HTC One flagship announced

HTC have just announced their flagship phone for 2013 and it is called the HTC One. There have been other phones in this series before such as the One XL, One S and One X+ but with this being such a big launch for the company they have gone with the simple name of just HTC One as it is much easier to remember but also the one phone to get over all others.

The HTC One has an amazing set of specifications of which some of them are rather unique so we will explain them in more detail once we have a real hands on test of the phone but it is a massive step forward from HTC and a device I am very impressed with.

First of all it comes in two colours. There is a silver and a black model which will both be on sale at the same time so no having to wait to get one for yourself. It comes with 32GB of built in storage but does not feature expandable memory, however 32GB is plenty for a lot of people.

With 2GB of RAM and a speedy 1.7GHz Quad-Core Snapdragon processor you have plenty of power under the hood for all those applications you will want to run, and with a built in 2300mAh battery you have enough juice to get you though a day even with some heavy use.

The One has a glass front and beautifully designed aluminium back cover which also acts as part of the antenna system to help keep a strong signal even in the most remote of locations.

There is a stunning 4.7 inch display with 1080p resolution so you get pin sharp detail in web browsing or taking photos and even the most basic of functions such as the keys on the on screen keyboard and applications look really sharp, but it is not all about the size of the screen though but the PPI (pixels per inch) which is what makes the display so good. A massive 468 PPI makes this the best screen on a mobile phone out today, even better than the HTC Butterfly which was available in Japan and the Droid DNA based over in America and far superior over other brand phones.

You get plenty of connectivity options included with not only DC-HSDPA but also quad band LTE so networks looking to roll out LTE this year will be able to use the HTC One on this new fast network so you have a phone ready for the future. You also get GPS, WiFi and Bluetooth on board plus one other option which is rather special but will be left until the end.

When it comes to audio you still get Beats support so super clear audio with your headset plugged in, however the music experience does not stop there as the HTC One has two front facing speakers for stereo audio, and as these are on the front instead of the back the sound will not get muffled by a desk which is often something many people find frustrating.

There is also HDR voice built in for even better sounding audio and all these features come under the branding of BoomSound.

With the camera you get some very clever new technology because anyone who is into photography knows that it is not all just about megapixels but what you do with them that really matters. The HTC One comes with a custom built sensor using OIS which also allows HDR video recording.

This new ‘ultra pixel’ technology allows 300% more light than a normal camera phone can handle and on seeing an example this was clear to see and must be seen to be believed. You really can capture some fantastic photos on the move.

Also the camera has a setting that captures a series of full resolution photos in a short movie clip that you can pick the best frames and save them as the image you want, perfect if you have kids or pets you like taking photos of and who never like to stay in one place for any length of time,

The HTC comes with Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean and will be upgraded in the future to 4.2 and higher, plus it also comes with a brand new version of HTC Sense known as version 5. The best new feature is something HTC like to call BlinkFeed which is little snippets of information on your main screen you can glance at when you need too.

You can choose from many categories such as multiple news sources to get your news when you need it, you can also include Facebook and Twitter updates so you are always kept up to date with information you want.

BlinkFeed is the new home screen format but as with any android phone you can add other screens and widgets including the favorite clock with weather widget that HTS are well known for. BlinkFeed will update automatically over WiFi and you can manually update yourself with a simple tap if you are using a mobile network connection such as 3G or LTE.

As if all that was not enough, HTC have added an IR sensor into the device which you can setup with your own Sky/Virgin/Freeview box when first setting up the device. This not only allows you to control your TV/Digital device but you also get programme guides right on the phone screen so you can see what is on, point and away you go!

HTC are spending a lot of money advertising this device and is expected to be the most signed up device to networks they have ever offered.

Networks around Europe will start to announce availability and pricing today with an estimated launch date at the end of March.

Here is the full press release

INTRODUCING THE NEW HTC ONE®, A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON SMARTPHONES

HTC BlinkFeed™, HTC Zoe™ and HTC BoomSound™ Deliver HTC One’s Unprecedented New Smartphone Experience
London and New York City, February 19, 2013 –

HTC, a global leader in mobile innovation and design, today announced its new flagship smartphone, the new HTC One. Crafted with a distinct zero-gap aluminium unibody, the new HTC One introduces HTC BlinkFeed™, HTC Zoe™ and HTC BoomSound™, key new HTC Sense® innovations that reinvent the mobile experience and set a new standard for smartphones.

