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HTC details micro arc oxidation, says your One S will be strong enough to forgo the case (video)
Happen to recall the gorgeous metal HTC's using on its upcoming One S to surround its Ice Cream Sandwich-loaded core? To refresh your memory, the ceramic look and feel of its metal unibody shell is created using a process known as micro arc oxidation -- and HTC's highlighting how the magic happens in its latest YouTube video. According to the company, the shell (made from aircraft-grade aluminium) gets slammed with a whopping "10,000 volts of energy," causing a reaction that quickly leads to the black color and smooth texture. Notably, HTC points out that this is actually a treatment to the metal, rather than a finish on top of it. That's not all -- the metal also ends up being nearly five-times stronger as a result. Want to see the zapping for yourself? You'll find the clip and more details in the flick just after the break.
T-Mobile HTC One S shows up in FCC with AWS bands?
It doesn't come right out and say it, but we have a strong suspicion that the HTC PJ40110 -- approved by the FCC today -- refers to T-Mobile's version of the HTC One S. This model offers an AWS 3G radio, in addition to AT&T-friendly 850 /1900 3G bands, and its ID is just a slight nudge from the PJ40100 (global One S). The timing of this seal of approval lines up with T-Mo's spring launch aspirations, and this is one particular device (pun unintended but welcome) we can't wait to see in stores. Note: There's also a lot of speculation that the PJ58100 is the One S for T-Mobile, and was approved by the FCC two weeks ago. Both models appear to share the same specs and radio sets. In our initial investigation, it looks like the major difference is in the location of the WLAN / BT antenna itself.
HTC Media Link HD display mirroring box gets FCC rubber stamp
Amid the rush of news during HTC's presentation at MWC was a brief mention of a Media Link HD accessory for wireless big-screen mirroring from the One S or One X. Fresh FCC paperwork suggests the device is on track for an April release and also highlights that it's been revised since HTC's first foible-prone attempt at a DLNA dongle: the Media Link HD does 1080p over 802.11n to any HDMI-equipped TV, instead of just 720p, and promises to mirror games as well as videos, photos and music. Pricing hasn't been made official, but retailers have it on pre-order for around $120 -- potentially still too expensive, even if this one works better than the last.
HTC may not have PureView, but it does have ImageSense
Not to be outdone by the Nokia 808's appearance at MWC, HTC has released sample shots taken using the ImageSense camera module that comes in its One X and One S phones. In many ways they're normal-looking stills, with nothing like PureView's 41-megapixel oversampling (which is claimed to result in a superior still), and certainly no massive 1/1.2-inch sensor. However, if you look closely, you can see the benefits of some of HTC's improvements. Top among those is the faster f/2.0 lens, which will allow for shorter exposures and clearer moving subjects -- like the skateboarders above. Such images will also likely benefit from the 0.7-second time window for capturing an image and the 0.2-second auto-focus when shooting continuously. Whatever you make of the sample shots in the gallery below, HTC can also claim one key advantage over PureView -- at least for the time being: camera technology that still fits into a regular-sized smartphone.%Gallery-149381%
Mobile World Congress 2012: smartphone roundup
Mobile World Congress is a dignified affair held yearly in Barcelona that companies take very seriously. For example, unlike CES, there are lots and lots of suits -- after all, this is a congress. Here, some of the most unique and desirable handsets meet the eyes of press, analysts and buyers for the very first time. Accordingly, anxieties were high among company leaders as they put their best foot forward and held their breath for the first round of impressions. This year's show has been a wild ride, and we've seen many devices stretch the boundaries of our imagination. There were more than a few stunners, and as the dust settles, companies such as HTC, Nokia, LG, Huawei and Asus can all hold their heads high. Join us after the break as we reminisce the most notable smartphones from Mobile World Congress.
Xperia U, HTC One X and One S coming to Orange UK
Orange, the only cellular network that's also one of your five-a-day has announced that it'll be releasing Sony's Xperia U, HTC One X and One S to smartphone demanding Britons in the second quarter of the year. Depending on your point of view, it's either fantastic or terrible that the network bagged the white edition of Sony's handset as an exclusive, but it's going to tempt some of you to the citrus-side of the force. There's no word on pricing, but we'd expect them to cost something we've heard called "money." While you wait for them to arrive, why not decide on which handset you'd rather purchase by reading our splendid hands-ons with each of the handsets? Xperia U / One X / One S.
