UK Mobile Review » HTC

Sasmung Galaxy SIII – 9 million preorders and counting

Nirave — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:01:52 +0000

Samsung’s Galaxy S III flagship was almost certain to continue the success of its predecessor but if early pre order figures are accurate, the Galaxy SIII could blow even the stiffest competition out of the water. An unnamed Samsung official is quoted in the Korea Times as saying that Samsung’s latest smash hit has amassed nearly 9 million preorders across 100 carriers around the world.

Samsung’s Galaxy SII, which won the prestigious “Phone of the Year” award last year, took ten months to ship 20 million units, whilst the latest one has reached that milestone in two weeks since its announcement. Whilst the Galaxy SII figures counted shipments (and excess stock in warehouses, distributors etc), the Galaxy SIII figures count pre-orders which are almost as good as actual sales figures.

The key thing here is that these Galaxy SIII figures Do not include Apple’s home market in the USA, which also happens to be one of the biggest markets globally and key to any manufacturer’s success. Whichever way you look at it, Samsung have another smash hit on their hands and the competition definitely have something to worry about.

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Sasmung Galaxy SIII – 9 million preorders and counting originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on May 18, 2012.

Apple holds 7.9% of global mobile phone market

Nirave — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:23:49 +0000

Samsung may be reaping the rewards from its multiple Galaxy product ranges, but Apple is showing that the world can be dominated with just a few products. Latest research from Gartner shows that Apple has gained 7.9% market share of the entire global phone sales market, despite only have three iPhones on sale. The research firmly pegs Apple in third place behind Nokia and Samsung.

Total sales of mobile phones are down on last year, but smartphones continue to rise as more people choose smartphones over featurephones. Gartner also warns that whilst Apple’s iOS (and Windows Phone) offer different experiences, devices running on the Android platform would struggle to differentiate going forward with the main differential being price, especially in the mid-range.

“This is particularly true for smartphones based on the Android OS, where a strong commoditization trend is at work and most players are finding it hard to break the mould.”

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Apple holds 7.9% of global mobile phone market originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on May 17, 2012.

HTC One X, EVO 4G LTE for US running different ROM; avoids Apple’s patents

Nirave — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:17:45 +0000

You may have read yesterday that HTC’s One X and EVO 4G LTE had been stopped from entering the US after Apple succeeded in proving the device infringed on a patent owned by the company.

The Verge reports that to overcome this issue, HTC has developed a different ROM for both devices, which specifically doesn’t feature the data tapping feature that was the cause of the ITC decision to ban sales of those smartphones in the US. The data tapping feature, which has been patented by Apple, allows you to click on a number, email address or web link and show a menu of options.

Clicking on a web URL on the US versions of these two smartphones will result in the link being opened in the default app (i.e. default browser), without displaying the pop up links menu. To change the app that it opens in, you have to go the Settings Menu and choose the default app inside the ‘App Associations’ menu, which is not present on the international version of these devices.

Source ~ Via

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HTC One X, EVO 4G LTE for US running different ROM; avoids Apple’s patents originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on May 17, 2012.

HTC admits tweaking Sense 4.0 memory management

Nirave — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:24:45 +0000

HTC’s Sense UI, which runs on the companies HTC One Series including the One X and One S, has come under fire from XDA Developers, who feel that the method of implementing multitasking on the devices.

The community feels that HTC’s implementation of multitasking on Sense 4.0 has led to apps being killed off and then not returning to their last-used state when being reopened.

Here’s what HTC had to say about it:

“HTC is aware of some questions in the enthusiast community about how the HTC One X handles multitasking and memory management for background apps. We value the community’s input and are always looking for ways to enhance customers’ experience with our devices. That said, multitasking is operating normally according to our custom memory management specifications which balance core ICS features with a consistent HTC Sense experience“.

As part of their Sense UI, HTC is applying their own memory management in order to “optimise” the user experience. Whilst it may be okay for most users, there are power users who will be disappointed by HTC’s implementation. If that’s you, then fear no more as you can root your One X and tweak/apply a custom ROM.

Source ~ Source

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HTC admits tweaking Sense 4.0 memory management originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on May 17, 2012.

Apple iPhone 6 to Increase in Size

Dani — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:38:54 +0000

Latest reports suggest that Apple’s new iPhone 6 could arrive with a 4-inch display.

Apple has kept the same 3.5 screen though out its iPhone family and some would say that it is time for a change. Larger smartphones are arriving everyday with the likes of HTC One series, Samsung Galaxy SIII and Nokia’s new windows phone, the Lumia 900.

The report from the Wall Street Journal cites sources who say Apple has placed the new sized screen under order. A 4-inch screen from Apple would still be undersized in comparison with the 4.7 inch of the HTC One X and Samsung’s Galaxy S3 at 4.8-inch.

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Apple iPhone 6 to Increase in Size originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on May 16, 2012.

HTC: No US-Import for Some Devices

Michel — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:30:12 +0000

Last year Apple filed a law-suit against some HTC phones, now it seems to carry out.

Earlier today i heard that the HTC One X and the HTC Evo 4G LTE are being delayed in the US because of Apple’s law-suit angainst them in December 2011, where apple claimed HTC would use some of their patents in those Adroid based devices .

HTC confirmed those rumors earlier today as i quote : ”The U.S. availability of the HTC One X and HTC EVO 4G LTE has been delayed due to a standard U.S. Customs review of shipments that is required after an ITC exclusion order,”

“We believe we are in compliance with the ruling and HTC is working closely with Customs to secure approval.”

Last Year Apple stated infront of the ITC that HTC infrigned their patents of Data detection, the ITC ruled in Apple’s favour, and now it seems they stopped the import of HTC devices.

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HTC: No US-Import for Some Devices originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on May 16, 2012.

Google to sell multiple Nexus branded devices later this year

Nirave — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:28:54 +0000

Traditionally Google has only launched one Nexus branded handset per year, following the lead of Apple, but that could be set to change according to the Wall Street Journal. WSJ report that Google is planning a much bigger roll out of Nexus branded handsets this year with up to 5 manufacturers, including Motorola who are being purchased by Google, all launching Nexus branded stock Android smartphones.

Why is Google planning this? To ease growing unrest over the company’s planned acquisition of Motorola which Google partners believe could give the company unfair favouritism. Google is also hoping that the launch of a range of Nexus branded stock Android devices would mean that the hardware OEMs differentiate against each other based purely on hardware, and not the current hardware/UI differentiation status quo.

Google is also hoping that offering multiple manufacturers early access to the latest Android build will represent faster updates for non-Nexus devices and the WSJ also comments that Google could look to enforce the pure Android platform on all Android devices as the use of custom UIs often leads to slower updates and a poorer experience.

Google’s plan of attack isn’t exclusive to mobile smartphones either as the company could use the same concept to relaunch Android tablets. The new Nexus branded handsets would be sold directly through Google’s online store, network-free, unlocked and at a full price.

Source ~ Via

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Google to sell multiple Nexus branded devices later this year originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on May 16, 2012.

HTC Desire C headed to T-Mobile

Nirave — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:50:15 +0000

HTC’s latest affordable Android smartphone, the Desire C, is headed to T-Mobile UK the network announced earlier today.

HTC unveiled their latest smartphone this morning, bringing Beats Audio, HTC Sense, free DropBox space and the latest Android Ice Cream Sandwich operating system to an affordable low price handset.

T-Mobile will be stocking the device from early June, with the Desire C costing just £169.99 on PAYG or free on pay monthly contracts starting at £15.50 per month.

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HTC Desire C headed to T-Mobile originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on May 15, 2012.

