Android Phone Fans |
- Snapdragon builds world’s first bullet time photo booth made from 130 HTC Ones
- 100 live TV channels now available for the streaming via AT&T U-verse app for Android
- New Google Play Store 4.4 with slide-out navigation drawer now available [DOWNLOAD]
- Review: Meenova micro SD card reader for Android devices [VIDEO]
- LG tipped to release ChromeOS devices with latest trademark applications
- NVIDIA CEO: Shield 2 could be released along with the NVIDIA’s ‘Project Logan’ processor
- [Update: It's out!] BBM for Android finally rolling out later today; be sure to “wait in line”
- Switchr gives you a fast, intuitive way to switch between apps [VIDEO]
- Koush demos surprisingly fluid screen recording utility in CyanogenMod [VIDEO]
- T-Mobile HTC One Android 4.3 update now rolling out
- From the G1 to the DROID MAXX — here’s my Android history (and we want to hear yours!)
- HTC says their upcoming tablet will be “disruptive”; also working on a smart watch
- HTC One Max for AT&T being readied, says leaked render
| Snapdragon builds world’s first bullet time photo booth made from 130 HTC Ones Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:47 PM PDT
Back in 2000, the bullet-time special effect was all the rage. Made famous by the Matrix in 1999 and found in countless video games and music videos thereafter (Creed’s “Higher” comes to mind), the effect could best be described as a virtual camera that spins around a subject in slow motion. Typically, this done during a kickass fight scene, gun action in mid-air, or anything else that considered “eXtreme” in ‘oo. Well, it looks like it’s making a comeback. To showcase the raw power of Qualcomm’s SoCs, the chipset maker built what they’re calling the Snapdragon Booth. The rig is comprised of 130 HTC One handsets, and using a special custom made Android app, they’re able to take a snap-shot in time, spiraling around subjects in 540 degrees. Okay, so a throwback to 14 years may not sound very exciting, the results are actually kinda rad.
Qualcomm’s will be taking the Snapdragon Booth on tour over the next few weeks, where it was just set up over the weekend in Venice Beach, CA. Had I known, I would have made the trip to play around with it. If you’re thinking something like this would be fun to check out yourself, you have until January 31st to vote in Qualcomm’s poll and bring the Snapdragon Booth to your city. Promise me you’ll do something awesome like smash an iPhone (just kidding… sorta). Video of the Snapdragon booth in action can be found below and don’t forget to check out the official page where Qualcomm is uploading the shots into a fun GIF gallery. |
| 100 live TV channels now available for the streaming via AT&T U-verse app for Android Posted: 21 Oct 2013 04:44 PM PDT
This is a followup post to one from a few weeks ago where we told you that AT&T would soon be bringing over 100 live television channels to U-verse customers via their Android app. Today, those streaming TV channels have finally gone live (full list can be found below).
As we mentioned before, this latest feature does come with a few caveats. First off, you’ll need to be enrolled in the U-verse family or higher packages, and when streaming away from your home WiFi, only 20 channels will be accessible. AT&T is promising to add more channels in the future, so keep a look out. You can download the AT&T U-verse app for Android devices via the Google Play link below. |
| New Google Play Store 4.4 with slide-out navigation drawer now available [DOWNLOAD] Posted: 21 Oct 2013 03:16 PM PDT
Looks like we don’t have to wait for the Nexus 5 to be released before we’re able to try out some of the updated apps likely to debut with Android 4.4 KiKat. We showed you guys some screenshots of the new Google Play Store 4.4(.21) a few days ago. The update introduced a fancy new slide-out navigation drawer similar to other Google apps, and it looks like it’s finally begun rolling out to Android users today. If you don’t feel like waiting for the update to officially push to your device (no worries, neither could we), the application has been made available for downloading via the link below. Simply sideload the Google Play Store the same way as you would any other app.
Really, there doesn’t appear to be too many changes on the surface, but Google’s upcoming Newsstand (to replace Magazines) can be found buried deep within the apk, icon and all. We expect Google to complete the rebranding at a later time (more than likely during the KitKat reveal). Stay tuned.
