By Our WinSource team is live in New York City where HTC gathered the press and mobile industry to announce the HTC 8X and 8S. “But what happened to 2-7,” you ask. I’ll admit it — I wasn’t sure what HTC would do after “One” either, but note that these names likely allude to the fact that these will be Windows Phone 8 devices.
What you’re getting are some of the best looking phones over in that side of the mobile game. The 8X features 4.3 inch HD display, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, NFC, an 8 megapixel HD camera, and more.
Meanwhile, the 8S is sporting a 4 inch WVGA display, a 1GHz dual-core processor, 512MB of RAM, and 4GB of internal storage. This one’s not exactly setting the world on fire, of course, but it should be presented as a budget option for those new to the smartphone game.
Like Samsung, HTC is starting to get serious about other mainstream operating systems. They, also like Samsung, have had great history with Microsoft and its mobile operating system.
With Android doing so well it’s easy to forget that these OEMs don’t pay allegiance to whatever gets them the most money. It’s unwise to spread yourself thin in the mobile space, and with this new series of Windows Phone products HTC will find themselves having to balance the best of both worlds.
Should we expect less focus on Android? Of course not. It’s still HTC’s bread maker, and even if Windows Phone skyrockets over the course of the next one or two years they will no doubt allow the two to coexist in the same portfolio.
And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Let’s just hope HTC’s readying a bevy of new, interesting next-generation Android devices to be shown off early next year. [via WinSource]
where is the 5 inch 1080p? hmmm
My thoughts exactly, maybe it was a pipe dream created by some very clever photoshop trickery with all the blurrycam pics.
never believe rumors.
Word! WTF HTC.
Now what am i supposed to buy. That was very inconsiderate of them. lulz.
that’s probably the next HTC Nexus.
yawn fest
LMAO
if Windows phones had better specs ill consider it but these specs are high end android phones a few years later lol waq
Hardware specs can’t be fairly compared between different OS’s. Each OS requires different levels of power under the hood and WP7 runs really smoothly on lower power hardware. I think the pace at which hardware specs increase creates sloppy programming. Consoles show how true this is, they have no upgrades but if you look compare games released at launch with games released towards the end of a consoles life the difference is often massive. I’m all up for more cores and more GHz but most of all I want efficient coding.
needs more phablet
Windows Phone *8
I like the devices just not the windows 8 Ui
I actually like both, but I won’t move over because of how integrated into Google Services I am. Also the app store on WP is non-existent.
Think how cluttered that Windows 8 home screen would get with all the apps we download, most people download like 100+ apps, you would have to search a really long time to find the app you want on that home screen. not to mention the only form of customization you get is between color and small or large blocks, not even a wallpaper >.>
Actually the tiles are what you want to show, not every app. There’s another window that you slide from the right that displays all of your apps in list format (alphabetical). At least that’s how it was on WP7, not sure about 8, haven’t seen much on it.
wow even iPhone has wallpaper. The colors are pretty weak and it’s hard to read white text/icons on top of them. It’s like furniture at MOMA (museum of modern art) : interesting to look at first but you wouldn’t want to sit in those chairs for very long.
I know there’s been a lot of hate towards HTC lately, but they would be stupid to put all their eggs in one basket. Microsoft is one of their most important partners and Windows Phone 8 is shaping up to be an awesome mobile OS. If they want to compete in the Windows Phone market, they needed to put out something to rival Nokia and that’s exactly what they’re doing. Kudos HTC, these are some great looking devices.
Now that I see windows phone coming out from under the rocks, what ever happen to RIM and the blackberry? Did they finally died?
If HTC wants to support Microsoft and WP8 so badly, then I wish them good luck with the 2% market share. Because I won’t be buying anymore phones from them.
yeah, i wouldnt exactly say 3% share of the market is a “mainstream” OS.
If it gives them more revenue to pour into their android phones then what’s the problem. HTC is falling behind fast, and what other company are you going to support that doesn’t also do windows phones?
Motorola.
Then let’s hope they vastly improve their business practices under Google ownership.
Windows is a waste of time and focus. Nobody wants it, except .NET developers and HTC needs to do more to bring their androids on par with Samsung’s. Samsung may get away with it but HTC can’t afford to be behind.
Oh, you are polling company. Do you have raw data on who wants what? Perhaps you could post that in percentages, in millions, and by market. Keep in mind, we’re not talking about current market share, we are talking about market “want”. When you have valid information about who wants what, then pipe up with a comment.
Yes, we have plenty of data on the very low uptake of Windows Phone 7. If people wanted it, they would have rushed out to buy it.
