Showing posts with label HTC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HTC. Show all posts

Tuesday 16 September 2014

The HTC One M8 speeds onto 4GEE

Till Now 16/09/14 this image of m8 is been provided by hinan78

its one of the hottest phones of the year, and the HTC One M8 is on EE right now. With an even sleeker aluminium body than its critically-acclaimed predecessor the HTC One, it’s also packing an astounding new rear camera that lets you change focus in images you’ve shot. In short, the HTC One M8 on EE is premium in every sense.  

The superfast EE network is a great way to get the most out of all the power of the HTC One M8. Not only that, but the Shared Plans from EE mean you can use your tablet on the same great 4GEE data plan. 
The HTC One M8 isn’t just about 4G browsing speed though. Your digital life is simply quicker with Motion Launch tech, which allows you to simply put the phone to your ear to answer a call, access apps with a single swipe or use voice control to dial your contacts. A swift double tap serves to wake your phone up – no more grappling for the power button with the HTC One M8!
Speaking of power, you should check out the HTC One M8’s new Boomsound audio system as fast as your ears will let you. Boomsound’s front-mounted stereo speakers have dedicated amplifiers to deliver a balanced, powerful sound that brings your favourite music and movies to life.
The HTC One M8 is available now on EE in Metal Grey and Glacial Silver. With HTC’s hardware now meeting EE’s superfast network, it’s the ultimate smartphone.

Sunday 14 September 2014

HTC looks to rival GoPro with its own action camera

HTC is reportedly planning to launch its own action camera designed for extreme sports.
If in fact true, the move will see the Taiwanese company directly compete with GoPro, the market standard in rugged camera tech.
The news comes from Bloomberg, which claims HTC has a tube-shaped 16MP camera with a wide-angle lens already in the pipeline.
The report says the camera will connect to both Android and iOS devices via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and that HTC may even release its own supportive apps.
It won’t operate as a standalone camera either, which means you’d have to connect it to your smartphone directly first.
When will this HTC action camera come along you ask? Well, it just so happens that HTC began sending out invitations this week to a mystery New York event on October 8 called ‘Double Exposure’.
Bloomberg’s source also claimed that the photo-centric event would be a likely time to unveil the action camera, alongside the selfie-focused HTC One M8 Eye.

Saturday 30 August 2014

HTC's plasticky One E8 lands in the US courtesy of Sprint

Jonesing for a taste of the HTC One M8 lifestyle but don't have the cash to make it happen? Never fear -- Sprint has just started offering the fantastic-in-plastic HTC One E8 to customers who want M8 horsepower without the matching price tag. No, really: in case you've forgotten, the E8 features the exact same screen, BoomSound speakers, processor and RAM as its slightly upmarket brother. The only real difference is that the E8 only comes with 16GB of internal storage (which is mitigated pretty nicely by its microSD card slot) and the fact that HTC ditched the Duo camera setup in favor of a more traditional 13-megapixel sensor 'round the back. In the event that your gear acquisition syndrome just started flaring up, you can lay claim to your very own E8 (in either white or gray) for $400 outright, $0 down and $20.84/month for 2 years with Sprint's Easy Pay option, or $99 with a standard 2 year contract.

HTC One (M8) for Windows review: Same muscle, different soul

Since Windows Phone's humble beginnings, Microsoft has been the underdog in the wireless industry. Four years later, nothing's changed -- except, perhaps, a few more percentage points of market share. Even then, it's got a long way to go before catching up to Android and iOS. Let's give the company credit for pushing forward, improving its platform and not giving up, though: When I reviewed the last major OS update, I said I could finally use Windows Phone as my daily driver. The one element that Microsoft continued to lack, however, was buy-in from large phone makers. They put more focus on Android products, which meant anyone interested in Windows Phone had a small selection of devices to choose from.
For Microsoft, it's time to experiment with a new, simpler approach. The software giant has buddied up with HTC to convert the One M8, its Android flagship, into a Windows Phone. That's all there is to it. There's absolutely no change to the hardware -- and it's a fantastic idea. If it fails, neither company loses much from the deal; since they're using an existing phone, the cost of design and engineering is far lower than it would be on a standalone device. If it's successful, it may inspire other manufacturers to follow suit, resulting in a market with a wide variety of Windows Phones to choose from. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right?
GALLERY|26 PHOTOS

