14:10
Regular readers may remember an ongoing dispute between Nokia and HTC that we recently reported on regarding the flagship HTC One. It looked as though there may be future delays ahead for the HTC One following Nokia’s win of a preliminary injunction involving the microphones on the HTC One. HTC has now stated that it will use a new supplier for improved mics and that this should not affect future supplies of the phone.
The mics under dispute are made by ST Microelectronics and an Amsterdam court judge recently granted the preliminary injunction against the supply of the mics to anyone but Nokia. HTC expressed disappointment and said it would look for alternative solutions and has now confirmed that the injunction filed by Nokia was not actually against HTC but rather against ST Microelectronics.
HTC has issued a press release regarding the injunction and stated that Nokia has failed in its bid to also gain a recall of those microphones already supplied to the company. This was because HTC could not have had previous knowledge of the exclusive agreement between ST Microelectronics and Nokia. The ruling therefore stated that any of the HDR (high-dynamic range) microphones involved that HTC already had in its inventory could continue to be used.
However HTC says it will now work on an improved microphone for the HTC One and will be sourcing another mic producer for when its current stock runs out. We certainly hope that HTC is correct in its assertion that this situation will not impact on future supplies of the HTC One and it will be interesting to see how this pans out. What are your thoughts on HTC’s clarification on this matter.
The HTC One is one of the hottest Android smartphones available with high-end specs and a beautifully stylish design. The phone comes in three different color options, black, silver or red although not all carriers will carry all of these. However if you’re in the US and want the black version of the HTC One we can tell you that it is now available on Sprint.
The HTC One in the silver option was already on sale through Sprint but those who have been waiting to get their hands on the black model should be pleased to hear of its availability now. While there is no difference at all to the specs of the HTC One in black from the silver version it’s good to know that it is available in both choices now. Sprint has beaten AT&T to the starting line with the HTC One in black, another smartphone able to use its 4G LTE network.
The HTC One in black at Sprint is the 32GB model. However if you want the 64GB variant of the HTC One in black you’ll still have to wait for it to arrive at AT&T as the carrier has an exclusive for that, at least initially. The 32GB model though is a good price at Sprint at $99 on the usual contract for new customers. You can check out the details or order it at this Sprint page.
If you want a reminder of HTC One specs then it has a 1.7GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor, 4.7-inch Super LCD3 display, UltraPixel rear camera, Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2, 2GB of RAM and much more to delight. If you want to see more on this then why not check out our earlier HTC One vs. Galaxy S4 comparison.
There is no doubting that the HTC One is an excellent smartphone that will be giving the competition in 2013 a run for their money, and that includes anything that Apple or Samsung brings to the table. Now a new version of the HTC One with Dual SIM and MicroSD support has had its release date set.
The HTC One has been widely praised by consumers that already have the device in their hands, while some users have been seeing a software update to improve the camera even further. Now a new version has been officially announced after leaking earlier this month that has dual SIM and microSD support.
Unfortunately this version is only going to be available in China and on all major carriers in the country, and is set to be available directly from HTC on April 26th. The rear cover comes off the device to reveal the slots for the various cards but it doesn’t seem that the battery is removable by the user.
At the time of writing no pricing has been set for the device but having microSD support will be welcome news for some potential purchasers of the handset. Having no option of extending the internal memory further is arguably the only criticism that can be levelled at the HTC One, and it’s not known if this version will have different microphone technology after the recent injunction Nokia won against the smartphone.
14:05
The Android platform has some pretty tasty high-end smartphones becoming available at the moment, and today we are comparing the HTC One vs. Sony Xperia Z vs. Galaxy S4 in an Android shootout.
We have run comparisons on these handsets before but not with all three together at the same time that are currently the must have devices in the top end of the Android market, with each of them having their own merits in being regarded as the best smartphone available to consumers.
