SYNAPSE CIRCUIT HTC ONE M8 LAUNCH

One (M8): Motion Launch. Now where have I seen that function before?

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
HTC ONE M8 LAUNCH
#HTC #OneM8

Good evening, Good Friends! I hope you had a great day and that all is well with you!

Yes, finally, after all the “leaks” HTC has launched the successor to the One... Introducing the One (M8)...  

SPEC:-

GENERAL   
2G Network   GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network   HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - EMEA, Asia
HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 - AT&T
HSDPA 850 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 - T-Mobile
4G Network   LTE 800 / 900 / 1800 / 2600 – EMEA
LTE 700 / 1700 / 2100 - T-Mobile
LTE 700 / 900 / 1800 / 2100 / 2600 – Asia
LTE 700 / 850 / 1700 / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 / 2600 - AT&T
SIM     Nano-SIM

STATUS
Announced: 2014, 25 March
Status Coming soon. Exp. release 2014, March, 26th

BODY
Dimensions: 146.4 x 70.6 x 9.4 mm (5.76 x 2.78 x 0.37 in)
Weight: 160 g (5.64 oz)

DISPLAY      
Type: Super LCD3 capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Size: 1080 x 1920 pixels, 5.0 inches (~441 ppi pixel density)
Multitouch: Yes
Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 3

UI OVERLAY
HTC Sense UI v6

SOUND        
Alert types: Vibration, MP3, WAV ringtones
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakers, built-in amplifiers
3.5mm jack   

MEMORY     
Card slot: microSD, up to 128 GB
Internal: 16/32 GB, 2 GB RAM

DATA
GPRS / EDGE
Speed: HSDPA, 42 Mbps (21 Mbps - AT&T), HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps; LTE, Cat4, 50 Mbps UL, 150 Mbps DL

WLAN           
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot
Bluetooth v4.0 with A2DP
NFC (market/operator dependent)
Infrared port 
USB microUSB v2.0 (MHL), USB On-the-go, USB Host

CAMERA      
Primary Dual 4 MP, 2688х1520 pixels, autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash
Features: 1/3'' sensor size, 2µm pixel size, automatic simultaneous video and image recording, geo-tagging, face and smile detection, HDR, panorama
Video: 1080p@30fps, 720p@60fps, HDR, stereo sound rec., video stabilization
Secondary: 5 MP, 1080p@30fps, HDR

FEATURES 
Android OS, v4.4.2 (KitKat)
Chipset: Qualcomm MSM8974AB Snapdragon 801
CPU: Quad-core 2.3 GHz (US/EMEA)/ 2.5 GHz (Asia, China) Krait 400
GPU: Adreno 330
Sensors: Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Messaging: SMS (threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email
Browser: HTML5
Radio: Stereo FM radio with RDS
GPS  with A-GPS support and GLONASS
Java via Java MIDP emulator
Colours: Gunmetal Gray, Glacial Silver, Amber Gold
SNS integration
Google Drive (50 GB cloud storage)
Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic
TV-out (via MHL A/V link)
DivX/XviD/MP4/H.263/H.264/WMV player
MP3/eAAC+/WMA/WAV/FLAC player
Google Search, Maps, Gmail,
YouTube, Calendar, Google Talk
Organizer
Document viewer/editor
Photo viewer/editor
Voice memo / dial / commands
Predictive text input

BATTERY              
Non-removable Li-Po 2600 mAh battery
Stand-by: Up to 271 h (2G) / Up to 496 h (3G)
Talk time: Up to 14 h (2G) / Up to 20 h (3G)

THE BIG QUESTION IS... IS IT ENOUGH TO USURP SAMSUNG’S GALAXY S5?
Hmmmm... I don’t know... That’s my honest first response. Let me ask you the question: Would you, if you have the One 2013, go for the One 2014? If you went for the Samsung Galaxy S3 or S4 would you now switch? Would you as an iPhone user switch?