HTC One (M8) for Windows review

HARDWARE

The hardware section is typically one of the longest in a phone review, but this time, the opposite is true. That's because the HTC One M8 for Windows, as awkward as the name is, is exactly that: an HTC One M8 that happens to run Windows Phone instead of Android. (Why the name omits "Phone" is beyond me, however.) The aluminum unibody chassis, 1080p display, Snapdragon 801 processor, BoomSound speakers, 2,600mAh battery, even the UltraPixel Duo Camera setup -- it's all there. It comes with the infrared blaster embedded into the power button as before, and all of the buttons, LED flashes and card slots are all precisely in the same place. In fact, if it weren't for the Windows Phone logo on the back, the hardware would be virtually indistinguishable. Of course, that also means that it's still just as slippery and just as tall as the Android version, so if you didn't like it before, nothing about this phone will change your mind.
The version I'm reviewing is the Verizon-exclusive model, which only comes in a gunmetal gray color with 32GB of internal storage (and a microSD slot that handles cards up to 128GB). If Verizon isn't your thing, AT&T announced that it plans to release the device after the exclusivity period is over. HTC's been tight-lipped about whether the phone will eventually head to other markets or carriers.
The Verizon version of the M8 for Windows comes with quad-band LTE, which covers both of Verizon's high-speed frequencies and a couple of bands (3 and 7) friendly to many countries in Europe, Africa and Asia. In case the LTE doesn't work when you're traveling abroad, it also comes with quad-band HSPA+ (up to 14.4 Mbps) and quad-band GSM/EDGE. Regardless of where you travel, you're bound to have some sort of connection, even if it isn't incredibly fast.

SOFTWARE

It's only when you turn the two devices on that you'll really notice the difference. For the first time since the Palm Treo days, you can choose between two different operating systems running on the same hardware. I want to see more companies try this, but most manufacturers seem wary of dedicating resources to make Windows Phone available on existing Android devices. Of course, this wasn't even an option until Microsoft introduced Windows Phone 8.1 earlier this year, when it announced that manufacturers could take any Android phone they wanted and just slap on the third-place mobile OS instead. (Sadly, Microsoft and Google aren't so keen on letting anyone use both at the same time.)
What matters is that it's here now, and Windows Phone flagships are no longer limited toNokia's Lumia series; it introduces more options for fans of the OS, and it gives the platform more visibility for everyone else.
If you've used a Windows Phone before, the user experience will be familiar. HTC tweaks aside (I'll tackle those shortly), the M8 is a Windows Phone 8.1.1 device without a custom user interface. Which makes sense: Microsoft doesn't allow skins. As you'd expect, then, the phone features Cortana, Live Tiles, quick controls, notifications, folders and the new lock screens, among other things. If you've seen one Windows Phone, you've seen them all.
The biggest early question about the M8 for Windows was how (or if) it would utilize HTC's homemade software features from its Android skin, such as Zoe, BlinkFeed, Duo Camera capability, Sense TV and Video Highlights. Fortunately, all but Zoe made it into the phone, although there are slightly different implementations for each feature. BlinkFeed on Windows is its own separate app and Live Tile as opposed to a full home screen panel on Android. Ditto for Video Highlights, which takes the form of a standalone app. The camera UI is the same, but only some Duo Camera editing features made the OS jump. Finally, theHTC Dot View case is supported.
BlinkFeed feels more at home on Windows Phone than it does on Android, primarily because its interface is tile-based. Its functionality is similar on both platforms: You have access to your social network feeds (yes, including Google+) and a wide variety of highlighted feeds (like Engadget!). At present time, the Windows Phone version doesn't come with a search option or custom feeds, so you'll just have to stick with what HTC offers. It also comes with an active Live Tile that shows the most recent news updates.
Video Highlights has been around since the HTC One M7 came out in early 2013. It compiles your photos and videos and combines them into a 30-second highlight reel; you can choose from several different themes (akin to Instagram filters) as well as music, including pre-loaded tracks and selections from your own library. Once the clip is created, you can share it however you want. On Android, the video highlight-creation tool is a part of the Sense gallery app, but here it's a standalone app. The basic setup is the same on both platforms, but their designs match their respective OSes. All told, too, the functionality is the same, though the WP option doesn't appear to have the ability to choose which images or clips to start and end with.
GALLERY|34 PHOTOS

