Way back when, HTC launched its “One” brand with the One X, then came the One M7, which was followed by the One M8 and One M9. So, with the successor to the One M9 right around the corner, it was thought to be a safe bet that HTC would call it the One M10. Turns out that might not be the case after all.
As revealed by a series of leaks from Evan Blass and @OnLeaks, it looks like HTC is actually dropping the One from the naming scheme of its next flagship, and simply focusing on its brand and the number. An image from @OnLeaks shows what appears to be the Settings app on the device, showing the “Model number” as “HTC 10.” The One brand hasn’t necessarily done HTC any favors recently, so perhaps dropping it makes sense for the company.
Soon after those leaks, more found their way to the surface from the same sources, this time showing the HTC 10, and with rumored specifications tagging along for the ride. According to @OnLeaks, the One 10 will feature a 5.15-inch QHD display and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor under the hood, with an Adreno 530 paired with it. There’s reportedly 4GB of RAM, and on the back a 12-megapixel camera. It’s said to feature USB Type-C for charging, too.
It’s worth noting that these are prototype specifications, so it’s possible that HTC made some changes ahead of the device’s official launch.
Evan Blass wanted to get in on the fun, too, so he released renders of the HTC 10, showing off the front, rear, side, top, and bottom of the new flagship. The design looks like a healthy combination of the One M9 and the One A9, which shouldn’t be too surprising.
With the rumored specs of the HTC 10, and a pretty straightforward design choice, do you think you’ll pick the HTC 10 for your next daily driver?
HTC and Verizon’s software teams are finally done with all their testing and will be releasing the Android Marshmallow update for the HTC One M8 on Monday. The news was shared on Twitter by HTC’s Mo Versi. With Android 6.0, the Verizon HTC One M8 will be able to use adaptive storage, doze and Google Now on Tap in addition to a dozen or so tweaks to HTC Sense.
Android’s monthly distribution update has shown small increases in the adoption of Android Marshmallow over the past few months, but those number are expected to see a huge spike over the next month or two as all major flagship phones from 2015 start receiving their updates to Android 6.0. So far, HTC is ahead of the pack in releasing its update for its 2014 and 2015 flagship devices, but it hasn’t done much to move the needle since HTC’s devices have not sold well over the past few years.
Verizon HTC One (M8) Owners! Marshmallow OS coming on 3/7! TA received today – Great work @arpu31
Not sure what to do this weekend? We have a suggestion: ask a few friends to come over, order some pizza and rent a movie from Google Play. OK, you don’t really need to friends or the pizza, but if you do decide to rent a movie from Google Play, Google will give you a 50% discount. The offer is valid through March 17, but you still get the usual 30 day window to actually watch the movie. Unfortunately, the 50% discount is only valid for one movie rental, but you do have the option of using multiple Google accounts if there are multiple titles that you want to watch.
Google’s movie rental selection is quite strong, but you can always wait things out a little if you’re waiting for a specific title that hasn’t hit Google Play yet.
What movie will you be renting with your 50% discount?
The introduction of the HTC Perfume (aka the HTC One M10) may be accompanied by the death of HTC’s One brand. A few hours ago, Evan Blass shared the name “HTC 10″ on his Twitter account, implying that it will be the name used when HTC Perfume is unveiled next month. Dropping the One branding may be a bold move, but there have been multiple rumors which have suggested that HTC’s 2016 flagship would be accompanied by branding changes. Many of us were expecting HTC to introduce a new moniker to replace One or the M, but it’s doubtful that anyone would foresee that the branding would be stripped down to just HTC and a number.
The HTC 10 (this name change is going to take some time to get used to) is expected to have the same basic specifications as the LG G5 and Samsung Galaxy S7, but HTC will have a tougher time selling its phone since the company has failed miserably on the marketing front over the past few years. We’re seen to #powerof10 official teasers from HTC so far, but we’ll have to wait until the phone is actually unveiled to see if the company will be investing its dwindling cash reserves to help promote and sell the HTC 10.
Samsung has run a lot of Samsung Pay promotions to date, but if you’ve missed out on them, you’re getting another chance right now.
