HTC Keynote at Uplinq 2011: OnLive, HTC Dev, HTC Watch, and HTC Pro

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The second main keynote at this years Uplinq 2011 was all about HTC. They started off with comments about NFC, the cloud, and the start of 4G. They quickly led into some more exciting topics such as HTC Watch and the new partnership with OnLive for the future of gaming with HTC.


We have already heard a lot about HTC Watch when they unveiled the Sensation and the EVO 3D. HTC Watch will be a global media hub that will be deeply tied into HTC devices for streaming and consuming data and entertainment such as movies and TV.

OnLive is a new partnership with HTC that will bring rich and feature filled gaming to new levels for HTC users. They go on to mention that OnLive will not be just about gaming, but will also stream real-time applications such as AutoCAD and other education and work related applications right to your handheld device.


Peter Chou, CEO of HTC noted that HTC is the number one Android brand and supplier “everywhere in the world.” Chou went on to say that “HTC believes in giving people choice.”

“Our partnership with Qualcomm is one of the most important relationship HTC has made in over a decade, we’re like brothers.” – Peter Chou

Then Chou moved on to Mobile Development and had some things to say about the developers. He noted there is over 450k Android developers and they will be launching HTC Pro. A new program that will lend a helping and learning hand to developers of all sizes, big or small. HTC recognized that they themselves are developers and would like to help out smaller teams or developers any way they can. Some of those include HTC Dev, and HTC SDK’s all being available in an open source library. More on that at htcdev.com where you can download as many SDK’s as you’d need.

Next up we have a Qualcomm Snapdragon event and a few more keynotes over the next few days so stay tuned right here at AndroidCommunity.com for all your Uplinq 2011 news.
Bonus Video of Drums concert at Uplinq 2011

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HTC EVO 4G Update to Gingerbread 2.3 Starting June 6th [Official]

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It is official, starting Monday June 6th Sprint will start the rollout for Android 2.3 Gingerbread for their hot selling HTC EVO 4G we all know and love. The EVO has been one of the biggest selling Android phones aside from the Galaxy S and has been a huge success for Sprint. The update to that sweet Gingerbread was talked about back in April, then leaked a few days later. This will be official, and tasty just as Gingerbread has been.


Here is a little tip, for those that are excited and just can’t wait until June 6th you can apparently get it starting Friday the 3rd. Yes that is tomorrow. According to the Sprint site users can “check for updates” right on the handset on the 3rd and the update will be initiated, otherwise it will be pushed over-the-air starting Monday. Pretty weird way to roll-out the update because I’m sure anyone that hears that will check for updates manually.
Gingerbread brings many changes and improvements as well as UI changes. A Download manager is included as well as some EVO specific Gmail, and battery drain issues have also been resolved. For all the information check out the press release below, or click here.

HTC EVO™ 4G from Sprint will receive the Android™ 2.3, Gingerbread, update through an over-the-air maintenance release beginning on Monday, June 6.
Sprint will send update notifications to users in waves. The notification will let users know the update is available and provide the simple two-step, over-the-air download instructions.
Users will receive a notification that Android 2.3 is available for download.
Once the user has downloaded the update, they will be prompted to install the update. The user will be notified that their device will be disabled during the installation process. The phone will be ready to use once the process completes.
Can’t Wait Until June 6?
For those who just can’t wait to get Android 2.3, there will be an easy user initiated option to download the upgrade starting on Friday, June 3. To access the update – from the home screen/Menu/Settings/System updates/HTC software Update. This will initiate the upgrade process.
The software release upgrades HTC EVO 4G to Android 2.3, Gingerbread. This version of Android improves download management through the Downloads application, offering the user easy access to any file downloaded from the browser, email or another application. It also fixes the devices ability to stream media through certain applications for the device.
Gingerbread restores HTC EVO 4G’s ability to sync multiple Gmail™ accounts, display email attachments in the email client and fixes battery discharge issues.

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HTC Flyer vs Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

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We pit the HTC Flyer up against the Android 3.1-powered Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
HTC is no stranger to acclaim. Its smartphones are widely regarded as industry leading specimens and innovation and design excellence have become synonymous with the Taiwanese manufacturer.
But up until recently it was a stranger to the tablet market, and we've decided to put the company's premier tab, the Flyer, through its paces by placing it up against a device that has enjoyed a very positive reception: the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.
Let's see how it got on.
Display
Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 features, unsurprisingly, a 10.1-inch TFT display that operates at a resolution of 800 x 1280 and the screen is just about as impressive as you'd expect from Samsung. It may not rival the company's Super AMOLED products but you'll be hard pushed to find anything to dislike about the Galaxy Tab 10.1's display. It's big, responsive and is great for watching HD content or web browsing.
The Flyer however, only offers a 7-inch screen, operating at a resolution of 600 x 1024, which HTC claim will make the device altogether more mobile than its competitors. Performance-wise the display's solid enough, colours look vivid and blacks deep, but the lack of space does prove to be a hindrance at times and the small-size sometimes gives you the feeling that you might be better off with a large screened smartphone, which you can slip into a pocket. We have no major complaints though.
Winner - Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
Power
The HTC Flyer may feature a small screen but it doesn't lack in the engine room and the single-core 1.5GHz CPU is a beast, it chomps through tasks super speedily and the 1GB of installed RAM help matters along nicely.
Samsung opted to go down the dual-core route with the Galaxy Tab 10.1, packing a 1GHz chip into the device, which takes care of multi-tasking without skipping a beat. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 also offers 1GB RAM too, making it a fast, well provisioned machine indeed.
While the Samsung weighs-in heavier with the dual-core, we're pretty fond of the higher clocked chip of the Flyer too, and let's not forget, Android isn't 100% ready for dual-core just yet, so we're happy to call this one a draw..for now.
Winner - Draw

