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  • Whats Up With the HTC Blockchain Phone?

    Whats Up With the HTC Blockchain Phone?

    HTC is releasing blockchain version of HTC’s U12+ flagship, featuring a 6-inch QuadHD+ display with 18:9 aspect ratio, Snapdragon 845 chip, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, 16-megapixel dual camera, 8-megapixel dual selfie camera, IP68 rating, 3,500 mAh battery, and Android Oreo. It has all the specs, pretty standard. What is interesting, and what Id like to take a deeper look into the is the blockchain tech HTC is packing in to its new HTC blockchain phone.

    What is Blockchain?

    For those of you that are unfamiliar, blockchain is an is an undeniably ingenious invention. Blockchain is allowing digital information to be distributed but not copied. Blockchain technology created the backbone of a new type of internet. Originally devised for the digital currency, Bitcoin, (Buy Bitcoin) the tech community is now finding other potential uses for the technology. Information held on a blockchain exists as a shared — and continually reconciled — database. This is a way of using the network that has obvious benefits. The blockchain database isn’t stored in any single location, meaning the records it keeps are truly public and easily verifiable. No centralized version of this information exists for a hacker to corrupt. Hosted by millions of computers simultaneously, its data is accessible to anyone on the internet.

    HTC BlockChain

    AS for the blockchain tech in the phone The phone contains a wallet that’s kept in a secure area “protected from the Android OS,” according to a press release, which can be used to hold the keys to your cryptocurrency and tokens like CryptoKitties. HTC also made a social key recovery mechanism in case your phone is lost, stolen, or you misplace your key information. You’re able to keep the recovery details with a few trustworthy friends, who must then download a key management app. HTC will then use a secret sharing algorithm to send the info to your friends, which you can then piece together if needed. The phone is also being opened up for third-party developers to make their own key apps and wallets.

    HTC says one of the purposes of a HTC blockchain phone is to allow users to control their data. But as long as this is an Android phone, some of that data still flows to Google.

    The Final Thought

    Another interesting development is that this phone can only be purchased with crypto currency. Being a blockchain phone, the Exodus 1 can be purchased only for crypto. 0.15 Bitcoin or 4.78 Ethereum will get you a phone. That’s $958 and $950, respectively, but the prices will change by the time I finished typing these words. That’s how crypto works. The HTC Blockchain phone can be purchased via the early access program.It  will be available in 34 countries including the US.

  • No More Buttons? HTC U12 Plus to Use Haptic Feedback Instead

    No More Buttons? HTC U12 Plus to Use Haptic Feedback Instead

    In a move reminiscent of the iPhone 7’s home “button,” the HTC U12 is going to have pressure-sensitive areas shaped like buttons. The “buttons” will give a little burst of haptic feedback when “pressed,” simulating the action of a mechanical button. This is an interesting choice: reducing the number of moving parts certainly reduces the number of things that could become broken or damaged.  

    U12 Sporting 4 Cameras 

    Yeah, no joke! This sucker will have two cameras on the back and two on the front. This allows for a style of photography called “Bokeh,”a super artsy style of portraiture. It’s best described as a clear image in the foreground with a hazy, hipster-looking fade in the background. It’s the look all those Instagram-famous models have in their selfies.  

    The cameras also sport a 2x optical zoom, which is handy for snapping photos at a distance. Digital zoom is known for diluting the image, whereas optical zoom retains image quality over distance. 

    Main Squeeze 

    Much like the Google Pixel 2, the HTC U12 will recognize when it is squeezed as an input. The U12 will also be able to differentiate between short and long squeezes, as well as holds. These inputs can then be bound to different actions, such as opening the camera or turning on the flashlight. This functionality comes as no surprise, as HTC manufactures the Google Pixel. 

    The same technology that recognizes the squeeze input allows the phone to determine which hand it is being held in. It even has touch inputs on the sides to switch to single-hand mode, allowing for greater accessibility. 

    Modern, but Unique 

    The U12 will also sport a Gorilla Glass back, like many of its contemporaries, but without wireless charging. This makes its glass back primarily aesthetic, which is something of a bummer, considering how much more fragile it is. Again, most people will opt for a phone case, but it’s still not ideal to elect to make a fragile piece of technology even more breakable.  