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| Review: Meenova micro SD card reader for Android devices [VIDEO] Posted: 21 Oct 2013 02:19 PM PDT
Love it or hate it, more and more Android manufacturers have been relying solely on internal storage for their devices. It’s been the subject of bitter debate among the Android faithful, one that has Samsung fanboys drawing a line in the sand, while the rest of us shrug and opt for devices like the Nexus 4 or Moto X. I have to say, I didn’t mind this change very much at first. But as technology presses on, and we’ve seen the introduction of 1080p+ devices, 4K video, bigger and badder video games, storage — even on my 64GB HTC One — is starting to get a little tight. That’s when I came across the recently Kickstarted Meenova micro SD card reader for Android devices. The Android accessory has only just become available to all via Meenova’s website, so I decided to pick one up. Here’s my quick review. What does it do?
This little nugget plugs directly into an Android device’s micro USB port and allows users to expand the storage of their device up to 64GBs. Okay, “expand” probably isn’t the best word, as you’re not going to leave this plugged into your device 24/7. But, when it comes to say, all 5 seasons of Breaking Bad, you can simply dump all of them onto your micro SD card, freeing up your limited internal storage for more important things like video games. How does it work?The Meenova works on all devices that support USB on-the-go (USB OTG). If you’re unsure, a list of compatible Android devices can be found on Meenova’s website. Using the Meenova is literally a plug-and-play process (at least on the HTC One). There’s no setup, no fumbling through device settings in order to mount external memory — none of that. I simply slid my 64GB micro SD card into the Meenova dongle, plugged it into my HTC One, opened my gallery app and I was up and watching Pacific Rim in glorious HD, BoomSound and all. Yeah, nerdgasm. Verdict
Cloud storage isn’t a blanket solution to limited internal storage. With carrier data caps not going away anytime soon, streaming video, music, etc. might not be a viable option for everyone. With the Meenova micros SD card reader, you can ensure that your extensive media library is always easily accessible from your Android device. The accessory is also the perfect companion for those considering an Android device that may not offer expandable storage (like the Nexus line). So far in my experience, I have nothing but good things to say about the tiny accessory. I found that it’s small stature was way more convenient to use than the traditional micro SD card reader/USB OTG cable combo and at $12 ($3 worldwide shipping), it wont break the bank. The Meenova micro SD card reader comes in 4 different colors — black, white, silver, and orange — and while the plastic feels a little cheapy, it gets the job done. Purchase links provided below. |
| LG tipped to release ChromeOS devices with latest trademark applications Posted: 21 Oct 2013 01:59 PM PDT
LG is just now starting to gain solid footing in the phone market and has just launched its second major attempt at tablets, but the South Korean electronics giant seems to want to try out something new for size — ChromeOS. Recent trademark patents tell us that much, with LG apparently submitting applications ChromeOne, ChromeDesk and ChromeStation. We’re not sure if these are all meant to be names for different products or if LG’s just covering their bases and not yet sure of which name they want to use, but they all sound like they’ll shy away from the traditional netbook form factor Chrome is usually featured on. We’d imagine something similar to Samsung’s ChromeBox if we’re going based on name alone (though the ChromeOne is left open for more loose interpretation. Unfortunately, the trademark applications don’t give us much other info, but it’s nice to know what they’re thinking about for the future. With LG just recently submitting these applications it’s tough to say how close we are to seeing an unveiling. It doesn’t sound like something that could happen in days or weeks, but we’ll be trying to dig deeper regardless. [via ChromeSpot] |
| NVIDIA CEO: Shield 2 could be released along with the NVIDIA’s ‘Project Logan’ processor Posted: 21 Oct 2013 01:54 PM PDT
NVIDIA has become the unofficial go-to processor manufacturer for mobile gamers. In fact, their NVIDIA Shield portable console is arguably the best gaming device powered by Android. Even though it is not exactly flying off the shelves, we don’t see NVIDIA giving up on the Shield. A second one should be coming, and NVIDIA CEO Jen-Hsun Huang is giving us some hope. The NVIDIA Shield 2 could be coming very soon! NVIDIA is not exactly giving us all the details, but Jen-Hsun Huang is pretty much teasing the device without saying anything. Yes… press talk can be confusing. To be exact, Jen-Hsun is asked (in an interview with Engadget) if we can expect a second iteration of the Shield coming soon. He says that “he hopes” that one will come with every Tegra release, which means yearly.
