Google applies for another Glass patent, thinks about controlling your garage door and fridge

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="copy post-body" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <div class="image-container" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="Google's applies for another Glass patent, thinks about controlling your garage door" data-src-height="412" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/fridge.jpg" /></div><span>In case you hadn't noticed, the people over at Mountain View continue to work pretty hard on bringing yet more functionality to its Google Glass. During our patent application trawling this week, we fished up another possible application for Google's future-wear, where the finished product might fuse together augmented reality (and wireless connectivity) to control objects around your house. The headwear will apparently using visual identification, RFID, infra-red, Bluetooth and even QR codes as methods for recognizing controllable devices. Once your well-designed head-mounted display picks up a target, it would then pull down information related to the object, including a control interface. These "superimposed controls" would then hover over the real-life objects (which would need to be WiFi-connected or otherwise), with garage doors and refrigerators both referenced as possibilities (we've added sketches for both of these after the break). Whether you'd then adjust these white goods with your voice or otherwise is still an unknown -- the predictably fuzzy-worded patent application doesn't quite touch on any... touch interfaces. </span><br /> <div class="image-container" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="Google's applies for another Glass patent, thinks about controlling your garage door and fridge" data-src-height="270" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/opengarage.jpg" /></div></div></div>

Google applies for another Glass patent, thinks about controlling your garage door and fridge

In case you hadn't noticed, the people over at Mountain View continue to work pretty hard on bringing yet more functionality to its ...

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Chromebooks from Acer, HP and Samsung heading to six new countries

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <img alt="Chromebooks from Acer, HP and Samsung heading to six new countries" data-src-height="339" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/chromebook.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">If Chromebooks from Acer, HP and Samsung have struck your fancy but haven't been available in your country, your fortune might have just changed. Google's proclaimed that Chrome OS laptops from the trio will see begin rolling out to folks in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands. Not only is Mountain View expanding its laptop initiative's international horizons, but it's bringing them to more than 1,000 Best Buy stores too, roughly 500 more than previously carried them. Ready to snatch one of the notebooks? Hit the source links to get crackin'.</div><div class="open" dir="ltr" id="pr_box" style="text-align: left;"> <div id="pr_box_button">Hide Press Release</div><div id="pr_text"> Over the past few months, Chromebooks have become a part of everyday life for many people - a computer for the kitchen, for on the go, or for sharing with family (or not). In the U.S. the Samsung Chromebook has been at the top of Amazon's best-selling laptop list for 149 days since launch and in the U.K., Dixons says Chromebooks make up more than 10 percent of laptop sales in Currys and PC World stores.<br /> Many of you around the world have told us you're eager to get your hands on a Chromebook, so we've been working with our partners to make this possible. Today we're happy to say we're one step closer to making Chromebooks truly "for everyone"--or rather, pour tout le monde, für alle, and voor iedereen.<br /> Starting Tuesday the Acer, HP and Samsung Chromebooks will begin rolling out in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands. To help improve computing for organizations, we're also rolling out Chromebooks to businesses and schools in these same countries. Learn more on our Enterprise blog.<br /> In the U.S., Chromebooks will also be expanding to more than 1,000 Best Buy stores nationwide -- doubling the number of stores Chromebooks are presently sold in -- over the next couple of weeks.<br /> </div></div></div>

Chromebooks from Acer, HP and Samsung heading to six new countries

  If Chromebooks from Acer, HP and Samsung have struck your fancy but haven't been available in your country, your fortune might have ...

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Verizon to update the Droid 4 with Jelly Bean 4.1 starting tomorrow

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <img alt="Verizon to update the Droid 4 with Jelly Bean 4.1 starting tomorrow" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/02/2012-02-1072dsc01630jt-600.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">It's always a good day when we can report on older handsets getting updated with some fresher software. If you happen to have bought the Droid 4 when it came out on Verizon last year, then today's your lucky today: the carrier has confirmed it will begin updating the phone to Android Jelly Bean (4.1) starting tomorrow. As always, this is more of a rollout than anything else, so try and stay patient if your phone doesn't immediately show an update prompt. And as ever, do hit us back and let us know how the upgrade goes.</div></div>

Verizon to update the Droid 4 with Jelly Bean 4.1 starting tomorrow

  It's always a good day when we can report on older handsets getting updated with some fresher software. If you happen to have bought ...

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Despite 'spring cleaning,' Google CalDAV support still coming to Windows Phone

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/11/dsc04947-lead-copy-1352933103.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Still hurting from Google's "spring cleaning" announcement yesterday? Google Reader fans may be out of luck, but Windows Phone users can take heart in knowing that Microsoft made the whitelist for the CalDAV sync interface, which is now shelved to all but developers who get Mountain View's green light.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <span>Early this year, Google announced it would extend support for Exchange ActiveSync on Windows Phone through July 31st, with the implication being that Redmond would build support for CalDAV in the meantime. Luckily Microsoft's work was not for nothing, though -- and this is a big though -- the Windows team won't be adding CalDAV or CarDAV support for users trying to connect a Google account via Mail, Calendar or People apps after January 30th, 2013. </span></div></div>

Despite 'spring cleaning,' Google CalDAV support still coming to Windows Phone

  Still hurting from Google's "spring cleaning" announcement yesterday? Google Reader fans may be out of luck, but Windows P...

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Google My Tracks update brings Drive integration and a lock screen widget

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <img alt="Google gives My Tracks athletes Drive integration and a lock screen widget" data-src-height="340" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/google-my-tracks-lock-screen-1363287004.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Cyclists and runners with Android phones have had a rare first-party option for keeping tabs on their performance through Google's My Tracks, but the app hasn't been entirely in step with those who upgrade their OS as quickly as they barrel down the street. It's back on pace with a quiet update: My Tracks now has a customizable lock screen widget for Android 4.2 users who want to know their distance or speed details at a glance. Whether or not you're running the latest and greatest Android version, the upgrade will sync finished tracks with Google Drive for safekeeping and sharing; extra-competitive types can also import KML files and view others' tracks for comparisons. Hit the source link if time (or simple oneupmanship) is of the essence.</div></div>

Google My Tracks update brings Drive integration and a lock screen widget

  Cyclists and runners with Android phones have had a rare first-party option for keeping tabs on their performance through Google's My...

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Google Reader to shut down with other services in another 'spring cleaning'

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <img alt="Google Reader to shut down with other services in another 'spring cleaning'" data-src-height="340" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/google-1363218475.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Last spring, Page and Co. retired iGoogle, Google Mini and other services as part of a 'spring cleaning' initiative to help it better focus its efforts, and another clean-up round has just begun. This time around, Google Reader and seven other services are getting the axe, bringing the firm's total of features closed since 2011 to 70. Mountain View says it's sunsetting the feed reader because it has "declined," and that turning it off will allow it to pour its energy into fewer products. Reader will keep the lights on until July 1st, and diehard users will be able to keep their data and subscriptions by using the outfit's Takeout tool.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> Other products being put out to pasture include the company's Building Maker, Cloud Connect, Apps Script's GUI builder and five UiApp widgets, Search API for shopping and the CalDAV API (for developers who aren't whitelisted, that is). The internet giant also announced -- and confirmed our fears -- that it'll no longer sell or provide updates for Snapseed Desktop for Mac and Windows. Blackberry's Google Voice app is being shelved as well, but the company suggests its HTML 5 experience is a nice alternative. By the sounds of it, CEO Larry Page is still making good on his promise to keep Google focused on fewer things. Hit the bordering source links for more details.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <strong>Update:</strong> Apps Script is sticking around, but its GUI Builder and a quintet of UiApp widgets are being deprecated.</div></div>

Google Reader to shut down with other services in another 'spring cleaning'

  Last spring, Page and Co. retired iGoogle, Google Mini and other services as part of a 'spring cleaning' initiative to help it be...