Would I? Before I answer that let’s weigh it up!

Design-wise it looks very similar to last year’s model and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing as Apple have used the same incremental design strategy (not that it’s working for them) and it appears as though Samsung has adopted the same strategy too!

I can imagine that those who like their smartphone to be some sort of statement i.e. fashion or a badge to show allegiance to one’s favourite manufacturer then the One X (M8) strikes up a good argument! The One (M8) looks delightful and could come off the set of a Sci-Fi movie albeit a sequel! It was pretty much common knowledge that HTC wasn’t going to deviate from its successful design. I do LOVE HTC designs – they are stunning! The One (M8) should go down well.

The next item to sell folk on is, for me, the camera... Oh, I should say that the CPU, RAM and storage are forgone and concluded to be top notch already! At this premium level such components will be powerful and fast! So, HTC are still selling the UltraPixel ideal; I can’t say that I was too impressed with the results of One 2013. For me the cameras on the Galaxy S4, Notes 2 & 3 are better! I would very much like to compare the One (M8) camera to the Galaxy S5. And I have noticed that the Galaxy S5 does 4K video already! On the score of video you can see that the Galaxy S5 is superior. Once again, from my experience the premium HTC handsets of their day were always a bit of a disappointment to me!

WEAKNESS?
Hmmmm... Y’know, it’s one thing to poke a little fun with clever adverts against the competition but the launch itself took every opportunity to throw a bit of mud against Samsung! And you wonder why HTC are making huge losses? It seems that HTC hasn’t learned from Apple’s constant attack on Samsung that to mention or hint at the competition is to give them FREE advertising! If you are launching a mobile phone into today’s market would you keep referring to the competition? Your answer should be a resounding NO!!!! Everytime the competition is mentioned at a press launch it makes intelligent people think more about the competition than your product. The sheep will no doubt use such mudslinging within G Plus communities and other online social networking facilities. Yawn! But intelligent people who weigh up wants on offer will be thinking, “Hmmmm... Well, if they keep mentioning other products in a negative way then maybe it’s because their own product(s) is lacking...” Then you’d look into it some more!

Some have said that Samsung is the Apple of the Android kingdom and I say rubbish! In my humble opinion the Galaxy S range have always surpassed the iPhone (no matter how many so-called tech media keep giving accolades to the iPhone). Samsung have always innovated in ways that Apple just aren’t able to do! Samsung is in a league of its own. If anything HTC is more like Apple in that they have great design principles but they are lagging behind the competition. And just like Apple, HTC feels that it has to utter derision in Samsung’s direction.

HTC is not going to make profits by following the Apple trend of griping like babies. Uh-uh! And you can’t copy the Samsung signature of answering calls without having to press any button and then make snide comments about them; it just comes across a silly! It’s not good for business! HTC gripes about their meagre advertising budget in comparison to Samsung but they blew their budget on their typically forgettable ads – including the Robert Downey Junior ones! HTC just can’t, for some reason unknown to mankind, create good memorable ads. Bad ads lead to bad sales and that leads to a loss of profit! Simple! It’s so important for HTC to not only get their products right in terms of features but they need to sell what the products can do instead of attempting to be clever in their advert content. When Samsung launched the groundbreaking Galaxy S3 they focused solely on what it can do! I can still remember those ads like it was yesterday!

JUICED UP?
I reckon that the battery life is a major concern to heavy smartphone users. Once again, the One (M8) design doesn’t allow for a removable battery. So, if you are going to go for the One (M8) the power stick is going to be an option! I am going to get one of these power sticks for my One X – if I decide to keep it!

However, the Samsung Galaxy S5 is packing a 2800 mAh battery to the One (M8) 2600 mAh!

Already, just by looking at some of the spec and comparing them to the Galaxy S5 all this talk of “prepare to be One-upped” looks a tad disappointing.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Let me answer the question as to whether or not I’d go for the One (M8) when I am next due to update... I’d have to say no! It’s not an outright absolute “no” but it is a no all the same. That said I will make up my mind by reviewing it.

