MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS 2010, BARCELONA – HTC has revealed two new smart phones with 1Ghz SnapDragon processors that it claims will take the Android mobile experience to a different level. The new phones come with notable new features, including animated wallpaper.
The HTC Sense experience will be available on two new smart phones, the HTC Legend and HTC Desire.
“At its essence, the mobile phone is the most personal item you have in your possession. HTC Sense was created to magnify your ability to create and define your own unique mobile experience,” said Peter Chou, chief executive officer of HTC Corporation.
“HTC Legend and HTC Desire take Android to another level in both substance, with HTC Sense, and style, with HTC Legend’s revolutionary crafted aluminum unibody design.”
What is HTC Sense?
The company describes HTC Sense as a user experience focused on putting people at the centre by making phones work in a more simple and natural way.
It says this experience revolves around three fundamental principles that were developed by observing and listening to how people live and communicate. These core tenets of Make It Mine, Stay Close and Discover the Unexpected continue to be the key to the new HTC Sense experience.
The new HTC Sense experience continues to focus on improving your interactions with your most important people. This begins with a new HTC application and widget called HTC Friend Stream that seamlessly aggregates all of your social communication, including Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr, into one organised flow of updates. This simple aggregation makes it easier than ever to focus on what friends are doing, as well as to view the images and links that they share.
In addition to Friend Stream, people can be organised into specific social circles, such as groups of friends, colleagues or any other way that makes sense.
The new HTC Sense experience also introduces broad improvements to applications, including the browser, email client and others. In addition, the new version of HTC Sense includes a new newsreader application and widget, as well as a new seven-screen ‘Leap’ thumbnail view for quick and easy access to specific screens.
The HTC Legend
Built around a newly enhanced HTC Sense, the HTC Legend boasts a unique design with a smooth, continuous surface, machined from a single aluminum block into a seamless compact frame. The HTC Legend includes a 3.2-inch, AMOLED HVGA display.
The traditional trackball has also been replaced with an optical joystick, surrounded by a narrow button to improve usability without interrupting its unique design.
The HTC Desire
The company describes the HTC Desire as the richest way to visually experience news, friends, photos, favourite places and whatever else is important on a mobile phone.
The HTC Desire is designed with a large 3.7-inch AMOLED WVGA display to enhance and maximise content, whether it is pictures and videos, browsing the web or checking on friends’ status updates.
HTC Desire is powered by a one gigahertz Snapdragon processor and is Adobe Flash 10.1 ready. As with the HTC Legend, the HTC Desire also includes an optical joystick.
“HTC is a valued partner for Vodafone and has made a strong contribution to the growth of the mass market appeal of smart phones,” Patrick Chomet, group director of terminals for Vodafone explained.
“Vodafone endeavours to offer our customers the widest and most compelling choice of smart phones and to that end the HTC Legend, the HTC Desire and the HTC HD mini will be ranged in selected Vodafone markets across our footprint. I’m particularly pleased that through our collaboration with HTC, Vodafone customers will experience a differentiated experience on the HTC Legend which will come customised for them with pre-loaded Vodafone 360 internet services.”
By John Kennedy
Photo: The new HTC Legend and Desire, unveiled today at the GSM Association World Congress in Barcelona
Read more news from the Mobile World Congress:
Spending on wireless surpassed US$1 trillion in 2009
Irish mobile tech showcased at MWC
24 phone operators challenging app store dominance
2010 will be the year of the connected car
Era of embedded devices – Vodafone in M2M alliance with Verizon
Clever consumer tech firm invents bio-degradable iPhone
Samsung reveals world’s first 4G LTE-based netbook
NFC payments tipped to surpass contactless cards in five years
Nokia and Intel in mobile future mega alliance
Microsoft’s CEO converges Windows Mobile 7 with Xbox LIVE and Zune
Cibenix helps operators to generate revenue from Android devices
Yougetitback.com to put security software on Telefonica smart phones
NewBay is in the eye of a mobile social media storm