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Google acquires neural network startup that may help it hone speech recognition and more

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <img alt="Google acquires neural network startup that may help it hone speech recognition and more" data-src-height="340" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/google-1363149525.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Mountain View has just picked up some experts on deep neural networks with their acquisition of DNNresearch, which was founded last year by University of Toronto professor Geoffrey Hinton and graduate students Alex Krizhevsky and Ilya Sutskever. The group is being brought into the fold after developing a solution that vastly improves object recognition. As a whole, advances in neural nets could lead to the development of improved computer vision, language understanding and speech recognition systems. We reckon that Page and Co. have a few projects in mind that would benefit from such things. Both students will be transitioning to Google, while Hinton will split his attention between teaching and working with the search giant.</div><div class="open" dir="ltr" id="pr_box" style="text-align: left;"> <div id="pr_box_button">Hide Press Release</div><div id="pr_text"> <strong><em>U of T neural networks start-up acquired by Google</em></strong><br /> <em>TORONTO, ON – Google has picked up a ground-breaking start-up out of the Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto.</em><br /> <em>University Professor Geoffrey Hinton and two of his graduate students, Alex Krizhevsky and Ilya Sutskever, incorporated DNNresearch Inc. in 2012, and the company has been acquired by Google for its research on deep neural networks.</em><br /> <em>Hinton is world-renowned for his work with neural nets, and this research has profound implications for areas such as speech recognition, computer vision and language understanding.</em><br /> <em>"Geoffrey Hinton's research is a magnificent example of disruptive innovation with roots in basic research," said U of T's president, Professor David Naylor. "The discoveries of brilliant researchers, guided freely by their expertise, curiosity, and intuition, lead eventually to practical applications no one could have imagined, much less requisitioned.</em><br /> <em>"I extend my congratulations to Professor Hinton for this latest achievement."</em><br /> <em>Recently, Krizhevsky and Sutskever, who will both be moving to Google, developed a system that dramatically improved the state of the art in object recognition.</em><br /> <em>"This is a wonderful opportunity for Geoff, and a great opportunity for the department," said Computer Science Chair Sven Dickinson. "In recent years, we have been expanding our industrial relations, and this acquisition represents a wonderful opportunity to strengthen our existing ties with Google, one of the world's most innovative IT companies."</em><br /> <em>The Google deal will support Prof. Hinton's graduate students housed in the department's machine learning group, while protecting their research autonomy under academic freedom. It will also allow Prof. Hinton himself to divide his time between his university research and his work at Google.</em><br /> <em>"I am extremely excited about this fantastic opportunity to keep my research here in Toronto and, at the same time, help Google apply new developments in deep learning to make systems that help people," said Professor Hinton.</em><br /> <em>Professor Hinton will spend time at Google's Toronto office and several months of the year at Google's headquarters in Mountain View, CA.</em><br /> <em>This announcement comes on the heels of a $600,000 gift Google awarded Professor Hinton's research group to support further work in the area of neural nets.</em><br /> </div></div></div>

Google acquires neural network startup that may help it hone speech recognition and more

  Mountain View has just picked up some experts on deep neural networks with their acquisition of DNNresearch, which was founded last year...

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Unannounced Motorola Android phone surfaces, isn't the fabled 'X phone' (video)

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <img alt="Unannounced Motorola Android phone surfaces, isn't the fabled 'X phone' video" data-src-height="413" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/motorolaxt912a.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">The fine folks at <i>Tinhte</i> have gotten their mitts on a Motorola-made Android phone that hasn't made its official debut. Right out of the gate, the outlet notes that it's not the rumored "X phone" since it's missing a large, stunning screen that would rival other flagship gear, but the specs still give it a fair amount of horsepower. Behind the device's roughly 4-inch 720p screen hide a Snapdragon S4 Pro (or better), an Adreno 320 GPU, 2GB of RAM and a 2,000mAh battery. On the outside, the smartphone sports a curved back reminiscent of the HTC One, a black finish and a thin bezel framing its display. <i>Tinhte</i> reports that the handset carries a XT912A model number, so we reckon it could be a cousin of the Droid RAZR, which is labeled as the XT912. Hit the jump for a video tour of the device, or click the source link for a full photo gallery.</div></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YxYEt8S7q-4?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe></div>

Unannounced Motorola Android phone surfaces, isn't the fabled 'X phone' (video)

  The fine folks at Tinhte have gotten their mitts on a Motorola-made Android phone that hasn't made its official debut. Right out of ...

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Google Shopping ads go mobile for especially impulsive buyers

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <img alt="Google Shopping ads go mobile for especially impulsive buyers" data-src-height="452" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/google-shopping-mobile.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Many of us have done some online comparison shopping while we're standing in a physical store. Just ask Best Buy. Google, however, is betting that at least some of us want to splurge on a better deal without even leaving the search page: it's expanding Google Shopping product listing ads to include smartphone search results. Run a relevant query and you'll see a small block of store listings, with options to either jump right to a tempting product or visit a location-aware Google Shopping page with a wider selection. Some existing ads automatically fit the bill and should start showing immediately, but we'd expect considerably more of them as companies look to snag customers before they've even considered heading back home.</div></div>

Google Shopping ads go mobile for especially impulsive buyers

  Many of us have done some online comparison shopping while we're standing in a physical store. Just ask Best Buy. Google, however, is...

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Alleged Google Now for iOS video leaks on YouTube, is promptly pulled

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><img alt="Alleged Google Now for iOS video leaks on YouTube, is promptly pulled" data-src-height="336" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/3-11-2013googlenowios.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">iOS fans jealous of Jelly Bean's creepy Google Now might finally have something to get excited about. An October update to the Google Search app finally delivered an updated voice recognition experience to Apple's platform, but sadly alerts and contextual cards of data were nowhere to be seen. Of course, Mountain View has never been one to keep its wares to a single platform, and many expect that it's only a matter of time before Now makes its proper debut on iOS. Those that like to dip their toes in both ponds might be interested in a video brought to our attention by a tipster earlier today. </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">The clip, embedded after the break, is allegedly a low resolution version of a promotional video for Google Now on iPhone and iPad. The video has since been pulled from YouTube and appears to feature the same voice actress as the original Now announcement (which you'll also find after the break for comparison). Supposedly, Now will be accessible in an upcoming iOS app update simply by swiping up from the main screen. Of course, there's always the chance that is an impressive fake or even a canceled project that's only being leaked now. We've reached out to Google for comment, but even if the search giant remains silent, we're confident the truth will be known soon enough.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pPqliPzHYyc?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe></div>

Alleged Google Now for iOS video leaks on YouTube, is promptly pulled

iOS fans jealous of Jelly Bean's creepy Google Now might finally have something to get excited about. An October update to the Google Se...

