Taiwanese manufacturer set to challenge Samsung and Apple
HTC has announced its One device, an Android device designed with an aluminium unibody and new HTC Sense additions to reinvigorate HTC's standing in the market.
The new smartphone, complete with 'tiles' reminiscent of Windows Phone 8, is set to challenge Samsung and Apple as HTC makes a step towards recovering its innovative crown in the mobile market.
Julian Jest, research analyst at Informa Telecoms & Media, was positive about the quality of the HTC One: 'HTC's latest handset, the HTC One, is undoubtedly a striking device, with an industrial design rivalling any handset previously released by the Taiwanese company, and the current crop of high end smartphones on the market. The introduction of HTC One has come at an ideal time; iPhone sales are slowing down and advanced users are now desperately looking for more innovative devices to satisfy their appetite to explore the new technology horizons.' However, Jest added that the pricing for the device is to be all-important in its future success: 'HTC has to get the pricing right with the One. It is unlikely that network operators will give their support to a device that they will need to subsidise heavily, and from a vendor which has struggled to compete with Samsung, the market leader on the Android OS. A speedy delivery of the device to a wide range of mobile operators will be vital, and may just give it the head start it needs to grow its market share ahead of the latest Galaxy device from Samsung.'
Yet currently in the UK, operator EE has announced the device will be available exclusively on 4GEE price plans at £69.99 on a £41 per month 24 month package, with users receiving 1GB of mobile data, as well as unlimited UK calls and texts from the launch in March. EE stated it will also be available on its 3G network from Orange and T-Mobile across a range of plans including £69.99 on a £36 per month, 24 month plan.
HTC One introduces HTC BlinkFeed, HTC Zoe and HTC BoomSound. BlinkFeed is a new experience that transforms the home screen into a single live stream of personally relevant information such as social updates, entertainment and lifestyle updates, news and photos with immersive images so that people no longer need to go to separate applications to find out what's happening.
To enable this dynamic approach, HTC will provide both local and global content from more than 1,400 media sources with more than 10,000 articles per day from some of the most innovative media companies, such as the AOL family of media properties, ESPN, MTV, Vice Media, CoolHunting, Reuters and many others.
HTC Zoe gives people the ability to shoot high-res photos that come to life in three second snippets. These Zoes, photos and videos are then displayed in a unique way that brings the gallery to life and transforms the traditional photo gallery of still images into a motion gallery of memories. To enable this camera experience, HTC developed a custom camera that includes a f/2.0 aperture lens and a breakthrough sensor with UltraPixels that gather 300% more light than traditional smartphone camera sensors.
Meanwhile, HTC BoomSound introduces for the first time on a phone, front-facing stereo speakers with a dedicated amplifier and a full HD display that immerses people in music, videos, games and the YouTube clips they love. Beats Audio integration is enabled across the entire experience for rich, authentic sound whether you're listening to your favourite music, watching a YouTube video or playing a game.
'People today immerse themselves in a constant stream of updates, news and information. Although smartphones are one of the main ways we stay in touch with the people and information we care about, conventional designs have failed to keep pace with how people are actually using them,' said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. 'A new, exciting approach to the smartphone is needed and with the new HTC One, we have reimagined the mobile experience from the ground up to reflect this new reality.'