“People today immerse themselves in a constant stream of updates, news and information. Although smartphones are one of the main ways we stay in touch with the people and information we care about, conventional designs have failed to keep pace with how people are actually using them,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. “A new, exciting approach to the smartphone is needed and with the new HTC One, we have re-imagined the mobile experience from the ground up to reflect this new reality.”
HTC BlinkFeed: A personal live stream right on the home screen At the centre of the new HTC One experience is HTC BlinkFeed. HTC BlinkFeed is a bold new experience that transforms the home screen into a single live stream of personally relevant information such as social updates, entertainment and lifestyle updates, news and photos with immersive images so that people no longer need to go to separate applications to find out what’s happening. HTC BlinkFeed aggregates the freshest content from the most relevant and interesting sources, giving it to people at a glance, all in one place, without the need to jump between multiple applications and web sites.
To enable this new dynamic approach to the smartphone, HTC will provide both local and global content from more than 1,400 media sources with more than 10,000 articles per day from some of the most innovative media companies, such as the AOL family of media properties, ESPN, MTV, Vice Media, CoolHunting, Reuters and many others. For more information on HTC BlinkFeed’s content partners, visit the HTC Blog.
HTC UltraPixel Camera with HTC Zoe
The breakthrough HTC UltraPixel Camera redefines how people capture, relive and share their most precious moments. HTC Zoe gives people the ability to shoot high-res photos that come to life in three-second snippets. These Zoes, photos and videos are then displayed in a unique way that brings the gallery to life and transforms the traditional photo gallery of still images into a motion gallery of memories. It also automatically creates integrated highlight films from each event comprised of Zoes, photos and videos set to music with professionally designed cuts, transitions and effects. These highlight videos can be remixed or set to different themes, and can be easily shared on social networks, email and other services.
To enable this innovative camera experience, HTC developed a custom camera that includes a best-in-class f/2.0 aperture lens and a breakthrough sensor with UltraPixels that gather 300 percent more light than traditional smartphone camera sensors.

This new approach also delivers astounding low-light performance and a variety of other improvements to photos and videos. In addition, the perfect self-portrait or video is just a tap away with an ultra-wide angle front-facing camera which supports 1080p video capture. Multi-axis optical image stabilisation for both the front and rear cameras also helps ensure video footage smoother whether stationary or on the move. HTC UltraPixel camera adds many other features and effects such as enhanced 360′ panorama, time sequencing and object removal.
HTC BoomSound
The new HTC One offers the best audio experience of any mobile phone available today. HTC BoomSound introduces for the first time on a phone, front-facing stereo speakers with a dedicated amplifier and an amazing full HD display that immerses people in music, videos, games and the YouTube™ clips they love. Beats™ Audio integration is enabled across the entire experience for rich, authentic sound whether you’re listening to your favorite music, watching a YouTube video or playing a game.
HDR recording uses advanced dual microphones and audio processing to capture clean, rich sound that is worthy of high-definition video footage. Phone calls sound great on HTC One thanks to the addition of HTC Sense Voice™, which boosts the call volume and quality in noisy environments so that conversations come through loud and clear.
HTC Sense TV™
HTC Sense TV transforms the new HTC One into an interactive program guide and remote control for most TVs, set-top boxes and receivers. Tapping the power of the cloud, Sense TV makes it simple and intuitive to see what’s on and find that favourite show.
Metal Unibody Design
Wrapped in a zero-gap aluminium unibody and sporting a brilliant 4.7″, Full HD (1080p) screen, the new HTC One features the latest Android Jelly Bean operating system and LTE network technology to offer blazingly-fast browsing in a package that combines premium design with breakthrough build quality.
Available in stunning silver and beautiful black, the sleek and crafted aluminium unibody sits comfortably in the hand and showcases HTC’s unique antenna technology, which helps people achieve a crystal clear signal. The display also resists scratches and reduces glare, whilst offering incredible 468ppi resolution and rich, natural colours.
Global Availability

The new HTC One will be available globally through more than 185 mobile operators and major retailers in more than 80 regions and countries beginning in March.