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The Daily Roundup for 03.15.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
When being better doesn't equal victory: Samsung's curious overshadowing of HTC
In a lot of things, being the best generally leads to victory. Usain Bolt is the fastest man in the London Olympics? He wins the gold. A hosting company has the best recorded uptime? It takes home an award. Google launches the fastest consumer broadband available in the US? Boom, victory. But every so often, life throws us a curveball. For every 1972 Dolphins team, there's a pack of believers from NC State eager to do something crazy in 1983. And in more germane terms, there's presently no rhyme or reason why HTC has continually outgunned Samsung in terms of design prowess, yet continues to bleed cash while its Korean rival mints it. Actually, there is a reason. It's called marketing.
Ting gets serious: Samsung Galaxy S IV, HTC One and LTE devices incoming
Yearning for a contract-free option for cellular service? Ting's certainly a compelling one, but to date, the limited device options have kept it from becoming a standout alternative. That, however, is about to change. The MVNO -- which leans on Sprint's network here in the US -- has just announced plans to sell contract-free Galaxy S IV "for around the full unlocked price" as soon as it can. Specifically, you'll see it hit the Ting device page as a pre-order in around six to eight weeks. If that's a little large for your blood, HTC's drop-dead gorgeous One will also be making its way over, with pre-orders to start in around 30 days. Inching ever smaller, the Galaxy S III Mini will join the carrier's lineup about the time the GS IV does, though there's no mention of pricing there. As for other nuggets? Ting's expecting to offer up its first LTE device for pre-order "within six weeks," and yes, it's still working on a way to support Apple's iPhone as well as the entire range of Windows Phone 8 products.
The Daily Roundup for 03.13.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
HTC One headed to Verizon after all, says AllThingsD
If you read the comments on our HTC One review, you'll find a lot of cheesed-off Verizon customers wondering why Big Red isn't planning on selling it. Turns out, you guys might be getting yourselves a pretty 4.7-inch flagship after all. AllThingsD is reporting that Verizon is indeed planning to offer the phone, right alongside AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile. The only catch is that the VZW model might arrive a month or two after the others, thanks to Verizon's notoriously long testing process. The keyword, of course, is "might" -- so far, neither Verizon or HTC has made a comment, which means all our angry Verizon-bound readers might have reason to be mad after all. Needless to say, we hope you don't.
HTC One Developer Edition announced, $649 with SIM and bootloader unlocked
HTC is getting into the Developer Edition trend -- a compromise necessary since CEO Peter Chou's plan to stop locking bootloaders entirely didn't stick -- as it's announced tonight that a variant of its new One that will be available with both SIM and bootloader unlocked. Due to arrive in the US at the same time as the standard carrier versions, it will keep the same powerful specs and slick design (no, the case is not transparent) we loved in our review, but without the restrictions. One thing it's missing? AWS HSPA/WCDMA access, which should limit its opportunities on T-Mobile until it rolls out LTE service. The price is $649 up front and it will ship in "limited quantities," so we'd figure that's just one more thing to keep in mind before the next Galaxy S is announced on Thursday.
HTC One review (2013)
One. In literal terms, it's a number. To HTC, however, it's a branding strategy -- the foundation upon which the entire company is now based. Just take one look at the One lineup and you'll easily understand this is the manufacturer's pride and joy. There's a very good reason for that: in a crowded smartphone market, HTC is the underdog to titans like Samsung and Apple. The company needs to stand out if it even wants the chance to prove itself to consumers. Last year's One X marked a solid start, and while it didn't pick up the momentum CEO Peter Chou would've liked, the follow-up model -- simply called the One -- takes HTC's design and imaging chops to the next level, bringing a new UltraPixel camera sensor, among other top-shelf specs. But will it catch the eye of potential smartphone buyers, in light of another key product announcement? We'd say it's got more than a fighting chance. Update: HTC has since come out with a refreshed version of the One, the M8. Read our review here. %Gallery-181218%
HTC confirms One shipment delays, shifts global rollout to April
If you've been hearing whispers across the net that HTC's newest flagship, the One, has been beset by delays, consider those rumors confirmed. A company rep has corroborated those reports, stating that all global shipments, save for those from O2 in Germany, have been pushed back until an unspecified time in April. Fortunately, there is a slight silver lining, as those wise enough to have pre-ordered the One should start to see their units arrive by the end of this month -- though it's not a guarantee. As for the cause of this setback, no specific reason was given, but it's likely HTC's dealing with some manufacturing issues. We'll update you should we hear more on the official cause soon. For now, you can find HTC's official statement after the break.