What do you reckon?   

Take good care!

Thank you for watching and reading!

Please check out the Synapse Circuit website for video, i-PDF and more! 

Synapse Circuit Dot Com

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT CAN HTC RECOVER FROM $100 MILLION LOSS?

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
CAN HTC RECOVER FROM $100 MILLION LOSS?
#HTC #ONE #HTCONE #ONE-UPPED #Desire610 #Desire816

Good evening, Synapse Circuit Readers! How are you tonight? I hope that all is well with you and yours! 2014 has gotten off to a tremendous start where mobile devices are concerned. As predicted – not that you need to consult an oracle – just about every manufacturer are releasing strong products this year. Apple looks well out of the picture and will be pushed out to the fringe. The real battle is between the Android players. Despite a devastating $100M loss in Q3 of 2013 HTC are on the comeback trail!

HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT HTC SUFFERED SUCH A LOSS???
I reckon the problem with HTC is that they haven’t been paying close attention to the market demands in terms of their forgettable budget handsets. I know that I was offered on of their handset on a contract and turned it down upon the specs! Uh-uh! Not me! By now I think even the most Luddite technophobe must realize that the budget Android has been a no go from the get go: Not enough RAM, storage space and CPU processing power. It’s a waste of money to manufacture these handsets if nobody is going to get any joy out of them. That’s a big loss right there!

HTC would like to think that it is Samsung. The Samsung name carries a lot of weight socially – at least in London whereby 8 people out of 10 have a Samsung handset. And out of the 8 Samsung handset owners at least 6 of them have premium products: Galaxy S3 mini, Galaxy S3, S4 and Notes 2 & 3. And you can bet that there will be more owners of the Galaxy S3 as it has come down dramatically in price, £18 a month from £25! It could be lowered more by the summer to an estimated £13 or £15! You know that you are getting a quality handset at that price! I have the Motorola RAZRi which costs £17 a month and already it’s annoying me. Compare that to my Galaxy S2 which is still going strong and it is so much better than the RAZRi! Apart from my HTC One X, I can’t think of an older HTC model that has retained its value. In 2013 the only handset that HTC got right was the One – at least in terms of design. As you know, I do not favour handsets with a non-removable battery.

RDJ = Expense! Yes, if you are going to hire Robert Downey Junior to appear in your adverts you had better get him to do something other than flap around like a penguin! For some reason HTC cannot make decent adverts! Their attempt at advertising is abysmal! I can’t for the life of me remember a decent ad... Oh, the ad where there’s a band playing with its back to the audience – including the sound system; that showed off the One’s brilliant front-facing speakers. But other than that HTC can’t do ads!

I don’t know if it’s because I have a leaning towards Samsung why I am able to remember their ads... But do it yourself! Trawl through YouTube and compare HTC ads to the Samsung ones! Samsung focuses on the benefits in their products and over the competition. You can’t forget that – especially the ones where they laugh at the iPhone and its users. Hahahaha! But those HTC ads featuring Robert Downey Junior are forgettable; I don’t even know what they’re about. I don’t understand this weird dance where RDJ and friends look like penguins having an epileptic fit!

HTC must give their advertising more thought! A lot more if they are going to claw back the huge loss of $100M!

LOVE / HATE
Yep! That describes my relationship with HTC; if you have been reading my articles you will know the various issues I have with the manufacturer. My first Android handset was the Hero. I loved that handset! I chose it over the iPhone. However, for some reason unknown to mankind the screen stopped responding to the touch.

My second HTC phone is the Desire. It was a good handset but as time wore on apps got bigger and before I knew it I couldn’t store much – if anything on the handset.

I took a chance on a second hand One X a couple of years later and, largely thanks to CyanogenMod CM11, I am finally getting good mileage out of it. 