HTC One (M8) for Windows screenshots

The on-screen navigation bar is a recent addition to Windows Phone, and a very welcome one, at that (Android has had this functionality for a while). The bar consists of the usual WP buttons like back, home and search. You can choose to have the bar be dark, match the background of the app you're in (which doesn't seem to change too often) or match your accent color instead. It's also possible to hide the bar, in case you're watching a 1080p video or using another app that wants to take advantage of the full screen rather than getting cut off at the bottom. By default, you can press a small arrow on the left side to tuck it away and swipe up from the bottom bezel to bring it back; however, you can choose to disable the button and swipe up for both actions instead.
The Dot View case is an optional accessory introduced on the One M8 for Android, but HTC's made it compatible with the Windows Phone version as well. You'll still get the time on top and a symbol for notifications on the bottom, but there's a new feature: Swiping down from the top will activate Cortana, who will begin listening to you without any further action.
Unfortunately, this swipe-down functionality isn't available without the case. In fact, the One M8 motion gestures are limited to a simple double-tap-to-wake option; you can't swipe your finger in any direction to take it directly into specific apps. Even worse, the only way to activate the camera is to manually unlock the screen and tap on the Live Tile or go through the Action Center. I'd prefer to have a faster shortcut to the camera for quick access.

CAMERA

The M8 for Windows sticks with the same love-or-hate UltraPixel Duo Camera setup as its Android brother, and it even offers a nearly identical user interface. (The only differences are in the settings, which must adhere to Windows Phone UI elements.) In general, HTC's UltraPixel option takes decent pictures and fares well in low-light settings, though shots tend to be less detailed than on other flagship devices.
But while the camera modules are exactly the same, a quick image comparison between the Windows Phone and Android versions reveals a few minor disparities. The M8 for Windows seems to do better at capturing dynamic range, and the photos are more saturated in color. The default white balance is also marginally colder. The gap between camera performance widens further in low-light situations, in favor of the Android version. The M8 for Windows produced images that were fuzzier and less detailed than those taken on its counterpart. This may be in part due to the length of time HTC's worked on optimizing its UltraPixel tech on Android versus Windows Phone, and I'm hopeful this can be fixed in a future update.
GALLERY|18 PHOTOS

HTC One (M8) for Windows sample shots

For now, one version isn't better than the other in every department; you'll have to pick and choose the factors that are most beneficial to you. If you want the full gamut of imaging options, however, stick with the Android model for now. HTC's signature Zoe feature, which takes a few seconds of video and burst-mode shots and converts it into aHarry Potter-esque moving picture, isn't available; the Zoe app, which is a social network that lets you show off your Video Highlights to friends and family, is also restricted to Android 4.4. Lastly, the Windows edition lacks a few of the M8's Duo Camera editing tools. It comes with UFocus (which lets you change the area of focus), Foregrounder (adds funky visual effects to objects in the background), Dimension Plus (gives the picture a faux-3D feel), rotate/crop tools, most filters and a few frames. Copy/paste, stickers, draw/flip/straighten tools and seasons (a pointless feature that shows leaves, snowflakes, etc. falling down in front of your picture) didn't make the cut, but I rarely use those features on the Android version anyway.

