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Jared Peters
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HTC has finally unveiled the most leaked device of the 2014. The successor to their universally praised HTC One looks like it will keep the same name, (no All New One branding anywhere yet) but improves just about everything that the HTC One did.
As far as specs go, you’ll get a premium metal unibody design, a 5-inch 1080p Super LCD3 screen, Snapdragon 801 CPU, 2 GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal storage and a MicroSD card slot, a nano-SIM tray, and all the standard WiFi radios, Bluetooth 4.0, etc. The IR blaster is also making a return, as well as HTC Zoe, BoomSound, and all the stuff that made the One stand out last year. The duo-camera system is still present from all of the leaks, and Peter Chou says the cameras will ”capture true depth information for your photos.” The third camera on the device will be specifically used for focusing photos, including refocusing an image after you’ve taken it. It’ll keep your photos clear and sharp, something that HTC is very proud of doing.
Sense 6.0 is also showing some nice upgrades for the device. HTC has added in some color into the software, improving the user experience while moving around throughout the interface. This color coding is especially noticeable in the improvements in BlinkFeed. There are a ton of new BlinkFeed content providers, and you’ll now be able to add any custom content you’d like to BlinkFeed. HTC is opening up the development kit for BlinkFeed, so you’ll start to see other apps take advantage of it. FourSquare, for instance, is partnering up with HTC, and you’ll start to see FourSquare posts on the new BlinkFeed. There are also improvements to Sense TV that add in a ton of extra features.
HTC has added in several gestures to make navigating the device easier. You’ll be able to turn the phone on with a tap, (LG KnockOn, anyone?) answer a call by simply holding a ringing phone up to your ear, and use gestures to move throughout different apps. There’s a three-finger swipe that will automatically play music to a wireless sound system from your phone. Cool, right? Many of these gestures work while the screen is off, too.
On the hardware side of thing, HTC has tweaked most of the features everyone loved from the HTC One. BoomSound will now offer a deeper sound, and it’s 25% louder. As far as the battery goes, the new One will last about 40% longer than the original. That’s a pretty impressive improvement. The device can also double as a FitBit movement tracker, tackling the all-important health and fitness market.
The UltraPixel camera is also getting tweaked for the better. The new camera has a focus time of less than 300 ms, better photos in all lighting conditions, several different camera modes for different situations, (yep, there’s a selfie mode) and you’ll be able to edit plenty of fine tuning details to get exactly the kind of photo you want, and then save those details into different presets to come back to. The gallery app has a lot of extra sorting modes and features as well, so HTC is taking Samsung head-on with software features in the camera department.
We also have a little more information about that second camera on the back. Alongside the UltraPixel camera, you’ll get a dedicated camera that adds depth information to photos, as Peter Chou mentioned. If you’ve ever seen pictures of something where the subject is sharp and the background stuff is softly defocused, that’s essentially what the HTC One’s new camera system does. Instead of letting the software guess at what should be in focus and what’s in the background, the camera hardware handles that, which results in pictures that you typically only get with very high end cameras. The photos in HTC’s live stream look pretty awesome, so hopefully it works that well out in the wild. HTC is also opening their camera APIs to third party developers, so you’ll see other apps take advantage of HTC’s camera.
Taking a page from Motorola’s book, HTC is decoupling Sense apps from the framework of Sense, so you’ll be able to update apps like BlinkFeed and the camera separately.
Now that it’s finally official, is anybody surprised about anything that made it into the final product? I’m just happy to see the SD card slot make a return.
Full press release
The Best Just Got Better: Introducing The HTC One (M8)
Delivering breakthrough design and packed with the latest HTC Sense™ 6 experience, HTC Duo Camera for advanced imaging and intuitive Motion Launch™ , the HTC One (M8) delivers an unparalleled smartphone experience for 2014
BELLEVUE, Wash., March 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — HTC, a global leader in innovation and design, today unveiled the highly anticipated new HTC One (M8), the ultimate evolution of the award-winning HTC One (M7). Launching in Gunmetal Gray1 with the all-new HTC Sense™ 6, the new HTC One (M8), boasts a high-quality metal unibody with a Smart Sensor Hub that anticipates your needs and uses Motion Launch™ controls to make everyday tasks easier. New Duo Camera technology delivers creative, professional-looking photos and amazing effects, and HTC BoomSound™ again sets new standards for audio quality on a smartphone.
