HTC Event Preview – Android, Windows Phone 7 Smartphones & Perhaps An Android Tablet?
Written by Rob Nichols on September 13, 2010 · Filed under Tech
While tradition seems to state that Apple’s press events are the only one’s worth mentioning on tech blogs, I myself have been anticipating a particular unveiling occurring this Wednesday, and will be covering the news for you right here on Zath as soon as anything newsworthy appears.
The recently increasingly popular Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer, HTC, is holding the event in question and I have been an on-looking admirer of HTC for a while, but having never owned one of their phones I have been quite envious of those who do.
Here in the UK, the HTC Desire, HD2 and Hero have proved extremely popular, and after a freak trampolining accident I happened to be involved in recently, I am now in the market for a new phone, and with the event in London being this week, there is no better time for me to splash the cash on a new, top of the range smartphone.
But what are we expecting to see on Wednesday?
HTC Desire HD
There are a couple of devices making the rumour-mill headlines recently, the first of which being the hotly anticipated HTC Desire HD, or Ace. Leaked images of the device suggest that in terms of aesthetics it will be not too dissimilar to the HD2, but while that runs the old Windows Mobile, the Desire HD will follow in the steps of its predecessor by running Android, and more importantly Android 2.2, ‘Froyo’.
It will feature HTC’s sense UI, which will come as no surprise, but interestingly it will have a larger screen than the original desire to the tune of a full 4.3” with a resolution of 480×800. In addition to that it is said they have updated the camera to 8 megapixels and will include 8GB of internal memory.
The phone was leaked onto Amazon in recent weeks, for reasons unknown, but with the slip up we received an insight into the pricing of the device, which should, if reports are truthful, be just over £400 on these shores. Now that would be a tempting proposition!
HTC HD7 – Windows Phone 7
I am perhaps more tempted right now, though, by the other device rumoured to be appearing in London this week, the HTC HD7. Originally named the HD3 to follow the HD2, it was recently renamed to be more suited to the Windows Phone 7 OS it will be running.
Now, Windows Phone 7 is a fresh OS, which intrigues me to say the least, but it is not just that which has got my hairs standing on end. The HD7 is rumoured to pack a whopping 1.5GHz ARM-based processor, alongside 1GB of RAM. Not only that, the 4.5” AMOLED screen will have an incredible resolution of 1280×800, greater than a lot of modern desktop and laptop displays. Moreover, US customers will be able to enjoy 4G connectivity, while we here in the UK have to make do with a modest 3G connection.
However, that’s the end of the negatives as the HD7 is rumoured to have 32GB of built-in memory plus a microSD slot. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity is standard, too, as well as HDMI-out for all those movies you capture with the HD video recording camera, which also boasts 8 megapixels, with dual LED flash. Now if you’re not tempted by that line-up of spec then you probably need your head examined, WP7 should fly!
Android Tablet?
There are also rumours emerging of an Android tablet to be unveiled by HTC, but whispers such as this have been circling for a good few months now and HTC has always been quick to quell the excitement. Therefore there is nothing even remotely concrete in terms of spec, design or even size.
However, check back on Wednesday and find out for yourself, you never know you may be lured away from that ever-tempting Apple iPad tablet purchase.