We all know NVIDIA’s very own CEO is not “hoping” for stuff. The fact that he is being “hopeful” means he probably knows what’s going on behind closed doors, yet can’t say it directly. The Next Tegra release is “Project Logan”, or we can just call it Tegra 5. Tegra releases are usually during the 1st half of the year, around the 2nd quarter, do we can start looking forward to seeing something. Maybe we could get a tease at CES? We sure hope so. We did last year, so it’s a possibility. Jen-Hsun Huang also talked about Gamestream, which is the Shield’s PC streaming technology, only re-branded. It’s latency is supposed to be stupid low, and the technology was tested with a 4K TV. Now that’s having guts! We will keep our eyes open and will be going to cES to get you all the details, so stay tuned! How many of you are thinking of getting the next-gen Shield? [via Engadget] |
| [Update: It's out!] BBM for Android finally rolling out later today; be sure to “wait in line” Posted: 21 Oct 2013 10:41 AM PDT After Blackberry failed to launch BBM for Android (thanks to server overload from an unofficial release of the app), the company has finally announced the resuming of rollouts for the messaging service. They say we should be seeing the app in the Google Play Store within the next few hours, but being able to use it won’t be as simple as downloading it and making an account.
In order to ensure they can properly handle the load of an expected 6 million users, Blackberry is implementing a queue system — you simply “get in line,” and once you make it to the front you’re good to go. We’re not sure how long these queues are supposed to leave you waiting, but we’d sincerely hope it isn’t long as we’ve been waiting long enough. Here’s how it will go down:
It’s a little quirky, but it is for the best in the grand scheme of things. We’ll definitely be looking out for the app, so check this post as we’ll be updating it with the Google Play Store link once it goes live. Let us know if you’ll be signing up once this queue goes live later today! [Update]: Ready? Get set… Go! [via Blackberry] |
| Switchr gives you a fast, intuitive way to switch between apps [VIDEO] Posted: 21 Oct 2013 10:26 AM PDT Ready for another one of those apps that you never thought you wanted or needed, but will fall in love with once you get it? This one is called Switchr, an app by Mohammad Adib that aims to give you a more intuitive, beautiful way of switching between your active Android apps. Switchr uses swipe-based gestures from the edge of your display to initiate the apps switcher. You’re probably asking why you should replace functionality that your smartphone provides by default. It’s because Switchr does switching in a way that will seem more natural to you. There are two different modes to choose from right now:
Switchr slide is really quite nice, as it allows you to quickly switch back and forth between two different applications with a quick flick of your finger. To get an idea of how both these modes work, be sure to check out the demo video sitting above. Perhaps the best thing about Switchr is the suite of options given to you. You can customize everything about the swipe margin, including how big or small it is, its position, the sensitivity and more. Those are all free features, but paying $2.00 will get you a list of features that makes this a killer app.
