Renders of the HTC Edge appeared online yesterday with some hugely impressive specifications that included a quad-core 1.5GHz NVIDIA processor. We have received some more details on the HTC Edge, and they are flat out jaw-dropping. In fact, this phone looks like it will be the most powerful smartphone the world has ever seen, packed to the brim with cutting-edge tech. Actually, cutting-edge specs and a super slim profile are likely two of the reasons HTC is calling this phone the Edge. Hit the break for the details.

Starting with the display, we have been told the HTC Edge will feature a 4.7-inch 720p HD S-LCD 2 with optical lamination. Translation: this could possibly be one of the best displays in the world; just imagine the iPhone’s display blown up to 4.7 inches.

The unibody design of the HTC Edge will be around 8.8mm thin and it will house 32GB of built-in storage, 1GB of RAM, a microSIM card slot and an 8-megapixel camera with backside-illumination and 1080p HD video capture support. This super smartphone will also feature a 720p front-facing camera, Beats Audio, Bluetooth 4.0, an 1,800 mAh battery and NFC, though it will omit a removable storage slot.

Image source: Pocketnow.com

T-Mobile on Thursday announced the imminent launch of its latest Android smartphone, the HTC Wildfire S. While the Wildfire brand is much better known outside the U.S., this tiny smartphone definitely packs a punch compared to other affordable Android options. Specifications include a 3.2-inch touchscreen display, a 5-megapixel camera, a 600MHz Qualcomm processor, Android 2.3 Gingerbread and HTC’s Sense UI — all in a 3.99 x 2.34 x 0.49-inch package that weighs just 3.7 ounces. T-Mobile’s HTC Wildfire S will launch on August 3rd for $79.99 with a new two-year contract. The phone will be available in white from T-Mobile’s nationwide retail stores and also in black from T-Mobile’s online shop as well as Walmart and Sam’s Club.

It was hardly a surprise when T-Mobile announced the HTC-built myTouch 4G Slide late last month, as a series of leaks left little to the imagination. Noticeably absent from T-Mobile’s official announcement, however, were launch details. T-Mobile on Monday rectified the situation when it revealed that the latest addition to the myTouch series will launch on July 27th for $199.99 on contract. The T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide is no slouch when it comes to specs — the smartphone features a dual-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor, a 3.7-inch WVGA display, an 8-megapixel camera with 1080p video recording, and a full QWERTY keyboard along with support for SWYPE. The myTouch 4G Slide also features HTC’s latest Sense 3.0 UI overlay and service suite on top of Android 2.3 Gingerbread, which is far and away our favorite Android overlay to date.

Sprint’s flagship EVO 3D hasn’t even made its way out of the womb yet and its successor is already official. HTC on Thursday unveiled the EVO 4G + in South Korea — odd, since “EVO” is a Sprint brand. The new superphone is essentially a Sensation in EVO’s clothing, and it features a 4.3-inch display, an 8-megapixel camera, HTC’s latest Sense UI and, of course, 4G WiBRO connectivity for the South Korean market. Expect that BRO to be MAX’d when the 4G + makes its way to U.S. shores, which might not be for a while unless Sprint doesn’t mind the EVO 3D sharing the spotlight with a 3D-less device. Of course the massively popular EVO 4G is getting a little gray up top these day, so a next-generation 4G + model would be more than welcome for those not interested in a third dimension on their smartphones. Hit the break for a third-party video of the EVO 4G + in action.

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Sprint took the wraps off of its EVO View 4G tablet during CTIA 2011 in March — the device is nearly identical to the HTC Flyer, save for its support for Sprint’s 4G WiMAX network. As an Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) tablet, the View 4G is a bit less versatile than Honeycomb products from Asus, LG, Motorola, and Samsung, but it does offer HTC’s custom Sense user interface catered to tablets, and support for HTC Scribe stylus input. I thought the Flyer was lacking in a few areas when I reviewed it, but has time with Sprint’s 4G version changed my mind? Read on to find out!