PERFORMANCE AND BATTERY LIFE

In its early days, Windows Phone earned a reputation for robust performance that has continued to the present. Until recently, the gap in performance between flagships and entry-level devices had been relatively small because Microsoft imposed restrictions on which processors and other specs could be used on the platform; phones like the Nokia Lumia 520 are cheap, but perform well given their limited processing power and RAM. As Microsoft has slowly lifted those restrictions, flagships have now become even more powerful, possessing the same specs as many top-of-the-line Android devices.
With the One M8 for Windows, you're going to enjoy all of the same performance benefits as the Android version -- on paper, at least. It has a quad-core 2.3GHz Snapdragon 801 chipset with 2GB of RAM, so it's no slouch. The M8 for Windows runs WP 8.1 Update 1, which is still only available as a Developer Preview on other devices; this is the first time it's been included on a new device out of the box.
The M8 for Windows runs well most of the time. To nitpick ('tis my burden and duty), the Android version is a little faster when loading apps and multitasking, primarily due to the time-wasting animations scattered throughout the Windows Phone OS. It's a difference of a couple seconds each time, which likely won't matter at all to most users. Games run smoothly with few to no frame skips, but the same titles on Android were consistently more fluid. Occasionally, the processor on the Windows version would slow down, making games extremely choppy for around 15 seconds, after which it'd smooth out for two or three seconds before returning to its frozen state. A reboot usually cleared up the problem, but I've never run into similar issues on the M8 for Android.
I've also noticed that the two 1080p displays aren't calibrated identically; it appears that both devices use different temperatures (the original M8 is a tad warmer), though the brightness and viewing angles are both good. Images and graphics on the Windows Phone model appear to be fuzzier and have less clarity when looking at the two devices side by side, as if they're displayed at a lower resolution somehow, but at least text and games look great.
Running benchmarks can be a little tricky when doing cross-platform comparisons, since most Android tests aren't available on Windows Phone. Microsoft's OS was slightly better on internet-based tests like SunSpider (609ms vs. 649ms, where a lower time is better) and Google Octane (2,801 vs. 2,666), while the Android version did better on GFXBench 2.7 (28 fps vs. 19 fps). The latter score is the most concerning, as it's a much larger difference than I'd expect to see on two devices with identical hardware. Compared to the Icon, the M8 does better on Octane and GFXBench but worse on SunSpider and WPBench. So, just like it was on the camera, there's no clear-cut answer to which phone is the better choice. Since the differences are minor, only a few power users may be dissuaded by the results.
Battery life is a mixed bag. The benefit in testing identical hardware on competing operating systems is that you can compare the two much more easily and closely study the effect each platform has on power efficiency. In my testing so far, it appears that the WP option is better than the Android version in some ways and worse in others. (My tests are ongoing and I'll continue to add more results as they come.)
First, the good news: You can still get through an entire day of normal usage with a little left to spare when you hit the sack. When using the device for email, taking a few photos, browsing the web and running an occasional app, I was able to get slightly more battery life than on my Android M8. When streaming movies through Netflix, the Windows Phone M8 soundly defeats its Android counterpart. Additionally, it lasted for 12 hours and 10 minutes in our standard video rundown test, an increase of 40 minutes over the Sense-clad version.
I wouldn't recommend playing games without having a charger nearby, however; titles likeAsphalt 8 and Frozen Free Fall (my kids' favorite) drain up to 30 battery percentage points per hour, as compared to around 15 percentage points on the Android M8. (As an aside, both versions of the M8 get hot when playing graphics-intensive games for more than 10 minutes, the point where it becomes uncomfortable to hold.) Finally, the M8 for Windows lasted two hours and 35 minutes in the standard WPBench CPU stress test, in which it forces the processor to work at high intensity. That's pretty typical: The Lumia Icondelivered nearly identical runtime of 2:36. (It scored 2:42 on our initial review, which was on older firmware.)

THE COMPETITION

Now that a flagship phone is available on more than one major mobile platform, it's tougher to clearly define its competition; whether you're a fan of Windows Phone, Verizon or nothing more than good phone design, there are plenty of factors to consider. The M8 for Windows is available for $100 on-contract, which is half of what the Android edition cost when it first came out. It may have limited appeal at first because of its exclusivity, but Windows Phone users on Verizon will appreciate it because they can now choose among this and two other flagship devices: the Lumia Icon, which is renowned for its 20-megapixel camera, and the Samsung ATIV SE, which is somewhere between a GS4 and GS5 in terms of specs. The Icon is definitely a well-built phone, but the M8 has more curb appeal thanks to its robust aluminum frame and arched back.
Let's go more into specifics on how it compares with the Lumia Icon, its direct Windows Phone competitor. If you're looking for a superior imaging experience, go with the Icon; the M8 is in no way a horrible picture-taking device, but Nokia's had a lot more time and experience to get things right on Windows Phone than HTC has. (And since the Icon still does quite well in low-light situations, the UltraPixel tech isn't quite as persuasive in this case as it may be on Android.) The screen size is only 0.1 inch smaller on the Icon, but the chassis is significantly shorter and much less slippery. HTC offers a great audio experience with BoomSound; the Icon has a hardware shutter button for faster access to the camera; and you'll also need to decide between capacitive buttons and virtual ones.
In a way, the M8 for Windows is competing against its Android brother as well, but HTC's goal isn't to cannibalize sales. By adding a second platform, it's allowing HTC to reach a new set of smartphone users without the high cost of designing, developing and producing a brand-new device. I also doubt many people have held off on buying the M8 because it wasn't on Windows Phone, as fans of the platform will have already looked at other options already available to them.

