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Update HTC One Android 4.2 will be Coming

noreply@blogger.com (Dex Dw1) — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 00:01:00 -0700

The HTC One Android 4.2 Jelly Bean update, which was thought to possibly be rolling out to owners today, has now been pegged by a notorious HTC insider for roll out by this Friday.

Yesterday, an HTC France ambassador claimed that the HTC One Android 4.2 Jelly Bean update would be rolling out today. And while the day isn’t yet over, there is still no sign of the HTC One Android 4.2 update leaving the roll out up in the air in terms of a release date.

And while HTC itself has yet to issue any kind of timing, @LLabTooFer, a notorious HTC leakster, claims that the software will be rolling out by this Friday. The HTC developer has been dead on in the past with software information so it’s very possible that we could see HTC roll out Android 4.2 to its flagship device by the end of the work week.

Keep in mind, HTC has yet to put an official date in stone and dates can often change when it comes to software upgrades thanks to a number of variables including testing.

If the update does decide to emerge this week, it will likely be for the international version of the device. Those that sport the HTC One on carriers will likely be behind the unbranded model though it’s impossible to say just how far behind they might be. Typically, American carriers are extremely slow at pushing out major Android updates and it could be that AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile are slow here.

However, with the Verizon HTC One on the horizon, and rumored to be coming with Android 4.2,

there is likely incentive to get the software update pushed out to their models as soon as possible.

Android 4.2 of course is only an incremental Jelly Bean update though for many HTC One owners, it will represent a nice change from the previous version of Android, Android 4.1.

HTC will likely also include its own enhancements and bug fixes on board the software though until a change log emerges, it’s impossible to say exactly what will be on board the final version.

HTC one Vs Samsung Galaxy S4

noreply@blogger.com (Dex Dw1) — Sat, 8 Jun 2013 18:17:00 -0700

Price and Deals
Samsung Galaxy S4 – Plastic body, 7.9mm thick, 130g
HTC One – Aluminium and plastic body, 9.3mm thick, 143g

In our intrepid search for the best Samsung Galaxy S4 deal, we found that the best network deal comes from Three. You can get the phone on a £35 contract with a £50 one-off fee.

The HTC One is available for ever-so-slightly less cash on the same tariff, which gets you 5000 texts, 500 minutes and unlimited data. Rather than £35 a month, it's £34 a month for the HTC, and a £29 one-off cost rather than £49.

This sort of small margin is seen across the deals range. The HTC One is slightly, slightly cheaper. It'll work out at about £40-60 over the course of your contract.

Design
Samsung Galaxy S4 – Plastic body, 7.9mm thick, 130g
HTC One – Aluminium and plastic body, 9.3mm thick, 143g

Screen
Samsung Galaxy S4 – 5-inch, 1080p resolution, Super AMOLED
HTC One – 4.7-inch, 1080p resolution, IPS

Storage
Samsung Galaxy S4 – 16-64GB of storage, microSD slot
HTC One – 32/64GB internal memory, no memory card slot

CPU and Power
Samsung Galaxy S4 – 1.9GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600, 2GB RAM
HTC One – 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600, 2GB RAM

Software
Samsung Galaxy S4 – Android 4.2 with TouchWiz
HTC One – Android 4.1 with HTC Sense 5

Camera
Samsung Galaxy S4 – 13-megapixel BSI sensor with LED flash, 2MP user-facing sensor
HTC One – 4-megapixel UltraPixel sensor with LED flash, 2.1MP user-facing sensor

Low light

Low light

HTC One :

Samsung Galaxy S4 :

Wrap-up

I think these are the two best smartphones you can buy right now. Not just the two best Android phones, but the two best smartphones. Neither is perfect, but the nice thing is that their strengths and weaknesses are pretty clear.

Want a bigger screen, lighter build, and as much software as you can cram into your phone? Go GS4.

Want a premium design, better low-light photography, and the best damn smartphone speakers you've ever used? Then it's all HTC.

Of course there are about a million other factors, and we can't possibly cover every aspect of these two powerhouse phones. We could write a novel here. But this should set you off on the right foot, and at least give you an idea of the different worlds that each phone will transport you to.

