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Live from the HTC One event in New York City!
The time has finally come to see what the hullabaloo is all about -- this year's version of the HTC One is going to be announced here very soon, and we'll be bringing all of the big news to you live from New York City! Stay tuned as we get this liveblog rolling just before 11AM ET.
HTC's new One will also come as a minimalist Google Play Edition
With HTC's big launch looming later today, some apps for the new One handset have started dropping prematurely on the Google Play Store. One of those apps, HTC Gallery, is especially interesting because its accompanying text confirms that, aside from the regular phone, there'll also be the option of a clutter-free Google Play Edition. It looks like this edition will be available soon, perhaps coinciding with the main launch, without the lag we saw with the Google-fied version of the old One. Whenever it arrives, those who opt for this edition will get prompt Android updates while also being free to pick and choose from HTC's software offerings, including Blinkfeed (the company's news-focused homepage), Sense TV (the TV remote app) and presumably at least one photography app that can take advantage of the new model's rumored selling point: a depth-sensing camera. Stay tuned at our liveblog at 11am ET (8am PT, 3pm UK) for all the official news and pricing.
We're liveblogging HTC's 'all new One' event tomorrow at 11AM ET!
Given the extensive number of leaks we've seen of HTC's next-generation flagship smartphone, we wouldn't blame you if you thought that the latest and greatest out of Taiwan was already official and being sold in stores. Truth is, it's not -- but it's going to be announced in a little over 24 hours. The company is unveiling the all new HTC One in a big way: a livestreamed event taking place in both New York City and London at the same time. We'll be liveblogging the launch on the US side, and hope that you can join us as CEO Peter Chou finally reveals everything we want to know about the device codenamed the M8! March 25, 2014 11:00:00 AM EDT
HTC's new One smartphone to go on sale 'just minutes after it is officially announced'
At this point, we have a pretty clear idea of what HTC's upcoming flagship smartphone will look like. Everything from its unique duo rear camera, to its refreshed version of Sense to its familiar One-like aluminum body has been leaked in the lead up to the company's March 25th event. And now, thanks to the UK retailer Carphone Warehouse jumping the gun, we know the handset, dubbed the "new HTC One (M8)," will be available to purchase "just minutes after it is officially announced" at six locations in London. How's that for spoiling the surprise? It's clear from this release that HTC intends to waste no time directing attention from its headline-dominating launch into direct retail sales. Whether or not that gamble pays off is another matter. But we'll know soon enough if that market opportunism can successfully channel fanboy enthusiasm into dollars and pounds. [Image credit: TD Beta] Update: It seems that O2 may not have the HTC One on store shelves until the first week of April, so that "same day" availability we've been hearing about may only apply to select carriers or resellers.
New HTC One sold on eBay in Verizon packaging for $500
Given the vast number of leaks about HTC's all new One, its upcoming flagship launching March 25th, it's almost surprising that it was this long before we saw a retail unit sold on eBay. But hey, it's finally happened, although we must say we're a bit puzzled as to why the sale only netted $500. Naturally, the final retail price will be a bit higher than that. Regardless of price, the fact that it comes in its packaging is more important because it has most of the specs listed on it.
Goophone copies the all new (still-unannounced) HTC One
If you're going to clone one of 2014's hottest Android flagships, you might as well clone others, right? Goophone certainly thinks so. It just launched the Goophone M8, a smartphone that bears an uncanny resemblance to the all new (and still-unannounced) HTC One. Not that the similarities are much more than skin deep, mind you. Goophone's attempt at keepin' it real fake uses capacitive keys instead of the new One's on-screen buttons, and we doubt that the middling (if octa-core) processor, 1GB of RAM and 3G data speeds will have HTC breaking a sweat. It only costs $230 to get Goophone's knock-off, though. And hey, it comes in gold -- if you're only looking for an ostentatious design, you might as well save some cash.
New HTC One dual-lens camera shown off in detailed leak
Leaked images and videos of the HTC One's successor are a dime a dozen, so we've already seen every possible nook and cranny of the device. Why, then, are we reporting on the latest find by @evleaks? It gives us the closest and clearest look of HTC's rumored dual-lens camera setup so far, which is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing features on the phone. It features a smaller lens just above HTC's standard lens and dual-LED flash, but the purpose of is still a complete mystery. Plenty of theories exist, and we reported on the most likely possibilities demoed at Mobile World Congress last week. Ideas include the ability to cleanly magnify distant subjects without using digital zoom, enhancing low-light performance (which was an area HTC focused on with the One), quicker autofocus and the ability to change a picture's depth of field. Whether or not these particular benefits show up, it's hard to dispute that a parallel-lens setup is indeed coming to HTC's new flagship smartphone.