WRAP-UP

This is the first time in years that a user can select a device's hardware and software at the same time; you usually have to choose one and then live with the other. People who already use and love Windows Phone now have a flagship option that isn't the latest Lumia device. This phone won't end the platform wars by showing undeniable proof that Windows Phone trumps Android or vice versa; both devices clearly have pros and cons in different areas, and it ultimately comes down to your personal preference.
If your go-to OS is Windows Phone, the M8 is one of the best options, thanks to great design and solid performance. The Lumia Icon still has a bit of an edge, but you'll be happy with either device. If given the choice between M8s, I'd go with the Android version for now because HTC's had much more time, experience and flexibility to get things right on that platform. The performance is a bit more optimized in most cases, and it comes with more of the HTC-branded functionality that makes the One M8 unique. But isn't it nice to finally have a choice?

Monday 9 June 2014

HTC Phone Secret Codes

   

##775# - EPST/PRL - PRL Settings
##786# - EPST - Status Menu
##3282# - EPST - Data Programming Menu (User Name, Advanced, Restore, Enable HFA, DSA Server, MMSC URL)
##33284# - Debug - Debug Menu – (Debug Screen, Test Calls, RC Data, HDR/1X Selection, Voice Privacy, DTMF Set, Korea Mode Set)
##3424# - Diagnostic - Connect to phone in diag mode
##2539# - EPST/A-Key - Data A key menu
##7738# - EPST/P_Rev - Protocol Revision
##8626337# - EPST/Vocoder - Unsure
##4772579# - Reset the GPS
##72786# - changes DSA back to Factory
##889# - enables TTY
----- Was only able to get the following working on CM6 Rom -----
*#*#4636#*#* - Phone Information - "Phone information, Battery information, Battery history, Useage statistics, Wifi information"

Confirmed not Working:
##UPST# - modem directory
##778# - EPST - Advanced Programming

Unverified:
##37872# - Full Speed USB Mode - Enable/Disable
##3386# - DDTM - Enable/Disable
*#0*# - Test Utility - SAFE TO PLAY WITH
*#0011# Service menu
*#0228# Battery Status 
*#0283# Receiver Packet loopback
*#0289# Melody Test again?
*#0673# Melody Test SAFE TO PLAY WITH
*#0782# RTCTimeRead displays time (and seconds)
*#0842# Vibration test SAFE TO PLAY WITH
*#147852# Allows you to access many screens including CDMA DATA Connections
*#1472365# GPS Setup
*#1575# Service menu
*#197328640# Service menu
*#2263# ??
*#232331# Bluetooth RF Test Mode
*#2454# Low Battery Power Off
*#2580# Service menu
*#2663# Touchscreen Accuracy Test SAFE TO PLAY WITH
*#2664# Touchscreen Firmware Version
*#2664# Main Firmware Update
*#2767*2878# Service menu
*#32489# Service menu
*#3264# RAM Version
*#3282*727336*# Current Data State
*#369852# Allows you to access many screens including CDMA DATA Connections
*#4238378# Service menu
*#6984125*# Service menu
*#7284# Service menu
*#745# Sec_RIL_Dump allows you to copy to phone memory, clear ril log, (greyed out copy to SDcard and view RIL log), exit
*#7450# Phone Dump Mode Disable
*#7451# Phone Dump Mode Enable
*#767*3855# Factory Format – CRAP!! WARNING!!!
*#7780# Factory Reset
*#9090# Service menu
*#9900# SysDump copy logcat/dumpstate/dumpsys, enable debug log, copy watchdogdumpstatelog

Wednesday 9 April 2014

HTC breaks sales losing streak, believes the new One will help it turn a profit

You don't need to be a financial genius to know that 28 straight months of declining year-over-year sales is not a good thing. HTC finally broke that streak this quarter, but that's the only silver lining in an otherwise dismal earnings report. While March 2014 sales were up 2.2 percent over last year, revenue for the quarter was only NT$33 billion (about $1 billion US), lower than even the company's own (gloomy) forecast. That resulted in a netoperating loss that was also worse than expected. On the plus side, HTC has projected aprofit for next quarter, the first that will reflect its widely lauded HTC One (M8) handset. Unfortunately, overall sales are still expected to be much lower than last year, and a shadow of the glory days of yore.