Samsung S3 Vs iPhone 4S

noreply@blogger.com (Dex Dw1) — Sat, 8 Jun 2013 17:42:00 -0700

I got the S3 yesterday, since I owned a iPhone 4S here the comparison:

DESIGN: Galaxy S3 design is stunning, the feeling on hands is incredible. The ergonomics makes all the difference. The iPhone 4S is very squarish and definitely more solid but heavier too (way heavier);
SCREEN: Galaxy S3 screen is wonderful with vivid colours and sharp imaages, 4,8 inches vs 3.5 of the iPhone, after you make the transition you wont never come back, impossible.
OPERATING SYSTEM: S3 usability is a boom. iPhone is good but never at the level of the S3, way way slower.
BATTERY: S3 gets full day + 30% remaining battery, iPhone last till four or five PM;
GPS: Galaxy S3 gets locked in less than 10 seconds inside a building, iPhone searches and searches with no success;
CAMERA: they are very similar, S3 is faster and iPhone is may be a bit better in term of quality. No dramatic difference.
S-VOICE vs SIRI: they are both very basic and more fun than usefull.
USB-BLUETOOTH: iPhone only works with iTunes, no Bluetooth, no radio. Galaxy S3 can be usb-connected to computers and flashmemory, it has easy bluetooth connection and yes ... it has an amazing radio :)
APPS: to be sincere, all relevants apps in iPhones are present in Android. They have better design but they are at payment while in Android are always free. No mayor differences.

Galaxy S3 is an extraordinary good purchase. Recommended for all ex-iPhone users. You wont regret, there is a world outside iTunes :)

See more reviews......

Samsung Galaxy S III review

noreply@blogger.com (Dex Dw1) — Sat, 8 Jun 2013 17:15:00 -0700

List Price: $799.99
Price: $459.80
You Save: $340.19 (43%)

Product Features

2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G Network Region Based
Dimensions 136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6mm
2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900,3G Network HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
microSD, up to 64 GB
Internal storage capacity: 16 GB

Dimensions
Size (LWH): 0 inches, 0 inches, 0 inches
Weight: 4.64 ounces

Good Reviews :

I had been using the Samsung Galaxy S2 for a couple of months before I got the S3 and while I was really not pleased with the price, this is an outstanding phone. I have a sister and a niece that have the I-Phone and they both swear by it, but switching my carrier was not an option for me. My husband is in the computer business and is always researching (and sometimes getting) the newest devices, he actually does programming of android apps so I trust his opinion. He is actually the reason that I got the Samsung Galaxy S2 and I literally fell in love with that phone. It was the first phone that my husband had gotten for me that I actually used for more than just making/receiving calls! I found myself checking my emails at work, searching the web for things that co-workers were talking about, and actually playing games on my phone! I gave my S2 to my daughter so that I could justify me getting the S3, and as of today, I have not regretted that move not once.
First off, let me tell you that the S3 (just like the S2) has gorilla-glass and this is the number 1 reason to get this phone, especially if you have children or are prone to drop things. Trust me, when you pay up to $500 for a phone (or anything else for that matter) then you want to at least know that in the event that you accidentally drop it, that it is not the end of the line for your purchase. The gorilla-glass makes the front of the phone virtually unbreakable, I mean you are not going to be able to scratch the screen or crack it unless you literally take a nail and a hammer and work at it!
Now, for the S3, let me tell you...Siri has finally gotten some competition! S-Voice is amazing! And I love to tell her thank you because she always responds with "my pleasure" or "your welcome". She makes finding places, checking on the weather, checking the traffic or just looking for the best time/place to see a movie so much easier than before. I was going to ask for a tablet but no more, why bother?
I have heard people complain that the phone is too large. But honestly, the day after I got this phone and brought it into the office, people were arguing with me because they thought I didn't really have the S3 because they thought it was a lot bigger than it was. It fits in my hand perfectly and yet has a screen that is large enough for me to check out the web w/out feeling like I am losing something by not looking things up on a standard PC.
All the buttons are user friendly, you just have to get used to where they are and what all they do. Hey, when you buy a car and learn that the volume control is also located on the steering wheel, do you not get the car? Do you not use the option offered to you? No, you change with innovation and with the S3 all the changes are worth it!

Bottom line, I would recommend this phone to everyone that I know that can appreciate a quality android phone. There is a reason that this phone has been in such big demand. If you get the chance...get it...you will not regret your purchase. See more reviews.....

