HTC India launches 8X and 8S smartphones with Windows Phone 8
KS Sandhya Iyer, November 02, 2012
HTC is treating Indian users to an early Diwali surprise. A day after we reported that the Taiwanese manufacturer might launch its Windows Phone next week, the company has already unveiled the HTC 8X and 8S Windows Phone 8 devices in the country. Both devices will be available this month at best buy prices of Rs. 35,023 for the HTC 8X and Rs. 19,260 for the HTC 8S.
Bothe devices sport a uni-body design and are based on the Windows Phone Live Tiles. The HTC 8X comes with 4.3-inch 720p Super LCD 2 display coated with Gorilla Glass. The device sports an 8MP CMOS sensor with backside-illumination (BSI) for improved low-light performance, along with an f/2.0 aperture, 28mm lens and a dedicated imaging chip. The front camera is a 2.1MP with f/2.0 aperture and 88 degree ultra-wide angle lens, which also allows for high-definition video capture.
8X is also the first Windows Phone with Beats Audio technology and an audio amplifier.There is no expandable storage on 8X but you will get 16GB of on-board storage, part of which will be used by the operating system itself.
The 8S comes with a 4-inch (800x480 pixels) super LCD display with Gorilla Glass, 1 GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor with 512MB RAM, 5MP auto focus camera with LED flash and 720p HD video recording, 4GB internal memory expandable memory with microSD and a 1,700 mAh battery.
Both smartphones feature the Windows Phone Store and Xbox Live catering to their entertainment and gaming needs. The Windows Phone 8X will come in a variety of colours including California Blue and Graphite Black while the HTC 8S will be available in Fiesta Red and Atlantic Blue.
Speaking at the launch of these devices, Faisal Siddqui, Country Head, HTC India said, "Windows Phone has clearly emerged as one of the top mobile ecosystems and is competitive against any other smartphone platform in the world. We are confident that the iconic design and incredible innovation of the Windows Phone 8X and Windows Phone 8S by HTC will help consumers fully realise the potential and lifestyle benefits offered by these smartphones."
Is Windows 8 an existential threat to Android tablets?
Nagging questions shadow the impending launch of Windows 8, threatening to scuttle Microsoft's plans to reinvent itself for the age of mobility. Will desktop users graciously accept the redesigned Modern interface? Will the Windows Store have enough apps to entice would-be Surface RT buyers? Can Windows 8 breathe life into sagging PC sales?
Microsoft's future success depends on its ability to make serious, quantifiable, no-nonsense headway in the mobile market, but it’s not the only company with a massive stake in the ultimate fate of Windows 8. The new operating system will also have a major impact on Google. Just look at the list of Microsoft’s Windows 8 tablet and hybrid partners—Samsung, Asus, Toshiba, and the rest. They all make Android tablets, too.
Apple’s position in the tablet market is so dominant that it need not fear encroachment by Windows 8 devices. But most of Google’s hardware partners—especially the ones that make the larger, so-called productivity devices—need to ask themselves a tough question: Will Windows 8 obliterate consumer interest in Android tablets?
Early opportunity squandered
At least one expert thinks that this question isn't hard to answer. Forrester analyst Sarah Rotman Epps sees a bleak future for Android tablets.
The Kindle Fire HD, which emphasizes media consumption, is one of the few Android-based tablets that consumers want.
"No one's buying Android tablets other than Amazon or Barnes & Noble [models] anyway," she says. "If there’s a market for non-Apple tablets, it has been and will be Windows. It’s pretty clear that there just hasn't been any demand for Android tablets other than the niche earlier-adopter market, while Windows has mainstream consumer interest."
Despite being the only major tablet alternative for people who don't want to bite into Apple, Android has clearly had little impact on the tablet market. IDC's second-quarter tablet report shows that more than two-thirds of all tablet shipments originated in Cupertino, and even those numbers don't tell the full story. IDC (which is owned by PCWorld’s parent company IDG) and other top research firms track tablet shipments to retailers, not tablet sales to customers. So when you take into account that some variable proportion of shipped Android tablets languish unsold on retailers' shelves, Android's situation may be even bleaker than IDC's numbers suggest.