Optics
Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 features a 3.15-megapixel primary snapper which performs adequately, with an LED flash and auto-focus included to make your life easier and while it won't set the world alight it should be ample for casual use. The device does capture video at 720p though, which should allow all you amateur film makers to exercise your creative muscle! The Galaxy Tab 10.1 also packs a secondary 2-megapixel camera for video-calling.
HTC's Flyer comes with an altogether more impressive 5-megapixel shooter which also features autofocus but, brace yourself, no flash! So you're golden if you're outside or in good lighting but step inside after dark or on one of the UK's infamous grey days and you might just be done for!
Video capture functionality on the Flyer is the almost-standard 720p and the device also boasts a secondary 1.3-megapixel camera.
Winner - Draw
Form
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 - 256.6 x 172.9 x 8.6 mm, 595 g
HTC Flyer - 195.4 x 122 x 13.2 mm, 420 g
HTC's plan to make the Flyer a super-portable tablet works. The device is small, light and comfortable to use but while you'll be stoked it isn't weighing you down while you're carrying it, you might not be as impressed when you crack it out to use. Sure, it feels balanced in the hand and is made of high-quality materials, but it just seems to exude a 'smartphone with gigantism' vibe. On the positive side it might make you feel like a kid again.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is a well constructed, nicely designed device which looks good, performs well and is eye-catching enough to stand next to the likes of the iPad 2 without blushing. It is a little on the heavy side for a tablet though but in the aesthetics category we give it an enthusiastic A+.
Winner - Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
Software
Both the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the HTC Flyer run on Google's all-conquering Android platform and as such offer the user the ability to customise with widgets, download from the huge app catalogue that is the Android Market and browse with full flash support!
Tablet-only support is a little thin on the ground for Android at the moment though, so don't expect to enjoy the same sort of tablet-only support you'd get on Apple's gadget.
The notable difference between these two devices is the version of Android that they run. Strangely, HTC opted to install version 2.4 of Android on the Flyer, rather than the tablet-specific 3.0, which the Galaxy Tab 10.1 enjoys and as such certain nice features, like the new system and overhauled apps aren't present on the device. It does feature HTC's neat Sense UI but for once that isn't enough of a sweetener to clinch the deal, which means we're putting our tick firmly next to the Galaxy Tab 10.1 box in this round.
Winner - Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
So it's a pretty decisive victory for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1! The device builds nicely on the foundation laid by its predecessor the Galaxy Tab, making it a great device for Android enthusiast and newbie alike. Build quality is second to none and the feature list is jam packed too!
The HTC Flyer is something of a damp squib though and while we can't help but admire its good looks and pedigree it generally doesn't fit in with the smartphone market, or the tablet, a fact cemented by the baffling decision to run the device on a smartphone platform rather than tablet software.
If you're looking for a more portable tablet it will serve a purpose but other than that we can't think of a single reason why you'd want to choose the Flyer over one of its big-screened peers.

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HTC Desire S vs Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc

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This time the HTC Desire S takes on the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc
We compare the HTC Desire S to Sony Ericsson’s Xperia Arc.
Form:
HTC Desire S - 115 x 59.8 x 11.6 mm, 130 g
Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc - 125 x 63 x 8.7 mm, 117 g
The HTC Desire S doesn’t really stand out that much in the current smartphone market. Nor does it look very different from the majority of other HTC handsets, but in each case this is not necessarily a bad thing.
There’s something to be said for the elegant simplicity of the Desire S, something HTC seem to consistently get right, with smartphones at least.
The Desire S is thin, sleek and professional-looking with that HTC minimalist style and slightly rounded (though not overdone) corners bucking the trend for the angular.
Sony’s device is a completely different ball game, like the rest of the Xperia range, each is different and distinguished from each other and they’re very much attention seekers in the wider world of mobile tech too.
The clue is in the name for the Arc, with the whole handset curving along its back panel in the palm of your hand.
At the front it’s very straight and angular and very clean looking, while the back is a peculiar but effective mix of curves and angles, there’s some chrome trim but it’s tastefully done and actually suits the overall bombastic visuals of the device quite well.
We think the silhouette of the Xperia Arc from any angle looks fantastic, it looks like it shouldn’t work but it simply does.
The Desire S looks average and ‘okay’, but the Xperia Arc really is something exceptional and very special indeed when it comes to design, if only all smartphones were so interesting to look at.
Winner – Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc
Display:
HTC has, funnily enough, opted for Sony technology for the Desire S’ display with a 3.7-inch S-LCD capacitive touchscreen which is reinforced with toughened Gorilla Glass.
The display comes in at a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels and 252 dots-per-inch (dpi). The Desire S has multi-touch input as well as an accelerometer and comes preloaded with the HTC Sense user interface (UI).
The Xperia Arc boasts a larger screen than the Desire S at 4.2-inches, it’s an LED-backlit LCD capacitive touchscreen at 480 x 854 pixels and 233 dpi.
The Arc’s display has a scratch-resistant surface and features multi-touch input and an accelerometer. This curved handset also has the Sony Mobile Bravia engine and Timescape UI pre-installed.
Quite a tricky one to call, we prefer the larger screen size of the Arc and it also has a slightly higher resolution. However, the Desire S has the upper hand with a higher dpi rating for a sharper picture and the S-LCD screen technology offering better power economy as well as enhanced brightness and colours.
We think the Desire S will offer the most satisfying display quality overall.
Winner – HTC Desire S
Storage:
Storage on the Desire S is not what we would describe as fantastic, it’s got 1.1 GB of ROM for internal capacity which is acceptable but nothing to write home about, meanwhile on the RAM side of things it has 768 MB, which is rather good. Micro SD is supported for cards up to 32 GB.
The Arc isn’t great in this area either with a mere 320 MB of onboard storage space, RAM is decent enough at 512 MB though it comes in behind the Desire S. Card support is the same as the HTC and the Arc includes an 8GB Micro SD card as part of the package.
Neither handset provides as much storage as we would like but of the two the Desire comes out better with more RAM and more internal memory for your contacts, apps and multimedia.
Winner – HTC Desire S


