HTC One •

HTC One Successor Expected in 2014, Likely to Come With Sense 6

December 21, 2013 By Jack M. Robinson 1 Comment

HTC has had mixed success with its One smartphone device though that can’t be considered as the right measure of the smartphone’s brilliance. However, the company got the script wrong once they failed to infuse the market in enough numbers which cost the company dearly in the end. HTC had to deal with production issues owing to the complexities in manufacturing the ultrapixel camera that the device incorporates. By the time it had sorted out the issues, it found the market swinging to the tune of the Samsung Galaxy S4. Ironically, the S4 too seemed to have run out of steam after an initial good run at the market while sales of the HTC One too stabilized. However, both models are fast loosing sheen in the face of newer models launched by competing companies, which means new gen versions are already in the making.

Coming back specifically to the successor to the HTC One, that we would be treated with it sometime in 2014 is all too obvious. The possible names that the new product could take on are HTC M8, though there are some who mention the name of HTC One Two. Whatever be the label of the product, the specs the upcoming device is expected to sport include a 5 inch full HD display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chip along with the same Ultrapixel camera as seen on today’s HTC One. Another factor from the hardware side would be the Boomsound speakers that give the current HTC One an edge over others in the market of its genre.

Coming to the software and apps that can be associated with the next gen HTC One device, @LlabTooFeR reports that it would come with Android 4.4.2 pre-installed on it. This can be considered a pretty safe bet considering that is the Android version that would be in vogue by the time the smartphone is ready to enter market. The source also points out the device would have Sense 6 installed, which would be the newest UI that the company is in the process of developing for its sets.

With the major events like CES and MWC scheduled in the early part of 2014, there is for sure more to be learnt at these two events.

HTC One Gold Edition Launched as Prize For Mobo Awards

November 27, 2013 By Troy Rubenson Leave a Comment

HTC had launched its flagship model the HTC One with an aluminum cover. The device made brisk sales when it was launched and remains as one of the good smartphone to buy in the premium category. HTC thereafter released many more versions of the smartphone that is so far as the color of its casing goes. There has been the silver, red and black color versions of the HTC One released in the market. Joining that list now is the new Gold color version.

This Gold casing is pure 18 carat gold and there have been just five units of this variant placed in public domain as prize for the MOBO Awards held in Glasgow. But the reality of this gold edition has had its effects on the manufacturer based in Taiwan who have now decided to make further units of gold for the UK and European markets.

President of HTC EMEA, Philip Blair issued a statement in which he mentions that the company was surprised with the manner in which the gold edition turned out to be and that is the reason for them to come out with more numbers and further variation of the design for their customers. The company, he mentioned, had been trying out various all metal body casing for the HTC One till now.

Even though the casing would be of Gold, the inner specs would remain the same as before. This includes a 1080p capable HD Display of 4.7 inch, a rear facing camera of just 4 megapixel but can still do some stunning photography aided by UltraPixel technology along with a quad core Snapdragon 600 chip. The operating system of the device is Android Jelly Bean.

People vying for the fancy and impressive gold cased HTC One can place their booking and delivery would sure take place before Christmas.

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

November 27, 2013 By Jack M. Robinson Leave a Comment

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.

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

November 21, 2013 By Jack M. Robinson Leave a Comment

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.

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.

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

October 9, 2013 By Sebastian Mc’Mannen Leave a Comment

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.

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 Max Features Could Just Be An Enlarged HTC One

October 1, 2013 By Jack M. Robinson Leave a Comment

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.

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

September 30, 2013 By Jack M. Robinson 3 Comments

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.

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 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean Update to Arrive Soon

September 27, 2013 By Troy Rubenson Leave a Comment

HTC One has been the most popular smartphones of the year after Samsung Galaxy S4. Truly, the HTC One has helped in resurrecting the HTC brand. Out of nowhere the HTC One has turned into a competitive brand. HTC One has been so successful that the Taiwanese giant is considering the launch of HTC variants like HTC One Mini and HTC One Max.

The Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update was officially announced in the month of July. Still many of the leading smartphones including the HTC One are yet to receive the update. In August, HTC’s President Jason Mackenzie had addressed to HTC One and HTC Droid DNA users in US that instead of rolling out Android 4.2 update for their handsets, they will be offering Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update in the month of September. So, the time has come to fulfill the promise.

Now September will be coming to an end soon but it seems HTC will be offering the Android 4.3 update for the said handsets sooner. Quite contrary to before, the Taiwanese tech giant has been quite fast in releasing updates this year. The HTC One X+ and the HTC One X have been updated with Android 4.2 and HTC Sense 5. Also, the company has also offered Android 4.2 update for HTC One. Even the HTC Butterfly has received Android 4.2 update along with the new HTC Sense 5.