Editor’s note: We’re running this review ahead of schedule thanks to a broken embargo (WSJ). Photos and gallery will be up shortly! ^ze

Hardware

The View 4G’s hardware is nearly identical to the hardware on the Flyer, so I won’t repeat myself too much. The device looks like a giant EVO or Inspire, complete with its aluminum unibody design and colored accents. It’s heavy at 15 ounces, but feels extremely sturdy in the hand. The back of the View 4G is home to a 5-megapixel camera, but it lacks a flash. There’s a power button on the top right-hand side of the side, a 3.5mm headphone jack next to it, volume buttons on the upper right side, and a microUSB port on the bottom. You can remove one of the plastic edges at the bottom of the View 4G to insert a microSD card, although the hinge felt very weak and I expect this will snap on some users.

The View 4G has a nicely sized 7-inch display with a 1024 x 600-pixel resolution. Everything looks clear and sharp for the most part, but it wasn’t anything to write home about — it reminded me a lot of the display on the 7-inch Galaxy Tab. I do love that the top and bottom of the View 4G are concave as to prevent the screen from touching the surface of a table if it’s ever placed face down.

I said this in my Flyer review and I’ll say it again for the View 4G: you know those three Android buttons for menu, home, and search that are on every Android phone and tablet? HTC did something amazing with them. When the tablet is in portrait mode, those three buttons — as well as the stylus key — are on the bottom of the display. Tilt the Flyer into landscape mode, and they suddenly reappear below the screen. Why didn’t anyone think of this sooner?

Software

While the View 4G currently runs the Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) operating system designed for phones, HTC has said that it will deliver an Android Honeycomb update to the tablet at some point in the future. However, it’s unclear when that will actually happen. Nonetheless, HTC did a solid job with the custom Sense user interface on the View 4G and it runs at a snappy clip thanks to the 1.5GHz processor. The only time it slowed down during my tests was when I was leaving the lock screen, oddly enough.

From the lock screen you can drag an icon out to a circular ring area and that application will automatically launch. There are eight different home screens to customize, and HTC has included a bunch of widgets ranging from a photo gallery to weather to an eBook bookshelf that all look and work very well. HTC has also included a fun “Snapbooth” application that’s very similar to Photobooth on a Mac. Sense has been updated a bit, too, when you rotate the home screen carousel it now makes a full loop, which means you can jump from your far left home screen panel to the right one with a quick flick across the screen.

My biggest complaint with the software on the View 4G is the wasted space on the home screen. I understand that it was necessary for HTC to allow enough space for icons to fit in both landscape and portrait view, but you simply can’t fit enough on the screen because of the wasted space around the edges. Plus, we all love widgets, and it’s hard to fit more than just a few before all of the screen real estate has been consumed.

Stylus

Just like the Flyer, the View 4G supports HTC’s Scribe technology if used with an optional, and overpriced, stylus accessory. Simply tap the bottom right hand-side of the screen and you can start taking notes anywhere — even on the home screen wallpaper. Notes automatically sync up with Evernote, which is useful if you use that service on your computer or phone, too. Unfortunately, I just can’t see myself ever spending $80 to take notes in this fashion. It works well, sure, but HTC and Sprint definitely should have bundled this accessory with the tablet. For full time students it might be worth $80, but not for me.

Camera

The 5-megapixel camera on the View 4G takes satisfactory photos, but I wasn’t particularly blown away by any of them. It can also record 720p video, and a few clips came out just fine with mild distortion. Unfortunately, the camera isn’t capable of continuously auto-focusing while recording. This is a feature that’s available in higher-end smartphones, and I’d love to see it trickle into tablets as well. The front-facing 1.3-megapixel video camera for video chats worked just fine during a quick test call with a friend.

Data

Data speeds in NYC were solid on the EVO View 4G. I love that there’s an option to turn 4G on and off, which means you can save some battery life when you don’t need that extra speed boost. In preliminary tests I was getting download speeds in the 3Mbps range and upload speeds around 1Mbps, which isn’t too bad.

Battery Life

After preliminary usage, however, we can definitely say that the 4G WiMAX radio impacts the battery life. Compared to the EVO View 4G’s twin brother, the HTC Flyer, the battery probably takes a 10-15% hit with 4G enabled. This is bad news considering the Flyer didn’t have great battery life to begin with. I haven’t been able to get two full days of usage out of the View 4G unless I disable cellular data, which is not great compared to other tablets on the market, some of which can go for a week on a single charge.