Processor:
Oddly enough, the Desire S and Xperia Arc use identical single core processor setups and pretty speedy ones at that.
In both cases it’s a 1GHz Qualcomm Scorpion running the MSM8255 Snapdragon chipset while graphical number-crunching comes from an Adreno 205 graphics processing unit (GPU).
There’s nothing to distinguish the two phones here. These are both very good single core offerings and the Qualcomm technology means performance is great, though they won’t keep up with all the dual core monsters roaming around freely these days.
Winner - Draw
Camera:
The Desire S has a nice enough primary camera at 5-megapixels, the resolution comes in at 2592 x 1944 pixels and video capture is 720p. There’s a secondary camera but it’s only VGA but the primary’s feature-list is decent with autofocus, LED flash, geo-tagging, touch focus and image stabilisation.
The camera setup really is one of the Xperia Arc’s most standout features with an 8-megapixel primary at 3264 x 2448 pixels with autofocus, LED flash, touch focus, image stabilisation, geo-tagging plus face and smile detection.
Video capture is at 720p and has a continuous autofocus mode and video light. This excellent setup had to compromise somewhere and the Arc has no secondary camera, but we feel it’s no great detraction.
There’s no doubt that while the Desire S’ camera is admirable the Xperia Arc is a much better offering and the clear winner of the two.
Winner – Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc
Operating System:
Both phones run on Android 2.3 Gingerbread, which is as good as it gets right now for Android on smartphones. It’s better than 2.2 Froyo, but not quite as good as what the tablets get on 3.0 Honeycomb.
It’s very fast, the multi-tasking is brilliant, the user interface is slick and responsive and the touch keyboard is a refreshing change from the treacle-y iterations of the past.
We wish the browsing was as good as Honeycomb, though. No contest here as they’re both on the same version.
Winner - Draw
Final Thoughts:
Neither handset is perfect but both have a lot of positives which make them rather endearing in their own right.
The Desire S has a slightly nicer screen and more storage and RAM to play with, though both phones are somewhat lacking on storage, it is the lesser of two evils in this case, and the Arc’s screen isn’t bad either truth be told.
The Arc excels in a couple of areas but neither of which are significant enough to make the phone particularly desirable for those reasons alone.
The first one is it’s visual design, which is just phenomenal, but buying your phones on looks alone is a quick way to accumulate a large but attractive paperweight collection. The other area is the camera which is a very high-end setup.
With the same processor and operating system these phones are more similar in terms of basic functionality than their vastly different looks would imply and there simply isn’t an obvious winner here.

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HTC Evo View 4G tablet headed to Sprint June 24

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Not too long ago Chris B. put up his review of the cool HTC Flyer WiFi tablet and figured if you have the desire to write notes on your Android tablet then it might be the device for you. If you looked at that tablet and thought if it had 4G you might be interested, get ready. A tip has surfaced that points to Sprint getting a version of that tablet packing in 4G connectivity this month.


The tip comes from a screen grab from the Sprint internal Rewards Me site. The specific launch date as you can see in that yellow bubble is June 24, which is only a few weeks away. That would mean the 7-inch Sprint WiMax flavor of the Evo View also known as the Flyer will be coming in short order. That launch date also meshes with the promised and vague “summer” ship date.
It’s also worth noting that the Evo 3D smartphone is also pegged to launch on the same day at RadioShack. It looks like June 24 is shaping up to be a good day for HTC fans everywhere. We assume that all the features of the View 4G tablet on the Sprint network will be the same as the WiFi version we reviewed other than the 4G hardware inside.

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T-Mobile Sensation 4G is $550 off-contract

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T-Mobile USA’s pre-interest page for the Sensation 4G went live yesterday, and now the carrier has confirmed pricing for the HSPA+ smartphone both on and off-contract. As usual for a high-end Android smartphone, the Sensation 4G will be $199.99 with a new, two-year agreement (with mandatory voice and data) after a $50 mail-in rebate.