The update that we spoke above was for HTC devices that are launched outside US. Hence, HTC has promised to roll out the said updates for HTC One and Droid DNA very soon. HTC Droid DNA is the US version of HTC Butterfly. It was through Twitter that HTC President had promised that they will be offering Android 4.3 update for HTC One and Android 4.3 with HTC Sense 5 for HTC Droid DNA.

When someone questioned HTC President on Twitter that will the Android 4.3 update for HTC One will be out by the end of Sept, Mackenzie answered that he will be sending detailed information about the update at the start of the following week for all the SKUs. This means users using HTC One on AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile are likely to get concrete information in the coming week.

As mentioned before, the Droid DNA will be getting Android 4.2 with HTC Sense 5. However, when someone questioned whether the chances of updating Droid DNA with Android 4.3, Mackenzie only responded ‘good’ and did not elaborate on it. So, at least we can expect that the Droid DNA is going to get the Android 4.3. However, we feel that it may not happen very soon.

We hope that at least the best ever smartphone from the Taiwanese tech giant, the HTC One does get the much needed update. It is only in the coming week that we will be able to get more information for you. Well, we all know that Android 4.4 KitKat is going to arrive soon. We hope that HTC One and other popular phones do get the Android 4.4 update within this year.

HTC One Android 4.3 Update Details Rolled Out, But it Does Not

September 24, 2013 By Troy Rubenson Leave a Comment

As HTC President Jason Mackenzie had promised, he announced the details on HTC One Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update today. It’s good to see that HTC has kept its promise but the big problem is that they haven’t announced the exact timing as to when the update will be made available for AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon users of HTC One.

Mackenzie had announced on Twitter that the Taiwanese tech giant will be letting out two operating system upgrades in this month. The Driod DNA was supposed to get Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and HTC Sense 5 UI update. Secondly, the company is also to release Android 4.3 for all the SKUs. It was recently revealed instead of getting the Android 4.3 update directly on Droid DNA, the handset is supposed to get Android 4.2 and Sense 5 UI update and then Android 4.3 will be made available for it.

It was announced in the last week that HTC One will be getting Android 4.3 update in United States. And according to the promise, the details of the update have been revealed. Users of HTC One Developers Edition in United States are going to get the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update. Next, the users in Canada are going to receive the update by the end of the month.

HTC One is one great handset that has greatly helped the Taiwanese company to swing back into competition. The company was nowhere in competition to Samsung which is leading the smartphone world. However, with the release of HTC One, it has suddenly become a good competitor for Samsung. The HTC One smartphone has become so successful that the company has plans to several variants like HTC One Mini and HTC One Max.

As mentioned before in the post, Mackenzie had also promised to bring Android 4.3 for all SKUs, however the company was unable to keep its promise. Mackenzie posted on Twitter by saying that they are working harder and are optimistic about US carrier certification. In other words, the Android 4.3 update should be first approved before they are made available for release.

Mackenzie does seem to be optimistic about the proceedings but the promised month of September is going to finish. Also, he did not announce specific dates; we feel that it might happen that carrier branded HTC One products may not be able to receive the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update. It may also happen that out of the four leading carriers, only one or two may make the update available.

HTC One Gold after iPhone 5S Gold Spotted

September 16, 2013 By Jack M. Robinson Leave a Comment

One of the most striking aspects of the new iPhone 5s is the introduction of the new gold color scheme which no doubt adds a new dimension to the smartphone’s appeal. However, that is not going to be an Apple exclusive for long. For close on the heels of Apple coming up with the Gold color version of the iPhone 5s, HTC too is doing the same. This bit of information comes from a Chinese based forum Weibo where a leaked photograph of the HTC One is Gold color has been posted. The photograph is that of the front and back view of the handset from HTC. The HTC One is the flagship model of the company.

HTC started with their HTC One model with colors of Black and Silver. It was added with the Glamour Red a little later. UK market was the first to receive this Glamour Red variant and then it went on to the European market. Then came the Vivid Blue model and gold version no doubt will do a world of good for the device which being accomplished in its own right but has already started to feel a bit dated on the back of more accomplished smartphones coming on to the scene.

The specification chart of the HTC One has a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor clocking 1.7 GHz. Its display is full HD capable and of 4.7 inch size. The set comes with 2 GB of RAM. For networking it features Bluetooth, W-Fi, NFC and GPS. The device also comes with support for Infrared and has a Micro USB to it. So far as the OS of the device goes, it is Android 4.1 which would be upgraded to 4.3 as per HTC by end of September.

For those interested, the new Phablet which HTC is going to come up with soon named the HTC One Max will be much more up-to-date in that it’s likely to sport the latest and among the most powerful chip, the Snapdragon 800 CPU. The big screen smartphone will also feature a finger print scanner which currently is the star feature of the iPhone 5s. However unlike the iPhone 5s, the fingerprint scanner on the HTC One Max is likely to be at the rear, just below the rear camera. Of course none these are officially confirmed but given the number of leaks to this effect, it appears HTC is drawing lot of inspiration from Apple for features in its gadgets.

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