For that amount, you can decide whether certain apps show up in this list, have your phone vibrate whenever the gesture is triggered, choose whether to show the app name, change background opacity, switch to a more flat appearance, define how many running tasks you want, and even get a real-time view of the apps you’re switching between as you’re thumbing through them. Give the free version a try in the Google Play Store, and if you end up deciding those extra features are worth the money then be sure to throw down another $2 for the Pro version. The project’s development can be followed on XDA, so if you want to be kept up to date with everything in regards to its development you can do so here. |
| Koush demos surprisingly fluid screen recording utility in CyanogenMod [VIDEO] Posted: 21 Oct 2013 09:20 AM PDT We’ve always wanted a way to record what’s being displayed on our Android devices, but the current solutions are all flawed in some way. They might require root, they might not be very smooth, and some just flat-out don’t work. Koushik Dutta is hoping to change all of that with a new feature he’s working on for future versions of CyanogenMod. Users can start recording their screen at any time using a combined press of the “power” and “volume up” buttons, which isn’t unlike the standard “power” + “volume down” combo we use for taking screenshots. Koush’s method includes the ability to show device touches with an on-screen graphic so users know what is being pressed, and when. You also have the option of having your phone record audio from the microphone during the recording, which would make it super easy to say whatever you need on top of the recording. There are many situations where such a feature would be useful, such as tutorial videos, app demos, and getting support for any issues you might be having. Color us excited for sure. The feature isn’t currently present in any CyanogenMod nightlies, but Koush has already uploaded the code to the project’s Gerrit page for any developers who might want to give it a shot: Remote display framework support.Any app can use the remote display APIs to mirror to another device... This can be used to implement AirPlay, Chromecast, or even screen recording. We’ll be keeping our eyes peeled to see when, exactly, the rest of us will be able to get in on the fun. Watch a quick video demo of the new feature above. [via Google+] |
| T-Mobile HTC One Android 4.3 update now rolling out Posted: 21 Oct 2013 08:56 AM PDT Today’s a good day if you’re an HTC One owner on T-Mobile. The company has started rolling out their Android 4.3 upgrade, just as we were promised. The upgrade brings us up to version 3.24.531.3. Android 4.3 brings a lot of under-the-hood changes such as OpenGL 3.0, ANT+ support and the TRIM garbage collection system to keep your device smooth over time.
On the HTC Sense side of things, the upgrade will bring us updated BlinkFeed features, including support for Instagram posts muddled in with all the rest of your news and social updates. You can also make video highlights as long as you want them to be. We’re not sure how big (in size) this upgrade will be, but HTC recommends you connect to WiFi, charge your battery up to at least 30% and set aside at least 20 minutes to complete the whole thing. Be sure to find instructions for updating below, and let us know if things go well for you in the comments section.
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| From the G1 to the DROID MAXX — here’s my Android history (and we want to hear yours!) Posted: 21 Oct 2013 08:09 AM PDT I must admit that I wasn’t on the Android train in the very early beginnings. Whereas our founder and editor in chief Rob Jackson was on the scene from day one, it wasn’t until around September 2008 that I began to hear the rumblings about the ever-dreamy “Google Phone.” At this point, Apple’s new kid on the block — the iPhone, of course — was kicking butt and taking names, and Blackberry was still a pretty significant force. I was a Windows Mobile guy through and through, but I knew the platform was dying, and for some reason I wasn’t interested in replacing it with offerings from either Apple or Blackberry. Perhaps part of it was because I wasn’t interested in doing business with AT&T at the time, but a big part of it is that I simply didn’t desire those more popular options. As a big fan of Google’s, I wanted Android. It was at that point that I’d decided I was going to grab the T-Mobile G1 (known as the first “Google Phone” or the “gPhone” in its earlier years) the first day that I could. This is my Android history. T-Mobile G1Being a hardcore T-Mobile fan at the time, I was deeply invested in the Windows Mobile-based Shadow lineup, but I could feel Windows beginning to age. It was sheer luck and coincidence that T-Mobile was the only carrier that decided to carry the Android flag way back when. HTC was their running mate, with the Taiwanese company adding another “first” t0 their long list of them.
