HTC

May 18 2013

Leaker: Android 4.2 coming to One soon, “Senseless” edition later this summer?

htc-one-rear-in-hand

A source known for providing insider information on HTC devices tweeted that the HTC One could get an update in “2-3 weeks”, while a “Senseless” edition might come in late summer.

One of the most popular devices of the moment, the HTC One, is behind the times (and the competition) when it comes to the Android version. The HTC One is running Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean coupled with Sense 5, at a time when the newest version of Android, 4.2, has been out for almost six months.

Naturally, HTC One users have been clamoring for an update, but the good news is their wish may be granted in as little as two to three weeks.

The info comes from a noted purveyor of insider information on HTC that has a good reputation when it comes to leaks of the Taiwanese company’s handsets. @LlabTooFeR has correctly predicted the HTC First, also known as the “Facebook phone”, and the specifications of the HTC M4, which is said to hit the market as the HTC One Mini.

Now @LlabTooFeR is back at it with info on the Android 4.2.2 update for the HTC One:

The tweet refers to this earlier one:

Even more exciting is the reference to a “Senseless” HTC One, in other words, a One running stock Android, just like the Galaxy S4 “Google Edition” unveiled at I/O. As you can see, @LlabTooFeR is not committing to the info, so it’s hard to say if it’s his speculation or something he knows for a fact.

Though @LlabTooFeR has a successful track record when it comes to leaks, we wouldn’t recommend ingesting this information without the proverbial grain of salt. Even the best connected insiders get it wrong sometimes. We’ve asked @LlabTooFeR  for more info on the “Senseless” One via Twitter and we’ll update this post with his comments.

Update: @LlabTooFeR says he knows about the HTC One without Sense “for a fact”.

With that said, we’ve also heard about Sense 5 coming to the HTC J Butterfly by the end of the month, with Android 4.2.2 possibly in tow. It wouldn’t be too far-fetched to believe that HTC is preparing a rollout for all its flagship devices, including the popular HTC One.

What will Android 4.2 bring to the HTC One? The most significant updates are the possibility to have widgets in the lock screen, a quick-settings panel in the notification dropdown and a swipe-based keyboard.

As for the HTC One Google Edition, an HTC employee did tease us during the I/O keynote, though an HTC PR boss was quick to shut down the speculation.

    


By Bogdan Petrovan • Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, Android 4.2.2, HTC, HTC One, News, Rumors • 0

May 17 2013

HTC One production capacity to double in May

HTC One

Component supply issues behind it, HTC ramps up production of flagship device

Despite suffering some early setbacks due to camera component shortages, HTC is looking to ramp up production of its flagship HTC One handset. HTC North Asia president Jack Tong told Taiwan Focus that production will double in May and rise further in June to meet "strong demand." Speaking at a news conference, Tong added “We are optimistic about our high-end sales during April and June.”

Tong also highlighted the HTC Butterfly (the global version of the Droid DNA sold in Asia) as a strong performer, noting that sales had increased by as much as 50 percent since a price cut made it free on-contract in Japan. The Butterfly, Tong says, should also be getting a software update with Sense 5.0 and new features like BlinkFeed before the end of the month.

A shortage of specialized camera components resulted in shortages of HTC One stock around the phone's European launch, which had the knock-on effect of pushing back the U.S. release slightly. After a pretty dismal few months of financial results, HTC will be hoping that this increased demand for its phones will result in a stronger set of numbers in Q2.

Source: ZDNet, Focus Taiwan

    


By Alex Dobie • HTC, HTC One, international, manufacturing, News, production, Smartphones, taiwan • 0

May 17 2013

HTC One production expected to double this month, supply issues over

samsung galaxy s4 vs htc one one in hand aa

It’s been a slow climb out of the mess that HTC found itself in after the botched launch of the HTC One. Component shortages and delayed launches certainly didn’t do the company’s bottom line any good, but fortunately for HTC these problems look to be over.

HTC is expecting to ramp up production of the One over the next couple of months in order to meet the swelling demand for its latest flagship handset. Production capacity is set to double by the end of this month, now that component issues are sorted out, and will continue to increase throughout June to accommodate the demand.

Financially, HTC was already starting to show signs of recovery after the launch of the HTC One, and, as long as demand remains strong, the company could experience a significant turnaround in fortunes, come the end of the second quarter.

The company’s Q1 2013 financial results revealed a disappointing revenue of $1.45 billion (NT$42.8 billion) after months of dismal figures and a record low monthly profit of just $2.8 million in February. Fortunately, the last two months seem to have been much better, putting HTC on track for a projected Q2 revenue of $2.4 billion (NT$70billion). As a bonus piece of good news for HTC, sales of the J Butterfly doubled in Japan once the device was put on a free with a contract offer.