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HTC One review (2013)

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/htcone620340-1363098027.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">One. In literal terms, it's a number. To HTC, however, it's a branding strategy -- the foundation upon which the entire company is now based. Just take one look at the One lineup and you'll easily understand this is the manufacturer's pride and joy. There's a very good reason for that: in a crowded smartphone market, HTC is the underdog to titans like Samsung and Apple. The company needs to stand out if it even wants the <i>chance</i> to prove itself to consumers.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Last year's One X marked a solid start, and while it didn't pick up the momentum CEO Peter Chou would've liked, the follow-up model -- simply called the One -- takes HTC's design and imaging chops to the next level, bringing a new UltraPixel camera sensor, among other top-shelf specs. But will it catch the eye of potential smartphone buyers, in light of another key product announcement? We'd say it's got more than a fighting chance.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="post-gallery" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><h3 class="title"><b>HTC One review (2013)</b></h3><ul class="thumbs"><li class="thumb" data-count="98"> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/dsc04971_95x95.jpg" /> </li><li class="thumb" data-count="98"> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/dsc04982_95x95.jpg" /> </li><li class="thumb" data-count="98"> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/dsc04983_95x95.jpg" /> </li><li class="thumb" data-count="98"> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/dsc04986_95x95.jpg" /> </li><li class="thumb" data-count="98"> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/dsc04993_95x95.jpg" /> </li><li class="thumb" data-count="98"> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/dsc04995_95x95.jpg" /> </li>See all photos</ul></div><h3 dir="ltr" id="title0" style="text-align: left;"> Hardware</h3><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">In order to most fully appreciate the One's hardware, you first need to understand the process that goes on behind the scenes. Rather than opt for the sort of polycarbonate shell used on the One X and One X+, HTC crafted the One out of a single block of anodized aluminum, sprinkled with polycarbonate accents throughout. It's incredibly intricate: each unit goes through at least 200 minutes of CNC machine cuts, and the aluminum is etched into channels filled with polycarbonate -- a technique called zero-gap injection molding. Add chamfered, polished edges that connect the sides of the phone to the glass (Gorilla Glass 2, to be specific), and you have a handset with one of the best industrial designs we've ever seen. The amount of detail here is staggering, and it reflects just how crucial this device is to HTC's future.<br /><br />Much like the Windows Phone 8X and Droid DNA (globally known as the Butterfly), the One has a pyramid-like internal setup: larger components like the display and battery sit up front, with the parts getting progressively smaller as you move toward the back of the phone. This gives the rear cover a sleek curve that makes it utterly comfortable to hold. Though the One is even slimmer at 9.3mm (0.37 inch) than the 10mm (0.4 inch) 8X, it's easier to grasp because the edges are contoured the way they are. At 5.04 ounces (143g), it feels a little weightier, but less than you might have guessed; it's actually relatively light given the materials used.</div><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DNP HTC One review insert obvious Matrix pun here for minimal originality" data-src-height="411" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/dsc05230-1363076099.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Ultimately, we're smitten with the One's design for all sorts of reasons: it's sexy, it feels secure in the hand and the combination of unibody aluminum and polycarbonate ensures the phone won't shatter into a million pieces if it were to hit the ground (although it may get dinged or scratched up a bit, depending on the angle).</div><div class="embed" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><blockquote class="quote left">We're smitten with the One's gorgeous industrial design and premium build.</blockquote></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">While industrial design, ergonomics and build quality are a good start, there's much more to this skinny slab of aluminum. The front of the device is home to some of the biggest changes, headlined by a 4.7-inch S-LCD3 panel with 1080p resolution and two capacitive soft keys just below it -- a departure from the standard three-button setup. A tiny HTC logo sits where the home button once did, smack-dab in between the two soft keys. In fact, it's almost a little deceiving: it looks as if the logo should double as a button (we'd prefer it), but unfortunately there's nothing more than meets the eye. Aluminum strips line the top and bottom of the phone's face, with a set of BoomSound speaker grilles designed to offer stereo sound when you're watching movies or listening to music. (The grille setup isn't unlike what you'd find flanking the keyboard of some laptops.) An LED notification light resides under the top grille, toward the left. A 2.1MP wide-angle, front-facing camera is located in the top-right corner, while a pair of sensors sits over on the top left.<br /><br />The front is by far the busiest part of the phone, while the edges and back have a more minimal design that helps keep the phone looking refined. The polycarbonate-laced sides angle inward until they meet the Gorilla Glass on the front, with only a chamfer to connect them. The left side is uninterrupted, save for a micro-SIM tray and miniscule ejection port. A micro-USB / MHL port and mic are on the bottom, and the right is taken up by a single volume rocker that uses the same ridge-like exterior as the Droid DNA.</div><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DNP HTC One review insert obvious Matrix pun here for minimal originality" data-src-height="411" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/dsc05204-1363076167.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">The top end is where things get a little more interesting. The 3.5mm headphone jack is nothing new, but the power button has a dual personality: it doubles as an infrared (IR) blaster capable of transmitting and receiving, allowing you to use the handset as a TV remote. Because that power button is housed on the left, the act of locking and unlocking the One could be a bit more awkward for folks who tend to hold their phones in their left hands.<br /><br />Now we turn to the back, which itself is a study in symmetry and simplicity. Two strips of polycarbonate line the top and bottom, lining up neatly with the top and bottom of the 4.7-inch display on the other side. Squint hard enough and you may see a noise-cancelling mic in the top strip. The camera lens sits in the middle of the back, just barely below the top strip; it's encircled by a thin layer of polycarbonate and is slightly recessed to prevent the glass from getting scratched. You'll see an LED flash to the left of the camera; there's also the obligatory HTC logo set in the absolute center of the device, and Beats Audio branding has a spot just a smidgen above the bottom strip. An NFC transmitter is built into the back around the camera module. Unfortunately, though, one thing you won't find back here is wireless charging. Sorry, folks.</div><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DNP HTC One review insert obvious Matrix pun here for minimal originality" data-src-height="411" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/dsc05219-1363076292.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Finally, as you've likely already surmised by now, the 2,300mAh battery inside the One isn't removable or even accessible. This should come as no surprise to anyone who has used an HTC unibody flagship. There's also no place to stick a microSD card, so the 32 or 64GB of internal storage will have to suffice.<br /><br />There's plenty more going on underneath the shell: the One is powered by a 1.7GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 (APQ8064T), an Adreno 320 and 2GB DDR2 RAM. While there are two basic versions of the device -- the UL and LTE-less U -- there will be six different SKUs that feature six different sets of LTE and HSPA+ bands. All of the units are quad-band GSM/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900MHz), but it gets more complicated as the speed goes up: our review unit, which was made for European frequencies, sports 900/1900/2100MHz UMTS/HSPA+ (3G) and 800/1800/2600MHz LTE. The "U" offers the same three frequencies and adds 850MHz for good measure, while Asia's variant uses 850/900/1900/2100MHz 3G and 1800/2600MHz LTE. Confused yet? Let's throw the US models into the mix. AT&T will offer 850/1900/2100MHz 3G and 700/850/AWS/1900MHz LTE. T-Mobile's has 850/AWS/1900/2100MHz 3G and 700/AWS LTE. Finally, Sprint's version uses 700/AWS 3G, 800/1900MHz CDMA and 1900MHz LTE.<br /><br />If that last paragraph of specs didn't wear you out, maybe the full data sheet below will. We hope not, because we have a lot more to discuss.</div><center dir="ltr"> <table class="table table-striped"> <thead><tr> <th></th> <th><b>HTC One</b></th> </tr></thead> <tbody><tr> <td><b>Dimensions</b></td> <td>137.4 x 68.2 x 9.3mm (5.41 x 2.69 x 0.37 inch)</td> </tr><tr> <td><b>Weight</b></td> <td>5.04 oz. (143g)</td> </tr><tr> <td><b>Screen size</b></td> <td>4.7 inches</td> </tr><tr> <td><b>Screen resolution</b></td> <td>1,920 x 1,080 (468 ppi)</td> </tr><tr> <td><b>Screen type</b></td> <td>S-LCD3</td> </tr><tr> <td><b>Battery</b></td> <td>2,300mAh Li-Polymer (non-removable)</td> </tr><tr> <td><b>Internal storage</b></td> <td>32/64GB</td> </tr><tr> <td><b>External storage</b></td> <td>None</td> </tr><tr> <td><b>Rear camera</b></td> <td>4MP, BSI, f/2.0, 1/3'' sensor size, 2µm pixel size, OIS</td> </tr><tr> <td><b>Front-facing cam</b></td> <td>2.1MP</td> </tr><tr> <td><b>Video capture</b></td> <td>1080p, 30 fps (front and back)</td> </tr><tr> <td><b>NFC</b></td> <td>Yes</td> </tr><tr> <td><b>Radios</b></td> <td>Depends on market -- see hardware section</td> </tr><tr> <td><b>Bluetooth</b></td> <td>v4.0 with aptX</td> </tr><tr> <td><b>SoC</b></td> <td>Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 (APQ8064T)</td> </tr><tr> <td><b>CPU</b></td> <td>1.7GHz quad-core</td> </tr><tr> <td><b>GPU</b></td> <td>Adreno 320</td> </tr><tr> <td><b>RAM</b></td> <td>2GB</td> </tr><tr> <td><b>Entertainment</b></td> <td>MHL, DLNA, IR sensor</td> </tr><tr> <td><b>WiFi</b></td> <td>Dual-band, 802.11a/ac/b/g/n, WiFi Direct</td> </tr><tr> <td><b>Wireless Charging</b></td> <td>No</td> </tr><tr> <td><b>Operating system</b></td> <td>Android 4.1.2 (upgradeable to 4.2), Sense 5 UI</td> </tr></tbody> </table></center><h3 dir="ltr" id="title1" style="text-align: left;"> Display</h3><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DNP HTC One review insert obvious Matrix pun here for minimal originality" data-src-height="411" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/dsc05144-1363076883.