Bad Reviews :

I feel very disappointed. I was expecting the international version, and I got the AT&T US version SGH-I747 it does not seem to be factory unlocked. All the software is tied to AT&T. If you advertise the product as a the international version that is what I expect to get. I would consider to return the device, sadly I had not enough time until I got back to Peru. This is very dissapointed. See more reviews.....

Samsung Galaxy S IV review

noreply@blogger.com (Dex Dw1) — Sat, 8 Jun 2013 16:59:00 -0700

List Price : $700.00
Price : $623.99
You Save: $76.01 (11%)

Product Description

The Galaxy S4 does what you want and what you didn't know was even possible. Erase a photo's background distractions with just a touch, catch every part of your child's somersault, or capture your view of the city skyline. Preview photos and files or read a news article without ever touching the screen. Use one screen to check Facebook as you catch up on email. Offering a highly crafted design with a larger screen and improved battery life, the sleek and innovative Galaxy S4 is slimmer yet stronger, with less to hold yet more to see. The Galaxy S4 features a 5-inch Full HD 1080p Super AMOLED touch-enabled display, a 1.6 GHz quad-core processor, a 13-megapixel rear camera with Full HD 1080p video recording capabilities, 2-megapixel front camera, 16 GB of storage plus microSD memory expansion up to 64 GB (via optional card), 2 GB of RAM for excellent multitasking, a full complement of wireless connectivity (including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC), and enterprise-ready security features.

The Reviews :

One of the most impressive things about the phone is the fact the size hasn't changed from its predecessor - the Galaxy S4 comes in at 5.38 x 2.75 x 0.31 inches, meaning there's no extra heft to try and work with in your palm.

However, despite this fact, the screen on the S4 has been increased once more, to a whopping 5-inch display with Full HD resolution. This means the same amount of pixels you'd have seen on a TV that cost well over $1500 four years ago is now riding around in your pocket.

Let's not pretend that Samsung is a pioneer in this area though: like a great many features of the Galaxy S4, the phone borrows a lot from the other top smartphones of the moment. Both the Sony Xperia Z and the HTC One have screens that rock the same resolution, but neither of them have the jaw-dropping clout of the Super AMOLED HD screen on display here.

On top of that, there's a much faster processor packed under the hood, ample storage space for media thanks to an expandable memory card slot, and the likes of 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC and pretty much any other connection you care to mention on board.

One thing that isn't mentioned in most literature is that the Galaxy S4 boasts OTG compatibility. Use an OTG cable like this: Micro USB OTG Cable - LIFETIME WARRANTY and you can connect a myriad of devices (USB thumb drive, game pad, mouse/keyboard, DSLR camera and a lot more). Why don't more phone manufactures promote this hardware tech?!?

Samsung has tried to supplement this with a load of software upgrades too, meaning a more powerful camera, a better way to communicate with your friends and consume media, and, interestingly, a big push into personal health through dedicated apps.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 costs a little more than the HTC One, well, it does for memory. Same price for the 16GB S4 as the 32GB HTC (pay a $40 premium to get a 32GB Galaxy, when they're released). Of course, the S4's removable storage option, which the One lacks, levels the playing field some, as SD cards aren't too pricey.

The other notable addition to the design of the Galaxy S4 is the infra-red blaster on the top of the phone. This allows you to control your TV, satellite box, DVD player, amp and even air conditioner, according to the reviewer notes. Again, this isn't a new feature, but it works well in practice, and despite being small it's powerful enough indeed.

I do implore you to get the phone in your hand before making a judgment though - while it doesn't have the best design on the market when it comes to materials, it's a big step forward compared to the Galaxy S3 and allows for a grippy and easy-to-hold phone, with a whopping screen inside.

To just dismiss it for being plastic would be doing the S4 a disservice as it has so much more going for it than that, but it's worth remembering that to a lot of people, the way a phone looks is as important as how much RAM it's got on board and how fast the CPU is - if not more so.

All in all, this is a phone worth reviewing. It may not be for all users, but for the power users among us, there simply may be no equal. See more reviews.....