Display
The HTC One has the smallest of the three displays with a 4.7-inch Full HD touchscreen display that offers users an impressive 469ppi pixel density, while the Sony Xperia Z is using a 5-inch Full HD display with a pixel density of 441ppi. The Samsung Galaxy S4 also has a 5-inch Full HD display with 441ppi.
Processor and Power
Under the hood of the Sony Xperia Z is a Qualcomm quad core Krait processor clocked at 1.5GHz along with 2GB of RAM, while the HTC One has the quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor clocked at 1.7GHz with 2GB of RAM. The Samsung Galaxy S4 comes in two versions depending on the region with one getting the Samsung Exynos 5 Octa processor running at 1.6GHz, or the quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 at 1.9GHz with both versions having 2GB of RAM.
Storage
The HTC One will be available with either 32GB or 64GB storage options that can’t be expanded further, while the Sony only has 16GB on board but this can be expanded by a further 32GB via microSD card. Samsung has always been good for storage options on its smartphones with the device coming in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB options while each of them can be expanded by a further 64GB via a microSD card.
Cameras
Sony has fitted a 13.1-megapixel unit on the back with autofocus and LED flash, which is capable of Full HD video capture at 30fps and on the front is a 2.2-megapixel camera that also supports 1080p video capture. The HTC One has an UltraPixel unit with a 4-megapixel sensor that is capable if 1080p video recording, while around the front you will find a 2.1-megapixel shooter. Samsung has provided a 13-megapixel unit on the back that is 1080p along with the 2-megapixel front facer that is also capable of 1080p video capture at 30fps, and users will be able to use both cameras at once along with a whole host of new features Samsung has bundled on the device.
Dimensions
The Samsung measures in at 136.6mm x 69.8mm x 7.9mm weighing 130grams, while the Sony Xperia Z comes in at 139mm x 71mm x 7.9mm at 146grams. The HTC One on the other hand measures 137.4mm x 68.2mm x 9.3mm weighing 143grams.
Operating System
The Galaxy S4 will be released this week running the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS straight out of the box, while the HTC One is currently on Android 4.1.2 but will obviously see an update to the later version of Jelly Bean at some point, which is the same situation for the Sony Xperia Z.
Each of these handsets are well worth a look with each of them having features that the other doesn’t such as the aluminium frame of the HTC One, or the water and dust proofing of the Sony Xperia Z, and the Samsung has some software features that the other two devices don’t offer.
As we reported a couple of days ago the HTC One smartphone on T-Mobile will be released to the masses on April 24th, and the company has now started to take pre-orders for the device and at the time of writing giving customers a free car dock for every handset purchased.
The company is offering the silver version of the HTC One for a $99 upfront fee along with two years of monthly instalments of $20, or you can purchase the smartphone for a cool $579.99 which will work out the same as the monthly route, but not everyone can layout that sort of cash in one go.
By the time the handset is available from the carrier’s stores though on April 24th this offer would have ended, so if you fancy a free car dock you need to get clicking here now. The handset marks a comeback for HTC that used to dominate the Android platform before taking its eye off the ball and letting rival Samsung steel a march on it.The stylish looking handset has been gaining some great early reviews from those lucky enough to already have the device, and is certainly worth considering if you want a new Android smartphone this year.
14:00
There have been some amazing new smartphone releases lately and we’re not even half way through the year. Two that are gathering attention are the HTC One and LG Optimus G Pro and both rack up some impressive specs. Today we are looking at the HTC One vs. LG Optimus G Pro in a quad-core beauties battle.
The HTC One has now released in many regions worldwide on multiple carriers. On the other hand the LG Optimus G Pro has released in Japan and Korea and as we informed earlier today, is also just about to launch in the US. Both are Android handsets so we’ll first highlight some of the major specs to show what they each have to offer and how they compare.
Processor
The HTC One has a 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor with Adreno 320 graphics while the LG Optimus G Pro sports an identical CPU and graphics so there’s no splitting them here.
