Siliconrepublic’s John Kennedy reviews the stunning new HTC Desire S with Google’s Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS.
HTC has a certain knack of taking on an OS and doing more with it than any other rival. The Desire S represents the most accomplished interpretation of Google’s Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS. You see, I have nothing but contempt for manufacturers who simply take an operating system like Android, plonk it on the phone and go voila, here it is.
Many household names in mobile make this mistake. HTC, I can tell you, does not make this mistake. Instead, it brings out quality phones that are not only well finished and made, but in terms of software integration, feature amazing bells and whistles.
Here’s the acid test. You pick up any of the many manufacturers’ phones that have taken aboard Android and except for the body you may as well be using the same phone. Pick up an HTC device and everything from the over-sized clocks, real-time weather (complete with windshield wipers, clouds and rain) updates and quirky themes and wallpapers, you know it’s an HTC. Quality – and that would be the HTC Sense technology that the company puts on all its phones to give them that extra oomph!
The Desire S is a smooth and tough little device wrapped up in a sleek unibody. It boasts a 3.7-inch touchscreen with 480 x 800 resolution and weighs just 4.5 oz. The 5-megapixel camera on the HTC Desire S is one of my favourite features. It comes with auto focus and power LED flash and is capable of 720p HD video recording. The screen quality is particularly impressive and you can view images and video in stunning clarity.
The tiny little phone is packed with the latest high-tech sensors, including a G-sensor, a digital compass, a proximity sensor and an ambient light sensor. In terms of power, it boasts internal phone storage of 1.1GB, 768MB of RAM and has a microSD expansion slot.
All in all, it’s an impressive, compact phone that packs some serious muscle in terms of technology and is capable of enabling the most pressing of digital lifestyles whether you surf, Tweet or keep up with the Facebook clan.
Design wise, the unibody has a certain charm and in terms of sound quality and appearance, a shiny chrome little speaker above the screen gives it a unique aspect.
All in all, the HTC Desire S is a good investment for anyone who wants to live a digital lifestyle and have a device that is technologically relevant and ideal for capturing the moments in your life.
When I turned it on for the first time it had my Google, Facebook and Twitter settings fully embraced and I was ready to rock and roll. Again this is something HTC has pulled off better than any other manufacturer.
Want to see more? Watch Siliconrepublic.com’s video review of the HTC Desire S here:
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