Conclusion

I love the form factor and absolutely solid build quality of the View 4G. It’s a top notch tablet, the size is great, and it’s lovely having 4G WiMAX data speeds wherever I go. My biggest gripe is that it doesn’t run Honeycomb yet. When it does, I don’t see why this wouldn’t be one of my top tablet picks, but it’s still unclear when exactly Sprint and HTC will apply the update. If that doesn’t bother you and you want a fast tablet that’s more portable than the larger Honeycomb tablets and more powerful than Samsung’s Galaxy Tab, than the EVO View 4G should top your list.

The HTC EVO 4G is definitely one of Sprint’s most popular smartphones. In fact, even almost a year after its release, it’s still selling like hotcakes. Sprint faced serious demand issues with the EVO 4G well after the launch, and the nation’s first 4G smartphone is still one of the best. Let’s talk about the HTC EVO 3D, though. The follow up to the original HTC EVO 4G is packed to the brim with features, and will be the first 3D-capable device on the market when it launches. Is the HTC EVO 3D a better phone than the original EVO 4G? Does the addition of a 3D display add real value to the phone or is it just a headache-inducing novelty, as it is on other portable devices? Hit the break to find out.

Hardware / Display

The HTC EVO 3D builds on the original EVO 4G in every way possible. It’s thinner, it feels better in the hand, and it’s way more powerful. While the first EVO featured a 1GHz processor, the EVO 3D runs a smoking 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm CPU with a 4.3-inch 960 x 540 qHD display, dual 5-megapixel cameras around back for 3D photo and HD video capture, 1080p HD video playback, a front-facing camera, and a whopping 1,730 mAh battery.

The device stays true to some of the first EVO’s styling cues while introducing a much more refined, almost retro look if you will — at least from the back. The front of the device sports an anodized black aluminum frame and the Android menu buttons below the screen look almost identical to the original 4G device. An addition this time around is a dedicated two-step camera shutter button on the right side complete with 2D / 3D switch to toggle 3D capture for photos and video. While a dedicated camera shutter button is great, I’d actually have preferred one a little smaller, as I hold the device in my right hand mainly when I’m using it and the shutter button can get in the way sometimes.

You’ll also find a volume up/down key on the right side. On the left side you’ll see a lone microUSB port, and toward the top of the EVO 3D there’s a 3.5mm headset jack and a power button. Unfortunately, the power button has little to no tactile feedback, and it makes locking and unlocking the EVO 3D somewhat tedious. The EVO 3D feels incredibly solid and well-built though, and while the diagonal grooved pattern on the rear battery cover could be considered distracting at times, it feels worlds better than the EVO 4G.

The display on the HTC EVO 3D is an interesting subject. On one hand the display is pretty sharp, colors look great, and it’s decently bright. On the other, because of the 3D stereoscopic screen overlay, it’s not as sharp as other HTC devices like the Sensation 4G. More on that shortly.

Software

The EVO 3D runs HTC’s latest Sense 3.0 user interface, which is identical to the HTC Sensation 4G I recently reviewed. As such, there’s not much need to go over everything again. In the case of Sprint’s new EVO, Sense blends its nifty 3D effect with an actual 3D-capable display making for a much more cohesive experience for consumers. I was actually a tad bit disappointed that more of the device wasn’t “3D” at first, as I figured HTC and Sprint would extend the 3D capabilities beyond just photo / video capture, and video playback. Instead, I haven’t noticed much if any difference between the Sensation 4G and the EVO 3D as far as HTC’s UI is concerned. Regardless, the 3D effects on HTC Sense 3.0 are decent enough.

3D

While 3D televisions are still lackluster, glasses-free 3D works much better on a mobile device in my opinion. One of the great things about the EVO 3D is that the screen doesn’t require you to wear glasses to view 3D content (can you imagine having to wear a pair of 3D glasses when looking at your smartphone?). The stereoscopic screen is decent. It’s two panels that make one, in straight up terms, and you have to have a perfect viewing angle in the middle of the device for it to work, otherwise you’ll see two images overlaid on each other and won’t get the actual 3D effect.

After using the device for around 10 minutes on and off, I finally got the hang of the perfect positioning, and 3D content looks good, not great. The effect seems pretty natural, though the screen itself has what looks like ridged scan lines running through the display. It’s not always overly noticeable, but I’m someone who notices something if it’s off by a pixel, and this screen sort of looks like those old hologram baseball cards that you’d turn left to right to see an animated scene.