Peter Chou, CEO, HTC said: “In 2013 we introduced the best smartphone in the world, but we never stopped challenging ourselves and the status quo in this category. As pioneers in mobile innovation, we continue to design and build devices that will dazzle, inspire and transform the smartphone industry. Today I’m proud to launch the most stunning, intuitive and advanced handset that the industry has seen to date, the new HTC One (M8).”
Beautifully designed inside and out
Achieving another breakthrough in design and quality with the new HTC One (M8), the phone’s body has been re-crafted to create an even more stunning yet approachable look. The beautiful, durable, high-quality metal unibody flows right up to the 5-inch, full HD (1080p) display, tapering to thinner edges, with softer curves for a smooth, more natural grip, while adding the benefit of removable storage accommodating up to a 128GB micro SD memory card for more content to share.
Supported by the Qualcomm™ Snapdragon® 801 processor with 2.3 GHz quad-core Krait CPUs and fully integrated 4G LTE, and running Android 4.4, Kit Kat, the latest version of the Android OS, the new HTC One (M8) features the all-new HTC Sense™ 6, available on the device and as an upgrade from the Google Play store2. Completely redesigned with a cleaner, more striking visual style, HTC Sense™ 6 features bold, customizable color themes and delivers a more intuitive, personalized user experience. For those who prefer the stock Android experience, the HTC One (M8) Google Play edition will be available for pre-order beginning today and for purchase on the Google Play store in the coming weeks.
A leap forward in smartphone imaging
The new HTC One (M8) brings a totally different dimension to mobile imaging by combining the world’s first smartphone with a Duo Camera that features HTC’s innovative HTC UltraPixel™ module, with a dual flash and full 1080p HD video recording. The new Duo Camera produces incredible images in all lighting conditions and rich, high-quality video. A 5-megapixel wide-angle front-facing camera also captures superior selfies with ease.
The Duo Camera incorporates a special depth sensor, in addition to the main HTC UltraPixel™ module, for a range of artistic effects and tools that allow more creativity with images than ever before. Using the depth sensor to capture detailed depth information from a scene, the Duo Camera can create professional-looking portraits — alter the focus of an image after the photo has been taken with UFocus™, or make the photo’s subject stand out in a more impactful way by altering the background with creative effects using Foregrounder. Other tools include Seasons animations to add seasonal flavor to the image, Copy & Paste3 to insert family and friends into an entirely different photo, and Dimension Plus™, which presents a unique perspective by changing the image angle with a simple screen tilt.
This advanced camera technology also works behind-the-scenes, capturing images right from launch so that when the shutter is activated, the sharpest possible image is instantly displayed. The camera autofocus operates at a speed of 300 milliseconds, producing beautifully crisp images of split-second action. When the flash is required, the intelligent LED Dual Flash automatically selects the exact color tone and light intensity for more natural skin tones and a professional-looking shot.
With so much scope to create exciting imagery, HTC’s Gallery organization also has been a priority for the designers of HTC Sense™, who developed Image Match, a visual search tool that intuitively moves all photos from a particular subject into one album.
Finally, the new HTC One (M8) also has an integrated Slow Motion mode, which enables high-definition video capture in slow motion to produce unique effects in the final version. When editing, action can be slowed at critical points for emphasis – perfect for adding drama or highlighting a special moment.
Zoe™ in the cloud
In 2014, HTC’s unique Zoe™ feature will evolve into a cloud-based service, enabling Zoe Video uploads for all to see, along with the ability to invite friends and family to add their own photos, videos and music to the original Zoe video. Incredible highlight reels of classic moments are even better when the creation is shared. The new Zoe app will be available for download through Google Play this summer.