In the recent Apple vs. Samsung case, for example, court filings showed that Samsung had managed to sell only 712,000 Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablets in the United States since the slate's launch. Those are sad numbers, given that many observers considered the Galaxy Tab 10.1 to be the perfect iPad alternative for much of 2011.
Also troubling for Google's operating system is the fact that the Kindle Fire—Android's brightest tablet star and best tablet seller—is not the droid you're looking for. It runs a proprietary, heavily skinned interface that renders it more of a content delivery system for Amazon than a proper Android tablet.
Ominously, the Kindle Fire accounts for the majority of Google tablet sales. IDC claims that Amazon is the world's third-most-prolific tablet manufacturer, even though Amazon sells its slate only in the United States. And reports from ComScore, Pew Research, and Amazon itself indicate that the Kindle Fire outsells all other Android tablets combined.
In other words, Android owes most of its slim slice of market share on an Android tablet that doesn't look or feel at all like a pure Android tablet. Google's baby is sucking wind, folks.
Cue the Windows 8 tablets.
Windows 8 and its direct Android prey
Finding agreement among tech industry analysts is always a challenge. Nonetheless, all the analysts I consulted agree that Windows 8 tablets will devastate the handful of productivity-focused Android tablets on the market, such as the Asus Eee Pad Slider and the Asus Eee Pad Transformer series. Whereas security concerns have prompted risk-averse corporations to shy away from Android tablets, Microsoft's operating systems sport deep, business-friendly features—including the all-important Microsoft Office.
IMAGE: LOYD CASEA Windows 8 productivity machine like the Asus Vivo Tab could threaten existing Asus products like the Eee Pad Slider and Transformer series.
"I think [productivity-focused Android tablets] are going to fade away," says Rob Enderle, the principal analyst of the Enderle Group, summing up the group consensus. "I think we'll see Windows convertibles and hybrids pick up that category. The keyboard really goes with Office."
The analysts I contacted also agree that Windows tablets will quickly gobble up Android's market share in the premium-priced tablet segment. Dropping $500 or more on a 10.1-inch Android tablet requires a lot more deliberation than spending $200 on a 7-inch Google Nexus 7. For this reason, analysts believe, consumers will flock toward the more seamless (and less glitchy) Windows experience when going for a big-screen (and non-iPad) tablet.
But will Android tablets vanish entirely? Most of the experts I spoke with don't think so. Excluding Forrester's Rotman Epps, most analysts expect Android tablets to be around for the long haul, albeit in a niche role that focuses on low prices and media playback.
A possible path for Android success
"I think there will be a market for 7- to 10-inch, very inexpensive Android tablets," says Patrick Moorhead, president and principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy. "Not from the major makers, but off-brand. Android tablets will be the budget option."
Google's Nexus 7 is squarely focused on consumption, not productivity.
"There’s a reason why Google came out with the Nexus 7," says Gartner's Carolina Milanesi. "It basically was a very loud message to the OEMs saying, 'Stop trying to be Apple, because you're not. And you're not going to be successful competing at that price point or that form factor. Go cheap. Go $199, so it becomes more of an impulse buy, and consumers will get them and watch videos, listen to music and play games.' All of which is very much media-centric and content-centric."
Enderle agrees, calling the Nexus 7 "the quintessential Android tablet, almost entirely focused on consumption, and that's probably where Android is going to continue to shine."
Rotman Epps doesn't buy this analysis, though: "Other than Amazon, [OEMs] just aren't selling any Android tablets. The iPad mini, if that comes out as we expect it to, will be the final nail in the coffin for Android tablets."
The other analysts think that if Android tablets do die off, it will be due to other causes entirely: lawsuits and Google's lackluster OEM support.
Manufacturers fear the reaper
Even if customers suddenly decide to support Android tablets, OEMs may not stay in Google's camp now that Microsoft has joined the fray. The analysts we contacted say Google's reputation for dealing with manufacturers is spotty at best; in contrast, OEMs generally enjoy working with Microsoft, occasional Surface tablet tensions aside.