HTC must be feeling pretty good after a many rough months, but time will tell if the ailing company can sustain this momentum throughout the rest of the year.

    


By Robert Triggs • HTC, HTC J Butterfly, HTC One, News, Phones • 0

May 17 2013

HTC J Butterfly getting Sense 5 update by the end of this month

HTC Butterfly

The HTC J Butterfly is set to get an update to HTC Sense 5, according to Jack Tong, president of HTC North Asia, quoted by Focus Taiwan.

In a statement mainly focused on the increasing production capacity for the HTC One, due to strong demand, the HTC official also revealed some good news for HTC J Butterfly owners. According to Tong, updates for the J Butterfly are planned for release by this month’s end.

The updates will include a few of the features the HTC One already offers, starting with the Sense 5.0 interface, BlinkFeed included, as well as the slide show feature for the camera.

It will be interesting to see whether the update will also become available for the Verizon version of the HTC J Butterfly, the Droid DNA, which Verizon is currently offering for free with a two-year contract for a limited period of time. You may remember that a custom ROM gave users Sense 5.0 on the Droid DNA, but an official update would certainly make the software available to more users.

    


By Bogdan Bele • HTC, HTC Droid DNA, HTC J Butterfly, HTC Sense 5, News, Phones • 0

May 17 2013

Monopoly: Samsung bagged 95% of all Android profits in Q1

Samsung Logo aa 600px 2

In a world crowded by so many mobile device manufacturers, you’d think that the profit pie would be shared somewhat proportionally between participants. That’s not the case however. A recent reports shows  that, in the first quarter of 2013, Samsung managed to bag around 95 percent of all profits made on Android.

The figure may be unbelievable to some, but taking in consideration that, during the same period of the last year, Samsung accounted for 90 percent of all smartphone profits, this is merely an incremental increase.

But how does a company as Samsung manage to crush its competition so badly?

There is no competitor

The Seoul-based company sells many expensive, high-margin products, such as the Galaxy S4, the Galaxy Note 2, or the Galaxy Camera, but it seems that people opt for quality and tend to remain loyal to a prestigious brand. In addition to the top liners, Samsung carpet-bombs the market with a device for every taste and budget.

Some other contributing factors are Samsung’s impressive manufacturing capability, which allows it to keep building costs to a minimum, the massive and well executed marketing campaigns, and the excellent relationships that the Koreans have with carriers from all over the world.

But an equally important contributor to Samsung’s monopolization of the Android profits is the strategy adopted by the competition. While HTC tried to basically follow the same path by releasing attractive and pricy smartphones like the One, some other manufacturers prefer to go at a loss, in an attempt to build market presence and mind share.

For instance, LG partnering with Google to sell a fantastic phone at an amazing price has not done wonders for the balance sheet, but it succeeded in gave some much needed sheen to LG’s name. Still, with a phone that good, and with some other impressive devices created in-house, LG took home a mere 3% of the global Android profit share in the first quarter of the year.

In pure numbers, the total operating profit of the smartphone industry for Q1 2013 was estimated to reach $5.3 billion, from which Samsung claimed $5.1 billion. LG’s strategy has gained the company a little over $100 million, while the remaining was split between several other manufacturers.

Samsung’s power over Android has been demonstrated time and again, but the future may bring it even more clout and financial domination. Even Google chose to exclusively sell an unlocked version of the Galaxy S4 online after partnering twice with Samsung for older Nexus generations, which is a trust no other company has ever gained. And maybe this trust will bring more perks for Samsung, like early access to Android updates, which should give the company another advantage against its competitors.

    


By Bogdan Petrovan • Financial Results, HTC, lg, market share, News, samsung, Samsung Galaxy S4 • 0

May 16 2013

Sprint HTC One to get it its first update, promises to solve key sensitivity problem

Sprint HTC ONe

The Sprint HTC One is ready to get its first software update and, while a small one, it does aim to solve an important problem.

The update, which is confirmed on the Sprint website, will bring your device to version 1.29.651.10 and and will include three fixes. First of all, it comes with improvements to BlinkFeed, but no exact details are given regarding what those improvements are.

Second, you’re getting a new Sprint Zone client, but the most important thing is that it improves the Back and Home key sensitivity. This has been an issue that quite a few users have been complaining about and that HTC has acknowledged and offered a fix for. That only happened for some versions of the device, though.

