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.
Before we go any further, here’s a crash course in Desire philosophy: It’s all about making cheap phones that don’t suck. That means solid build quality, attractive designs, and the same software features you’ll find on higher-end HTC phones. Every once in a while you’ll see HTC take the formula in some odd directions (we’re looking at you, Desire Eye), but general it’s just lots of modest hardware. All of these Desires, for instance, are built on the foundation of Qualcomm’s quad-core Snapdragon 210 CPU. All of them have 8-megapixel rear cameras. All of them take microSD and microSDXC cards up to 2TB in size.
The rest of the particulars vary depending on the whims of the carrier selling these things. Consider the Desire 520 for a moment. This Cricket exclusive comes with a pocket-friendly 4.5-inch screen running at a paltry 854×480 resolution, all wrapped in a palm-pleasing soft touch finish. The Desire 526, on the other hand, is the odd one out when it comes to looks; Verizon seemed to prefer a rounder aesthetic with curved bezels that run around the 4.7-inch qHD screen. It’s also got 1.5GB of RAM in there, giving it just a little more oomph than its other 520-series cousin.
Then you’ve got the Desire 626 and 626S sitting at the top of this class. Both are kitted out with 5-inch, 720p screens but the differences are there if you know where to look. The most glaring variances? The prepaid-only 626S has 8GB of storage and a 2MP front-facing camera compared to the 16GB/5MP camera setup on the 626 that’s hitting AT&T and T-Mobile. (Just to make things a little more confusing, there’s already a version of the 626 floating around Asia with a divergent design and a completely different chip inside.)
Still, they’re arguably the fanciest of HTC’s new quartet, and after a little hands-on time they proved themselves to be worthy little devices… as long as you keep your expectations in check. First, the good: they feel surprisingly sturdy given their all-plastic construction, not to mention almost shockingly light. HTC’s always done well as a purveyor of polycarbonate phones and it’s frankly nice to see that even the cheap stuff avoids feeling chintzy. Both devices run without too much trouble either, though they’re not as immediately snappy when responding to touch inputs as other low-cost phones are. HTC’s desire to keep costs down are most apparent when you start eyeing up that 720p screen — text and visuals are mostly crisp, but the look is little muddy overall and there’s plenty of apparent grain on the edges of letters and icons. Still, the 626 and 626S will be tidy little packages if they get the aggressive price tags to match; now we’ve just got to wait for all those carriers to get a little chatty.
AT&T HTC One M9 getting Android 5.1 Lollipop on July 15th
The Android 5.1 Lollipop update continues making its way to HTC One M9 devices across the country. The latest version to get the sweet treat was Sprint’s, on July 1st. Fast-forward just a couple weeks and we are finding out the AT&T version of HTC’s flagship handset is also ready to get its relative update.
According to HTC’s Mo Versi, AT&T’s One M9 just received technical approval on the Andorid 5.1 Lollipop software. The OTA update is set to start rolling out starting tomorrow, July 15th.
HTC One (M9) AT&T Owners! We have received technical approval on Lollipop OS 5.1 which includes camera improvements. OTA to start on 7/15!!
— Mo Versi (@moversi) July 14, 2015
This AT&T update will be very similar to the one we previously saw coming to the Sprint HTC One M9. It will include camera improvements, as Mo Versi mentions in his Twitter announcement, but users will also see a plethora of other upgrades come with this update. It should also provide better device protection, improved contact-specific notification options, stronger WiFi and more. You can always refer back to our detailed post on the Android 5.1 Lollipop software version to catch all the specifics.
All you have to do now is wait around for the update notification to show up on your smartphones. Of course, you can always check the settings and try to pull the update yourself, but remember these software downloads are usually rolled out periodically. Many of you may not even get it on the 15th, at all, but you should get your notification in due time.
Those lucky enough to get the update should definitely hit the comments section, though. Let us know how the update went and if it’s treating you well!
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AT&T HTC One M9 will receive Lollipop 5.1 update OTA with camera improvements on July 15th
HTC’s vice president Mo Versi has confirmed on Twitter that AT&T HTC One M9 owners will receive the Android Lollipop 5.1 update on July 15th.
The update will be rolled OTA, and will also include camera improvements;
“HTC One (M9) AT&T Owners! We have received technical approval on Lollipop OS 5.1 which includes camera improvements. OTA to start on 7/15!!“
The update has already rolled out to Sprint users, and T-mobile and Verizon variants should be up next on July 20th.
Source: Twitter
Via: Phandroid
Come comment on this article: AT&T HTC One M9 will receive Lollipop 5.1 update OTA with camera improvements on July 15th
HTC One M9+ review
An increasingly prevalent trend in the smartphone world is the introduction of “Plus” smartphones, that typically bring better specifications and more features over what is available with the main flagship from the OEM. And that can be disappointing for consumers that have already committed to the latter. To the dismay of many, HTC has done exactly that with its flagship One M9, adding a few key enhancements that should have actually been there with the original and releasing the One M9+.
