Earlier on Friday we told you about all of the preparations that went into the shoot for the first series of commercials for the HTC One series. Shot 12,000 feet in the air, the idea behind the video was to show how easy is it to operate the camera on the units. As we mentioned before, the cameras on the HTC One series smartphones need only 0.7 seconds to boot and 0.2 seconds to lock the focus in place.
Sure, the HTC One X is a beast of a handset, but can it take a licking? To test how strong the device is, the flagship model was put into a dryer for one hour. According to HTC, the polycarbonate unibody is so strong and tough that a case is not required. And thanks to the use of Gorilla Glass, the screen also can take some pretty tough punishment. Put the videos together and you see the HTC One X go from one extreme to another without any problems.
The HTC One X set to go on sale in Europe next week, a device that will be the company’s first big release of 2012. It will also mark the first quad-core release for HTC as the overseas One X is equipped with a Tegra 3 dual-core processor on board. It also runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, making it an extremely attractive device for consumers. Well, today, we have our first unboxing of the device which arrives just ahead of launch and gives us a great look at HTC’s latest and greatest smartphone.
HTC-Hub, a French blog, has managed to get its hands on one before the April 2nd launch date and they gladly take us on a tour of the packaging, the accessories in the box, and the device itself.
Unfortunately, we don’t get a full-blown tour of Android 4.0 and the new HTC Sense 4.0, but we have already shown you a tour of that on the AT&T device.
The international version of the device will be launching with a quad-core processor. However, AT&T’s model will be launching with a Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor on board. That’s because, at the time, the Tegra 3 quad-core chip did not have the proper certification for use with 4G LTE, the network on which the AT&T model will run.
And while the international version has a release date, AT&T has yet to cough up the goods. We’re thinking that we’ll see it in April, especially because T-Mobile is rumored to be getting the One X’s brother, the One S, on April 22nd. Hands-On With The HTC One X and HTC Sense 4.0:
HTC told that its new One series of phones would be available within 60 days of MWC, but we didn't expect to see them quite this soon.
UK mobile carrier O2 has confirmed on Twitter that they will start selling the new HTC One X here in the UK on the 5th of April, although the haven’t as yet revealed any details on pricing and also no details on the contracts it will be available with. This is the date we heard previously as Amazon had it listed on their website with a launch date of the 5th of April with a SIM free price of £530.
As a reminder the HTC One X features a quad core 1.5GHz NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and it features a 4.6 inch HD Super LCD 2 touchscreen display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. Other specifications include a front facing 1.3 megapixel camera which is capable of 720p video and a rear facing 8 megapixel camera which is capable of full high definition video in 1080p. The HTC One X will also come with Android 4.0 ICS plus HTC’s custom UI, HTC Sense 4.0, and 1GB of RAM plus 32GB of storage, Beats Audio and 25GB of online storage with Dropbox.
The HTC One S has joined the One X in the elite ranks of devices which have been rooted before actually being available for purchase. Both devices can be rooted fairly easily, save for one little caveat: they require an unlocked bootloader to do so. Thanks to the Superboot method implemented by Paul O’Brien over at MoDaCo, both devices were rooted thanks to unlocked developer devices he had access to.
Since most phone manufacturers typically do not ship devices with S-OFF enabled, it will be at the discretion of HTC of when, exactly, they allow users to have access to their bootloader. Last year, after HTC faced some pretty severe backlash after deciding to lock the bootloaders on all its newly released devices, the Taiwanese-based company quickly reversed its stance, and has since become very developer-friendly. For more information's: http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/htc-one-s-rooted-13-03-2012/
The Android Ice Cream Sandwich update with Sense 3.6 is now available for the HTC Sensation and Sensation XE for some customers in the Nordic region. There was a report earlier which said that HTC will be launching the new update for its Sensation series in March, and it seems it has kept its word. So this means that other regions should start receiving the update soon.
HTC headquarters have confirmed that company has started the roll-out has begun and b the end of this month, almost all Sensation devices should receive some ICS goodness along with Sense 3.6 on top. Do keep checking for your updates as they might arrive anytime soon, and do let us know if you manage to update your Sensation devices.