HTC One X review

noreply@blogger.com (Dex Dw1) — Sat, 8 Jun 2013 09:59:00 -0700

Product Description

The HTC One X, also known as HTC Endeavor, is HTC's technology leading superphone. With the help of the powerful 1.5 GHz processor, a magnificent 4.7-inch screen, Beats AudioTM, and an 8 MP camera with advanced camera technology called the HTC ImageSenseTM, the One X goes beyond your everyday Smartphone. The HTC ImageSenseTM technology allows you to take photos in any conditions, including low light, as well as take full advantage of the camera's continuous shooting mode that enables you to take multiple shots at once. Furthermore, with HTC Sense 4.0 and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich on board, the One X also perfectly balances work and play. The quad core processor ensures incredibly fast web browsing and a high quality gaming experience, while the camera with an object distant sensor ensures impressive image quality. With the HTC One X you will also be able to take advantage of NFC3 connectivity, which is Google Wallet compatible, up to 25GB of free cloud storage via Dropbox (an online storage application), and the option to connect your One X to your TV via the HTC Media Link HD. Beats AudioTM will provide you with an enhanced audio experience, whether you are listening to music on YouTube, a downloaded soundtrack or simply watching a movie. Ultimately, HTC One X combines the very best innovative technologies with a great entertainment experience, all encompassed in a stylish and elegant design.

The reviews :

Well engineered, amazing if just for the camera & the screen!

>>BUYERS BE WARE, there are many versions of this phone, the US at&t version is a 16 GB version, people unlock it via an unlock code and sell it as an unlocked international version, the international one has 32 GB & comes without the at&t logo on the front. The one on this page is the 16 GB one, the 32 GB will cost a bit more and you need to write in search "32 GB One X", remember this phone has no slot for an external SD card, so more internal storage may be crucial for some!<< ----Original review---- I used so many brands and models of phones and smartphones than I can remember, and this one here, except for the memory card thing, covers every hole that was in every other phone I used. It also covers any thing u may have thought of having in a phone, and it is doing that in style! I tried the Samsung Galaxy S3 at at&t before choosing the One x, and it really isn't better. I mean it is just about personal preferences, I always feel Samsung phones ( not all Samsung products, I love their TVs for example)have a cheap felling. Besides I liked how the One X looked more than the S3. Pros: -Amazing screen, and I am coming from a Motorola Droid Razr which has a very good screen itself. The screen here is sharper, colors are better, no shadows(Razr had a green shadow on all colors. Watching Youtube or any vids on this phone is a thing I long for throughout the day! -Battery life is good enough for a full day with moderate use. Of course excessive movie watching, game playing or hours long web surfing require a twice chraging. -The 8 MP Camera deserves all the fuzz it received when first introduced, its pictures are steady, colors are vivid and quality is really high! -Speed: The phone handles multitasking very well, games and videos are a breath nothing you should worry about here. Cons: The only thing I didn't like about this phone, which is why I would say it is more like 4.5 stars not 5, is the lack of a memory card slot. I mean, seriously? it has a 2 year free subscription for extra storage online and everything, but whyyy?? How hard was it to add an extra slot for a memory card? An engineer's mistake without any doubt. Bottom line, if you want an Android phone go for the One X or the S3, can't make up your mind, try them both and just pick any of them you will end up with a winner either way! -----UPDATE------ So I was tempted to get the S3 since I have a month to exchange the phone with at&t and I wanted to know how better was the S3. I got the blue S3 and I certainly loved it, it doesn't feel cheap in hand as I expected, but it feels rather classy and here are my thoughts in comparison, I hope this experience may help other people decide: - The S3 overall look is really slick, it is ofcourse all about personal preferences as I said before, but sometime I wished that the One X looked more like the blue S3! the metal edges gave it some superiority no doubt about that, the blue finish was really good, but the white looks really cheap, don't think about it! - The Samsung motions( swipe to take a screen shot, raise the phone up to your ears with an open message to automatically dial the sender without pressing any keys & others) are really cool and are certainly a point above the OneX. - Sd card slot, as basic as it is , it is better than not having one! But that is it, these are the only things where the S3 bests the OneX - The Svoice(Smamsung reply to iPhone's Siri) Is totally useless, and certainly needs more development, a good idea that may get better in newer models, but not a plus for the S3, not to mention it consumes more battery when turned on. - The screen is different than the one X, I can't totally explain it, not the pixels density but mainly the colors. As I read online it looks like Samsung forgot to calibrate its screens, so as good as they are colors don't look natural. And you can't really feel it unless u spent some time with the OneX's gorgeous screen, colors aren't as vibrant or bright, a picture of a clear sea looks darker, less vivid and less colorful on the S3 than the One X and though really good, the One X is considerably better. - The camera is good, but again the One X's camera is definitely better both outdoor & indoor, may be not by much but the difference is definitely there. - Eye tracking: It was supposed to prevent the screen from sleeping when you are reading or surfing, well it doesn't do the job very well. In low light situations it is pretty much useless, since it depends on the front camera for eye tracking. In regular light it was ok, but again u had to hold to hold the phone in a certain way to make sure it "sees" your eye! I didn't find it that impressive..or useful! - Speed:same for both - Samsung's touchWiz vs htc Sense is an even battle I liked them both. - Battery: both are almost the same battery wise, though moderate to heavy use will definitely require a twice per day charging with both of them, you may be able to get enough juice till you get back home. Actually light use easily gets you through the day. Of course you can buy an extra battery with the S3 and swipe batteries cos the one X has a built in battery which the user can't replace on his own, but again you can buy a charging case for the oneX! Both have NFC which I didn't use in the ~ Two weeks period with each phone. -------Conclusion------- If you want a better screen and camera definitely go with the oneX, you will regret you didn't go with it when you see one in comparison with the S3! If you are a media fanatic who needs a lot of space, the the OneX isn't for u, the S3 is as good as a phone, even with a lower screen but with extra micro SD card slot. Also if you like to impress your friends, the little Samsung motions are certainly impressive and fun to use and the overall look may be a bit better. WHAT DID I DO? I missed how great the OneX screen was, I certainly missed how awesome HD vids looked on the screen, also I missed the slightly better camera, so I gladly paid the $35 restocking fee for at&t and again returned back to the OneX, black this time since the white one caught stains fairly easily and had to be cleaned from time to time! I sold the at&t over eBay and bought the unlocked international version with 32 GB built in memory, which was a bit more expensive but was definitely worth it!

