HTC’s new 8X and 8S with Windows Phone 8: the full story – The Verge

HTC Windows Phone 8X review

2012-10-29T14:21:03-04:00

HTC Windows Phone 8X

The Windows Phone 8X. Reversing a habit of putting merely a token effort into its Windows Phone range, HTC is greeting the launch of Microsoft's eighth mobile OS with a handset that leaves no doubt about its flagship ambitions. The statement of intent that's apparent from the look of the 8X - which immediately feels fresh, innovative and modern - is underlined by a bullish $99 price with AT&T in the US.

For an LTE-capable phone without a single blemish on its spec sheet, that represents a tremendously aggressive proposition. The big unanswered question, however, is inherent in the handset's name - how well does Windows Phone 8 fare against …

Read the full story at The Verge.

HTC Windows Phone 8X purportedly launching November 14th on T-Mobile

2012-10-12T15:53:04-04:00

HTC Windows Phone 8X

HTC's Windows Phone 8X will be available on T-Mobile starting November 14th, according to a leaked roadmap obtained by TmoNews. The date closely matches up with what HTC had stated at the handset's unveiling, when the company said it would launch in early November alongside the Windows Phone 8S. Featuring a 4.3-inch 720p HD Super LCD 2 display, a 1.5GHz processor, and Beats Audio, the 8X is set to compete directly with the Nokia Lumia 920, which will be released the same month.

The roadmap also includes potential launch dates for a mysterious devices, such as the BlackBerry Armstrong, Huawei Summit, and the Samsung Toba. LG's Optimus L9, wh …

Read the full story at The Verge.

HTC, Nokia, and the Live Tiles that bind

2012-09-19T19:11:38-04:00

HTC Windows Phone 8X

HTC made a bit of a splash today when it and Microsoft announced the new Windows Phone 8X and Windows Phone 8S smartphones. The 8X and 8S represent a new focus on Windows Phone for HTC - at least for today - and rekindle the relationship Microsoft and HTC have had for the better part of 15 years.

In fact, Microsoft's influence on these new devices is so strong, it literally named them for HTC. Putting "Windows Phone" right in the name of the smartphones sends a clear message to consumers: if you want a Microsoft smartphone, this is where you go. Microsoft has committed to a heavy promotion of HTC's new devices, and it's even gone so far as …

Read the full story at The Verge.

HTC 8X vs. Lumia 920: Nokia and HTC go head-to-head for Windows Phone 8 crown

2012-09-19T13:19:53-04:00

Gallery Photo: Windows Phone 8X hands-on photos

If Nokia was hoping it would face minimal competition for the Windows Phone crown this holiday, that notion was quickly squashed with today's announcements from HTC. In fact, HTC's pairing of the high-end Windows Phone 8X and mid-range 8S seems like a direct counter to the approach Nokia is taking with its Lumia 920 and 820. It's hard to believe we still don't know the final details of what to expect from the operating system that will be running on these devices when they ship in the coming weeks, but with Nokia already having fired the opening salvo, we can at least compare the hardware directly.

No shortage of colors to pick from

There's a …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Watch this: HTC explains the design philosophy behind its new 8X and 8S phones

2012-09-19T13:11:03-04:00

8X 8S design

HTC began hyping its industrial design chops with its One series phones, and now the company invites you to take a romantic tour of the design considerations that went into its new 8X and 8S Windows Phones. The video's panning shots and pleasant narration are strikingly similar to Apple's signature keynote videos, indicating HTC's burgeoning focus on the design-conscious consumer. While Windows Phone 8 still has yet to prove itself in the market, it's nice to see HTC trying to advance the smartphone from a design perspective rather than a simple specs race.

Read the full story at The Verge.

Nokia slams HTC’s Windows Phone 8 announcement, calls it a ‘tactical re-branding’

2012-09-19T11:50:37-04:00

Nokia Lumia Windows Phone_1020

HTC has just unveiled two new Windows Phone 8 devices today (the 8X and 8S), making them the signature phones for Microsoft. We asked Nokia about today's announcements and the company's head of marketing, Chris Weber, has responded to HTC's move by claiming the announcement is "good news for the Windows Phone ecosystem." However, Weber says that "while others may choose to tactically re-brand their products," Nokia is building its Lumia franchise exclusively around Windows Phone.

Nokia isn't mincing its words, but it's clear the company remains committed to Windows Phone 8 with its Lumia 920 and 820 devices expected to arrive in early Novem …

Read the full story at The Verge.

HTC rekindles its old Microsoft romance and bets on Windows Phone 8

2012-09-19T11:16:05-04:00

HTC Windows Phone 8X

High Tech Computer (HTC) has grown up with Microsoft, from the old HTC-built iPAQ's running on Microsoft's Pocket PC operating system, to the Orange SPV - Microsoft's first Windows smartphone. The Taiwanese company has always been a loyal aid to the software giant, but lately that close relationship has started to feel a little dated. HTC's investment in Android and its Sense user interface has taken precedent over its initial work with Windows Mobile, and the company's Windows Phone flagships have been impressive, but overshadowed by Nokia's colorful Lumia range and partnership with Microsoft. That all appears to be changing though.

"We're …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Windows Phone 8S by HTC announced with 4-inch display for November release

2012-09-19T11:15:17-04:00

HTC 8S hero

The second of HTC's newly announced Windows Phone 8 devices sees the company target the mid-range with the Windows Phone 8S. In a somewhat similar look and feel to Sony's Xperia P device, HTC has created a device which looks like it's been partially dipped into a vat of paint.. Featuring a 4.0-inch WVGA display, the 8S includes a 1GHz dual-core S4 processor, 512MB of RAM, and 4GB of storage.

Beats Audio now on Windows Phone

Like the 8X, HTC has opted to include Beats Audio on its Windows Phone 8S - however, the 8S does not include additional amplifiers to take advantage of the Beats integration. HTC has a Beats Audio application installed on …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Windows Phone 8X by HTC has a 4.3-inch display and Beats, launches early November

2012-09-19T11:15:08-04:00

HTC 8X Hero

HTC is unveiling its flagship Windows Phone 8 handset today, the Windows Phone 8X. The branding might sound Microsoft-like, but there's a good reason for that - the two companies have joined forces on a marketing campaign that will make HTC the face of Windows Phone 8. HTC's 8X device is a fresh approach to a Windows Phone device from the company, one that was designed from scratch according to HTC's Graham Wheeler. "The designers actually took inspiration from the Start Screen and actually a live tile, they thought about a live tile and how that would look if that was actually a physical something you hold."

The 8X will ship in a choice of …

Read the full story at The Verge.