HTC M7: first image of the 2013 flagship via unwiredview

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Well, it’s all very nice to see things going on, but unfortunately I think I’m going to treat this for what it likely is - pre-production stuffs. I’m a big fan of HTC hardware, and while this has classic callbacks to HTC’s famously good design, I simply don’t feel like this is all they’re going to give us this year. 

I also can’t work out why there’s two grills. Double speaker? STEREO?

Source: unwiredview.com

Samsung Galaxy S2 (plus?)

OK, so reading this from Android Central (my go-to news source on all things Android), I can’t help but feel as though I’ve entered some sort of Bizarro world.

Just to summarise, Samsung (the biggest Android manufacturer) is re-releasing the S2 with updated specs. This wouldn’t normally spark much of an interest, except for the fact that I happen to use an original S2 as my Android testing ground, and that the S2 is almost two years old.It’s strange, because not only is the original an old device, but Samsung already replaced it through the S3, as well as filling any loose gaps in their product portfolio through the release of the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini.

I wasn’t aware that there was really any call for the S2 to be resurrected, but perhaps the big S had a surplus of S2 housings and decided to get them out the warehouse rather than recycle them.  I’ll quickly sound off the spec increases;

  • it gets a gig of ram rather than the 829mb that my model reports
  • updated software (i.e. Jellybean)
  • the camera has ‘zero lag shutter speed’

Perhaps I just need another cup of coffee, but I’m struggling to understand what this phone is offering over the other newer models in Samsung’s line, especially since the software update (which is what this phone is primarily offering) appears to be already on the way for the original Galaxy S2. 

If I was to improve/re-release the S2, I would have increased the screen resolution (800x480 is so so low compared to my 8X’s 720p display) and improved the back casing, since the plastic feels tacky, and you have to literally rip off the back of the phone in order to access the battery and SIM- neither of which Samsung did with the Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus.

So yeah, some strange news to ponder, especially because the last news I read on Samsung (the flexible display) was so out of this world crazy. I’ll be interested to see how this develops.

via Android Central.

HTC 2012 Numbers

HTC’s numbers have been released, and though they look like big numbers, it puts them in a solid third place compared to the Apples and Samsungs in the industry.

I hope that the only way for HTC is up now, especially with CEO Peter Chou aiming to hit hard in 2013 with a bigger marketing push. I’d like to see the company do well, especially since their products are always so well built (comparing the unibody design of the One Series to the plastic outer shells of most phones is a lesson in both looks and sturdiness).