Why the HTC Desire is in the Running for the Best Smartphone of 2010
Picking a competent mobile phone to purchase for one’s personal use is hard enough. There are literally hundreds of different available models in the market and for the uneducated consumer, it can truly be confusing. Perhaps an even more difficult task is identifying the best Smartphone for the whole year. There are just too many categories to consider and way too much mobiles to choose from. However, one Smartphone that we believe should be on the list of any critic is the highly impressive HTC Desire. Here are some reasons why we believe so.
The Screening Process
If we were to identify a number of outstanding features of the HTC Desire, then one of them has got to be its mega-sized 3.7-inch touch screen display. Not only is it one of the largest in the business, but it also delivers picture quality of the highest calibre (480 x 800-pixel resolution). The screen also makes use of the AMOLED capacitive technology which guarantees hassle-free and extremely responsive touch functions on the device.
Improving the Android
The Google Android is already quite impressive in itself. However, what the HTC Desire does is it pairs it up with its Sense UI, thereby creating a one-of-a-kind combination that duly delivers. This is by far the best UI + OS combo we’ve ever experienced and the fact that the Anroid Eclair (the OS version installed on the Desire) was already top class even before it was infused with the Sense UI makes the enhanced combination all the more impressive.
On the Horizon
While all the praises sent towards the way of the HTC Desire are all well and good, one thing we must keep in mind is that 2010 is also the year that has seen the launch of the latest addition to the iPhone family – the Apple iPhone 4G. The 3G performed pretty well in the market since it was launched last year and if this is any indication of how the 4G will do, then the Desire will definitely have its work cut out for it.
Vodafone UK Now Offering the Android Wildfire
It looks like we will not be running out of Android options for the coming months. Considering the current lineup of smart phones for manufacturers such as Samsung, HTC, Sony Ericsson, Motorola and others, there are going to be plenty of Android devices coming out in the next few months and the HTC Wildfire is one such device.
Fortunately for this HTC made Android smart phone, it brings together a good mix of features and provides an excellent degree of social network integration that makes it stand out among the many other Android smart phones available on the market.
Outright, this smart phone was made for user who access social networking sites very often. The Wildfire was designed for major Twitter and Facebook users, which means that if you love checking the latest status updates and would punctuate every major decision with a Tweet, then this smart phone is a match for you.
The device not only makes accessing social network accounts easy, it also brings in Flicker, YouTube, Picasa and more. These web media sharing services are quite important since that allow users to easily upload and share media with friends a family –an important consideration for anyone who uses social networking heavily.
Aside from that, the device also comes with multimedia playback capabilities as well. The Wildfire’s media player can handle a wide range of music and video formats, and the built in camera can take high resolution images and video.
The device itself comes with a nice 3.2 inch TFT capacitive touch screen display, a 5 mega pixel camera, a 528 MHz CPU and of course, Android 2.1 Éclair. So far, no word has been given as to when an update to version 2.2 Froyo will be available but with the HTC Desire getting a patch in the next few days; it would not be long before the Wildfire also gets an update as well.
Mobile Phone Deals for Desire, Wildfire and Bold 9700
If you are itching to buy a new smart phone, then you might want to check on the following offerings from the various network operators. In this list, we are covering the impressive Android smart phones HTC Desire and HTC Wildfire, as well as Blackberry’s Bold 9700.
Of the three, the HTC Desire is getting the most attention from interested smart phone buyers. The device is packed to the brim with features and has hardware that can match that of the Nexus One. This phone has a 5 mega pixel camera, a 3.7 inch AMOLED touch screen display, a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and of course, the Android 2.1 Éclair operating system.
Orange Mobile UK is offering the handset on a couple of really tempting deals; at 25 Pounds a month for 18 months (Dolphin 25 plan), nets you the phone for free with 500 MB of data allowance each month. T-Mobile UK offers the handset at a similar rate, with an 18 month contract with a 25 Pound tariff. The only difference is that T-Mobile gives a better deal with the data allowance –giving users a full 1GB of data.