Following Devices Will Get Ice Cream Sandwich ( Android 4.0 ):
Ever heard of Endeavor, Ville and Primo? Well, they’re triplets. No, we’re just kidding. They’re HTC’s newest breed of Android handsets. But guess what’s even more interesting? We have come to learn that all three phones will be showcased at the 2012 Mobile World Congress. It’s just that you might not be able to recognize them since they will be cloaked under a different moniker. And by that, we mean that the Endeavor will soon be called as the HTC One X while the Ville will be called as the HTC One S. The Primo, on the other hand, will be dubbed as the HTC One V.
We do remember that we had informed you, the One X will be offered as a high-end Android handset. It will be powered by a quad core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor and it will also boast its Android 4.0.5 Ice Cream Sandwich OS that will be layered by HTC’s very own Sense 4.0. From what we have heard, the 10mm thin smartphone will be equipped with a 4.7 inch Super LCD display with 1280 x 720 pixels of full screen resolution.
Now, let’s move on to the HTC One S. The name might be new but you’ve probably heard of the specs. For the sake of recap, allow us to tell you that the handset will be flaunting its 1.5GHz dual core processor that will go alongside with its 4.3 inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with 540 x 960 pixels of maximum screen resolution, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and Beats Audio. Last but not the least is the HTC One V aka Primo. Just like the One S, the handset will be showcasing its superb audio technology courtesy of Beats Audio. But that’s not all. You’d also be delighted to know that the phone will be powered by Google’s latest Android 4.0. You can also rely on its 5MP rear camera and 1GHz of dual core processor.
At the moment the only mobile devices that have received PlayStation certification from Sony, are their own devices, and now it looks like this could possibly change later this year. Sony's PlayStation certification program is a cross-platform endeavor that allows PSOne games to be enjoyed on Android smartphones and tablets, a move that will hopefully help Sony expand the brand. If included with the HTC, users would gain access to the PlayStation Store as well as PSOne games.
Currently, the PlayStation Certification program only extends to Sony smartphones and tablets like the Xperia Play, Tablet S, and Tablet P. But with those devices failing to capture a mass audience, Sony could be looking to other manufacturers for its certification program. According to a recent report by Pocket Lint, HTC will be one of the first companies outside of Sony that will receive PlayStation certification for certain smartphones. Sony and HTC could possibly announce this new partnership at MWC 2012 later this month, and the first devices are expected to debut in the second half of 2012. This would bring a range of new games to HTC’s Android devices, and if Sony expands the partnership to other manufacturers it could end up being a profitable move for them.
This would bring a range of new games to HTC’s Android devices, and if Sony expands the partnership to other manufacturers it could end up being a profitable move for them. Since HTC refuses to "comment on rumors or speculation" all we can do is wait and see. Sources suggest we will see the certification awarded in the second half of 2012. HTC Playstation Certified Device Leaked:
We've just received word from HTC that it'll be releasing what it's billing as an "early access preview" of its Android 4.0 upgrades for the Sensation and Sensation XE handsets in Europe. The company says that it hopes users will "play with it and enjoy getting used to the ICS experience with Sense," which implies that there'll be changes to HTC's skin in this build, something we've been expecting for quite some time anyway. You won't just be able to download the build at will. HTC will initially only be offering it to members of its Elevate beta program and T-Mobile subscribers using the Sensation 4G won't be included. That's a shame, but there's a silver lining: the company says that it'll be doing similar previews for other phones in its portfolio in the future. Meanwhile, look for the Sensation and Sensation XE builds to roll out to selected individuals "in the coming days."
HTC's move is likely in response to a groundswell of interest for Android OEMs to be more upfront about their upgrade plans; we've already seen Sony do something similar for several of its models (albeit on a wider scale). Motorola, meanwhile, is being honest about its laggy ICS upgrade schedule but so far, no public previews. HTC Sensation XE Android smartphone video review:
HTC has been the leader in providing lightning fast smartphones to its users. Now, the company is looking forward to debut its new phone named HTC One X at the Mobile National Congress 2012. The device is powered by a quad-core processor (4 chips each of 1.5 GHz) and these processors are now becoming a trend in the smartphone industry. So, companies are expected to launch new smartphones powered by quad-core processors.