    HTC interestingly eschewed the notch design so common to premium smartphones these days. Instead they opted for a tall screen with very thin bezels at the top and bottom. This look sets it apart from phones like the iPhone X. The phone will be releasing sometime in mid-June. The 64GB version will retail for $800, and the 128GB version will be $850.  

  • HTC U12 Plus, What We Know so far

    HTC U12 Plus, What We Know so far

    HTC’s latest flagship has arrived! On top of new cameras and a full screen without a notch notch, HTC has created a phone is literally more sensitive than ever. This is the HTC U12 Plus. The HTC U12 Plus gives a great first impression, at least when it comes to design. Almost every modern flagship is made of glass panels held together by a metal frame, but HTC’s design feels sturdy with an almost brick-like heft to it. HTC may have changed designs over the years, but the build quality continues to be excellent. The new phone still manages to retain some of HTC’s signature style, so you won’t mistake it for anything other than an HTC.

     

    HTC U12 Plus comes with a 6.0-inch Quad HD+ display with no notch and thin bezels. That Super LCD 6 display is protected by a custom layer of Gorilla Glass that’s actually closer to Gorilla Glass 3 than 5. Gorilla Glass 3 is harder than 5, so it will likely be more difficult to scratch. Ill be the judge of that, grabs keys. As for software, it’s running Android 8.0 Oreo. Even though Android 8.1 has been out for five months, HTC still couldn’t manage to load up the latest version of Android on its new smartphone.

    The U12 Plus seems to be a big upgrade over its predecessors, at least on paper. It sports a 16MP wide-angle lens and a 20MP telephoto lens around back, while the front has two 8MP cameras. The U11’s camera was one of the best of 2017, so we’re really excited to see the U12 Plus

    HTC continues its minimalist Liquid Surface design language, giving us a beautiful glass design with IP68 water resistance.I would have liked to see a few more changes, the HTC U12 Plus is still a gorgeous device. We also have to applaud HTC for resisting the notch, something many other 2018 flagships are now rocking. Instead of physical keys, they are now pressure-sensitive. While these buttons may not provide a physical click, they do provide haptic feedback to let you know they’ve been triggered.

    The Colors for HTC U12

    The HTC U12 Plus will be available in ceramic black, translucent blue, and flame red.

    The ceramic black (known as titanium black in some markets) is probably the least exciting of the three options, but that’s not to say it looks bad. It’s a shiny, reflective, and polished glass option that is actually more gray than black.

    The translucent blue model is partially see-through, allowing you to see some of the internals. It isn’t quite on the level of a clear case, but it is still pleasantly unique.

    Finally there’s the flame red variant. This model has an eye-catching sheen that seems more pink than red. Unfortunately, the flame red won’t be available immediately at launch.

    Quick Spec Look

    • Display 6.0-inch Super LCD 6 2,880 x 1,140 resolution 537ppi
    • 18:9 aspect ratio
    • DCI-P3, sRGB
    • SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Mobile Platform
    • 2.8GHz, 64-bit octa-core
    • GPU Adreno 630
    • RAM 6GB
    • Storage 64/128GB
    • MicroSD expansion up to 2TB with Flex Storage
    • Cameras Rear cameras
    • Primary: 12MP wide-angle HTC UltraPixel 4 sensor, ƒ/1.75 aperture, 1.4μm pixels
    • Telephoto: 16MP sensor, ƒ/2.6 aperture, 1.0μm pixels
    • Phase detection and laser autofocus, OIS, HDR Boost 2, dual-LED flash
    • Front cameras
    • Dual 8MP sensors, ƒ/2.0 aperture, 1.12μm pixels, wide-angle with 84-degree field of view
    • Audio HTC USonic with Active Noise Cancellation
    • HTC BoomSound Hi-Fi edition
    • Hi-Res audio recording
    • Hi-Res audio certified
    • Qualcomm aptX HD, LDAC up to 32-bit high-resolution wireless audio via Bluetooth
    • Battery 3,500mAh
    • Non-removable
    • Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0
    • IP rating IP68
    • Sensors Edge
    • Ambient light
    • Proximity
    • Motion G-sensor
    • Compass
    • Gyro
    • Magnetic
    • Fingerprint
    • Sensor hub for activity tracking
    • GPS, AGPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou
    • Network 2G/2.5G GSM/GPRS/EDGE
    • – 850/900/1800/1900MHz
    • 3G UMTS
    • – AWS/850/900/1900/2100MHz
    • – HSDPA 42, HSUPA 5.76
    • 4G LTE
    • – FDD: Bands 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 32, 66
    • – TDD: Bands 38, 39, 40, 41
    • – Support Cat 18 Gigabit LTE: downloads up to 1.2Gbps, uploads up to 150Mbps, up to 5CA and 4×4 MIMO (where supported
    • – VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling (where supported)
    • Connectivity USB 3.1, Type-C
    • Bluetooth 5.0
    • Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 and 5GHz) with MU-MIMO
    • NFC
    • DisplayPort over USB Type-C
    • HTC Connect
    • AirPlay, Chromecast, DNLA, and Miracast
    • Software Android 8.0 Oreo
    • Dimensions and weight 156.6 x 73.9 x 8.7-9.7mm