Actually this makes sense for HTC… Since they blinked when MS threatened them with patent trolling on their Android devices… HTC came to an agreement that I think also included HTC continuing to make WiMO devices on a regular basis… I see it as a way for HTC to make back some of the fees that HTC is paying MS for not getting sue by MS over Android…. It should help balance things out on their sheets…
I know the fee per phone gets added to each Android phone… But I think HTC might of gotten a lower rate per Android device then others thanks to their prior relationship & continuation of MS devices…
I do wish HTC would make a Android 4.5-5.0″ device with a look and keyboard very much like the HTC Touch Pro 2 with the tilting screen… I’ve yet to see an Android device with such clean & gorgeous keyboard/look…. Since HTC is already paying MS for some of their patents.. They might as well use some of the best ones they have…
I’ll take a WiMo 8 device over any IOS device… If Android did not exist…
I actually have respect for the old WinMo. I want the pocket PC concept back and Android is the only way we will get there.
The phone looks pretty cool, i just do not like the Windows Phone UI at all.
I am disappoint.
Great looking phone, 4.3in is a no go to me tho… 4.7+ from now on
Where’s my blue android?!
I know the one t-mobile is getting and i am not telling!!
So why bother saying anything..?
chill man, i was being sarcastic everyone knows that t-mobile always get the low end phones.
Android devices “Next Year?” I’m sick of these build-ups, let-downs, and wait 3 more months. I had such high hopes for HTC.
They never said what the announcement was for, and judging from that leaked photo – you should have known it wasn’t for Android.
Next time they “don’t say”, I’ll assume it’s not Android. Not interested in trying to glean anything from leaked photos. They should come right out and say which platform it will be about.
That defeats the purpose of a surprise announcement. Duh.
If Windows Phone had a much stronger following on the development side of things, I would be more inclined to try out their products. However, they don’t and so I stick with the awesomeness that is Android.
So spec-wise, Windows OS users pretty much just got a Rezound. (not saying it’s a bad thing, I love my Rezound).
Yawn. Looks like leftovers from the 2011 Android lineup.
I always thought 4.0-4.3″ is about perfect. Decent specs too.
But it’s Windows, so cool story bro.
Well good for HTC, they could use some diversification to help them regain revenue.
The sad thing is that I was hoping this would be the announcement of the HTC “Note”-esque device on Verizon. I’m due for an upgrade as of tomorrow and am in smartphone heaven knowing I’ll have lots of options! But I guess I’ll be waiting till closer to the holidays for the actual upgrade since carriers will be running deals (perhaps I can snag some more data or something like that along with some discounts *crosses fingers*). And by then everything should be on the table, from a new Nexus(s?) to the Razr HD models, to the S3, to HTC’s potential offering.
I gotta say I’m leaning Motorola right now but that could change if HTC brings the heat, or if there’s a killer Nexus headed to Verizon.
OK HTC, now we want to see a ONE X+
… with MicroSDHC(XC)
… bigger battery
… shutter button
Am I the only one that thinks ”
1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage” is NOT a big deal?
I have an Evo 3D and I have to say, I wont upgrade until I see something that is 2x better specs than what I have now.
there’s more to it than just pure numbers, battery life for example.
Very nice phones, but not the Android update to anything I was hoping for.
Yeah, let’s hope
I believe all manufacturers, including Motorola are going to give WP8 a try. Their business is to sell phones, and the more openm options the better for them. Android while free to manufacturers, requeire a mayor cost in development due to manufacturer’s modifications, while WP8 by not allowing such dramatic changes, has a lower cost in development for manufacturers.
Motorola would be making their Shareholders a diservice by ignoring a plataform that may give them some extra market share, as is my believe Nokia has it wrong by excluding Android.
I really don’t think Motorola will go with Windows Phone. I believe they said so in the past but maybe I’m remembering incorrectly.
with the price of ram falling so cheap anything less than a gig is unacceptable.
Yay WIndows phone 8 :) I hate HTC but these are sexy lol
As much as I love my Android phone and I’ll always love android I am so glad to see that WP8 will have some nice phones with awesome colors and good cameras and I definitely will be heading back to WP8 when they are released…No android phone really has caught my attention as far as software/features and looks the way windows phone 8 has and I can’t wait for my lumia 920 in Yellow<3 Still love my GS3 though<3
I’m very tempted by WP8, would definitely go for the Lumia 920 over the 8X though. I’ll probably regret buying a Windows phone, but I guess I’m just bored of the same old Android.
Hi Nokia! Oh, wait…