IMAGE: LOYD CASEAfter suffering considerable grief over its Android devices, will Samsung give preferential treatment to its Windows 8 tablets, like this ATIV SmartPC?
Hardware manufacturers jumped on the Android bandwagon primarily because it was the only way for them to join the tablet revolution. In that sense, Apple helped spawn Android tablets, but now Apple might be the hammer that drives manufacturers away from Android for good.
"What really triggered the trend [of manufacturers hedging their bets with Android devices by also developing Windows devices] isn't so much customer satisfaction issues as much as that $1 billion judgment against Samsung," Enderle says, pointing to the sudden ramp-up of Windows Phone development by HTC and Samsung as examples.
"A lot of the OEMs really sweat bullets about being next on that particular list. Apple's actually doing Microsoft one hell of a favor here. That $1 billion judgment made 'free' not so free,” Enderle notes, referring to the ostensible price that Google charges OEMs for Android.
Gartner's Milanesi agrees that the risk of litigation from Apple encourages OEMs to see the value in adopting a Microsoft OS that costs money up-front. When you're in the Microsoft fold, she says, you're protected against Apple lawsuits, and Redmond also chips in with marketing costs and support for the developer community.
Where do manufacturers stand?
What do the companies that have skin in the game think about Android tablets' prospects for long-term survival? On the record, they're decidedly less pessimistic than the analysts are, which should come as no surprise, as they have to be cautious when making comments that might reflect on their roadmaps. Nonetheless, the OEMs do acknowledge the altered role that is likely to define Android's future.
Jay Parker, Lenovo's head of consumer/SMB operations for North America, recently told AllThingsD that the company plans to offer Android tablets "for the foreseeable future," but that it will offer only Android slates built in the Kindle Fire mold: small, cheap, and designed for playing around.
"We see them as pure media-based devices, where people are going to be surfing the Internet, reading books, or watching a movie, and really not a heck of a lot else," Parker said.
Acer makes the W510 Windows 8 tablet, but says that it's definitely not abandoning Android.
When asked whether Acer plans to support both Android and Windows 8 tablets, Paul Tayar, Acer America's director of product marketing for connected devices, unequivocally says "yes."
"The more ecosystems that we can play with and have available, the better we, as OEMs, can come up with developing the right hardware for the right consumer,” Tayar says. “Having options available to us lets us bring fresh solutions, and fresh designs, and fresh technology to the table."
Tayar feels there's enough consumer interest to support “even more than three” distinct operating systems, largely because of the very different user experiences offered by Windows 8 and Android. Windows tablets are more focused on productivity and might be more suitable for stationary office settings, whereas Android tablets tie deeply into Google's cloud-connected vision, and might appeal to people interested in everyday, on-the-run use, thanks to their smaller sizes.
Acer plans to tailor its hardware to take advantage of the specific ecosystem advantages of Windows 8 and Android. "You will not see a Windows 8 tablet, and then see the same tablet two days later with Android," Tayar says. He doesn't think Android will disappear any time soon.
"The Android market space, in both tablets and smartphones, is pretty much vindicated by the number of applications that are out there," he says. "That market has been validated. It's the real thing. It's not something that you're wondering 'Is this space going to exist or not?'"
You thought the Windows Store lacked tablet apps?
Tayar's last comment raises an interesting point: None of the analysts I spoke with think Android as a whole is in danger of dying, as the phone platform remains quite strong. Google Play features an abundance of Android apps—more than 675,000 by Google's last count—and the overwhelming majority of them are designed for smartphones, not tablets.
But that situation, too, is a double-edged sword for Google, as Android phone apps tend to translate poorly to the tablet experience.
IMAGE: ROBERT CARDINIronically, for all its inventory problems, the Windows Store may quickly eclipse Google Play in terms of pure tablet apps.
"Microsoft hasn't even launched the Windows Store yet, and it probably has five times more tablet applications than Android does," Moorhead says. For context, consider that the original 7-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab kicked off the Android tablet effort nearly two years back.