    The Final Thought

    We got some movement from HTC. This is good. Any signs of life from the once dominant smartphone aficionados is good. Ive always said that HTC is for the high end smartphone user, not the everyday Eddie. The produce a high-end classy flagship smartphone that always goes under appreciated. Im sorry I just miss my HTC one..

  • Tech Throwback: The HTC 8125

    Tech Throwback: The HTC 8125

    I like to take a look at where I’ve been to evaluate where Im going. Technology is cyclical after all… wait no its not. That said I still like all the feels that come rushing back like a flood of nostalgia every time I get my hand on the tech I grew up with. Im going to go back periodically and take a looking at the stuff that used to blow our hair back and get our minds rolling. Some of these device blew up and changed the world, some where ahead of their time and some just fell flat and became colossal failures. Today I’m powering up the HTC 8125 first commercial pocket PC and phone

     

    The HTC 8125  is an Internet-enabled Windows Mobile Pocket PC PDA designed and marketed by High Tech Computer Corporation of Taiwan. It has a touchscreen with a left-side slide-out QWERTY keyboard. The 8125’s functions include those of a camera phone and a portable media player in addition to text messaging and multimedia messaging. It also offers Internet services including e-mail (including Microsoft’s DirectPush push e-mail solution, as well as BlackBerry services with applications provided by BlackBerry-partnered carriers), instant messaging, web browsing, and local Wi-Fi connectivity. It is a quad-band GSM phone with GPRS, and EDGE, and a single/dual band UMTS phone with HSDPA. It is a part of the first line of PDAs directly marketed and sold by HTC.

     

    Reintroducing

    Cingular’s 8125 has the right idea when it comes to hardware and software specs. But this hybrid PDA/cell phone’s design and usability disappoint.

    The thing that blew my mind 13 years ago is the 8125 is its built-in Wi-Fi. The device’s side panel includes a shortcut button that launches an on-screen Communication Manager menu. From here, you can enable or disable Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, PC Sync, and even the phone. I also liked how easy it was to set up the 8125 to access IMAP, POP3, and Microsoft Exchange e-mail accounts.

    When the keyboard is stowed away, the 8125 is chunky–and its thickness made it awkward to use for phone calls. In my hands-on trials, I could easily adjust call volume, thanks in large part to the tactile volume control on the side panel, but at times I couldn’t hear the person on the other end. Several people I called told me that I sounded far away

     

    The Final Thought

    This was the first Smartphone on the market, It was the first smartphone I owned. It was slow and unresponsive, but I had internet at a dial up speed anywhere I went. The sight and thought of its potential blew people mind and opened conversations. Once this phone was release mankind was off to the races. Thank you HTC for picking up where the newton fell and setting up the future.

  • Smartphone Spotlight: HTC U11

    Smartphone Spotlight: HTC U11

    With a stunning 3D liquid glass surface, the purest audio you can find with active noise cancellation, all wrapped in a beautiful water resistant package, HTC U11 sets a new standard of what you can expect from a  Android smartphone.