As far as the 3D content, you have the ability to capture 5-megapixel images in 3D or 720p HD video in 3D. With an HDMI-out port that also doubles as a microUSB port, throwing your 3D content onto a 3D-capable TV or display couldn’t be easier: just connect that micro-HDMI cable and you’re good to go. I like the ability to sort of future-proof your content by taking 3D stills and videos.

The EVO 3D also comes preloaded with The Green Hornet movie in HTC’s Watch movie service for free, though I couldn’t get it to load no matter how hard I tried. I kept getting a “downloading license” message and no movie, but hopefully this issue is ironed out ahead of launch. There’s also a 3D Spiderman game that looks pretty decent, though it’s more of an arcade-style ordeal. Besides other 3D games available to purchase from Gameloft, YouTube now supports 3D content on the EVO 3D, and there is a little icon next to the video letting you know it’s available in 3D.

Phone / Speakerphone

Using the phone on the EVO 3D hasn’t been the best experience. Phone calls sounded distorted most of the time with the earpiece speaker, callers sounded hollow and thin, and volume wasn’t too great either. Signal reception is a different story, as the EVO 3D performs great in this department. Sprint service typically isn’t incredible, but the way the EVO 3D latches onto signals make it that much better.

The rear speaker on the EVO 3D performs pretty well. It’s pretty loud, though it lacks some low and mid-range oomph and it lacks projection as well. The speakerphone fares about the same — it’s loud, but not that loud, and it’s a little flat.

Battery

The EVO 3D packs a huge 1,730 mAh battery, and while you’d think that was enough, you kind of have to think again with a 4G-capable device. In 3G mode the EVO lasts for up to a day with moderately-heavy usage. With 4G WiMAX on and connected, however, that quickly drops to around 4-5 hours of on and off usage. It’s better than the first EVO, but it’s definitely not ideal. If you don’t live in a 4G service area, the EVO 3D should be able to get your through a day under normal circumstances. Light up 4G, and you’ll probably have to recharge some time in the early afternoon unless your phone just sits idle on your desk all day.

Conclusion

HTC’s EVO 3D is the first device to hit the market in the U.S. with a stereoscopic 3D display, but that’s just an added feature. At the end of the day, the EVO 3D is a better, faster, thinner, lighter, and more capable EVO 4G. The battery life is slightly better, the screen has been improved, there’s a dual-core 1.2GHz processor, 1080p HD video capture, and plenty more. The 3D part is just a nice add-on.

I actually liked being able to take photos and videos in 3D and play them back right on the device. I also enjoyed hooking the phone up to my 3D television and playing back the content in 3D. Like I said earlier, I like future-proofing content, and I’d rather have 3D content that 2D content if I can.

It took a couple days for the HTC EVO 3D to grow on me — from the build and design, to the user interface, to the 3D aspect — but after spending a week with it, I can confidently say this is my favorite Sprint phone, hands down. The Motorola Photon 4G is interesting, and from what I saw I liked it a lot. The EVO 3D, however, offers a complete end-to-end Android experience with HTC’s Sense 3.0 UI, and coupled with improvements in every area over the original EVO 4G, plus the ability to capture and view 3D content, it makes for one hell of a compelling package.

The HTC EVO 3D will be available from Sprint for $199 with two-year agreement starting June 24th.

Here’s the good news: newer smartphones from HTC will feature gorgeous new UI tweaks and other enhancements as part of HTC’s new Sense 3.0 overlay for Android. Here’s the bad news: the millions of Android fans who own one of HTC’s recent smartphones will not have the pleasure of experiencing the new software until they purchase new handsets. HTC confirmed on Wednesday that only its forthcoming devices like the HTC Sensation, HTC EVO 3D and HTC Flyer tablet will get Sense 3.0. Other devices — even ones as recent as the Desire HD — will not be upgradable to the new software. Thankfully, Android has one of the strongest enthusiast communities in the mobile space, so those of you who don’t mind tinkering can be sure we’ll see HTC Sense 3.0 on plenty of cooked ROMs in the near future.