HTC Desire C sneak peak video from Three

Nirave — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:29:09 +0000

Three have uploaded a video showing off the HTC Desire C, which was announced earlier today.

The Desire C brings Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and HTC’s Sense UI alongside Beats Audio technology and free Dropbox space to an affordable Android handset which is expected to land early next month.

Check out Brandon from Three’s take on the Desire C in the video below.

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HTC Desire C sneak peak video from Three originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on May 15, 2012.

HTC Desire C announced

Nirave — Tue, 15 May 2012 09:56:06 +0000

HTC have just unveiled their latest smartphone, the Desire C, following the device appearing in Vodafone Portugal’s May catalogue.

The Desire C will join the HTC One series in offering Beats Audio technology alongside the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system coupled with HTC’s own Sense UI overlay.

The Desire C features a 3.5 HVGA display alongside 23GB extra DropBox space, courtesy of the partnership that the two companies have struck up. The Desire C is powered by a 600MHz processor, features 4GB internal memory and comes with a 5 megapixel camera and NFC support.

Full press release below.

HTC LAUNCHES Desire C, ITS LATEST smartphone WITH BEATS AUDIO

New HTC Desire C – brilliant, entertaining and well connected

LONDON, UK — 15 May 2012 — Following on from the successful launch of the HTC One series, HTC, a global designer of smartphones, today unveiled its latest phone, the HTC Desire C. Featuring Beats Audio™ technology, this premium designed, yet affordable smartphone, allows you to hear your music just as the artist intended. The HTC Desire C also enables you to easily manage your professional and personal lives and share the moments that shape them.

Available in red, white and black, and coming with HTC Sense 4.0 integrated with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), the HTC Desire C is great as a first smartphone or for those upgrading from an existing one. Packing a powerful battery and offering access to thousands of apps, games, music and movies – available through Google Play – you will always be connected and entertained whether at work, home or on the move.

“Listening to music is one of the most popular things people use their phones for, so it’s more important than ever that we deliver the power and emotion artists capture in the studio,” said Jason Mackenzie, President, Global Sales and Marketing for HTC Corporation. “The HTC Desire C offers customers excellent design, easy access to content and fast connectivity – making it the perfect all round device.”

Authentic sound without compromise

The HTC Desire C features a powerful, yet rich studio-quality sound experience that is enabled through the combination of optimized Beats Audio and amazing hardware. This integration enables a rich, clear audio experience to customers no matter if they’re listening to music or playing a game.

Premium design taken to a new level

Combining a durable metal frame with precision engineering, the HTC Desire C is ideal for those who want a premium-designed phone. Boasting a micro-drilled earpiece for sharp in-call sound, hyper-viewing angle display and metal camera bezel, this compact smartphone offers an unrivalled level of design and user-experience for its class.

Designed for sharing

Packing the latest mobile technology into a neat, eye-catching design, HTC Desire C’s vibrant 3.5-inch HVGA screen makes it easy to browse the Web, view photos or connect with friends and family. If you like to share personal experiences with your social network, HTC Desire C’s 5 megapixel camera and instant sharing capabilities will allow you to post any moment, seconds after it was captured.

Through HTC Desire C’s deep integration of Dropbox and 25GB of free online space[i], you also have the freedom to securely back-up, browse and share thousands of photos, videos and documents, whether stored locally or in the cloud.

Ensuring that HTC Desire C keeps pace with new mobile services as they become available there is also an NFC variant of this model, allowing users to make payments or access information and offers.

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HTC Desire C announced originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on May 15, 2012.

HTC Desire C press shot and speaks leak

Nirave — Sun, 13 May 2012 09:59:45 +0000

HTC’s upcoming Desire C has broken cover several times before but now we’ve seen it appear in its first press shot alongside some more confirmed info about its specs list. Vodafone Portugal added the info about the device in this month’s catalogue even before HTC actually announced the device.

Here’s the confirmed specs of the HTC Desire C, which has appeared previously and was originally expected to be the next device in HTC’s Wildfire range.

3.5 inch display (320×480 pixels)
600 MHz processor
HSDPA
4GB internal memory
5 megapixel camera

The most important thing about the Desire C is that the device will ship running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich alongside HTC’s customary Sense UI overlay.

The press shot also reveals that the device will feature Beats Audio technology and the overall specs are definitely impressive for a device set to debut for less than €200 before taxes and subsidies.

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HTC Desire C press shot and speaks leak originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on May 13, 2012.

Video: HTC One X vs Nokia Lumia 900

Nirave — Sun, 13 May 2012 08:51:22 +0000

Michael from PocketNow has uploaded a video comparing the mammoth HTC One X against Nokia’s flagship Lumia 900 smartphone.

The video is really well thought out and a very fair comparison of the two smartphones that the respective companies hope will give them the edge going into the second half of 2012.

HTC’s One X features a quad-core 1.5 GHz NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor whilst Nokia’s Lumia 900 features a 1.4GHz single-core CPU. Despite a much more powerful CPU in the One X, Nokia’s Lumia 900 features the Windows Phone OS meaning it doesn’t need a multi-core CPU and works perfectly fluid with a single-core processor.

What did you think of the comparison? Let us know in the comments below.

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Video: HTC One X vs Nokia Lumia 900 originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on May 13, 2012.

T-Mobile Promotes HTC One S

Dani — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:34:53 +0000

The HTC One series have recently hit American stores with the HTC One S being exclusive to T-Mobile.

Here we take look at T-Mobile’s newest advertisement featured the HTC One S. The One S combines the 4G technology to stream your favourite songs direct from cloud on Google Play.

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T-Mobile Promotes HTC One S originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on May 10, 2012.

HTC Desire C Leaked Images

Dani — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:04:21 +0000

HTC’s new low-end Android, the HTC Desire C has been caught roaming in the wild and a few leaked images have been caught on camera.

Not much is known about the new device, though the named Golf / Wildfire C is expected to get its official announcement soon. The smartphone will run on Android 4.0.

We will bring you more information as soon as we are able.

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HTC Desire C Leaked Images originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on May 9, 2012.

HTC One X Review; Power Meets Style

Nirave — Wed, 09 May 2012 09:43:08 +0000

Introduction

HTC’s One X was introduced alongside its brothers, the One S and One V, back at Mobile World Congress 2012. Grabbing the headlines with its quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor, the One X brings HTC’s premium design and style to a top of the range 2012 flagship as alongside the amazing processor, the One X also brings astounding design and build quality to a device with a HD display.

The One X definitely sits as HTC’s flagship and looks to build on the original XL device, the Sensation XL, with which HTC had a great idea (to satisfy the need for large screen devices) but executed poorly. From the first moment of turning on the One X, the flagship HTC smartphone for 2012 strikes with its gracious design, premium feel and quality display.

However, with the launch of Samsung’s Galaxy S3, HTC may have a challenger for the One X. Samsung’s latest flagship will go toe-to-toe with HTC at the end of the month but in the meantime, HTC’s latest device has a two month head start. Join us as we take an in-depth look at the One X.

Highlights

The Good:

Excellent screen – 720p HD SLCD2
Top of the range specs
Premium feel and build
Fast photo capture
NFC support (yay!)

The Bad:

Battery can struggle to last the day
OS/UI does not make full use of large screen customisation
LED indicator ideally needs to be bigger

Key Features

Here’s some of the HTC One X key features, taken from the specs list.

4.7 inch SLCD2 720p HD display
1.5 GHz quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 “4-PLUS-1″ processor
32GB internal memory, 1GB RAM
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, HTC Sense UI 4.0
8 megapixel camera, 1080p HD video capture, Sense Imaging chip
Simultaneous video recording and photo capture

Build, Design & Feel

This is where I personally feel the One X definitely excels. The smartphone is definitely on the larger side of life. The 720p HD 4.7 inch SLCD2 display dominates the front of the device, but one of the best things about the device is that it does not feel too big. As I have mentioned, it is a big device but in the right hands (I have got quite large hands) it does not feel that big.