A new Samsung Pay promotion will give a free Qi-compatible wireless charging pad to anyone that activates their first card with Samsung’s mobile payment app. The promo runs from March 2 through March 10, and it’s available to new Samsung Pay users with a Galaxy S6, S6 edge, S6 edge+, S7, S7 edge, or Galaxy Note 5.
To get your free wireless charging pad, you need to load up the Samsung Pay app and register a qualifying credit or debit card. Once you do, go into the “Events” part of the app, then go to “More,” and then click on “Samsung Pay Card Registration Offer.” After agreeing to the Terms and Conditions, you’ll get a coupon code that can be redeemed on Samsung’s web store for one Samsung Wireless Charging Pad in Black Sapphire, worth $49.99.
The Galaxy S7 and S7 edge are already starting to hit the hands of pre-order customers, and so this offer can encourage them to try out Samsung Pay. However, other Galaxy owners can qualify, too, so if you’ve got a device that is compatible with Samsung Pay and you haven’t yet added a card, you can do so now to get yourself a free wireless charging pad.
Rumors of the Amazon Echo getting a smaller sibling have been circulating since the beginning of the year, but details were slim with little more than it would be portable and coming soon.
Today Amazon has finally made the official reveal of not just one, but two new smaller Echo like devices; the Amazon Echo Dot is a miniature version of the Echo and the Amazon Tap is a portable Bluetooth speaker with Echo capabilities.
Amazon Echo Dot
The Echo Dot, as the name aptly suggests, is a considerably smaller version of the Amazon Echo. And to be clear, the size difference is significant: the Echo is 9.25-inches tall and the Echo Dot is a mere 1.5-inches. While it does have a small built-in speaker, it seems like the Echo Dot is much more geared towards the voice assistant and smart home functionality rather than audio playback. Amazon pitches it as a perfect fit for the bedside table or kitchen. If you do want to use the Echo Dot as a home audio solution, you can connect it to an existing home stereo with an audio cable or Bluetooth.
The Echo Dot is available now for $89.99, but only to owners of the Echo or a Fire TV with Alexa support by saying “Alexa, order an Echo Dot.”
Amazon Tap
The Amazon Tap is the device that was rumored previously, as it is a truly portable speaker, unlike the Echo and Echo Dot. The big question there was how would the always listening functionality work on a battery-bound device, and the answer is that it does not. This is perhaps why Amazon opted to drop “Echo” from the name of this product. The Tap gets its name from the method for calling up Alexa on the device, which is by tapping the microphone button on the side of the speaker.
In order to use Alexa functionality, the Tap needs an Internet connection, and this can be achieved either via Wi-Fi or with a mobile hotspot from your smartphone or tablet. When not connected to the Internet, the Tap is just a Bluetooth speaker. It has solid specs there, but we’ll have to see how it stacks up against some of our favorite Bluetooth speakers when we get our hands on one.
The speaker has up to 9 hours of playback on a single charge and comes with a charging cradle that makes it resemble a slightly smaller version of the traditional Echo when docked. At 6.2 inches tall, it is a few inches shy of its big sibling and a almost an inch narrower as well. On the top of the Tap are volume and playback controls.
Unlike the Echo Dot, anyone can order the Amazon Tap, but it’s a pre-order today and will ship on March 31st. The Tap is priced at $129.99, which compares favorably with mid- to high-end Bluetooth speakers, and of course, it has the added bonus of Alexa. For an extra $19.99 you can add a Tap Sling Cover in 6 colors that adds a loop and some protection for your Tap.
It seems odd that Amazon is limiting the sales of the Echo Dot, as the size of the original Echo does seem like it may have been a sticking point for some users, but perhaps it is attributable to Amazon being unable to produce the device in significant quantities at the moment.
Welcome back to Android Gaming Weekly, our weekly recap of new game releases. We still plan to cover upcoming releases and games we’re playing, but this column is dedicated to new games that you can start playing right now. Check out our top picks and let us know in the comments section if you have any suggestions for next week’s post.