Display
A 4.7-inch Super LCD3 display with resolution of 1920 x 1080 and whopping 469ppi features on the HTC One. Meanwhile the LG Optimus G Pro steps up to a larger phablet style IPS Plus LCD display at 5.5-inches with the same full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 and this time a pixel density of 401 ppi.
RAM and Storage
The HTC One has 2GB of RAM and 32 or 64GB of internal storage options. However there is no microSD expansion opportunity. On the other hand the LG Optimus G Pro has the same 2GB of RAM and comes with internal storage of 32GB but this time this is expandable via microSD to 64GB.
Camera Set-Up
There’s an UltraPixel 4-megapixel rear camera for the HTC One with autofocus, LED flash, simultaneous HD voice and image recording, optical image stabilization and 1080p video capture plus a 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera. In case you think 4-megapixels is rather low we should point out that this is an UltraPixel camera with each pixel said to harness 300% more light than standard sensors, especially beneficial in low-light conditions. The LG Optimus G Pro has a 13-megapixel rear camera with autofocus, LED flash, image stabilization, HDR, panorama and video capture of 1080p. It also has a 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera with dual-video recording and HDR.
Operating System
Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2 with an upgrade to 4.2.2 in the offing runs the HTC One. This is skinned with HTC’s Sense v5 user interface. The LG Optimus G Pro also launches running Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2.
Battery
There’s a non-removable 2300 mAh battery with the HTC One while the LG Optimus G Pro steps up to a 3140 mAh battery but remember it does have a larger display to power.
Dimensions and Colors
The HTC One measures 137.4mm x 68.2mm x 9.3mm, weighs 143g and has black, silver or red color options. The LG Optimus G Pro is obviously going to be larger due to its bigger display and measures 150.2mm x 76.1mm x 9.4mm, weighs 172g and comes in black or white.
Both the HTC One and LG Optimus G Pro have Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC and LTE connectivity where applicable. Obviously we cannot detail every single specification and feature of both phones here but as you can see they are notable Android handset that should delight many users.
The look of the phone may be a deciding factor for some and the HTC One has also received huge praise for its design and build and from the looks of it the LG Optimus G Pro is also no slouch in that department. Please note in the image here the LG Optimus G Pro is on the left with the HTC One to the right. If you prefer a larger display then the Optimus G Pro could be your choice as long as you don’t mind the extra weight although the HTC One screen has a higher pixel density.It’s extremely hard to choose an outright winner from the two, especially when there are so many spec similarities and ultimately we think either handset would be an extremely good option. We’d like to know what you think though.
13:55
The HTC One smartphone is one of the most notable releases so far this year and a true competitor for the Samsung Galaxy S4 that is due to start releasing worldwide in a few days. The HTC One has just arrive stateside after an earlier release in other regions such as the UK and Canada and today we have details of a RadioShack deal for the phone that could snag you a Google Play $50 freebie.
A few days ago we told how T-Mobile was offering a free car dock with purchases of the HTC One but the phone is also available through other outlets than the major carriers. RadioShack has now posted details of its HTC One price on AT&T or Sprint. If you purchase the device on either of those carriers from RadioShack by June 1, you’ll receive a $50 Google Play credit so that you have plenty of content to start you off with such as new apps, music, books etc.
To qualify for that offer you’ll need to pay $199.99 at RadioShack locations with a qualifying two-year contract and RadioShack also offers 24/7 Mobile Product Support free of charge. That $199.99 price is for the 32GB model with Google Play freebie. There’s also a Trade and Save program whereby trading in can get you as much as $300 credit towards a new device and accessories.
As a quick reminder we’ll tell you that the HTC One is powered by a 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor, has a 4.7-inch Super LCD3 display with resolution of 1920 x 1080, 2GB of RAM and 32 or 64GB of internal storage, non-expandable. It also has a 4-megapixel UltraPixel camera and a 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera and runs on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, upgradable to 4.2.2.