The capacitive keys at the bottom of the device are smooth and responsive without any real delay, but can be quite difficult to reach depending on how the device rests in your hand.

The front of the device also features the audio grill, front-facing camera (records 720p HD video) as well as a really small LED light indicator. About that LED light; it is great to have but the light is just too small at first appearance. It does take getting used to but the indicator does eventually become useful.

The left of the device features the device’s microUSB port and one of the best things about this device is that most microUSB cables will work with it.

The right of the device features the volume buttons which are responsive and easy to press.

I am eternally grateful that HTC did not copy Samsung and put the power button on the right side, instead putting it on the top of the device. The top of the device also features the headphone jack as well as the microSIM card slot, which requires a pin to open the sim card slot.

The rear of the device features the circular camera sensor, raised from the rear of the device which takes on a nice texture. The rear also features the silver HTC logo, Beats Audio branding and loud speaker grill. The material on the device rear does unfortunately cause it to slip a little in your hand. Overall, it was great using the One X and the build quality is immense.

Here is our full HTC One X unboxing gallery:

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Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS

Unlike past devices, HTC have chosen to power their latest flagship device with the latest version of Google’s OS and the redesigned Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich UI and look definitely improve the overall user experience of the One X.

Features such as Face Unlock, Android Beam (NFC file sharing) and updated applications such as the Google Play Store, redesigned Settings menu and the full Android ICS experience definitely ensure the experience is something to remember.

Android 4.0 finally brings the Android platform up to the user experience on Apple’s iOS platform and definitely delivers a stunning experience on the One X. One key part of the Android OS is OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers, like HTC) branding – in this case HTC Sense – which changes the overall experience and look and feel of the device, whilst retaining the key features that make Android popular.

We will bring you our in-depth Android ICS OS review in the next few days so be sure to check back for that.

HTC Sense UI 4

HTC’s new Sense UI is definitely leaner than previous versions; whilst always a great concept, HTC’s implementation of the UI has usually been rather lacklustre with lower RAM and a more resource-intensive UI both combining to make the experience problematic.

However, with Sense UI 4.0 this has all changed and HTC have finally done it; they have stripped down the UI to use less resources whilst keeping all the key features (plus lots of new features) and boosted RAM inside the device to make sure the UI improves the experience without hampering the performance of the device.

Some of the key features of HTC Sense UI 4.0 are improved widgets, which make full use of the Android ICS platform, an improved lock screen and the usual array of HTC additions that stand smartphones running HTC Sense a class apart from the competition.

We have looked into a few of the key changes in HTC Sense UI 4 below and we will bring you a full in-depth review of the UI shortly so check back soon.

Contacts, Dialler & Menu

We have covered some of the key features included as part of HTC Sense UI 4.0 and we will be going into a lot more depth very soon!

Contacts

HTC Sense UI and the contacts app is one of my favourite contacts offerings without doubt. HTC have really thought through social integration and as part of the initial setup, you can sync your Twitter and Facebook contacts directly into the People app.

HTC have also made it really easy to change which contacts are displayed, with a simple tap on the phonebook menu presenting a dropdown list of all your social/email contacts lists.

Dialler

HTC’s dialer is also fantastic, offering up smart dialling (where you type the beginning of the contact name or number and it searches your device for matches) as well as speed dials and a very quick and easy to access list of your contacts, groups and favourite contacts.

One of the best things about the HTC Sense dialler on the One X is that the dialler keys are big and finger friendly. Tactile feedback when touching the display provides a timely accurate gentle nudge that the option has been selected.

Our one major annoyance with the Menu system is the lack of customisability; sure you can change which apps are viewed but it constantly changes the layout of the apps and there is no way to choose display all apps and manually choose the location of each app. Not a major downfall but a small pet peeve nonetheless.

Social Networking, Maps & Apps

Social Networking

Social networking is where HTC devices have really excelled and even more so with the Android OS. The Android OS allows any app to integrate within the contacts and defaults applications on the device and out of the box, HTC provide Facebook, Twitter and Flickr integration into the device, whilst you can also download the official LinkedIn app (only one example) to integrate into your contacts.

HTC’s social integration goes further than just the contacts app, with HTC offering their own HTC Peep application as well as FriendStream widget which aim to bring all your social networks into one easy to use place. However, I personally preferred to use the official Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social apps individually, as opposed to just one app (my personal preference).

Maps

This is another area where Google’s platform really delivers; mapping on the One S is taken care of by Google Maps (with offline maps support), whilst navigation is taken care of by the dedicated Navigation app which provides dedicated voice turn-by-turn navigation between routes.

The only downside to Google Maps is the need for a data connection; although it supports offline maps, by default the Maps app will go online and if you use it a lot, you could definitely end up with a high data bill. Fortunately, Android ICS has a built-in data monitor to really see what you are using.

One downside to Maps is that despite constantly closing the app using the recent apps multitasking menu, the app re-opens (in the background) whenever an app accesses your location and does not shut itself down, this meant that we found the GPS chip was running even when the device wasn’t using it, which can have serious implications on battery life.

Apps

If you have read one of our Android device reviews in the past, you will have heard it all before. Android has hundreds of thousands of apps and you can pretty much find most apps that you are looking for. Either official or one of thousands of alternatives, apps are a plenty.

The Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS rolled out alongside the Samsung Galaxy Nexus in October and since then a large amount of apps have updated themselves with Android ICS support. Google’s Play Store also comes with music, videos and book options, meaning all your content needs can be served from just one application.

Under the Hood & Battery Life

Under the Hood

Under the hood, the One X packs an really impressive specs list with a quad-core 1.5GHz NVIDIA Tegra 3 “4-PLUS-1″ CPU and Adreno 225 GPU powering the large vibrant 4.7 inch 720p HD SLCD2 display. 32GB internal storage for your storage needs and 1GB RAM (for running multiple apps and processes at the same time) also make it onboard HTC’s latest (and greatest) flagship.

There is no microSD card support so if you need a lot of storage space, online services such as DropBox (you get 23GB extra space) and SkyDrive will have to make up the difference in storage. For those who still need further space, Google Drive and Box could also increase the space on the device.

Other notable features of the One X include full tri-band 3G HSPA+ support, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA (for wireless content streaming) and Wi-Fi Hotspot (to share your internet connection with others). One cool feature of HTC’s One Series, is HTC MediaLink HD, which acts like Apple TV and allows you to wireless stream your media from your device to any HD TV.

Battery Life

At this point in time, this is where the One X review gets pretty contentious. I had previously posted that I was not impressed with the One X battery life, lasting around 12-14 hours with heavy usage. I will definitely say that with everything the One X offers and can do, 12-14 hours battery life is definitely impressive.

Some days with moderate usage, I managed to get around 18-19 hours usage, whilst I have also had the device run of out battery after just 9 hours. Overall, the One X battery will power most people’s usage through an entire day but if you use your device a lot, then I’d recommend you keep a mains or portable charger to hand as you will most likely need it.

Internet Browsing

The One X comes equipped with the Android ICS browser, and as the device is running ICS, you can also install Chrome for Android. The onboard browser delivers a very pleasant browsing experience, and the browser interface disappears to display the webpage on the entire screen, which is a handy touch.

Internet browsing on the One X is fantastic. Let me repeat that, fantastic. The 4.7 inch display is definitely made for browsing the web and pages render beautifully and quickly on the device. The One X supports pinch-to-zoom like most modern smartphones and the accelerometer on the device is powerful and quick to recognise the device has been rotated.

