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HTC's Desire 10 phones make midrange power feel more premium
The last time we saw a new Desire phone, HTC had basically speckled it with paint in the name of fashion. We can't blame them -- the effect was pretty damn cool -- but now the company is trying something a little different with the new Desire 10 Lifestyle and Pro. HTC's midrange work is getting wrapped up in a classy new look, and (spoiler alert) it's a pretty impressive change. The Lifestyle is set to hit certain markets this month, ahead of the more expensive Pro model in November. Here's our first look.
HTC's new Desire phones reportedly release later this quarter (update: images)
HTC is hard at work on a new pair of new Desire smartphones that are reportedly releasing later this quarter.
HTC's streetwear-inspired budget phone arrives in the US
HTC has brought one of the speckled, sportswear fashion-inspired Desire phones it launched in February stateside. It has released the Desire 530, in particular, which is the most affordable of the three devices in the line. The 530 is pretty basic -- it's an Android 6.0 phone with HTC Sense on top and comes equipped with a 5-inch 720p display, a quad-core 1.1GHz Snapdragon 210 processor, 1.5GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. HTC is putting a focus on its polycarbonate body's micro splash effect and its cameras, using those features as its selling points. To note, the handset has a 5-megapixel front-facing camera with Auto and Voice Selfie capabilities, as well as an 8-megapixel rear shooter with a back-illuminated sensor.
HTC's new Desire phones are inspired by 'streetwear fashion'
HTC's Desire phones have never been the most thrilling. Sure, the low- to mid-range devices fill a purpose for those who can't afford (or don't want) the latest and greatest smartphone, but ... it's difficult to get excited about them. Perhaps with this in mind, the Taiwanese manufacturer has spiced up the range with three new devices inspired by "streetwear fashion."
HTC brings four more wallet-friendly Desire phones to the US
If you haven't seen of HTC's wallet-friendly Desire phones in the wild, you probably will soon -- they've been doing great for the ailing smartphone maker overseas and they're picking up steam on our shores, too. Since HTC could use some more of that momentum, it's gearing up to release four more Desire models -- the Desire 520, 526, 626 and 626S -- in the United States with the help of almost every carrier you've ever heard of.
HTC Desire Eye review: in search of the ultimate selfie machine
2014 was the year that the word "selfie" finally -- and maybe unfortunately -- found its way into honest-to-goodness dictionaries. Is it really any surprise, then, that smartphone makers are finally starting to upgrade their front-facing cameras? With the Desire Eye, HTC took a step back and wondered why a phone's rear camera always had to be better than the one up front. Don't our lovely mugs deserve the same sort of technical attention and affection as, say, our lunches? HTC (along with others like Oppo) has decided that yes, yes they do. When you look at things that way, the Desire Eye and its twin 13-megapixel cameras seems to be just the perfect compromise for wannabe mobile photographers and the truly vain. But is it really?
HTC's next Desire phone reportedly captures 13-megapixel selfies
If you've wanted to shoot 13-megapixel selfies with your phone, you've usually had to get either a knock-off or a one-of-a-kind device like Oppo's N1. You might not have to look very hard if a handful of leaks are correct, however. Both HTCFamily.ru and @upleaks have posted pictures of what's reportedly the HTC Desire Eye, a relatively conventional upper mid-range Android phone that would pack 13-megapixel cameras on both the front and back. They'd even have flashes to help with those dimly-lit dance club snapshots.
HTC's big, budget-minded Desire 816 phone reaches the US on August 12th
If you've been intrigued by HTC's big-yet-affordable Desire 816, you no longer have to go through an importer to get one in the US. The 5.5-inch Android smartphone will be available through Virgin Mobile on August 12th for $299 contract-free. Nothing has changed apart from the support for Virgin's network, but that's not necessarily a bad thing -- while we're not fans of the cameras, the 816 is a good deal if you want a large display at a low price (and haven't scored a OnePlus One invitation). Don't despair if you want something smaller or cheaper, either. AT&T recently launched the 4.7-inch Desire 610 for $200 on prepaid GoPhone service (free on a regular contract), so you have at least one other option for a modern HTC phone if the One and One Remix are too rich for your blood.