Can this latest high-end offering from HTC be considered the company’s true flagship? We find out, in this comprehensive HTC One M9+ review!
Design
The HTC One M9+ is essentially a larger version of its flagship, with a few minor, but noticeable, tweaks. With the 0.2-inch bump in the display size, the M9+ is understandably taller and wider than the One M9, and the rear camera has been redesigned to a circular shape, compared to the rounded square seen with the original. The more prominent difference comes up front though, with the speaker grill below the display being split to accommodate a fingerprint sensor.
Otherwise, the device still features the same full metal unibody construction, with the build quality that we’ve come expect from HTC. The corners are rounded off, and the tapered back allows for the phone to sit nicely in the hand. The One M9+ is not drastically bigger than the One M9, and is still fairly easy to use in one hand, and will still be within the realm of what most people consider a “normal” sized phone. The metal ridge design that goes around the perimeter of the phone provides for a much better grip as well. The full metal body means that it still isn’t the easiest phone to hold onto, but by no means will you ever feel worried about the phone slipping out of your hands.
Going around the device, the power button is placed on the right side just below the volume rocker, which is a definite improvement over previous One series smartphones. As is the case with the regular One M9 though, the placement of the power button is a tad too low, which makes it somewhat difficult to reach. That said, the double tap to wake feature is also available with the One M9+, and you won’t be needing to reach the power button all that often anyway. Of course, now there is also the added benefit of unlocking the device and going straight into the home screen by using the fingerprint scanner. The rest of the buttons and ports are in their usual locations, with a large black strip up top for the IR blaster, with the headphone jack and microUSB port at the bottom, and the SIM card tray on the left. Finally, HTC’s tried and true BoomSound speakers return up front, and for better or worse, the infamous black HTC bar still resides below the display.
Display
The improvements over the smaller namesake start with the display, with the One M9+ featuring a 5.2-inch Super LCD3 with a Quad HD resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 565 ppi. The bump is resolution does result in a far sharper screen, although some people will argue that the difference isn’t easily noticeable. Regardless, HTC has delivered another fantastic looking display with the One M9+, putting this flagship at par with the competition.
The blacks may not be as deep in comparison to the AMOLEDs of the world, but that isn’t surprising with an LCD screen. The screen overall is bright, vivid, with great viewing angles and a brightness that allows for comfortable outdoor viewing. There is a slight bias towards a warmer color tone though, that gives off a slightly yellowish hue sometimes, but otherwise, this display is an absolute pleasure to use in everyday tasks or for media consumption.
Performance
Another major change with the M9+ comes in the processor, but in this case, it does unfortunately prove to be a step back. Under the hood, the device packs an octa-core MediaTek MT6795T processor, clocked at 2.2 GHz, and backed by the PowerVR G6200 and 3 GB of RAM. In general everyday use, like navigating through the various elements of the UI and opening applications, the One M9+ provides a very fluid and responsive experience. It’s with multi-tasking that mixed results are seen. While switching back and forth between applications can be smooth and snappy sometimes, there are instances where there is a lot of stutter in the animations, and significant delays in the load times between apps.
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The dip in performance is far more noticeable when it comes to gaming though, which really raises questions with regards to HTC’s decision to go with a MediaTek processor. Graphic-intensive games like Modern Combat 5 can run smoothly at times, but there is too much action on the screen, the frame rate drops significantly, resulting in very choppy gameplay. Games like Mortal Kombat X are a little too much for the One M9+ to handle, and even simpler games like Clash of Clans fail to run at a consistent frame. This could be due to a lack of optimization for the MediaTek processor, but is still a huge letdown for anyone that enjoys gaming on their phone.
Hardware
One aspect of the hardware that enhances the media consumption and gaming experience in general is with HTC’s signature front-facing BoomSound speakers. They are still the loudest and most crisp sounding speakers on any smartphone, unrivaled by anyone. With Dolby audio enhancements, you can easily toggle between a theater mode for a surround sound effect, and a music mode for a more flatter sound.
The bottom speaker has undergone a slight makeover with a separation in the grill to make way for the fingerprint scanner. The process of setting up the scanner is very similar to both Apple and Samsung’s implementation, that requires a series of repeated presses to accurately record your fingerprint. Up to 5 fingerprints can be stored at one time, and once set up, the sensor works surprisingly well. Using the fingerprint scanner unlocks the phone almost instantaneously the majority of the time, and easily rivals the scanners found on the latest Apple and Samsung devices. While you are able to use the scanner as a dedicated home button, it is actually not a real tactile button, and functions more like a capacitive key.
32 GB of on-board storage is available with the One M9+, and for those that do need more, the storage is further expandable via microSD card by up to 128 GB. The device also comes with the usual suite of connectivity and sensor options.
The HTC One M9+ comes with a non-removable 2,840 mAh battery that has proved to be quite good. The battery lasts from anywhere between 14 and 16 hours with normal usage, which should be more than enough for most people to get through a full day. With heavy usage, that involved lots of gaming and taking pictures, that number does dip considerably though, down to around 10 to 11 hours.
