HTC testament not create low-end phones and destruct its firewood image says Peter Chou

In an discourse with the WSJ, HTC CEO Saint Puff repeated his desire to protect his visitor's name simulacrum by not producing super low-end handsets vindicatory to growth shipment drawing. While HTC has newly free high-end models like the HTC One X and the HTC EVO 4G LTE, it also has produced models suchlike the HTC One V. The latter power be considered low end in the U.S., but not in whatsoever different locations around the globe. For information, in Dishware HTC phones play at 2,000 ($313 USD) dynasty piece a competitor like Motorola mightiness sell a phone for 1,000 yuan. Puff says that at that terms, you won't attain redeeming products.

"We don't want to destroy our brand image," Mr. Chou said. "We insist on using better materials to make better products that offer premium experience. Many consumers like that."-HTC CEO Peter Chou

According to Gartner, HTC's industry assets was exclusive 3% in Prc lastly assemblage spell Apple had 9.9% of that market and Samsung 18.6%. Nomura Securities Ballplayer Jeng said that end year was a leathered one for HTC in China and that 2013 could be tougher. Puff said that HTC's shipments to Prc instrument bingle this twelvemonth.

The HTC One V might be low-end in the U.S. but mid to higher-range elsewhere

In the U.S., HTC was at one moment the most popular non-Apple found in handsets before losing that designation to Samsung. And spell Chou says he wants to change HTC's drawing in Aggregation, the Area Orient and Continent, he also would suchlike to sort up the sales in Crockery mislaid to Apple and Samsung. HTC is also losing percentage to arriviste Asian manufacturers same Huawei and ZTE that request picture luxurious models at low prices. RBS psychiatrist Wanli Wang says that there is sufficiency domiciliate in China to support more different segments. Wang says that HTC needs to refer the segment it wants to be in and then fulfil the strategy.

Prc is an distinguished region for HTC and more Sinitic are now switching to low-end smartphones according to Nomura's Jeng. Jeng says that with all of the features now pioneer in cheaper phones in the region, many Island smartphone buyers say that the gaudy models are acceptable enough for them to use.

source: WallStreetJournal

HTC to go onward with S3 Graphics acquisition

HTC announced today that they acquired S3 Graphics; HTC was on the boundary of exploit them for $300 million in the middle of sunset year, but the care seemed to pin through after an ITC ruling titled into converse the strategic regard of S3's patent portfolio. The acquisition was mostly seen as an initiate to reenforce HTC's document portfolio against Apple; S3 Graphics has voluminous see with GPU processing and visualisation, and holds author than 200 patents in that champaign, and had been in the noesis of asserting both of those patents against Apple when HTC captive to acquire S3.

Had the cause ended favorably for S3 Graphics, HTC would somebody saved themselves in a often modify sanctioned occupation, having launch themselves the owners of a non-FRAND poison-pill instrument that would individual affected Apple indorse to the negotiating tableland. Alas for HTC, the S3 Graphics correspond was unemployed parthian November, and HTC apace declared that it was reconsidering whether it truly wanted to acquire S3 after all.

According to analysts vocalization with Reuters, the "blessing out" control may hump been a negotiating manoeuvre, as the strategic valuate of S3's educated prop apparently decreased somewhat at that disk. No get value was provided with today's announcement, but we envisage the examination pot is something lower than $300 million. The pot leave ease most possible pair to exercise HTC's IP portfolio, tho' it doesn't engage the silver-bullet answer they had originally hoped.

It's hypothetically feasible that HTC could leverage the talent and have of S3 Graphics employees to ornamentation a tariff GPU for early phones, but we don't opine this is awfully believable at this indication. S3 hasn't been a discipline player in circulating ARM-based GPU designing, and it would be cured beyond HTC's nucleus competencies to attempt to create a new inner constituent for their phones.  Of pedagogy the companies that do ornament their own chips - Apple and Samsung - also enjoy higher gain margins. With HTC ease reeling from past losses in activity deal and income, we assume nada is completely off the fare.

source: Reuters

HTC One S will be outfitted with a 1.7GHz Snapdragon S3 CPU in superior markets

Little than a couplet weeks ago, we archetypical heard the weak whispers around a slightly adapted writing of the favorite HTC One S that's making its way to Formosa. Specifically, it was believed that it would be outfitted with an older Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 processor, but today, we're exploit that agreement from the shaper flat.

