Review: HTC One X

While HTC did well enough at the start of 2011, the Taiwanese company took a bit of a pounding at the tail end of the same year. Some analysts attributed the loss to the company releasing too many phones aimed at too many markets. This year, HTC has bounced back to the fore with a new device strategy culminating in the One line which focuses on only three main devices: the top of the line One X, the mid-market One S, and the entry level One V. The subject of today’s review is their flagship smartphone, the One X.

The HTC One X is a departure of sorts for the company design-wise, as it’s the first time I’ve ever seen HTC use a unibody polycarbonate body on a flagship device.

Not that that’s a bad thing – the overall design and build quality on the One X is very, very good – the phone is solid as a brick without weighing like one (130 g).

Comparison shot with the HTC Sensation XE

There’s no skirting around the issue – the One X is huge. At 134.4 x 69.9 x 8.9mm, it’s one of the biggest phones available right now, save for Samsung’s Galaxy Note. The One X packs a 4.7-inch Super IPS LCD2 capacitive touchscreen, with a display resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels. While I’ve been spoiled by Samsung’s Super AMOLED displays, I’ve got to say that the screen of the One X is one of the prettiest I’ve seen so far (though I admit I might be saying the same thing once I get my eyes on the Samsung Galaxy S III’s display). The bottom of the screen holds the three navigation keys – back, home and recent apps.

The right of the device holds the volume rocker, while the USB slot (which doubles as a charging slot) sits on the left side. On the top lies the power and 3.5mm jack. The One X has an 8-megapixel camera that I’ll go into depth a bit later. There’s also a 1.3-megapixel camera on the front for video calls and the like.

As impressive as the overall look of the device is, things just get better when you dive under the hood. The powerplant of the One X is a quad-core, NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor running at 1.5 GHz. There’s still Beats Audio technology in the HTC One X, though you won’t find Beats branded headphones this time around. There’s 32GB of storage on tap, with an additional 25GB of cloud storage courtesy of Dropbox. The whole experience is powered by Android 4.0 (ICS) with HTC’s special sauce on top, dubbed Sense. Contrary to the companies’ previous Sense offerings, the one that ships with the One X is simple and not overly complex, a far cry from what the bloated, battery draining mess Sense has become on their other, earlier smartphones not running ICS.

One of the features that HTC is proud of in the One X is its camera.  The camera present on the One X has an 8-megapixel CMOS camera with a backside illuminated sensor which aids in low light performance, as well as having a F2.0 aperture, 28mm lens and a dedicated imaging chip. We were pleasantly surprised at how good the camera was because to be honest, I’ve pretty much given up on the cameras attached to smartphones nowadays. That’s not the case with the One X for a variety of reasons. For one, the One X takes pictures quickly, and exhibits almost zero shutter lag and minimal focus hunt. Another nice thing about the One X is that it’s able to take pictures continuously – as fast as some point-and-shoots – and allows you to choose the one you think is best (or just save them all for posterity). To put it bluntly – the camera one the One X is one of the best I’ve seen so far this year.

Performance on the One X was unsurprisingly good. During the time the One X was with me it never hanged nor had problems with any of the apps I ran on it. The quad-core Tegra 3 processor definitely comes into play here, and even with multiple apps open the device never did slowdown.

The overall feel of the device when using it is fantastic as you can feel the snappiness in the UI, especially when you’re going through the apps and menu items in the device.

Of course, no review of the One X would be complete without the requisite benchmark test, so here it is: using AnTuTu, the One X managed to score 10629 points, which is a few points higher than a similar, Tegra 3 powered device, the Asus Transformer Prime.
The One X is a phone first and foremost, so all those fancy features wouldn’t mean diddly squat if you couldn’t speak to other people or send SMS messages, right? Well, I’m happy to report that the overall call quality of the One X is fantastic, with no problems in reception whatsoever. Calls are clear and crisp, with no problems in both outgoing and incoming calls. Sending SMS messages and general typing duties are a breeze to accomplish using the large on-screen keyboard of the One X, as even people with big digits (that includes yours truly) won’t have a problem typing on the large screen.
Battery life is also pretty good, with the unit clocking in about a day and half on single charge with slightly moderate use (texting, calling and a few minutes on data). Of course, that number will vary depending on your use, and you’re probably looking at about a day’s worth of battery with heavier use.

Of course, as lovely as the One X is, it does come with its own share of niggles. The unibody polycarbonate shell means that the battery is non-user replaceable, so if ever the 1800 mAh battery does decide to die on you, you will have to take it to a service center to have it replaced. Also, the HTC One X uses a microSIM, something that you need to be aware of if you’re planning to get the device as an upgrade.

HTC has scored a slam dunk with the One X. The fantastically built body, the excellent performance of Tegra 3 and awesome camera all come together in a package that’s simply beautiful. To put it in simpler words: the HTC One X is currently the Android smartphone to beat. HTC has gotten its groove back.

What’s Hot:

Solid, unibody polycarbonate body
Large, 4.7-inch screen protected by Gorilla Glass
Fast, Tegra 3 processor
Excellent camera performance in low light
Burst shooting

What’s Not:
Uses microSIM
Non-user replaceable battery

Bottomline:

The HTC One X is the best Android phone you can buy right now. Beg, steal or borrow to get one.