Sunday 6 April 2014

Convert Your HTC One (M8) to a Google Play Edition

To many, the HTC One (M8) is the ideal device. After all, it offers class-leading build quality, absolutely stunning aesthetics, powerful specifications, and a near perfect screen. However, there are those who don’t really care for the stock HTC Sense experience. Luckily, there’s a Google Play edition variant of the device, which gives you all of the hardware goodies of the M8, but with the Pure Google software we all know and love.
However, not everyone is willing (or able) to shell $700 for an unlocked phone direct from Google. Instead, most users purchase devices with a heavy carrier subsidy on contract. But now thanks to XDA Forum Moderator graffixnyc, you can get the GPe software experience on your standard M8.
The conversion process comes in a couple flavors. The first to be made available was a Nandroid backup image that can be restored using Phil’s CWM. After that, graffixnyc made it a little easier to install by providing this ROM as a recovery-flashable update.zip. Both builds are purely stock + root, as to give the authentic software experience. Finally, graffixnyc also ripped the stock GPe recovery, which can then be flashed through fastboot.
If you’d like to try out the GPe software on your M8, head over to the ROM thread. If you’re a developer looking for the stock Boot.img and System.img from the GPe device or if you’re an end-user looking for the CWM Nandroid, head over here. Finally, if you’d like to install the GPe recovery on your M8, check out this thread.Convert Your HTC One (M8) to a Google Play Edition

Wednesday 26 March 2014

Hands-on: 2014 HTC One (M8)

Gizmag gets a hands-on look at HTC's new One M8

Today we got our first glimpse of the new HTC One (M8). We already know it brings a dual camera, Lite-Brite-esque cover, and some serious gun metal. But what's it like to actually use? We were at the company's launch event, and got some hands-on time.
If you've used the original HTC One, then you already have a pretty good idea of what you're getting here. The 2013 One's aluminum build and overall design aesthetic are back in full force. And though the company spent a lot of time talking up the new features in the One M8, my first impression is that this is more of a refinement of last year's phone than something entirely new. Hell, it even has the same name (only with an "M8" tagged on). In other words, don't expect a radically new look or feel when you first pick it up.
The M8 weighs 160 g – 12 percent heavier than last year's model
The new model's 5-in screen is 13 percent bigger than the 4.7-incher on the 2013 One, but it also drops the older model's capacitive keys in favor of onscreen navigation buttons. So I'd say the usable screen size is roughly the same as it was in the original. KitKat's Immersive Mode does get rid of the onscreen keys in some apps (like the image gallery or any video app), letting you use the full 5-in canvas. But in apps where Immersive Mode isn't an option, that extra real estate isn't really "extra" at all.
The HTC One M8 has a dual-colour LED flash next to the rear shooter
Some of the One M8's most interesting additions come from its camera. There's a new Selfie mode, which takes advantage of its higher-resolution 5 MP front-facing camera (16-year-old girls rejoice). It did seem a little odd that, in its presentation, HTC dismissed the importance of megapixels when discussing the rear camera (megapixels are a myth, bigger pixels are where it's at), yet boasted about having a higher pixel count in the front-facing camera. But to HTC's credit, I snapped a goofy selfie, and, sure enough, it looked better than self-portraits on other phones.
The HTC One M8 has a new Selfie mode
The feature I was most interested in trying out was "UFocus" – made possible by the phone's depth sensor. After snapping a pic, tap on the UFocus option, then tap on your chosen point of focus in the image. The One M8 will blur the background, much like you'd see on a DSLR with a wide aperture lens. You can then tap somewhere else and change the point of focus. I even saved three versions of the same shot, all with different points of focus. It worked pretty well in my demo, and I'm eager to test this feature some more (and don't forget, the Galaxy S5 has a similar feature).
The OG One had some of the best smartphone speakers around, with its front-facing BoomSound speakers. But the One M8's speakers are much better. HTC's demo area was noisy, but I spent a few minutes in a sound booth, where I got to hear the two models play music one after the other. The difference was obvious. The M8's speakers are louder and fuller – by a pretty wide margin. I wouldn't recommend buying one smartphone over another just for its speakers, but this is one of the biggest improvements I saw on the new model.
The Lite-Brite-like Dot View case for the One M8
The M8 also has a wacky new accessory called the Dot View case. It's a thin case made of a lightweight plastic with a cover that folds over the screen. The cover has tiny holes on it, so when you tap on the screen, you can see things like the time, weather, or notifications peering through. If you were a child of the 70s or 80s, then it might rekindle some fond memories of Lite-Brites.
From where I stand now, the HTC One M8 looks like another very solid effort from one of the most sophisticated and detail-oriented Android OEMs. But if you already own the excellent 2013 HTC One, I'm still not sure if there's quite enough newness here to justify the upgrade. That opinion could change, though, as I get some more extended hands-on time. We'll have more on the M8 in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.

