“Dear HTC,”

Last year was what you could call a game-changer for you guys…  Will 2012 be a year of software and hardware innovation?

On one hand, you were again recognized for being one of the top Android manufacturers in the world.  Profits were soaring until late in the year and every consumer who bought your products thought they were more than adequate enough for the job.  But then again, all success meets with an inevitable force, and thus began your second-half financial woes.

To put it simply: you became comfortable. Others would even say lazy.  But churning out that beautifully-constructed HTC Titan brought me back to the fact that your industrial design for mobile phones was what gave your company itsd DNA.  It’s what made you Taiwan’s number one international brand, even over companies like Acer.  Heck, HTC was the brains behind the first ever Android device to be released in the US in the T-Mobile G1 (which I stood in line for on October 22nd, 2008).

Back then, HTC was focused on competing against the folks in Cupertino; but things have changed, HTC.  It’s no longer about competing with Apple, it’s about taking a stake in this Android cesspool of OEMs and big names such as Samsung and Motorola.  Year after year, you showed us how hardware with unfinished software (in the Android operating system) could still make for a compelling and innovative device.  You made a big enough mark in the mobile ecosystem to be a part of the first Google-designed phone in the Nexus One.  The money kept rolling in and your engineers kept on engineering.

Maybe it was the media attention and the numerous accolades which tech sites where giving you guys.  Maybe Samsung’s TouchWiz interface put you in a comfort-zone just by looking at it.  Nevertheless, the facts and bank accounts have shown your complacency over the past few months.  You made a promise to jump-start the HTC brand in 2012.  You made a promise to stop manufacturing pointless smart phones for the sake of quantity over quality. Promises.

Did you keep them with the release of your cleverly-named One series?” Let’s dig in…

HTC One X (Review AT&T version.)

This behemoth of a device rocks a 4.7 inch, 1280 x 720 display with the latest and greatest SuperLCD 2 technology.  For people who don’t know what that actually means, it has higher viewing angles, an almost complete 180 degree viewing angle, a brighter screen, and richer colors.  Super AMOLED Plus still has deeper blacks, sadly.  One downside picky people may find is that the screen size does make this device quite large, but odds are, if you’re reading this article, it doesn’t disturb you in the slightest.

It features a beautifully crafted poly-carbonate  uni-body casing that supposedly has the ruggedness of metal, but still keeps a lightweight feel to it.  HTC certainly wasn’t the first company to incorporate the material into their handsets.  As a matter of fact, the Nokia Lumia 800 (Review) was the first phone is recent memory to do this, which was released only late last year.  Even the glass-wrapping method Nokia uses on the Nokia Lumia 800 found it’s way onto the HTC One X.  Nonetheless, it does live up to the hype.  It feels unlike anything else on the market right now.

As of the writing of this article, there have been multiple complaints of this “ruggedness of metal material” actually chipping, seemingly on its own.  Whether this problem is isolated to just a few devices is yet to be seen.

There’s a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera and a double-row of drilled speaker perforations; behind lurks a notification LED.  On the left edge is the micro USB port while the volume rocker is on the right; the power/lock button is on the top edge.  You also get a 3.5mm headphone jack and a row of five pins on the lower right hand corner of the rear panel for use with the optional docking cradle.  Why they continuously incorporate these pins on devices is a mystery to me.  It’s a gimmick feature.  The accessories needed to actually use them don’t come out until months after the release, sometimes never.

The main attraction for this device besides it’s screen is the newly improved camera.  An 8-megapixel unit which packs autofocus, an F2.0 aperture, 28mm lens, a backside-illuminated sensor, “smart” LED flash and support for 1080p HD video recording.  Real-world images taken with the device give credence to what HTC has claimed it’s capable of doing.  That customized sensor they put inside the device was worth it after all.

HTC One S: (Hands-On Video T-Mobile Version)

The second device in the line up,the HTC One S, is a pretty awesome runner up. With its 4.3 inch Super Amoled display, dual-core 1.5ghz snapdragon processor, 8 megapixel camera (1080p HD recording) and cleverly crafted industrial design, it’s no slouch in terms of a powerful smartphone. The One S is very similar to the One X in terms of specs. The only major differences between the two would be the screen resolution (540×960 pixels to 720×1280 pixels) , screen size (4.3 to 4.7 inches), screen technology (Super Amoled vs SuperLCD 2), internal storage (16gb to 32gb), and the processors, which I’ll get to in a little bit . I’m using the international versions of the device for my comparison since American versions usually cripple some aspect of the device. Quad-core chipsets have become the new rave of 2012.. Nvidia ‘s Tegra 3 chip has brought attention yet again to the great innovation we are witnessing in the mobile space. Most people see a a dual-core chipset (which the One S has) and automatically assume it is inferior Nvidia’s new offering of quad-cores. Don’t let spec junky mania fool you folks. Qualcomm’s S4 dual-core processor is just as powerful if not better than Nvidia’s offering. With benchmarks that rival its competitor, increased battery life, and already having LTE capability makes the One S seemingly neck and neck with the One X.  HTC has really outdone themselves if a device of this caliber is their mid-range offering.

HTC One V:(Hands-On Video)

The HTC One V is the third and final device in HTC’s mission to bring their name back to glory. The One V is a lower-tier device with modest specs that for a first time smartphone buyer will be more than adequate to get the job done. The industrial design of the device was inspired by the legendary, HTC Legend ( no pun intended) or better known as the HTC G2. It has the infamous chin that literally serves no purpose but to look different and rather weird. The guts of the device contain an S2 Snapdragon processor, 3.7 inch Super LCD Screen (which is somewhat grainy in quality), an abysmal 1gb of internal storage, and admirable 5 megapixel camera. Even tho its specs don’t jump at the average tech geek, it chugs along quite fine. The user experience, even combined with HTC’s skin, isn’t crippled at all. The image processing and browser seem to be the only parts of the software that have taken a hit. But its anodized shell should make up for those shortcomings. All in all , the One S is a solid smartphone for any consumers seeking something powerful, yet affordable.