Even Flash playback was exemplary on the device, as the quad-core CPU and 1GB RAM really kicked in to ensure that the performance never fell. If you want a pocketable smartphone for browsing the web on the move, the One X is definitely for you.

The browser also features multiple tab support, but only up to 6 tabs, which seems to be a rather small number as well as Incognito view (taken from Chrome for Desktop) which offers up private browsing on the device and allows you to bypass your history, tracking and cookies. The ICS browser menu options include options to load the Desktop view by default and enable or disable flash amongst other options, whilst the flash performance is stellar on the device with flash videos and games loading with no issues whatsoever.

Music & Beats Audio

Music on the device is taken care of by Dr Dre’s Beats Audio technology. Since HTC invested a large amount in Beats Audio, all of HTC’s premium devices have come with the music technology on board.

Music playback has most definitely improved on the device, versus previous HTC devices; sound is crisp, clear and perfect through Beats headphones. The music app also features album artwork and adding music to the device is as simple as dragging and dropping music files to the onboard storage. It is really simple and the app picks up the music quickly and easily.

Unfortunately, the One X doesn’t come bundled with Beats Audio headphones (HTC say this is to keep costs low) but with the audio technology and software already on the device, you can be safe in the knowledge that picking up a pair of Beats headphones to go with the One X will be a good choice.

Camera & Video

Camera

HTC have equipped the One X with an 8 megapixel camera and the Sense Imaging chip on the device ensures the device boots into camera with no delay, helping you capture all of those special moments. We quite easily took multiple snapshots by just pressing the on-board camera shutter button multiple times and this produced a series of hi-res, high quality pictures.

We have produced a lot of HTC One X pictures in the last month, which have all appeared on UKMR at different times; we have included some One X pictures below with links to all the articles where we have posted One X photos.

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The one key downside of the HTC One X camera (like its brother the One S) is zoom quality which is definitely sub-par and even the slightest zoom produces pixelated photos. We would have loved to have seen a physical camera button but, unfortunately it was not to be.

See a full range of HTC One X camera samples here and here.

Video

The One X records Full HD 1080p videos, and also allows for full-res photos to be taken whilst recording video. Like the camera above, the One X video zoom also outputs pixelated videos whilst zooming is jerky at best and not natural.

Generally, the One X outputs clear and crisp videos which will be perfect in most circumstances.

Ratings

Build, Design & Feel: ★★★★★
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS: ★★★★
HTC Sense UI 4: ★★★★★
Contacts, Dialler & Menu: ★★★★★
Social Networking, Maps & Apps: ★★★★★
Under The Hood: ★★★★★
Battery Life: ★★★★
Internet Browsing: ★★★★★
Music & Beats Audio: ★★★★★
Camera & Video: ★★★★

Value for Money: ★★★★★
Specs on Paper: ★★★★★
Overall performance: ★★★★★

Overall Rating: 4.7 (out of 5)

Overall Conclusion

We are now at the end of a very long review (hope you enjoyed it folks) during which the One X has undergone some extensive usage to see exactly what the device can handle. The One X is stylish, sleek, powerful and completely at home as a 2012 flagship smartphone. The One X definitely brings the penache of HTC and Beats Audio to a device that boasts top of the range specs in an amazing design.

The One X will not be everyone’s choice; the big screen alone may put people off the device due to its size but I say that if you can get past the size of the device, you will have yourself a stunning smartphone. A smartphone that has rocked the ratings charts at UKMobileReview and is already a definite contender for this year’s prestigious “Phone of the Year” award.

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HTC One X Review; Power Meets Style originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on May 9, 2012.

Smartphones dominate in the US

Nirave — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:04:31 +0000

Latest research from market research firm Nielsen has shown that more than half (50.4%) of US mobile subscribers now own a smartphone, following an increase from December 2011 (47.8%).

Smartphone penetration continued to dominate the key US market, with Apple being called the top manufacturer whilst Android was touted as the top platform. Nokia’s Lumia 900, released in the US last month, has continued to do well and capture consumers’ imagination, whilst the Windows Phone platform only captured 1.7% market share in Q1 2012 (even Windows Mobile, the older version of the platform, had a higher market share at 4.1%).

During Q1 2012, 48% of smartphones ran Android, whilst iOS captured 32% market share and RIM’s fledgling BlackBerry platform came in at a healthy 11.6% market share.

Source ~ Via

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Smartphones dominate in the US originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on May 8, 2012.

HTC One X vs DSLR; take the challenge

Nirave — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:02:28 +0000

HTC have begun a shootout between their HTC One X flagship smartphone and a professional DLSR camera and they want you to take the challenge.

The company will present you with two images, one taken by the professional DSLR camera and the other taken by their flagship smartphone and you have to decide which is taken by the HTC (with the other automatically selected as professional DLSR camera).

HTC’s One X is a great flagship smartphone and is more than capable of competing against Samsung’s new Galaxy S3 flagship as well as the upcoming Apple iPhone 5. You can see some of our One X camera samples here and here; for all our extensive HTC One X coverage, check out our dedicated portal.

Head over to the link here to take the challenge.

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HTC One X vs DSLR; take the challenge originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on May 8, 2012.

HTC sales increase in April following launch of HTC One Series

Nirave — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:36:43 +0000

HTC have announced their sales figures for April, showing their One Series, which launched at the beginning of April, has had great traction in the market. Following months of less than ideal performance, Taiwan-based HTC finally reported a rise in sales during the month of April.

HTC reported sales of TD31.03 billion ($1.06 billion) for April, which represents a small but significant increase in sales versus March, where the company reported sales of TD30.879 billion ($1.05 billion).

HTC’s sales are still down on last year April, where the company managed a whopping TD38.73 billion in sales but a second consecutive month of growth represents a turnaround of sorts for the company, who’s hero One X and One S (Review here) devices have begun selling worldwide in the last few weeks.

The company will be hoping that the increased availability of the One Series will definitely propel them to past glory in May and as the One S scored our highest ever rating in a smartphone review, we think the company has a great chance.

Source | Via

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HTC sales increase in April following launch of HTC One Series originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on May 7, 2012.

Apple iPhone winning battle versus Android gamers

Nirave — Mon, 07 May 2012 09:55:57 +0000

There is no denying that mobile gaming is most definitely on the up and a new study has found that between iOS and Android, mobile gaming is worth up to five times more on Apple’s iPhone versus the spate of Android devices.

The study was conducted by research firm Newzoo, who looked at data from iOS and Android and conducted a survey amongst 17,000 people. Some of the data found by the company includes 28% of smartphone gaming takes place on an iPhone whilst 60% of tablet gaming takes place on an iPad. The most interesting fact is that 91% of all mobile gaming revenue comes from in-app purchases whilst only 9% comes from the actual cost of the game.

Newzoo CEO, Peter Warmam, attributes the success of iOS to the in-app purchase experience:

When analyzing Apple’s successful monetization, there is one dominant factor outside of differences in audience demographics and preferences: Apple requires users to connect their credit card information directly to their account, thus creating a seamless purchase experience.”

Via

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Apple iPhone winning battle versus Android gamers originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on May 7, 2012.

HTC One X Bootloader Blocked

Dani — Sat, 05 May 2012 19:47:16 +0000

HTC One X will be available on the American AT&T network from tomorrow. The One X has been receiving great reviews and has already received one or two updates to fix the battery and other minor buds.

However, some AT&T customers may not be so happy to know that the boot loader unlock too does not work on the AT&T One X version. HTC Provides the tool to unlock allowing power users and developers th manipulate, tweak and install custom software on their new smartphones. Users of the facility are aware that this voids their warranty but it is up to the individual whether they wish to do so.