The reviews :

Beware, Seller is not being totally honest about this phone:

I purchased this phone for my husband so we didn't have to extend our AT&T contract. I paid a premium price for this phone, the same as a new one from AT&T and I expected to get a new phone. What we received was a previously sold and returned refurbished phone at a new phone price.

I gave the phone to my husband on Christmas morning unknown that it was a refurb. My husband suspected it wasn't new due to cosmetic marks on it and when he went to the AT&T store to activate it they confirmed it had been previously sold and was returned under warranty due to a defect.

Fast forward 3 weeks. My husband has had the phone and it has worked for the most part. It did have some glitches with freezing up at times and taking a long time to finally ring when he tried to make a call. Wireless also would lock on to a network and wouldn't let go even after leaving that network area so he would have to manually turn wifi off to get it to connect to the mobile network.... Very aggravating for a $500 phone.

My husband put his phone on charge last night and turned it off as he normally does... This morning he takes it off charge and tried to power it up...Nothing! He spent the next hour trying to get it to boot up.....Nothing!
He then takes it up to AT&T and they try several different things to get it to boot up....NOTHING! the phone is completely dead after only 3 weeks of ownership.

My husband is livid I spent $500+ on this phone and the fact he now has NO PHONE.

BUYER BEWARE!!!!!!

The reviews :

Awesome super phone :

the HTC one x is truly an awesome super phone, It's really smooth and very speedy with no lags. the built quality is excellent, the camera is superb. the screen is really great has true colors and excellent viewing angles. and the tegra zone optimized games for tegra 3 are really awesome, excellent graphics the best for android when optimized with tegra 3. I am not to crazy about HTC sense kind of slows phone a bit sometimes, I added apex launcher and let me tell you this phone is super fast with this launcher. my previous phones iPhone 4s and Samsung galaxy note were great phones, but can't touch the HTC one x.

see more reviews....!!

HTC One Review

noreply@blogger.com (Dex Dw1) — Sat, 8 Jun 2013 09:49:00 -0700

Absolutely fantastic

Earlier this year, I jumped ship from Apple (the iPhone 5, specifically) to Samsung's Galaxy Note II. In the process, I also went from AT&T to a rival carrier offering unlimited data and slightly lower monthly bills. While I liked the Note II very much, the data speeds on the other carrier were so poor that, only four months later, I found myself willing to eat the very large early termination fee and switch back to AT&T (who I knew firsthand to have LTE in this market). Since I was switching carriers and had the option to get a new phone, I figured I might as well pick up the latest and greatest on the Android front. Plus it just happened to be release day.