LTE

Even though I’m not personally an Android user, this had me grinding my gears a bit.  I’m no spec junky, but Nvidia REALLY needs to step it up with the LTE support.  The insides of the European HTC One X hold a NVIDIA 1.5GHz quad-core (penta-core, really) Tegra 3 chipset, paired with 1GB of RAM and 32GB of non-expandable storage.  NVIDIA insists that its 4+1 core design means performance won’t outweigh longevity.  It packs a 1800mah battery that’s non-removable. You be the judge of that one folks.  Due to Nvidia not incorporating LTE into its chip until late 2012/early 2013, the North American version will come with a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 chipset powering it’s gut.

This processor is no slouch by any means.  You won’t even see or feel the difference in user experience to be quite honest.  It does, however, diminish the pure processing power the device was originally capable of.  Connectivity includes the usual WiFi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 with high-quality audio support, and NFC.  The micro USB port supports MHL-HDMI with the appropriate adapter (that’s not included), GPS, gyroscope, digital compass, proximity, ambient light sensors, and G-Sensor.

When it comes to HTC’s promise of putting innovation back on the totem pole, they didn’t disappoint.  The HTC One X from a hardware perspective is in a league of its own and can only spawn more innovation from the likes of HTC in the near future.

HTC Sense 4

Those words have haunted pure Android-experience users for the past couple years and you can’t blame them.  Skinning Android has become the new bloat-ware for the entire operating system.  There was a time when Android actually needed these “enhancements” to function efficiently and excel in UX.  It was, and still is, an unfinished product.  It has come a long way since its entry into the mobile space, however.

Adding Matias Duarte to the team at Google has brought some fast and necessary innovation to the operating system and even I must admit, has brought me back (or at the very least, tempted me) to become an Android user once again.  When HTC Sense for Android was first announced, it brought eye-candy to the platform that turned heads.  For some odd reason, HTC figured eye-candy was all they needed to differentiate themselves from the pack of Android OEM’s.  It did, but in the worst possible way.

Device after device, HTC Sense bogged down the OS more and more until the user experience became the sole reason why consumers didn’t want to buy their devices.  It was yet another thing HTC said it would fix in its new initiative of re-awakening its DNA. The HTC One X comes pre-loaded with Android 4.0 “Ice Cream Sandwich” out of the box.  HTC decided to stick with the old custom skin in this model, but it’s being called HTC Sense 4.0 nowadays.

Gone are the eye-catching but GPU-sapping 3D home screen widgets of last year, replaced with a cleaner looking interface more in line with Ice Cream Sandwich. The app launcher controls and other buttons redesigned, and even the app-switcher UI has been replaced.  A Cover-Flow-style carousel of running software instead of the basic thumbnail previews.  I can’t help but feel that HTC is still crippling the user experience.  Sense has changed, there’s no doubting that, but its change is more towards minimizing the look of what’s still truly going on with Sense.

They’ve down-sized the already-over-sized widgets and icons.  Making the decision to use a single Cover-Flow view of the apps running in the background is beyond idiotic.  The original system already baked into Ice Cream Sandwich gives a four-application view of what’s running in the background. Now don’t get me wrong, I understand a manufacturer has to have an element to their product in order to differentiate themselves from the competition, but you’re dealing with an open-source platform, HTC.  Your credo should be incorporated into the hardware!  The route you’ve taken means software can’t be your forte!  Things aren’t all bad though, HTC is learning from its mistakes.  The camera software, on top of making an effort to change Sense, is a valiant-enough effort to keep consumers interested in their devices.  I can only hope HTC continues to listen to consumers from here on out in order to put a dent in those Samsung sales.

The Bad?  When you get down to it, has HTC kept their promise of bringing forth a new dawn of devices that are compelling to the consumer?  Yes and No.  HTC’s push in the hardware department is nothing short of amazing.  They aren’t only borrowing key components from companies like Nokia (who wouldn’t), they’re also doing what’s necessary to be at the peak of tech innovation.  The guys in the lab back in Taiwan have created a device that can spawn a new era of Android devices that work seamlessly with its counterpart in software.  Where HTC falls short in bridging the gap of perfection is Sense.  Pride can be harmful not only to everyday people, but huge corporations such as HTC.

Just look at RIM.  RIM kept it’s head up it’s ass for far too long and they will pay the price for it.
They pretty much are right now, come to think of it.  Your strengths can only overshadow your weaknesses for so long until they’re no longer as relevant as they once were.

HTC has to embrace the idea of giving people the option to want Sense.  Since it’s no longer a necessity, the next best thing can only be choice.  Once HTC implements this into its business DNA they have a chance to be the #1 Android OEM again.

The HTC One X for AT&T represents the top of the line phone in the HTC One series. The One X is a high-powered and beautifully design Android 4.0 smartphone that HTC hopes will put them back on top of all Android smartphones.

Beautiful Industrial Design With Powerful Specs To Match

Let’s make this clear. This is the best phone HTC had designed to date. The phone comes with a sharp 4.7 inch Super LCD Contour display with Corning 3-D Gorilla Glass that product vibrant colors and solid viewing angles. With such a large display the device is incredibly thin and light weight and comfortable to hold in the and. It weighs in just at 4.58oz and 0.38 thin.

Even with that thin body it still packs a powerful 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor with 1 GB of RAM which keeps everything running very smoothly with no lag and fast loading apps. A solid 8 megapixel camera with 1080p HD video capture paired with a 1.3 megapixel front facing camera that records in 720p which we will get into later. There is a 1800 mAH battery that is non removable which will be disappointing for some but will get you between 8-12 hours of battery life with heavy usage of AT&T’s 4G LTE getting you about 8 total and normal usage getting to closer to the 12 hour mark. Speaking of 4G LTE you get remarkable speeds on this One X with top speeds of about 55 Mbps down and 19 Mbps up here in the Boston market.  There is also no removable storage which is a bummer but you get 16 GB of on-board storage and 25 GB of Free of Dropbox cloud storage for 2 years. There is also Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS to round out the specs.