There have been reports which speak about Samsung, LG and Motorola to launch their quad-core powered smart phone but HTC One X is merely the world’s first quad-core smartphone. Besides, there are also rumors that LG would be popping out in the Mobile World Congress with its quad-core X3 smartphone.
Rumors linger that the One X will exclude the famous four soft-buttons on the device’s front panel; I mean there won’t be any soft-touch buttons at all. In addition, the device would pack 1GB of RAM and will be running Android Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS 4.0.5) operating system with HTC Sense 4.0. Basically the One X would also come with a huge storage space of 32 GB but unfortunately there won’t be any external microSD slot which is surely going to create trouble for smartphone freaks. On the other hand, the device would never let you down with its stunning graphics rendered on a vivid display. Here’s a quick specification of the phone. Take a look:
Quad-Core processor, 1GB RAM, 32GB Internal Memory, Stereo microphones for improved audio, 4.7inch 720p display, Full HD Video recording. In a nutshell, the phone resembles as that of the HTC Edge but with a new name as set by the company to make it more futuristic and sporty. HTC has already signed up with a number of carriers including Vodafone and Orange. So it seems there isn’t much time to go for the device to roll into your warm pockets. You will get a clear picture once the device debuts in the MWC 2012. The phone is expected to carry a price tag of £600 which is still unclear. Exclusive : HTC One X (Quad-Core Tegra 3):
UPDATE: After checking the Service Information screen, our source now tells us that the phone is 100% Verizon-bound. Congrats to all of you riding on "the nation's most reliable 4G network"!
You might be surprised, but we actually don't have a clue. We were recently approached by a tipster of ours who was generous enough to share these pics with us. Thanks to the photos, we can learn quite a bit about this mysterious handset, but unfortunately, we can't be sure how it's going to be called, or what carriers it may end up on. However, some of our observant readers have noted that the 4G LTE logo that's visible during the loading screen is the one that Verizon uses for its handsets, so that's a pretty good guess as to where the phone may end up.
Although this ICS-powered HTC phone looks very similar to some other models by the company (and that's not really a good thing), it doesn't fully match any of the currently known handsets. In terms of appearance, its front looks similar to almost any other HTC phone released recently, however, the back reminds us of the characteristic DROID Incredible 2 back side, and since there isn't any other HTC line having this particular design language, we're willing to speculate a little here by saying that this might in fact be the HTC DROID Incredible 3. Another possibility is that it might be the leaked HTC Fireball, also for Verizon, of which, however, we know almost nothing.
Alright, enough speculating. Let's take a look at the specs! According to the Hardware information screen, the phone will feature a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, 1GB RAM, 8MP camera complemented by a VGA front-facing one, as well as LTE connectivity. Overall, the handset doesn't seem to be a slouch, though it doesn't shine either. Furthermore, our source tells us that it's having an AMOLED screen, instead of S-LCD, which is the tech of choice for the bigger part of HTC's newer smartphones.
On the software side of things, we're glad to see this phone run Android 4.0.1 Ice Cream Sandwich, covered by the new Sense UI 4.0. As can be seen from the images, this will be one of the HTC handsets that won't have on-screen nav buttons, but will instead stick with hardware ones. Interestingly, even though previous information pointed that those ICS handsets by HTC ,which will stick with hardware keys, will have three, instead of four keys, this one sports four. Of course, we should all keep in mind that this is a prototype unit, so a lot of stuff may change until it finally hits the market, which will probably happen sometime this year! HTC Sensation Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0):
The new fad in Android models seems to be smaller form factors with mid-to high end specs. Just the other day, we told you about the Sony Ericsson Kumquat, which fits into this mold. Now, thanks to a tipster for Stuff, we see low to mid range specs allegedly heading for the HTC Primo. With a 3.7 inch Super AMOLED display strengthened by Gorilla Glass and a dual-core 1GHz Qualcomm processor under the hood, the HTC Primo would have the muscles to get the job done. On board is 512MB of RAM and a 5MP camera on back that captures 720p video. The dual-shutter on the camera allows you to snap photos while taking video at the same time and the f/2.0 aperture should help you take decent pictures in less than optimal lighting conditions. As for size, the Primo will be just 9mm thick.
