flagship smartphone, the HTC One M8 and now it’s time to discover the new HTC Desire Eye smartphone, a mid-ranged phone that was built for taking Selfies.

HTC created the perfect selfie phone and they’re proud of it! Yesterday, HTC held an event called Double Exposure in New York where they presented two amazing products that will surely impress the world: the HTC Desire Eye, a smartphone that features a front-facing camera that is just as powerful as the back camera, something that hasn’t been done until now and their HTC Re Camera, a quirky camera that goes with Android and iOS and takes photos so that you don’t have use for your phone for it. Let’s take a look at the HTC Desire Eye!

All You Need to Know about the New HTC Desire Eye

HTC thought that selfies are so important to the modern man that it felt the need to create a Selfie phone. It’s true that selfies are becoming more and more present in everyday life, but to create a phone for that exact purpose may be a bit too much. Still, the phone is pretty impressive and look quite alright.

HTC Desire Eye

HTC Desire Eye is the first smartphone to feature the same camera and flash on its front as its back. It is a 13 MP camera with autofocus capable of 1080p video recording and a dual LED flash and it proudly sits on top of the phone as well as the back. The camera performs splendidly in normal light conditions, but when low light hits, the phone disappoints.

It has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 2 GB of RAM and it is water resistant. The HTC Desire Eye runs Android 4.4 and it has HTC’s Sense 6.0 interface. There’s still no word on the price yet, but it’s going to be cheaper than the HTC One M8.

What are your thoughts on the HTC Desire Eye? Does a selfie phone sound appealing to you? Comment in the section below.

HTC Releases Android 4.4 KitKat Update For HTC One Google Play Edition

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HTC is going to update its HTC One Google Play Edition to Android 4.4 KiKat version very soon. There has been no official statement forthcoming from HTC announcing the date of release of the update though some users have already started receiving thee update. There are no screen shots available as yet from these few users to shed some more light about the update or to give us an idea of what its after installation features would be.  But information received indicates the update to be a bit hefty at 320 MB and has been released over the air.

play-edition-htc-one

HTC had also indicated January as the month for the Android 4.4 Kitkat update to be getting through. So the update could most probably be a developer’s niche as of now. HTC in all likelihood would release the full update for all its devices at the scheduled January time period only.

There are two phones which had been released via Google Play store at about the same time, the HTC One Google Play and the Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition. When would the Samsung Galaxy Google Play Edition get its KitKat update is to be seen though as of now, HTC has indeed beaten Samsung in the update game.

For those who came in late and not aware of the specs that the HTC One Google Play edition carries, it has the Snapdragon 600 processor at its core, a 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage. There is the standard microSD card slot for adding extra memory to the device. For network it has NFC, GPS and Bluetooth 4.0.

HTC Assures KitKat Update by Jan End

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Much to everyone’s surprise, the first device to make the transition to Android 4.4 Kitkat is not any of the Nexus branded device. Rather, it is the Verizon version of the Moto X. While it’s understandable Motorola is owned by Google though none perhaps could have expected it will be a non-Nexus device that would be upgraded to the latest Android version. However, with this being the way things stand right now, other manufacturers too aren’t too way off from coming up with the all important KitKat update for their devices.

HTC

Next in line for the update is HTC for their HTC One device. They had promised the update to be available for their HTC One, ninety days after KitKat was to be released. They have assured that they would stick to the time frame.

Users of the HTC One in the USA and North America region should be getting their KitKat update by end January. Given the process which is required to get the update spread across so many network carriers the time required is quite long and yet HTC is at present doing the task at quite a rapid rate.

So far as the HTC One, Google Play edition goes, the ball it appears is in Google’s court as HTC has mentioned about handing over the required changes to the software to Google. The implementation of the changes and subsequent availability for users to download and install rests with Google.

Another device from HTC, which Verizon supplied to the market would also get its update to KitKat before the first quarter of 2014 ends. March therefore appears to be the month when KitKat can be seen on these devices too, that is the Droid DNA line of devices from HTC.

Former HTC Staff Launch KAZAM Smartphone

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HTC, or for that matter every smartphone maker will have to contend with a new competitor in the European market, Kazam. The reason why the Taiwanese company is being roped in every time KAZAM gets mention is that it is headed by two former executives from HTC.

Kazam

Michael Coombes who was the head of sales at HTC and James Atkin the marketing head had left HTC to form KAZAM in June last year. They had promised to come out with user friendly devices very soon and all of that has fructified in just five months’ time with the company launching six new models. In what should come as least surprising, the choice of operating system is Android. KAZAM has launched the new smartphones under the brand names of Thunder and Trooper.