Tuesday 18 March 2014

HTC One 2 M8 release date, rumours, specs and more



 
The HTC One 2 or the HTC M8 (if we're going by the codename) is set to be the next flagship smartphone from HTC replacing the award-winning HTC One.
And, it looks like the codename has won out - in a manner of speaking. According to a press release sent out by Carphone Warehouse today (March 18th), the new HTC flagship will simply be called the "new HTC One (M8)".
The retailer also let slip that the new phone will be stocked directly after its supposed reveal on March 25th. Six stores in London will take delivery aftrer the announcement.
Taking on the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the future Apple iPhone 6 will be no mean feat, but it looks like the new HTC One (M8) could well be up to the task. There have been plenty of leaks regarding the new phone ahead of its launch and we've collected what we can into this one article.

New HTC One (M8): Release date

We know the new HTC One (M8) is all but certain to be shown off on March 25th, and a premature press release from Carphone Warehouse seems to have confirmed it.
"Westfield Stratford, Westfield White City, Oxford Circus, Centrepoint and Tottenham Court Road stores will all be hosting special events celebrating the HTC launch with entertainment and giveaways as well as the first chance for customers to get their hands on the new device," said the press release.

New HTC One (M8): Sense 6.0

The Sense 6.0 UI appears to be all but certain this time around. According to evleaks the company is planning to launch a brand-new version of Sense, HTC's skinned UI.
With HTC confirming that it would be bringing Android 4.4 KitKat to its current range of HTC One smartphones it seems logical to assume that HTC Sense 6.0 will in fact be running on the next version of Android.
There's no word on how the UI would look but unless HTC is planning a huge design overhaul expect a more advanced and easier to use version of the current Sense which means improved BlinkFeed along with integration of Android's new features.
This would mean you'll get the same improved Caller ID functionality which uses the Google Maps Business listings to find contact information if your phone doesn't recognise the number.
 

New HTC One (M8): Specs

According to @evleaks, the HTC M8 will feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor with a 5-inch display and 2GB of RAM. It will – perhaps unsurprisingly – come with Android 4.4 KitKat, Sense 6.0 and 802.11a/b/g/n/ac connectivity.
Its rear camera is said to be an UltraPixel, while the front camera will be 2.1 megapixels.
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard these specs. However, considering evleaks’s track record, we’d expect the final specs to be the same or very close considering their “preliminary” statement.
Photos have leaked via Unwired View which appear to show the new HTC M8 Blue Edition, whilst the most notable aspect of the images is that the M8 features a wraparound metal body what some may also have noticed is the extra circular hole above the camera.

The HTC One 2 will have a fingerprint scanner...