Motion Launch™ – convenient gesture controlled shortcuts
With the introduction of HTC Sense™ 6, the new HTC One (M8) boasts capabilities that give the product a sixth sense. For example, Motion Launch™ is immediately able to detect its position and movement, thanks to built-in motion sensors that allow interaction with the phone without turning on the screen. A simple swipe will activate the device, Auto Answer allows calls to be answered without touching the screen simply by putting the phone to the ear – a handy tool if the phone rings while gardening or washing dishes – and a double tap turns the lock screen on and off.
HTC Dot View™ case –smart protection with retro flair
An outstanding smartphone deserves a smart case that protects and extends its innovative design and industry-leading functionality. Optimized by HTC Sense™ 6, the new HTC Dot View phone case protects the screen, while displaying notifications and interactions in a retro, dot-matrix style.
Taking that sixth-sense functionality one step further, Motion Launch™ is extended to the HTC’s new Dot View case – simply double tapping to turn on the phone, in addition to checking the time, weather, new texts, emails and calls – all without touching or revealing the screen.
Extreme Power Saving Mode – extra standby time at no extra cost
The innovation continues as HTC changes the way people use their phone battery. With the original HTC One (M7), HTC optimized power consumption to get the most out of the phone. The new HTC One (M8) takes battery optimization to a whole new level making the battery power last 40 percent longer. While normal power saving mode delivers a great experience, the HTC One (M8) features an Extreme Power Saving mode that makes the battery last even longer. Fully charged, it will deliver 14 days’ worth of battery power, while allowing calls, texts and emails – perfect for travel. Activated either manually or automatically, Extreme Power Saving mode delivers 60 hours of extra standby time at 20 percent power, 30 hours at 10 percent power and 15 hours at 5 percent power. Whether out late at night or hiking in the mountains, running out of battery power is no longer a worry.
HTC BoomSound™ gets bigger
The new HTC One (M8) again takes the smartphone audio experience to new heights. The latest HTC BoomSound™ technology creates an immersive, powerful, crystal-clear sound with rich tones from bass through to treble. Delivering sound that is 25 percent louder than the HTC One (M7), without compromising quality, the new HTC One (M8) has dual frontal stereo speakers with a new amplifier, redesigned speaker chambers and a tailored audio profile for a truly high-definition experience.
HTC BlinkFeed™ – Your news direct to your home screen
HTC BlinkFeed™ is now more intuitive, with continuous scrolling for a fluid browsing experience, adaptable tiles and a new layout that presents articles in a clean, easy-to-read way. With the introduction of a new SDK that allows partners to integrate their own content, users can more easily find and subscribe to new media sources, in addition to instantly creating custom feeds on any topic. Whether sports, movies or shopping are a favorite interest, this feature ensures delivery of the most useful and relevant information. With News Bundles that bring all articles and tweets on the same topic together for easy reading and more than 1000+ content partners now clearly categorized on one page, following the most interesting news couldn’t be simpler4.
Fitness at a glance
With the new HTC One (M8), it’s easier than ever to get healthy and stay motivated by combining its power-saving sensor hub with the preloaded Fitbit® app.5 Alternatively, the phone can be used with one of Fitbit’s range of trackers6 to access advanced features such as sleep tracking and smart alarm or to capture data when exercising without the phone. Set fitness goals and see achievements brought straight to the HTC BlinkFeed™ home screen with no additional effort. Fitbit is the top downloaded app for connected fitness devices on the Google Play store.
HTC Sense™ TV
The only remote anyone will ever need has been redesigned on the new HTC One (M8) to provide an interactive second screen. Integrated official Facebook and Twitter streams enable real-time conversations and the ability to follow fan commentary about programs online and in social circles. HTC Sense™ TV now also brings live sports statistics for the 10 most popular sports in the world, with sports fans able to access the latest scores, match statistics and get live updates from games that can’t be missed while watching another game on the main TV screen.