The HTC Primo is coming to market with Ice Cream Sandwich installed out of the box and with HTC Sense 4.0 on top. That is right, you don't have to wait for an update to get Android 4.0. Additionally, this should be a Beats Audio model with all of that great audio functionality integrated into the OS. There is no word yet on whether or not those iconic red earphones will be included. The picture of the phone on the right is just a mock-up, so don't get too attached to that rendering. While pricing was not disclosed, Stuff figures it will run about 250GBP (approximately $389USD). As far as when or where we will see this phone offered, nothing has been determined at this time.
The HTC Sensation has been available for some time, we reviewed the handset last year, and now HTC has announced that they will launch an ‘Ice White’ version of the HTC Sensation on the 1st of March in Europe.
What makes the announcement interesting is that this new version of the HTC Sensation will ship with the latest version of Google’s Mobile OS, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. You can see part of the announcement below, which was translated by Google, and it basically confirms that the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update for the HTC Sensation will be available shortly after this launch date.
Utrecht, February 2, 2012 – HTC, the leader in mobile innovation and design, announced that the HTC Sensation as of March 1 is also available in color Ice White. The device also features Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). Besides the HTC Sensation in Ice White, the update to Android 4.0 soon for all aircraft in the Sensation series available. (Translated). So it looks like HTC should start rolling out Android 4.0 ICS to the original HTC Sensation, as well as other HTC Sensation devices like the XL and XE after March the 1st.
The HTC Thunderbolt is free on Verizon if you get a contract with them, making it a good option for those looking for a 4G LTE without the high price tage associated with it. The Thunderbolt may not be at the top of your wishlist when it comes to specs but with Verizon offering it for free if you stay with them for two years, you might want to take a second look.
While most smartphones today have a dual-core processor, the Thunderbolt only comes with a 1 GHz Snapdragon chip. Still good enough, just that it’s no longer at par with high-end phones nowadays. The phone also comes with an 8-megapixel camera and an 800 x 480-pixel resolution.
It’s evident you don’t get the best out there specs-wise with the Android-powered Thunderbolt, given that it was last year’s model but those who are not after having the latest will surely find it a very capable device. You’ve got until January 26 to make up your mind as Verizon is offering it until that day.
Chalk up a win for HTC in the ongoing patent wars: the International Trade Commission handed a win to HTC. HTC’s products do not infringe on a patent held by FlashPoint Technology. FlashPoint had been an Apple subsidiary, had taken its patent case to the ITC in an attempt to quickly obtain an import ban against HTC's phones. This case originally started with two patents related to camera technology. FlashPoint asserted them against RIM, Nokia, and LG, as well as HTC. The other three companies settled out of court, and FlashPoint dropped one so they could concentrate in asserting “patent 769” against HTC. Unless the implementation of the cameras made by RIM, Nokia, and LG are significantly different from HTC's, we imagine those companies may feel a little sheepish now that they agreed to pay royalties.
HTC is surely relieved, although this is just one of many cases in this global sue-fest. This case highlights one difficulty with patents – they are often vague enough that it isn’t clear whether or not infringement is taking place, and the only way to settle it is with a lawsuit. Flash Point may still elect to sue HTC in a U.S. federal court, although those cases tend to take longer and be costlier. Not to mention the defeat handed to them by the ITC may inspire confidence about going in for another round.