So, I now find myself in possession of the HTC One, and I can say without hesitation that it's the best smartphone I've ever owned (and that includes the Note II, the iPhone 5 and the previous generation iPhones I've had in the past).

As I said, I really liked the Samsung Note II. The display size, for me, was not completely absurd, though the display quality wasn't entirely to my liking -- not crisp enough, and it had the slightly blue cast I notice on Samsung's Super AMOLED displays. The plastic build on the Samsung was also disappointing. I recognize that most people put their phones in cases, but I do not. I'm not careless with phones, and I've never been a fan of needlessly bulking up a device. Finally, Samsung seems to have a knack for stuffing in a lot of "gee whiz" features that seem impressive at first blush, but then get ignored completely because they're simply not very useful.

Those issues are all completely absent from the HTC One. While going from a 5.5" display to a 4.7" one was a bit uncomfortable initially, I've gotten used to it... and, yes, the smaller device is a bit easier to handle with one hand. But the HTC's display is spectacular. It currently has the highest pixel density of any smartphone on the market (and some that haven't hit yet -- like the Galaxy S4), and text is amazingly crisp and smooth. It's bright enough that I usually keep it at half brightness comfortably. And the colors look natural, unlike the hyper-saturated look from Samsung.

The phone as a whole feels solid, but not heavy. It's heavier than the iPhone 5 (which honestly feels almost hollow), but it conveys a sense of substance, which is appealing. The HTC One is the first phone that matches the iPhone 5 in fit and finish, but takes it a step further by incorporating an industrial design that is more beautiful than the stark simplicity of the iPhone 5 without straying into "over-designed" territory. It's simple, but interesting and thoughtful... and it feels wonderful in the hand.

Having gotten used to Samsung's UI overlay, there was a little bit of a learning curve when switching to the HTC device, but in the end, I find it a much more elegant experience. Samsung tends to needlessly complicate things in a very ham-fisted way. HTC's Sense UI is much more subtle, and one gets the sense that every decision that was made in its creation was done thoughtfully and purposefully, instead of "just because we can." There are fewer bells and whistles, perhaps, but the ones that exist are genuinely useful and polished.

The front-facing, stereo speakers are great. The device can pump out some serious sound, and once you experience a stereo sound source, you'll wonder how you were ever satisfied with the sound quality on other smartphones. I'm not entirely convinced that Beats Audio is much more than a marketing gimmick, but there's no denying that having two front-facing speakers on opposite ends of the device make for a great listening experience.

The built-in IR blaster is an interesting addition. Its functionality is wrapped up in a pre-installed app that asks for your cable provider and location, lets you set up remote control functions for TV, cable box and A/V receiver... and then ties it all together. There's a handy feature that displays shows that are currently broadcasting (there's even a handy progress bar at the bottom so you can see how much of the show is remaining) and allows you to jump straight to them with a push of a button. You can also store multiple remote setups for different locations/TVs.

The camera. Ahhh, the camera. HTC very wisely eschews megapixels in favor of larger pixels on the sensor. Anyone who knows anything about digital cameras knows that devices touting extremely high megapixel counts are usually just pandering to an ill-informed consumer. Today's smartphones, with very few exceptions, all have the same camera sensor size. By stuffing in a greater megapixel count, the manufacturer is simply shrinking the size of the individual pixel... to fit more of them on the sensor. This results in very large photos, but at the cost of low-light performance. A tiny pixel on a sensor is capable of capturing far less light than a large pixel. The HTC One's rear-facing camera is a 4MP camera. Compared to the iPhone 5's 8MP camera, that sounds like a huge step backward. The reality is, unless you're planning to print out poster-sized photos, 4MP is more than sufficient. (And, no joke, if you're doing poster-sized prints, you should be using a real DSLR -- not a phone.) The physical size of the sensors in the One and the iPhone 5, however, are very close -- though, in fact, the HTC One's sensor is actually a bit LARGER than that of the iPhone 5. But it has half as many pixels. The pixels on the HTC One's sensor, however, are twice as large. Why does this matter? It allows the camera to capture more light much faster, which means superior low-light performance. For me, that's a big deal, since 90% of the time I use my phone to take a photo, it's indoors -- frequently in a dim environment. The One's better innate low-light performance combined with the fact that it has optical image stabilization (as opposed to the inferior *electronic* image stabilization that most smartphones use) means more detail and better shots in darker situations.

