Lifestyles Breaking News

The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION

HTC shows off new phone for 'One' line, mimicking Windows features in Android

By: Peter Svensson, The Associated Press

Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013 at 4:48 PM | Comments: 0

This undated handout photo provided by HTC Corp., shows the company's new One phone. HTC, the struggling Taiwanese maker of smartphones, is taking a page from longtime partner Microsoft Corp. as it launches a new phone under the One brand. The phone runs Google Inc.'s Android software, but HTC is grafting its own home screen on the phone, one that's similar to that of Microsoft's Windows Phone software. (AP Photo/HTC)

NEW YORK, N.Y. - HTC Corp., the struggling Taiwanese maker of smartphones, is taking a page from longtime partner Microsoft Corp. as it launches a new phone under the One brand.

The phone runs Google Inc.'s Android software, but HTC is grafting its own home screen on the phone, one that's similar to that of Microsoft's Windows Phone software.

HTC Corp.'s BlinkFeed interface consists of large tiles that update automatically with information and photos from news sites and social networks.

The phone will go on sale in late March. HTC says U.S. partners will include AT&T, Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile, but specific availability dates and prices were not announced.

The new HTC One has a 4.7-inch screen, making it larger than the iPhone but smaller than some other Android phones, including HTC's own 5-inch Droid DNA, which launched in November. The HTC One has the same screen resolution as the larger phone, at 1920 by 1080 pixels.

At a press event in New York, HTC's design director Jonah Becker emphasized precision machining that goes into making the virtually all-metal body of the phone. In a design reminiscent of the iPhone 5, HTC has eliminated all the little gaps between different parts, giving the phone a smooth, tight feel in the hand.

HTC One features two speakers, at the top and bottom of the screen, producing a stereo effect when the phone is turned on its side for movie viewing. Another unusual feature is an infrared diode that lets the phone serve as a universal remote for a TV or media centre.

HTC sold 32 million smartphones last year according to research firm Gartner, giving it about 4 per cent of the worldwide market. Unit sales were down 26 per cent from HTC's peak in 2011.

Rate this
This article has not yet been rated.

We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high. If you thought it was well written, do the same. If it doesn’t meet your standards, mark it accordingly.

You can also register and/or login to the site and join the conversation by leaving a comment.

Rate it yourself by rolling over the stars and clicking when you reach your desired rating. We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high.

Sort by: Newest to Oldest | Oldest to Newest | Most Popular 0 Comments

You can comment on most stories on brandonsun.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

There are no comments at the moment. Be the first to post a comment below.

Post Your Comment

The Brandon Sun does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. Comments are moderated before publication. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.