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">We praised the One X's 720p S-LCD2 display when it first showed up on the scene last spring, and there was even more to love a few months later when the Droid DNA came out with a 1080p S-LCD3 panel. Having built up this much momentum, we weren't expecting anything less than the absolute best from the One. And on paper, certainly, it doesn't disappoint: the One features the same number of pixels as the DNA, except they're crammed into a 4.7-inch screen (4.65 inches, to get technical). For the pixel density fanatics out there, this means the One offers an incredible 468 ppi. The setup sounds great on paper, but how does it translate into real life?<br /><br />To be honest, the display is the area in which we feel the most nitpicky, because the 1080p panels we've seen on other flagships so far feature simply jaw-dropping quality. And to pick up on minute differences between these incredible displays, you'd have to really start splitting hairs. In particular, 1080p displays don't offer nearly as noticeable a difference over 720p as we saw with 720p over qHD. Given how far we've come in terms of resolution and pixel density, the only way for screens to stand out above the crowd is to offer the best color, viewing angles, brightness and readability in daylight.</div><div class="embed" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><blockquote class="quote right">The One's display is the most stunning we've seen thus far, but it's only slightly better than the Droid DNA's.</blockquote></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">The One's display does very well in all four areas. It's slightly brighter than the DNA's and significantly better than the One X+'s S-LCD2; the darks are sufficient, though still not as rich as what you'd find on an AMOLED; the other colors are incredibly close to fully natural; viewing angles are just as good as the One X+ and DNA, because it's difficult to get any better; and we could see the display without a problem in the direct sunlight. Movies look amazing on the One, and if we want to get exceedingly picky, the text on the One is slightly more crisp than on the DNA -- but this is something that's only noticeable when you view the two side by side. Tiny details aside, the One's display is the most gorgeous we've seen thus far.</div><h3 dir="ltr" id="title2" style="text-align: left;"> Camera</h3><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DNP HTC One review 2013" data-src-height="450" data-src-width="606" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/htconesamplelead01.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">In the days leading up to the One announcement, HTC promised a whole new imaging and sound experience on its new flagship -- and it certainly wasn't exaggerating. With the exception of Nokia with its PureView line, all of the company's competitors are busy increasing the megapixel count on their latest and greatest cameras. HTC, however, boldly chose to go the opposite direction: it <i>decreased</i> the resolution to 4MP. As you would expect, there's a lot more to the story than a simple drop in pixel count -- in fact, HTC coined the term UltraPixels to describe its new imaging innovation.<br /><br />The idea behind the UltraPixels is to take a physically large sensor and combine it with big pixels that are capable of gathering more light than standard-sized ones. Whereas the typical smartphone camera features 1.1µm pixels, the One proudly boasts a one-third-inch BSI sensor with 2µm pixels capable of absorbing 330 percent more photons. But that alone isn't enough to excel at low-light photography, so HTC also uses a 28mm f/2.0 AF lens and optical image stabilization (OIS) -- and just in case you still can't capture enough light, an LED flash is thrown in for good measure.</div><div class="post-gallery" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><h3 class="title"><b>HTC One sample shots</b></h3><ul class="thumbs"><li class="thumb" data-count="81"> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/htconesample01_95x95.jpg" /> </li><li class="thumb" data-count="81"> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/htconesample02_95x95.jpg" /> </li><li class="thumb" data-count="81"> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/htconesample03_95x95.jpg" /> </li><li class="thumb" data-count="81"> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/htconesample04_95x95.jpg" /> </li><li class="thumb" data-count="81"> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/htconesample05_95x95.jpg" /> </li><li class="thumb" data-count="81"> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/htconesample06_95x95.jpg" /> </li>See all photos</ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">HTC's also developed a next-gen image signal processor (ISP), aptly named ImageChip 2. Despite a lower megapixel count, the new chip is capable of continuous autofocus in less than 200ms, reduced noise, real-time lens compensation and 1080p HDR video recording. It also offers a buffered-capture cycle with pre- and post-shutter recording, not unlike what you get with BlackBerry's Time Shift, Scalado's Rewind, Samsung's Best Face and Nokia's Smart Shoot. In other words, don't worry about the resolution on the camera -- instead, let the images do the talking.<br /><br />The front-facing camera hasn't been neglected either. The 2.1MP module comes with an f/2.0 wide-angle (88-degree) lens and is capable of capturing up to 1080p video, much like its compadre on the back of the One. Even though it can't do the same fancy scene modes (for video or stills) as the rear camera, you can at least grab HDR shots and tweak white balance if necessary.<br /><br />In a nutshell, all of the usual customizable settings are there: white balance, ISO up to 1600, exposure control, HDR, face detection, a specific macro mode, panorama, three crop styles, plenty of filters and a post-shot photo editor. There's a clever UI trick that lets you switch between rear and front cameras by dragging your finger down from either side of the phone. The only thing that's sorely missing is the ability to touch and hold the on-screen shutter button to lock exposure and focus, even when the One's burst-shooting mode is disabled.</div><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DNP HTC One review 2013" data-src-height="450" data-src-width="600" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/htconesamplecomp02.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">When it comes to performance, there are so many places we could start, so we'll begin by discussing the megapixel myth. It's so easy to just naturally assume that a camera with lower resolution is worse than one capable of capturing a larger number of pixels, but that isn't always the case. Indeed, cameras with higher resolutions allow for better cropping and digital zooming. When shots are viewed at their regular size, however, there isn't any visible degradation of detail. Colors are impressively natural, and white balance is excellent as well. The only issue we found with stills was that the camera tended to overexpose subjects in direct sunlight.</div><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DNP HTC One review 2013" data-src-height="450" data-src-width="600" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/htconesamplecomp03.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">The One camera truly outshines almost everything else in low-light situations. It usually produces better shots at night than the Nokia Lumia 920, and comes in second only to the current imaging king, the Nokia 808 PureView. We were amazed by how much errant light it picked up; the One could snag perfectly usable shots on pitch-black streets, and the OIS worked like a charm. The only time noise actually became a problem was in extremely dark scenarios, but otherwise we were quite impressed by how clear most of the images came out.</div><div class="embed" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><blockquote class="quote left">We were blown away by how much light the One camera was able to grab at night.</blockquote></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">In short, even though it's not perfect and we'd love to be able to get more detail from zoomed-in shots, the One's UltraPixels methodology appears to be completely sound. We're confident enough in its quality, in fact, to declare the One as our new go-to camera.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br />On the video side, there's plenty to keep you occupied as well. Since the ImageChip 2 is capable of recording 1080p video at about 30 fps and 720p at 60 fps (this includes HDR functionality as well), you can take these options out for a spin at any time, in addition to HTC's signature slow-motion mode. We've compiled samples from each mode above for you to check out. In our time with the One, daytime videos were not only crisp and smooth visually, the One's noise-cancellation mics did a great job filtering out wind and other unwanted background noise, while picking up our own voices very well at the same time. HDR videos are pretty good, but we noticed the occasional weird artifact on some frames, while brightness mysteriously jumps at times. Videos taken at night were quite clean, though the frame rate appears to suffer, dropping down from 30 fps to around 20, and there are fairly minor issues with white balance as well.<br /><br />As if the UltraPixel camera isn't enough indication that imaging plays a huge part in HTC's strategy to gain market share, it's also introduced a unique feature called Zoe. When looking at one, it's hard not to envision an old-fashioned zoetrope spinning around and around to create a short movie. The feature is capable of capturing four to five full-res stills per second while recording a few seconds of 1080p video. In the end, what you get is a short video segment and a burst of roughly 20 images -- think of the moving pictures in <i>Harry Potter</i>, and you'll get the idea. On the surface, it doesn't seem like this would be of any practical use, but we started to appreciate it as soon as we saw animated images pop up in our photo gallery. Once we saw the highlight reels and Zoe Share, however, we were completely sold. We'll discuss these features in the next section.</div><h3 dir="ltr" id="title3" style="text-align: left;"> Sense 5</h3><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DNP HTC One review 2013" data-src-height="450" data-src-width="508" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/sense1a.