    The Great

    • Super LCD5 capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
    • HTC Sense UI
    • upgradable to Android 8.0 (Oreo)
    • Octo core Snapdragon 835
    • 24 hour fast charging battery
    • Solid build quality
    • water resistant

    The Not

    • Edge Sense is half-baked
    • Poor lighting on the screen
    • Poor audio
    • No headphone jack
    • Smudges

    The Conclusion

    Its has everything you need, want and desire in an android and a cleaner os interface then all the others. Its pretty and powerful and packed with gimmicks. Its more then just its gimmicks at Only $649, its a premium smartphone at a slightly reduced price.

     

    Shake it, Squeez it

    The HTC U11 reinvents HTC’s design language with a bold new glass-backed chassis in a range of shimmering colors. It’s got a hugely impressive spec list, unique design, innovation in the form of squeezable sides and a great camera, and since launch it’s got that little bit better, thanks to the addition of Amazon Alexa. It’s the first smartphone to include Edge Sense, a new shortcut function that lets you squeeze the sides of the phone to jump quickly into the camera, take a photo, or launch your favorite personal assistant. It is the key design element and unique selling point is that the phone is squeezable. The firm calls this feature ‘Edge Sense’ and it’s achieved by pressure senors on either side of the phone.

    The Meat and Potatoes

    Aside from gimmicky new features, the U11 is a solid flagship phone with top-tier processor — Snapdragon 835 and one of the fanciest and finest cameras on an phone. The new Ultrapixel shooter features always-on “HDR Boost” post-processing, similar to the Google Pixel’s HDR+ trickery.

    Smuggen

    I have noticed The stunning glass rear is highly susceptible to fingerprinting and crumbgiming The pearlescent glass on the back. Don’t get me wrong the phone is gorgeous right out of the box in every color option (in red, black, blue, white and silver), but being a smudge magnet, which canceled out and allure.

     The Final Thought

    It’s a powerhouse and  monster, it’s spine-tingling to look at,  it’s water-resistant, it’s big-screen. The HTC U11 checks all the requirements that one should have on a top of the line android. With HTC’s clean, near-stock Sense UI, and you’ve got a viable android device. You won’t be picking this one up for its gimmick or sound but in comparing to the android field you’ll be chooseing the HTC U11 for the capable interface, power and beauty.

     

     

  • HTC Vive? Sure, if You’ve Got The PC for it…

    HTC Vive? Sure, if You’ve Got The PC for it…

    The Good

    • Stunning visuals
    • very responsive and interactive gaming world
    • lasting fun and very immersive experience

    The Bad

    • A powerful gaming is needed to enjoy the full experience
    • Using the Vive can take some getting used to, mind your surroundings
    • Costly gaming product

    Image result for htc vive

    The conclusion

    I found the HTC Vive to be solidly built and well made. HTC has created a very immersive and responsive world that keeps you entertained and surprised for hours. You will need a powerful computer and a fair amount of space to fully enjoy the Vive. In terms of cost, considering a price drop from $599.00, it is certainly worth purchasing.

    Related image

    The Gist.

    As long as you have a powerful PC to push the Vive, it’s pretty incredible. The system pushes a lot of pixels to the small monitors, and you need a pretty fancy graphics card and processor to match up. The required PC components is partly due to the HTC Vive, providing just about a 180 degree field of virtual vision, and it’s stunning features that come with it. The price is a little steep relative to most gaming gear at $599.00, but it’s pretty cutting edge. As time passes the price will come down. It’s an early adopter product at this point but I have to say that as far as early adopter gear goes, it’s been surprisingly robust. For how new the product is it’s surprisingly smooth and a polished. The responsiveness of turning your head and immediately having the environment respond is impressive. I didn’t notice any real lag when playing with it. The unit is reasonably light, but does get little warm after extended use. SteamVR makes using and purchasing VR games a quick and easy process. Steam also offers a large variety of VR games for how new this system is.

    Image result for htc vive

    Final thoughts

    HTC Vive is a truly great system and HTC obviously put a lot of work into this product. The wiring, controls, and overall setup is a bit cumbersome, but that is expected with any new technology at this level. I’m sure as time passes, the controls will be simpler, sleeker, and everything will be wireless. But for now, if you’re into gaming, the Vive is definitely worth a try!