PhanDroid has received a promotional flyer from RadioShack that shows the price of the upcoming HTC One for $199.99. The interesting part about the flyer is that RadioShack offers a $50 Google Play gift card with the purchase of an HTC One on a 2-year contract. The flyer doesn’t give any word on a release date, but the HTC One is expected to launch sometime in April.
T-Mobile on the other hand offers a deal of its own: Order the HTC One online and receive a free car kit. The kit allows you put your phone on your car’s windshield or dashboard to use as a GPS. T-Mobile offers the HTC One for $99 down plus an extra $20 a month.
RadioShack has confirmed it will be stocking the new flagship phone from HTC, in an e-mail to Electronista. The HTC One, a 4.7-inch Android device with a 468ppi pixel density, a quad-core 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor, 2GB of RAM, and options for 32GB and 64GB of fixed storage, will be available from the retailer from its US launch date, which will be sometime in March. A price has still not been confirmed for the smartphone, which will be revealed closer to its street date.
The Wi-Fi version of the Samsung Galaxy Camera has been sighted at the FCC, having undergone certification. The camera, spotted by Engadget in an FCC filing, will lose the 4G connectivity from the original, but will retain dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity, the 16-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, 21x zoom, support for ISO 100 to 3200, GPSm GLONASS, and Bluetooth 4.0.
13:48
News today of yet another new smartphone arrival, the HTC Desire L. This has just been announced in Taiwan and is a solid smartphone, very much in the usual HTC design mold. It’s a low to mid-range smartphone, so nothing to get too excited about but if you want to know more then read on.
The HTC Desire L is powered by a 1Ghz dual-core processor, has a 4.3-inch WVGA Super LCD2 display with resolution of 800 x 480, 1GB of RAM and 4B of internal storage (expandable via microSD). There’s also a 5-megapixel rear camera with wide f/2.0 aperture and 720p HD video capture capability and it has a 1800 mAh battery and Beats Audio.
As far as operating system is concerned we only know so far that it’s Android but the version has not been specified. It looks likely to be Jelly Bean though and will be skinned with HTC’s Sense UI. Dimensions of the Desire L are 128mm x 66.9mm x 8.9mm so it has a slim profile and it weighs only 118 grams so might suit those who specifically want something lightweight and not too bulky.
For those who like something a little different the handset comes in pink as well as black or white color options. Although it has been made official now for Asia there’s no news on if it will come to other regions and the price has not yet been announced although it’s expected to be competitive.
Despite all of HTC's talk about unified branding in the West, the company's model names are still diverse when looked at from a planet-wide perspective. This newest phone, the Desire L, appears to be a Taiwan-destined version of China's One SU, with the same low-end specs -- including a 4.3-inch 800 x 480 SLCD2 display, dual-core 1GHz processor and 5MP camera but a distinctly pre-One moniker. It's different strokes for different folks, just as with the Butterfly and Droid DNA though only a chosen few can boast the added distinction of coming in pink.
The Desire L has a 4.3-inch 480×800 touchscreen, a 5 MP rear camera with LED flash and 720p HD video recording, no front camera, a 1 GHz dual-core processor, 1 GB of RAM, 4 GB of built-in storage space, a microSD card slot for expansion, HSPA, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Beats Audio, and a 1,800 mAh battery. It runs a yet unknown version of Android, but it’s either 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich or 4.1 Jelly Bean.
So the Desire L is basically a slightly larger version of the Desire X, with a bit more RAM thrown in for good measure. It’s unclear whether this device will ever make it to places other than Asia. For now though, it’s one more Android smartphone from HTC – the company that keeps promising it will focus on just a few models per year, but keeps breaking that promise by releasing many different near-identical handsets.
13:43
The plastic Samsung Galaxy S4 releases to the public at the end of this month, but we believe a metal Samsung Galaxy S5 will release at some point this year and hopefully before Christmas. Samsung really do need to release a new metal Galaxy S phone to compete with the likes of the HTC One.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 will do very well when it comes to sales and the closet rival has to be the HTC One, and we have had so much response on our social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Google+ saying the HTC One has a metal casing and that Samsung should have followed suit.