I’m talking about the G1, of course, the 3.5-inch keyboard-enabled smartphone that allowed us to enjoy the best of both worlds. Up until then, it was “do I want an awesome keyboard for texting and emails, or a big, beautiful, responsive display for games, videos and other multimedia?” With the G1, we were able to get both. Granted, Android wasn’t nearly as smooth as iOS back then, nor was the G1 keyboard good enough to best the ones found on high-end Blackberries, but having the best of both worlds felt quite good. My G1 fanaticism was at an all time high after big upgrades like the ones to 1.5 Cupcake and 1.6 Donut, the updates which brought us things like on-screen keyboards, custom widgets, and other standard features we now take for granted in these more mature years of Android. Things got even juicier once the custom ROM scene exploded with tons of great developers. Folks like JesusFreke and Steve Kondik (of CyanogenMod fame, of course) got their initial shine on this phone and platform, and they made folks like me and you proud to call ourselves geeks. Flashing new custom ROMs was like waking up for Christmas morning and finding a brand new gift under the tree every day. It was a magical time, indeed. Obviously, the train didn’t stop there. T-Mobile myTouch 3GThe MyTouch 3G was the second Android phone T-Mobile launched, and the first one that came without a hardware keyboard (thanks to the aforementioned software keyboard finally introduced in Cupcake). The device wasn’t quite that far ahead of the G1 in terms of specs, though the added bit of RAM and internal storage made for a bit of a smoother experience at the time. My stint with the MyTouch 3G was short, because 3G was no longer relevant — 4G was calling my name over at the Now Network. HTC EVO 4GThis was Sprint’s first 4G smartphone — in fact, it was the first 4G smartphone ever — and I just had to have it. I lusted so much that I had no problem paying T-Mobile $300 to escape a contract I’d just signed. Sprint’s promise of WiMax-based 4G LTE wasn’t the only thing that had me salivating.
This 4.3-inch device was massive for its time. It had a beautiful display, HTC Sense, and a kickstand (because, why not?). It was awesome, and held me down for quite some time. To boot, developer support for this thing was just as huge as it was on the G1, so I was in heaven. Unfortunately, at some point, I’d started longing for a physical keyboard again. An aging battery also didn’t help things along. I’d sold my EVO 4G in pursuit of the next big thing. Samsung EPIC 4GLuckily for me, Sprint had one of the most exciting devices that fit that bill. It was the Samsung Epic 4G, a variant of the Samsung Galaxy S with a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard. With a beautiful 4-inch AMOLED display, a slick 1GHz Hummingbird processor and a 512MB of RAM, this was the phone to have on Sprint.
Oddly enough, Sprint’s version also offered an LED flash and a notification LED, while other variants ditched those two elements. While not a huge deal, those additions certainly made Sprint’s offering that much sweeter. HTC EVO 3DIt wasn’t long after getting the Epic 4G that HTC started wooing me with yet another option. This time, they’d look to do it with the EVO 3D. I’m guilty of falling for what I now consider one of the biggest gimmicks in all of smartphones. I’m talking about the dual cameras, and an autostereoscopic 3D display. These two things pulled me in, but many other things started pushing me away.
For starters, while I appreciated HTC’s attempt at trying out premium metal-based build materials, the easily-chipped paint made the device as ugly as sin after just a few short weeks of use. And don’t get me started on the horrid battery life — even a 3,300mAh extended battery couldn’t help me get through an 8 hour work day. It was so bad that I ended up naming it one of the worst Android smartphones ever, which makes it the worst Android smartphone I’ve ever purchased. I quickly handed this device down to my brother in anticipation of something much better. Samsung Epic 4G TouchAh, yes — Sprint’s version of the Samsung Galaxy S2. This was the phone to have no matter which carrier you did business with, and for good reason. The Samsung Galaxy S takes credit for the initial kick start Samsung needed to get where they are today, but it was the Samsung Galaxy S2 that really shook things up. It was the first smartphone to aggressively challenge Apple’s iPhone in both features and marketing, with Samsung winning over tons of customers on carriers where the iPhone was not yet available. This 4.5-inch device had it all. It was a dual-core monster with 1GB of RAM, and while that may sound a tad funny in this day and age it was a big deal back when it first launched. Samsung went full steam ahead with TouchWiz, and introduced a lot of useful and unique features on top of Android that other OEMs could only dream of having at the time. It also housed one of the best smartphone cameras you could hope to have.