The thunder line represents the high end version where the Q4.5 model is the top of the ladder. The device has a 4.5 inch screen with a resolution of 480 x 854 pixels which makes it FWVGA compliant. Powering the device is a quad core chip that clocks at 1.3 GHz that works together with a 1 GB RAM along with 4 GB of internal storage. The latter is of course upgradable to 32 GB via the standard microSD card slot. The rear camera that benefit from auto focusing technology is of 8 MP resolution while the front facing camera of 2 MP resolution is capable of recording 720p videos with frame rate of 30 fps. The OS of all their line of devices is Android and the Q4.5 runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.

The Trooper line of handsets is characterized by smaller screen size. The model number relates to the screen size. Like the X3.5 is 3.5 inch with a screen resolution of 320 x 480 pixels. The X4.0 of the Thunder line has a screen resolution of 480 x 800 and the X4.5 has a screen resolution of 480 x 854 pixels. The largest in the thunder line is the X5.5; it however has the same screen resolution as the X5 that is 480 x 854 pixels.

The processor at the core of the Thunder line of devices is dual core and clocks at 1.2 GHZ, but their internal RAM configuration is 512 MB. The internal storage capacity of the Q4.5 is 4 GB and their OS is Android 4.2

Some interesting offers that KAZAM has for their devices are the option of replacing the screen if damaged within 12 month from purchase. There is also the feature of the devices all supporting dual SIM on them. The phones also come installed with a feature that allows for technical team from KAZAM accessing the devices remotely to correct any issues the users may be facing.

KAZAM have not given out the price structure for their handsets, but it can well be expected to be easy on the pocket. The market is quite crowded with a variety of smartphones and therefore to make a mark, it is not only features but price is a very important factor that the head of the company are well aware of.

HTC to Roll Out Android KitKat Update Towards End Jan, 2014

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HTC users in the United States, Europe, Middle East and Africa would get their update to Android 4.4 KitKat version starting end of January 2014. This has been officially confirmed by HTC, making them the first among the frontline companies to actually come up with concrete plans to upgrade to Android KitKat. HTC has also announced the models that would be covered under this update scheme. These would be the HTC One, HTC One Max and HTC One Mini. While HTC users would get their updates in Jan next, those who have picked up their sets from Google Play store, would have their updates earlier.

HTC_One

Come mid November, users of the Google Play Edition of the HTC One should be getting their update. That would also be when Samsung Galaxy S4, the Google Play Edition also gets their KitKat update. There is however other methods for getting the update earlier. That of course needs individual updates to be executed and little bit of tech knowledge. Articles on how the same could be updated on the Nexus 5 have been available and that is the same way that other sets could also be updated.

A press release from HTC mentions about the Android 4.4 roll out across EMEA with Sense 5.5 from end January of next year. The Press release also mentions about mid November dates for the update for the Google Play Editions.

The HTC One Mini and HTC One Max however has not been mentioned in the Press release possibly as these are yet to make their mark in the market as yet. We can expect that sooner or later these two models would also get their Android 4.4 KitKat update.

The Droid DNA is another device that would be provided with the Android 4.4 KitKat upgrade. The smartphone is yet to receive Android 4.2 or Android 4.3 Jelly Bean upgrade, which HTC hopes to release before the end of the year. And upgrade to Android KitKat just a month later seems unlikely for the Droid DNA that has already been in the market for about a year now.

HTC Sending Out Invite For an Event On Oct 15, HTC One Likely to be Launched

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HTC is sending out press invites for an event planned on October 15 which analysts believe could mark the coming of the One Max device. What this means is that we finally have the launch dates of what can well be described as one of the most leaked devices in recent times. Also, it seems there will be more than one event held on consecutive days to launch the device with the main event leading to the global launch of the phablet likely to be held in China on 15 Oct. HTC Taiwan has scheduled a domestic event the very next day on 16 Oct.

HTC One Max

The wal Street Journal too is of the view that the Oct 15 event is dedicated to launching the One Max which is billed as the Taiwanese company’s response to the recent spate of launches in the phablet segment. Apart from its bigger display, the most striking aspect of the big screen smartphone is its rumored inclusion of a fingerprint scanner. This if true will be make the One Max the first device running Android to feature a fingerprint scanner that is currently available only in the iPhone 5s. However, unlike the iPhone 5s that includes the scanning sensor beneath the home button, the same in case of the One Max, as is revealed via leaked images is placed along the rear of the device beside the rear facing camera.