Comparing the HTC ONE and iPhone 5
HTC introduced its flagship One smartphone earlier this year at a global press event. Unlike Samsung which crafts its phones from plastic, HTC took a page from Apple and used aluminum in the One's design. According to Android Central, which compared the HTC One with an iPhone 5, this brushed aluminum is where the similarities between the two phones end. Reviewer Phil Nickinson notes that the sizes of the two phones are different, and their shapes are distinct as well. At the end of his comparison, Nickinson simply concludes that the iPhone is the iPhone and the HTC One is the HTC One. You can read the quick point-by-point comparison on Android Central's website.
HTC Droid DNA gets an early taste of Sense 5 thanks to beta ROM
While plenty of Android users prefer the vanilla OS experience, manufacturer-created skins persist, like HTC's updated Sense 5 UI debuting on the latest One flagship. HTC's Droid DNA will almost certainly receive this new version in the future -- the handset maker has confirmed it's coming to the Butterfly, a DNA variant -- but if you're partial to flashing, you can get your fingers on it right now. XDA Developers member newtoroot clearly isn't lacking the expertise their handle suggests, and has taken to the site's forum to offer a beta build of Sense 5 for the DNA. Bear in mind it's a beta, but everything is said to working bar MMS and the new Zoe camera mode. If you've got the hardware, know your way around a ROM and are up for toying with HTC's latest skin, head to the source link for the file and thread.
HTC says One's dual-membrane microphones block bad vibes
Nobody expects studio quality recording from a smartphone, but the technology in HTC's recently launched One at least allows distortion free audio to be nabbed in the quietest or loudest environments, according to the company's blog. Describing BoomSound tech, HTC says the system brings two dual-membrane MEMS microphones to the handset, one of which is focused on sensitivity and the other on high decibel sources. The two signals are then combined electronically, resulting in whisper-level tones that are free of hiss along with concert level blasting that won't clip or distort. By HTC's reckoning, that means the audio that goes along with those UltraPixels will be clear whether you're capturing a physics lecture or death metal concert.
The Daily Roundup for 03.04.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
The Engadget Interview: VP of design Scott Croyle talks HTC One at MWC 2013
It's no secret that we're big fans of the HTC One here at Engadget -- we've already written at length about the handset's hardware design, software features and imaging chops. At MWC, we were lucky to spend some time with Scott Croyle, VP of design, to discuss the company's latest superphone. We talked about the handset's delightful zero-gap aluminum and plastic unibody and how HTC wanted to "break down that last barrier" of integrating antennae in a metal casing without making compromises. He explained that the One's design was inspired by high-end watches, and it turns out that the zero-gap machining process was developed in-house specifically for this device. Some of the antennae (such as WiFi and GPS) are actually machined as part of the unibody and coexist on the same aluminum panel. We then chatted about the gorgeous 4.7-inch 1080p display which was supplied by the same manufacturer which provided the screen for the Droid DNA and One X, and the daring Ultrapixel camera, which packs four million large (2µm) pixels and OIS. Mr. Croyle mentioned that while the business side is incredibly important, the decision to use Ultrapixels was focused on the needs of consumers. We asked if limiting the number of pixels was in any way driven by the software -- the desire to implement Zoe and perhaps curtail the massive amounts of data gathered and processed by the feature. It turns out that the development of the sensor and optics started a long time before the software. As for Zoe, "nobody's redefined what a photograph could mean" and HTC was eager to try something new. Our full video interview is yours to watch after the break.
HTC confirms Sense 5 coming to existing phones, some features limited to HTC One
HTC didn't have much to say about its Sense 5 UI coming to existing devices when it introduced it alongside its new One handset, but it's now gotten a bit more talkative. In a post on Facebook, and confirmed to us independently, HTC says that global variants of the HTC One X, One X+, One S and Butterfly will all be getting an update to the new interface "in the next few months," although specifics remain light beyond that for the time being. The company does note, however, that not all devices will support all the features offered by Sense 5, as some of those features make use of hardware specific to the new HTC One.