One of HTC's first 64-bit phones is a budget model for Sprint
Qualcomm teased us with the prospect of powerful 64-bit smartphones arriving in late 2014 and early 2015, but it looks like you'll have to dial back your expectations for the first wave of devices. New tipster @upleaks has posted details and photos of HTC's A11, a starter smartphone in the Desire line that reportedly uses the more modest (if respectable) 1.4GHz Snapdragon 410 for its 64-bit processing. Other elements are modest, too; you're looking at a 4.7-inch 854 x 480 screen, plain speakers (sorry, no BoomSound here) and both a 5-megapixel rear camera as well as a front 0.3-megapixel shooter. No great shakes, then, although hints of a Sprint launch suggest that you'll see it in the US. There's no word on when the A11 will ship, although it's believed to run the existing Sense 6 interface on top of Android 4.4 KitKat -- that suggests that HTC may deliver its first 64-bit phone well before its usual spring refresh.
HTC's leaked 'Desire 8' mid-ranger looks big and beautiful
Despite HTC's recent blast of Desire phones, the company admitted that it still needs to push harder in the lower price tiers. Lo and behold, here's a leak of an upcoming "New Desire 8" series mid-range device, courtesy of Chinese site MyDrivers and with confirmation from our own sources. This dual-SIM phone will reportedly pack a 5.5-inch display of unknown resolution, which will make it the largest non-flagship HTC phone since the Desire 700. There will also be a 13-megapixel main camera (not UltraPixel), along with a 5-megapixel front imager with beautification mode. We're assuming that this is a plastic body -- available in white, red, yellow, orange and cyan -- with stereo front-facing speakers, which is now a signature feature on many HTC phones. But where are the Android buttons? Chances are this Desire model is joining the M8 flagship to embrace on-screen keys, despite their absence in this render. The screenshot mentions "March 18th" plus Beijing, so unless Peter Chou is messing with us here, we'll be making ourselves available that day for the launch event in China. Having said that, we might also get to see it at MWC in two weeks' time, so stay tuned. Update: A reliable tipster sent in the original image, so we've updated this article with it.
HTC outs Desire 700 and 501 handsets in Taiwan, sets sights on the mid-range market
As if that recently announced trio of Desire smartphones wasn't enough, HTC today introduced a couple more, this time in Taiwan. Meet the Desire 700 and Desire 501, both aimed at the mid-range market in said Asian territory. For its part, the 700 (pictured above) features a 5-inch, qHD display alongside BoomSound speakers, an as-of-yet undisclosed quad-core Snapdragon chip Spreadtrum's quad-core 1.2GHz Shark SoC, 1GB RAM, 8GB of internal storage and a 2,100mAh battery. The 501, on the other hand, packs those same traits but with a smaller 4.3-inch, WVGA screen and a dual-core 1.15GHz ST-Ericsson U8520 -- oh, and it comes in a few different colors. HTC is pricing its dual-SIM-packing Desire 700 at NTD 13,900 (about $470), while the Desire 501 will be available with a cheaper NTD 9,900 price tag. Update: Engadget Chinese had some hands-on time with the new Desires, so be sure to check that out right here!
HTC Desire 500 arrives in the UK, dual SIM and NFC versions incoming
So, it's not the new HTC some in the UK might have been hoping for, but the Desire 500 is officially heading west. The 4.3-inch, 1.2 GHz, quad-core device that first popped up a couple of weeks back will be coming to British shores some time this month, in lacquer black and glacier blue color options. While pretty much everything else remains the same -- 8- and 1.6-megapixel cameras, BlinkFeed and Highlights -- some might be interested by the confirmation of dual SIM and NFC variants, depending on markets. No pricing just yet, but expect to get considerably more change from your pound than its elder sibling and similarly sized stable mate.
HTC Desire 500 launching in Taiwan next week, boasts 'energy of the young'
Despite HTC launching the Desire 200 and Desire 600 earlier this year, it looks like there's still a bit of room left for the Desire family to grow. According to an invitation we've just received from the anxious Taiwanese smartphone maker, it'll be launching a device called the Desire 500 next week, on July 23rd. The text in the invite has the slogan "Energy of the young, imagination of the boundless," which makes us think this might be a lower-end device targeted at first-time smartphone owners. We saw a leaked document from a European operator referencing the Desire 500 earlier this month, so this phone may very well launch outside of Asia. If it doesn't, though, we'd happily settle for a Butterfly s.