If you’d rather not be tied down to that agreement – and who can blame you – then T-Mobile USA will also offer the Sensation 4G contract-free for $549.99 plus tax. That then allows you to take your pick from the carrier’s various plans, use an existing SIM, or go prepaid if you’d prefer.
The T-Mobile Sensation 4G is set to land in Target stores from June 12, with wider availability in the carrier’s own stores by June 15. Check out our full review over at SlashGear for all the details.

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T-Mobile Sensation 4G Availability Revealed [Official!]

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We’ve just got our hands on the press release as revealed by T-Mobile that contains all the information we’ve gotta have before we know how much cash we’re going to have to drop down on the HTC Sensation 4G. This press release lets us know that the device will be out “by June 15th,” this POSSIBLY dashing hopes that the device will be announced on June 8th, but not completely – announcements, releases, and presentations are all different of course.


This device will launch here in the USA with Android 2.3 (the latest, they say,) a 4.3-inch qHD display, and what T-Mobile notes as being 4G speeds. Of course this device is also rolling out with the thus far fabulously impressive 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ processor. Would you like to see this device as it stands in the UK thus far? Have a look at our review courtesy of our main England homie Chris Davies.
Or perhaps you’d like to see the device in action versus the Samsung Galaxy S II? You can also see now, thanks to this press release, the fact that several new elements will be in place on this device including HTC Watch for movie rentals, HTC Listen for the same situation but with music, T-Mobile TV for free and pay content in live-tv format, Qik for video chat, and everyone’s favorite radio app Slacker Radio.
Another bonus note you may want to pay attention to is thus: “The HTC Sensation 4G is also expected to be available as early as June 12 at select Wal-Mart locations.” For real! Check out the rest of the press release below:

T-Mobile USA, Inc. today announced the upcoming availability of the HTC Sensation 4G. Expected to be available by June 15, and exclusively from T-Mobile, the HTC Sensation 4G is T-Mobile’s most powerful smartphone, delivering the latest Android™ 2.3 (Gingerbread) operating system with the hallmark HTC Sense™ experience and lightning-fast speeds with a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ processor paired with access to America’s Largest 4G Network.
T-Mobile’s high-speed 4G network continues to expand and is now available in 184 markets, reaching more than 200 million people nationwide. With the HTC Sensation 4G, T-Mobile customers in these areas can take advantage of 4G speeds as they download and watch premium entertainment on the device’s 4.3-inch qHD display virtually anytime, anywhere, without waiting.
“The HTC Sensation 4G’s already powerful performance is elevated by T-Mobile’s high-speed 4G network, offering customers quick download speeds, seamless Web browsing, and easy access to their favorite movies,” said Andrew Sherrard, senior vice president, marketing,
T-Mobile USA. “The sophisticated and innovative design of the HTC Sensation 4G complements its rich entertainment features, making it a must-have for high-end smartphone fans.”
Designed and manufactured by HTC, the Sensation 4G features a premium design with rounded edges, aluminum unibody construction and T-Mobile’s first 4.3-inch qHD touch-screen display. The HTC Sensation 4G delivers a quality on-the-go entertainment experience with easy access to top movie titles, TV programs, music and more via the following preloaded applications:
HTC Watch™: A library of the latest, premium movies and TV shows available for rent or purchase using innovative progressive download technology
HTC Listen™: A VIP pass to a library of millions of songs with the freedom to transfer purchases to another device or computer
T-Mobile® TV: A free selection of live and on-demand TV including news, sports and kids programming, plus full episodes of popular shows
T-Mobile Video Chat powered by Qik™: Video conversations with friends and family through T-Mobile’s network and over Wi-Fi
Slacker Radio: Free, personalized radio with over 150 genre stations and the ability to create your own stations
“The HTC Sensation 4G defines the perfect balance of power and design. Its dual-core processor and qHD screen place it firmly in the superphone class, but its sleek machined aluminum housing and contoured display give it an in-hand feel unlike any superphone that has come before it,” said Jason Mackenzie, president of HTC Americas. “HTC’s history of working with T-Mobile to bring innovative new services to market continues with the HTC Sensation 4G, the first device anywhere to offer HTC Listen, an innovative new mobile music service.”
The HTC Sensation 4G comes equipped with the latest HTC Sense™ experience which includes new features and enhancements such as a customizable lock screen, allowing customers to quickly jump to their favorite features and applications with the same gesture typically used to unlock the phone. The HTC Sensation 4G also offers access to more than 200,000 applications available on Android Market™ and integration with popular Google services such as Gmail™, Google Maps™ with Places and Navigation, YouTube®, and more.
For capturing and sharing memories in real time, the HTC Sensation 4G features an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera with dual LED flash, digital zoom and auto-focus, as well as a front-facing camera and 1080p HD video recorder. With DLNA compatibility, HTC Sensation 4G customers can wirelessly connect to a compatible HDTV or other DLNA device for streaming full HD video content.
The HTC Sensation 4G includes smartphone essentials such as easy access to personal and work e-mail, including support for Microsoft Exchange e-mail, contacts and calendar, social networking, and instant messaging. The HTC Sensation 4G also features Trace™ for easy text input, visual voicemail, a pre-installed 8GB microSD card, built-in 3.5mm headphone jack, Adobe® Flash® Player support and a music player.
Availability
The HTC Sensation 4G is expected to be available by June 15 exclusively to T-Mobile customers nationwide at T-Mobile retail stores, online at http://www.t-mobile.com and through select national retailers and dealers. The HTC Sensation 4G is also expected to be available as early as June 12 at select Wal-Mart locations.
Customers can visit http://htc.t-mobile.com/sensation for more information.
T-Mobile’s 4G network has expanded to 14 additional markets including Bloomington, Ind; Bremerton and Mount Vernon, Wash.; Flagstaff, Ariz.; Santa Fe, N.M.; Madera, Oxnard, Riverside and Santa Cruz, Calif.; Manchester, N.H.; Reading and York, Penn.; and Springfield and Worcester, Mass.
For more details on where T-Mobile’s 4G network is currently available, please visit http://newsroom.t-mobile.com/articles/4g-fact-sheet