Some have postured that this could be space for a second camera, perhaps implying that it'll be able to take 3D images. Others have suggested that it's far more likely the extra hole will be a much-improved fingerprint scanner, in this instance designed for the first finger rather than the middle finger.
The latest image to have leaked seems to confirm that the HTC One 2 will sport a fingerprint scanner. The image courtesty of Alibaba.com shows a case with space for both a camera and what would appear to be a fingerprint scanner.
Whilst Apple nailed the technology with its Touch ID sensor on the iPhone 5s we were far less impressed with HTC's implementation of the tech in the HTC One max.
Hopefully HTC will have learnt some lessons this time around, the HTC One max offered a lot of features with its fingerprint scanner that the iPhone didn't, instead they need to perfect the hardware itself and then integrate it into the smartphone better in a way that feels far more natural.

Thursday 20 February 2014

First image of the All New HTC One (M8) 2014 leaked





The first image of the new HTC One 2014 has been leaked showing off a new design along with the addition of what appears to be dual-cameras and a larger display.
Appearing courtesy of @evleaks the image shows a gold version of the new smartphone and claims that it'll be called the All New HTC One rather than HTC One 2 or HTC One+ as some had suggested.
Set to take on the soon-to-be-released Samsung Galaxy S5 as well as Sony's new Xperia Z2 the new HTC One appears to boast dual-cameras on the back allowing the user to shift focus after the image has been taken.
As well as new cameras it appears to come with a new larger display which integrates the buttons into the screen as well as a new version of HTC Sense and BlinkFeed, the company's UI which it places over Android.
Unsurprisingly HTC has been silent over the leak and until the HTC One's official launch date of 25th March it's important to still take these images with a pinch of salt.

Wednesday 13 November 2013

iPhone 5S Vs Galaxy S 4 Vs HTC One Vs Lumia 1020! (Table)



Apple yesterday at its Cupertino campus announced the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C to the world. These both new devices are the next generation products from Apple – especially the iPhone 5S. So how does the iPhone 5S compare to the competition especially the market leaders? Well check out the comparison chart below which shows ” iPhone 5S vs Galaxy S 4 vs HTC One Vs Lumia 1020.

iPhone 5S vs Competition

Were you thinking to buy the iPhone 5S once it was released to the public? If yes, then you should definitely check out the table below which shows a comparison between all the top smartphones especially the ones that are going to give the iPhone 5S a tough competition.
The table has been compiled below to give you an idea on which smartphone is the best among the iPhone 5S, Galaxy S 4, HTC One, and Lumia 1020.

iPhone 5S
Samsung Galaxy S 4
Galaxy S4
HTC One
HTC One
Lumia1020
Lumia 1020
Screen Size4 inches5 inches4.7 inches4.5 inches
Resolution1136 x 6401920 x 10801920 x 10801280 x 768
Screen Type/ppi (pixels per inch)LCD, 326 ppiSuper AMOLED, 441 ppiS-LCD 3, 468 ppiAMOLED, 334 ppi
Weight3.9 oz4.6 oz5 oz5.5 oz
ChipsetA7 64-bit chip, M7 motion co-processorQuad-core 1.9GHz Snapdragon 600 in the U.S. (8-core 1.8GHz Exnyos 5 Octa elsewhere)Quad-core 1.7GHz Snapdragon 600Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 (Dual-core 1.5 GHz)
Storage16GB, 32GB or 64GB, no card slot16GB, 32GB or 64GB +microSD slot32GB or 64GB, no card slot32GB, no card slot
ConnectorsApple LightningmicroUSBmicroUSBmicroUSB
Operating SystemiOS 7Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)Windows Phone 8
Battery (in milliamperes/hour)1,434 mAh, LTE browsing time 10hrs2,600 mAh2,300 mAh2,000 mAh
Camera8MP, True Tone dual LED flash, burst mode 10fps, auto image stabilization, 720p HD video at 120fps slow-mo13MP autofocus, LED flash & zero shutter lag4MP (“ultrapixels”)41MP, PureView, Xenon Flash
NetworkingWi-Fi 802.11n (2.4GHz and 5GHz), 2G, 3G, 4G LTEWi-Fi 802.11ac, 2G, 3G, 4G LTEWi-Fi 802.11ac, 2G, 3G, 4G LTEWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, 2G, 3G, 4G LTE
U.S. Price (with 2-year contract)$199 for 16GB, $299 for 32GB, $399 for 64GB$199.99 for 16GB, $299.99 for 32GB$199.99$199.99
After looking at the table above, which one do you think is the best smartphone in the world? 
Via: Maypalo.com

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