The unlock tool does work for the Intrernational One X and for the other American model offered by Rogers. However, those devices have different specifications to the AT&T model.

HTC had this to say on the matter:

“HTC is committed to listening to users and delivering customer satisfaction. Since announcing our commitment to unlockable bootloaders, HTC has worked to enable our customers to unlock the bootloader on more than 45 devices over the past six months. In some cases, however, restrictions prevent certain devices from participating in our bootloader unlocking program. Rest assured, HTC is committed to assisting developers in unlocking bootloaders for HTC devices and we’ll continue to unlock additional devices in the future.”

If you do require the unlock tool, it looks like you will need to make your smartphone purchase from an alternative supplier to AT&T.

Source

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HTC One X Bootloader Blocked originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on May 5, 2012.

Samsung Galaxy S3 vs HTC One X

Nirave — Fri, 04 May 2012 18:09:55 +0000

At last night’s Samsung Galaxy S3 launch in London, we managed to get some hands on time with the smartphone and whilst also snapping away at Samsung’s latest answer to the iPhone, we also put it up against HTC’s latest flagship smartphone, the One X, which brings a polycarbonate unibody design to a high-end smartphone.

Both devices feature 720p HD displays with the One X sporting a 4.7 inch screen and the Galaxy S3 a 4.8 inch screen. Both run Android Ice Cream Sandwich with quad-core processors, 1GB RAM and 8 megapixel cameras. We’ll be focusing on comparing every aspect of these two devices side by side but for now, we’re taking a look at the design of them.

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The One X has a really nice feel to the rear of the device, whilst to be completely honest the Galaxy S3 just feels cheap and plastic, much like the original Galaxy S. However, on the flip side, the Galaxy S3 definitely feels faster and smoother to use, but you do lose HTC’s excellent Sense UI.

Both devices are set to go head to head over the coming months but with a stylish design, better build and feel and Beats Audio integration, the One X will definitely stand up to the Galaxy S3. Samsung’s overall brand, which recently became the number one global manufacturer of mobile phones (toppling Nokia) and smartphones (toppling Apple), will prove to be key as the company throws a massive marketing campaign behind the device to build on the popularity of the Samsung Galaxy S2.

A quick note: a lot of the pictures were too dark to be uploaded as the lighting wasn’t adequate on the demo floor last night.

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Samsung Galaxy S3 vs HTC One X originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on May 4, 2012.

Android Hacking Attack Alert

Dani — Wed, 02 May 2012 19:17:31 +0000

The Android phone is under attack by a new form of hacking attempt. Please read the full information below and be wary of installing any unofficial products or apps.

Security Alert: Hacked Websites Serve Suspicious Android Apps (NonCompatible)

Hacked websites are frequently used to infect PCs with malware; however, today we have identified the first time hacked websites are being used to specifically target mobile devices. Lookout is in the process of rolling out an update to protect against the new threat, NonCompatible.

How it Works

In this specific attack (called NonCompatible), if a user visits a compromised website from an Android device, their web browser will automatically begin downloading an application—this process is commonly referred to as a drive by download.

When the suspicious application finishes downloading, the device will display a notification prompting the user to click on the notification to install the downloaded app. In order to actually install the app to your phone, you must have the “Unknown sources” setting enabled (this feature is commonly referred to as “sideloading”). If the device does not have the unknown sources setting enabled, they will not be affected by the application; however, if a user does have the unknown sources setting enabled, installing the app will result in their device becoming infected.

Technical details

Infected websites commonly have the following code inserted into the bottom of each page:
style=”visibility: hidden; display: none; display: none;”
src=”hxxp://gaoanalitics.info/?id={1234567890-0000-DEAD-BEEF-133713371337}”>

We’re still in the process of assessing the full extent of infected sites; however, there are early indications that the number of affected sites could be numerous.

When a PC-based web browser accesses the site at gaoanalitics.info, a not found error is returned; however, if a web browser with the word “Android” in its user-agent header accesses the page, the following is returned:

This page causes the browser to immediately attempt to access the page at androidonlinefix.info. Like the previous site, only browsers sending an Android User-agent string will trigger a download (all other browsers will show a blank page). When visiting this page from an Android browser, the server returns an android application, causing an Android browser to automatically download it.

Technical Summary

Suspicious applications are currently served from the following sites:

· gaoanalitics.info

· androidonlinefix.info

Command and Control (C&C) domains include:

· notcompatibleapp.eu

We’re still in the process of assessing the full extent of infected sites; however, there are early indications that the number of affected sites could be numerous. As Lookout identifies the extent of infected websites, we will update this blog post.

The Lookout security team is actively investigating the infected websites and suspicious application.

Source

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Android Hacking Attack Alert originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on May 2, 2012.

Samsung surpasses Apple to go No 1. in smartphone sales

Nirave — Wed, 02 May 2012 10:57:02 +0000

Samsung overtook Apple to become no 1. in smartphone shipments globally, as part of the 42.5% year on year smartphone market growth.

Market research firm IDC say that overall phone shipments totalled 398.4 million versus Q1 2011 and Samsung, who recently ousted Nokia to become No 1 global handset maker, also overtook Apple to lead both markets.

Samsung just reported a record 82% increase in profits delivering a total of 5.05 trillion won, helped by amazing sales for its Galaxy SII flagship and according to the IDC, Samsung captures 29.1% of the smartphone market in Q1 versus Apple who claimed 24.2% market share.

Ramon Llamas, IDC senior research analyst, said:

“The race between Apple and Samsung remained tight during the quarter, even as both companies posted growth in key areas. Apple launched its popular iPhone 4S in additional key markets, most notably in China, and Samsung experienced continued success from its Galaxy Note smartphone/tablet and other Galaxy smartphones. With other companies in the midst of major strategic transitions, the contest between Apple and Samsung will bear close observation as hotly-anticipated new models are launched.”

IDC’s research also confirms that Nokia fell from 23.2% to 8.2%, whilst RIM dropped from 13.6% to 6.7% and HTC dropped from 8.9% to 4.8%.

With the launch of the Samsung Galaxy SIII tomorrow evening, it looks like Samsung’s reign atop the pile could continue further. Some of the rumoured specs of the upcoming flagship device include a 4.8 inch 720p (or possibly 1080p Full HD) Super AMOLED HD display, quad-core 1.4GHz Exynos CPU and 12 megapixel camera. We’re reporting live from the event so stay tuned as we bring you it whilst it breaks.

Source ~ Via

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Samsung surpasses Apple to go No 1. in smartphone sales originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on May 2, 2012.

New Update for HTC One X to FW version 1.29.401.7

Dani — Tue, 01 May 2012 19:55:59 +0000

Following on swiftly from the HTC One X update to 1.28 firmware less than a week ago, HTC has issued a further update.

The HTC One X unlocked international version is receiving an update to version 1.29.401.7. User in the UK should be able to update very soon.

There is no change log available at this present time but it is thought that the update includes bug fixes and colour temperature issues.

Source

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New Update for HTC One X to FW version 1.29.401.7 originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on May 1, 2012.

HTC Evo 4G LTE release date confirmed

Nirave — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 07:09:02 +0000

Marketing materials for the HTC Evo 4G LTE are uncovered, confirming its release date for May 18th. Here’s some of the marketing materials that GoodAndEvo uncovered, with the website also the source of the confirmed release date.

Announced earlier this month, the Evo 4G LTE runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box with the 4.7 inch Super LCD HD display being powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 CPU and 1GB RAM. The device will also ship with HTC Sense UI 4.0 as well as Beats Audio integration, Google Wallet, an 8 megapixel rear camera and 1080p Full HD video. Other notable specs include a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera, 16GB internal storage and MicroSD card support.

