Hasta La Gadget!

Question: How do you attract a key youth, mobile-first demographic to your social network and get them to increase engagement? Answer: Partner with an OEM handset manufacturer to create a powerful yet reasonably priced branded device with all your software already on board. Facebook looks to be readying a follow-up to the HTC Status, a mid-market smartphone it released with a dedicated Facebook button in 2011, and a new leak shows off its specs.

Over at Unwired View, noted leakster Evleaks claims to have obtained a recent list of HTC Facebook phone specs (from a source with a proven track record, unlike another recent Evleaks discovery), and they confirm earlier leaks on the same, with some improvements for the better. The HTC Facebook phone, codenamed the “Myst,” will reportedly have a 1.5GHz dual-core MSM8960 SoC processor from Qualcomm, along with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, which isn’t expandable. It’ll have a 5 megapixel rear camera, and a 1.6 megapixel front-facing shooter, if the stats are correct, and will run Jelly Bean 4.1.2.

The screen won’t be overly massive at 4.3 inches, with 720p resolution and 320PPI pixel density, but it should be a good-looking device regardless, with near-Retina resolution. That’s good for showing off Facebook’s upcoming News Feed redesign, which is hitting mobile platforms as well as the desktop over the course of the coming months.

The HTC/Facebook collab should ship in the U.S. by sometime this spring, according to Unwired View, complete with Facebook software onboard, including the app for the network itself, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram. It’s not like the apps aren’t popular enough already, but a relatively inexpensive device with the software already onboard is a way for Facebook to target directly the market where it needs to start seeing more growth. The handset doesn’t seem to be too far below top-tier devices based on these specs (with the exception of that camera, which could use HTC’s Ultrapixel tech to still deliver solid photos), so if it’s priced right it could be a boon for both Facebook and HTC.

Global variants of the HTC One X have enjoyed the good graces of Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) for a few months now, but it appears that the AT&T model is finally ready to get in on the action. The carrier’s firmware update will feature the usual Jelly Bean trimmings along with a new countdown timer for the front-facing camera, ISIS support and AT&T apps like DriveMode, Locker and Messages. Check the source for all the info.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, AT&T

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Source: AT&T

It’s just not getting any easier to be an HTC investor these days as their monthly report of earnings numbers shows their lowest sales since January of 2010. This is not new news, so to speak, as HTC has been taking some rather public downward tumbles over the past few years – but there is one shining, gleaming hope. That hope is embodied in the HTC One – the company’s newest and perhaps brightest shining star in their entire smartphone-making history.

Today’s report has HTC showing a year-on-year downward fall of nearly 44%, coming in at NT$20.29 billion back one year ago this month with just 11.37 billion coming up this month. That’s Taiwan currency, mind you, the conversion for this month this year coming up closer to $384 million if you’re counting USD cash.

Last year at this time we saw a bit of an upturn for HTC from month to month, with a two-month total (January and February) equalling out to be a lovely NT$36.9 billion. This year we’re working with a slightly more focused, shall we say, NT$26.9 billion. Year over year that’s a change of negative 27.1% – none too encouraging.

But here’s the plus side of all this mess – HTC has revealed the HTC One and it’s not on sale yet. We saw HTC displaying the HTC One exclusively – with no other devices to dampen the greatness – at Mobile World Congress 2013. There we saw HTC win the award for “Best Mobile Device” of the show with the HTC One, too. They put on an impressive show without even having a keynote!

So now we wait – the HTC One is the company’s next big hope for a turnaround, and if any smartphone can do it single-handedly, the HTC One is going to be the one to do it. Have a peek at our hands-on with the HTC One in several parts in the timeline below, and let us know what you think!

[via HTC Investor Relations]

HTC bets the farm on HTC One: company hits 3 year low is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Nobody expects studio quality recording from a smartphone, but the technology in HTC’s recently launched One at least allows distortion free audio to be nabbed in the quietest or loudest environments, according to the company’s blog. Describing BoomSound tech, HTC says the system brings two dual-membrane MEMS microphones to the handset, one of which is focused on sensitivity and the other on high decibel sources. The two signals are then combined electronically, resulting in whisper-level tones that are free of hiss along with concert level blasting that won’t clip or distort. By HTC’s reckoning, that means the audio that goes along with those UltraPixels will be clear whether you’re capturing a physics lecture or death metal concert.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, HTC

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Via: Android Central

Source: HTC Blog

It looks like a couple of the HTC One’s flagship features will also be finding their way to HTC’s future mid-ranged devices. Phil Roberson, the head of HTC UK and Ireland, stated that HTC’s Blinkfeed and Ultrapixel services will be available for as many of its devices as possible. He says, “Wherever the technology is possible, we’re looking to take as much of the technology and enrich all of our customers.”

This is great news for consumers who love the new features of the HTC One, but do not have the money to opt for such a high-end device. This also follows last week’s good news when HTC announced that owners of the HTC One X+, HTC One X, HTC One S, and the HTC Butterfly (HTC DROID DNA on Verizon Wireless) will be upgraded to Sense 5 in the future. HTC is doing a great job at making all of its customers feel included.

Blinkfeed, a beautiful RSS news feed available right from the screen of your phone, is most likely to be available for most HTC smartphones because its all software based. Getting Ultrapixel, HTC’s own branded camera technology, into mid-ranged devices may be a bit trickier however. Roberson stated, “There will be certain technical challenges, but the tech does support the other elements of it which we can take to other parts of the portfolio.”

The HTC One is HTC’s last shot at launching itself out of the financial hole that its currently in. It features impressive specs, like a 4.7-inch HD display and a quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor. It’s flagship features like Blinkfeed, Ultrapixel, and Sense 5 should also help make it stand out in the market. It’s also good to know that even though it’ll be focusing all of its marketing efforts on the HTC One, HTC won’t be neglecting its future mid-tier devices.

[via Android Community]

HTC mid-ranged phones will have Blinkfeed and Ultrapixels too is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.