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."

Comments

E-Readers in a phone

[iONiUM]

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.

Re:E-Readers in a phone

[jgagnon]

Having read hundreds of pages so far on my Kindle (just got it recently), I have to say that trying to do that on any sort of normal LCD screen would suck horribly. Now if they can make a colored E Ink screen that is as comfortable to read as the gray-scale one, then I might consider it.

Battery life?

[mu51c10rd]

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.

Re:Battery life?

[drougie]

you sure about that?

Re:Battery life?

[MozeeToby]

I get 3-4 days of medium/heavy use out of my Moto Droid as of the Froyo update, before that 4 days would have really been pushing it. It depends a lot on where you are and what kind of reception you are getting. I get my best battery life over the weekends when I spend a lot of time at home, slightly less during the week when I'm at work where the coverage inside is spotty, and abysmal (less than 1 day) if I'm somewhere with little to no coverage.

Re:HTC and MS

[alvinrod]

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.

Re:HTC and MS

[DrgnDancer]

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.

Re:Updates for existing HTC phones?

[DrgnDancer]

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.