Incentives are crucial because Microsoft is gunning for those same developers, with an extensive support system that draws raves from developers. If Google wants an Android future on anything other than smartphones and embedded systems like Google Glass, it must convince some of those developers to create tablet-specific apps for its OS.
Yea or nay: Will Windows 8 tablets kill off Android?
Android tablets won't burst into flames on October 26 in some kind of self-destructive conflagration. Manufacturers won't pack up and leave Google holding the bag just because Microsoft is selling tablets—at least not initially. But serious questions loom over the launch of Microsoft's next-gen operating system, and until the company can allay some of those concerns, partners like Acer, Asus, and Lenovo will probably ride the fence until a clear market winner emerges.
But Microsoft isn't afraid to play the long game or to toss billions of dollars at marketers and manufacturers to ensure that its tablet initiative ultimately pays off. When—not if—Microsoft clears the initial hurdles, Google will have to step up its own game to ensure that Android tablets have a fighting chance, even as budget options.
Sure, Android might be the best choice for inexpensive media slates. But Google needs to get busy to bolster even that path to success, especially if Apple releases a miniature iPad. Google must do more to stimulate app development. It must work more amicably with OEMs. And it must step up to the plate, and protect its partners from Apple's litigious wrath.
If Google doesn’t do all of these things, manufacturers could very well throw up their hands and join the Windows team for good. Then we'd see the classic Apple/Microsoft duopoly all over again, this time in the mobile arena instead of on the desktop.
Will Windows 8 tablets kill Android tablets? Only Google can answer that question
If you spent enough time in the dark ages before they were ubiquitous, you've probably got a sense of the sheer number of physical objects which your phone replaced. But have you ever tried listing all of them? You might be surprised at just how long that list can grow. Here's mine.
Physical objects fully supplanted by iPhone 4S with retina display:
This list doesn't even include all the things my phone does that no other object accomplished before I got it, including music recognition via Shazam, countless location-dependent mobile services, the indescribably wonderful Star Walk app, etc. It also doesn't include some just-over-the-horizon technologies that will make our phones even more useful (and irreplaceable).
Looking further into the future, there is the very real possibility that our phones will quite simply become our default computing hubs. And by computing, I mean just about everything with a chip in it.
Could be supplanted:
set-top boxes
driver's license or other forms of ID
laptop (via a docking solution)
It's easy to argue that people won't, after all, want a single device that does everything. But there's an economic and even social rationale here that can't be ignored: the more we replace with our phones, the fewer consumer electronics we have to keep updated, and the less cluttered our lives can become.
Apple's poised to unveil its next-generation iPhone and iPod touch devices during its September 12 media event, but those may not be the only products showcased. The tech world fully expects iOS 6—Apple's updated mobile operating system that was first unveiled in June during Apple's June Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC)—to launch the day of the event or shortly afterward.
iOS 6 will be a free download, compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod touch (fourth generation), iPad 2, and new iPad (third generation), but some features aren't available on all devices due to either hardware limitations or being iPhone and iPod touch-centric. That means if you have an incompatible device, you'll either have to stick to the older operating system or upgrade to a new device.
iOS 6's overall feature set isn't quite as game-changing as iOS 5's, which brought iCloud, iMessage, Notification Center, wireless syncing, and more to the iOS platform. But version 6 adds numerous potentially useful features that may make the update essential if you own a compatible iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Apple's iOS 6 Web page lists several features—either new or improved—that are designed to enhance your iOS experience, but we're highlighting the five that are the most attractive.
If you're ready to check out our five most anticipated iOS 6 features, dive into our slideshow that details what you should fire up when the operating system is available for download. Let us know if you agree or disagree with our iOS 6 most anticipated feature selections by leaving a comment below.
Facebook Integration
New to iOS6 is operating system-level Facebook integration, and it works similarly as the Twitter integration that arrived in iOS 5. From the Settings menu, you will be able to enter your Facebook credentials, and the social network will be baked into the operating system. You'll be able to update your update, post links or photos to your wall, and add location-based information. You'll even be able to use Siri to update your Facebook status without touching the virtual keyboard.
iCloud Tabs
Safari's main enhancement looks like it will come in the form of iCloud Tabs, which display links to Web pages that you have open on other Apple mobile devices. If you were reading, for example, PCMag.com on your iPod touch, you will be able to continue where you left off on a different iOS device by launching Safari and tapping the iCloud icon.
