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HTC's phone keyboard is pestering users with ads (updated)
It's one thing to voluntarily put up with ads on your phone in return for a lower price or free apps, but it's another to have ads delivered without warning... and unfortunately, HTC owners are dealing with that right now. An updated TouchPal keyboard (which HTC uses as its default on some devices) has started serving banner ads to unsuspecting users of phones like the HTC 10. You're not stuck with the keyboard, of course, but most people would rather not have to switch keyboards just to avoid crass commercialism (and, for that matter, reclaim screen real estate).
HTC's 10 Evo is its first phone you can only buy online
A couple of weeks ago, HTC launched its latest smartphone, the Bolt, as an exclusive device for US carrier Sprint. But as it turns out, that partnership isn't as exclusive as first thought, for today the company has announced the Bolt will be coming to Europe, including the UK, under a new name: The HTC 10 Evo.
HTC's high-end Bolt is a fast, fascinating Sprint exclusive
No one would fault you if you thought HTC was done making high-end smartphones for the year. It wasn't perfect, but the HTC 10 was a highly respectable piece of kit. And HTC's design and production fingerprints can be found all over both of Google's new Pixel phones. That's a decent string of smartphones for 2016, but HTC had to go and partner up with Sprint on the curious new Bolt, a device meant to highlight Sprint's high-speed 3x20MHz carrier aggregation. Fair enough, but what makes the $599 Bolt so interesting is how it takes the 10's formula and improves on it.
The Google Pixel vs. the competition: Ready to rumble
We may be saying goodbye to the Nexus name, but we're not saying goodbye to the things we've come to expect from Google's premiere phones. The new Pixel still offers everything you'd expect in a flagship, including a highly-rated camera, a fingerprint sensor and the traditional 3.5mm headphone jack. But, with so many current phones offering similar chipsets, features like Google Assistant could make all the difference. We'll take a closer look at some of the bells and whistles in our eventual review, but for now there are specs to chew over. Check out the table below to see how the Pixel measures up on paper to some of its leading competition.
The iPhone 7 vs. the competition: Win some, lose some
The new 4.7-inch iPhone is here and, just like the rumors predicted, the headphone jack is no more. If you're not thrilled with having to shop for a new pair of earbuds, it might be worth looking to see how the new water-resistant handset stacks up against its Android competition. We've taken a few recent flagships and laid out their specs for your perusal, including Sony's new Xperia XZ. With most top-tier Android devices running Snapdragon 820, these phones end up having a lot in common. However, there's a few key differences to keep things interesting.
HTC's 10 and Vive boost sales, but the future still looks grim
HTC's Vive VR headset and HTC 10 smartphone sold briskly in Q2 2016, boosting revenue 27 percent over last quarter to 18.9 billion Taiwanese dollars ($598 million). The bad news is that compared to the same period last year, sales are down 42.7 percent -- not quite as bad as the 64 percent tumble last quarter, but still a precipitous drop. The company had an operating loss of 4.2 billion Taiwanese dollars ($133 million), making five straight quarters of futility.
New in our buyer's guide: All the phones (just the good ones)
It took us a while, but now that we've reviewed the Moto Z, we think we're done testing flagship phones until the iPhone 7 or next Galaxy Note come out (whichever arrives first). With that in mind, we can now confidently say that the following phones belong in our buyer's guide: the Samsung Galaxy S7, the HTC 10 and the iPhone SE. (Sorry, LG, maybe next year.) While we were at it, we also inducted the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive VR headsets, since we likely them more or less equally. And, in the less-expensive realm, we added the Roku Streaming Stick in the A/V category. Head over to our buyer's guide hub for all the details on these and many more. That's it for now, but stay tuned -- who knows what we'll add after the next gadget-reviewing frenzy.
The best mobile phone on the UK market for 2016
Picking the right smartphone can be tough. With Apple, Samsung, LG, HTC and plenty of other manufacturers releasing handsets at a steady clip, it can be difficult to keep up with each and every launch. We use our smartphones for work, play and everything in between, so it's important to settle on the right blend of hardware, operating system and price tag that makes sense for you. After all, you're likely going to be spending anywhere from 18 months to two years of your life with your new handset, unless your budget allows you to upgrade on whim. Deciding between so many candidates can be a bit of a struggle, but we're here to help with our guide to the best smartphones around. Article prices are based on the RRP, but more up-to-date listings can be found in the buyers guide widget below.
