Hasta La Gadget!

Reports have surfaced from multiple sources apparently confirming that HTC’s new flagship phone, the HTC One X, will be dropped to the awesome low price of just $99 from the folks at AT&T. The price drop has been officially confirmed, along with RadioShack also stating Sunday, July 29th, the price will take effect in their shops.

Some are stating the new price point from AT&T is available right this minute, with RadioShack matching it come this weekend. There is no special requirements either, as HTC and AT&T has made this the new price for the One X for those looking to update and sign a new 2-year contract as usual.

Dropping the HTC One X down to $99 makes this phone a steal, as it was already awesome at $199. This will also cause some problems for Motorola and their new Atrix HD (see our review) as it offers similar specs and a smaller screen. This could also undercut Galaxy S III sales. The HTC One X features a 4.7-inch SLCD2 display, a 1.5 GHz dual-core S4 processor, and that impressive 8 megapixel camera on the rear. Hit the timeline below for One X news and our full review. If you’re interested in a new AT&T phone the HTC One X should be near the top of your list.

AT&T HTC One X drops to $99 this Sunday is written by Cory Gunther & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Despite the sweltering heat waves, our spirits are high at Engadget, and for good reason: it’s time for our summer edition of the smartphone buyer’s guide. Here, you’ll find our top recommendations for the best smartphones across several US carriers, along with the best QWERTY and budget alternatives. In many ways, it’s now easier than ever to find a world-class smartphone, but unless you’ve developed a strong brand preference, choosing one is likely more difficult than ever before. It’s no secret that the HTC One X and Samsung Galaxy S III have firmly cemented themselves as the premier smartphones of the day, but if you’re torn between the two, we’ll reveal our preference in this latest installment.

Summertime also brought a bit of a shock, as Microsoft revealed that Windows Phone 8 apps won’t be compatible with the current generation of Windows Phone hardware. For this reason, we’ve excluded all Windows Phone handsets from consideration in the latest buyer’s guide. While the future of Microsoft’s mobile platform looks incredibly bright, a purchase now would guarantee obsolescence in the short-term. Instead, all prospective Windows Phone purchasers must wait for the next generation of handsets to become available — you’ll regret it otherwise.

Naturally, there is no shortage of rumors surrounding the next Apple iPhone, and given the handset’s current lack of LTE connectivity, the iPhone 4S is certainly showing its age. While cautious purchasers may choose to bide their time, the iPhone remains top-notch in many other respects, and its arrival at a number of prepaid carriers brought a breath of fresh air to an otherwise stagnant environment.

If you’re curious to see how it all unfolded — and we know you are — join us after the break, where we round up the very best smartphones of the season.

Continue reading Engadget’s smartphone buyer’s guide: summer 2012 edition

Filed under: Cellphones

Engadget’s smartphone buyer’s guide: summer 2012 edition originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jul 2012 12:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Although HTC and Beats are just shy of the one-year anniversary of their 300 million dollar partnership, it looks like the two are again growing apart. In a letter to shareholders today, it’s been announced that the original owners of Beats plan to buy back 25 percent of its own shares, for a total ownership stake of 75 percent. That said, HTC will still retain nearly 25 percent of the remaining shares for itself, ensuring that it remains the largest external shareholder. As the release puts it, this new setup “provides Beats with more flexibility for global expansion while maintaining HTC’s major stake and commercial exclusivity in mobile.” All in all, it seems like this is more about shifting priorities given recent news like Beats’ MOG acquisition, but it wouldn’t make eventual breakup all the more unsurprising given the partnership’s mixed results.

Continue reading Beats increases its share ownership to 75%, lets HTC keep ‘commercial exclusivity in mobile’

Beats increases its share ownership to 75%, lets HTC keep ‘commercial exclusivity in mobile’ originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Jul 2012 17:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Remember yesterday’s rumor from down under about Jelly Bean coming to select HTC One handsets? Well it’s now fact. HTC has just confirmed that the One X, One XL and One S will be getting upgraded to Android 4.1 at some point in the (hopefully near) future. Here’s the company’s statement:

“We know HTC fans are excited to get their hands on Google’s latest version of Android. At this point in time, we can confirm that we have plans to upgrade our HTC One X, HTC One XL and HTC One S to Jelly Bean. Please stay tuned for more updates regarding device upgrades, timing and other details about HTC and Jelly Bean.”

We’ve also learned that in addition to the aforementioned global models, carrier versions of the One X and One S for AT&T, T-Mobile and Rogers will also be receiving Jelly Bean. No word yet on timing, or whether the One V, EVO 4G LTE and Droid Incredible 4G LTE are included in those update plans.

Filed under: Cellphones, Software

HTC confirms Android 4.1 Jelly Bean for One X, One XL and One S, includes AT&T, T-Mobile and Rogers models originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jul 2012 03:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC has a long history of both raising and dashing hopes of Android upgrades on its devices. Moreover, the Australian network Telstra has often led that emotional rollercoaster, which means the detail on its software update page above is probably best approached with an air of detached calm. It tells us that both the HTC One XL (the global version of the American One X) and the One S have official Jelly Bean updates being “prepared” by HTC — which is slightly more specific than what we last heard on this subject, when the manufacturer said it was “excited” about Google’s latest OS version and planned to support it “across a variety” of handsets. If you happen to own a non-LTE, Tegra 3-based One X, then the absence of that handset on the list doesn’t mean much — that model simply isn’t part of the carrier’s line-up.

[Thanks, Will]

Filed under: Cellphones

HTC ‘preparing’ Jelly Bean update for One XL and One S, no date yet originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 03:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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