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">At its core, the One is an Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean) device. HTC, however, would much rather have the focus be on the custom skin job it's put on top of Google's mobile OS. Known as Sense 5, the next generation of the user interface is very much an evolution from previous iterations -- we'd dare say that it's a completely different experience, much like Sense 4 was from version 3. The fourth iteration was a noticeable improvement, as HTC had finally merged many of its ideas with Google's general design guidelines. Now, with Sense 5, the UI has changed on nearly everything once again, from the home page to core HTC apps; it's better than Sense 4 in some ways, but in other ways it's a step back.<br /><br />For basic navigation, Sense 5 devices use two soft keys. This is a huge departure from Sense 4 devices, which use a three-button setup consisting of back, home and recent apps (with the latter being customizable to work as the menu button if desired). The One, on the other hand, offers only back and home keys. A long-press on home activates Google Now, while double-tapping the same button brings up a new recent apps menu that is much improved over the card-style version on Sense 4 that reminded us too much of Windows Phone and webOS. Cards are still present this time around, but they're much smaller and you can view up to nine in total. It's still possible to flick each one up to remove them, but since we often like to have more than nine apps open at the same time, this limit is too restrictive for our tastes.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Because Sense 5 eschews a menu key, it means many third-party apps have to throw in the virtual menu key at the bottom of the screen. This feels like a step backward to us, especially after the One X was updated to allow menu functionality on the recent apps soft key.<br /><br />The most striking change in the UI is BlinkFeed, which takes over as the default home page. Thanks to its many tiles of various shapes and sizes, the tool is reminiscent of Flipboard, Motorola's Blur UI and even Windows Phone. (Dare we say it even brings back memories of the Microsoft Kin?) The idea behind the service is to bring in content from your favorite publications and social networks -- Engadget, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Flickr are just a few examples -- and put it all together for easy browsing. In fact, the word "casual" should be the main focus here: outside the usual notification bar, BlinkFeed won't feature your emails or any other critical updates. If something of interest pops up in your feed, just tap on any tile to read the associated post or status update. There's also a modernized clock and weather widget at the very top, but it only shows up on the main screen -- it disappears as soon as you start scrolling down into the depths of your feed.</div><div class="post-gallery" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><h3 class="title"><b>HTC Sense 5 screenshots</b></h3><ul class="thumbs"><li class="thumb" data-count="77"> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/screenshot2013-03-09-13-04-40_95x95.jpg" /> </li><li class="thumb" data-count="77"> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/screenshot2013-03-09-13-04-58_95x95.jpg" /> </li><li class="thumb" data-count="77"> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/screenshot2013-03-09-13-05-07_95x95.jpg" /> </li><li class="thumb" data-count="77"> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/screenshot2013-03-09-13-05-35_95x95.jpg" /> </li><li class="thumb" data-count="77"> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/screenshot2013-03-09-13-05-46_95x95.jpg" /> </li><li class="thumb" data-count="77"> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/screenshot2013-03-09-13-06-08_95x95.jpg" /> </li>See all photos</ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Fortunately, you still have full control over BlinkFeed through a hidden pull-down bar nestled in between the tiles and clock widget, which is accessed by dragging your finger down on the starting page (you can also use this gesture to manually update your feeds, although you can set it to auto-refresh on mobile data and WiFi or WiFi-only). A tab on the left lets you pick and choose which feeds you want to look at; for instance, you can opt to view only updates from Engadget or go for the whole kit and kaboodle of topics that interest you. If you want to change which feeds are highlighted, just head to the settings, found in the BlinkFeed menu. Additionally, you'll also find options to post to Facebook or Twitter directly from this bar.<br /><br />An SDK will eventually be offered so that devs can publish their apps to BlinkFeed as a means of making the service more useful. This is something we look forward to; the entire concept just feels like it's too drastic a shift from stock Android. Fortunately, in case you're not a fan of BlinkFeed being the default screen every time you unlock your phone -- and let's face it, it's a huge departure from anything we've seen on Sense or Android in general, so it's not going to please everybody -- you can choose a different home page. There doesn't appear to be any way to completely disable it, however, so you're stuck with it taking up one of your five main panels. This leads to our major frustration: while the idea behind BlinkFeed isn't terrible (and we imagine serial social networkers and news junkies may find it quite handy), it makes Sense feel a little too cluttered with unnecessary bloat and users should be given the option to disable it if they don't get any benefit out of it.</div><div class="embed" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><blockquote class="quote left">BlinkFeed performs well, but it adds to the feeling of unnecessary bloat and can't be disabled</blockquote></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">We should note that BlinkFeed's tiled layout isn't restricted to that main panel; it's actually a recurring theme in the gallery as well. The app uses tiles to let you choose between your own photo galleries, your friends' Facebook albums and other online services like Dropbox and Flickr. When you go into your own photo albums, you may see a few images moving on their own -- those <i>Harry Potter</i>-like movies hanging out in your once-stagnant album are Zoe shots. Each picture (Zoe or otherwise) can be starred as a "highlight" so you can show your friends and family the best images from last month's Disneyland vacation instead of, you know, <i>all of them.</i> You can also upload those precious memories to Zoe Share, a service that generates a URL displaying up to 10 photos which you can share with whomever you want -- whether they're Zoe or plain, old stills. Each website is active for 180 days, in case loved ones or stalkers want to visit over and over. (We've generated a sample URL for you to take a peek here.)</div><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Admittedly, Zoe Share is a much slicker feature than we first gave it credit for, but there's another clever way to share these five-second clips: the One can take your collection of Zoes and stills from that day and create a professional-style highlight reel complete with images, clips, special effects and music. There aren't a lot of song choices available yet, and you can't use your own music, but the stock tones offered are at least diverse. Each individual song comes with its own theme -- one comes with an old-timey filter, for instance -- and the pictures are synced almost perfectly with the music. These 30-second movies can be uploaded to Zoe Share on a unique URL for 30 days, or it can be uploaded to other services such as YouTube. We had a hard time believing that the resulting movies weren't done by a human, but this is just one creative way to take advantage of the Snapdragon 600 chipset.</div><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DNP HTC One review 2013" data-src-height="398" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/zoeshare2.png" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">The main home panels on Sense 5 really aren't that different from what we saw on the previous version. The iconic Sense clock and weather widget is missing by default, but don't panic, fans -- it's still offered as a widget, so long-press the main screen and you'll get the standard Sense setup that lets you pick out which widgets, shortcuts and apps you want. You may also notice that the font is different from Senses past, but it's actually Roboto, the stock font on Android 4.0+ (albeit, Sense uses a different weighted version). The notification bar uses the same setup as before, but it also takes advantage of the new font and a slightly modernized style.<br /><br />Besides BlinkFeed and the gallery, the other area that received a major revamp is the app menu. The grids, which offer a more Holo-style look than the ones found on Sense 4, are aligned vertically instead of horizontally and come in two different sizes: 3 x 4 and 4 x 5. By default, the grid shows up as 3 x 4, and just as we saw on BlinkFeed, the Holo-style clock and weather widget take up the top row of icons on the very first screen (for either size). App placement is different here than on the stock app tray: you customize your docking tray from here instead of the main screen, you can create or manipulate folders and another pull-down bar with tabs and settings sits between the app icons and clock. This tab allows you to change the grid organization to show alphabetical order or recent apps (folders are non-existent in these modes).</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">The One makes good use of the included IR blaster with Sense TV, a Peel-powered feature that blends a program guide and universal remote into one app. Stateside, Hulu Plus is integrated and all major cable services are supported; in the UK, Virgin Media, Sky, Freesat and Freeview will be included in the offerings. We'd love to see Netflix supported as well, but HTC hasn't announced any plans on that end yet, so we'll become more virtuous by exercising heaps of patience. (It's a win-win, really.)</div><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DNP HTC One review 2013" data-src-height="450" data-src-width="508" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/sense2.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br />As for the remote itself, it still works pretty well but not as flawlessly as the Optimus G Pro's iteration. It comes with a library of IR codes to support nearly any TV brand, cable service and home theater setup you can think of. The software guides you step by step as you as you attempt to get your phone properly set up with all of your equipment, even going as far as to tell you to align the One with your universal remote if it's unsuccessful at getting everything programmed correctly. Once you're ready to actually use the remote, your mileage may vary depending on your TV brand and cable provider. We weren't able to turn off the Dish DVR despite easily being able to control the menu, and a Hitachi TV recognized the input menu button on the remote but refused to let us select any of the options in the menu. Aside from this little hiccup, everything worked as advertised. As another nice touch, you can access basic controls and recent channels in the notification tray, use the remote on the lock screen and even tell the app to remind you of upcoming TV shows in BlinkFeed.