In addition to the camera hardware, the software is excellent. I didn't realize how pedestrian Samsung's camera app was until I used this one. The settings make more sense, offering a nice level of control without being completely overwhelming, and it's all very intuitive.

One of my absolute favorite features of the HTC One is the Zoe feature (short for zoetrope). Instead of just capturing a still frame, Zoe mode captures a 3-second movie clip. You can pull out a full-size frame from the clip if you want, but far more interesting is to let the phone create an event highlight reel. Within the gallery app, photos and Zoes are organized into events (by date, as a default, though they can be reorganized as needed) and a highlight video is dynamically generated, which can be shared. These highlight videos are incredible. They seem to make even the most mundane subjects look interesting and exciting. They're only around 30 seconds each, but they give a much more rich and vibrant sense of the event. You can select one of six different "themes" for the highlight video, and you have the option of specifying which Zoe clips are included, but it literally takes seconds to create a polished, compelling video that would be a thousand times more interesting for others to see than flipping through a series of flat photos. Zoe and the highlight videos I think make one of the most promising new vehicles for sharing experiences I've seen in recent memory.

The downsides are well documented in other reviews, the two biggest being the lack of a micro-SD slot and a battery that is not user-replaceable. For me, these are a non-issue, but their importance will vary from user to user. The HTC One is available with either 32GB or 64GB of storage at this time. On my Note II, I had 16GB internal and a 64GB micro SD. After four months, I was using well below 16GB of storage space -- my storage needs simply aren't that demanding. The HTC One, meanwhile, has twice that much space. And to upgrade to the 64GB model is only $100 more. Honestly, since I'm still within my 14 day return window, I *may* end up trading mine for the 64GB model, just so that I never have to think twice about it -- I will definitely be using the camera more than I was on the Note II.

Some folks like to be able to add aftermarket, higher-capacity batteries. That would not be possible on the HTC One, but those high capacity batteries also add significant bulk and weight, which does not appeal to me. The micro-USB charging cable is easily available, and it's not a big deal to plug it in once in a while. That being said, the HTC One should have no trouble making it through a full day of fairly heavy use without needing a charge, but this will vary wildly from user to user. I'm also not concerned about the battery going bad. In several years and several smartphones, I've NEVER experienced it with any manufacturer or device, and I don't expect it to suddenly become a problem.

Really the only thing I might change on the HTC One is the position of the power button. I tend to hold the phone in my left hand and use the touchscreen with my right. Since the power button is on the top left corner, it requires quite a stretch with my left index finger to turn on (for checking the time, for instance, since I don't wear a watch). The power button, meanwhile, on the Note II was placed exactly where my left index finger rested when holding it, so I considered that placement ideal. I'm sure I'll get used to it.

If that seems like a minor thing to quibble over, that should give an indication of how satisfied I am with the device.

Android has finally caught up with iOS in terms of polish and performance. iOS, in fact, is getting a bit long in the tooth, whereas Android is very aggressively improving and evolving. So the software on the HTC One is great and eminently usable... and the hardware design is *at least* as good as the iPhone 5.

I repeat: this is the best smartphone I've ever owned.

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HTC One M7 Review

noreply@blogger.com (Dex Dw1) — Sat, 25 May 2013 10:11:00 -0700

Tag : HTC One M7, HTC One M7 Review, HTC One M7 Best Android Now

Product Description
The HTC One Unlocked is the smartphone you've been waiting for. This sleek device has an all-aluminum body offering a slim and easy grip. HTC BlinkFeed on your home screen keeps you up to date with what's important to you. Everything becomes louder and sharper with dual front-facing audio speakers powered by HTC BoomSound. UltraPixel Camera with HTC Zoe captures up to 20 photos to create a 3-second highlight video that will bring your photo gallery to life. This smartphone also works as a TV remote!

HTC One M7 Review
THE SCREEN:
If there was such a better screen on a phone, I have not yet seen it. The iPhone 5 is lauded for its excellent screen, but at its current resolution, it trails behind the One's screen by far. Everything just POPS out at you. Even in direct sunlight, everything is CLEAR and BRIGHT. I really loved the Droid DNA/HTC Butterfly's screen, but once again HTC has outdone itself and given us a true masterpiece in 4.7" 1080p(468ppi) form. This is THE BEST screen on the planet right now - WOW!!!