Now users of the Sprint HTC One are also getting it, but the interesting thing is that HTC also pushed some other improvements as part of updates that solved the key sensitivity problem. These included camera, Beats Audio and Bluetooth improvements, but they don’t seem to be mentioned for this update.

If you have a Sprint HTC One (which is also available in Stealth Black), you should know that the update is coming OTA and will be released in stages, so you’ll eventually get it, even if it doesn’t happen immediately.

If you haven’t made up your mind about buying the HTC One or not, maybe our review will help you make a decision.

Sprint HTC One users, have you already received the update?

    


By Bogdan Bele • HTC, HTC One, News, Phones, sprint • 0

May 15 2013

HTC Droid DNA available for free from Verizon if you hurry

HTC Droid DNA

The HTC Droid DNA is now available for free from Verizon, for a limited period of time only.

According to the carrier’s website, you can get a free HTC Droid DNA with a new two-year contract, as long as you follow some simple instructions. However, you must do so until May 21, as that’s when the offer is set to end.

First, you have to enter your email address on the promotion page, after which Verizon will send a promotional code to that e-mail address. Once you have received the code in question, head to the Verizon website and use the code upon checkout when getting a new two-year activation to get your free HTC Droid DNA.

The promotion does sound pretty good, and it gets you a device with some interesting specs, including a 5-inch 1080p display (441 ppi pixel density), Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset with 1.5GHz quad-core Krait processor, 2GB of RAM memory and 16GB of internal storage. The device also has an 8-megapixel rear camera, as well as a 2.1-megapixel front one.

You can check out our review of the HTC Droid DNA to get a better idea about what it offers:

While this is all very good news (especially if you were planning on getting a two-year contract anyway), it’s pretty normal to ask ourselves why would Verizon want to sell a lot of these devices in such a quick manner? You may remember the rumors about the HTC One being the device to replace the Droid DNA in the carrier’s lineup, and now the same speculation is made on various websites.

What do you think? Will Verizon carry the HTC One after all?

    


By Bogdan Bele • HTC, HTC Droid DNA, News, Phones, verizon droid dna, verizon wireless • 0

May 14 2013

Verizon offering free Droid DNA promotion for limited time

Droid DNA

A quick way to save on a great device if you're going to order online

Verizon has just started running a promotion on its website offering a coupon code that knocks down the price of a Droid DNA to $0 on-contract, which is a substantial savings. Holding its spot as the flagship for the "Droid" brand on Verizon since November last year, the DNA has stayed at $199 on-contract since its release. All you have to do to get a coupon code for the device is provide your email address to Verizon at the source link below, where you'll then receive a code to apply at the online checkout for the savings. The promotion is only valid until May 21st, so you've got a week to make up your mind on this one. Even at 6 months old the DNA is still a great option on Verizon.

The fact that Verizon is running a promotion to sell a device that is over 6 months old now should come as no surprise to anyone at this point. Carriers (often inexplicably) go through phases of discounting and promoting devices that they want to push, especially when they get to be this far into their lifecycle. However it will be interesting to see whether or not the standard price of the DNA will drop following this promotion.

Source: Verizon

    


By Andrew Martonik • droid dna, HTC, HTC Droid DNA, News, verizon • 0

May 14 2013

Buying guide: Best Android phones – USA, May 2013

samsung galaxy s4 vs htc one standings aa

Much has happened in the world of Android over the last few months, with major announcements from Samsung, HTC, Sony and LG. Also, many smartphone manufacturers have released phones across multiple carriers, which can make a buying choice difficult.

But is there one Android phone you should buy? No, but there are many handsets out there, covering a wide variety of needs. Need a good camera? There’s an Android phone for that. Need a budget phone? There’s an Android phone for that.

Join us in taking a look at the latest and greatest Android smartphones available this month across all US carriers.

The AA smartphone buying guide brings you the best pre-paid and contract phones, both high-end and budget, available in May 2013 in the United States.

Best phones on contract: high-end

HTC One

This year, HTC is trying to redeem itself with the One, a beautiful aluminum-clad smartphone that leads the market in screen and camera technologies. HTC made good decisions with the One, focusing on marketing the camera and speakers as the main selling points.

The One was very well received, with many people stating that they were going to go with the One over the S4 due to the aluminum build compared to Samsung’s plastic. HTC have also released the phone with three of the four main carriers in the US, which is more than can be said of its recent flagships.

HTC has improved Sense greatly with the new version, cleaning up the interface and adding new features such as BlinkFeed, which is a Flipboard-style homescreen replacement that connects to your social media accounts and favorite news sources. There is also a range of camera features to go along with the improved camera, such as the new Zoe.