Road to be King
Description: Hold your finger on your screen and dodge hordes of foul creatures and dangerous traps. Go as far as you can to set your highest score and compete against friends. Collect crystals to buy and upgrade special items that will help you along the way. You can also pick up special power ups to becoming even more powerful.
Description: Pig is single and he’s looking for love, but online dating only gives him matches on the other side of the world. Help him dig his way through the Earth while avoiding the obstacles. Sound easy? Make sure you aim for the right spot on the map! Easy and intuitive to play, but hard to master.
Description: Welcome to CHASED BY THE SUN, the not-so-endless runner starring the tiny green spaceship with the gigantic ball of thermonuclear plasma in hot pursuit!
Description: It’s the Zombie apocalypse and you are one of the last survivors. You have one option, dig or die! Tunnel through the perilous mine as you try to escape the Zombie hoard. MinerZ. How deep can you dig?!
Description: Enter the Arena! From the creators of Clash of Clans comes a real-time multiplayer game starring the Royales, your favorite Clash characters and much, much more. Collect and upgrade dozens of cards featuring the Clash of Clans troops, spells and defenses you know and love, as well as the Royales: Princes, Knights, Baby Dragons and more.
Description:Ignatius is a atmospheric puzzle-platformer game with an interesting story. The game with its visual form and plot refers to the old silent movies. Graphic design of “Ignatius” is a unique combination of different aesthetics – hand drawing , noir , vintage , art deco and even steam – punk elements .
Description: Meet Ollie, the happy-go-lucky party planner on your adventure through the colorful world of Flipper Fox! Swipe to flip tiles, creating a path for Ollie to find the supplies needed to make his friend’s parties a hit! Collect sweet gifts across over 180 head-scratching puzzle levels!
Description: The mighty Redbeard is back in the killer follow-up to the best Nordic mobile game of 2011! Help Redbeard defend his precious flowers from hordes of invading Vikings, making use of his sharp axe and unparalleled throwing skills, spells from the Gods and awesome power-ups!
Description: With a rich multilayered narrative, innovative presentation, and a chilling musical score by famed Hollywood composer Angelo Badalementi, Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy Remastered serves as the definitive version of the supernatural murder mystery and (re)introduces the groundbreaking title to old and new fans alike.
Description: In Evo Explores you should trust your eyes. If something looks real – it is real! If you don’t see a problem – there is no problem at all. Manipulate impossible surreal structures, explore optical illusions and solve mind blowing puzzles. Every new level will unravel the history of Byte planet and its citizens.
We speculated that Samsung was omitting the feature in order to offer charging parity between the Exynos and Qualcomm powered variants of its phones, but we’re not sure what to make of Sony’s decision to stick with the older standard. There’s a good chance that Quick Charge 3.0 will be turned on for these devices with a software update after the phones are released. HTC promised Quick Charge 3.0 support for the HTC One A9 through a software update when the phone was initially launched in October of last year, but the phone is still only compatible with Quick Charge 2.0. This leads us to believe that Qualcomm may be having issues with the new Quick Charge standard itself.
The video is basically a narrator stating how hard HTC is working on the next device, pulling late nights and working overtime to make it great. This is a “good obsession” as the narrator likes to call it. Nothing is said about the phone nor the details surrounding it. That’s no fun, HTC.
How many of you are excited for the device, despite the disappointing Power of 10 teaser?
Most companies are always late to the update game. While Nexus devices and a few others have been running Marshmallow for months, most OEMs are still working to get their flagships updated. Samsung is not the slowest one out there, but they’re far from quick. Thankfully, a Marshmallow update roadmap has leaked that suggests that Samsung’s updates are very close.
A bunch of Samsung devices will reportedly be getting the Marshmallow update in the next few months, even older devices released in 2014. It’s nice to see Samsung supporting older flagships and even non-flagship devices, as Android 6.0 will offer performance improvements and, most importantly, significant security improvements.
Other Samsung devices will be getting the update too, like the Samsung Galaxy A7, but there are no specific times for those devices (or even a concrete list). If you don’t see your device on the list, all hope is not lost.
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