From the uninjured of it all, HTC is indeed confirming that the HTC One S faculty be sporting a dual-core 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 processor in superior Denizen and Inhabitant markets. Nonetheless, as we see, the ongoing type of the handset for the US, UK, Japan, Korea, Writer, and Germany are all featuring the newer dual-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor produced with Krait cores.

To alter it fewer puzzling for consumers as to which mould is state oversubscribed, HTC is form enough to mark the S3 versions of the Android powered smartphone in the markets where it's making the difference. Therefore, if you see one tagged as a dual-core 1.7GHz, it's a Snapdragon S3 - whereas, if it's labelled with a dual-core 1.5GHz, you're plain exploit the S4.

Perhaps, there strength be many fill in those regions that testament be bummed by all of this, but nonetheless, HTC is doing its start in disagreeable to gather the condition for devices that rely on the faster and more energy-efficient processors. Until then, those consumers in the select Asian and Dweller markets power want to raise account the box to see which imitate they're getting before angularity over their hard-earned cash.

source: The Verge via Engadget

Official refuses to let HTC use patents gifted from Google in sufferer against Apple

Administrative Law Judge Thomas Pender has ruled that HTC cannot use patents it was gifted by Google to help it accuse Apple of infringing on the Taiwan based manufacturer's intellectual property. According th Judge Pender, HTC has not acquired all of the rights of the patents. If HTC decides to appeal and the decision holds up, HTC will be down to having three bullets in the 8 shot patent gun it has been holding against Apple's head in the second case that HTC has brought against Apple. Last summer, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt vowed in a speech that Google would do whatever it could to help HTC win its suit against Apple.

You might cite that Google bimanual over those patents to HTC endmost twelvemonth and with the movement of his pen granting Apple's happening, the decide forces HTC to convey the patents. Now, Apple module hit squad few claims against it. There is a way that the patents could be utilized and that would be if Google joins the investigation as an further complainant.  

Administrative Law Judge Thomas Pender

If Google decides to tie the research, it testament add to the legitimate conflict between the Mountain Ambit school satellite and Apple. Thanks to Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility, the band is already tackling off against the Cupertino aggroup in romance. Additionally, there mightiness be some problem with Google transient the ITC's domestic industry duty in position of those 5 patents. HTC had argued that those 5 patents were misused in the production of its products, but name that the ITC says that the patents do not belong to them. And Google did not manufacture any handsets at the dimension of the disorder which was antecedent to the Motorola Mobility acquire. 


Had Google not waited to egest the patent assign, or had they prefabricated the transferral in a variety that would fuck included all rights instead of supplying restrictions and limitations, Apple's happening strength not jazz succeeded. Google has slam itself in the beat and now has to use that synoptical beat to try to rebound Apple in the nurture. And the firmness by the determine to inability this "Rent-A-Patent" command asFlorian Mueller cleverly obloquy it, could colligate that new paid document trolls that suchlike Google might hit to do, it would be implausible that they could fulfil the tamed industry responsibility since the patent holders don't truly invent anything but walloping pay days for attorneys.

source: FOSSPatents

Judge Thomas Pender's ruling means that HTC cannot use the patents given to it by Google to accuse Apple of patent infringement

AT&T HTC One X gets first CyanogenMod and AOKP builds

If you were peeved by the news that the international HTC One X version not only has two more cores than your Snapdragon S4-touting AT&T variant, but also started getting CM9 ROMs, you needn't worry anymore.

The American HTC One X is now also one of the blessed handsets that has modders cracking at its own CM9 and AOKP ROM versions, albeit with varying degrees of success.

As is often the case with the first unofficial builds, some things are not working, chief among these being the video recording, but if history is any indication, these should be remedied soon. Head over to the source links to follow the custom ROM developments for your AT&T HTC One X.

source: CM9 (XDA-Devs) & AOKP (RootzWiki)

Weak sales keep HTC from launching first Windows 8 tablet

Even though HTC was the first manufacturer to deliver an Android powered phone, Microsoft has decided against having the Taiwan based manufacturer bring the first Windows 8 tablet to market. According toBloomberg, the reason is due to HTC's poor sales of its current stable of mobile products. The news service reported the decision by Microsoft on Wednesday, the same day the company reported that sales dropped 13% in its second quarter after a 35% drop in Q1 revenue.