HTC Desire 200 surfaces in Vietnam with 3.5-inch display and Android 4.0
HTC might be making another push into the very affordable Android phone market with the Desire 200. As teased a few months back and joining the now-official Desire 600, the smartphone pulls together a 320 x 480 3.5-inch screen, 1GHz processor and Android 4.0. It sounds a whole lot like the UK-bound Vodafone Smart Mini, which has been priced at just £50 on pay-as-you-go. HTC does put in a little more effort, however, including its Sense UI, front-facing speakers like the HTC One and a 5-megapixel camera on the entry-level device. According to thegiodidong, the Desire 200 also houses 4GB of storage, expandable up to 32GB through microSD and the whole package will land in Asian markets soon. Watch it get handled after the break or visit the source for a closer look. Update: According to the video, the loudspeaker resides on the back of the Desire 200. It looks like those front grills are largely for design reasons -- we just wanted BoomSound a little too much...
HTC Desire 600 announced: quad-core processor, dual-SIM and BlinkFeed
It didn't take long for HTC to go official with the Desire 600. Interestingly, it picks up on several of the new Sense 5 features revealed alongside the HTC One, including its fingertip-baiting BlinkFeed for social network and news updates. BoomSound and the ability to craft video highlights from your photos and clips also make the transition, although apparently not the burst-capture Zoe mode. Hardware-wise, there's a 1.2GHz Snapdragon 200 quad-core processor, with a 4.5-inch Super LCD2 display (at 960 x 540 resolution), an 8-megapixel primary camera capable of up to 720p video capture and a front-facing 1.6-megapixel shooter. The Desire 600 picks up the same dual front-facing speaker setup of the One, although rather than a global appearance, it's currently headed to Russia, Ukraine and the Middle-East for now, landing early this June in white and black options. However, we've already spotted a China-bound version for China Unicom's WCDMA network, the Desire 606w, and if we're honest, we'd probably be happier to see the rumored M4 make an official showing. Now, where's that Desire 200? %Gallery-189185%
HTC outs budget-minded Desire U: ICS on a single-core 1GHz processor
HTC has put penny-pinchers in China and Taiwan square in its sights with its freshly announced Desire U. A price tag is MIA for the Android 4.0-toting and Beats Audio-infused device, but the specs paint a fairly frugal picture for the hardware, which comes in black and white flavors. Behind the handset's 4-inch 800 x 480 (WVGA) display sit a single-core 1GHz processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of built-in storage, a microSD slot and a 5-megapixel rear-facing shooter. In terms of connectivity, the device supports 3G, WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0. As of now, there's no word on when it'll hit the streets in China and Taiwan or if a tweaked version with international-friendly radios will make its way to other countries.
Cellcom carries HTC Desire 4G LTE as its first LTE phone September 21st, hopes you'll notice
Good news: Cellcom is offering its first-ever LTE phone on September 21st, in what will no doubt be one of the carrier's biggest phone launches of the year. Only it's not what you think. While Cellcom is indeed picking up the iPhone 5 soon, its major device launch this week is the HTC Desire 4G LTE, its rebranding of Verizon's Droid Incredible 4G LTE. Other than the lack of Big Red badging and apps, it's a match for the mid-tier Android 4.0 handset on the larger (and shared) network. Buying one will even cost the same $150 on contract, or $420 at full price. Much to our relief, though, Cellcom isn't leaving us with one 4G phone per platform. The provider should start selling a relabeled Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX, the $200 RAZR MAXX 4G LTE, at an unspecified point in the near future. Let's hope for better timing with the second wave of releases.
