HTC has launched its newest flagship device today in the form of the HTC One A9.
The device has a unibody design that has a “brushed hairline and bead-blasted finish” and 5-inch full HD Gorilla Glass 4 display. It’s also the first non-Nexus to run Android Marshmallow, and HTC promises updates within 15 days of Nexus devices receiving them.
The design of the handset has clearly changed, now taking a very familiar form , and while that’s refreshing, it also means that you lose the dual front-facing speakers that really made the One series stand out from its competitors, for better or worse.
HTC says that the One A9 has BoomSound and “a built-in DAC that delivers audio at 24-bit, 192KHz quality – better than CD quality – it provides a richness and depth like you’ve never before heard from your music collection. A powerful high-output headphone amplifier, with double the output of other handsets.”
Other hardware specs include a 64-bit octa-core Snapdragon 617 processor multi-directional fingerprint reader and the option of 16 or 32GB of internal storage. That’s not a whole lot, but it also supports up to 2TB microSD cards if you need more space. HTC is also claiming that you can play 12 hours of HD video on one charge, which we’ll have to test for ourselves.
On the camera side of things – not traditionally a strong point for the One family – there’s a 13-megapixel snapper on the rear and a forward-facing ‘UltraPixel’ camera. Of course, we’ll have to see how they fare in the real world before making any judgement, but I’m glad to see there’s no UltraPixel on the rear again.
There’s a ‘Pro’ camera mode too, which lets you save your shots in RAW format – pre-requisite for any photographer that takes themself even semi-seriously. Or there’s a one-button touch-up option for your photos if you don’t want to mess around manually. You’ll also find HTC Zoe and a Hyperlapse mode for creating time-lapses and slow-motion.
It’ll be available in a few different metallic colors, including ‘Topaz Gold’ and ‘Deep Garnet’.
It’s available to pre-order from today, and will arrive in “early November.” Exact colors and availability will vary by region and retailer but HTC is also making a “special Unlocked edition” to sell via its own site. This will arrive with an unlocked SIM and allows you to load the bootloader without voiding your warranty, which is useful for people who like to tinker. This model A9 costs $399.99 and will be available in silver and gray to begin.
As with previous models, there’s an optional HTC Dot View II case available too.
➤ HTC One A9
Google’s Project Tango is now available outside of the US
Google’s Project Tango is going international. The company today began selling a developer edition of its 3D-mapping tablet in Canada and South Korea, marking the first time it’s been officially available outside of the United States.
The tablet features some solid specs, including an Nvidia Tegra K1 processor, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of storage and both Wi-Fi and LTE connectivity.
There’s a 7 inch 1920 x 1200 display and a 4960 mAh battery as well. Of course, the main highlight is the 4 megapixel shooter affixed to the back of the device, which is able to track motion in three dimensions and capture environmental features.
Project Tango first become available to buy in the US in May . Anyone can buy one, but Google emphasizes the device is designed for developers.
Google says it will be coming to more regions on August 26th, including Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. To buy one, head on over to the Google Store .
➤ Project Tango Tablet Development Kits coming to select countries [Google via Android Central ]
Motorola drops 3 Moto 360 collections: Flat tire’s here to stay, so you can just deal with it
Motorola today unveiled the next-gen Moto 360 , featuring two sizes for men alongside separate collections for women and sports.
The refreshed version of the smartwatch features a thinner body and more than 300 customizable options on Moto Maker, allowing you to pick anything from bezel colors and materials to leather or metal bands. The classic Moto 360 comes in two sizes: 42 and 46mm.
The Moto 360 features a ‘quick release’ band attachment mechanism so you can use your own straps if you don’t fancy any of the options on Moto Maker. It also runs on Wi-Fi in case you’re out of its Bluetooth range.
As you might’ve noticed, the flat tire at the bottom of the display is back. Motorola says it requires this feature to maximize the screen-to-body ratio on its circular design, “folding” the display and sensors under the oft-hated lower bar. The ambient light sensor is also hidden under the flat tire to help automatically adjust screen brightness.
The company says the Moto 360 offers roughly 22 percent higher screen-to-body ratio than the Apple Watch.
Basically, you’ll just have to deal with it.
The Moto 360 collection now offers a special sizing just for women, with thinner bands to better compliment the female frame. In a demo, the device fits great on my very petite wrists – the first time a smartwatch didn’t require using the last hole to fasten comfortably.
Motorola also confirmed a Moto 360 Sport collection, featuring a unibody silicone build that’s sweat-resistant. It’s got built-in GPS and a better heart rate sensor to help fitness users track their performance throughout the day. Motorola’s still working out the details of the Sport edition, so stay tuned for more update.
Battery life for all three collections is said to last two full days, though those claims will need to be tested.
As with the previous version of the Moto 360, all three collections of the watch run on Android Wear, which now has hundreds of third party apps, including Google Translate , Facebook Messenger and Lyft. Android Wear now supports a slew of new interactive watch faces , such as customizable complications and pairable watch faces so you can update partners emoji or messages throughout the day.
This week’s update also made future Android Wear devices compatible with iPhones , so you can use the new Moto 360 with devices running iOS 8.2 and up in addition to Android phones.
The Moto 360’s men’s and women’s collections are up for pre-order on Moto Maker , Google Play and Best Buy today starting at $299 in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia.
The device will ship mid-September, with in-store launches at Best Buy, Verizon and Nordstrom to follow. No details yet on the Moto 360 Sport’s availability.
We’ll be playing with the Moto 360 for the next few weeks, so be sure to check back for the full review.
➤ Motorola