[Via Unwired View]

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HTC has just officially taken the wraps off the Sensation 4G moments ago, the company’s latest Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) smartphone. The Sensation 4G has all of the trimmings of a high-end device, including a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor clocked at 1.2GHz, a 4.3-inch “super” LCD display with a 960 x 540 resolution, an 8-megapixel camera with auto-focus and 1080p HD video recording, a forward-facing camera for video chats, 768MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, and an 8GB microSD card. It also packs some of HTC’s latest software developments, including a new version of HTC Sense with an active lock screen that allows you to launch your favorite applications while the phone is locked, and HTC Watch for streaming movies almost instantly.  As its name implies, it supports HSPA+ in the 1700MHz AWS frequency band, and wouldn’t you guess it? It’s hitting T-Mobile in the United States this summer. Hit the jump for the full release.

HTC unveils multimedia superphone, the HTC Sensation™ 4G

HTC brings one of its most advanced smartphones ever to the United States exclusively to T-Mobile customers

BELLEVUE, Wash. – April 12, 2011 – HTC Corporation, a global leader in mobile innovation and design, today introduced the HTC Sensation 4G, a smartphone that shines a spotlight on entertainment with HTC’s new HTC Watch™ video service. Crafted with premium design elements, the HTC Sensation 4G features the company’s latest customer-focused HTC Sense™ experience that puts people at the center by making their smartphones work in a more simple and natural way. The HTC Sensation 4G will be available in the US exclusively at T-Mobile USA beginning this summer.

“Consumers have quickly transformed smartphones into consumer lifestyle hubs that are pocket-sized entertainment centers that enable people to take their favorite multimedia content with them wherever they go. The new HTC Watch service makes it fun and easy for people to access premium movies and TV shows while on the go,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. “The HTC Sensation 4G combines this great multimedia experience within the latest HTC Sense experience in a premium device that delivers a powerful and unprecedented smartphone to our customers.”

“The HTC Sensation 4G delivers the ultimate in speed and entertainment on America’s Largest 4G network,” said Andrew Sherrard, senior vice president of marketing for T-Mobile USA. “With a lightning-fast dual core processor and 4G speeds, customers will feel the difference when accessing rich media and content on the HTC Sensation 4G’s beautiful qHD display. We look forward to adding the HTC Sensation 4G to our industry-leading lineup of 4G smartphones.”

Premium Design and Materials

Tapping into HTC’s trademark design language, the HTC Sensation’s premium look and feel is enhanced by its rounded edges, aluminum unibody construction and the touch screen surface is protected by a contoured screen that feels more natural as a finger is glided across it. The 4.3-inch qHD display delivers high-resolution widescreen viewing and gives the HTC Sensation slender proportions that feel natural in a person’s hand. At the heart of the HTC Sensation beats a powerful, 1.2-gigahertz dual-core Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ processor, which enables gorgeous graphics and all-around fast performance.

HTC Sense

Complementing the HTC Sensation’s premium design is the latest HTC Sense experience that boasts a host of new features and enhancements, helping people to have more fun and get more done. For instance, HTC Sense introduces a customizable active lockscreen experience that transforms the lockscreen into a real-time window to the most important information and content, such as social updates, photos, weather or stock updates that are viewed by simply turning on the display. In addition, the new active lockscreen becomes a customizable gateway that lets people quickly jump to the most used features, like making a phone call, sending an email, taking a picture or anything else with the same quick gesture usually used to unlock the phone. For instance, the camera can be launched right from the lock screen with a single motion, saving precious seconds when you’re trying to capture the action. Sharper graphics, vibrant animations and new widgets make HTC Sense look better than ever and, by continuing to focus on all of the aspects, both large and small, that make HTC Sense special, HTC introduces a more cinematic and immersive weather experience with stunning imagery and audible weather effects.

HTC Sense also makes it easy to have fun by enabling people to capture and share special moments. The HTC Sensation’s 8-megapixel camera doesn’t just shoot gorgeous photos but, with the new instant capture feature, lets people capture the moments they want without worrying about missing or keeping up with the action. The HTC Sensation also shoots full HD video in 1080p resolution, with full stereo sound, at up to 30 frames a second, giving you smooth video that is better than many other phones. With the new Video Trimmer tool, people can crop their clips to the perfect size for easy sharing with friends and family.

HTC Watch

The HTC Sensation is a smartphone that is built from the ground up for a sophisticated, evolved multimedia experience. The 4.3” widescreen display means that users can watch movies like they were meant to be seen – in their full cinematic glory, with no cropping or letterboxing. The HTC Sensation is also the first smartphone to feature HTC Watch – an application and service that puts an entire library of the latest, premium movies and TV shows right at your fingertips, letting people discover the latest video content in an easy and visually engaging way. HTC Watch uses progressive download technology that makes it possible to watch videos without waiting for a huge file to finish downloading. HTC Watch offers the choice of renting or buying videos, and if purchased, lets you watch them on up to five different HTC devices.