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Sprint Releases Details of 3D Content to be Available for Evo 3D

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While we’re still waiting for a release date, Sprint and has decided to tease us with a few new details about the HTC Evo 3D. The dual-core, glasses-less 3D featuring phone is launching on Sprint’s 4G network sometime this summer, and now we’re starting to get a better idea of what sort of content we’ll have to take advantage of that 4.3″ 3D screen.


The Evo 3D (see our hands on from CTIA here) is set to be the first major Android smartphone to feature the stereoscopic, glasses-less 3D. Being the first of its kind, one would think it would be a bit lonely in the content department, but Sprint is seeing to it that doesn’t happen. To give you something to do right away, Sprint’s going to be including The Green Hornet in 3D on the pre-packaged SD card with all phones, at least for its initial release. You’ll also get a demo of a 3D Spiderman game, courtesy of Gameloft.

Once you get bored with the pre-loaded content, You’ll be able to bring your money to HTC’s Watch movie store as well as a Blockbuster On-Demand app which will rent, and sell you 2D and 3D movies. Should you be more of a gamer, Sprint has you covered. Gameloft will also be bundling a store app. Gameloft Storefront, as it will be called, will offer several promising sounding 3D games including an Assassins’ Creed title. If you can stand the wait, it sounds like Sprint has every intention of making sure the Evo 3D is a worth successor to the giant it follows.

Exciting Content Coming for this Summer’s Highly Anticipated Smartphone, HTC EVO 3D Exclusively from Sprint
New 2D and 3D content, including games, movies and apps, available for HTC EVO 3D at launch; Gameloft, HTC and Blockbuster latest content providers offering exciting new content designed to take advantage of Wi-Fi and the Sprint 4G Network along with HTC EVO 3D’s powerful features
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), May 31, 2011 – Missed seeing “The Green Hornet 3DTM” and other 3D films at the movie theater? Maybe you are a gamer looking for more action with your favorite game? Today, Sprint (NYSE: S) is offering a sneak peek into some of the exciting content, including movies and games, that will be available on HTC EVOTM 3D, when it launches this summer.
Announced at International CTIA Wireless 2011 and recipient of the coveted ‘Best in Show’ honor from Laptop Magazine, HTC EVO 3D is America’s first 4G phone with a 4.3-inch qHD 3D display for a glasses-free 3D viewing experience.
Available this summer exclusively from Sprint, HTC EVO 3D is built on AndroidTM 2.3 (Gingerbread), and powered by a 1.2GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon® dual core processor. It also features dual, rear-facing 5-megapixel cameras, which can be used to capture both high-quality conventional and stunning 3D images and videos, opening up new frontiers for user-generated content, social networking and streaming video. The device also offers video chat capabilities through a front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera.
“When HTC EVO 3D launches this summer, it will introduce our customers to exciting new capabilities that will appeal to consumers,” said Steve Elfman, president-Network Operations, Product and Wholesale, Sprint. “When combined with Wi-Fi and the Sprint 4G Network, HTC EVO 3D offers an innovative user experience that will give our customers the ability to play games, watch movies, take pictures and video chat in 3D right in the palm of their hand.”
3D Movies On Demand
For a limited time, Sprint will be offering customers who purchase the HTC EVO 3D the blockbuster movie “The Green Hornet 3DTM.” The movie will be pre-loaded on the device’s microSD card out of the box.
HTC EVO 3D will be pre-loaded with the HTC WatchTM movie application. With HTC Watch, consumers will have access to 2D and 3D movies and television programming on demand. Customers can buy or rent and download movies that will be optimized for viewing on HTC EVO 3D. Additionally, up to five movies can be stored in the HTC cloud, and programming purchased through the HTC Watch application can be viewed on other HTC devices. Rentals range in price from $2.99 to $3.99, and purchases start at $8.99.
HTC EVO 3D will be the first 3D handset pre-loaded with the Blockbuster On Demand® mobile app offering access to one of the largest catalogs of movies, including 3D titles. This movie store in your pocket offers video optimized for viewing on HTC EVO 3D’s 4.3-inch screen and offers the hottest new releases on the same day they become available on Blu-ray and DVD. Customers can buy or rent titles digitally and download directly to their smartphone, including select 3D movies. Drive Angry, starring Nicolas Cage, will be one of the first action-packed 3D titles available to customers.
Rentals range from $2.99 to $3.99 each, and purchases are $4.99 and up. If a video isn’t available digitally, Blockbuster also gives customers access to more than 100,000 movies and TV shows, as well as games, through its by Blockbuster® by Mail service and Blockbuster stores nationwide. With the HTC EVO 3D, customers can manage and update their mail queues from their phone, while on-the-go.
Gameloft Provides Hottest 3D Gaming
With 3D animation from HTC EVO 3D, gamers will feel like they are part of the action. A free Ultimate Spider-Man: Total Mayhem 3D demo version of the game will be pre-loaded on HTC EVO 3D. Gamers will enjoy the sleek graphic style with bold colors and impressive animations, including slow motion that brings the ultimate Spider-Man universe alive right in their hands.
The device will come pre-loaded with the Gameloft Storefront, giving customers access to a variety of 2D and 3D games. Exciting 3D games that will be available at launch include Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles and GT Racing Motor Academy. The 3D and 2D games are available for purchase in the Gameloft Storefront for $4.99.
Additional 3D Applications
With its 3D HD (720p) video capture, 4G speeds where available and the latest version of the acclaimed HTC Sense experience, HTC EVO 3D makes it possible to become part of the action and then easily and seamlessly post and view high-quality 3D video to YouTubeTM or Facebook®, or share moments in real time over the Internet live, via Qik. The 3D content will automatically convert to 2D if the viewer does not have a 3D capable device.
Its integrated DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) capability also makes it fast and easy to share stored music, pictures and user-generated HD video wirelessly with other DLNA-certified home electronics, including HDTVs, monitors, digital cameras and printers. Using an HDMI cable (sold separately) makes it possible to also share user-created 3D video content via a 3D TV.
Learn more about the HTC EVO 3D by visiting www.sprint.com/evo3d.
A Sprint developer guide for HTC EVO 3D will be available on the Sprint Developer website at launch. The developer guide will provide details and information on how to take advantage of the unique hardware and software capabilities, including 3D, HDMI output and DLNA on the Sprint Network.
As the first U.S. national wireless carrier to test, launch and market 4G technology, Sprint made history by launching 4G in Baltimore in September 2008. Sprint currently offers 4G service in 71 markets in 28 states. For more information, visit www.sprint.com/4G.