All these great hardware specs wouldn’t matter unless the phone works as a good phone and the HTC One X works solid as a phone with great reception and clear audio quality on both sides of the call. To put it simply the One X is a impressive a beautiful piece of hardware.

HTC Sense 4 Finally Makes Sense and Beats Audio For All

I’ve been very critical over the years with Sense UI and how clunky, unintuitive and non-android the UI was to the point where at a press event in San Diego I told the community manager that it flat out sucked. It looks like they have listened because Sense 4 is the best version of Sense UI ever. They have taken a clean and simple approach and it has worked there. It looks a lot more closer to stock Android 4.0 than in the past. They kept the quick access shortcuts on the lock screen while changing the home screen dock to simple shortcuts that you can customize to what you want them to be.

The notification tray is now de-cluttered and just shows your notifications and settings option. Navigating between home screen desktops is fast and fluid but lacks the spinning 3D carousel affect which I’m sure many will not miss. You get the same folder creation and multitasking features of Android 4.0 ICS with and added Sense UI graphical presentation to them. What is missing is the stock keyboard. By default you only have HTC’s keyboard to choose from which is a find keyboard but not as good as the stock Ice Cream Sandwich keyboard. To get that you will have to download it from the Google Play Store and then activate it in the software settings and reboot your phone for the keyboard option to be available and they will show up in the notification tray when you tap on a text box to input. There is also a cool feature in the default browser that lets you remove all the clutter from a webpage and just focus on the readable content which is nice for those sites that don’t render well on a mobile browser.

Beats Audio is also included and is now available for all apps to use. Before it was restricted to just the stock HTC Music app but now  Google Music, MOG Music, Pandora, YouTube and more can now take advantage of Beats Audio technology to get the best sound possible. When the software is active it will pop up in the notification tray and you can easily switch in on or off to see the difference. Beats Audio makes a difference in audio quality compare to the standard audio from a phone. Does this mean you can just buy any cheap pair of earphones or headphones and get awesome quality? No, you will still want to get a good headphone or earphone set to get the best listening experience.

For those gamers out there you’ll be happy to know that games like Cordy, Temple Run and Angry Birds will run fine and will support more power-hungry games down the line. Games are responsive and look great on the 4.7 inch 720p HD display. Now some games will look a bit pixelated since they won’t scale well on the screen size but the more phones that come with HD display we should see the graphics improve more on android games.

There isn’t a lot of pre-loaded software on the One X but what is there you can’t remove and there is a redraw issues that can cause a delay when you open up the app tray. It has to turn the clear top bar dark to match the menu and there is a delay with that sometimes and the tray really looks out-of-place in the new Sense UI. It should use a transparent background to match the theme better. Even with those small gripes this is by far the best I’ve seen from Sense and if this is the direction they are heading with the software it’s a great one to go in.

The Best Camera Quality On Android, Improved Software

The HTC One X comes with an impressive 8 Megapixel camera. Last year the Amaze 4G was their first good quality camera from HTC in a long time and they have taken what they have learned from that, improved it and applied it to the One X. The One X users HTC ImageChip and HTC ImageSense technology to product high quality photos that rival digital point and shoot cameras. The images look great and when in perfect lighting you will get an amazing shot. Indoor shots have improved but still closer to standard cell phone quality.  There is a five stage flash that will automatically put out the correct brightness depending on the environment.  The software layout for the camera is also much better and simpler to get around to the settings and shot you want. They have include cool options such as Panorama, HDR and Slow Motion video.  There is a 1.3 Megapixel front facing camera with 720p but there isn’t anything impressive about the quality there. Very standard. Another good thing we can finally say about a HTC camera is that it record good audio with the 1080p HD video capture. The sound isn’t the best but more than passable for uploading to YouTube and Facebook. HTC has done an excellent job here with the One X camera making it the best camera on an android phone to date.

Panorma Shots

The Best Android Phone Out Now

Simply put, The HTC One X is the best android phone available now. You can tell with the One X that HTC studied their competition and set out to not only match them but to beat them out. The One x has supreme build quality, awesome specs and solid software but there are a few gripes with no removal battery, crappy front-facing camera and, no way to expand storage with a micro SD card. But even with those caveats many users will be happy selecting the HTC One X for AT&T as their next smartphone of choice.

AT&T has been adding a ton of quality phones to their smartphone selection and its going to be hard to go into their stores and not find something you like. The HTC One X is another high-end phone added to the list.

The HTC Amaze 4G comes in a direct competition to the Samsung Galaxy S2 on T-Mobile. It’s bringing high speed data, fast dual-core processing and a high quality camera. Does it stack up to the competition?

Hardware & Design

The Amaze 4G comes with at 4.3 inch super LCD display with qHD resolution, 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 1 GB of ram, 16 GB of build-in storage, HSPA+ 42Mbps data speeds, 2 megapixel front facing camera and a 8 megapixel rear facing camera with a backside illuminated sensor, f2.3 and 28mm wide-angle lens to take in more light for photos. Photos come out great with good lighting and color reproduction. The video comes in 1080p and while the quality of the video image is good the audio for it is terrible. With such a great camera and a flagship phone having poor audio quality when recording is inexcusable.  Check out our sample pictures and videos at the bottom of this review.

As we know most HTC devices tend to look-alike but the Amaze 4G has some unique design features being that it’s a unibody design and the back cover comes off where you will see the 1730 mAH battery, sim card and micro SD card slot. There is also a dedicated button for video recording right next to the camera button.  The overall feel of the phone is nice and solid and feels like a quality product that will last. The specs are where they should be for a high-end phone and the design is just different enough to tell it apart from other HTC phones.

Software & Usability

As you know with HTC you will get Sense UI on op of Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Sense UI stays the same for most HTC smartphones. You have 7 desktops and different HTC Scenes and Skins to customize the look and feel. For apps you have standard Google Android apps and HTC apps such as Peep, HTC Watch, Footprints, etc. The camera software is updated to give you more shooting options and works more like a standalone point and shoot camera. The software overall works smooth without hiccups and if you’re a fan of Sense UI you will like it.  Call quality is good but the battery life is very standard android. Power users will always need to look for a place to charge while intermediate users will get through the day on a single charge.