Best Buy announced Tuesday that it will exclusively offer the Wi-Fi version of the HTC Flyer tablet beginning this spring. The HTC Flyer, which is also launching on Sprint as the HTC EVO View, sports a 7-inch, 1024 x 768 pixel display; has 16GB of storage; a 5 megapixel camera; a 1.5GHz processor; a 4,000mAh battery a 1.3 megapixel forward-facing camera for video chat; and Android 2.2 (Froyo). The Flyer runs HTC’s new Sense user interface, which offers a host of UI improvements and supports the HTC Scribe — the company’s innovative stylus. Best Buy did not provide pricing details or a specific launch date for the Flyer, but said that it will be available in Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores, as well as online. For a closer look, be sure to check out our Flyer hands-on from Mobile World Congress. Hit the jump for the full release.

Best Buy® and HTC Announce Exclusive Launch of the Wi-Fi HTC Flyer Tablet at CTIA Wireless 2011

Wi-Fi HTC Flyer slated to launch this spring

ORLANDO, Fla., March 22, 2011 – Best Buy and HTC today announced the exclusive launch of the highly-anticipated Wi-Fi only version of the HTC Flyer™ tablet. All Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile standalone stores, as well as BestBuy.com, will have the tablet when it launches this spring.

The HTC Flyer is a fast, portable, light-weight tablet that integrates the immersive and highly intuitive HTC Sense™experience and enables content including videos, music, games and more to be easily accessed and enjoyed. For those attending CTIA, Best Buy and HTC will have devices on-hand at Pepcom’s Mobile Focus event on Tuesday, March 22 at 7:00 p.m. ET.

“Over the past few months we’ve seen several new tablets enter the market, and we’re especially excited to partner with HTC to bring the Wi-Fi version of the HTC Flyer to our customers as a national retail launch exclusive,” said Scott Anderson, head of merchandising for Best Buy Mobile. “We have worked hard to bring a large assortment of great tablets to Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores, and the HTC Flyer is a great example of that effort.”

The HTC Flyer features a strong aluminum unibody case that is lighter than an average paperback book. Truly separating the HTC Flyer from the pack is the integration of the acclaimed HTC Sense experience and unique HTC Scribe technology. The new HTC Sense experience offers an interface rethought for the tablet format which allows users to easily scroll and locate photos, entertainment, weather, calendar and mail. An optional HTC Scribe™ digital pen unlocks HTC Scribe technology, which enables the ability to capture and annotate any on-screen content with notes and drawings. Also, with Timemark, handwritten notes taken with the digital pen are synchronized with audio, as well as the popular Evernote™ application, turning handwritten notes into true meeting minutes. Additionally, with front and rear cameras, people can also make live video calls using a variety of available video chat applications available in the Android Market.

“Best Buy offers a number of the hottest products on the market, including the all-new 4G LTE HTC ThunderBolt™and now the Wi-Fi version of the groundbreaking HTC Flyer, which brings the acclaimed HTC Sense experience to a tablet for the first time,” said Jason Mackenzie, president of HTC Americas. “Like all HTC Sense products, the HTC Flyer was inspired by our customers, and offers the most simple and natural experience available on a tablet.”

Other key features of the HTC Flyer include:

Integration/compatibility with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® 3.0
7″ 1024×600 display with multi-touch capability and an optional digital pen that enables users to take synchronized notes and annotate content
Built-in dual microphones for noise reduction
Android™operating system
Adobe® Flash® 10.1 support
5 MP Color CMOS camera with auto focus
1.3MP front camera for video chatting
16GB eMMC memory plus microSD card slot
4,000 mAh battery
Best Buy Mobile offers an array of services aimed at improving customers’ experience, including Walk Out Working, Geek Squad Black Tie Protection, Buy Back and a full array of accessories for customers to protect and personalize their devices.