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Exact screen-on times can’t be provided because for some reason, HTC has made determining that number very difficult. What can be said is that there was never a issue with getting through a full day unless you really put the device through its paces, and that did result in needing to reach for the charger in the middle of the day. The use of a MediaTek processor means that the One M9+ doesn’t come with any fast charging capabilities though, which would have been nice, but isn’t exactly a deal breaker.
Camera
HTC brings back the Duo Camera setup of the One M8 with the One M9+, allowing for the camera to refocus shots after the fact, but considering that many smartphone cameras can achieve the same effect with only one sensor, the re-introduction of the Duo Camera becomes a rather questionable choice. The main camera is still the same 20 MP shooter from the One M9, and a 4 MP UltraPixel camera is once again found up front for some high quality selfies.
The camera application continues to be minimalistic, with quick toggles to easily switch between the front camera and rear camera, and the ability to take a panorama shot simply by swiping on the viewfinder, or tapping the button on the bottom right. Photo Booth and Split Capture are also available for those you want it. The rest of the camera settings are hidden in the overflow menu, which keeps the interface from getting cluttered, but does result in getting to modes like HDR and manual requiring a few more steps than is necessary. The most notable difference with the camera UI is the addition of the Duo Camera toggle to quickly switch between duo capture and standard high resolution shots.
The Duo Camera works just like it is supposed to, but for best results, you’ll need to make sure that there is a clear subject of focus and a clear background, or the refocusing may not look very convincing. The biggest caveat to using this setup is that photos are capped at 4 MP, so there’s not a whole lot of room to work with if you’re planning to crop.
When shooting in the normal full resolution, there is plenty of detail in the shots, especially when you’re working with 20 MP, but considering that this the same sensor and software, the One M9+ faces a lot of the issues that plagued the camera experience of the One M9. Good looking shots are possible with the right lighting conditions, but the main problem here is its lack of dynamic range and the way it handles exposure. The exposure can be adjusted by tapping anywhere on the viewfinder, which is a very simple and easy implementation, but even a tiny change in the place you tap will result in major swings in the exposure, leading to two completely different looking photos as a result. HDR does help improve the situation, but with several seconds of processing time between each shot, it’s not always the most practical solution.
The situation doesn’t get much better in low light conditions, and without OIS, it becomes extremely difficult to get a clear shot, especially when the shutter has to to stay open longer to try and capture more detail. At higher ISOs, pictures quickly become filled with noise, which is expected, but results in soft images with very little color. This just goes to show that it isn’t all about just the megapixel count, and it is very evident that this camera is still suffering from the same problems as those seen on the One M9.
Software
On the software side of things, the HTC One M9+ is running Android 5.0.2 Lollipop, with the HTC Sense 7 UI on top. The user interface retains everything that many have come to know and love about HTC Sense from previous iterations, and adds a few key features that were first introduced with the One M9. The interface is still fast and fluid, and there are of course the now familiar elements like the vertical scrolling app drawer and Blinkfeed, which now also shows restaurant recommendations during meal times (which can also show on your lock screen if you so choose).
All of the motion launch gestures that make accessing certain functions of the phone a lot faster are still available, including double tap to wake, swipe up to unlock from a sleep state, directly access BlinkFeed, and quickly launch the camera app just by picking the device up in the landscape orientation and tapping the volume down button.
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New features introduced with Sense 7 include the addition of the home widget and a themes engine. The home widget aggregates a selection of applications that will be most useful to you, changing according to your location. Also available is a folder that houses the recently downloaded applications, and there is also a list of recommended apps that will appear alongside it. This feature can certainly be useful for some, but can also be removed easily if you don’t find a need for it.
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On the other hand, the new themes engine is one of the best additions to HTC Sense, and even though the default UI does look great, it is always nice to have a change of scenery. The themes engine is still relatively new, but there’s already numerous options to choose from, that allow you to change virtually everything at the click of a button, including the wallpaper, icons, sounds, fonts, and even the general system UI elements. You can even create your own theme by selecting a wallpaper or photo of your choice, and the theme engine will automatically build one for you; but you also have more granular control features at your disposal, to get it to look exactly the way you want it.
Specifications
| Display | 5.2-inch Super LCD3 2560 x 1440 resolution, 565 ppi |
| Processor | 2.2 GHz octa-core MediaTek MT6795T processor PowerVR G6200 GPU |
| RAM | 3 GB |
| Storage | 32 GB, expandable via microSD card by up to 128 GB |
| Camera | Duo Camera (20 MP + 2.1 MP) with dual LED flash 4 MP Ultrapixel front-facing camera |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 4.1 GPS + GLONASS microUSB 3.0 |
| Battery | 2,840 mAh |
| Software | Android 5.0.2 Lollipop |
| Dimensions | 151 x 72 x 9.6 mm 168 grams |
| Colors | Gunmetal gray, silver gold |
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Pricing and final thoughts
The HTC One M9+ is already available in markets like China and India, and has recently become available on Amazon for purchase in the US, with a price tag of around $710, which does fluctuate though. Available color options include gunmetal and silver gold. Keep in mind that, since it is a GSM version, it is compatible only with the AT&T and T-Mobile network in the US.