If the Desire is a little too expensive for your tastes, then you might want to go for the HTC Wildfire. This handset is basically the Desire Lite –with lesser hardware capabilities, but extended social networking functions. Vodafone UK offers the Wildfire for a very low cost of 15 Pounds a month for 24 months. Users will get 300 minutes of talk time, unlimited messages and about 500 MB of data allowance.
The BlackBerry Bold 9700 is the perfect choice for heavy email users thanks to BB’s impressive OS and the portrait QWERTY keyboard. 3 Mobile UK has announced that their plans for the Bold 9700 include on that nets users the device for free at 20 Pounds each month for 24 months. This package deal gives 500 MB of data allowance too.
HTC Gears Up for Lawsuit
The actual court hearing for the Apple versus HTC patent infringement case is not going to happen until sometime later in the future, but it seems like the two companies are pretty much on fire because of this.
Obviously, Apple’s bigger plan is about being able to affect the development of the Android operating system –something that HTC is sure to put into their defense. But playing an even bigger role will be HTC’s own patents. With the lawsuit encompassing 20 patents filed and owned by Apple, HTC will still have to go a long way into proving that they made the technologies and innovations first.
HTC’s top heads has already given their statements in regards to this matter:
From Peter Chou, CEO of HTC, “HTC disagrees with Apple’s actions and will fully defend itself. HTC strongly advocates intellectual property protection and will continue to respect other innovators and their technologies as we have always done, but we will continue to embrace competition through our own innovation as a healthy way for consumers to get the best mobile experience possible.”
“From day one, HTC has focused on creating cutting-edge innovations that deliver unique value for people looking for a smartphone. In 1999 we started designing the XDA and T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone Edition, our first touch-screen smartphones, and they both shipped in 2002 with more than 50 additional HTC smartphone models shipping since then.”
From Jason Mackenzie, VP of HTC America, “HTC has always taken a partnership-oriented, collaborative approach to business. This has led to long-standing strategic partnerships with the top software, Internet and wireless technology companies in the industry as well as the top U.S., European and Asian mobile operators.”
“It is through these relationships that we have been able to deliver the world’s most diverse series of smartphones to an even more diverse group of people around the world, recognizing that customers have very different needs.”
Get to know more about HTC’s statements at GSM Arena.
HTC’s WMC Trio Available on Pre Order at Amazon UK
If you have seen the new offerings from HTC last February, then you might be happy to know that the three new smart phones are now available through pre-orders on Amazon UK. As expected, all three devices will be launching this coming April (though we hoped two of those would be out this March).
For those unfamiliar with the HTC Desire, HTC Legend and HTC HD Mini, here is a quick rundown of the phone’s specs and best features.
The HTC Desire is considered to be the better Nexus One. As you may already know, HTC was the manufacturer behind the Google phone. In some ways, it can be said that the Desire is the original basis for the Nexus One. When HTC first announced this device, it was named the Bravo and it already has the specs that we see today.
First off, it runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU clocked at 1GHz which means that it will be able to run without loading times and no slowdowns. The 5 mega pixel camera is able to take high quality images and videos at 720p. Lastly, the 3.7 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screen delivers excellent visuals and accurate touch control.
The HTC Legend on the other hand is like a Desire Lite. It comes with a 600 MHz Qualcomm processor, a 3.2 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screen and a 5 mega pixel camera (WVGA recording capability). The Legend serves as the successor to the HTC Hero Android smart phone and will have an aluminum casing. Both the Desire and the Legend use the HTC Sense user interface.
The HTC HD Mini is a Window Mobile phone using version 6.5.3 Maldives. This new version is made to be compatible with capacitive touch screens allowing for a better user experience when using WinMo.
Read more about HTC’s upcoming new offerings at Stuff TV.