It’s rare that we get a glimpse into the thoughts and processes it takes to make a smartphone like the HTC ThunderBolt, which launched on Verizon Wireless as its first 4G LTE device yesterday, but HTC has posted a great 4-minute video where some HTC designers and employees discuss the ThunderBolt, the Sense UI, and what excites them about both. The clip doesn’t necessarily share anything new about the ThunderBolt, but we did enjoy checking out the HTC designer sketchbooks at the 0:27 mark and listening to HTC Sense UI designer Drew Bamford talk about the challenges of creating a product that appeals to the masses. If you want more ThunderBolt action, be sure to check out our unboxing, too — video after the jump.

HTC announced two new smartphones at Mobile World Congress on Tuesday that are equipped with dedicated Facebook buttons. The HTC Chacha and HTC Salsa are each Android-based smartphones that are the cell phone maker’s first offerings to feature its new enhanced Facebook experience. To the chagrin of countless Facebook addicts across the country, however, HTC made no mention of U.S. carrier partners when it announced the devices this morning. Fortunately, AT&T has reportedly confirmed that it will carry two Facebook phones from HTC, though it did not say specifically that they would be the Chacha and Salsa. The carrier did confirm that they will feature similar capabilities along with the same context-aware Facebook buttons, however. “In the U.S., AT&T and HTC are exclusively bringing this unique user experience to the market later this year,” an AT&T spokesperson told Mobilized. “It goes without saying this is part of our commitment to have the industry’s best Android portfolio this year.”

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As we near one of the biggest shows of the year for the mobile industry — Mobile World Congress in Barcelona — there always seems to be a steady stream of leaks. Maybe excited moles dig a bit deeper this time of year. In any event, German HTC fan blog HTCInside managed to procure a purported screen shot of Vodafone Germany’s internal inventory system, which clearly shows an entry for “Desire 2 HTC.” Details are pretty scarce for the time being, and by that we mean there are absolutely no details to accompany this screen shot. The Desire 2 could certainly end up being a European version of one of the exciting new HTC phones introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show last month, but it could also be something entirely new for the European market. Only time will tell — and since MWC is less than two weeks away, we won’t have to wait very long.

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AT&T on Tuesday announced that the HTC Inspire 4G will become available on February 13th for $99.99 on contract. The device was first announced during AT&T’s press conference held last month at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. ”We are kicking off an exciting year for AT&T’s smartphone portfolio, and leading off with our first 4G phone,” said AT&T SVP Jeff Bradley in a statement. “With its iconic design, 4G speeds and awesome features, Inspire 4G is going to attract new customers and please existing AT&T subscribers.” The HTC Inspire 4G will feature a 4.3-inch touchscreen display, an 8-megapixel camera, Android 2.2 and HTC’s Sense 2.0, which marries HTC’s popular Android UI overlay with an online suite of services. The Inspire 4G is compatible with AT&T’s current HSPA+ “4G” network, not the carrier’s upcoming LTE “4G” network. Hit the break for AT&T’s press release.

HTC Inspire 4G Arrives for AT&T Customers on Feb. 13

AT&T 4G Smartphone is the First of Many Planned for the Nation’s Fastest Mobile Broadband Network

DALLAS, Feb. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ –

Key Facts

• AT&T* will begin selling the HTC Inspire™ 4G on Feb. 13.
• The first 4G mobile phone offered by AT&T, the HTC Inspire 4G is the first to run the Android 2.2 platform and AT&T Mobile Hotspot application.
• The 4.3-inch super LCD display on the HTC Inspire 4G will be the largest in the AT&T portfolio, and the first to offer the next-generation HTC Sense experience.
• HTC Inspire 4G will cost $99.99 after a two-year agreement beginning Feb. 13 in company owned retail stores and online at www.wireless.att.com.

4G Portfolio

AT&T is the leader in smartphones and expects to widen that lead in 2011. In January, AT&T committed to an industry-leading Android portfolio in the U.S. in 2011 and said it plans to offer two 4G smartphones in the first quarter. The HTC Inspire 4G is the first of more than 20 4G devices AT&T plans to deliver in 2011. AT&T has completed the deployment of HSPA+ to virtually 100 percent of its mobile broadband network, which enables 4G speeds when combined with Ethernet or fiber backhaul.