So there you have it for this in-depth look at the HTC One M9+! With such a high price tag, the device will be going up against some stiff competition in the LG G4, Samsung Galaxy S6, and even the HTC One M9 itself. If you’re confused between the One M9+ and its smaller sibling, the choice you have to make is with regards to how important a Quad HD display and fingerprint scanner are to you, and if they are worth the price. While these features are great to have, One M9 owners shouldn’t feel like they’ve been cheated, because the One M9+ is not without its shortcomings, particularly with regards to performance.
Unannounced Desire 728 passes through TENAA
Over the weekend, an unannounced HTC-branded smartphone passed through China’s official certification database — TENAA. The mid-range handset, dubbed the Desire 728, carries the model number D728w and is believed to be targeted at the Asian market.
The device is rumored to pack a 5.5-inch 720p display, a 1.3GHz MediaTek octa-core processor, 2GB of RAM, a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera, a 5-megapixel front-facing shooter and a 2,600mAh non-removable battery.
Anonymous tipsters claim that the Desire 728 will be available in a multitude of different colours, including black, white, gold, grey, orange and red.
To view the full certification document over on TENAA’s website, hit the source link below.
Source: TENAA
Come comment on this article: Unannounced Desire 728 passes through TENAA
WSJ: Apple had 92% of smartphone industry’s profits in Q1 2015
Despite the countless advantages of Android, Apple has absolute control over smartphone profits.
According to The Wall Street Journal, there are now approximately a thousand different companies producing smartphones. That number is absolutely staggering, and should without a doubt infer that there are OEMs above and beyond the scope of knowledge of just about anyone.
But Apple it seems, receives almost all of the profits from the industry according to Mike Walkley, Canaccord Genuity managing director. Specifically, in the first quarter of 2015, it earned 92% of the total operating income from the world’s leading 8 OEMs, an impressive 65% increase over the same period last year. Samsung, on the other hand, received only 15%. (Because many companies actually lose money in the smartphone business, the total share of those who profit is bigger than 100%.) In light of all those other manufactures who aren’t mentioned, Canaccord estimates that they are essentially irrelevant (from this perspective) given that they “broke even or lost money.”
Apple’s market
The report explains that Apple “sells less than 20% of smartphones, in terms of unit sales” and that “the disparity reflects its ability to command much higher prices for its phones”, something that is no longer true of Android OEMs as they face an increasingly crowded marketplace. The result is a lack of core differentiation which has forced many companies to slash prices in order to appeal to consumers. This trend is totally alien from Apple’s attention, as last year the iPhone “sold for a global average of $624, compared with $185 for smartphones running Android, according to Strategy Analytics.”
It should be note that Canaccord’s data “doesn’t include privately held companies including Xiaomi and India’s Micromax Informatics Ltd.” however, “Mr. Walkley said those companies’ profits—if any—are unlikely to alter the industry-wide profit picture.” While some might be eager to speak otherwise, given the extremely low retail prices for these OEM’s products, it is basically assumed they are selling them at-or-around production costs, and thus what little profit to be had comes from selling massive numbers of product, or even from value-added services, offers, or accessories.
Google’s gain (as OEMs feel the pain)
While this report may enrage Android fans, especially those with more antagonistic views of Apple, this is little more than a reinforcement of just how profitable Cupertino’s business model is, and exactly why companies like Samsung are so eager to try and break free of Android. Indeed there is a certain element of irony at play here: many view Google’s “open” OS as pro-choice, yet Google’s overall business strategy is largely self serving. In other words, Google makes a lot of money of Android, even if actual most phone makers don’t.
It matters very little who makes Android phones, as long as the phones being made are running Google Play Services
Google wants Android on as many devices as possible, because each one is a potential profit center for the company’s main business: advertising. To Google, it matters very little who makes their phones, as long as the phones being made are running Google Play Services. This fractured reality is exactly why the “China situation” is such a pain in Mountain View’s side, and why it’s looking more likely 2015 will see the release of a Huawei Nexus.
Indeed as Android has gradually matured, Google has sought to exercise tighter control over the OS. Likewise, the once-flourishing sales of Samsung are ultimately of little concern now that Android has achieved its absolute market share dominance. Whereas the Galaxy series was once – arguably – the sole contender against Apple’s iPhone, the tables have turned and now any random would-be OEM can make a pretty decent smartphone.
Each Android phone is a potential profit center for Google’s main business: advertising.
Notice, however, just how rare it is to find any given one (or tablet for that matter) that doesn’t run Google Play Services, something that used to happen on a somewhat frequent basis in the early days of Android and budget-friendly products. This is not to say they don’t exist, not at all, but rather there are just so many smaller-scale tablets that do support Play Services, the problem is nowhere near as pressing as it might once have been.
