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A concept HTC M8 doing away with the black bezels of the original. Pretty, isn’t it?
February is just around the corner, and we couldn’t be more excited. If HTC sticks to their original announcement timing for last year’s flagship, that means an HTC One sequel could be revealed in just a few short weeks. As we near a hotly anticipated device’s release, it’s typical that leaks and rumors begin seeping out of the woodwork, with the upcoming HTC M8 (One 2) being no different.
Remember when we told you guys about Mike1986’s discovery (he’s a XDA developer who regularly obtains leaked software builds) that the HTC M8 could come with software keys? Well, this big-little detail is now being corroborated by none other than @evleaks. In a tweet, @evleaks makes the claim that the “M8 will be the first HTC device with on-screen buttons.” Boom.
We have no other to believe otherwise. With the M8’s design mirroring closely that of last year’s HTC One, we expect a good portion of the bezels to be utilized for the front facing speakers. If HTC can do away with those capacitive buttons found on the HTC One (a major issue for some), they could easily increase screen size while minimizing bezels, killing 2 birds with 1 stone. Let’s just hope these reported on-screen buttons will have more than a back and home button this time around.
Photo credit: Nikolai Prettner
Watch them still replace the home button with a big “HTC” logo.
Ha-ha. I have to admit that’s funny.
Oh they wouldn’t dare…. lol
They could
Lol. A Virtual HTC logo and still does nothing..
Umm I have a home button…
Me personally, I’m a fan of capacitive buttons. When I had the Gnex, sometimes the soft buttons wouldn’t respond and it would take a couple times. I know that its an older device but I don’t know, I still dig the capacitive buttons. If they make the M8 at least 5.2 inches with soft keys, I’d probably be ok with that. Either way this phone is gonna be sweet!
I know what your problem was, you had a Gnex. I absolutely hated that phone. The battery life, radio, the freezing among other things. But this will probably be my next phone if it resembles the render.
My GN when I had it worked flawless maybe you had too many crappy apps installed slowing down your phone
No I’m very cautious about the apps I installed. I was on Verizon and the updates stopped and there are tons of claims against the GNex and the freezing and battery issues. Just do a Google search.
I had the sprint version
I have a nexus 4, and i have no issues with soft button response. Not that i hate capacitive buttons or anything, but i dont miss them either. After i adjusted to onscreen buttons after about a day, i never thought about it ever again.
God that render looks amazing *Drooool* :O
Trash. The last thing I want is my fingers constantly touching a grid of small holes. I can’t even imagine how dirty they will get eventually.
inb4 wash your hands (what is dead skin and sweat again?)
or you could just hold the side of the phone like a normal person
IKR! Who ever uses their device in landscape?
/s
i use it in landscape all the time… and still hold the device by its sides. Or what you could consider the top n bottom at that point. I also hold it with one so it would actually be more uncomfortable to hold it by the speaker grille.
When I’m playing a game that requires my fingers to be at the side of the screen (usually for joysticks), I frequently rub against the bezel due to overshooting.
my Launch htc One doesn’t have that issue at all, maybe you should consider better sanitary procedures before using your devices or you know…. before you venture out into Public.
I wish I had hands without sweat pores or dying skin like you.
Its never been a problem for me, my wife, or any of the few other people i know that own them. I think you’re making up an argument that doesn’t really exist.
Then you don’t play the games that I do.
I would prefer speakers on the front, my S3 sound is garbage. I don’t always like to wear earphones.
LOL
Hopefully this means HTC finally stop putting massive bezels on their phones. They should have stopped that a long time ago. They must think it’s a good look.
If they do away with the ugly capacitive keys and have proper on-screen buttons I would definitely consider picking up the M8.
Makes sense considering that’s one of the easier ways to reduce bezel but yet still keep the dual Boomsound Speakers.
I’ve said it once I’ll say it again. LG should acquire HTC best parts and best design would be a winning combo.