Another HTC flagship leak reveals microSD slot, brushed metal finish (video)
Storage expansion went out of fashion over the last two years. Fortunate, then, for those of us wanting to take our music / audio book / photo collection everywhere, that HTC's upgraded One will see a return to microSD storage on its flagship series. Against trend, the new One also looks like it'll have an identical footprint to last year's model. In a lengthy video leak from GadgetReviews -- now down, but mirrored elsewhere -- we get to see that unibody build from a few more angles (including a closer look at that brushed finish) and catch some few software tweaks to the Blinkfeed news stream (another swipe to the left apparently opens up more options). However, what does that secondary camera actually do? We're getting increasingly impatient about that March 25th reveal date. Update: That extra swipe on Blinkfeed was already there on the most recent HTC One software build.
Teaser confirms simplified branding for 'all new' HTC One (video)
We've seen reports that HTC would be keeping the name from 2013's popular handset for its 2014 flagship, and today the outfit posted a BoomSound video teaser that seems to confirm the moniker. Taking a page out of Apple's playbook, the "all new HTC One" is referenced several times in the latter half of the promo. Of course, what we're led to believe in the upcoming device remains cloaked in blurred pixels and spoken details are bleeped out. It's worth noting that the company's PR has LOL'd at the notion of name consistency on Twitter, but we'll know for sure next month when the new model is expected to be announced.
HTC One KitKat update finally hitting T-Mobile and AT&T
We aren't far from HTC One owners on every major US carrier having access to Android 4.4.2 KitKat. T-Mobile's over-the-air update is rolling out now, and AT&T's will be out "soon," according to HTC's executive director of product management Mo Versi. As with its appearance on Verizon and Sprint, this update brings the latest version of the Sense UI (5.5) and all that that entails. Namely, a more customizable Blinkfeed and several appearance tweaks. The process is a little behind schedule, to be sure, but it's nice to see that carriers haven't slowed it down too much. [Thanks for sending this in, everyone!]
HTC's new flagship gets approved by the FCC
At this point, the followup to HTC's One flagship is a lock for late March, and we've even been blessed with leaks that show off what the phone, codenamed M8, looks like. Now the device has made its way through the obligatory FCC approval process, and the actual design of the phone -- complete with its soft curved corners -- made it through without the veil of confidentiality attached. There's nothing new here, but it at least confirms earlier leaks. In the way of additional details, it looks like this particular version of the new One will have AT&T-compatible LTE as well as a few extras (it features bands 2, 4, 5, 7 and 17), but we have a feeling that HTC will have regional variants to ensure every corner of the globe is covered with the necessary connectivity. There's also NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, dual-band 802.11ac WiFi, and we'll update you if we come across any other goodies as we dig. Just about a month left until the company fills in all the missing pieces.
'All New' HTC One leaks again with a bright gold paint job
Is there anything that hasn't already been leaked about HTC's photography-focused successor to the One? Not much, except that we haven't seen publicity renders quite as detailed as the one just shared by @evleaks. It suggests that the dual-camera handset will be offered in a gold flavor when it arrives on March 25th, alongside the rumored silver and black options. Furthermore, the source -- who has a generally reliable track record -- claims to know how the new phone will be branded. It'll apparently skirt around tricky numerical conventions by adopting a slightly Apple-esque alternative: the "All New HTC One." A name like that should roll right off the tongue, shouldn't it? Update: One of HTC's press and marketing guys has just responded to @evleaks with a big fat "LOL" in regards to the "All New" branding claim. Make of it what you will, but perhaps we could be looking at an "HTC One Two" after all.
HTC offering free screen replacements within the first six months, but only in the US
HTC clearly doesn't think that promising two years of Android updates is enough to win over American smartphone buyers. It's launching HTC Advantage, an upgrade to its US support policy that goes beyond the usual warranty limits. In addition to delivering on earlier promises of OS upgrades and extra cloud storage, the Advantage program replaces one cracked screen for free within the first six months of ownership. You're only covered if you buy a One series phone from today onward, but the initiative could be just the reassurance you need if you're worried about dropping a shiny new handset.
HTC to launch next flagship smartphone on March 25th
The HTC One was one of our favorite smartphones of 2013, so naturally we're incredibly curious to see its inevitable successor, codenamed M8. According to an invite that just landed in our mailbox, we'll likely get that opportunity on March 25th at a launch event taking place simultaneously in New York and London. While the invite doesn't call out the phone by name, this falls in line with HTC Chairperson Cher Wang's promise that we'd see invitations for this specific event before February 24th. We aren't in the dark about what it'll look like, if prior leaks prove accurate, but there's still no word on its official name; we just hope it isn't called the HTC One Two.