The Phone Legend from HTC
The previous years have seen an increase in the number of phone manufacturers come up in such a high rate. This has been occasioned by the demand in the phone market. However, nowadays people do not just buy phones to communicate. Recent innovations have taken the market to greater heights and the sophistications that have characterized the phone market cannot in any way be ignored. Nowadays most of the phones have enhanced capabilities that have made life much easier in terms of information and communication. These changes have caused cut throat competition between manufacturers who try to come up with innovative solutions to retain or attract customers. The companies which stand the test of time get the chance to get a large chunk in the market. Companies will generally be judged on the type and caliber of phones they produce. The consumer is the ultimate judge and he does this by choosing one of the numerous types of phones in the market.
One of the phones that have found favor in the eyes of many customers is the HTC Legend. And as its name states the phone is a true legend and with its sleek design and unique features it will thrive in the market in a marvelous way. The phone right from the outside is very attractive and it gives so much promise to its users through its external artistically designed features. The phone enhances its touch and feel by having a brushed metal like surface. This ensures that once you have it your hand you may never let it go. This experience is one to be cherished.
The phone has a light emitting diode screen which provides its users with a magnificent out of the world experience of entertainment and internet clarity. The phone through its relatively large screen ensures that access and crispness of the photos is at all-time high and thus giving you a scintillating experience. Networking with the phone has been considered with utmost importance and with the HTC Legend then this phenomenon is only made better. The manufacturers of the phone may have had as one of their main aspects in creating it as it almost evident through the customized features which are perfected for this purpose alone. The phone allows the owners to create their own groups where they can interact and communicate with their loved ones and friends. Interacting with other social networking sites such as face book, twitter and the rest has been simplified so as to give the consumer more ease in getting in touch with the rest of the social networking community.
The phone captivates its customer with a larger selection of widgets which widens their scoop on the possibilities that they are presented with entertainment wise. The gadget ensures that the customers enjoy more live contents which in turn translate to more entertainment. This however does not end there, the phone has an online widget library where you can store most of your valuable information online and still have access to it at your own convenient time.
It is often said that little things usually make up big things. The HTC Legend is no exception and with it the small features magnify the magnificence of the phone. One of small features that make a significant difference is the inbuilt sensor which detects that the user has hard the call thus it reduces the ringing volume. This is one of the ways that can effectively reduce disturbance made by the phone in case you are in a situation where silence is highly regarded. The HTC Legend is surely the ultimate legend in the world of phones.
HTC to Make New O2 Handset
Looks like HTC is the new go to guy this 2010.
The year opened with the surprise launch of the Nexus One, the Google phone manufactured by HTC. Now, reports are stating that HTC is at it again. This time, they are working on a brand new device for O2.
Details at the moment are scarce. HTC is currently known for making Android smart phones, and with the many Android smart phones heading out this year, it can be any of those. The HTC Salsa, HTC Tide and HTC Buzz are all part of the same HTC roadmap which contained the Bravo and the Legend. Any of these three phones would make for an excellent, affordable Android smart phone for this current generation. Another HTC Android device in the works is the recently reported Scorpion which supposedly packs a 1.5GHz processor.
Aside from those, it has also been reported that HTC is working on other devices as well. The Espresso is expected to be a Hero with a keyboard while the Touch.Brew is a completely new phone using the Brew OS. Chances are we might not get a peek at this operator exclusive device in the upcoming Mobile World Congress this Sunday at Barcelona, Spain.
HTC has been busy lately.
They just confirmed that the Legend is indeed coming out (thanks to an advertisement by KPN), and many are hoping that the Hero upgrade will arrive at the same time as its Netherlands launch date (around March 2010).
The Bravo, confirmed for a March launch, will be facing the new Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 as the two devices square off their Snapdragon processors on each other. The Bravo is very much like the Nexus One in specs and the XPERIA X10 is the first SE Android phone.
Get to know more about the HTC-O2 tie up at the source.
HTC Legend Seen in Images
The upcoming HTC Bravo will not be launching alone. The device will be accompanied by the HTC Legend this March.
Both Android smart phones were revealed last year when the 2010 roadmap for HTC was revealed. The Legend, despite being considered a Hero successor, looks more like a Bravo Lite than anything else. The phone will come with a Qualcomm 600 MHz CPU, a 5 mega pixel camera (no HD video recording) and a 3.2 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screen with a resolution of 480 x 320 pixels.
