HTC refused to be drawn on pricing for its new Windows Phone 8X and 8S smartphones, saying only that they’d launch in November, but that hasn’t stopped retailers stepping up with some SIM-free numbers. The good news is that, even without a subsidy to help out, both Windows Phone 8 devices undercut key rivals like the iPhone 5 and Samsung’s Galaxy S III.
Retailer Clove has the 8X up for preorder at £399.99 including tax ($648), while the 8S is listed at £224.99 including tax ($364). In contrast, UK sales of the iPhone 5 kick off at £529 ($856), again including tax, while you can pick up a Galaxy S III unlocked and SIM-free for £462 ($748).
UK pricing factors in the not-inconsiderable 20-percent tax rate, and we’d expect both Windows Phones to be cheaper in the US. Still, they’re some ambitious numbers from HTC, and given Windows Phone 8 has an uphill struggle to claw market-share from iOS and Android, undercutting the flagship from both platforms is a sensible strategy.
HTC 8X and 8S hands-on:
It also bodes well for on-contract pricing, though while networks AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile USA have all confirmed they’ll be offering both models (with some LTE flavors too) subsidized numbers aren’t available yet. We’ll know more closer to launch in November.
We grabbed some hands-on playtime with the new phones, so check out our first-impressions of the 8X and of the 8S.
HTC 8X and 8S priced up: iPhone 5 and GSIII undercut is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
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If you’re looking for a pair of gaming headphones to complete your Nintendo Wii U experience, you might be interested to learn that popular audio manufacturer, Turtle Beach, has announced that they will be producing some gaming headsets for the Wii U console. These are the Ear Force NLa and the Ear Force N11 (pictured above), both of which will plug into the Wii U’s GamePad, and both of which will be available in Q4 of this year and will be priced at $35 and $50 respectively.
Speakers come in all shapes and sizes, but these ceramic animal speakers not only look pretty classy, but are pretty inconspicuous as well. After all, on first glance and if we did not tell you, you probably would have thought of these as decorative mantle/shelf pieces, right? Granted they were originally designed to be mere decorative pieces, they have been fitted with 40mm passive speakers that rely on the hollowed interior of the figurine to help amplify the sound. Interestingly thanks to its passive speakers, it will not require a battery or a power source to operate. Instead it will use the power from your smartphone to juice it up, consuming 2 watts of power in the process.
Sure we could always edit our photos on the computer after taking them, but sometimes that’s just an additional unnecessary step if a photograph was taken with the right settings and the right technique. However if you prefer experimenting with your photographs then the new Lensbaby Spark add-ons might be worth checking out. For those wondering what the Spark does, it basically allows the photographer to create a tilt-shift effect where they can choose where they want the focus to be in a photo while the rest of the background is blurred out, or “bokeh” if you’d rather. The lens on the Spark can be swapped out with other lenses from Lensbaby, letting photographers mix and match and come up with some unique creations and with a price tag of $80, it’s not the most expensive camera accessory you can buy and could be worth getting your hands on for some interesting photos. More details about the Spark can be found on 