China Mobile's four new TD-LTE phones: Huawei Ascend D2, HTC One, LG Optimus Vu II Plus and ZTE U9810
We already knew that LG's now jumped on the TD-LTE bandwagon with the demo of a modified Optimus G, but it turns out that China Mobile also announced several devices that are destined for its 4G market, including the 5-inch 1080p Huawei Ascend D2 (D2-TL), the 4.7-inch 1080p HTC One (TD101), the 5-inch XGA LG Optimus Vu II Plus and the mysterious 5-inch 1080p ZTE U9810. Interestingly, our brethren over at Engadget Chinese also spotted a TD-LTE-ready Samsung Galaxy S III at China Mobile's MWC booth (note the "China Mobile 4G" logo on the back of the phone, pictured above), but it wasn't mentioned at the Global TD-LTE Initiative summit at MWC. Obviously, let's not forget ZTE's Grand Era LTE that's compatible with both modes of LTE. Knowing how fresh some of these devices are, it seems like TD-LTE service will be available to the Chinese public well within this year, which will match what China Mobile announced back in January.Also announced alongside the aforementioned phones were four TD-LTE mobile hotspots, including Huawei's E5375, ZTE's MF91S+, China Mobile-badged CM510 plus CM512. These all feature battery lives between six to eight hours, and can handle up to 10 devices simultaneously. Some even support the more common FDD LTE, with Huawei's already capable of Category 4 LTE at up to 150Mbps.
HTC Sync Manager can pull data from iPhone backup files
CNET Asia is reporting that HTC confirmed it will launch the HTC Sync Manager desktop application next month, which be able to access an iPhone's backup files, extract its data and import it into an HTC One. The idea is to let those switching from an iPhone to an HTC One easily transfer photos, videos, calendar entries and text messages. As CNET points out, the text message feature is key, because there's currently no easy way to transfer archived text messages between devices. Your guess is as good as anyone's as to how long this upcoming HTC Sync Manager will be allowed to work, as it's perfectly reasonable to assume Apple will try to find a way to block it, much like they blocked the Palm Pre from syncing with iTunes. The company also went back and forth with several MP3 player manufacturers back when the iPod was young.
The Weekly Roundup for 02.18.2013
You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 7 days -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Switched On: Moving forward with leaning back
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. Just a few months have passed between the introduction of the Droid DNA and the new HTC One, but it seems that HTC has been turned upside down in that time. While the Droid DNA was introduced in conjunction with Verizon and can't be a wholly representative picture of how HTC might have introduced the device otherwise, it was a spec- and design-driven product -- a 5-inch, 1080p display with a 440-ppi density that appeared to spill over onto sides that included a microperforation. In contrast, little was said about the HTC One hardware itself until later in the device's introduction, surprising because the HTC One is not only the most attractive handset the company has ever built, but also certainly one of the most attractive on the market. While it is an Android device, the casing builds upon the tapered, Windows Phone-inspired 8X, substituting aluminum for polycarbonate. That said, there is also the spillover glass effect found on the Droid DNA. The HTC One retains the 1080p display found in the Droid DNA. However, since the screen is smaller, the pixel density is even higher (468 ppi) than in that record-breaking device.
HTC One for Sprint spotted with FCC approval
The HTC One just made its first official appearance (unless you count its brief showing by Peter Chou at the year-end party as "official") on Tuesday, and while we haven't been given any specific availability in the US, its models are at least starting to receive approval from the FCC. This particular model sports Sprint-specific LTE (band 25) and also includes 802.11ac support, a telltale sign that this is indeed the Now Network's One. The fact that the docs detail the test unit as a production model is a solid indication that HTC's flagship is well on its way to Overland Park, and soon. And it doesn't appear to be alone, either; two other variants snuck through the process of federal approval, one with quad-band LTE (bands 2, 4, 5 and 17) and another with dual-band (bands 4 and 17). It seems that HTC isn't wasting any time on bringing its attack to US shores.
HTC releases IR API, looking for a few good devs
In an effort to usher its newest flagship's infrared capabilities to the masses, HTC is adding an IR API to its OpenSense SDK. Starting today, developers interested in creating applications that use the One's IR blaster can request the software kit directly from the company. By making this API available to the masses, HTC hopes to build a stable of apps unique to its new hardware, kicking things off with Sense 5's integrated universal TV remote control software. Devs looking to ease the pain of Logitech's plans to kill off the Harmony -- or those interested in more details -- can find just that via the source link below.