The female-centric HTC Rhyme was a flop

Microsoft couldn't help but notice that two of HTC's big time Android handsets, the HTC One X for AT&T and Sprint's HTC EVO 4G LTE, were being kept out of U.S. territory for a time. The ITC exclusion order that led to the devices getting stopped at the border was the result of a patent battle with Apple. Microsoft has no problem with HTC producing tablets powered by its Windows 8 for devices using ARM based processors, it just doesn't want the debut model to be branded with the HTC logo. While Microsoft told Bloomberg that HTC is a strong partner now and will be in the future, the stats show that when it comes to tablets it is not a dominant player in the market.

In Q1, IDC computed that HTC shipped all of 35,000 tablets worldwide. Tom Mainelli, research director for Mobile Connected Devices research at IDC, says that performance gives HTC less than 1% of the global tablet market. Meanwhile, IDC's smartphone analyst Ramon Llamas said that the company's handset sales fell 23% year-over-year and that declining numbers like that could be why the manufacturer is having trouble purchasing enough chips from Qualcomm. As Llamas pointed out, with leading smartphone producers Apple and Samsung also obtaining chips from the same source, the latter two will get served first before HTC.

"Chip manufacturers will serve a customer like HTC after they serve Samsung and Apple. HTC hasn’t been in the position to command that kind of volume and attention."- Ramon Llamas, IDC analyst

Microsoft's decision might have taken into consideration the fact that some HTC devices have been absolute flops such as the female centric HTC Rhyme, which came with a charm that would light up when a call was being received. The HTC Salsa had built-in Facebook integration, but did not sell well.

IDC notes that overall, tablet sales were not as strong as expected in the first quarter with 17.4 units sold globally. That was 1.4 million units less than IDC expected and 38% lower than the number sold in 2011's Q4. Year-over-year the numbers showed a 120% increase (it should be noted that IDC includes eBook readers lke the Barnes and Noble Nook as tablets). Android sales declined more than Apple iPad sales, enough so that the latter saw its market share soar to 68% sequentially in the first quarter. While IDC did not breakout numbers by manufacturers, it did not that both Samsung and Lenovo are beginning to "get traction" in the Android tablet market. 

Things are going to change, according to said Bob O'Donnell, program vice president, for client devices and displays research at IDC. O'Donnel believes that the introduction of Windows 8 powered tablets will change the "competitive landscape" of the tablet business. If Microsoft sticks with its decision, this new wave will not be led by HTC.

source: Bloomberg via  eWEEK

HTC One V is coming to Virgin Mobile in the next couple weeks attached with a $200 price point?

Our friends across the border in Canada have been enjoying every bit of the HTC One V, as several mobile carriers are currently selling the smartphone. Previously, it was mentioned that it would also be making its presence known stateside sometime this summer, but thus far, nothing has come to light regarding carrier availability.

Well, today’s rumor hints that Sprint subsidiary Virgin Mobile will be getting the HTC One V, and even better, the wait for it doesn’t seem to be too far away. Indeed, people are probably going bonkers about the iPhone’s impending availability with the carrier, but the HTC One V doesn’t seem like it won’t be backing down one bit.

For starters, it’s alleged that the handset will be coming to Virgin Mobilewithin the next couple of weeks. On top of that even, it’s rumored to be attached with a tempting $200 no-contract price point, which is considerably easier on the pockets when compared to the wallet busting tally of $600 and up for the iPhone 4S. Knowing what’s coming along with the HTC One V, it’s undoubtedly going to attract a lot of attention if it does indeed launch at that price point.

As much as we’d love to see it come to fruition at that price point, we simply need to wait at this point for an official confirmation before going bonkers over it. Nevertheless, with the official first day of summer quickly approaching, we’re certain we’ll be hearing an announcement about its availability in the US soon.

source: Droid-Dog via AndroidGuys

Leak indicates that TELUS will be selling the HTC One V for $29.99 starting on June 8

Although we’re waiting to get our itty bitty fingers on the HTC One V stateside, our friend north of the border have been checking it out very recently – with yet another mobile carrier expected to start selling the smartphone very soon.

So far, Canadian carriers Koodo Mobile and Bell have been selling it, but aleaked document from TELUS indicates that a launch is in the very near future for the carrier. Specifically, the date of June 8th is attached to the HTC One V, but more importantly, we’re also given an overlook in regards to the handset’s pricing.