Source ~ Via

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HTC Evo 4G LTE release date confirmed originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on April 30, 2012.

HTC Evo 4G LTE Coming May

Dani — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 19:03:44 +0000

Latest reports are that the HTC EVO 4G LTE is headed for an 18 May release date. Pre-order for the device will open for both Best Buy and Sprint on 7 May.

The HTC EVO 4G LTE will cost you $199 on a contract. Take a look at some of the promotional material for the forthcoming smartphone.

Source

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HTC Evo 4G LTE Coming May originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on April 28, 2012.

HTC One V now available from O2 and Vodafone

Nirave — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 17:01:52 +0000

The third inaugural member of HTC’s One Series, the low-cost HTC One V is now available to buy from both O2 and Vodafone.

The One V will cost you £21.50/m with O2, which gives you 200 minutes, Unlimited texts and mobile data whilst with Vodafone, the device costs £26/m for 300 minutes. Unlimited texts and 500mb mobile data per month.

Vodafone’s offering also comes with three months unlimited data as part of their Data Test Drive as well as 1gb BTOpenzone WiFi access per month included in the monthly cost.

Featuring a 3.7inch display and single-core 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, the One V brings Android Ice Cream Sandwich to the low-price market and also features HTC Sense UI alongside Beats Audio integration promising better quality photos and amazing sound.

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HTC One V now available from O2 and Vodafone originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on April 28, 2012.

HTC One V Now Available At Carphone Warehouse

Dani — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:51:26 +0000

The third device in HTC’s One range is now available.

Carphone warehouse is selling the HTC One V on contract from £20.500 per month. The HTC One V features Beats Audio and comes with a 3.7″ touchscreen display. Dressed in a unibody design of aluminium the One V arrives out of the box with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

The HTC One V is available on PAYG from £249.95 with £10 top-up voucher.

Read our full specifications on the HTC One V.

Source

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HTC One V Now Available At Carphone Warehouse originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on April 27, 2012.

Samsung surpasses Nokia in mobile phone sales

Nirave — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 08:18:52 +0000

The writing has been on the wall for quite some time but it’s finally happened; Samsung has overtaken Nokia to become the number 1 manufacturer in terms of global mobile handset sales.

The news comes via Strategy Analytics, who quote Samsung’s overall sales in Q1 2012 as 93 million versus Nokia who they say sold only 83 million.

In comparison to Samsung and Nokia, Apple only sold 35.1 million devices in the quarter, as they revealed. Samsung’s market share sits at 25.4%, Nokia’s at 22.5% and Apple’s at 9.5% with 42.6% market share made up by all the other players in the industry.

Nokia has held the top spot since the days it surpassed Motorola back in 1998, but a combination of design, power and unbelievable marketing and consumer interest has meant that Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones range has become the choice of many people.

Samsung’s net profit in the quarter was 5.05tn won ($4.5bn; £2.8bn) which is an 81% increase versus the same quarter last year and Robert Yi, Head of Investor Relations for Samsung said:

“We cautiously expect our earnings momentum to continue going forward, as competitiveness in our major businesses is enhanced.”

Samsung’s next Galaxy smartphone is set to launch on May 3rd and we’ll be bringing you all the news of that as soon as it launches so stay tuned!

Via

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Samsung surpasses Nokia in mobile phone sales originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on April 27, 2012.

HTC One S review

Nirave — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:00:43 +0000

Introduction

HTC One S; introducing The One

HTC’s One Series definitely comes to market with a lot to prove; offering up premium design, with a high quality specs list and Beats Audio technology, the One Series has to deliver as HTC’s had a tough quarter as they revealed. The One Series kicked off with the launch of the first two devices at the beginning of April; the quad-core HTC One X which totes a 720p HD display and 1.5 GHz NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core CPU targets the highest end of the market whilst the One S, which features a lower-res qHD display and 1.5GHz dual-core CPU sits below the One S to attack the mid to high end market.

Back in February, there was a lot of interest in the One Series prior to its launch but it seems to have fizzled out a little since its release a few weeks ago; the One X has most definitely caught the eye of consumers, but what about the One S? Is it worth the money? Join us as we find out.

Highlights

The Good:

Excellent battery life
Super slim profile
Super AMOLED display – vibrant and bright
Easily accessible micro sim tray – no pin needed.

The Bad:

Can struggle under very heavy use
Occasionally overheats with heavy use
Camera zoom is below par
No physical camera button

Key Features

Here’s some of the key features of the HTC One S, taken from the specs list.

4.3 inch Super AMOLED display, qHD (540×960 pixels) resolution
1.5GHz dual-core Krait CPU
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS, HTC Sense UI 4.0
8 megapixel camera, 1080p HD video capture
Simultaneous video recording and photo capture
Only 7.8mm thick

Build, Design & Feel

Where to begin with the HTC One S? It is built REALLY well; its super slim yet feels excellent and sturdy in the hand. The front of the device features the three capacitive buttons, but is dominated by the large 4.3 inch display. Despite the large screen size, the device does not feel that big at all and is very cleverly designed, with it being large enough yet small enough for most people.

One side of the device features the USB port whilst the other side houses the volume buttons.

The top of the device is quite possibly the busiest part of the device, featuring the headphone jack and the power button whilst also hosting the gap where you pull open the sim card cover.

The back of the device features the 8 megapixel camera and LED flash as well as the embossed HTC logo and customary Beats Audio logo.

Overall, the design of the HTC One S is simply superb and is really well done. It’s lightweight, easy to use with one hand (especially with HTC’s trace keyboard) and it delivers at least in design. For most people, it really is the one you’ve been looking for.

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS

Here’s one area where the One S definitely excels; HTC have definitely made sure of the longevity of the device by including the latest Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system out of the box.

The Android 4.0 update changes the look and functionality of the device completely, bringing additional features such as Face Unlock whilst also improving the useability and experience of the OS.

Android 4.0 finally brings the Android platform up to the user experience on Apple’s iOS platform and definitely delivers a stunning experience on the One S. One key part of the Android OS is OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers, like HTC) branding – in this case HTC Sense – which changes the overall experience and look and feel of the device.

We’ll be bringing you our look at the Android ICS OS and its new features in the next few days so be sure to check back for that.

HTC Sense UI 4

HTC have shipped the latest variant of their Sense user interface with the One S and Sense 4.0 is like a lean, mean machine with the additional “weight” (not physical, just the amount of process power previous variations of Sense used) stripped out to reveal a very fluid functional UI which doesn’t require as much power or RAM to perform at better levels.

Some of my key favourite features of HTC Sense UI 4.0 are improved widgets, which make full use of the Android ICS platform, an improved lock screen and the usual array of HTC additions that stand smartphones running HTC Sense a class apart from the competition.

We’ve looked into a few of the key changes in HTC Sense UI 4 below and we’ll be bringing you a full in-depth review of the UI in the next few days so check back soon.

Contacts, Dialler & Menu

Here’s some of the key parts of HTC Sense UI, which we’ll touch on briefly. We’ll be bringing your in-depth Sense UI review in the next few days where we’ll cover the whole of Sense in a lot more in-depth detail.

Contacts

HTC Sense UI and the contacts app is one of my favourite contacts apps without doubt. I absolutely love how tight the integration is with social networks as well as showing you recent updates from your contacts all within one single app.

You can easily select multiple contact views from different accounts and also Search, add contacts to Groups, view Call History and make phone calls all by swiping to different tabs along the bottom.