The rest of the specs that the leaks have revealed mention a 1080p 5.9 inch display. Powering the device will be a quad core Snapdragon S4 Pro chip rated at 1.7 GHz that will operate in unison with a 2 GB RAM. The device is also expected to come with at least three internal storage configuration starting with 16 GB. Also, it will be Android 4.3 Jelly Bean that the device will run with Sense 5.5 running on top, making the phablet the first HTC device to come with Sense 5.5 UI.

Meanwhile, in another leak, an image of the One Max with Verizon branding has surfaced. Verizon has been among the last to launch the HTC One and seems it is going to make up for that by being among the first to launch the big screen version of the same.

HTC One X Android 4.3 Jelly Bean Update and HTC Sense 5.5, Seems Not Going to Happen Soon

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Even though HTC has not spoken officially about what is going to happen to HTC One X with relation to Android 4.3 upgrade and HTC Sense 5.5 in the future, we feel that it will take a lot more time to happen. In fact an insider has already spilled the beans that HTC One X will not be getting Android 4.3 and HTC Sense 5.5 update. This means HTC One X will continue to run on Android 4.2.2 and HTC Sense 5.

htc_one_x

The Taiwanese tech giant has never been that active in announcing Sense and Android upgrades well before time. However, HTC only communicates on the upgrades to the users when it is just about to roll them out. So, if you own an HTC One X smartphone, you will see other smartphones getting the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean faster compared to others.

As of now, it is positive that HTC will be launching Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and Sense 5 update for HTC One and Droid DNA. However, we don’t see any official information coming from HTC about HTC One X about getting the said updates. So, not only for HTC One X but also for other older HTC smartphones, the future about getting Android 4.3 and HTC Sense 5.5 looks unclear

LlaboTooFer who is known for revealing leaked information on HTC products had recently revealed about the update for various HTC devices. However, solely the information about HTC One X seems weak. Very soon Android 4.4 KitKat will be announced. It is said that the KitKat update will be made available for older Android devices as well. However, going by the present scenario, we don’t feel that HTC devices are likely to get Android 4.4 KitKat update sooner.

It was only several weeks ago that HTC had launched Android 4.2 and Sense 5 update for HTC One X. Then, the update was made available for HTC One X running on AT&T and that’s about it. After this, HTC seems to have stopped rolling out newer updates for HTC One X

The latest tweet of LlaboTooFer also indicates that HTC One X will not be receiving HTC Sense 5.5 and also the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean upgrade. So, for all those eager HTC One X users, the news will not certainly digest easily and may be the expectation about the upgrades to come later still remains open as HTC has not officially announced anything on it.

The Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update came out in the month of July and as expected it first arrived exclusively on Nexus 7 device. Till now, only few devices have received the Android 4.3 update. The Galaxy Note 3 will be shipped with Android 4.3 preloaded on it. Android 4.3 will soon be replaced by Android 4.4 KitKat. Even HTC Sense 5.5 has not been officially announced but according to the leaks, the first HTC device to get the Sense 5.5 is the forthcoming phablet, HTC One Max. The new phablet will be debuting in the middle of October.

HTC One Max Features Could Just Be An Enlarged HTC One

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Those who might have been expecting a whole new experience with the HTC One Max device might be up for some major disappointment. This since not much of a difference is to be expected between the HTC One and the HTC One Max if the latest update given by the Taiwanese maker of the device is to be believed. Pocket-Lint had the opportunity to speak to some people inside HTC involved with the HTC One Max.

HTC-One-Max

If this be true then the One Max would come with the same Snapdragon 600 processor that powers the current HTC One device if the statement of it being similar to the latter is to be taken for fact. It would however have a 5.9 inch display size which will be 1.2 inch more than the HTC One.  Another bit of difference from the HTC One is that the HTC One Max would have a microSD card slot, something that is not present with the HTC One.

So far as the operating system that the device will run, it is going to be Android 4.3 along with the Sense 5.5 user interface on top, which will mark a step up over the Sense version 5.0 now running with the HTC One. This would give the device additional features like Zoe capture, something aided by the Ultrapixel camera to match this feature. It would also have BlinkFeed service as well that will provide the user with the latest information that will keep the user updated.