<br /><br />Sense 5 also brings with it an updated HTC Sync Manager. This feature is primarily aimed at new users hoping to move their information from iPhones or other Android devices. If you're coming over from an Apple, you can use Sync Manager to go into iTunes and grab your contacts, calendar appointments, photos, videos and music (DRM-free, natch). If you're coming from an older Sense device (3.6 or higher), you'll be able to transfer all of the above as well as texts, bookmarks and preferred settings. You can achieve similar results on other Android phones (2.3 and up) by installing an HTC app from the Play Store, whereas any other devices can still transfer contacts the old-fashioned way -- via Bluetooth. Sense 5 also makes it possible to store encrypted backups on your Dropbox account (or Sina, if you're in China), which is then tied to your Facebook creds. Using this method, you can back up all of your settings, apps, widgets, BlinkFeed, TV, home screen layout and account information.<br /><br />Finally, HTC's partnered up with Zoodles to add Kid Mode. The app serves as a password- or gesture-protected launcher that your children won't be able to exit. Once enabled, you have the ability to restrict which apps your children use, while also offering a place to make drawings and read storybooks. Speaking of storybooks, the service lets you record stories via the front-facing cam, so your kids can watch you read <i>The Three Little Pigs</i> to them, even if you're out of town. There's also a video mail feature that allows you and your young 'uns to exchange messages back and forth to each other.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Since your offspring are likely all sorts of ages, each individual child can have their own specific mode in which their favorite apps and preferences (along with your own parental customizations) pop up. As a parent, I found the service to be incredibly handy -- it's no secret that kids have just as intense a love for electronic gadgets as we do, so it's important to keep them (not to mention our personal data) safe as they play with our phones.</div><h3 dir="ltr" id="title4" style="text-align: left;"> Performance and battery life</h3><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DNP HTC One review insert obvious Matrix pun here for minimal originality" data-src-height="411" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/dsc05105-1363077011.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Outside of that stunning design, the star of the show is the One's Snapdragon 600 (APQ8064T) chipset, which pairs a 1.7GHz quad-core CPU with Adreno 320 GPU and 2GB RAM. This particular piece of silicon is the next logical step up from Qualcomm's Snapdragon S4 Pro (APQ8064). The CPU features Krait 300 -- a bump from the S4 Pro's Krait 200, which results in a 15 percent improvement in instructions per clock (IPC) and a "speed-enhanced" Adreno 320 GPU. The 600 is also built using a 28nm process, just like the S4 Pro, and offers support for LPDDR3 -- even though the One uses LPDDR2 specifically -- and 802.11ac support on the WiFi side (in addition to the standard suite of a/b/g/n). This is the same chipset used in the LG Optimus G Pro and ASUS PadFone Infinity, and doubtless countless more over the next few months. It won't stay king of the Snapdragon hill for long, since Qualcomm expects the 800 to be available in mid-2013.<br /><br />Still, the fact is that, as of this writing, the Snapdragon 600 is the strongest processor on the market, and the benchmarks -- as you'll see in the chart below -- indicate a solid improvement over the S4 Pro chip. We've compared the One with its predecessor, the One X+, as well as the S4 Pro-powered Droid DNA and Snapdragon 600-powered Optimus G Pro, so take a look at how the One holds up.</div><table class="table table-striped" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <thead><tr> <th style="text-align: left;"></th> <th style="text-align: left;">HTC One</th> <th style="text-align: left;">HTC One X+</th> <th style="text-align: left;">HTC Droid DNA</th> <th style="text-align: left;">LG Optimus G Pro</th> </tr></thead> <tbody><tr> <td><b>Quadrant 2.0</b></td> <td>12,495</td> <td>7,457</td> <td>8,028</td> <td>12,435</td> </tr><tr> <td><b>Vellamo 2.0</b></td> <td>2,429</td> <td>1,897</td> <td>1,752</td> <td>2,254</td> </tr><tr> <td><b>AnTuTu 3.1</b></td> <td>25,140</td> <td>15,832</td> <td>14,474</td> <td>19,300</td> </tr><tr> <td><b>SunSpider 0.9.1 (ms)</b></td> <td>991</td> <td>1,107</td> <td>1,150</td> <td>904</td> </tr><tr> <td><b>GLBenchmark Egypt 2.5 HD Offscreen (fps)</b></td> <td>34</td> <td>12</td> <td>31</td> <td>27</td> </tr><tr> <td><b>CF-Bench </b></td> <td>25,267</td> <td>14,558</td> <td>18,386</td> <td>20,019</td> </tr><tr> <td colspan="5"><small>SunSpider: lower scores are better</small></td> </tr></tbody></table><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">It shouldn't be much of a surprise to see the One edge out HTC's older flagships, but it also handily beat the G Pro in all but one benchmark (SunSpider). Since the silicon itself is essentially the same, this likely indicates that Sense 5 is more optimized than LG's Optimus UI. In any case, the differences aren't visible to the naked eye. When they're both that good, tiny discrepancies in performance just aren't as noticeable: but for what matters most, the One definitely does the job, and does it well. It runs buttery smooth and the screen is quite responsive. We strained our eyes looking for any sort of lag with no success and the graphics in games like <i>Shadowgun</i>, <i>Asphalt 7</i>, <i>Real Racing 3</i> and <i>Riptide</i> are as quick and detailed as we've come to expect with high-performance phones, if not just a little bit more so. (This reviewer's personal performance when playing games, however, is a completely different story.)</div><div class="embed" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><blockquote class="quote left">We got almost nine hours of battery life with constant use.</blockquote></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">The One's 2,300mAh battery is a solid improvement in size over previous flagships -- the One X used a 1,800mAh cell, while the One X+'s was beefed up to 2,100 -- so we were hoping to see a measurable boost in how long its battery held up. Now for the moment of truth: in our rundown endurance test, in which we play an HD video on endless loop, the One made it through six and a half hours before all of its juice was sucked dry -- an average result. As a disclaimer, our initial real-world usage tests were conducted on AT&T's 1900MHz network, which admittedly doesn't offer consistent HSPA+ speeds in our area; with this in mind, we got almost nine hours of constant use, which consisted of emailing, social media, taking pictures, making a few calls and an assortment of other random activities. Our UK team just received a unit with full LTE coverage, so expect an update from us as soon as they run through the same battery test.</div><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DNP HTC One review insert obvious Matrix pun here for minimal originality" data-src-height="411" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/dsc05213-1363077226.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">As flashy as the One is, it's an actual phone first and foremost -- and even this aspect of the device is specced out to the max. HTC has thrown in a pair of HDR microphones designed to cancel unnecessary background noise and handle a wide range of sound levels without saturating. Call quality was solid, but what really stood out to us was what we didn't hear. At one point in a recent conversation, we told the person on the other line to excuse the UPS truck passing by right behind us; our friend couldn't even tell that anything was in the background, let alone a noisy truck.<br /><br />Remember those stereo speakers taking up all that room on the front of the One? They're the best set of external speakers we've heard on a phone so far, and as afraid as we are to admit this, Beats Audio may have something to do with it. HTC's BoomSound technology makes it so you don't have to use earbuds or an on-ear headset to take advantage of the various codecs Beats has to offer. If you don't want to annoy others -- and why would you? -- the phone uses the same 2.55v headphone amp used in the Droid DNA, giving you similar bass levels even when you're not listening through the speaker. In any case, if you do decide to go the no-headphone route, the result is a much fuller audio experience. Not only that, we cranked the volume as loud as it could go and we couldn't hear any distortion whatsoever.</div><h3 dir="ltr" id="title5" style="text-align: left;"> Wrap-up</h3><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DNP HTC One review insert obvious Matrix pun here for minimal originality" data-src-height="411" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/dsc05271-1363077348.jpg" /></div><div class="more-info" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><h3> More Info</h3><ul><li> HTC One hands-on: design and hardware</li><li> HTC One software hands-on</li><li> HTC One X+ review</li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Regardless of how well Samsung's soon-to-be-announced flagship does on the market, we'll continue to have a soft spot for the One. Last year, we were very impressed by the One X, but that wasn't enough. HTC pushed itself and made its sequel even more polished than the original. We love the phone's industrial design and the camera, while the Snapdragon 600 chipset and 1080p display aren't bad either. We're not sold on every aspect of Sense 5, such as BlinkFeed and the One's two-button layout, but overall the user experience is much improved. As far as we're concerned, HTC has a hit on its hands.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b>Update:</b> Here's a ZIP file containing most of our un-retouched full-size HTC One photos along with matching shots taken with other handsets.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><i>Myriam Joire and Mat Smith contributed to this review.</i></div></div><iframe frameborder="0" height="349" id="viddler-9a093823" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="//www.viddler.com/embed/9a093823/?f=1&offset=0&autoplay=0&secret=19688766&disablebranding=0&view_secret=19688766" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="545"></iframe></div>