Buymeter: 5/5

Tech Specs:
Operating System: Android 4.0 ICS
CPU: NVIDIA quad-core Tegra 3 1.5GHz
LCD size: 4.7-inch Super IPS LCD2 capacitive touchscreen, display resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels
Physical Dimensions: 134.4 x 69.9 x 8.9mm
Band: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100

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HTC EVO 3D

The first 3D phone is here, courtesy of HTC, and really is a massive step in mobile technology. The device has a HD touch screen that is perfect for viewing all the 3D content you want.

You can view 3D movies, 3D YouTube clips or even your own 3D photos, and, the best part is, you don’t have to wear 3D glasses to get the full effect. This is thanks to special stereoscopic technology that the device has inside its high-resolution 4.3″ display.

Amazingly you can choose to take picture or videos in 2D or 3D with a flick of a switch on the side of the device. The 2D, 5 Megapixel camera allows for a good quality images and the HD 720p video recorder allows you to capture amazing 3D footage. This can then be shared to Facebook, or made into a 3D masterpiece with the new 3D Youtube channel, and then shared for the world to enjoy.

For all of this to work, what’s under the hood of the device is highly important. The Evo 3D has a speedy 1.2GHz dual core processor, has a bigger battery for longer usage time and has the latest versions of Android and HTC Sense. The device is fast and smart and, with the new HTC Sense 3.0 active lockscreen, you are able to quickly jump between your phones applications such as message and your camera.

A new feature this device has is that you are now able to download map packs to your mobile using your Wi-Fi. You can then use this to navigate around, using your phones data allowance. And it even comes with voice guidance and 3D satellite view.

Finally, the HTC Evo allows you to stream Hollywood movies straight to your device with HTC Watch. This easy to use app allows you to rent or buy a new or old film and then with the clever Progressive downloading technology, enables you to start watching them as soon as they are purchased.

If you are looking for more details on this phone visit Dial a phone, they have all the informaion you will need along with great deals incase you want to buy the handset.

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AT&T to Launch HTC One X on May 6

After its head-turning debut at this year’s Mobile World Congress, the HTC One X will have an official release date in the United States. The smartphone will be available exclusively to AT&T beginning May 6 for $199 with a two-year contract. Pre-orders for this highly-anticipated handset will begin on April 22.

The HTC One X features a 4.7-inch 720p Super LCD2 screen, 8-megapixel rear-facing camera, and a Sense version of Android Ice Cream Sandwich. However, the US version comes with slightly different specs. It forgoes the Tegra 3 chipset and opts for a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor and an LTE radio. The smartphone may no longer have ultra-fast performance expected from a quad-core processor, but the LTE should give this device impressive mobile web and data browsing. Another difference is the sturdy, polycarbonate body, compared to the micro arc oxidized aluminum frame seen in One S.

Source: Google

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HTC Zeta picture and specs leaked?

onsidering how long ago it was that the first dual-core smartphone came out, quad-core is now dominating the grape vine, enter stage left HTC Zeta
Specs and a image of an upcoming HTC smartphone known as the HTC Zeta have surfaced showcasing what looks to be the second quad-core smartphone from HTC if indeed the HTC Edge is also to become a reality.
Making a drastic design departure from HTC's current design ethos the Zeta features sharp edges and curved sides while also integrating the unibody design that HTC has kept in almost all of its smartphones. If these specs are to be believed then the Zeta will also feature a mammoth 2.5GHz Quad-core processor, 4.5inch 720p display and also 1GB of RAM to make sure it stays well ahead of the game.
The HTC Zeta will also come with Ice Cream Sandwich straight out of the box and will contain HTC's Sense 4.0 UI (as yet unannounced we might add). If that's got you worried about its authenticity then maybe this might help, the source that revealed the handset to Engadget does also have information that says it'll have 32GB of storage, Bluetooth 4.0 and an 8MP snapper on the back.
What do you think, clever concept image or a future handset from HTC? Let us know via the comments box below...

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HTC Ville: True or Hoax?

BGR.com claims that its insider sources at HTC has provided leaks about its upcoming HTC Ville smartphone. This 8-millimeter thick device features a 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED screen with 960 x 540 resolution, 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, HSPA+ radio, and the obligatory Beats Audio support. As you can see in the photo, the HTC Ville does not have physical buttons and will expectedly run on Android Ice Cream Sandwich and HTC Sense 4.0 The question now is whether the HTC Ville is a real device to begin with, but BGR insists that it will soon make its public debut along with the HTC Edge at the 2012 Mobile World Congress.
However, there could be some truth to its claims. A bunch of HTC devices codes has been abuzz, one of which is called “Villa.” Other entries include the Ruby (now Amaze 4G), the Holiday (now Vivid), and the Vigor (now Rezound).