And with their new products announced at the recent Mobile World Congress ’14 I am starting to love HTC again!

Take a look at the midrange Desire 610:-

GENERAL   
2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100
4G Network LTE 800 / 900 / 1800 / 2600 - EMEA version
LTE 900 / 1800 / 2100 / 2600 / 700 - Asia version

SIM    
Nano-SIM
Announced 2014, February
Status Coming soon. Exp. release May 2014

BODY
Dimensions: 143.1 x 70.5 x 9.6 mm (5.63 x 2.78 x 0.38 in)
Weight: 143.5 g (5.04 oz)

DISPLAY      
Type: Capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Size: 540 x 960 pixels, 4.7 inches (~234 ppi pixel density)
Multitouch: Yes

OVERLAY
HTC Sense UI v5.5

SOUND        
Alert types: Vibration, MP3, WAV ringtones
Loudspeaker : Yes, with stereo speakers
3.5mm jack: Yes

MEMORY     
Card slot: microSD, up to 64 GB
Internal: 8 GB, 1 GB RAM

DATA / CONNECTIVITY
GPRS: Yes

EDGE: Yes
Speed            HSDPA, 42 Mbps; HSUPA; LTE
WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot
Bluetooth       Yes, v4.0 with A2DP
USB: Yes, microUSB v2.0

CAMERA      
Primary 8 MP, 3264 x 2448 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
Features: Geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, simultaneous HD video and image recording, HDR
Video  Yes, 720p
Secondary: Yes, 1.3 MP, 720p

FEATURES 
OS: Android OS
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 400
CPU: Quad-core 1.2 GHz
Sensors: Accelerometer, proximity
Messaging: SMS (threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email
Browser: HTML5
Radio TBD
GPS    Yes, with A-GPS support and GLONASS
Java    Yes, via Java MIDP emulator
Colours: Black, White, Red, Gray, Green
SNS integration
MP4/H.263/H.264/WMV player
MP3/eAAC+/WMA/WAV player
Google Search, Maps, Gmail,
YouTube, Calendar, Google Talk
Organizer
Document viewer
Photo viewer/editor
Voice memo/dial/commands
Predictive text input

BATTERY              
Non-removable Li-Po 2040 mAh battery
Stand-by       
Talk time

The specs are pretty decent for a midrange handset – cost depending! There again there are quite a few handsets of a budget nature that can possibly see HTC lose out again! You’ve seen the HTC Desire 816 that could possibly pick up the slack: http://synapse-circuit.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/synapse-circuit-ooooh-desire-816.html

Notice that both the Desire 610 and 816 look very similar to the iPhone 5C what with the different colours. The front-facing speaker design can very well appeal to 18 - 35 age groups! I can see these handsets doing well this summer – price pending!

MARCH 25TH
This is the big One (2014) for HTC! Many consumers – including me – loved (and still love) the design of the One when it was released last year. I get the feeling that it, the aluminium beauty, got in the way of Samsung’s Galaxy S4 sales ambition (which is still a respectable 40M and counting). There is an obvious market out there for a “blinging” (for want of a better expression) handset. The HTC One makes for a pretty grand fashion statement. HTC may make an impact on the sale of the Galaxy S5! We’ll see... The Galaxy S5 has received a record amount of pre-registration in the UK and promises to do better than the GS4!



It would be nice if HTC could eat into the iPhone market as many iPhone users are looking for a better handset than the current iPhone has to offer. Dare I say that the diehard iPhone fans are waiting to see what Apple delivers with the iPhone 6; if it proves to be a disappointment I think the HTC One 2014 can do extremely well!

HTC does not deserve to go the way BlackBerry has gone! Goodness no!

What do you reckon?

Review coming very soon.... Stay tuned (pun unintended but works so well)...    

Take good care!

Thank you for watching and reading!

Please check out the Synapse Circuit website for video, i-PDF and more! 

Synapse Circuit Dot Com