Profit pictures
Had HTC released the One M9+ as its flagship, perhaps the financial fall-out would have been somewhat lessened…or even staved-off entirely.
As far as key Android OEMs go and their potential for profits, the sad reality is that things don’t look good at all. Samsung had an extremely favorable reception when the Galaxy S6 was announced which prompted almost unreasonable projections of potential sales. Reports began to come in that painted a different picture, and in the more recent past it’s become quite clear that the Korean smartphone manufacturer will ultimately fail to live up to the lofty expectations many had set up. HTC is in a similar boat, largely due to its decision to release the One M9 as its flagship, despite an absolute menagerie of other prime products exclusively available in Asia. LG is also facing scrutiny given that the G4 has, by all accounts so far, failed to live up to its sales potential.
Meanwhile, over in Apple-land, rumblings of rumors couldn’t be more rosy. The WSJ points out that “events last week highlighted the lopsided financial picture [with] Apple…asking suppliers to make a record number of new iPhone models.” Given that the products expected to launch this year, the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus are – based on past releases – going to retain the same design but instead offer upgraded internals, it truly just shows how much power Apple has when it comes to products, purchases, and profits.
Unlike Apple, HTC or Sony can’t get away with releasing iterative products.
HTC by all accounts, did the exact same thing with its One M9 and yet has met with disastrous results. Even Sony has faced intense scrutiny for this strategy given that the Xperia Z4 is basically a retread of the Z3, a reality that has literally forced the company to re-brand it as the Z3+ outside of Japan. How the tables might have turned had HTC at least had the foresight to release the One M9+ as its flagship, or had Sony deemed it fit to launch the Verizon-exclusive Z4v on a global scale.
Forecasting the future
Even were it to feature a teleportation beam, it’s unlikely the upcoming Galaxy Note 5 would ever be able to transport Samsung back to its former finances.
It is unlikely that things will improve for legacy Android OEMs in the future. New rumors are suggesting that Samsung will launch its upcoming Galaxy Note 5 earlier than in the past, simply because it doesn’t want to compete with the iPhone’s juggernaut-strong offensive. Likewise, the company is expected to bring to market a super-sized Galaxy S6 Edge as clear competition for the new iPhone. The Note series has always been a less mainstream affair, and thus it is unlikely to move massive numbers enough to bring Samsung back to positive growth on a mass-scale, the likes of which it used to enjoy on a quarterly basis for year-upon-year in the past.
With even Android’s largest OEM facing slowing sales, the potential for smaller players is all the more marred, baring a major upturning of strategy. In their place will be dozens of companies from China, such as Huawei, Xiaomi, ZTE, who will be the ones to truly take advantage of the world’s emerging markets. These companies are not hell-bent on mass profits, nor do many of them have speculators or investors governing the decisions that go on behind the scenes the way that publicly traded companies do.
Asus Zenfone Selfie and HTC Desire 728 pass TENAA certification in China
Once a device has passed through a government’s telecommunications regulatory committee, it’s an almost sure-fire bet a release window will open up soon after. China’s TENAA (think FCC) has recently certified two new smartphones, the Asus Zenfone Selfie which we had taken a look at before, and the relatively lesser known HTC Desire 728.
The Asus Zenfone Selfie
Announced just over a month ago, the Asus Zenfone Selfie is visually reminiscent to the ZenFone 2 with a similar design and rear-mounted buttons. Opting for a more soft, friendly approach the device comes in various pastel colors. It features a 5.5-inch Full HD TFT display and a capable 64-bit Octa-Core Snapdragon 615 SoC. Just as with the Zenfone 2, there is both a 2GB and a 4GB RAM variant of the device, and will be available in 16, 32, or 64GB of on-board storage with microSD support included.
The phone’s name is indeed its claim to fame, as the Selfie comes with 13MP cameras both on the front and back, and both make use of dual-tone LED flashes. Much like LG’s recent flagships, the f 2.0 rear camera is equipped with a laser-assisted auto-focus system. On the front is an f 2.2 lens with an 80-degree viewing angle. The phone includes the obligatory “beautification mode” as well as a panorama selfie mode that tethers multiple pictures to create a larger image.
It’s unknown if this pastel-Zenfone Selfie from Taiwan is the same product that was just certified in China.
Regional Differences?
Interestingly enough, the device certified by China’s TENAA has model number ASUS_Z00UDA and may in fact, be slightly different than the product Asus unveiled in Taiwan (mentioned above). Specifically, this device has only 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of storage, and will apparently be available in Black, Gold, Grey, and Red colors which would essentially give it the same color scheme as the Zenphone 2. It is currently unknown as to if this model is exclusive for China, or if Asus has decided to rethink the pastel rear covers and go with more solid ones. It is also unclear as to if the Android 5.0.2 Lollipop build running on this certified device will be the same on the international product.
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The HTC Desire 728
Also certified by the TENAA is a mid-range HTC product, the Desire 728 (model number D728w) is a definitively mid-range phone with a 5.5-inch 720p HD display, 2GB of RAM, a 1.3GHz octa-core CPU (believed to be a MediaTek MT6753), 16GB of internal storage, a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front camera.