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HTC Rezound Entices Potential Holiday Shoppers

HTC officially announces its latest Gingerbread-powered smartphone for Verizon. The HTC Rezound may not be as thin as the super-slim phones of late, but its specs make up for its slight bulkiness. The device is powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM. It comes with 16GB internal storage, which can be expanded by another 16GB thanks to its microSD card slot.
On the external front, the HTC Rezound sports a 4.3-inch display with 720p resolution, a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, and an 8-megapixel camera at the back with f/2.2 lens and dual-LED flash. The camera is capable of shooting video in 1080p, as well as panorama and action burst modes. You may also notice the Beats logo at the back, so expect a richer sound quality with its special in-phone audio profile and a pair of included Beats earbuds.
The HTC Rezound is a Verizon LTE device, which performs greatly within the carrier’s 4G coverage areas. Although it runs Android Gingerbread, HTC and Verizon are planning to bring Ice Cream Sandwich updates early next year. The phone will be available on Verizon Wireless and Best Buy beginning November 14, costing $299.

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HTC Flyer Has Price Slashed to Stay Relevant

Tablets have their price tags majorly slashed to keep up with the competition. The HTC Flyer is the latest tablet to undergo a price reduction as Best Buy will offer the 7-inch Android 2.3 tablet from $499 to $299.

The price slash on the Flyer comes after the BlackBerry PlayBook, Motorola Xoom, and the HP TouchPad had their respective price cuts. The HTC Flyer has been in the market for nearly six months and has not been performing well in the market, probably because it tries to compete with the iPad but with a smaller screen and an old OS.

“Had it launched at $299, the Flyer might have won over more fans because it is a capable tablet with several fun tricks including an active digitizer stylus,” TechCrunch wrote.

Best Buy has announced the price cut will go into effect on October 1 and apply to both Best Buy’s physical and online stores.

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HTC officially announced new budget smartphone Explorer (Pico)

HTC officially presented their cheap Android-smartphone Explorer to the world. The presentation should have taken place on October 6; however they decided to do it now. Earlier in the network leaks this smartphone has been called Pico.

The heart of the new budget device is 600 MHz CPU (based on a single-chip system Qulacomm MSM7227). It features 3.2 " screen with resolution of 480 x 320 pixels, 512 MB of RAM and a rear camera with resolution of 3.15 megapixels. Among other equipment it has a slot for microSD memory cards, satellite navigation module GPS, wireless adaptersWi-Fi 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0 and 1230 mAh battery. New gadget will be powered by Android 2.3.5 OS and will have Sense 3.5 UI made by HTC.

HTC Explorer will replace HTC Smart, and will be right below Wildfire and Wildfire Ssmartphones in HTC products line. Dimensions of the smartphone are 102,8 x 57,2 x 12,9 mm and it weights - 108 grams. The device goes on sale in Europe and Asia, Africa and the Middle East in the fourth quarter, its price will be lower than that of Wildfire S, but more than the HTC Smart; somewhere about $ 200.

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HTC Raider 4G: dual-core processor, 4.5 " IPS screen

HTC have presented Raider 4G in the South Korean market, which is the fastest smartphone from HTC, running OS Android 2.3.


New device's heart is a dual-core processor, clocked at 1.5 GHz. Featuring 1 GB of RAM and 16 GB of flash memory at customers' disposal. The smartphone has a 4.5 " touch screen. Screen resolution - qHD (960 x 540 pixels), panel type - IPS.


The special features of the product include support for LTE and HSPA + (in first case maximum transfer rate is 100 Mbit / s, in second - 21 Mbit / s). The equipment includes GPS, 8 megapixel main rear camera with dual LED flash, and two forward-facing cameras with resolution of 1.3 megapixels. The smartphone supports wireless interfaces Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g / n and Bluetooth 3.0.


The battery capacity is 1620 mA • h. Dimensions of HTC Raider 4G - 128.8 x 67 x 11.27 mm.

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HTC Rhyme Targets Women Who Like Charms

Apparently, women want gadgets with gender-specific features. HTC is trying to cash in with that consumer mindset through its HTC Rhyme for Verizon. The Rhyme will run on Android 2.3 Gingerbread and will come with a 1GHz single-core processor and the latest HTC Sense 3.5. The handset features a 3.7-inch LCD WVGA touchscreen, a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera, a 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera for video chat, 4GB internal memory, 768MB of RAM, Bluetooth 3.0, and WiFi.

What would make this smartphone appealing to women? For one, the magenta-tinted phone comes with a little charm that is meant to hang out of the handbag and lights up to indicate they have missed a call. The HTC Rhyme also has a charging station with speakers for improved sound quality, HTC’s so-called “tangle-free” headphones, a Bluetooth headset, a wireless visor speaker for the car, and an arm band where the phone can be attached while working out.

The new phone has an enhanced camera app, which adds facial recognition, quick-burst shooting mode, and auto-upload features. Users can also preset a certain Facebook album to upload pics from their phone, which automatically sends any images taken from the Rhyme straight to that specific album.

Representatives of Verizon says the HTC Rhyme will be available beginning September 29 at Verizon’s online and physical stores, as well as at Target. This smartphhone for women will cost $199 with a two-year contract, along with the docking station, the charm, and the headset.

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