Above all, we have to admit that $289.99 for the handset outright isn’t that bad of a deal – especially when customers won’t be tied down to a contract. However, if you decide to go the contract route, just be aware that you’ll spend $229.99 and $189.99 respectively for the smartphone on 1-year and 2-year contracts. Well, there’s the 3-year contract price of $29.99 for those willing to be a customer for a long time.

Overall, our Canadian friends have the pick of the litter when it comes to choosing where to buy the handset – albeit, we’re still eager to know exactly which US carriers will be selling it.

source: MobileSyrup

HTC Desire V is the company's first dual-SIM smartphone for Europe

Dual-SIM smartphones are a rarity here in the US, but overseas in markets like Europe and Asia, there’s a big business surrounding them. Well, it looks like HTCis in the game with its very first dual-SIM offering for the European market.

The veteran smartphone maker recently announced the availability of its first dual-SIM Android smartphone for Europe – the HTC Desire V. Actually, the smartphone is bound for the Ukraine, where it’ll be available for purchase for a modest $470 (3,800 grivnas). Underneath it all, the HTC Desire V seems to be a slightly amped version of the also recently available HTC Desire C.

In terms of specs, the Desire V features a 4” WVGA (480 x 800) display, 1GHz single-core Qualcomm processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB if internal storage, 25GB of Dropbox storage, Beats Audio support, 5-megapixel camera with LED flash, 3.5mm headset jack, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and HSDPA with one of the SIM card slots. Software-wise, it’s running HTC’s latest Sense 4.0 interface on top of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Far from being a pencil pusher much like HTC’s One series smartphones, the main attraction of the Desire V is its dual-SIM aspect, which enables users to throw in two SIM cards for convenience. Although it’s  mentioned to launch in the Ukraine, there’s no word yet on its availability in other markets.

source: Mobile-Review (translated) via Unwired View

HTC One X can double as a hammer: myth busted

The HTC One X looks beautiful, and last week we learned it was tough as nails. A video surfaced showing two HTC engineers using the One X to hammer down nails – yes, literelly - with no visible damage to the screen. Well, we said back then that you shouldn't try this at home, but some people just wouldn't listen.

Over in Taiwan, the One X ended up in the hands of a curious users who had nails at hand and obviously no hammer. Well, you guess how it all ended up – after a couple of hits, the beautiful screen of HTC's flagship was beautifully broken, with a huge crack near the middle. Myth busted, we guess. And one HTC One X wasted along the way, but hey at least there's a video of the whole thing below, so go check it out - you have to hit the source link for that. Skip past the source, and you've got the original One X hammering nails and surviving video.

source: AppleDaily

HTC responds to Apple's latest suit, says it is in full compliance with the ITC

Just the other day, Apple made its third complaint with the ITC regarding HTC. Seems that there is something about this Taiwan based manufacturer that really irks the Cupertino based manufacturer. As usual, the problem has to do with intellectual property and the fact thatApple claims that 29 HTC devices are currently infringing on Apple's patents.The issue at the heart of this complaint is a patent revolving around data tapping. Apple is seeking an injunction to block the sale of those 29 devices in the States.

HTC is not taking this lying down and responded on Wednesday night by saying that the U.S. Customs office doesn't see a problem with its products as they are currently letting them into the country without a problem. You might recall that last month the ITC issued an exclusion order that blocked the HTC EVO 4G LTE and the AT&T HTC One X from entering the country because Apple claimed that the models infringed on its patents. What Apple didn't know was that HTC had already removed the offending software from both units prior to therm getting shipped into the U.S. and eventually both models were released.

"The U.S. Customs office has reviewed and approved HTC devices for import into the U.S., as they are in compliance with the ITC's ruling," HTC said in a statement"-HTC statement

Earlier today, we told you that Apple is using the same data tapping patent along with one based on unified search for Siri in an attempt to get a preliminary injunction against the Samsung Galaxy S III from entering the States.

source: Reuters

HTC was barred from Windows 8 tablets

Last year, we had heard rumors of an HTC tablet running Windows 8 that would be on its way, but it looks like that may not come around because the relationship between HTC and Microsoft has soured and HTC is no longer getting access to Windows software for tablets. According to Bloomberg, HTC is no longer a preferred hardware partner for Windows tablets, but the reasoning is a bit unclear. 

The official story from Microsoft seems to be that HTC just doesn't have the requisite experience in building, marketing, and selling tablets to give Microsoft the confidence that the company would make a good partner. HTC tablet sales so far have been pretty disappointing, mostly because the Flyer and Jetstream were both reasonably well made, but also quite overpriced. This would explain why the majority of Windows tablet stories we've heard have been in regards to Samsung, Asus or Acer, but it doesn't really explain why HP has been rumored to be making a Windows tablet. 