Maps
Maps is Apple's in-house replacement for the soon-to-be exiled Google Maps. At first glance, Maps looks very similar to Google's offering with its turn-by-turn navigation, local search, and traffic reports, but it differs in one major area: Flyovers. This new feature renders major cities with photo-realistic 3D models that you will be able to pan, zoom, tilt, and rotate in order to get a better view. Maps' Siri compatibility means that pretty soon you'll be able to plot trips using just your words.
New Call Options
iOS 6 will add new calling options that offer more flexibility over how you handle incoming calls that you don't want to pick up. Instead of simply declining a call, you'll be able to reply to it with a text message or create a callback reminder to notify yourself at a later time to reach out to the person who rang. Apple is also adding a Do Disturb Option that ensures you won't be bothered when you choose to enable it, save for contacts that you've set up as exceptions.
Passbook
Passbook is an iPhone and iPod touch-exclusive app—at least for now—that will act as a tidy central hub for all your passes and tickets. Instead of handing over a paper ticket, coupon, boarding pass, or gift card to be scanned, you'll simply whip put your device, which will display the appropriate item when you stroll into the appropriate store or airport. The success of this app, unlike the others mentioned in this story, will rely heavily on third-party support. The list of companies standing behind the technology is likely to be unveiled September 12, but two are already known: American Airlines and Delta.
Leaked photos of two new Windows Phone 8 devices from Nokia, the Lumia 920 and Lumia 820, hit the Web on Friday ahead of the handset maker'sNokia World event next week in New York.
Two high-resolution photos popped up on the@evleaks Twitter account around 7:30 a.m. ET, showcasing bright, slick phones which Nokia is expected to debut next Wednesday.
The Lumia 920 phone will supposedly sport a 4.5-inch display, as well as a PureView camera, which has a 41-megapixel sensor and is meant to eliminate the visual noise found on most smartphone cameras. According to VentureBeat, Lumia 920 plans will be sold exclusively by AT&T.
The Lumia 820, comes in at least seven colors, has a 4.3-inch display, and will run on AT&T's and T-Mobile's networks, VentureBeat said.
The mysterious @evleaks has posted only 10 messages in four days, including eight photos of an unknown HTC Android tablet, and already has almost 700 followers in less than a week.
Nokia has a lot riding on its Windows Phone 8 offerings and its tight relationship with Microsoft. The beleaguered Finnish handset maker, once a market leader, has struggled to keep up with competitors like Apple and makers of various Android phones in recent years.
"Nokia bet everything on Windows, and if this doesn't succeed the next step might be having to do what's best for shareholders, and that might include selling off key assets or selling the whole company," Canaccord Genuity analyst Michael Walkley said in an interview with Reuters.
Windows Phone 8 isn't expected to drop until Oct. 29, VentureBeat pointed out, so if they are revealed next week, the Lumia handsets will still have to sit on the shelf for almost two months before Nokia starts selling them.
Techno fever was a group made up of talented youngsters who love and are more or less crazy about technology like nothing else
Ours is one of the fastest growing networks of technology site......
Well we are trying to improve and are planning big..........
Hope your support will be there...............!!
Soon you could be able to write for us.............!!
Techno Fever
Simply Technology
Contact Us
Contact us at fevertechno@gmail.com
Authors Akhil Omanakuttan - zon1c.m.w@gmail.com Billy Blue - kevinkurianmathew@gmail.com Raven Leon - shankar.sreek@gmail.com Kevin - kevinphilip97@gmail.com Cybertron Legacy - kanchanagjohn@gmail.com Archie Thomas - archiethomas007@gmail.com
IMAGE: LOYD CASE
IMAGE: LOYD CASE
IMAGE: ROBERT CARDIN
.jpg "Lumia 920 with PureView")
