HTC UK Unveil One X+ At the Glasgow Event

Last night at the HTC Glasgow event, HTC not only unveiled the One X+ but also the HTC8 Windows Phones in the Win8x and Win8s, nice phones but just not my cup-of-tea.

HTC are back with an update to their flagship Android handset: meet the HTC One X+. Despite looking similar to its predecessor, although the back has more of a hump with the back edges slimmed down to almost a point, the insides of the One X+ have been substantially improved.

So the HTC One X is an excellent device that has sold quite well in the UK. Now we have the new version, the HTC One X+, it boasts a 1.7GHz quad-core Tegra 3 processor, which according to HTC, offers up to 67% faster performance than its 1.5GHz predecessor. To support this faster processor HTC have improved their battery management technology and have somehow managed to squeeze a longer lasting battery into the same chassis as the original One X, adding an additional six hours of talk time. These are impressive numbers indeed, but exactly how well the One X+ will perform outside the optimum conditions of HTC’s testing environment? Well last night we had the answer, extremely well.
It has a 4.7 inch super LCD 2 touch screen with Gorilla Glass 2 and 2100 mAh battery, giving a 25% more battery life over the One X. Beats Audio, the One X+ has the enhanced audio profiles baked in. It also introduces a new Tap and Go function, which allows you to connect the phone and your music to Beats speakers when you tap them. To disconnect, it is just another quick tap.

The One X+ still doesn’t offer any removable memory, however HTC have doubled the internal storage capacity to an impressive 64 GB, which should be enough to satisfy 99% of it’s owners. The bonus is that HTC have again come up with 25GB of free Dropbox cloud storage for two years. With Dropbox integrated into HTC Sense, you can automatically save all your photos and videos to Dropbox – and access and share all your pictures directly from the Gallery. Dropbox also makes it easy to edit and share files while you are on the go, so you never have to email yourself a document again. The Gallery also allows you to manage your photos by using folders link Dropbox, Facebook etc.

The phone’s eight megapixel camera remains the same, while the front-facing camera has been beefed up to 1.6 megapixels to improve the quality of video calls. Both cameras benefit from HTC’s ‘ImageChip’ technology, which improves low light performance, continuous focus and image capture, and a new portrait mode which ‘beautifies’ your portrait images, giving you the ‘photoshop treatment’ if you so desire.
On the outside, the One X+ has been given a slight cosmetic make-over in the form of a new matte black finish with red decals, as well as red capacitive touch buttons below the display. There are no changes to the chassis whatsoever, retaining the original One X design. All the updates are hidden inside its polycarbonate shell.
From a software perspective, the HTC One X+ has been updated to the latest Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system, although this has been heavily modified to incorporate HTC’s custom Sense 4+ skin and features. One notable improvement is the addition of Jelly Bean’s Google Now app. An app that adds a contextual layer to Google search, providing you with useful information based on your location, calendar events, contacts and search history.

With Sense 4+, HTC have concentrated more on adding small improvements to usability, rather than adding lots of new features to their already feature-rich software. HTC are trying to differentiate themselves from the other competing hardware using software and services, rather than concentrating on many different hardware designs.
HTC have successfully raised the bar with the One X+, bringing it up to the level of  the Samsung’s Galaxy S III smartphone, if not surpassing it. After using the One S for several months, I agree with all the changes HTC have made. They are obviously listening to feedback from their customers and have updated all the right things. The One X+ looks to be an excellent phone. Original One X owners will be happy to hear that Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and Sense 4+ will be heading to their phones, as well as the One S and One XL shorty after the One X+ hits the shelves.
HSPA+ versions of the HTC One X+ will be available from leading UK network providers sometime in mid October. Plans for a UK launch of the 4G LTE model have not yet been announced but, we expect EE to be first in line.

Other specifications of the AT&T HTC One X+ include:

• 4.7 inch Super LCD 2 display with Gorilla Glass 2
• Android 4.1 with HTC Sense 4+
• 1GB RAM
• 8 megapixel camera with ImageSense processor and F2.0 aperture
• 1.6 megapixel front facing camera
• Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX technology
• NFC with support for Tap and Go (think Nokia and NFC speakers)
• 802.11 a/b/g/n WiFi, DLNA, and HDMI out with MHL adapter
• FM radio
• Dimensions of 134.8 x 69.9 x 8.99 mm and 129 grams

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Dave Thornton

Many yrs ago Dave was MSDN trained, a web designer and computer shop owner. Loves walking his dogs, Lab & Welsh border collie. Golden Retriever. Plenty of fields around where he lives in Dundee, Scotland and is 2 miles from the beach.

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