While all of this was great, I began to loathe one major problem — Sprint’s inability to get WiMax towers up and running in more major areas. Every year since the EVO 4G launched, I was promised 4G would come to my city by year’s end. Every single year — to this day — I’ve been disappointed. Sprint hasn’t launched an inkling of 4G LTE in the Milwaukee area, and 3G was getting so bad that doing something as simple as checking Foursquare or Twitter became impossible tasks without WiFi. It was because of the terrible network quality and those broken promises that I was allowed to get out of my contract without having to pay an early termination fee. I decided to set my sights on the first company that was able to get 4G LTE up and running in my area. Samsung Galaxy NexusLuckily for me, I found someone on Reddit willing to give up their Verizon unlimited data family account with two full upgrades available without me having to pay a dime (this was at a time where 4G was about to be axed, so these accounts were going for a premium on eBay). They were even nice enough to send me two original Motorola DROIDs with tons of accessories at no cost. My brother and I had the displeasure of using those Motorola DROIDs for a few weeks (it was good for its time, but extremely dated by now) until the phone we really wanted launched — the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. It was going to be the perfect marriage, I thought.
Here was a dual-core phone with completely stock Android, 4G LTE radios, NFC and a beautiful Super AMOLED HD display. The device had some shortcomings — namely the lack of expandable storage and horrid battery life — but I was willing to put up with them because of the promises that Nexus devices were supposed to bring. Those promises — namely timely system updates — were completely nullified thanks to Verizon. This wasn’t a huge issue for me, of course, as I’d grown accustomed to flashing ROMs to get what I want, but my brother was in a different boat. We’d used the phones for nearly a year anyway, but when the display on both of them cracked (we’re a clumsy bunch, I tell ya’) we decided it wasn’t worth paying a deductible to get them replaced. He ultimately decided to get an iPhone 5, while I was obviously interested in staying on the Android train. Something big was on the horizon. Samsung Galaxy Note 2I was a fan of Samsung’s original Galaxy Note, but its lack of availability on the carriers I preferred always kept me from looking at it as a viable option. Thankfully, Samsung’s second attempt at the new “phablet” category they are credited with making was available on nearly any carrier you could think of, and it was the perfect device for me. The full rundown can be had in our Galaxy Note 2 review. Huge HD display? Long-lasting all-day battery life? Quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM? Wacom-enabled digitized S Pen with unique features like multi-window? All these things were worth gold to me, which is why I had no problem dropping $700 for the Verizon version due to not having an upgrade available. It was the first — and probably the last — time I’d ever paid full retail price for a smartphone, but I enjoyed every last bit of it.
The Note 2 was my dream phone, and there was nothing anyone could say to keep me away from it. But as much as I loved it, I was beginning to fall out of love with TouchWiz. I began to see just how much of a resource hog it was, and found my phone becoming more sluggish as time went on. It wasn’t terribly slow, but not as fast as it was out of the box. The lack of updates (even to this day) didn’t help. The device is still on Android 4.1.2 officially, and there’s no telling when (or if) Samsung and Verizon will ever bring folks up to Android 4.3 and beyond. I’d grown tired of waiting for much needed updates, and TouchWiz was no longer desirable to me. I still have the Note 2, but it’s merely a backup to what I now consider the best device I’ve ever owned. Motorola DROID MaxxI sidelined my Note 2 about a month and a half ago and looked to buy a new smartphone under Verizon’s new Edge upgrade program. This meant losing my unlimited data at this point, but after realizing I didn’t even come close to using half a gigabyte each month (I’m almost always on WiFi) I decided this was no longer an issue.