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Google Working with HTC on Ice Cream Sandwich Nexus Phone?

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Some leaks suck. Your water bill goes up, its a mess, carpet can get ruined. Some leaks are freaking awesome. They reveal new phones, bring us pics of said phones and make me geek out for hours on end! This is the second kind. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the Nexus 3.


This leak, courtesy of a brave soul in the Android Dev Labs, brings us an early look at a prototype of the HTC manufactured 3rd Nexus phone which we expect to launch with Ice Cream Sandwich late this year. Let’s see what we’ve got. First, as you can see above, there is a distinct lack of the usual hardware buttons. Ice Cream Sandwich is supposed to bring Honeycomb UI elements to phones, and it appears this includes the trading of hardware buttons for the action bar. While it is hidden by the thumb, there is also a front facing camera.
While this is obviously not a finished product, especially considering Ice Cream Sandwich is a ways off still, there are still a few more jewels to gleam here. First it was also noted that Google is testing both an HSPA+ and Sprint CDMA version of the phone, indicating we may see the phone’s initial launch be to multiple carriers. Also, since Google’s changed its mind over hero phones before, a la the Xperia Play, we only know that HTC is being considered.
As we draw closer to the end of the year, expect more details and a more solid idea of who will be building the next Nexus. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a phone to go drool over.
[via TechHog]

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Verizon May Be Holding Their Own “Private” Memorial Day Sale, Thunderbolts for $99

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Memorial Day weekend is sure shaping up to be all about cheap 4G smartphones.  First we had word out of Amazon that prices on all of their 4G phones would be slashed, and now we’re getting word that Verizon may be holding one of their own.  According to the text message received by one of our readers, certain customers are getting invites to an “exclusive Private Sale!” where they can pick up an HTC Thunderbolt for as little as $99.  Hello, steal.
We’re pretty sure this sale won’t be open to just anyone and is likely for those with upgrades available, but this may be worth checking your account over.  We know that Verizon is holding a variety of regional sales, some of which will get customers up to $50 off of any phone, but this one looks to be combining a few.  You’ll remember that this phone normally retails in Verizon stores for $249, so at half the price, you may want to see what kinds of negotiating skills you have.
And we’ll be digging for more details…

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Microsoft Receives $5 Per Phone HTC Sells

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Oh my goodness what a wacky deal we’ve got going on here. It seems that amongst a few other announcements on money and where it’s going in the world of Microsoft, a tiny tip has emerged that’s about to have the streets rolling with Hamiltons. That’s right, HTC day is still Microsoft’s pay day. According to Citi analyst Walter Pritchard, who released a large report on Microsoft earlier this morning, Microsoft gets $5 for every HTC phone running Android they sell.


This amount of cash is coming out of HTC’s pocket on the daily according to this report, Pritchard also noting that this situation is due to a settlement with HTC over intellectual property infringement. In addition to this, Pritchard’s report details how Microsoft is suing “other” Android phone makers for anywhere between $7.50 to $12.50 per device. Hot cash!
The analyst works out that a rough estimate of the cash Microsoft gets per Windows Phone license in licensing fees is $15 – this, with an admitted 2 million licenses sold thus far puts the official revenue on Windows Phone at $30 million. In comparison, the number of HTC devices shipped with Android on them is around 30 million – if HTC payed $5 per unit to Microsoft, that’d be $150 million in revenue.
This is all part of a 2010 patent settlement between HTC and Microsoft in which technologies are in use by the former for which the IP is owned by the latter. Bug bummer for all those who love the Dr Dre of this situation!
[via SlashGear]

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HTC officially launches Wildfire S in India for INR 14700

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HTC India today officially launched Gingerbread powered Wildfire S in India. The smartphone has been on preorder at various online stores for last two days. Company has priced it at INR 14,700 and it is now available for purchase at all the major retail stores.