Rounding out the specs are a 2,800 mAh battery and Android Lollipop 5.1. The phone is just under 150 grams and will be sold in white, black, orange, red, gold and grey color variants. While the Desire line has been around for some time, this will be one of the rare times orange makes the cut, with the company typically sticking with more traditional black/blue/white/red colors.
Given the rather standard-affair specs, as well as our own impressions from the Desire 626, we don’t expect the world from this piece of hardware, nor is it likely to be released outside Asia, where HTC seems content to announce product after product while the remainder of the world receives a scarce few, such as the One M9.
Do either of these products pique your interest? Curious what Asus’ take on the “selfie phone” craze will pan out to be? Leave a comment below and let us know!
Where can I demo the HTC Vive?
HTC and Valve have created one of the most impressive VR headsets to have graced our homepage. The device is powerful and has the ability to track your location and displacement within a room, thanks to a set of lasers that can be mounted on the walls. You may have to sacrifice a whole living area for it, but trust us when we tell you it’s worth it.
Sadly, that is about all we can ask you to do right now – ask you to trust us. There is truly no way to explain the amazing experience that something like the HTC Vive provides. This is why we couldn’t really give you any real hands-on coverage at MWC 2015. We resorted to providing our first-impressions, instead. Granted, that is never enough, but many of you will soon be able to try it on for yourselves and finally understand why we are going head over heels for this product.
HTC has taken it upon itself to take this breathtaking gadget all over the USA and a other European cities. We reported on this HTC Vive world tour only a few days ago, but all we knew then was that this road trip would start this week in San Diego, CA (right at the same time as Comic-Con). The bus is now in downtown (very close to me) and is showing plenty of San Diegans why the whole industry is astounded by the Vive.
Want in on the action? Don’t you worry. HTC has finally announced a complete list of locations and dates where you will be able to take the Vive for a stroll, yourself.
Tour stops currently include:
- July 9-12, Island St & 6th Ave, San Diego, CA, USA
- July 17-19, Forecastle Festival [Invite Only], Louisville, KY, USA
- July 21-23, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL, USA
- July 25-28, specific location TBD, Kansas City, KS, USA
- August 2-8, The International, Seattle, WA, USA
- August 5-9, Gamescom, Cologne, Germany
- August 13-16, specific location TBD, San Francisco, CA, USA
- August 20-23, specific location TBD, Portland, OR, USA
- August 28-31, PAX Prime, Seattle, WA, USA
- September 4-9, IFA, Berlin, Germany
- October 28-November 1, Paris Games Week, Paris, France
HTC is making sure there’s plenty of Vive to go around, bringing it to a bevy of the largest markets in the USA, as well as a few cities in Germany and France. We urge you to take a drive and head to the HTC bus when/if it comes around your area. The experience is totally worth it! And here in San Diego they were giving away some cool sunglasses and shirts, so you may even walk out with some cool swag.
Do keep in mind that these tour dates and locations are subject to change. HTC’s official blog post will continue to be updated as more details emerge. Stay tuned! Have any of our readers managed to get a demo of the HTC Vive yet? Please hit the comments and tell your fellow Android fans how amazing this thing is!
Here’s where you can try on HTC’s Vive VR headset this year
If you’re eager to try on HTC’s Vive VR headset, which blew us away back at Mobile World Congress, you may soon have your chance. HTC just announced a world tour for the Vive, starting this week at San Diego Comic-Con, stretching all the way into the Paris Games Week in November. You can check out a full list of cities and dates below, but take note that they’re subject to change. The Vive, developed together with Valve, is a VR headset similar to the Oculus Rift, but it also includes some positional laser sensors which can track your movement around a room. It was so immersive it made Engadget’s Nicole Lee a believer in VR. Our only issue with this news? We’re noticing a distinct lack of East Coast dates. New York City wants to see the Vive already, HTC!
Here are HTC’s current tour stops for the Vive:
- July 9-12, Island St & 6th Ave, San Diego, CA, USA
- July 17-19, Forecastle Festival [Invite Only], Louisville, KY, USA
- July 21-23, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL, USA
- July 25-28, specific location TBD, Kansas City, KS, USA
- August 2-8, The International, Seattle, WA, USA
- August 5-9, Gamescom, Cologne, Germany
- August 13-16, specific location TBD, San Francisco, CA, USA
- August 20-23, specific location TBD, Portland, OR, USA
- August 28-31, PAX Prime, Seattle, WA, USA
- September 4-9, IFA, Berlin, Germany
- October 28-November 1, Paris Games Week, Paris, France
Filed under: Misc, Wearables, HTC
Source: HTC
Who’s who in the smartphone camera business
Camera technology has always been an important feature in smartphones but this generation of flagships have been putting particular emphasis on the quality of their camera modules. So it seems worthwhile to dive on into the world of camera sensors and take a look at who is building the best and most popular products.
