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HTC Launches HD Phones and Updated Sense UI
cgriffin21 writes "HTC on Wednesday confirmed two new Android smartphones, the HTC Desire HD and HTC Desire Z, that include what the vendor is calling an "enhanced version" of its HTC Sense user interface that includes everything from video editing software to a mapping tool. The HTC Sense's new features include the ability to record HD videos and edit images with various camera effects. HTC Locations, another new feature, provides on-demand mapping, and there's also an integrated e-reader and an e-book store powered by Kobo."
This is a pretty intriguing idea. It's interesting to see how mobile phones are not only starting to encroach on netbooks/laptops, but also now on e-readers. How long until they encroach on home PCs?
I would actually really like it if my phone was my computer, and when I went home it just linked to my keyboard, mouse and monitors and used them. And when I left, it's back to its normal interface.
According to the article, both versions will be available in Europe and Asia in October. Only the "Z" version will hit the US this year though. Gotta say that's disappointing. My next upgrade becomes available December 15th, and the "Desire HD" looks to best every other Android handset out right now. I really, really hope that some version of that phone hits Verizon before or really soon after that date.
"People who think they know everything are very annoying to those of us who do."-Mark Twain
So I see HTC and all the vendors are pushing hidef video and more features. However, I see the battery life is suffering on these phones. At what point are they going to push for better battery technology and longer life? Unless your phone does nothing but make a few calls and the occasional email sync, it seems tough to get a smartphone these days to last a day without charging.
I have found that stock Android is pretty nice. HTC Sense is a good *looking* UI, but it suffers in some places. The stock mail client for stock 2.1 is much nicer than the sense variant, for example, and there are a number of other places where it looks like HTC tried to "reinvent the wheel" (with shiny chrome) for what appears to be little or no reason. Perhaps they're trying a little too hard to offer a differentiator on the software side...
I've been much happier with the stock android versions of 2.1 and 2.2 (thanks to CyanogenMod) on my HTC CDMA Hero, since switching from the stock firmware. (Doesn't exactly help that HTC orphaned OS support for that model before 2.2...)
"He may look like an idiot, and talk like an idiot, but don't let that fool you. He really is an idiot." - Duck Soup
Microsoft sued HTC over the use of MS patents in HTC's mobile phones that were running Android, much the same way that Apple has an ongoing suit against HTC. HTC decided to license the patents from Microsoft so it's likely that Microsoft gets paid for every Android phone that HTC sells. Here is the press release. It's reminiscent of how PC vendors paid Microsoft for every box sold, regardless of whether or not it had Windows installed. Different arrangements, but similar end results.
Some have speculated that depending on the agreements, it could be just as expensive for HTC to ship a phone with Android as it would be for them to ship one with Windows Phone 7. If Android doesn't have a price advantage it may put the two operating systems on more even ground, at least from HTC's perspective.
For the past 6 years or so, I would buy the latest greatest phone after my contract ran out. I was close to getting a Droid, then it occurred to me "do I really give a frak about HDMI ports and video on my phone?" I settled with an LG Ally I got for free and got to keep that extra $200 with ZERO regrets. I guess I'll have to stop posting here and watching more Antique's Roadshow now?
I swear to God...I swear to God! That is NOT how you treat your human!
Out of court settlements don't create precedent. I'm no lawyer, but I'm certain of that. It's the functional equivalent of giving the bully your lunch money instead of fighting with him.
I don't need a million points of light, just two points of multi-mode fiber and a 10 Gig-E router.
If someone can do an LCD with high contrast e-paper style screen and normal LCD functionality then they will solve that problem. Perhaps have the LCD flip out of the way to expose the e-paper screen underneath?
As for the Desire HD, 4.3" screen makes the device too big for me, I did some estimates on paper of its size. Any bigger than 4.3" and you'll have a phone approaching the footprint of a 3.5" hard disk.
Because Apple in investing in the platform, HTC is making a phone. It's not a better or worse model per se, but Apple is trying to build an ecosystem: get a Mac, and iPhone, an Apple TV, maybe an iPod Shuffle for when the phone is more than you need... replace them all every 3-4 years, and we'll provide pretty good support and updates for around that time frame. Brand loyalty keeps you buying into the ecosystem. HTC is trying to sell you a phone. Right now. Now another one. Now another one. They always want to have the biggest and best numbers they can, because they know that if they don't you'll buy a Motorola instead.
It's two different business models.
I don't need a million points of light, just two points of multi-mode fiber and a 10 Gig-E router.
Where are Android phones that work with the pay-as-you-go, or at least low-cost plans? Virgin Mobile has LG smartphones with $25/month plans, but if you want Android, nobody offers anything at less than $60/month.
A slashdotter who didn't build his own computer is like a Jedi who didn't build his own lightsaber.
Both models have pluses and minuses. If you want the "best" phone on the market (Defined by tech specs- CPU, camera, memory, etc) you almost certainly want an Android phone. The churn that the competing manufacturers create by their constant upgrade cycles means that Moto, or HTC, or Nokia (do they make Android?) probably currently has the most powerful thing available this week. On the other hand the Apple hardware updates often enough to stay reasonably current, if not cutting edge. So advantage Android, but not a huge advantage.
The Android OS is certainly more open, at least in theory. In practice it seems like the manufacturers and providers often lock shit down pretty hard. So, again, advantage Android, but how much of an advantage probably depends entirely on what model phone you have and who's network you're using it on.
The iPhone's advantages tend to harder to measure. The UI is well done, for sure. The design is very consistent. The "ecosystem" concept has a lot of advantages. I was really pleased when I upgraded my 1st gen iPhone to a 3GS a while back. The backup and restore function was such that I literally felt like I was using the same phone, but better. Like upgrading the CPU, RAM, and VC on a computer and keeping the OS as it is. Everything was faster and shinier (and GPSier), but otherwise identical. And of course my 3GS runs iOS 4 pretty well and that's like a whole new upgrade.
Meh, to each their own.
I don't need a million points of light, just two points of multi-mode fiber and a 10 Gig-E router.