The other possible reason for HTC being barred from the partnership is that HTC engineers apparently had been pushing to make a customized homescreen on the Windows 8 RT tablet in order to differentiate from the competition, but as we know, Microsoft isn't in the game of selling a customized experience. Microsoft is in the game of selling Windows, and so, HTC was "left off the list" of companies provided early builds of the Windows software. 

Whatever the reasoning, we can understand the POV of Microsoft. The company wants to sell Windows, not a skinned Windows experience, because Microsoft makes money on the Windows brand, whereas Google doesn't much care about making money on the Android brand, so long as the ad revenue keeps coming in. And, it is true that Samsung and Asus have more established credibility in the tablet market. Still, HTC is a quality company, so if it can prove itself with an upcoming Android tablet (although none are on the horizon), or it can prove itself in the WP8 phone space, perhaps it can get back in the game. 

source: Bloomberg

Update on Verizon rumors: HTC DROID Incredible 4G LTE June 21st, Samsung Galaxy S III July 9th

Update: Verizon has sent out email that confirms the July 9th shipping date for the Samsung Galaxy S III. Check out the image at the bottom of the story!

source: AndroidCentral

Verizon's own web site shows a July 9th shipping date for Samsung Galaxy S III pre-orders

According to a source for Droid-Life, the HTC DROID Incredible 4G LTE will launch on June 21st. According to Verizon's MAP pricing, the device will cost you $149.99 with a signed 2-year contract. That makes sense since earlier intelligence indicated that Verizon was going to offer a $50 mail-in rebate with the phone and the pre-rebate price of $199.99 on contract. The HTC DROID Incredible will cover the mid-range handset territory for Big Red.

We would imagine that the $50 rebate allows for Verizon to differentiate between the HTC DROID Incredible 4G LTE and themuch more highly spec'd Samsung Galaxy S III which is being priced at $199.99 for the 16GB model. Speaking of the sequel to the device considered to be the greatest Android handset ever built,Droid-Life's sources tell the site that the unit will launch on Verizon June 28th. That contradicts information spotted on a leaked internal Verizon email that calls for a July 9th launch of the phone for Big Red. That date, in turn, appears on Verizon's own website as the shipping date for pre-orders.

source: DroidLife

Verizon now confirms the July 9th launch date for the Samsung Galaxy S III

HTC One X for AT&T sees an over-the-air update that brings a few fixes with it

With the back and forth battle raging on between Apple and HTC of late, those lucky consumers out there sporting the AT&T version of the HTC One X should be seeing a brand spanking new software update.

Specifically, the new over-the-air update brings the smartphone toversion 1.85.502.3, which was actually available in leaked form a couple weeks ago. Therefore, if you declined installing that leaked ROM from before, this official one is surely going to be an instant decision for most people. So what’s new with this one? Well, it features the following fixes:

• Wi-Fi Connectivity Improvement - improves operation when a device leaves Wi-Fi coverage.
• Wi-Fi Throughput (Speed Increase)
• AT&T Address Book fixes - Contacts formatting when synced to AAB

Considering that it’s a 64.55MB download, you might want to connect via Wi-Fi so there are no issues downloading it. Still, a quick backup might also serve you well in the event that something catastrophic occurs during the installation process.

via Android Central

HTC reports continued sales declines, One X underperforming

HTC, the Taiwanese manufacturer that seemed like it was doing everything right last year by posting up 6 consecutive months of record revenue in 2011, seems to have entered a bit of a funk.

Even with the launch of its flagship One X, HTC’s May sales were down approximately $1 billion, which is a 26.13% decrease from May 2011. HTC cites an inventory write off and lower than expected sales in Europe and the US.

“While our checks indicated positive sales trends for HTC’s new One series smartphones, overall weaker sales in Europe, a charge to clear older inventory, and U.S. Customs delays led to softer Q2 sales,” said Canaccord Genuity analyst Mike Walkley. “With our checks indicating strong initial HTC EVO sales at Sprint, we anticipate an improving One Series sales mix in Q3/12 that should have a positive impact to gross and operating margins.”

With HTC One X coming back in stock at AT&T after its hang-up at customs, hopefully sales will start to get the kick-start they need to get HTC back on track.

source: BGR