With that, I sought out to buy a smartphone with three very key factors:
I won’t go into much detail about why my latest choice — the Motorola DROID MAXX — satiates most of these areas (with the only current unknown obviously being long-term support), because I already went through that in the lengthy editorial I wrote here, as well as my full review. The TL;DR version? Forget the specs, the gimmicky features and the hype: give me useful features, long battery life and a phone that doesn’t do too much (and subsequently crash and slow down because of it), and I’ll be happy. What’s next?So that’s where I stand today. I’m not sure which Android phone I’ll have yet. I’m not even sure if my next phone will be an Android phone… read into that what you will. I’ll tell you one thing, though — if, by the grace of the deities of the universe, the Nexus 5 launches on Verizon, I’ll be the first one in line with $350 – $400 to line Google’s pockets with. So what about you? Which phone did you start with, and what do you have now? Android has been a huge part of my life, obviously. I wouldn’t have the great job I have today, and wouldn’t have met the many wonderful people I’ve met along the way if it weren’t for my love of all things Android. I’m sure there are others like me who cherish Android, and view it as more than just “that OS that runs on that phone I have.” We want to hear about all of that and everything in between, so sound off in the comments section and let us know your Android history! |
| HTC says their upcoming tablet will be “disruptive”; also working on a smart watch Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:21 AM PDT To say HTC hasn’t had the best of luck in the tablet sector would be quite the understatement. In fact, you might say that the tablet market has been a bit unattractive for anyone not named “Samsung” or “Apple.” LG’s jumped back in with the 8.3-inch G Tab, and now another OEM who once tried their hand (and failed) at the tablet market is getting ready to give it another go.
HTC’ executive Cher Wang mentioned as much in an interview conducted by the Financial Times. “When the tablet comes out it will be something nice and disruptive,” was the quote, which leads us to believe HTC will be focusing on just one device. We aren’t sure what this tablet might bring, but one can only assume Android will be the driving force behind whatever it is they’re cooking up. Peter Chou also mentioned the company’s view on wearables, noting that it was an important sector that HTC would want to get right. He says the Taiwanese company isn’t interested in coming out with a weak “v1″ release, but instead wants their first foray into the new product category to be something special and useful in the everyday lives of people. One might think HTC is referring to devices like the Samsung Galaxy Gear, a smart watch seemingly rushed to market by the South Korean company that likes to try everything. Most will contend Samsung’s biggest mistake was making a product that doesn’t work with everything, with only a couple of the company’s smartphone compatible with the watch. Of course, without an actual product to show anyone it’s HTC who will have to prove their worth in this market, and many others they’re interested in trying out. We’re not sure when, exactly, to expect the next round of the company’s products, but you can bet they’ll have our undivided attention when they do. |
| HTC One Max for AT&T being readied, says leaked render Posted: 21 Oct 2013 05:19 AM PDT
When HTC officially unveiled the HTC One Max, we’d only heard that Sprint and Verizon users in the United States would be getting a crack at it. It was odd considering AT&T is usually gung-ho about getting any of the latest and greatest devices they can from the major manufacturers. Fortunately, their penchant for bringing the devices people want continues with this 5.9-inch beast. On Twitter, reliable leakster @evleaks posted a press render of the HTC One Max for AT&T (as well as Verizon). AT&T’s version is the same as everyone else’s, except their logo sits between the back and home buttons on the bottom. While AT&T customers may be pleased by this news, they aren’t the only ones who will benefit from this release. It was recently revealed that HTC wouldn’t be bringing the One Max to Canada for one reason or another. Their official stance is that the device just doesn’t fit, instead pointing users to their flagship HTC One in that region. With an AT&T release, Canadian customers can at least get a device that has HSPA+ radios compatible with most of the country’s networks. If you need a quick refresher on the HTC One Max, this device is a tad more than just a bigger version of the HTC One. It sports the same 1080p resolution for that aforementioned 5.9-inch display, has a Snapdragon 600 processor, 2GB of RAM, HTC’s UltraPixel camera, and more, but adds a fingerprint scanner for easily unlocking the device and launching your favorite apps. The device hasn’t been met with the warmest of receptions, with some claiming that there’s little need for it without unique software tweaks and features to take advantage of the bigger display, and without an upgraded spec sheet in comparison to the original HTC One. Most people are put off by the massive size of this thing. The 5.9-inch display might not be a huge problem for some, but HTC’s need to make room for dual front-facing BoomSound speakers means it’s just a hair short of feeling like a small tablet. Are any of you AT&T customers looking to join your Sprint and Verizon counterparts when the device is slated to launch later this year? |
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