HTC One review (2013)

  One. In literal terms, it's a number. To HTC, however, it's a branding strategy -- the foundation upon which the entire company i...

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Acer now selling C7 Chromebook with more battery life

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <img alt="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/11/acerc7chromebookreviewlead01-1353982284.jpg" class="decoded" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/11/acerc7chromebookreviewlead01-1353982284.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">When we got our hands on Acer's initial C7 Chromebook, our chief gripe was its frankly disappointing 4-hour battery life. We now know that Acer had its ear to the ground after launch. It's rolling out a new trim level, the C710-2055, that mends the short runtime and beyond. The new edition carries a 6-cell battery that should give it six hours of battery life -- still not as good as the 6.5 hours of Samsung's ARM-based Chromebook, but it's at least in the ballpark. Performance should also get a useful kick in the pants now that Acer has doubled the RAM to 4GB. While the upgrades take the newly available C7's price slightly out of impulse purchase range, to $280, it's now a more viable option for those who need more grunt than ARM can currently deliver without venturing into Chromebook Pixel territory.</div><div class="open" dir="ltr" id="pr_box" style="text-align: left;"><div id="pr_box_button">Hide Press Release</div><div id="pr_text"><i><b>Acer C7 Chromebook Boosts e-Learning, Collaboration</b></i><br /><i>Editor's Summary:</i><br /><i>* Expanded line of C7 Chromebooks available for education customers<br /> * New model for U.S. provides up to six hours of battery life<br /> * Security for students; easy manageability for administrators<br /> * Ideal for schools with multiple users logging on as well as 1-to-1 initiatives<br /> * Mobility and multimedia for greater learning</i><br /><i>SAN JOSE, Calif., (March 12, 2013) – Acer America today debuts new Acer C7 Chromebook models for its commercial customers, especially schools looking for a way to enhance student learning with technology that is affordable and impactful.</i><br /><i>"Chromebooks are an ideal option for schools and districts that want to quickly implement a technology program that will significantly enhance student learning," said Gregg Prendergast, vice president, U.S. Commercial Sales, Acer America. "The Acer C7 Chromebook delivers the advanced capabilities that will help students excel in all areas of their education. In addition, the Acer C7 Chromebook is incredibly affordable as a stand-alone product, and even more affordable when schools consider the reduced total cost of ownership thanks to its manageability and security features."</i><br /><i>Students Kept Secure, IT Administrators Can Manage with Ease</i><br /><i>Teachers and parents will appreciate that the Acer C7 Chromebook is automatically updated, so their students have the latest software version and protection against online threats. The Chrome OS has security features built in to defend against malware and viruses to further ensure students' online safety. Also, the available web-based management console lets administrators set up and manage users, apps and policies across all Chromebooks in the network, reducing the need to travel to separate classrooms.</i><br /><i>In addition, the Acer C7 Chromebook is an excellent choice for schools considering a 1-to-1 computing initiative. IT administrators will be pleased with both the affordable price of the Chromebook as well as the reduced cost of maintenance and support. The robust features and capabilities in Google Apps for Education mean there is no additional required investment in expensive software. Students can also use Chrome Web Store Apps to find additional educational apps for enhanced learning.</i><br /><i>Collaborate and Safely Store Projects</i><br /><i>The Acer C7 line is ideal for schools planning to give multiple students access to the Chromebooks, either in their classrooms or on a mobile cart. Each student can log on with their unique account to access email, documents, website bookmarks and other projects. Chromebooks come with Google Drive, an online file storage service, so students and teachers can save and access their files safely online and won't need to back up manually. Teachers and students can also access files as well as create and edit Google Docs and use Gmail offline for greater flexibility.</i><br /><i>With Google Docs, it's easy to share and collaborate on school projects such as presentations and reports that incorporate input from several students. Students in middle school and high school can also see calendars set up by the teacher to track homework, assignments, and projects in various classes. The Acer C7 Chromebooks quickly connect to campus wireless networks with integrated 802.11b/g/n WiFi, so they can be used in a dedicated classroom or on a mobile cart.</i><br /><i>Education Starts Quickly; Delivers Battery Life and Performance for All-Day Learning</i><br /><i>Students can take advantage of the many educational websites and Chrome apps available online for enhanced learning. Students will also be able to get right to work with the Acer C7; it boasts a less-than 18-second boot time and can almost instantly resume from sleep mode. Plus, using Chrome is easy and intuitive for students and teachers alike.</i><br /><i>The new Acer C710-2055 Chromebook for customers in the U.S. is powered by a 6-cell battery that delivers up to six hours of life for all-day student learning without having to recharge during school hours.(1) It is powered by an Intel Celeron 847 processor (2MB L3 cache, 1.10GHz, DDR3 1333 MHz) and 4GB of RAM to provide exceptional speed and responsiveness when running multiple apps and programs.</i><br /><i>Mobility and Multimedia Enhance Learning</i><br /><i>The Acer C7 weighs only 3.05 pounds, so it's portable enough to move between classrooms and even outside for projects in classes such as science and art. It measures only one inch thin, so it can easily be stored in a classroom, on a mobile cart, or can fit into a backpack for schools that allow a check-out program. The slim size incorporates a full-sized keyboard that is comfortable to use for web browsing, creating presentations and running educational apps.</i><br /><i>Multimedia can be incorporated into student learning with the Acer C7's integrated HD 1.3MP webcam. Video and photos can be captured and incorporated into presentations, websites and slideshows. Plus, the Acer C7 has three USB 2.0 ports, so it can be connected to a digital camera and other devices. It also has an HDMI port for sharing video and content to external displays for a presentation. Students can easily view websites, apps, video and more on the C7's 11.6-inch HD Widescreen CineCrystalTM LED-backlit LCD.</i><br /><i>Pricing, Availability and Warranty</i><br /><i>The new Acer C710-2055 is available now in the U.S. at retailers and from authorized Acer resellers for $279.99. Additional configurations are available in the Acer C7 Chromebook line.</i><br /><i>The new Acer C7 comes with a standard one-year parts and labor warranty, which can be extended to three years with the Acer Advantage service. All Acer Chromebooks are backed by toll-free service and support.(2)</i><br /><i>1.) Actual battery life varies depending on product specifications, computer settings and applications or features launched. All batteries' maximum capacity diminishes with time and use.</i><br /><i>2.) Limited warranties and service agreements apply. May not be available in all locations. Availability varies. Other conditions apply. For a copy, write to Acer Customer Service, P.O. Box 6137, Temple, TX 76503.</i></div></div></div>