This will be my next phone hope it looks exactly like the pic above.
HTC needs to stick with Google play models
I’ll enjoy my flash on my browser Thank you
You know you can install flash on any android phone right? http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/archived-flash-player-versions.html
best comeback ever.
Best comeback ever.
well Sony you the only one left with big bezel.
and if history repeats itself, HTC’s Peter Chou will reveal the M8 at their chinese new year party, which should be sometime this week.
hey HTC please let me sell back my original HTC ONE for about $450 flat, ill kick in the rest to buy this baby out right, heck ill even buy a 64gb model and 3 accessories to show my support. COME ON HTC hook me up
I switched to a Nexus 5 because the capacitive button layout wasn’t to my liking. Everything else I loved, though I suppose the camera could have used a bit more love.
It’s a sleek looking device but I still prefer the physical home button of the Galaxy series. If HTC is still fooling around with the gimmicky ultra pixels, this is a non seller for me.
You sound like a tool.
ugh…I prefer capacitive buttons over a black seaweed that takes up screen estate. I tried nexus phones and recently z1 and the black ribbon still annoys the hell outta me.
do away with the on screen buttons and free up screen estate!
If you don’t consider the navigation bar as part of the screen then it might not annoy you as much. They actually help to give you more screen space on a smaller phone because they hide when you view fullscreen apps. If you have a 5″ screen with software buttons, then you have 5 inches to work with when you’re in full screen, if you have a 4.7″ screen with capacitive buttons, then you still only have 4.7 inches in full screen. I know it doesn’t seem like much but it actually makes a significant different for many of us. Also if you wanted a 5″ screen on your phone with capacitive buttons then the bezel (and the entire device) would have to be bigger. Just something to consider.
Last thing, have you tried a KitKat device? The black part of the bar has been replaced by a more subtle shadow-like gradient…it might not bug you as much.
Yup I tried. It still really bug me. I do not mind on-screen buttons on tablets 7″ and up for smartphones, lets just stay with capacitive buttons. We get to have full 4.3″ , 4.7″ , 5″ , 6″ screen to work with 100% of the time and not some of the time.
Bezel wise, I really do not mind top/down having a little bigger bezel so long as the bezels on both of phones are thinner.
Basically capacitive buttons means you 100% screen estate 100% of the time. Also I wont accidentally press home or back when scrolling through fb or webpages
All said, I will still get the M8 as I always dig HTC’s aesthetics, just that I have to live with on-screen buttons. ffffffffff
If they also put the power button on the side, I might not have anything to complain about.
very true
great! can’t wait for the Google Play Edition! #serious :-)
Best hardware with stock Android…? Yea that will be a winner… will put the Nexus 5 to shame.
nice. i really like the capacitives on my Nexus. good to know that this feature is going onto new terrain.
I just might try the m8, my S3 is not all that. I had a HTC before then went with the s3 because of all the hubbub I heard about it. I have not yet seen what the big deal was with Samsung phones. Looks like I might be heading back.
LOL you bought the s3 didn’t you know HTC “just works” and its Android, haha have fun with ur slow force close phone
I switched from my HTC One to a Galaxy Note 3 and really miss the One. I plan on picking up this phone as soon as it is released.
You and I both broham… I went from the One to a G2, and although I like my G2, theres always a piece of me that wants to buy back another HTC One.
Im going through the same exact issue! Like my note 3 but LOVE my HTC ONE
This will undoubtedly be my next phone…Going to sell my G2 and iPad just to have one of these
Why are people excited about on screen buttons? 4.7″ screen with capacative buttons, or 5″ screen with on screen buttons = the exact same amount of usable space. So there’s no real gain.
Unless you consider fullscreen apps wherein the onscreen buttons hide themselves.
Good point, I’ve just noticed with my Nexus 5 that almost no apps take advantage of fullscreen when in landscape mode.
Hi all. I have the HTC EVO LTE. Is it worth upgrading to this or any other phone.
its about time
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