HTC Inspire™ 4G

The HTC Inspire™ 4G will be the first 4G smartphone in AT&T stores and will have the largest screen of any AT&T smartphone, with a 4.3-inch super LCD display, and will offer an 8-megapixel camera with HD video recording. Running on the Android 2.2 platform, the HTC Inspire 4G will be the first smartphone in the U.S. to feature the next-generation HTC Sense™ experience with cloud services. The HTC Inspire 4G will also be the first to introduce AT&T Mobile Hotspot service built into the smartphone, allowing users to connect additional Wi-Fi-enabled devices.

Exclusively available to AT&T customers for $99.99 after a two-year agreement, the HTC Inspire 4G will include a 1 GHz processor, Dolby® Mobile and SRS WOW HD sound, and a premium, aluminum unibody design. HTC Inspire 4G comes preloaded with a Blockbuster and eReader application to keep users entertained on the go. For more information, visit www.att.com/inspire4G.

With the next-generation of HTC Sense, the HTC Inspire 4G offers even more ways to stay connected, including FriendStream™, which delivers Facebook, Twitter and Flickr updates in a consolidated view. The HTC Inspire 4G also offers customers the ability to pinpoint the location of a lost phone on a map and send a command to make the phone sound an alert – even while on “silent” mode – through the htcsense.com website. If needed, owners can also remotely wipe all of the phone’s data with a single command in addition to forwarding calls and text messages to a different number.

Quotes

“We are  kicking off an exciting year for AT&T’s smartphone portfolio, and leading off with our first 4G phone,” said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Devices, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “With its iconic design, 4G speeds and awesome features, Inspire 4G is going to attract new customers and please existing AT&T subscribers.”

“With a 4.3 inch screen, latest version of the HTC Sense experience and a sleek unibody aluminum design, the HTC Inspire 4G is the first true superphone to launch at under $100, bringing unparalleled power to more people than ever before,” said Jason Mackenzie, president of HTC Americas.

1 Mobile broadband coverage is not available in all areas. 4G speeds delivered by HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul. Will be available in limited areas. Availability increasing with ongoing backhaul deployment. Learn more at att.com/network.

2 Limited time offer.  Two-year contract required. Qualified customers only. Early Termination Fee up to $325.  HTC Inspire 4G requires a minimum data service starting at $15/mo.

3 Mobile Hotspots requires a DataPro Tethering Plan.  Devices connected to your Mobile Hotspot use data from your DataPro Tethering Plan. DataPro Tethering Plans are not unlimited and significant charges may be incurred if the included data allowance is exceeded. Performance may vary depending on the number of devices connected and other factors.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

Unconfirmed reports claim to reveal the specs of an unannounced tablet soon to be unveiled by HTC. Norwegian enthusiast blog amobil claims to have sources and an internal document that provide details surrounding HTC’s forthcoming “HTC Flyer” tablet. Thought to launch as one of HTC’s first tablet offerings, the device curiously has specs that barely seem competitive following the barrage of tablets we saw introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this month. Purported specs include a 7-inch 1024 x 600-pixel display, a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 3G connectivity, a 5-megapixel rear camera, a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, 4GB of internal storage, DLNA, an HDMI-out port and the Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS with HTC Sense. Unless HTC plans on bringing a knife to a gunfight, expect one of two things to happen when the Flyer is finally announced — either these specs are off base, or this device will be on the budget end of several tablets (possibly including the HTC Scribe) announced in succession by the popular Taiwan-based cell phone maker. Along those lines, amobil also notes that HTC is preparing a 10-inch tablet with LTE connectivity to launch in the second half of the year.

[Via Android Community]

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In an interview with Forbes on Thursday, HTC’s head of User Experience Drew Bamford provided some insight into where the company’s Sense product is headed in the near future. Sense started as a UI overlay placed atop various platforms on HTC devices. While the UI aspects of the product remain a central focus, HTC will continue to expand Sense in several areas off the device. The recently launched HTCSense.com portal is one example of Sense’s departure from phones, though it remains underutilized and confined to just two devices for the time being. Bramford says several services are on their way to Sense, however, including music and video content services as well as access to newspapers, magazines and eBooks. HTC already launched an eBook service in Europe that it plans to expand to other regions in 2011. HTC also plans to launch its own video chat service akin to Apple’s FaceTime, along with several services that focus on home entertainment. These and other services will be made possible by the continued transition to faster 4G cellular data networks. “At some point, you can imagine replacing your home Internet service with your 4G phone,” Bramford said. “I think we’re on the cusp of that transformation where mobile products and living room life collide.”

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