Overall

The Amaze 4G is a great phone. It’s build is great, the specs are solid in it and the camera will be a great point and shoot replacement. The battery life isn’t great and HSPA+ 42 Mbps is not available everywhere just yet but if your looking for an alternative to a Galaxy S2  and want a top Android phone on T-Mobile this is the one to get.

The idea behind the HTC EVO Design 4G is to bring you quality specs at a value price. The EVO branding is known for high-end devices from Sprint but can it also conquer the mid-range as well?

Hardware & Design

The EVO Design 4G comes with a 4 inch Super LCD display with qHD resolution, 1.3 megapixel front facing camera, 5 megapixel LED Flash with 720p HD video capture, 1.2 GHz single core processor, 3G global roaming, 4G WiMax and  8 GB of pre-installed micro SD card storage. It’s specs that would be top of the line one year ago and now provides a solid mid-range option for most out there.

The processor is fast enough to keep it going smoothly, the display is great to look at especially with the qHD resolution and while the camera is only 5 megapixel its good enough for uploading to Facebook, Twitter and picture messages. The 720p video is also comes with good image and audio quality. You can check out the same pictures and video at the end of the review The overall hardware package here for the price is great.

Software & Usability

Like most HTC devices the EVO Design 4G runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread with Sense UI on top of it. Not much here is different here in Sense UI that from what you have seen before. There are 7 home screens to choose from that are customizable. You can also use HTC Skins to completely change the look and feel of Sense UI. The Skins have preset widgets and wallpaper but you can customizes those as well. For apps you have your standard android apps, HTC apps such as Watch, Hub, Footprints Peep and pre-installed Sprint apps like NASCAR, Sprint Radio, Sprint Music  and so on. None of these apps can be uninstalled. Call quality is decent with good audio quality when you keep the volume a few notches below max. Battery life is ok. It’s better than what you usually get with Android but not by much.

Overall

HTC and Sprint have put together a solid middle of the road option that gives a good value for the price it’s offered at. It would be nice if the camera was better but it’s not a deal breaker. If you’re not looking to break the bank but want a solid smartphone the EVO Design 4G is a great option.

The HTC Rezound is the new 4G LTE smartphone on the Verizon block. It comes with a 4.3 in Super LCD Display and 720p HD resolution screen a first for any HTC device. There is a dual-core 1.5 GHz processor, 1 GB of RAM, front facing VGA camera, 8 megapixel rear facing camera with dual LED flash, 1080p HD video capture and a f2.2 lens to get the most light for your shots. There is plenty of storage with 16 GB of built-in storage and 16 GB of micro SD card storage for a total of 32 GB. The Rezound comes with Beat Audio technology inside to give you the best audio experience on a mobile phone and you get a pair of Beats Headphones as well. Check out our unboxing below watch for our review to come soon.

Press Release:

11/03/2011

NEW YORK, NY —

HTC Corporation, a global designer of mobile devices, and Verizon Wireless today announced the HTC Rezound™, the only phone in the United States with Beats Audio™ integration. A result of the recent partnership between HTC and Beats, the HTC Rezound delivers a powerful entertainment experience with unparalleled audio and multimedia capabilities highlighted by a 4.3-inch true HD 720p display. The HTC Rezound, a premium designed smartphone that includes the latest HTC Sense experience and access to Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network, will be available exclusively from Verizon Wireless on Nov. 14.

“HTC is dedicated to delivering the latest in sight and sound innovation and we’re excited to be introducing the first U.S. smartphone featuring Beats Audio technology,” said Peter Chou, CEO, HTC Corporation. “Paired with Verizon Wireless’ blazing-fast 4G LTE network and a robust multimedia experience, the HTC Rezound enables customers to enjoy their favorite music and entertainment on-the-go like never before.”

The HTC Rezound enables customers to hear music the way the artist intended with unique audio tuning by Beats that delivers thundering bass, soaring midrange and crisp highs. Unique to HTC, the HTC Rezound also includes new lightweight Beats headphones, created exclusively to integrate with the Beats’ audio profile on the device. Hands-free calling is easy with the built-in microphone and the on-cable remote to pause, advance or rewind and answer a call mid-track.

“HTC fully recognizes the destruction to audio caused by the digital revolution. They embrace our vision to repair this ecosystem and bring the feeling from the recording studio to the smartphone,“ said Jimmy Iovine, chairman of Beats By Dr. Dre. “This is only the beginning of our plan to fix how music is delivered.”

Lightning-fast mobile entertainment
The HTC Rezound is the first HTC smartphone to feature a true HD 720p display and is perfect for enjoying high-quality entertainment on the 4.3-inch super LCD screen. HTC Watch puts an entire library of the latest premium movies and TV shows right at your fingertips. Using a wireless connection, HTC Watch uses progressive download technology on the HTC Rezound which makes it possible to watch videos without waiting for them to finish downloading. Customers can rent or purchase videos through HTC Watch and enjoy content on up to five different HTC devices. The HTC Rezound features Mobile High Definition Link (MHL) connectivity, so customers can watch content from the device on an HDTV, including 5.1 surround sound and SRS WOW™ HD surround to take advantage of a home theater setup. Equipped with a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, the HTC Rezound offers a speedy mobile experience even for the most demanding media enthusiast.

“HTC Rezound combines sleek design, innovative entertainment features and the power of Verizon Wireless network to create a multimedia phone that consumers have been waiting for,” said Jeff Dietel, vice president of marketing, for Verizon Wireless. “4G LTE speeds take mobile entertainment to a new level, providing customers with advanced functionality in a phone they can count on for everyday use.”

Advanced multimedia features
The HTC Rezound boasts an 8-megapixel camera featuring autofocus, dual LED flash, a f/2.2 and 28mm wide-angle lens with BSI sensor to fit more of the scene into every shot and for better low-light performance. The enhanced camera features available through HTC Sense offer new scenes and effects such as panoramic mode for capturing life on a grand scale or action burst scene for the perfect action shot.