“This extensive range of enhancements shows that we put consumers at the center of everything we do, which is why our customers can be confident they are getting the best smartphone of 2014,” said Jason Mackenzie, president of HTC Americas. “With our focus on delivering a premium experience to consumers and the tremendous support from our partners, I’m thrilled that we can make the HTC One (M8) available for purchase today across North America and ensure that HTC will help protect that investment long after their purchase with HTC Advantage.”
Premium Customer Support
HTC Advantage enables unmatched support for the HTC One family of smartphones – HTC One (M8), HTC One, HTC One mini and HTC One max – by working to solve the challenges of today’s mobile lifestyle. The program is available at no extra charge and features a free, one-time cracked screen replacement within the first six months of ownership, a commitment to future software innovation and content storage and backup solutions that consumers need in today’s digital world.
In addition to the latest software updates from Android, HTC will continue to drive innovative experiences on the HTC One family of smartphones by delivering HTC Sense 6 applications through Google Play, which provides consumers with richer features when available, rather than waiting for the next major OS update. HTC Sense 6 will be available for all 2013 HTC One products – HTC One (M7), HTC One mini and HTC One max – in the U.S. and Canada later this spring.
North America availability
The new HTC One (M8) will be sold through more than 230 operators around the globe in Gunmetal Gray, Glacial Silver and Amber Gold.
In North America, the HTC One (M8) is available online today through major wireless carriers and retailers including Amazon, Appalachian Wireless, AT&T, Best Buy, Bluegrass Cellular, Car Toys, Cellcom, Chat Mobility, Cincinnati Bell Wireless, Costco, Military Exchange, Net10 Wireless, Pioneer Cellular, RadioShack, Sprint, Verizon Wireless and Walmart in the United States, and Best Buy, Bell, Future Shop, Rogers, SaskTel, T-Booth, TELUS, Wind and Wireless Wave in Canada. Starting in April, it will also be available to purchase online and in retail through T-Mobile, and broad in-store availability across the majority of partners begins on April 10.
Unlocked and developer editions of the HTC One (M8) are also available to customers through www.htc.com at an MSRP of $649.99.
Amber Gold U.S. Availability
The HTC One (M8) in Amber Gold will initially be sold exclusively through Best Buy in the United States, with the option of 4G LTE service through AT&T, Sprint or Verizon. Online sales start today through BestBuy.com and in-store availability at more than 1,400 Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores begins on April 10.
For more information about the HTC One (M8), please visit www.htc.com.
For press materials and images of the HTC One (M8) please visit: http://www.htc.com/us/about/newsroom/press-kit/htc-one-m8/
About HTC
Founded in 1997, HTC Corporation (HTC) is the creator of many award-winning mobile devices and industry firsts. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC pushes the boundaries of design and technology to create innovative and personal experiences for consumers around the globe. HTC’s portfolio includes smartphones and tablets powered by the HTC Sense® user experience. HTC is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE: 2498). For more information, please visit www.htc.com.
© 2014 HTC Corporation. All rights reserved. HTC, the HTC logo, HTC One, the HTC One logo, HTC Sense, HTC Sense TV, Motion Launch, HTC BoomSound, HTC UltraPixel, UFocus, Zoe, HTC Dot View, HTC BlinkFeed, and all other HTC product and service names referenced herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of HTC Corporation and its affiliates in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks and service marks mentioned herein, including company names, product names, service names and logos, are the property of their respective owners and their use herein does not indicate an affiliation with, association with, or endorsement of or by HTC Corporation. Offers, features and product appearance and specifications may be subject to change.
1 Other available colors at launch are Glacial Silver and Amber Gold
2 The upgrade will be available on the Google Play store in the coming weeks
3 The Copy and Paste feature will be available to download from the Google Play Store soon
4 Following its popularity with HTC users, HTC will now make HTC BlinkFeed available to other Android devices, launching on the Google Play store soon.
5 The Fitbit app is only pre-loaded in certain countries. Please speak to the local market for verification. It is available to download from the Google Play store and tracks your steps / monitors your activity
6 Sold separately
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