Dialler

HTC’s dialer is also fantastic offering up smart dialling (where you type the beginning of the contact name or number and it searches your device for matches) as well as speed dials and a very quick and easy to access list of your contacts, groups and favourite contacts.

The dialler is simply, clean and easy to use and very responsive meaning making calls has never been easier. The dialler (and phone app) is also accessible from the lockscreen by default.

Social Networking, Maps & Apps

Social Networking

Here’s where HTC devices have always really excelled and even more so with the Android OS. The Android OS allows any app to integrate within the contacts and defaults applications on the device and out of the box, HTC provide Facebook, Twitter and Flickr integration into the device, whilst you can also download the official LinkedIn app (only one example) to integrate into your contacts.

Maps

Here’s another area where Google’s platform really delivers; mapping on the One S is taken care of by Google Maps (with offline maps support), whilst navigation is taken care of by the dedicated Navigation app which provides dedicated voice turn-by-turn navigation between routes.

One downside to Maps is that despite constantly closing the app using the recent apps multitasking menu, the app opens (in the background) whenever an app accesses your location and doesn’t shut itself down meaning we found the GPS chip was running even when the device wasn’t using it, which can have serious implications on battery life.

Apps

If you’ve read one of our Android device reviews in the past, you’ll have heard it all before. Android has hundreds of thousands of apps and you can pretty much find most apps you’re looking for. Either official or one of thousands of alternatives, apps are a plenty.

The Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS rolled out as part of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus in October and since then a large amount of apps have updated themselves with Android ICS support; previously, devices running ICS would have incompatible apps but we did not have one single crash or app Force Close during the time we used the One S. That’s a win-win in our book.

Google’s Play Store also comes with music, videos and book options, meaning all your content needs can be served from just one application.

Under the Hood & Battery Life

Under the Hood

Under the hood, the One S packs an impressive specs list with a dual-core 1.5GHz Krait CPU and Adreno 225 GPU powering the large vibrant 4.3 inch Super AMOLED display. 16GB internal storage for your storage needs and 1GB RAM (for running multiple apps and processes at the same time) also make it onboard.

There is no microSD card support so if you need a lot of storage space, online services such as DropBox (you get 23GB extra space) and SkyDrive (which is also on board the device) will have to make up the difference in storage.

Other notable features of the One S include full tri-band 3G HSPA+ support, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA (for wireless content streaming) and Wi-Fi Hotspot (to share your internet connection with others).

Battery Life

Battery life is fantastic. There is no other way to put it. Simply fantastic and far beyond what you would expect from such a powerful 2012 smartphone. We regularly reach the end of the day (so around 14-16 hours of heavy use) with about 40% battery life remaining and we’ve even managed to make two hours of phone calls whilst only experiencing a 3% drop in battery life (it went from 100% to 97%).

Battery results have most definitely been erratic however, but a general benchmark is 14-16 hours use with some charge left in the device. It depends on what you are going to use the device for and how much you’ll use it, but we generally used it for tweeting, texting, emailing, viewing videos, watching music, web browsing, making phone calls and checking notifications with the odd use of Google Maps (apart from the automatic use mentioned above) and some Gaming.

Compared to the competition, the One S’ battery life is simply miles above the rest. For those who want a powerful smartphone packed full of specs with excellent battery life, the HTC One S is the One.

Internet Browsing

The One S comes equipped with the Android ICS browser, and as the device is running ICS, you can also install Chrome for Android. The onboard browser delivers a very pleasant browsing experience, and the browser interface disappears to display the webpage on the entire screen, which is a handy touch.

The ICS browser menu options include options to load the Desktop view by default and enable or disable flash amongst other options, whilst the flash performance is stellar on the device with flash videos and games loading with no issues whatsoever.

The One S also features HTML5 support, which although not the norm at the moment, will become the norm within the next few years so the One S is future-proofed.

Music & Beats Audio

Music

Music playback has most definitely improved on the device, versus previous HTC devices; sound is crisp, clear and perfect through Beats headphones. Unfortunately, unless you bought your One S from Vodafone, HTC have not included Beats Audio headsets in the box meaning to make full use of the technology, you’ll also need to splash out on a pair.

The music apps also features album artwork and adding music to the device is as simple as dragging and dropping music files to the onboard storage. It’s really simple and the app picks up the music quickly and easily.

One major gripe we have with the One S is the speaker; quality is good but it’s just not loud enough. Too often we’ll find ourselves missing calls or notifications in louder areas.

Camera & Video

Camera

With an 8 megapixel camera, the One S definitely looks to provide great photos, whilst the onboard Sense Imaging chip allows for super fast pictures. We quite easily took multiple snapshots by just pressing the on-board camera shutter button multiple times and this produced a series of hi-res, high quality pictures.

We’ve produced a lot of HTC One S pictures in the last few days, which have all appeared on here in different articles; we’ve included some of our favourite One S pictures below with links to all the articles where we’ve posted One S photo samples.

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The one key downside of the HTC One S camera is zoom quality which is definitely sub-par and even the slightest zoom produces pixelated photos. We would have loved to have seen a physical camera button but it wasn’t to be unfortunately. (The stadium above is Old Trafford, the match Manchester United vs Everton). See a full range of HTC One S camera samples here and here.

Video

The One S records Full HD 1080p videos, and also allows for full-res photos to be taken whilst recording video. Like the camera above, the One S video zoom also outputs pixelated videos whilst zooming is jerky at best and not natural.

Generally, One S video quality is good and crisp as you can see by some of the samples below.

You can see a few more video samples in our article here.

Ratings

Build, Design & Feel: ★★★★★
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS: ★★★★★
HTC Sense UI 4: ★★★★★
Contacts, Dialler & Menu: ★★★★★
Social Networking, Maps & Apps: ★★★★★
Under The Hood: ★★★★
Battery Life: ★★★★★
Internet Browsing: ★★★★★
Music & Beats Audio: ★★★★★
Camera & Video: ★★★★

Value for Money: ★★★★★
Specs on Paper: ★★★★
Overall performance: ★★★★★

Overall Rating: 4.77 (out of 5)

Overall Conclusion

Now as you can see by the ratings above, the One S is near perfect. For most people it will actually be near perfect, offering up the perfect balance of price, quality and specs whilst doing everything you need it to without any major fuss.

HTC have tagged the One Series as the “One you’ve been waiting for” and using the One S, it’s safe to say that the manufacturer has done a stirling job in producing this device. Everything about the device screams quality, and the battery life is the best I’ve come across on a high-end smartphone to date (other than the Samsung Galaxy Note, which is more phablet than phone).

Beats Audio is top quality on the device, whilst the camera and video options are on-par with competitors and the device is fast, slick and superb. The One S definitely deserves our top rating, and it’s great that HTC have finally produced a device capable of holding its own against rivals.

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HTC One S review originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on April 26, 2012.

HTC One S – this generation’s Nokia 6300

Nirave — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 06:48:19 +0000

Let me begin by saying that this is my personal view and no doubt will cause some controversy but nonetheless it is my opinion so let me know your thoughts at the bottom!

HTC One S; perfect harmony between specs and size

One of the best feature phones I can remember is the Nokia 6300. It was almost the perfect device of its time, with a slim (yet really thick by today’s standards) profile, excellent build quality and brilliant battery life. It was never the best, but it certainly held its own and to this day I still see some in use, which is testament to the device’s ability to withstand the test of time.

Model:	Nokia 6300	HTC One S
Width:	106.4mm	130.9mm
Height:	43.6mm	65mm
Depth (thickness):	11.7mm	7.8mm
Weight:	91g	119.5g

Now, I’ve recently been reviewing the HTC One S, which has definitely impressed me. What’s impressed me the most? I can’t give that away as it’s part of our review, which will be up in just a few hours but one thing that has impressed me massively is the size of the device.