Sony
We’ll start with one of the biggest and that is Sony. The company has a long legacy in the image sensor market and has been at the forefront of mobile camera technology for a number of years. The company accounted for roughly 40 percent of all smartphone image sensors in 2014.
Sony’s image sensors have found their way into numerous smartphones and tablets, even if the company doesn’t provide the whole module. If you’re curious, the difference is that image sensors are responsible for converting the light into digital information, which determines the number of megapixels, pixel size and density, recording frame rates, etc. The broader camera module determines focus, aperture and other attributes.
Sony’s Exmor image sensors are behind a number of high-end smartphone cameras.
Sony’s high-end image sensors fall under the Exmor RS brand name. Its latest model is the Back Side Illuminated (BSI) 21 megapixel IMX230, which has started to find its way into the latest smartphones. It’s IMX240 powers the Galaxy Note 4 and some S6 models, while the IMX234 forms the basis of the LG G4’s camera.
The company isn’t just catering to the very high-end market, Sony’s 8MP and 13MP mid-range sensors have been in high demand from Chinese smartphone manufacturers looking to decent cameras at a reasonable cost. The 13 megapixel IMX214 has proven particularly popular with manufacturers like Huawei and Oppo over the past twelve months.
| Sensor | Resolution | Sensor Size | Pixel Size | Handsets examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMX 135 | 13 MP (4224 x 3176) | 1/3.06″ | 1.12 um | LG G3, Note 3, Moto X |
| IMX 214 | 13 MP (4224 x 3176) | 1/3.06″ | 1.12 um | Find 7, Honor 6, OnePlus One |
| IMX 220 | 20.7 MP (5344 х 4016) | 1/2.3″ | 1.2 um | Xperia Z2, Xperia Z3, Meizu MX4 |
| IMX 234 | 16 MP (5312 x 2988) | 1/2.6″ | 1.12 um | LG G4, ZTE Nubia Z9 |
| IMX 240 | 16 MP (5312 x 2988) | 1/2.6″ | 1.2 um | Galaxy S6, Note 4 |
As well as basic sensor hardware, Sony has also developed Phase Detection Auto Focus (PDAF) technology, in-sensor HDR, and high speed shooting modes for its sensors, which is helping to keep the company at the forefront of the market.
So important is its image sensor business that Sony is willing to invest billions into additional production capacity by issuing new shares for the first time since 1989, just in order to keep up with demand.
OmniVision
OmniVision is another big name in the smartphone image sensor business, but you’re more likely to find its products in the low and mid-tier markets, rather than high-end smartphones.
The company’s typical sensor selling price is just $1.79, compared with upwards of $7 from Sony. As a result, OmniVision is expected to capitalize on the new demand for lower cost CMOS sensors from the growing Chinese and Indian smartphone markets.
| Sensor | Resolution | Sensor Size | Pixel Size | Full Video Capture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OV5640 | 5 MP | 1/4″ | 1.4 um | 15 fps |
| OV8825 | 8 MP | 1/3.2″ | 1.4 um | 24 fps |
| OV13860 | 13 MP | 1/2.6″ | 1.3 um | 30 fps |
| OV16825 | 16 MP | 1/2.3″ | 1.34 um | 30 fps |
| OV23850 | 23.8 MP | 1/2.3″ | 1.12 um | 24 fps |
That said, the company’s hardware has occasionally cropped up in high-end devices, including the last generation HTC One M8. The company also used to supply image sensors to Apple before Sony took the contract.
Not too long ago OmniVision announced its 23.8 megapixel OV23850 image sensor for smartphones, which comes with PDAF, video binning, and 4K video recording.
In a separate bid to cater to the high end market, OmniVision has been pushing its 13MP PureCel design. This is a slightly larger image sensor with bigger 1.3um pixels to capture more light for better looking images. You’ll probably recognise this idea from HTC’s Ultrapixel idea, which OmniVision was involved with.
Toshiba
Toshiba is another large company with a strong legacy in the mobile camera business. The company’s sensor may not be appearing many high-end smartphones these days, but it was behind the impressive 41 megapixel sensor that powered the Nokia 808 PureView’s camera.
The company has most recently been working on further reducing the size and power consumption of its smartphone image sensors. The company also launched a 240fps slow motion capable T4K82 sensor back in March of this year.
Typically, Toshiba produces 13 and 8 megapixel sensors for smartphones and also has a 20 megapixel sensor for the high-end market. The Toshiba’s BSI T4KA7 is apparently powering the HTC One M9’s rear camera. Like Sony, Toshiba has integrated PDAF into its sensors and has its own 3D depth mapping technology and bright mode technology for improving the visibility of slow motion videos.
Toshiba camera modules developed for Project Ara
At last check in, Toshiba was looking to focus on providing sensors to Chinese smartphone manufacturers and had turned to automotive and medical markets for further growth. Although it did show off some neat modular prototypes for Project Ara as well.