For self-portraits or video conversations, the HTC Rezound also features a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. With a 1080p camcorder, the HTC Rezound enables customers to record a perfect moment with stunning clarity and incredible stereo sound, perfect for sharing on YouTube or Facebook. Customers can also wirelessly send their media to a compatible TV for looking at videos or pictures with friends and family using Digital Living Network Alliance® (DLNA).

HTC Sense
Featuring the latest version of HTC Sense, the HTC Rezound enables people to create a unique and intuitive user experience that matches their personal preference and lifestyle. A customizable active lockscreen experience transforms the lockscreen into a real-time window to the most important information and content, such as social updates, photos, weather or stock updates that are viewed by simply turning on the display. In addition, the new active lockscreen becomes a customizable gateway that lets people quickly jump to the most used features, like making a phone call, sending an email, taking a picture or anything else with the same quick gesture usually used to unlock the phone.

HTC Sense also delivers a new group messaging experience simplifying group and multimedia messaging so people can stay up-to-date on the latest conversations quickly and easily. People can view recent status updates from popular social networks in one place using FriendStream™, as well as sync their contact list with all email accounts and social networks for smooth integration.

“HTC and Beats have been important partners to Best Buy over the years and we are thrilled to help them bring the HTC Rezound on the Verizon Wireless network to consumers,” said Scott Anderson, head of merchandising for Best Buy Mobile. “This is going to be a big holiday for smartphones and people will be looking for new and different features. The HTC Rezound, with HTC’s mobile expertise and audio excellence from Beats, will be a great option for our customers.”

Additional features

• Mobile Hotspot capability: share 4G connection with up to ten Wi-Fi-enabled devices
• Operating System: Android 2.3™ (Gingerbread) with latest HTC Sense – an upgrade to Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) will be available in early 2012
• Internal Memory: 16 GB on-board memory, 1 GB DDR2 RAM
• Memory Card: 16 GB MicroSD™ pre-installed
• Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n
• Bluetooth®: 3.0 – support for headset, hands-free, stereo, phonebook access and object push for vCard and vCalendar
• GPS: GPS/AGPS
• Battery: 1,620 mAh
• Special Features: HDMI (through MHL), G-sensor, Light sensor, Compass, Proximity sensor, MicroUSB, USIM/CSIM/ISIM, audio jack and Wireless Charging capable
• Chipset: Qualcomm® MSM8660 1.5GHz, Qualcomm® MDM9600
• Dimensions: 129 x 65.5 x 13.65 mm

Availability
The HTC Rezound will be available beginning Nov. 14 at Verizon Wireless and at Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores for $299.99 with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers who purchase the HTC Rezound will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan beginning at $39.99 for monthly access and a smartphone data package starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data. Customers can visit www.verizonwireless.com/Rezound to sign up for more information.

About HTC
HTC Corporation (HTC) is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile phone industry. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC creates innovative devices that better serve the lives and needs of individuals. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.

About Beats Electronics LLC
Established in 2006, Beats Electronics is the brainchild of legendary artist and producer Dr. Dre and Chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records Jimmy Iovine, who set out to develop a new type of headphone with the capability to reproduce the full spectrum of sound that musical artists and producers hear in professional recording studios. For more information, please visit http://beatsbydre.com.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 107.7 million total wireless connections, including 90.7 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with nearly 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

The HTC Rezound is the new 4G LTE smartphone on the Verizon block. It comes with a 4.3 in Super LCD Display and 720p HD resolution screen a first for any HTC device. There is a dual-core 1.5 GHz processor, 1 GB of RAM, front facing VGA camera, 8 megapixel rear facing camera with dual LED flash, 1080p HD video capture and a f2.2 lens to get the most light for your shots. There is plenty of storage with 16 GB of built-in storage and 16 GB of micro SD card storage for a total of 32 GB. The Rezound comes with Beat Audio technology inside to give you the best audio experience of any other mobile phone and will come with a pair of custom beats headphones. November 14th is the launch date and will retail for $299 on a two-year contract. Check out our hands-on video and pictures below.

Press Release:

11/03/2011

NEW YORK, NY —

HTC Corporation, a global designer of mobile devices, and Verizon Wireless today announced the HTC Rezound™, the only phone in the United States with Beats Audio™ integration. A result of the recent partnership between HTC and Beats, the HTC Rezound delivers a powerful entertainment experience with unparalleled audio and multimedia capabilities highlighted by a 4.3-inch true HD 720p display. The HTC Rezound, a premium designed smartphone that includes the latest HTC Sense experience and access to Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network, will be available exclusively from Verizon Wireless on Nov. 14.

“HTC is dedicated to delivering the latest in sight and sound innovation and we’re excited to be introducing the first U.S. smartphone featuring Beats Audio technology,” said Peter Chou, CEO, HTC Corporation. “Paired with Verizon Wireless’ blazing-fast 4G LTE network and a robust multimedia experience, the HTC Rezound enables customers to enjoy their favorite music and entertainment on-the-go like never before.”

The HTC Rezound enables customers to hear music the way the artist intended with unique audio tuning by Beats that delivers thundering bass, soaring midrange and crisp highs. Unique to HTC, the HTC Rezound also includes new lightweight Beats headphones, created exclusively to integrate with the Beats’ audio profile on the device. Hands-free calling is easy with the built-in microphone and the on-cable remote to pause, advance or rewind and answer a call mid-track.

“HTC fully recognizes the destruction to audio caused by the digital revolution. They embrace our vision to repair this ecosystem and bring the feeling from the recording studio to the smartphone,“ said Jimmy Iovine, chairman of Beats By Dr. Dre. “This is only the beginning of our plan to fix how music is delivered.”

Lightning-fast mobile entertainment
The HTC Rezound is the first HTC smartphone to feature a true HD 720p display and is perfect for enjoying high-quality entertainment on the 4.3-inch super LCD screen. HTC Watch puts an entire library of the latest premium movies and TV shows right at your fingertips. Using a wireless connection, HTC Watch uses progressive download technology on the HTC Rezound which makes it possible to watch videos without waiting for them to finish downloading. Customers can rent or purchase videos through HTC Watch and enjoy content on up to five different HTC devices. The HTC Rezound features Mobile High Definition Link (MHL) connectivity, so customers can watch content from the device on an HDTV, including 5.1 surround sound and SRS WOW™ HD surround to take advantage of a home theater setup. Equipped with a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, the HTC Rezound offers a speedy mobile experience even for the most demanding media enthusiast.