HTC Wildfire S is the third device of the series of Android devices unveiled at Mobile World Congress. Other devices which are still waiting to be released are HTC Chacha, Salsa and Flyer.
You can check more on the specifications of HTC Wildfire here  HTC website.

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Breaking: HTC to unlock all bootloaders

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Wow, breaking just now it seems that after all the talk and discussion on Facebook and Twitter over the last few days has finally made HTC listen. Many users and me included all retweeted tons of comments regarding HTC and their somewhat new policy of having locked bootloaders on their devices. Even yesterday we reported on this so it seems HTC has moved fast. This has been a huge issue in the past for Motorola and they have also claimed to be unlocking future devices as well. Official comment below.

This comes as a huge surprise tonight because this has all just happened over the past few days. This larger outcry for HTC to unlock the bootloaders on their popular android devices has got a lot of attention as of late, and the voice has only been getting louder. Devices like the upcoming HTC Sensation that everyone loves, but many wont get if its bootloader is locked.
We have just got the official word and will be updating this story as soon as we hear anything more, just wanted to get this news out to all our readers as soon as possible. So now the question is when will all these devices be changed? Will this policy be on future releases only? Will the upcoming HTC Sensation 4G set to launch on T-Mobile June 8th have a locked bootloader? Do they have enough time to change it? Original leaks show it indeed is locked, but that was before this breaking news. Stay tuned for more information as this is just hitting the wire.

“There has been overwhelmingly customer feedback that people want access to open bootloaders on HTC phones. I want you to know that we’ve listened. Today, I’m confirming we will no longer be locking the bootloaders on our devices. Thanks for your passion, support and patience,” Peter Chou, CEO of HTC.
Please note that more specific details will be shared at a later date.

Here is the official twitter announcement by @HTC

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EVO 3D, Yet Another Bootloader Shipping Locked, But HTC Reconsidering Policy After All

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According to Engadget it appears that HTC will be shipping yet another device with its bootloader on lock down.  The HTC Evo 3D will join that of the Thunderbolt, Incredible S and the Sensation 4G.  However, to give you some glimpse of hope, earlier today HTC stated on their Facebook page that they are in the process of “reviewing the issue and our policy around bootloaders”.  Hey, for now, we’ll take it.  Hopefully, like AT&T, HTC will listen to what the masses are saying and will reconsider their current position.  What do you think?  Feel free to plug away in the comments below. 

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HTC “reviewing” locked bootloader policy after Android feedback

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HTC wouldn’t be the first company to reverse policy on bootloader locking. Sony Ericsson impressed modders earlier this year after it confirmed it would be allowing bootloader access to certain 2011 Android models, after getting similarly strong feedback.
Now, there’s no guarantee that HTC will decide unlocking is in its best interest, but we know for a fact the company is aware of the bootloader cloud hanging over the HTC Sensation and how that’s pushing some power-users toward Samsung’s Galaxy S II.

Update on Bootloaders
Thanks so much for providing feedback, we hear your concerns. Your satisfaction is a top priority for us and we’re working hard to ensure you have great experiences with our phones. We’re reviewing the issue and our policy around bootloaders and will provide more information soon. Thank you for your interest, support and willingness to share your feedback.

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EVO 3D shipping with locked down bootloader, but HTC may reconsider policy

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We've got some good news and some bad news. Let's do the bad news first: much like the Sensation, Thunderbolt, and Incredible S, Android Police has confirmed that the upcoming HTC EVO 3D will also be sporting a locked down bootloader of similar fashion, meaning custom ROM modders will have a hard time glamming up said phone. Not that anyone should be surprised by this finding though, given the sad trend. That said, there is still hope: earlier today, HTC announced on Facebook that it's "reviewing the issue and our policy around bootloaders" -- looks like someone's pulled a page out of Sony Ericsson's good book. If all goes well, we'll just have to wait and see whether HTC will beat Motorola to making their fans smile again. 

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HTC “Reviewing” Its Bootloader Policy – We’ll Believe It When We See It

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Once a great example of how open Android phone manufacturers could be, HTC has taken a lot of heat from its fan base over recent decisions to lock its devices’ bootloaders (such as with the Sensation and EVO 3D), endangering the possibility that these devices will be able to support custom ROMs. Fortunately, there is a chance that could be changing, as HTC announced on its Facebook page that the company is reviewing its bootloader policy:

Thanks so much for providing feedback, we hear your concerns. Your satisfaction is a top priority for us and we’re working hard to ensure you have great experiences with our phones. We’re reviewing the issue and our policy around bootloaders and will provide more information soon. Thank you for your interest, support and willingness to share your feedback.