SK Hynix
SK Hynix, a South Korean semiconductor supplier, is also a key player in the low cost smartphone camera market. Much like its competitors, the company produces a range of sensors and its 8 and 13 megapixel option are moving popular in mainstream handsets and it is focusing its operations in the growing Chinese market. SK Hynix had also previously provided low end cameras for Samsung’s budget smartphones.
Last year the company announced that it had a high-end 21 megapixel sensor in development. SK Hynix isn’t really doing much that hasn’t already been done by the competition, instead it appeals to manufacturers based on its low price point.
Samsung
Samsung has tried its hand at producing many key smartphone technologies itself and is also in the image sensor game. Although not as large of an operation as Sony, Samsung has been attempting to grow its image sensor and camera module businesses.
Besides hardware, Samsung has been working on software features, like picture re-focusing using depth information.
Samsung has quite a large catalog of sensors, including Front Side (FSI) and Back Side Illuminated (BSI) sensors. Its high-end technology uses the company’s own ISOCELL pixel type, which aims to reduce noise compared with its traditional BSI sensors by reducing interference between different color pixels.
| Sensor | Resolution | Sensor Size | Pixel Size | Pixel Type | Full Video Capture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S5K3H5 | 8 MP | 1/3.2 | 1.4 um | BSI | 30 fps |
| S5K4H5YB | 8 MP | 1/4 | 1.12 um | ISOCELL | 30 fps |
| S5K3L2 | 13 MP | 1/3.06 | 1.12 um | BSI | 30 fps |
| S5K3M2 | 13 MP | 1/3.06 | 1.12 um | ISOCELL | 30 fps |
| S5K2P8 | 16 MP | 1/2.6 | 1.12 um | ISOCELL | 30 fps |
Although we may typically associate Samsung with high-end products, the company’s average sensor selling price is only $1.93. You can find a range of products from small 1.3MP sensors for the low end market, up to 16MP sensors found in the flagship Galaxy S6. Samsung also develops complete modules for its sensors.
Most recently, Samsung’s own image sensors have found their way into the Galaxy S5 and S6 smartphones. However, due to its limited production capabilities, Samsung has to mix its own and Sony image sensors in the Galaxy S6. Closer inspection revealed some noticeable differences between the two, but without a side by side comparison you would probably struggle to notice any major differences in quality, suggesting that Samsung is managing to keep up with Sony.
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LG
Much like Samsung, LG is both a component and product manufacturer and is making strides with its camera components. LG Innotek is the division of the company that focuses on components and designed the impressive camera inside the company’s latest G4 flagship.
However, unlike Samsung, LG doesn’t make its own image sensor components, but designs the wider camera module instead. LG’s high-end smartphone cameras have all been based on Sony Exmor image sensors. LG has most recently pushed the boat with its f/1.8 aperture camera in its LG G4, which will let in around 80 percent more light than the G3’s f/2.2 module. This is the wider aperture that we’ve seen yet in a smartphone.
LG’s G4 took a Sony IMX234 sensor and paired it with its own lens, laster auto focus and color compensating technologies to produce one of the best smartphone cameras around.
Not only that, but LG’s research teams are also developing complimentary hardware components for its camera modules. Back with the LG G3 the company announced its laser autofocus system and the LG G4 comes with an infra-red colour correction circuit to better compensate for environmental lighting.
As the company doesn’t have to worry about sensor development, it has more time to work on refining the other module components, which has resulting in some rather interesting and practical camera designs.
HTC
Much like LG, HTC is not in the image sensor business, instead it has had a few attempts at designing its own camera modules.
HTC’s Ultrapixel idea didn’t end up working out to well, so the company ended up moving it to the front camera.
The company coined the phrase “Ultrapixel” for its larger 2.0um pixel smartphone cameras but these actually made use of ST Microelectronics and OmniVision constructed sensors, specifically the VD68969 and OV4688. The company has also experimented with dual-sensor set-ups with the One M8, making use of a 2.1-megapixel OmniVision OV2722 sensor to collect additional depth information.
Despite the novel ideas, the company’s camera technology does not appear to have kept up with the competition lately; the handset scored poorly in our blind test shoot-out.
What to expect next
There are a number of other manufacturers in the mobile image business which produce either their own lens modules or sensors, for example even OnePlus developed its own lens for its smartphone. Hopefully though, I have covered enough of them to give you an idea of what the market is like.
Samsung and Sony are likely quite safe at the top of the sensor market
Samsung and Sony are likely quite safe at the top of the sensor market, but smartphone CMOS sensor demand is inherently tied to the smartphone market. Huge growth in low margin handsets is driving demand for competitively priced image sensors with moderate specifications and this is opening the door for OmniVision, Toshiba and others to collect new business and expand their market share in Asia.
At the high-end, we’re quite likely to see OEM companies continue to differentiate their products by tweaking the broader camera modules to bring out subtle improvements in quality. Ideas like dual-image sensors, wider apertures and laser auto focus will probably keep cropping up from time to time, but final image quality is inevitably tied to the limited space for sensors within smartphones.
AIVAnet 