HTC One S hands-on at MWC 2012 (video)
The second of the One. That's another way to describe the HTC One S, the mid-range selection in the Taiwanese company's trio of new devices. Even though it should be considered middle of the road when being compared to a heavy hitter like the One X, it's not hurting for features in the slightest. The S's claim to fame is its scratch-resistant and durable aluminum backing, and adds a highly respectable list of mouth-watering specs to go along with it. Let's have a look-see: 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED panel, 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 (MSM8260A) processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, the same 8MP rear camera found on the One X along with a VGA front-facing cam, a smallish 1,605mAh battery and 42Mbps HSPA+ radios (which will come in handy when it shows up on T-Mobile this spring).While we've had the chance to drool all over its bigger brother, the One S still satisfies in nearly every way. The aluminum build was forged using a Micro Arc Oxidation process, and indeed affords us a feeling of security in case the skinny device were to slip through our hands. Given the firm grip we had on it, the chances of something like that happening would be rather slim anyway -- still, better safe than sorry. And the dual-core S4 chipset doesn't disappoint, either, and is going to be a slightly less expensive alternative for anyone who isn't a power user. Add in the same beautiful f/2.0 camera lens with all the Sense 4.0 trimmings, and this will likely stand well amongst its peers. As with the One X, we'd still prefer to see a physical camera button to take full advantage of the swift shutter speed and simultaneous video / still image capture. Want to get a bit closer to the action? Scoop the gallery below and the video after the break.Update: The chipset in the HTC One S is a dual-core Snapdragon S4.
HTC reveals Media Link HD wireless HDMI adapter for One X and One S phones
Looking to accessorize your fresh HTC look? Then how about the Media Link HD wireless dongle for starters? It'll mirror the display from your One X or One S on any HDMI-equipped TV. We're told it'll be as simple as plugging the adapter into a free HDMI input and then performing a three-finger swipe on your phone. We're not yet sure of the price, but expect to see the add-on in stores from mid-April when the new One family becomes available.
HTC updates Beats Audio, makes it work with any third-party app
Let's just say we were underwhelmed by the first iteration of HTC Beats on the Sensation XE. But now it looks like the technology has been revamped for the latest One handsets, so -- once we've tasted the pudding -- we might just have to revise that opinion. The new Beats is claimed to make music sound more "authentic," and whereas the previous version could only be activated inside HTC's stock music player, this time it'll work with YouTube, Pandora, Spotify and any other third-party Android app. What exactly will it do with those apps? And will it move beyond its current gimmicky bass-boost status? We'll just have to wait and listen.
HTC unveils One S, arrives with dual-core power, engineered metal finish
HTC's new phone appears to be its middle-weight offering, but it's still looking to impress with a 4.3 inch Super AMOLED display and a new dual-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 S4 (MSM8260A) inside set to do the heavy-lifting. Previously known to leak fans as the Ville, HTC's brought Ice Cream Sandwich to the fold, alongside the very latest version of its Sense UI -- 4.0 to match that Android version number. The highlight here appears to be that uniformly thin alloy unibody; in science terms, it's a plasma-heated micro arc oxidation process, giving HTC's typical aluminum frame a smooth ceramic finish and apparently toughening it up on the way. Camera-wise, it's wielding a potent eight megapixel sensor with HTC's very own ImageChip and a f/2.0 autofocus lens that's likely to blow all of its previous camera modules out of the water. HTC has focused on the camera software too -- the One S apparently capable of nabbing shots in under a second and the ability to capture full-size stills during 1080p recording. All this, and it's a mere 7.9mm thick. We'll be hunting down a model for a hands-on as soon as we're finished here. Expect to see our impressions very soon, check HTC's video preview after the break now.
T-Mobile gets the HTC One S first in the US, coming this spring
See HTC's new superstar handset the One S earlier during our MWC 2012 liveblog and want one for your very own? Well, we've got some good news for you T-Mobile aficionados, as the One S will be coming to the magenta-clad masses before anyone else. That means you'll be able to enjoy its super-slim profile, prodigious Snapdragon S4 computing power and ICS with Sense 4 on T-Mo's blazing HSPA+ 42Mbps network before your friends on Ma Bell, Big Red, or the Now Network. Unfortunately, we can't neither tell you exactly when you can get your hands on one, nor how much it'll cost to do so, but we do know it'll be on sale this spring.
HTC adds even more Dropbox support in Sense 4.0, storage upped to 25GB
More news coming out of HTC's camp in Barcelona. The firm shared promise rings with Dropbox a few months ago, offering 5GB total storage capacity on its Sense 3.5 devices, and now the two companies are ready to take the next step in their commitment with ICS-backed version 4.0. This time they're integrating the cloud service directly into its OS and are offering five times the storage (and arguably five times the fun) for free, up to a grand total of 25GB -- in addition to the amount you already have in your account -- for the course of two years. That's great, but we're rooting for the relationship to last longer than "til end of contract do us part."
HTC debuts One brand at MWC 2012, unifies Android device lineup
Shearing clippers, meet HTC's Android device portfolio. It appears UK head Phil Roberson wasn't just blowing the proverbial smoke this past January when he stated intentions to tighten up the manufacturer's portfolio with fewer releases focused on "amazing hardware" experiences. At today's MWC keynote the company announced an initiative that'll quite literally institute a One product line to rule them all ethos. Functioning much like Samsung's Galaxy series does, all smartphones and tablets that fall under the 'One' brand umbrella will showcase an attention to three distinct areas of detail: top-notch imaging, integrated Beats audio and industrial design. And, unlike the divisive monikers that often results from heavy-handed carrier intervention, the 130 operators already on board for the OEM's newborn products will retain that streamlined naming convention. No word yet on whether the outfit intends to group its Windows Phone array under this same tree or if that'll warrant an entirely new family itself. PR about the new branch in the HTC family tree can be found after the break.