After thinking about the above we found that Trusted Reviews are on the same wave-length as us, just they got to publish their idea first and fair play to them, so all credit goes to them. They mention in their article that Samsung has lost its zeitgeist to the HTC One and this is all down to the One being made from sleek aluminium and the Galaxy S4 is plastic.Is this really a debate or just personal preference. Do you like a metal phone or a plastic one.
Some are saying that the HTC One feels much better than the Galaxy S4, but it was the S4 that was more practical thanks to the cover on the back can be removed easily and that it comes with a built-in microSD card slot.
Does making a phone case using plastic make the phone feel cheap.We cannot count Samsung out for releasing a new metal phone; it could either be the Samsung Galaxy S5 or the Galaxy Note 3.
The HTC One Developer Edition. The handset was previously available to pre-order but for some days it was then listed as unavailable. However purchasers can now place a pre-order once more with additional stock due to become available from April 23.
The Developer Edition of the HTC One comes with an unlocked bootloader and SIM and was first available to pre-order on April 5 in limited numbers, in fact they were so limited that pre-orders stopped being taken so it’s good to see HTC has stepped up supplies.
Today the phone is available to order again and you have two options available. Either you can order the HTC One 32GB option SIM-unlocked for $574.99 or alternatively the HTC One 64GB Developer Edition is available to pre-order for $649.99, a great option for those who want to customize their device.
Head to this HTC page for the 32GB SIM-unlocked HTC One where you’ll see a new message that now reads “additional stock arriving April 23rd.” Otherwise head to HTC here for the 64GB Developer edition SIM-unlocked, with unlocked bootloader and the same April 23 message. Other specs for the HTC One include a 1.7GHz quad-core processor, UltraPixel rear camera and features such as BlinkFeed, Zoe, Sense Voice, BoomSound and more.
13:37
There are many consumers eagerly awaiting the arrival of the HTC One in the US with the device only days away from being available, but now news reaches us that there has been some HTC One early US release sales for the device.
It seems that some AT&T stores in the US have got confused with the launch of the HTC First device that was due to be released officially yesterday, as there has been a number of reports from customers saying they managed to pick up the HTC One instead.
As it is being reported by the Android Community a number of the carriers stores were offering the handset freely to customers with some laying down the cash for the handset and walking out with a shiny new HTC One in their hands.
It seems that it is mainly customers that have already pre-ordered the device but it wasn’t expected to be released until next week, April 19th. The reports state that there was more than a few units of the HTC One available, and it may be a way to counter the offer from Sprint that is offering the smartphone at a discount for customers moving across from rival carriers.
The device is proving to be extremely popular and rightly so as for the first time in a while HTC looks to have a winning device on their hands, which should possibly return the company to its former glories on the Android platform.The company has officially announced the HTC One will be available to consumers in India by the end of the month and priced at around Rs. 42,900, and now in readiness for the handsets availability the company has reduced the price of the HTC One X and One X+.
The 16GB version of the HTC One X has seen a price cut from RS. 32,000 down to RS. 25990, which for your money will provide a handset sporting a 4.7-inch HD touchscreen display with a resolution of 720 x 1280 and 312ppi. This is powered by the Nvidia quad core Tegra 3 power plant running at 1.5GHz with 1GB of RAM.
There is also an 8-megapixel rear facing camera that is capable of Full HD video capture coupled with a 1.3-megapixel unit on the front, which is capable of 720p video recording and now runs the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system with a 1,850 mAh battery.
HTC has also dropped the price of the 64GB One X+ to Rs. 29,500 from Rs. 38,550 that also uses the same 4.7-inch touchscreen display but its Tegra 3 processor is clocked at 1.7GHz with 1GB of RAM. This also has an 8-megapixel rear facing camera but has a 1.6-megapixel unit on the front and you will also find a bigger battery pack as well at 2,100 mAh.