HTC sales fell off a cliff over the past year
All is not well at HTC. It today posted another difficult earnings report detailing its fourth consecutive quarter of losses. The Taiwanese manufacturer, which has just released its latest flagship smartphone, the HTC 10, lost roughly $148 million between January 1st and March 31st. More worrying still is the drop in revenues when compared to 2015: HTC brought in 41.5 billion Taiwanese dollars this time last year (and broke even), versus 14.8 billion this year. That's a 64-percent drop in revenues.
Where to buy the HTC 10 in the UK
A succession of middling flagships has seen HTC's reputation plummet in recent history, but the company seems to have got its mojo back. The new HTC 10, available in the UK from today, is a classic blend of beauty and raw power. While it doesn't have the best camera on the market and battery life is distinctly average, HTC has cleaned up its Android skin and included a few attractive extras like hi-res audio support and AirPlay compatibility. If you've been waiting for HTC to return to form, then the new 10 will've undoubtedly piqued your interest, so join us as we explore the carriers, resellers and retailers that have you covered.
Mini review video: Our verdict on the HTC 10 in a minute
After years of losses and lackluster phone releases, HTC finally seems to have gotten its mojo back. OK, it might be too soon to say if its new flagship, the 10, is enough to help the company reverse its fortunes, but if nothing else it's a fantastic device. We love the 10 for its excellent build quality, fast performance, robust audio setup and out-of-the-box Airplay support. Compared to other high-end phones, though, the battery life is merely average and camera performance doesn't quite measure up to Samsung's new Galaxy S7 line. For that reason, the HTC 10 received a slightly lower score -- 88, versus 90 on the GS7 -- but it's still among the best smartphones you can buy right now. Depending on your priorities, it might even be a better choice than the GS7.
HTC 10 review: The flagship the company should have made years ago
HTC has done it. The company's new flagship smartphone, the 10 (yes, that's the name, and no, I don't like it either), is a credible contender for Android greatness. I've spent a little over a week using it as my daily driver, and while the name still irks the hell out of me, the device itself doesn't. Mostly, anyway. For a company that has seen some rough seas lately, I'm glad HTC has remembered how to make a great smartphone. The thing is, its competitors haven't been lazing around; they've been upping their game too, and now the contest for the crown is tougher than ever. When it comes to winning hearts, minds and market share, HTC is at a disadvantage. None of us can say what the future holds, but either way, the 10 is a step in the right direction.
HTC's 10 is the first Android phone with Apple AirPlay streaming
After a run of middling flagships over the last few years, HTC might finally have an exciting phone again with the 10. It's as if it crammed in just about every feature it possibly could -- a higher resolution Ultrapixel camera, expandable storage and a large battery. And, in an Android first, HTC even licensed Apple's AirPlay streaming technology. You'll be able to stream music to the Apple TV and other AirPlay-enabled speakers just as easily as you can from an iOS device. At this point, the 10 only supports audio streaming and HTC says it will keep up with the AirPlay specification as Apple updates it.
The HTC 10 feels like the company's best smartphone in years
Between having to settle for a pair of merely average flagships and seeing the company's profits tank, HTC fans have had a rough time in recent years. As it turns out, though, HTC might have the cure for those woes (and no, I'm not just talking about the Vive). Though the surprise was spoiled, the company pulled back the curtain on its new HTC 10 smartphone today, and you know what? It feels like the HTC phone I've wanted for years.
HTC's M10 will have an online launch event on April 12th
April is turning to be a super busy month for HTC. In addition to shipping out the first lot of Vive to consumers, the company will also be launching its next flagship smartphone, the M10 or simply the 10, on April 12th. More interestingly, HTC's email tells us that this will be yet another online event, just like the one it did with the One A9 (but hopefully with more camera angles and close-ups on the device this time). To watch the stream, tune in at 8am New York time or 1pm London time or 8pm Taipei time that Tuesday.
HTC 10 renders show off the upcoming flagship phone
On the last day of Mobile World Congress, HTC released a very vague teaser showing the outline of a new phone. Well, we now know what that phone might look like, thanks to these renders that Evan Blass (a.k.a. the famed leaker of phones, evleaks) at VentureBeat got his hands on. These images show a white version of the device from every angle, though note that these are merely computer renders and don't show the actual handset.