HTC Desire X hands-on (video)
Earlier this year, HTC spent much of its mobile bombast on that other major European conference: MWC. But that doesn't mean the company showed up to Berlin empty handed. In a closed door session today, the company demoed a flagship of sorts: the Desire X. The 4-inch handset, just recently announced, may look familiar -- that's because it lifts distinctive elements of the premium One series for a decidedly upscale spin on an entry-level device. With an 800 x 480 Super LCD display, a dual-core Snapdragon S4 8255 running Sense 4.1 atop Ice Cream Sandwich and a 5-megapixel rear shooter enhanced by the outfit's ImageChip, this first-timer device is anything, but average. Curious to see how this top-shelf budget phone fared in our testing? Then follow along after the break for some initial impressions. Follow all of our IFA 2012 coverage by heading to our event hub! %Gallery-163799%
Visualized: Android's device diversity cut up into 3,997 little pieces
Some call it diversity, some call it fragmentation. However you slice it, there's a lot of Android devices out there. OpenSignalMaps has tracked a staggering 3,997 unique phones, tablets and other Google-powered gadgets, and has put them into a chart weighted by popularity. Not surprisingly, it's powerhouses like Samsung's Galaxy S II and HTC's Desire line that dictate the platform, while that Concorde Tab you bought in Hungary sadly doesn't have much traction. The normally signal mapping-oriented crew is careful to warn that the actual variety might be less: there's 1,363 one-timers in the group, and some of those may be custom ROMs and the endless carrier-specific variants that OEMs are sometimes eager to make. There's even more to look at through the source, including Android 2.3's continuing dominance and the mind-boggling number of Android screen resolutions, so click ahead for an even fuller picture.
Refresh Roundup: week of August 8, 2011
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging to get updated. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery from the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy! Official Android updates Acer took to its Facebook page in Malaysia to announce that the Honeycomb 3.2 OTA update for the Iconia Tab A500 has been delayed until August 25. [via Phandroid] The LG G-Slate is starting to receive Honeycomb 3.1. [via AndroidCentral] We've also heard the HTC Flyer's on the receiving end of a 2.3.4 bump in Germany. [via HTC Inside (translated)] Motorola's announced that Honeycomb 3.1 has arrived on the Xoom in Europe, after several months of waiting. [via ITProPortal] Tomorrow, Sprint's pushing out a maintenance fix known as RD.00.02 for the Motorola Titanium. From a leaked screenshot, the main "enhancement" is correcting a bug that kept users from dialing from a meeting on the Exchange calendar. [via SprintFeed] Android 2.3.4 is making its way to unbranded HTC Sensation units in Europe this week as an OTA update, and will likely spread to carrier-branded devices over the next couple weeks. [via Phandroid] Both Bell and Virgin Mobile Canada are rolling out Gingerbread to its Galaxy S Vibrant. The download is available to any of its users by accessing Samsung Kies. [via MobileSyrup] HTC began pushing Gingerbread to the Inspire 4G on Monday. If you still haven't received your update OTA yet, instructions can be found on how to do it manually via its website. [Thanks, Brian] Are you an HTC Desire owner that's been eagerly awaiting Gingerbread? It's here now, but the manufacturer isn't going to push it out OTA -- rather, you'll need to do it on your own, so head to the via for a video tutorial on how to do it step-by-step. [via PocketNow] T-Mobile has announced that its OTA Gingerbread rollout for the G2x is now officially over. If you missed your opportunity, you may still download it using the LG updater tool. [via TmoNews] This is definitely a rumor, but an HTC support rep apparently emailed a concerned Incredible user to assure them that Gingerbread was still indeed in the plans for the year-old device. No timeframe was given, however. [via Phandroid] AT&T took to its Twitter account to state that the Infuse 4G is on track to receive Gingerbread sometime this month. [via AndroidCentral] Unofficial Android updates / custom ROMs / misc. hackery We heard last week that the Motorola Photon 4G had been rooted, but it required the use of the phone's fancy (and expensive) HD dock. This obstacle has since been removed, and you can root your brand new phone without it. [via AndroidCentral] Speaking of the Photon 4G, a System Boot File (SBF) is now available for the device. The SBF is a backup that comes in handy if something goes awry and your phone ends up getting bricked. By using the SBF, your phone will be restored back to its original factory defaults. [via SprintFeed] A dev preview of CyanogenMod 7 for the HTC Sensation 4G is now being shown at a YouTube near you. Did someone say CyanogenMod 7? Well, this week also witnessed a user updating their Motorola Triumph to Android 2.3.5, but almost nothing works properly on it; since the kernel source hasn't been released for it yet, the update isn't quite up to par. CM7 is also said to be coming to the Motorola Atrix 4G and LG Optimus 3D soon as well. [via Phandroid] Other platforms The tools used to flash Windows Phone Mango's RTM version has been leaked, and you can find instructions on how to get it on this XDA thread. Remember that you do this at your own risk. [via WMPowerUser] A few rumors circulated the web this week that Mango would be released on September 1. WP7's own Joe Belfiore was the one responsible for shooting down that rumor via Twitter. [via WMPowerUser]