HTC One M7 Review
THE DESIGN/HARDWARE:
Why do most reviewers laud the iPhone 5's aluminum construction so much, when it chips and nicks so easily?? If you want a true masterpiece in design and craftsmanship, look no further. The One feels THICK and TOUGH. I don't have to worry about carrying this around case-less(except from drops, which is a whole other case). I will not be worried about this phone nicking and scraping like the iPhone 5. Personally, it may not have the flair of some of the Sony and Nokia phone of the past, but in totality the One has the best combination of design and craftsmanship. It oozes style and sophistication(*cough*Samsung*ahem*).

HTC One M7 Review
THE DUAL FRONT-FACING SPEAKERS:
We have all been desensitized to the modern smartphones nowadays with their crappy, tinny, mono speaker. I remember the days of the Nokia n95 and n84 with their stereo speakers - whatever happened to phones after that? Whoever agreed to a mono/solo speaker with all the smartphones thereafter?? FINALLY, someone has the senses to come back to reality - thank you, HTC!. Trust me, your ears will thank you and you will realize all phones should have been made like this. Especially when you use ringtones/alerts that were specifically created for this phone, the sound is loud, immersive, expansive, and POPs into your ears. It's simply a re-revolution.

HTC One M7 Review
THE CAMERA:
I don't use my phone camera to make prints from photos, I have my dedicated cameras for that. So to me, the paramount function of phone cameras is the convenience/accessibility - it has to be able to capture what I want quickly and clearly, with decent enough quality to post online. Therefore, the 4MP size in the One's camera does not bother me at all. Who cares if the camera isn't THE BEST phone camera ever? Because it is not, but it is a GREAT low-light shooter, and to me that's more important than pixel count. The sensors in the camera are bigger than other phone cameras, therefore, it can capture a lot more light, which in laymen's terms it can give you better photos in more situations than other phone cameras can. Also, the touch spot focus is almost instantaneous - this camera is quick, quick, quick!

HTC One M7 Review :
For a near 5-incher, it's quite svelte, at least at the girth. It's easier to hold in the hand than the Samsung Galaxy S3/S4, and for sure a heckuva lot better than the Note 2. It fits in your hands nicely and securely, with just theight combination of size, weight, and balance.

HTC One M7 Review :
The UI and software design is now very minimal and simplistic. For better or for worse, if you are used to the old Sense UI's, you will need some readjusting. Personally, I like this new one better. If you're a casual news reader, then you'll like new default home screen which displays a gathering of news sources - some of its own partners, some for your Facebook and Twitter, etc. - to form a Flipboard style of news reader. Personally, I'm a huge Pulse news reader fan, so I only use.......see more review!!!

Video Review :

The Bad News:

1) The battery is only 2300mAh - I wish it was bigger because I'm one of those paranoid people who always needs my phone at fully charged, just in case, of you know, something. But so far it's been holding steady at about 40% at the end of the day(from 9am-6pm). I check emails, read the news, text, Facebook, etc. throughout the day - I would say that I'm a moderate to heavy user. Another bad thing that I've noticed is it charges slower than most other phones.

2) Comparing features with the Samsung S4, the One is lacking. It's not a deal breaker, but for those who like fancy functions, the One will not make you as happy. The HTC One is very simple in its feature set. The one feature I miss most from the new Samsung phones is Smart Stay, where the phone can sense that you're looking at the screen, and won't dim/turn off the screen - that was a HUGE convenience for when you're watching a movie or reading the news.

3) Like I wrote earlier, the size is both good and bad, and it's also heavier than most similar phones. It's taller than the S4, and with the power button up on top, it's almost impossible to do one-hand phone operations without shifting your hand up and down to accommodate both the screen gestures and buttons. The buttons(power and volume) don't protrude enough to make it easy to press them.

All in all, I feel the combination of the One's screen, design/craftsmanship, and audio experience trumps over the Samsung S4's fancy functions. The S4's screen is almost just as good - AMOLED screens are known for their deep blacks and saturation, while the One's is much better in direct light. The S4 has a higher MP camera, therefore able to take better photos in broad daylight, while the One's camera is more versatile and MUCH better in low light conditions. The One has a much better audio experience, while the S4 gives you better convenience with its features - userability goes to the S4 for sure.
But in the end, considering the totality of things, I feel the HTC One provides me the best TOTAL experience, and is the king of the smartphones right now.

Tag : HTC One M7, HTC One M7 Review, HTC One M7 Best Android Now