HTC Zeta is rumored to feature a 2.5GHz quad-core next-gen Snapdragon CPU and 1GB of RAM powering a 4.5 inch 720p HD display. The phone is also reported to come with an 8MP rear-facing camera, a 1.3MP front-facing camera, and of course Beats Audio. Any phone using the next generation Snapdragon chipset would come with the new Adreno 225 GPU that is said to bring a 4x improvement in graphics performance. The chipset will also be built on the new 28nm die process, resulting in energy savings of up to 75% over current chipsets.
For detail Specifications and more: http://freak-mobile.com/tag/htc-zeta-features
It looks like the HTC Edge isn't the only HTC superphone on the horizon. BGR has learned that there will also be a device codenamed the HTC Ville which will launch with Sense 4.0 as well as Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.
Because the Ville will be launching with ICS, that means no physical function buttons, just a nice clean face for those virtual buttons. That face will be a 4.3" qHD Super AMOLED display, which isn't quite at the same level as the 720p screen expected in the HTC Edge, but it should do the job well. Inside the Ville will be a dual-core Snapdragon S4 clocked at 1.5 GHz. It is expected to have the same 8 MP backside-illuminated camera found in the Edge, which will be capable of 1080p video capture.
Rounding out the specs, the Ville is said to not have NFC because of the issues with the metal casing, but the phone will be slick at under 8mm thick. Of course, there will be Beats audio, and it will be HSPA+, so we could see it on either AT&T or T-Mobile here in the States. Lastly, it's said to be packing a 1650 mAh battery, which seems a bit on the small side.
It looks like HTC is planning on releasing a new Android smartphone, tipped to launch in the early part of 2012, the HTC Edge will be the companies first quad core smartphone and is reported to come with a quad core 1.5GHz NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor.
The HTC Edge is also expected to launch with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and feature a 4.7 inch HD display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixel, plus also come with 1GB of RAM. It is also reported to come with 32GB of built in storage, Bluetooth 4.0 and Beats Audio, plus it may also come with a new version of HTC’s custom user interface, HTC Sense 4.0. From the specifications it certainly sounds like the HTC Edge is going to be one interesting Android device.
HTC has announced on Facebook that they will be releasing the new Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update for certain HTC devices and that the updates will start rolling out to selected handsets at the start of 2012.
The devices that will be getting the Android Ice Cream Sandwich update include the new HTC Vivid, the HTC Sensation, the HTC Sensation XL, the HTC Sensation XE, the new HTC Rezound, the HTC EVO 3D, HTC EVO Design 4G and the HTC Amaze 4G. HTC has also said that it will be working closely with its carrier partners on the Android Ice Cream Sandwich update, and it is also looking into other HTC devices that it may bring the update to in the future.
HTC’s latest Android smartphone, the HTC Rezound was launched yesterday, and now we get our first good look at the device, thanks to this hands on video which was put together by the guys over at The Verge. The new HTC Rezound comes with a 4.3 inch HD display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels, plus Android Gingerbread, although it will be getting Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich early next year.
The Rezound is powered by a dual core 1.5GHz processor and it features 1GB of RAM, there is also 16GB of built in storage plus a microSD card slot with a 16GB card installed, there is also 802.11 a/b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth, AGPS and Beats Audio and it comes with a pair of Beats Audio headphones.
THE HTC Sensation XL was announced a while back, and we just got an email from the guys over at Clove to let us know that he SIM free version of the HTC Sensation XL is now available in the UK. The HTC Sensation XL features a 4.7 inch multi-touch touchscreen Super LCD display with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels, processing is provided by a single core 1.5GHz processor and it comes with Android plus HTC Sense.
The HTC Sensation XL features 16GB of built in storage and 768MB of RAM, plus GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP, DLNA and a microUSB port, it also features an 8 megapixel camera with an F2.2 lens, a dual LED flash and a BSI sensor, it is capable of recording HD video in 720p.
Earlier on Friday we told you about all of the preparations that went into the shoot for the first series of commercials for the HTC One series. Shot 12,000 feet in the air, the idea behind the video was to show how easy is it to operate the camera on the units. As we mentioned before, the cameras on the HTC One series smartphones need only 0.7 seconds to boot and 0.2 seconds to lock the focus in place.