Talking of the camera, a very nice thing about the one is the “ultrapixel” sensor, which lets the phone take brilliant vivid photos with great exposure even in low-light photos, by capturing more light per pixel. However the low amount of 4 megapixels can be concerning, as photos sometimes come out fuzzy and lacking in detail due to the small size.

HTC One review

HTC One availability and pricing

  • AT&T – available for $199 on a new plan
  • Sprint – available for $99 on a new plan
  • T-Mobile – available for $99 down payment, $20 per month off contract

Samsung Galaxy S4

With the new Galaxy S4, Samsung plans on repeating last year’s success on an even larger scale by updating the specs and throwing in a multitude of handy software features. Last month, Samsung announced the S4 in style at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, building up iPhone-like hype and staging an ambitious Broadway event to unveil the new phone.

The Galaxy S4 is filled with new software features, but many have labeled them as gimmicky. These include things such as Eye Scroll, Air View, which allows you to hover a finger over the device for previews, and a nifty health app. They can be useful and make the experience of the S4 more enjoyable, although probably no one will call them necessary.

Many have criticized the plastic construction of Samsung phones such as the Galaxy S4. While plastic certainly has its flaws, it still holds up well and ultimately doesn’t spoil the experience provided by the extra software features on this phone. On the other hand, plastic allows the cover to be taken off revealing the replaceable battery, which is widely regarded as an important smartphone feature.

We found the Galaxy S4 to be one of the best performers in many categories with its blazing fast quad core processor, beautiful display and a worthy 13-megapixel camera.

Samsung Galaxy S4 review

Samsung Galaxy S4 availability and pricing

  • Verizon – available for $199 on a new plan starting May 23
  • AT&T – available for $199 on a new plan
  • Sprint – available for $249 on a new plan, $149 if you move from another carrier
  • T-Mobile – available for $149 down payment, $20 per month off contract
  • U.S. Cellular – available for $199 on a new plan

HTC Droid DNA

The Droid DNA is the latest member of Verizon’s army of droids. This handset was the first to introduce full HD displays to the US market. Sporting a Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor and an eight megapixel camera, this phone is no slouch and could certainly still be considered a good high-end choice.

With Verizon skipping the HTC One, this phone is definitely the best HTC phone available on Verizon today. If you appreciate a decent build quality and Sense 4.1, then this is the Verizon phone for you.

HTC Droid DNA review

 

HTC Droid DNA availability and pricing

  •  Verizon – available for $199 on a new plan

LG Optimus G Pro

LG is making its way back into the smartphone game slowly and steadily. Last year, the high end Optimus G made its way onto several carriers but ultimately did not sell well. This time, LG is hoping that it can change the game with its latest phablet. The phone is packed with premium specs that you would expect to see from a high end smartphone in 2013 such as the fabulous 1080p display that many manufacturers are including on their devices.

LG’s custom Android UI is perhaps not the most attractive looking UI, but still a functional and easy to use layover with several customisation options. However this handset does lack the useful stylus found on the Galaxy Note II. If you’re looking for a phablet with a stylus, then waiting for the Galaxy Note 3 would probably be your best choice. Nonetheless, the Optimus G Pro remains a strong contender and is amongst the best smartphones out right now.

LG Optimus G Pro review

LG Optimus G Pro availability and pricing

  • AT&T – Available for $199 on a new plan

Best phones on contract: budget

Samsung Galaxy S3

Last year, the Galaxy S3 became a hit before it even hit shelves, with Samsung reporting 9 million pre-orders worldwide. The handset went on to outsell the iPhone in many countries and eventually became the hottest Android smartphone of 2012.

This phone may not be the latest and greatest anymore, however, it is still a very strong contender. You get a whole host of features, 2 GB of RAM, and a still fast dual-core processor at a cost of just $99 on most carriers, which is a steal considering it will most likely be supported by Samsung for at least another year.

Samsung Galaxy S3 review

Samsung Galaxy S3 availability and pricing

  • Verizon – available for $99 on a new plan
  • AT&T – available for $99 on a new plan
  • Sprint – available for $99 on a new plan, free if you move in from another carrier
  • T-Mobile – available for $69 down payment, $20 per month off contract
  • U.S. Cellular – available for $99 on a new plan

Pantech Discover

This midrange device was first unveiled at CES 2013 and it had little impact compared to devices such as Sony’s Xperia Z, which was also revealed in Vegas and took home the Best in Show title. We were thoroughly impressed by the Discover in ourreview and gave Pantech credit for the phone’s beautiful 4.7-inch 720p display, smooth interface, and decent camera, all for a small price on contract.

