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Well, I didn’t see this coming. Right before I was about to turn in for the evening HTC announces via their blog that they have a special surprise for those enticed by the cutting edge hardware of the upcoming HTC One, but just can’t live without their CM, AOKP, and Paranoid Androids.
Yup, you guessed it. HTC will be releasing a special “Developer Edition” of the HTC One for those that like to tinker around with the software on their device. The HTC One Developer Edition will be sold for $650 and will only be made available in US markets, only in the 64GB version, and in limited quantities. Here’s what we can look forward to:
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor
- 2 GB RAM
- 64 GB of storage
- SIM and bootloader unlocked
- Open APIs for Bluetooth Low Energy, Infrared, and more
- Front-facing stereo speakers
- Two dual-membrane microphones for recording
- Multiple frequency compatibility:
- HSPA/WCDMA: 850/1900/2100 MHz
- GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
- LTE: 700/850/AWS/1900 MHz (US)
HTC says you’ll have to wait until the first One drops officially from a US carrier before they’ll be made available for purchase. I was already planning on purchasing the international One for use on Straight Talk (AT&T sans the LTE) but it looks like I’ll be picking up this one instead. We’ll keep you posted on future availability.
Thanks, Kevin!
[HTCBlog]
on first read I thought this was awesome…. then a closer read left me deflated. So HTC believes the only ‘developers’ worth appeasing are those that live in the US?
I’m wondering if this has something to do with the low numbers of devices at launch (and subsequent delays). It’s possible they may open this up to other markets at a later time.
Regardless, I still see this as a good thing. Didn’t expect it at all, and while US-ONLY is a let down, it’s still overall a good thing.
Wait!? Isn’t CM based in the UK? Or am I just talking gibberish now? Are most of the members in the US?
They’re everywhere, man.. It’s a global revolution. O_o
What does CM have to do with HTC choice? Nothing who cares CM is international anyways.
It’s a developer phone for only in the US, yet all the developers seem to be outside the US. That’s the point I’m bringing up. Who’d want this phone if developers can’t even have it to work on in the first place? They’d have to import it from the US when it could have been just sold in their market.
The international one is unlockable as well. This is just the international one, but with US LTE frequencies.
I knew their had to be something up. Cause I don’t see Carriers wanting to sell unlocked phones. Since the last few years they been crying about that same issue.
Theoretically this will work with Verizon, it does have the compatible radio bands.
After they’re voLTE maybe but not now.
I take it that’s a no-go for SPRINT as well?
That would be correct. Even if Sprint went voLTE it wouldn’t work, since they only have like 10 1/2 LTE towers. You’d be pretty screwed. :-)
THX!, that’s what I suspected.
Pretty sure there are at least 100+ towers up and running with deployed LTE. However, it was a decent attempt at trolling.
OK silly me. WCDMA not CDMA.
Are these dev edition HTC phones the same as normal ones that have S-OFF?
S-Off. Unlocked bootloader. Yes.
Wish the dev version had the option of fixing the stupid ass button configuration fail. Would like to be able to peel off sense with the flick of a setting too.
So I’m guessing no HTCdev unlock for the One. Its just getting worse and worse. First Samsung falls to the locked bootloader pressure, brings out this load of crap dev version, and now HTC is going to follow suit. Is it so wrong to want regularly updated software that performs at its full potential? Here’s hoping the security on the S4 and One suck so we can still get subsidized phones and have decent software.
Only $650..man that ain’t bad at all. I figured at least $750 or $800.
64GB version too! :)
I think there’s a good chance this will be my next phone…especially if it comes in black.
That’s exactly what I said…Now I’m just wondering how much will the unlocked 32GB version is going to cost….$550 USD
Good move HTC… Didn’t expect this at all
Bye, bye, wallet… http://i.imgur.com/XbuMljD.gif
Opinion… slowly. changing.
Wallet. slowly. opening.
Must… fight urge!
Willpower weakening…
Must resist!
why u.s of a only ?
what,ALL the develpers live there, no devs in the e.u ?
this is the stupid kind of decision from htc that realy pisses people off, my next device being chinese goes up again, no butterfly, no one dev, the list is starting to get to long fhtc kit thats unavailable in e.u.
grrr wish it had all the bands…Im currently on straight talk AT&T as well but was thinking of switching to tmobile for there unlimited no caps internet and pretty soon to be lte….This dev edition phone would have been great….sigh whos calling the shots at HTC…how could they not include Tmobile bands…..grrrr……Hopefully the tmobile version could get s-off through the dev community…
I think TMobile is included.
What do you mean? T-Mobile’s LTE bands are covered, as are their HSPA+.
Not on the dev edition… T-mo uses 2100/1700 respectively and if one of those bands are absent its certainly not possible to use 3g/4g hspa+ now as far as LTE goes im not sure what band t-mo will use when they drop it.
You’ve not kept up on the news, then.
T-Mo uses 1700/2100 OR 1900/2100, they started switching last year. The plan is to drop UMTS/HSPA+ on 1700(AWS) to make room for LTE.
The only thing this tells me is that HTC still hasn’t learned that there is a certain percentage of people that want their devices unlockable from the get go.
I should be able to buy any phone from a carrier at upgrade time and unlock it.
Carriers have too much power in the states.
That’s what I’m saying. Screw the non subsidized crap. I don’t care if I have to register and lose my hardware warranty (I would rather not but eh) and with insurance wouldn’t really care if I totally lost warranty but don’t force me out of subsidy because I want regular updates, quality software, and the ability to do what I wish with MY property.
Great! This is what all manufacturers should do. An optional “developer version” with open APIs and unlocked bootloaders.
I have seen quite a few phone bootloader been unlocked before the device hits the mainstream…I’m pretty sure the dev community will unlock the One’s bootloader soon enough for those who upgrade to this device…..
only $650 for a high end phone with 64gb storage. apple take note!
Doesn’t work on AWS band for 3G/4G. That means it can’t be used on T-Mobile.
I know thats saddening but then again…. if you live in the 19003g/4g spectrum t-mobile is building out we can :)
I wonder if this is brought for 650 would it qualify for the 100 rebate card when you give HTC your old phone.
Can’t… stop… drooling… on…. my… key… board…..