Users will enjoy the phone’s optical trackpad, support for WiFi and GPS, FM radio capabilities and media player. The phone will support Bluetooth devices and you favorite headphones via the 3.5 mm audio jack.
It is expected that the HTC Legend will be on the floor of the upcoming Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain which will be held at the end of this week. No word has been given which version of the OS will come with the device.
With the Legend and the Bravo coming, many are curious as to what will happen with the three other Android smart phones. The HTC Buzz, Tide and Salsa are all impressive mobile phones (though not on the same caliber as the HTC Bravo). The Salsa and its physical keyboard would certainly make for a great business edition device.
Also in the leaked HTC roadmap are three Windows Mobile devices. Each of the three phones is supposed to come with business card readers and WinMo 6.5; considering the new news about the new 6.5.3 Maldives and the upcoming WinMo 7 it is possible that progress on the Photon, Trophy and the Tera are to be stopped until the next version of Windows Mobile has been completed.
Read more about the images of the HTC Legend and its specs from the GSM Arena official website.
HTC Smart: Stepping Stone or Stepping Back?
The HTC Smart will be released sometime during the early part of this year. The Smart handset will be one of the companies more inexpensive options. It is rumored to be designed for either someone new to the mobile phone market or for those who aren't in a position to spend a lot of money on a handset but who still wants the basics. The hope is that once they become familiar with HTC and begin to feel comfortable with the phone, when they are ready to move up and spend more money, they will do so with the company.
Though the Smart has many of the same the features and specs that a lower priced smartphone might have, it is not a smartphone in the traditional sense. It runs on the Qualcomm’s Brew Mobile Platform. AT&T also has some phones that run on this same platform.
The HTC Smart has a 3.0 megapixel camera which is actually pretty nice. It runs on a Euro friendly 3G network plus Quadband EDGE. It has 256MB of internal memory. More memory can be added. Individuals that wish to upgrade the amount of memory on the handset will only need to purchase a microSD card. Individuals will be able browse the Internet, though the phone’s processors speed is pretty slow as 300MHz.
The display is a QVGA touchscreen and is just shy of 3.0 inches (2.8 in). Individuals will be able to use the phone hands-free via the mobile’s Bluetooth connectivity. As of right now, there will be no WiFi or GPS.
The Smart is essentially a lower priced, budget phone either for those new to the mobile phone market or who aren’t in the financial position to purchase one of the higher priced smartphones. This seems to be the trend for 2010. Many handset manufacturers are looking to offer consumers affordable, mobile phones, not just HTC. Due to the state of the global economy this seems to be an approach that makes sense.
A Successor for HTC Hero in 2010
HTC corporation has the reputation of being the first handset vendor to launch on into the market a Google powered Android operating system and not only that, the Taiwanese based mobile manufacturing company has since gone ahead to deliver to the a few more smartophones with a wide range of Android handsets expected to arrive in the coming year. These set of release is likely to witness the very popular HTC Hero successor.
Latest Internet news has it that an HTC company executive has given a confirmation already about the work that is going on about the introduction of the HTC Hero successor. The likely date for the unveiling will be in February when the world will converge for the Mobile World Congress and this is will take place in 2010. The company however has not given any details as to what we are likely to see in the new HTC Hero Successor when it comes out.
A peep into the yet to be released HTC Espresso shows that it is likely to come with an ARMv6 chip, clocked at 528MHz and is expected to be a GSM version of the HTC Hero that has a landscape QWERTY. When you however consider that a clue into a 320x480-pixel screen resolution reminds you of Hero as well, then you know that an HTC profile as found by Tweekers.net makes the picture clearer.
Though nothing is yet certain as to what the features would be, yet the huge success of the HTC Hero raises hope as to what HTC Corporation is capable of doing. Though the year 2010 is expected to witness a lot of innovation in the mobile telecommunication world, the HTC Hero successor will definitely win a lot of hearts. As the world waits, you can be rest assured that we will update you as they come.