“HTC Rezound combines sleek design, innovative entertainment features and the power of Verizon Wireless network to create a multimedia phone that consumers have been waiting for,” said Jeff Dietel, vice president of marketing, for Verizon Wireless. “4G LTE speeds take mobile entertainment to a new level, providing customers with advanced functionality in a phone they can count on for everyday use.”

Advanced multimedia features
The HTC Rezound boasts an 8-megapixel camera featuring autofocus, dual LED flash, a f/2.2 and 28mm wide-angle lens with BSI sensor to fit more of the scene into every shot and for better low-light performance. The enhanced camera features available through HTC Sense offer new scenes and effects such as panoramic mode for capturing life on a grand scale or action burst scene for the perfect action shot.

For self-portraits or video conversations, the HTC Rezound also features a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. With a 1080p camcorder, the HTC Rezound enables customers to record a perfect moment with stunning clarity and incredible stereo sound, perfect for sharing on YouTube or Facebook. Customers can also wirelessly send their media to a compatible TV for looking at videos or pictures with friends and family using Digital Living Network Alliance® (DLNA).

HTC Sense
Featuring the latest version of HTC Sense, the HTC Rezound enables people to create a unique and intuitive user experience that matches their personal preference and lifestyle. A customizable active lockscreen experience transforms the lockscreen into a real-time window to the most important information and content, such as social updates, photos, weather or stock updates that are viewed by simply turning on the display. In addition, the new active lockscreen becomes a customizable gateway that lets people quickly jump to the most used features, like making a phone call, sending an email, taking a picture or anything else with the same quick gesture usually used to unlock the phone.

HTC Sense also delivers a new group messaging experience simplifying group and multimedia messaging so people can stay up-to-date on the latest conversations quickly and easily. People can view recent status updates from popular social networks in one place using FriendStream™, as well as sync their contact list with all email accounts and social networks for smooth integration.

“HTC and Beats have been important partners to Best Buy over the years and we are thrilled to help them bring the HTC Rezound on the Verizon Wireless network to consumers,” said Scott Anderson, head of merchandising for Best Buy Mobile. “This is going to be a big holiday for smartphones and people will be looking for new and different features. The HTC Rezound, with HTC’s mobile expertise and audio excellence from Beats, will be a great option for our customers.”

Additional features

• Mobile Hotspot capability: share 4G connection with up to ten Wi-Fi-enabled devices
• Operating System: Android 2.3™ (Gingerbread) with latest HTC Sense – an upgrade to Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) will be available in early 2012
• Internal Memory: 16 GB on-board memory, 1 GB DDR2 RAM
• Memory Card: 16 GB MicroSD™ pre-installed
• Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n
• Bluetooth®: 3.0 – support for headset, hands-free, stereo, phonebook access and object push for vCard and vCalendar
• GPS: GPS/AGPS
• Battery: 1,620 mAh
• Special Features: HDMI (through MHL), G-sensor, Light sensor, Compass, Proximity sensor, MicroUSB, USIM/CSIM/ISIM, audio jack and Wireless Charging capable
• Chipset: Qualcomm® MSM8660 1.5GHz, Qualcomm® MDM9600
• Dimensions: 129 x 65.5 x 13.65 mm

Availability
The HTC Rezound will be available beginning Nov. 14 at Verizon Wireless and at Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores for $299.99 with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers who purchase the HTC Rezound will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan beginning at $39.99 for monthly access and a smartphone data package starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data. Customers can visit www.verizonwireless.com/Rezound to sign up for more information.

About HTC
HTC Corporation (HTC) is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile phone industry. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC creates innovative devices that better serve the lives and needs of individuals. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.

About Beats Electronics LLC
Established in 2006, Beats Electronics is the brainchild of legendary artist and producer Dr. Dre and Chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records Jimmy Iovine, who set out to develop a new type of headphone with the capability to reproduce the full spectrum of sound that musical artists and producers hear in professional recording studios. For more information, please visit http://beatsbydre.com.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 107.7 million total wireless connections, including 90.7 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with nearly 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

The HTC Rezound is the latest 4G LTE handset coming to Verizon with a 4.3 inch Super LCD display with HTC first HD display at 720p resolution.  It comes with a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 1 GB of Ram, 32 GB of storage split between 16 GB of internal storage and 16 GB of micro SD card storage. The phone is infused with Beats Audio technology to deliver premium sound and will be available November 14th for $299 and will include a custom pair of Beats headphones.

Press Release:

11/03/2011

NEW YORK, NY —

HTC Corporation, a global designer of mobile devices, and Verizon Wireless today announced the HTC Rezound™, the only phone in the United States with Beats Audio™ integration. A result of the recent partnership between HTC and Beats, the HTC Rezound delivers a powerful entertainment experience with unparalleled audio and multimedia capabilities highlighted by a 4.3-inch true HD 720p display. The HTC Rezound, a premium designed smartphone that includes the latest HTC Sense experience and access to Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network, will be available exclusively from Verizon Wireless on Nov. 14.

“HTC is dedicated to delivering the latest in sight and sound innovation and we’re excited to be introducing the first U.S. smartphone featuring Beats Audio technology,” said Peter Chou, CEO, HTC Corporation. “Paired with Verizon Wireless’ blazing-fast 4G LTE network and a robust multimedia experience, the HTC Rezound enables customers to enjoy their favorite music and entertainment on-the-go like never before.”

The HTC Rezound enables customers to hear music the way the artist intended with unique audio tuning by Beats that delivers thundering bass, soaring midrange and crisp highs. Unique to HTC, the HTC Rezound also includes new lightweight Beats headphones, created exclusively to integrate with the Beats’ audio profile on the device. Hands-free calling is easy with the built-in microphone and the on-cable remote to pause, advance or rewind and answer a call mid-track.