Acer now selling C7 Chromebook with more battery life

  When we got our hands on Acer's initial C7 Chromebook, our chief gripe was its frankly disappointing 4-hour battery life. We now kno...

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Intel releases Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2 dev code, adds dual-boot option for Windows 8

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><img alt="Intel releases Android Jelly Bean 422 dev code, adds dualboot option for Windows 8" data-src-height="340" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/androidintel.jpg" /><a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/mobilepostcross/"></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Intel's in the tricky position of playing Android iteration catch-up -- but it's getting better at it. Releases are now appearing every six months, with the latest release of Android (4.2.2) now Intel-optimized -- at least at a pre-alpha stage. The company's Open Source Technology Center devs have been working on the Android Open-Source Project to ensure it works well on Intel-powered devices, whether that's PCs for debugging and testing or those still-rare Intel smartphones. Now powered by the Linux 3.8 kernel, there's a new interactive installer, plus the new ability to dual-boot on a Windows 8 system. So it's all good news for developers, but it should drip down to more immediate updates on the likes of Motorola's RAZR i and any future Android hardware Intel's planning to power.</div></div>

Intel releases Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2 dev code, adds dual-boot option for Windows 8

Intel's in the tricky position of playing Android iteration catch-up -- but it's getting better at it. Releases are now appearing e...

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Google Glass is, in fact, compatible with prescription glasses

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img alt="Google Glass is, in fact, compatible with prescription glasses" data-src-height="331" data-src-width="497" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/gregglassframes.jpg" /></div><br /><br /><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">We learned a lot about Google Glass yesterday at SXSW, including a sample of the kinds of apps it will be running when it becomes available to the public. Today on Google+, the Project Glass team let out a bit of rather important hardware info: namely that Glass is compatible with prescription glasses. Turns out that <span>its "design is modular, so you will be able to add frames and lenses that match your prescription,"</span><span> though the team is still working on the frame design to get it juuust right. The prescription compatibility won't be ready for the Explorer edition of Glass, but we can expect the frames to officially debut "later this year." </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span> </span> <a class="gdgt-product-image" href="http://gdgt.com/google/project-glass/" target="_blank" title="Google Project Glass"><img alt="Google Project Glass thumbnail image" height="50" itemprop="image" src="http://media.gdgt.com/img/products/480/aago/aago-50.jpg" width="50" /></a> </div><h2> <a href="http://gdgt.com/google/project-glass/" itemprop="url" target="_blank">Google <strong>Project Glass</strong></a> </h2></div>

Google Glass is, in fact, compatible with prescription glasses

  We learned a lot about Google Glass yesterday at SXSW, including a sample of the kinds of apps it will be running when it becomes availab...

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Google shows off hacked speaking shoe at SXSW, promises it's not getting into the footwear business

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/googshoedsc07207.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">All the hype of Google's presence at this year's SXSW has, not surprisingly, largely revolved around the company's Glass project, but much to our surprise, the software giant used the show to take the wraps off yet another wearable. We spoke to a rep who kicked off our conversation with the express disclaimer that "Google is not getting into the shoe business," so you can tamp down those expectations right now. Of course, the company is still firmly in the business of creating cool projects for the purposes of promoting creativity and supporting the developer community and ethos that are the driving forces behind its Art, Copy & Code project.</div><div class="post-gallery" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><h3 class="title"><b>Google hacks a shoe at SXSW</b></h3><br /><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/dsc07167_95x95.jpg" /> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/dsc07170_95x95.jpg" /> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/dsc07173_95x95.jpg" /> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/dsc07182_95x95.jpg" /> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/dsc07184_95x95.jpg" /> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/dsc07185_95x95.jpg" /> </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Art, Copy & Code was the centerpiece of Google's Playground, set up in a space directly across the street from the Austin Convention Center. There's a sports theme throughout, with a basketball court on one side and an obstacle course on the other. The company was letting visitors try out its new talking-shoe concept, with a custom-made microcontroller (along with assorted SparkFun pieces) on the tongue of a pair of Adidas. Above that is a circular speaker that provides feedback based on your movement (detected by internal accelerometers and gyroscopes, along with pressure sensors in the sole). The shoe will then give you aural feedback, based on how you're moving.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">So, why hack up a perfectly nice pair of black high-tops? Google's giving the shoes character, using Bluetooth to sync up to your smartphone and "using a series of 'if and statements,' to give your shoes personality." So, some shoes will laud you for getting off the couch and others will encourage your lollygagging. Again, while the company has the blessings of Adidas, we're not going to see this on the market as such, though the Google spokesperson we talked to told us the company may be looking to open-source the information, so you can just make your own.</div></div><iframe frameborder="0" height="349" id="viddler-2b617371" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="//www.viddler.com/embed/2b617371/?f=1&offset=0&autoplay=0&secret=50893680&disablebranding=0&view_secret=50893680" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="545"></iframe></div>

Google shows off hacked speaking shoe at SXSW, promises it's not getting into the footwear business

  All the hype of Google's presence at this year's SXSW has, not surprisingly, largely revolved around the company's Glass proje...

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