Pantech even got the build right, creating something easy and comfortable to hold while keeping it thin and light. The downside however, is that it is running Android 4.0, which is more than a year and a half old. Still, if you’re in the market for a decent midrange phone at a low price, then the Pantech Discover may be the perfect smartphone for you.

Pantech Discover review

Pantech Discover availability and pricing

  • AT&T – available for $49 on a new plan

Best phones off contract (SIM-free)

Google Nexus 4

Google’s Nexus line has always been a favorite amongst Android fans and developers, because of the stock Android interface, which is cleaner and smoother than many manufacturer UIs. It also has the benefit of receiving software updates directly from Google, ahead of the rest of the Android phones and tablets on the market.

Last year, LG was selected to produce the next Nexus for Google and they did a great job, combining excellent hardware (4.7-inch 720p display, quad-core processor, 8MP camera etc.) with Google’s own software (Stock Android 4.2). This phone was immediately one of the most desired on the planet and that was especially clear from launch, with the Nexus 4 selling out in an hour. It is, however, back in stock and available from the Google Play Store unlocked and SIM free at an unbelievably cheap price.

Google Nexus 4 review

Google Nexus 4 availability and pricing

  • Google Play – available for $299 unlocked
  • T-Mobile – available $20 down payment, $17 per month off contract

Sony Xperia ZL

The Sony Xperia ZL is the smaller brother to the beautiful Xperia Z. It keeps the same 1080p 5-inch screen, quad-core processor and 13 megapixel camera, but just in a smaller, more convenient package, which enables easier one handed use. The handset is running Sony’s custom UI, which has some extra software features added on, but still generally retains a simple and functional look.

However, we have noted that the display lacks vibrancy and wide viewing angles, which could potentially be a problem for some users. But if you overlook the display, the Xperia ZL is still a solid unlocked choice – even at the high price.

Sony Xperia ZL review

Sony Xperia ZL availability and pricing

Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini

After the success of the Galaxy S3, Samsung moved onwards to create a second device for those people who liked the S3 but wanted it in a smaller package. They compressed the 4.8-inch Galaxy S3 into the 4-inch Galaxy S3 mini, keeping all the bells and whistles that its larger brother has, while making it friendlier for people who prefer smaller devices.

The screen is not the only thing compressed though. The specs are also a step down but not disastrously. This phone has a dual core processor, 540p resolution and 5-megapixel camera. These specs are not bad enough to completely distract you from the experience of the phone, but some people may not be satisfied. All in all, this is still a fluid and enjoyable device, which will whet the appetites of those who want a smaller screen.

Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini review

Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini availability and pricing

  • Best Buy – available for $349 unlocked

Wrap up

Spring is always an exciting time for Android shoppers, because of the amount of devices released during this time. Samsung, HTC and LG all have solid entries into the high end space and are all worth taking a look at if you’re looking for a premium Android handset.

With the rumored Motorola X Phone and Galaxy Note 3 on the horizon, it is already clear that this year will be a great one for both Android lovers and general consumers, with so many choices and variations available on the market.

    


By Bogdan Petrovan • Buying Guide, Featured, Google Nexus 4, HTC, HTC One, lg, LG Optimus G Pro, pantech, Pantech Discover, Phones, samsung, Samsung Galaxy S3, Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini, Samsung Galaxy S4, Sony, Sony Xperia ZL • 0

May 12 2013

HTC One, two months on …

HTC One

How has HTC's latest flagship fared after two months in the hands of an AC editor?

It’s been just over two months since I first got my hands on the HTC One -- first, a pre-production demo unit, then a final European retail model. For most of that time, HTC’s impressive 2013 flagship has been my daily driver -- the phone I use every day, and take with me just about everywhere I go. In that time it’s seen plenty of normal use, and ten days or so of not-so-normal use in New York City for our Galaxy S4 and #TM13 coverage

But the HTC One was in short supply when it first launched in Europe and it’s only recently hit the U.S. market, so we’re in a bit of a unique position to have used the phone for this long. With that in mind, now seems like the right moment to reflect on our time with the device.

Just as we did for the Nexus 4 in January, it’s time for our long-term, two-month retrospective feature on the HTC One. We’ve already brought you a full review of the phone, and a casual review of the Sprint version, of course. So consider this article a chance for us to share the kind of details that don’t come to light in the course of our normal review process, and an opportunity to let you know what to expect in the months ahead if you pick up an HTC One today.

Check past the break to learn how the HTC One has coped with 61 days in the hands of an Android Central editor.

read more

    


By Alex Dobie • HTC, HTC One, Smartphones, two months • 0

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