I can quite easily pick up the device, hold it in one hand and it fits so naturally in the palm of the hand that it makes me think of the 6300. As I said before, the 6300 had that perfect balance between the size and features and the One S brings that balance to a 2012 smartphone. I’ve heard that some people think it’s too thin; for some it might be and initially for me it was, but it didn’t take too long to get used to and really appreciate the size of the device.

With a glorious 4.3 inch Super AMOLED display and 1.5GHz dual-core processor, the One S offers a slim profile and top specs to boot. For this, the HTC One S really is this generation’s Nokia 6300.

Do you agree or disagree? Let me know your thoughts below, or why not connect on Facebook or tweet us?

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HTC One S – this generation’s Nokia 6300 originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on April 26, 2012.

Android ICS update released for Vodafone HTC OneX

Nirave — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:58:57 +0000

Just received this notification as Vodafone and HTC have released an Android ICS update for the OneX.

This could be the battery fix we posted about which is rolling out to devices now.We’re downloading it now and we’ll let you know what changes we find.

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Android ICS update released for Vodafone HTC OneX originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on April 25, 2012.

HTC Profits Drop by 70 Percent: Blames Apple’s iPhone

Dani — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:49:17 +0000

HTC briefed analyst this week with head HTC Chief Executive Peter Chou.

HTC reported a net profit of $151.5 million revealing that the company had lost 70 percent of its value over the last twelve months. Chou blamed its current condition on the loss of sales due to the iPhone 4S in the U.S.

HTC has recently released the HTC One range and it is gaining some recognition with the improvements made in the cameras and in the advanced audio technology. Chou also recognised that HTC used to earn more than 50 percent of its total revenue from the U.S. and that it will be unable to regain that stature.

Chou said it’s ‘the dawn of executive sales and marketing of its products… and it is hopeful HTC will be “reborn” this year and it looks to the China market that is booming for smartphone adoption.

Source

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HTC Profits Drop by 70 Percent: Blames Apple’s iPhone originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on April 25, 2012.

Facebook and HTC planning new Facebook phone?

Nirave — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:46:04 +0000

HTC and Facebook could be working on another smartphone together latest reports reveal.

Following the HTC ChaCha and HTC Salsa devices, which both featured dedicated Facebook buttons, the next HTC device to prominently feature Facebook is expected to be tightly integrated into Facebook’s existing features and functions.

This could mean the device will feature all of Facebook’s popular features, and could potentially be the must have device for socialite teens!

Source

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Facebook and HTC planning new Facebook phone? originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on April 25, 2012.

HTC One X vs One S camera shootout; Munich Tunnel

Nirave — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 08:22:32 +0000

By now we’re sure you caught our HTC One Day coverage throughout the day yesterday. If you didn’t here’s a quick recap; we took the HTC One X and the HTC One S on a long day trip to Manchester to see Manchester United play at Old Trafford. During the day, we took snapshots on both devices, tested battery life with heavy use and also shot some videos. You can see all the coverage here.

Here’s one of the final pieces we have to complete the series; a shootout between the HTC One X and the HTC One S with the backdrop and focus of the images provided by Old Trafford’s Munich Tunnel, which celebrates the life of the Manchester United players who tragically lost their live in the Munich plane crash in 1958. Included in those who passed on, was Duncan Edwards, a young player (he was only 19) who many claimed would have been the greatest footballer EVER (even surpassing George Best) to play for Manchester United and England.

Now on to happy thoughts; both the One X and the One S feature the same 8 megapixel camera with f2.2 aperture and Sense imaging chip. Both shoot Full HD 1080p videos and can snap photos whilst recording video. Both load fast and take pictures even faster.

They have so much in common, but will they produce the same photos? If not, which will be the best? Here’s the shootout that will aim to answer that question.

HTC One S photos are on the left, HTC One X photos are on the right.

What do you think? Which One Series device produces the overall better images? Or is your XXX device better? You know what to do, fire off in the comments below!

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HTC One X vs One S camera shootout; Munich Tunnel originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on April 25, 2012.

HTC One X 1080p Full HD video sample

Nirave — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 20:40:47 +0000

So we leave today’s HTC One Day with a short Full HD 1080p video sample taken with the HTC One X.

Let me first explain about the videos; with both the One S and the One X we shot around 5 videos each and the One S videos, which went live earlier today, came out fine whilst the One X crashed during the fifth video and somehow four got deleted with just this short clip.

Nonetheless, don’t worry as we’ll be bringing you even more One X videos very soon, so stay tuned!

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HTC One X 1080p Full HD video sample originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on April 24, 2012.

HTC One X camera samples; Old Trafford Stands

Nirave — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 20:28:49 +0000

So today’s HTC One Day is coming to an end, but we’re leaving you with two final posts, the first of which is this one. This post features some snapshots taken with the 8 megapixel camera of the quad-core HTC One X, with the photos shot from the North Stand at Old Trafford.

Generally the photos came out well, but this was yet another case where the HTC One series showed its lack of zoom handling, with even the slightest zoom showing up really blurry and pixelated pictures.

Nonetheless, it was good weather for taking snapshots so enjoy the collection below!

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HTC One X camera samples; Old Trafford Stands originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on April 24, 2012.

HTC One X high speed camera samples

Nirave — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:00:30 +0000

Here is another entry in HTC One Day, where we take a really long look at HTC’s new One Series, both the quad-core HTC One X and the dual-core HTC One S.

Another set of HTC One X camera samples brings us a look at how the One X handles shooting pictures on a high speed train. This was shot on the return journey from Manchester at around 4-6pm so it manages to show the One X taking photos in differing light conditions.

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I was actually really impressed with the quality of these photos, especially as the train was going fast and most devices can’t shoot a focused photo during high speed movement.

Don’t forget to check out the original few high speeds photos we shot here.

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HTC One X high speed camera samples originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on April 24, 2012.

HTC One S camera samples; Old Trafford Stands

Nirave — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:22:17 +0000

Welcome to another entry in HTC One Day, with this one focusing on the 8 megapixel camera of the HTC One S. HTC claim the device takes photos super fast and produces excellent quality photos so we really put this to the test here with some photos from the North Stand of Old Trafford.

I was really impressed with the One S’ camera load times but was nonetheless very disappointed with the quality of the zoom on the device, finding it to be extremely over pixelated and pretty much pointless.

Here’s some One S camera shots from the Old Trafford stands.

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HTC One S camera samples; Old Trafford Stands originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on April 24, 2012.

Nokia Lumia 900 beats the HTC One X in “Smoked by Windows Phone” challenge

Nirave — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:15:27 +0000

As part of tdoay’s HTC One Day, we thought it would only be fair to also bring you HTC news from around the globe, with this entry coming from the USA where HTC’s One X flagship took on Nokia’s Lumia 900 Windows Phone flagship in yet another Smoked by Windows Phone challenge.

The challenge was a HTML 5 screen reader test and here’s how the One X fared:

HTC One X – 24 FPS, average draw 41ms
Nokia Lumia 900 – 45 FPS, average draw 22ms
HTC Titan II – 60 FPS, average draw 13ms

So it goes to show that despite rocking a 1.5GHz dual-core CPU (the US One X features a dual-core CPU whilst the international One X rocks a quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 CPU), the latest Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system and 1GB RAM, specs aren’t everything as the One X is also outperformed by its Windows Phone toting brother, the HTC Titan II.

Source ~ Via

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Nokia Lumia 900 beats the HTC One X in “Smoked by Windows Phone” challenge originally appeared on UK Mobile Review on April 24, 2012.