Remember, this should definitely be taken with a grain of salt – just because HTC is reviewing the current policy doesn’t mean it has any plans to change it. And if it does change, there is always the possibility of those pesky carriers getting in the way.
 Source: HTC Facebook

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HTC Desire S is Officially Red on Vodafone Exclusively

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What a brightly colored experience you’re about to have! The folks at HTC have deemed the color red to be so fantastic that they’ve officially dubbed their Desire S ready to wear it all the time! That’s right, those photos you may have seen a short while ago were real, and Vodafone is the exclusive holder of such a flamingly bright device. Can you dig it? Or is it too massively blastingly fantastically bright for your eyeballs?

You’ll notice by the spelling of the word “colour” that this device will be in Europe first. We’re hoping for more of this wacky color-coding to be taking place here in the states before too long. Got to make sure everyone can feel like they can choose what their phone looks like without adding a case, right? I hate to mention the competitor, but Apple got wise on this when they made their “official smart covers” in multiple colorings. What do you think about that?
Thusly there’s a small spattering of color here or there – most notably in the relatively recently released Sidekick 4G on T-Mobile, a phone made quite obviously for the Hipster generation, a group of people who love their colors to be bright. The insides of every Android phone have the ability to be utterly bright – does it make sense that the outside should be bright as well, or should they be like frame for artwork, blank and sparse to show off the POP art inside?
What do you think? How many more question marks would you like?
Also check out our sister site SlashGear’s review of the Desire S in original stinky blue.

HTC Desire S in red –now available exclusively on Vodafone
The HTC Desire S in now exclusive to Vodafone in a vibrant red colour.
The device boasts a slim and stylish design shaped from a single piece of aluminium, making it feel more solid than the HTC Desire – and lighter too. This new smartphone has an impressive 3.7” touchscreen; a 1.3-megapixel camera on the front and a 5-megapixel camera at the back able to shoot HD video with full SRS surround sound. The HTC Desire S has a 1GHz Snapdragon™ processor inside and is powered by Gingerbread, Android’s latest smartphone operating system.
Free on £30, 24 month price plans including 600 minutes, unlimited texts and 500 MB of mobile data (when purchased online.)
Specifications:
Dimensions (mm) 115x12x60
Weight (g) 130
Standby time (hours) 430 (max)
3G standby time (hours) 455 (max)
TouchScreen Resistive/Capacitive
Processor 1GHz
Screensize (inches) 3.7
Talk time (hours) Up to 9 hours
3G talk time (hours) 7 (max)
Internal memory 1.1GB
Operating system Gingerbread

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Confirmed: EVO 3D’s Bootloader, Recovery, and Kernel Images All Locked Down

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t seems HTC has finally caved to what are likely the security demands of wireless carriers with its newest phones, and is locking down its handsets Moto-style. Latest case in point: the EVO 3D – which sports the same sort of security we found on the Sensation earlier this month. In other words, good luck cracking into this thing.
Before we get any further, there seems to be some confusion on what exactly is "locked down." Let’s clear that up: the bootloader image itself is not encrypted. No one uses encrypted bootloaders. HTC, like Motorola, is utilizing cryptographically signed bootloader, recovery, and kernel images. Our own Justin Case has personally confirmed this:

What does that mean? It means every time your sexy new EVO 3D boots up, it runs a check against the signatures (basically, an authentication key) of the bootloader, recovery, and kernel images on your phone. If the signature of any one of those, once decrypted, does not match the internal, read-only memory stored value, your phone will refuse to boot. The only way to remedy this is to flash back to the stock image.
This stands in opposition to phones with bootloaders and other images that are merely signed – meaning they can be spoofed by essentially "tricking" the phone into believing it’s running an image with the proper signature (since the unencrypted signature can be duplicated if a full RUU image of the device is available.) Even easier are devices that can actually be unlocked, turning off signature checks completely (ala Nexus One, Nexus S, XOOM, etc.) Please note, I’m not a programmer, and am definitely butchering the niceties of what’s going on here
Cryptographically signed images are essentially, from a practical perspective, un-crackable (they use 256 bit encryption.) They’re why the DROID 2 and DROID X remain un-cracked (except through sidestepping, roundabout methods) to this day. They generally require developers to find some sort of known exploit, old engineering image of the phone, or other indirect hackery that doesn’t actually defeat the encryption, but merely circumvents it. After the debacle with the Thunderbolt’s unlocking, which was caused by a leak of an old engineering image (thus avoiding the whole problem with encrypted signatures), HTC is probably keeping a very close eye on any internal software (and leaks thereof) that might allow a user to circumvent its beefed up security.
In short: custom ROMs, kernels, and recoveries (like ClockworkMod) may never come to the EVO 3D, barring some kind of epic HTC screw-up.

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HTC ChaCha price revealed for Facebook fans

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HTC’s first Android Facebook phone, the HTC ChaCha, has been priced and (roughly) dated by UK retailer Carphone Warehouse. The smartphone – which has a 2.6-inch touchscreen, full QWERTY keyboard and a dedicated Facebook key for instant sharing – is set to go on sale at the beginning of June, with the ChaCha free on £20 ($32) or above agreements.

That’s reasonably affordable, just as HTC initially promised us the ChaCha – and its Salsa all-touch sibling – would be. Announced at MWC 2011 in February, part of the reason is that it runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread on a mere 600MHz processor (paired with 512MB each of RAM and ROM).
There’s also Facebook Chat support with a new homescreen widget, along with a 5-megapixel camera and front-facing webcam. The usual WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0 round out key specs. Anyone tempted?

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