Another bit of information that has also come to the fore is that the HTC One Max would be available at the retailer stores not before end October or early November even though the device is expected to be formally announced around the middle of this month itself. Unofficial sources maintain the HTC One Max is likely to be launched on 14 October.

Another bit of information yet to be confirmed is the device coming with a fingerprint scanner. If that happens, then the HTC One Max would be the first device after the Apple iPhone 5s to have this feature. This will also mark the Android device to have the fingerprint security feature integrated into it. There is Google with their Nexus 5 launch event that is also making the world wait for. These are the interesting launches in the smartphone category that the customers are waiting for with a lot of apprehension.

HTC (One, One X+, One S) Not to Provide Android Kit Kat Upgrade to Most of its Smartphone Models

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If you have had enough of Android Jelly Beans, Google has promised Android Kit Kat that would be launched soon. Jelly Bean has been one landmark Android version that had made the Google mobile operating system a household name. No doubt, all of that has further added to our excitement for the Kit Kat version, more so after it derives its name from one of the most popular of Nestle’s Cadbury products.

Android Kit Kat

The name Kit Kat comes from the association of Google with Nestle, the maker of Kit Kat chocolates in the making of this new upgraded Android OS version. The upgrade is expected to bring in competition to the likes of iOS 7. Rumors have it that the Kit Kat upgrade could be released by Google in October this year. That is when the Nexus 5 and Nexus 10 models from Google are also expected to see light of the day. No doubt Android 4.4 Kit Kat OS upgrade is quite a talked about topic. Most Android users are awaiting this update as it promises lots of interesting add-on features to it. While Google has not yet come out officially about the release date or other associated announcements on the Kit Kat, that hasn’t stopped many from cooking up their own stories. One of these being that the HTC handsets would not be getting the upgrade to KitKat.

Devices that seem very likely to get the update are the Vega Iron handset from Pantech. Nexus 4 is another device that is likely to benefit from the Android Kit Kat upgrade even though the device is already sold out and its replacement is expected soon. The same also applies to the first generation Nexus 10 device as well.

LLabTooFeR is a source that gets inside information from HTC for public domain, and they report that the only HTC smartphone’s which would probably get the Kit Kat upgrade are the Droid DNA and HTC Butterfly models. Unfortunately, many of the erstwhile HTC devices such as the HTC One and X+ as well as HTC One S are least likely to get the android Kit Kat upgrade.

HTC has been reluctant to even provide these handsets with the Android 4.3 upgrade though mass appeal forced the company to eventually change their decision. However, it’s Jelly Bean that the owners of the above mentioned handsets can expect at the most even though they are still quite capable devices.

HTC One Max Rumored To Launch on Oct 15 Release Date

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Big screen smartphones or phablets have emerged as the hot new battleground for smartphone manufacturers. There is plenty of action now being witnessed in this segment that till now was dominated by only Samsung. Now HTC too is eager to stake a claim of this segment with its HTC One Max device which is believed to be launched soon in just about a few weeks’ time. Yes, within the next 2 weeks we can witness the HTC One Max release date.

One Max

HTC surely is yet to commit to any specific launch schedule though sighting of the device in near perfect form on a regular basis has led many to believe a formal launch is not too far off. Take for instance the recent leak of the One Max device in the Chinese website Weibo that is claiming the launch date of the HTC One Max to be around the middle of October.

From what has emerged thanks to the series of leaks that we have had so far of the device, the big screen version of the HTC One is going to have a 5.9 inch display, something that had been first reported once again in the Chinese site TENAA. This is an organization which carries out certification work for such devices and the HTC One Max is reported to have been cleared for use in China is what the web site reports.

From the photographs posted by Phone Arena it appears the HTC One Max would have a screen resolution of 1080p while the core processor is a quad core chip clocking at 2.3 GHz. The other features of the phone that seems evident include 16 GB of internal storage along with 2 GB of RAM. Also, like it’s smaller sibling, the HTC One, the One Max too is expected to feature an UltraPixel camera or maybe an advanced version of it to allow for even better photography. Also, in what is likely to emerge as a standard feature in most high end mobile devices of future, the upcoming HTC One Max is also speculated to come with a finger print scanner though it remains to be seen how deeply it is integrated with the OS along with other apps. As of now, it is only the iPhone 5S that features a fingerprint scanner that is hidden underneath the home button.

Another very active leakster, @evleaks, reports the HTC One Max would be supported by Sprint a leading cellular carrier in the US. Users would have to hold their breath for just a few more weeks for the actual release of the HTC One Max.

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