“HTC fully recognizes the destruction to audio caused by the digital revolution. They embrace our vision to repair this ecosystem and bring the feeling from the recording studio to the smartphone,“ said Jimmy Iovine, chairman of Beats By Dr. Dre. “This is only the beginning of our plan to fix how music is delivered.”

Lightning-fast mobile entertainment
The HTC Rezound is the first HTC smartphone to feature a true HD 720p display and is perfect for enjoying high-quality entertainment on the 4.3-inch super LCD screen. HTC Watch puts an entire library of the latest premium movies and TV shows right at your fingertips. Using a wireless connection, HTC Watch uses progressive download technology on the HTC Rezound which makes it possible to watch videos without waiting for them to finish downloading. Customers can rent or purchase videos through HTC Watch and enjoy content on up to five different HTC devices. The HTC Rezound features Mobile High Definition Link (MHL) connectivity, so customers can watch content from the device on an HDTV, including 5.1 surround sound and SRS WOW™ HD surround to take advantage of a home theater setup. Equipped with a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, the HTC Rezound offers a speedy mobile experience even for the most demanding media enthusiast.

“HTC Rezound combines sleek design, innovative entertainment features and the power of Verizon Wireless network to create a multimedia phone that consumers have been waiting for,” said Jeff Dietel, vice president of marketing, for Verizon Wireless. “4G LTE speeds take mobile entertainment to a new level, providing customers with advanced functionality in a phone they can count on for everyday use.”

Advanced multimedia features
The HTC Rezound boasts an 8-megapixel camera featuring autofocus, dual LED flash, a f/2.2 and 28mm wide-angle lens with BSI sensor to fit more of the scene into every shot and for better low-light performance. The enhanced camera features available through HTC Sense offer new scenes and effects such as panoramic mode for capturing life on a grand scale or action burst scene for the perfect action shot.

For self-portraits or video conversations, the HTC Rezound also features a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. With a 1080p camcorder, the HTC Rezound enables customers to record a perfect moment with stunning clarity and incredible stereo sound, perfect for sharing on YouTube or Facebook. Customers can also wirelessly send their media to a compatible TV for looking at videos or pictures with friends and family using Digital Living Network Alliance® (DLNA).

HTC Sense
Featuring the latest version of HTC Sense, the HTC Rezound enables people to create a unique and intuitive user experience that matches their personal preference and lifestyle. A customizable active lockscreen experience transforms the lockscreen into a real-time window to the most important information and content, such as social updates, photos, weather or stock updates that are viewed by simply turning on the display. In addition, the new active lockscreen becomes a customizable gateway that lets people quickly jump to the most used features, like making a phone call, sending an email, taking a picture or anything else with the same quick gesture usually used to unlock the phone.

HTC Sense also delivers a new group messaging experience simplifying group and multimedia messaging so people can stay up-to-date on the latest conversations quickly and easily. People can view recent status updates from popular social networks in one place using FriendStream™, as well as sync their contact list with all email accounts and social networks for smooth integration.

“HTC and Beats have been important partners to Best Buy over the years and we are thrilled to help them bring the HTC Rezound on the Verizon Wireless network to consumers,” said Scott Anderson, head of merchandising for Best Buy Mobile. “This is going to be a big holiday for smartphones and people will be looking for new and different features. The HTC Rezound, with HTC’s mobile expertise and audio excellence from Beats, will be a great option for our customers.”

Additional features

• Mobile Hotspot capability: share 4G connection with up to ten Wi-Fi-enabled devices
• Operating System: Android 2.3™ (Gingerbread) with latest HTC Sense – an upgrade to Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) will be available in early 2012
• Internal Memory: 16 GB on-board memory, 1 GB DDR2 RAM
• Memory Card: 16 GB MicroSD™ pre-installed
• Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n
• Bluetooth®: 3.0 – support for headset, hands-free, stereo, phonebook access and object push for vCard and vCalendar
• GPS: GPS/AGPS
• Battery: 1,620 mAh
• Special Features: HDMI (through MHL), G-sensor, Light sensor, Compass, Proximity sensor, MicroUSB, USIM/CSIM/ISIM, audio jack and Wireless Charging capable
• Chipset: Qualcomm® MSM8660 1.5GHz, Qualcomm® MDM9600
• Dimensions: 129 x 65.5 x 13.65 mm

Availability
The HTC Rezound will be available beginning Nov. 14 at Verizon Wireless and at Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores for $299.99 with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers who purchase the HTC Rezound will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan beginning at $39.99 for monthly access and a smartphone data package starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data. Customers can visit www.verizonwireless.com/Rezound to sign up for more information.

About HTC
HTC Corporation (HTC) is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile phone industry. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC creates innovative devices that better serve the lives and needs of individuals. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.

About Beats Electronics LLC
Established in 2006, Beats Electronics is the brainchild of legendary artist and producer Dr. Dre and Chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records Jimmy Iovine, who set out to develop a new type of headphone with the capability to reproduce the full spectrum of sound that musical artists and producers hear in professional recording studios. For more information, please visit http://beatsbydre.com.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 107.7 million total wireless connections, including 90.7 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with nearly 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

The EVO Design 4G is a “re-design” of the original HTC EVO with a slimmer design. It comes with a 4 inch  Super LCD display with qHD resolution, 1.2 Ghz Processor single-core processor, 5 Megapixel rear facing camera with HD video capture, front facing 1.3 megapixel camera for video chat, Bluetooth, 3.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n , 3G World Roaming capabilities, 4G WiMax data speeds and will run Android 2.3 Gingerbread with Sense UI. Check out our unboxing, hands-on and first impressions of the HTC EVO Design 4G.
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The HTC EVo Design 4G is bringing the very popular EVO design in a slimmer package. It comes with a 4 inch qHD display, 1.2 Ghz Processor (no word if it dual-core or single-core), 5 Megapixel rear facing camera with HD video capture, front facing 1.3 megapixel camera for video chat, Bluetooth, 3.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n , 3G World Roaming capabilities, 4G WiMax data speeds. It will run Android 2.3 Gingerbread with Sense UI,  and is coming to Sprint October 23 for $99 after a $50 mail in rebate. Check out the press release and pics below.