HTC's next flagship phone spotted with on-screen buttons, familiar design cues
We hope you're ready for a rather interesting month for smartphones. Judging from the teasers, announcements and leaks, nearly all the major mobile players have something big to show in Barcelona next week. What you're looking at above is HTC's own next big thing, a new flagship smartphone that's doing the rumor rounds under the codename of M8. Looks familiar, right? However, there's already some notable changes, including an increase to three Android buttons, which are all now part of the screen. Having said that, according to mob.hr's leak, a bar with HTC branding means the screen will still takes up the same proportion of the phone's surface. Thankfully, the M8 appears to be made of metal just like last year's One, with the same micro-drilled holes for the speakers. According to this leak, expect a flip-top cover to go along with it too -- presumably with peep-holes for both of those rear-facing cameras.
Verizon's HTC One is finally getting a taste of KitKat
Well, that was quick. Just a few hours after an HTC product manager tweeted the good news, Verizon Wireless customers have found that the much-anticipated KitKat update is landing on their HTC Ones. Start mashing that software update button if you haven't already, friends. In addition to Android 4.4.2, the update also packs a handful of performance improvements and HTC's Sense 5.5 UI. Fans of the HTC One Max are already familiar with HTC's new Sense tweaks -- BlinkFeed is more easily customizable, the Gallery and Music apps have gotten a facelift, and there's a new Do Not Disturb mode for those private moments -- but it's nice to see them trickle down onto a slightly smaller handset. For those of you keeping score, Sprint earlier this week became the first major US carrier to update the One with KitKat. That leaves just AT&T and T-Mobile to push through the update, but sadly, there's still no word on when they'll follow through.
HTC One for Sprint gets its KitKat update a little early
HTC must feel that it's best to underpromise and overdeliver. While the company told American One owners that they wouldn't get KitKat on time, the 535MB Android upgrade is already available on Sprint; eager subscribers just have to check for an update to start downloading. More patient types can wait until February 11th, when the carrier will begin pushing the OS to all users. There's no word of an accelerated launch on other US networks, so Sprint customers may be sitting pretty for the next couple of weeks. [Thanks, Mike]
HTC One sequel rumored to have two rear cameras for better focusing and image quality
Last year's leak of the HTC One's follow-up, the M8, seemingly raised more questions than it answered. When will it ship? And what's the deal with that second hole on the back? We may have a much clearer picture today, though. Bloomberg sources now claim that the M8 will arrive in late March, and that additional hole is reportedly for an extra camera that would assist a next-generation Ultrapixel sensor. The companion shooter would improve focusing and image quality while allowing for depth of field effects -- we're guessing that means tricks like post-shot refocusing, not the 3D video that HTC gave up years ago. The tipsters otherwise support rumors that we've seen before, including talk of a larger screen and a newer Snapdragon processor. It's tough to know whether or not the M8 will be a worthy sequel based on these leaks, but they do hint that we're looking at more than just a mild refresh.
HTC boosted by Beats sale but notches second consecutive operating loss
HTC just posted another operating loss of NT$1.56 billion ($52 million), but managed a small net profit of NT$310 million ($10.3 million) selling its remaining shares of Beats. Though the Taiwanese company trimmed last quarter's operating loss of NT$2.97 billion ($101 million), total revenue actually fell a touch to NT$42.9 billion ($1.6 billion). That marks the ninth consecutive quarterly drop in sales, according to Bloomberg, despite the recent addition of the HTC One Max to the lineup. Unfortunately, the company's also been dealing with sales bans and patent setbacks, which are not helping the declining interest in its handsets. The alleged successor to its much loved but not much sold HTC One should be arriving soon, and at this point it looks like a crucial release.
Nokia wins German injunction banning HTC Android devices
Nokia is clearly on a roll in the courtroom as of late -- following lawsuit wins in the Netherlands, the US and the UK, the company has landed a German injunction banning all of HTC's Android-based devices. The ruling lets Nokia provisionally block the sale of the One and other Google-powered hardware that allegedly infringes on a patent for peer-to-peer sharing over Bluetooth and NFC. HTC is expected to appeal the decision; Google is trying to invalidate the patent, but its move won't come in time to avoid or delay the ban. There won't be much else the two firms can do in the meantime. As with a similar defeat in March, HTC will have to either change features or strip them out to keep doing business.