Press Release:

Sprint Expands Award-Winning HTC EVO Family with

HTC EVO Design 4G, First EVO with World Phone Capabilities

HTC EVO Design 4G debuts Oct. 23 for less than $100 – offering

high-end 4G capabilities at an easily affordable price

 

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., & SEATTLE – Oct. 19, 2011 – Sprint (NYSE: S) continues the award-winning HTC EVO™ family legacy with the addition of HTC EVO Design 4G™, the first EVO family member touting World Phone capabilities. HTC EVO Design 4G boasts many of the “must-have” features of its predecessors, including Sprint 4G and a large touchscreen display, while sporting a slim, pocket-friendly aluminum unibody design at an easily affordable price.

 

HTC EVO Design 4G goes on sale Oct. 23 for just $99.99 (excluding taxes) with a new two-year service agreement or eligible upgrade and after a $50 mail-in rebate via reward card¹. It will be available in all Sprint sales channels, including Sprint Stores, Web Sales (www.sprint.com) and Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1).

“Priced at under $100, HTC EVO Design 4G is the perfect device for consumers looking for both the benefits of 4G and the latest in device style,” said Fared Adib, Sprint vice president-Product Development. “When matched with one of the Sprint Everything Data plans, our customers will unlock the value of unlimited without worrying about the cost or surprises on their monthly bill.”

 

Designed for customers who want to stay connected and be entertained, HTC EVO Design 4G combines the acclaimed HTC Sense™ experience with a stylish and robust feature set to make the 4G experience more accessible than ever. Other key features include:

 

·Android™ 2.3, Gingerbread

·HTC Sense – Award-winning user experience taking social networking, navigation and customization to new levels

·Aluminum unibody design gives the HTC EVO Design 4G a slim, streamlined profile –guaranteed  to get attention and nicely compact in your hand, pocket or bag

·1.2GHz processor

·4-inch qHD capacitive touchscreen display

·Dual cameras: 5MP rear-facing camera/camcorder with flash and HD video recording and 1.3MP front-facing camera for video chat

·World Phone capabilities to make and receive calls and texts, and to access email and news from locations around the globe

·3G/4G Mobile Hotspot, supporting up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices on the Sprint 3G or 4G network

· Wi-Fi^® b/g/n capable

 

“With HTC and Sprint working together, the smash-hit HTC EVO 4G introduced the world to the possibilities of 4G,” said Martin Fichter, vice president product management, HTC Americas. “With the introduction of the fifth addition to the EVO family – HTC EVO Design 4G – HTC is expanding its diverse portfolio of 4G smartphones on Sprint’s powerful 4G network.”

 

HTC EVO Design 4G requires activation on one of the Sprint Everything Data plans plus a required $10 Premium Data add-on charge for smartphones. Sprint’s Everything Data plan with Any Mobile, Anytime^SM includes unlimited Web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in America while on the Sprint Network, starting at just $69.99 per month plus required $10 Premium Data add-on charge – a savings of $40 per month vs. Verizon’s comparable plan with unlimited talk, text and 2GB Web, or $10 per month vs. Verizon’s 450-minute plan with unlimited text and 2GB Web. The Mobile Hotspot option is available for an additional $29.99 per month and supports up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously². (Pricing excludes taxes and surcharges.)

 

Sprint was unbeaten among major wireless carriers for customer satisfaction according to results from the 2011 American Customer Satisfaction Index. In addition to tying for first place among wireless carriers, Sprint was also the most improved company in customer satisfaction, across all industries, during the last three years, according to the survey.

 

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 52 million customers at the end of 2Q 2011 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in its 2011 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation’s greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

 

About HTC

HTC Corporation (HTC) is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile phone industry. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC creates innovative devices that better serve the lives and needs of individuals. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.

Hardware & Design

The HTC Status uses the Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) + HTC Sense Platform. It has a 2.6-inch touch that is pretty good for its size. Below the screen are your touch menu controls for back, home and search. Below that there is a full QWERTY keyboard that is laid out well and excellent to type on. Keys feel very as you click them down. Dubbed the “Facebook phone”, it has a dedicated Facebook share button at the bottom right, below the keyboard.  At the top edge, you will find the 3.5 mm headphone jack and phone lock button. . The phone itself has a slight bend in the middle, bringing the touch screen up at an angle for better viewing. Inside it comes 800 MHz processor, 2GB of storage and 3G global roaming with pre-installed SIM card.

In the back there is a 5.0 megapixel main camera and VGA front facing camera for video chat. Images from the main camera are good enough quality for uploading to Facebook while on the go.

Software & Usability

From the main screen, the default is a News Feed of your social media accounts, with shortcuts at either corner to use All Apps and Personalize. There are multiple screens to personalize with widgets and shortcuts, and the “end” button can also serve as the shortcut to viewing your multiple screen options. The customizable key-ring/unlock is very easy to use, and allows you to use that specific app upon unlocking. New message notifications can easily be accessed by using the left corner of the touch screen.

The target customer would definitely be a social media addict. There are THREE ways to reach Facebook from the main screen. Newsfeed, Facebook (for Android) and Facebook button which lets you update your status, upload photos and post links. With a more enhanced caller-id, when making or receive a call, you will see their status update, and even upcoming birthday. Battery life could be an issue for a heavy user. With calls and data usage, you will be charging it at least twice a day. Call quality is not the best with people telling me that after a while I start to fade in and out and I also hear the same on my end and even dropped a couple of calls. Chat can also be affected with low signal strength, and the more recent posts will not refresh when your signal increases

Overall

The HTC Status has a very light-weight, thin design that many will like, and it is very easy to use. For those who have used various other QWERTY keyboards, some of the keys and symbols take just a bit of getting used to.  It’s a good phone for what it is and will attract not only social networking addicts but some business users looking to get away from a Blackberry but still want that form factor.