HTC One: Not just for phone-natics
It’s amazing that smartphones (or the smart makers behind them) are getting smarter and smarter, they’re making it harder and harder for us to live without them — or have a life without them. Here’s one smartphone that’s got a lot of amazing features all rolled into one chic package: HTC One (X and V). I’m sure you’ve heard of this one — or seen this gorgeous gadget with its durable, scratch-proof polycarbonate casing and a 4.7-inch contoured Gorilla Glass super LCD 2 display. But for some background info, HTC One — from HTC Corporation, a leading global designer of many award-winning mobile devices — was launched last March in Singapore. I was there at the humongous Marina Bay Sands Exhibition Hall when Lennard Hoornik, president of HTC South Asia Pacific said, “The smartphone has become the main way we interact with our friends and family, and share our favorite photos, music, videos, and applications. We have made it even easier to share that content in a social environment by extending the mobile experience to any big TV displays wirelessly, making the mobile experience more personal for users.”
Yes, with a simple three-finger swipe, you can transfer your music, videos, and photos to the big screen while checking your e-mail on your phone.
Of course, you and I know that probably one of the most important things that a person does on his smartphone (Sara Paz, senior director and head of marketing, HTC South Asia, ranks it as the No. 2 function) is to take pictures. We take pictures of anything and everything that catches our fancy, short of doing a Mon Tulfo. Photos taken at assorted occasions, from birthdays to weddings to funerals immediately land in Facebook faster than anyone can say Mark Zuckerberg.
Well, this is one camera you’d love to have and to hold happily ever after. With a superb 8.0 megapixels camera, a 28mm F2.0 lens, the HTC Imagesense with HTC Smart Flash, you can capture whatever is happening at .2 seconds, which is faster than the blink of an eye. The camera is ready even before you are, you don’t have to wait. With its Instant Capture and Continuous Shooting, you can take up to 99 consecutive shots at four frames per second, you’ll never have to miss a shot ever! And I love that I can take a picture and zoom in while recording a video, which most camera phones don’t do.
Designed for the non-techie, this camera can manage any lighting condition. It’s got a sensor so that if it’s dark and you’re taking a picture, it will determine how far away you are so as not to give you too much light.
And listen to this: HTC is the only smartphone with a built-in Beats Audio Technology so you can watch a music video on Youtube, play a game from Google Play, and listen to music with authentic studio-quality sound.
With the HTC Sync Manager, you can sync what you want by simply transferring your playlists and albums from your computer to your phone.
With the HTC Music Centre, you can access your entire music library — from your fave playlists to Internet radio to multiple online music services, all in one place.
Also, hear this: This phone is so smart that if it’s in your bag or in a closed environment and somebody calls you, it will ring more loudly. And if it does, instead of pressing a button, all you have to do is to turn it over. How I wish it could also ring or scream to catch my attention if I forget it or misplace it or if somebody tries to steal it!
For people who like to multitask (don’t we all?) and are always on the go (aren’t most of us?), this phone is it. Very social media-oriented, it’s got Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, Google Mail, and other apps already installed so you can stay connected without your laptop — anytime, anywhere.
Yes, with HTC One, you can easily get the contact information of your friends by logging in to your Facebook, Twitter, and e-mail accounts.
If you have 3G or WiFi, you can share your Internet connection with other gadgets, a favorite feature among a lot of young people. They say it’s much like the new iPhone 4S.
What drives me crazy about this phone — and makes it more user-friendly for me — is that it’s got a “Car” application. When I’m driving, I like to have my phone within grabbing distance because I like to know instantly if I got a text or a call (but I don’t drive and text/ call). When you’re in the driver’s seat in the middle of horrendous city traffic, it’s hard if you have to unlock and press before you get to see what you want. The car app makes accessing easier when you’re in a difficult position. It makes important tabs such as call, SMS, radio, and GPS bigger so you’re able to press right away. It’s a lot like a stereo in your car, but it’s on your phone.
Another user-friendly app, which may come in handy if there’s a brownout or if you’re walking into a dark movie theater, is the built-in flashlight. Now, that’s a bright idea from the makers of this “quietly brilliant” phone.
Now, you know what makes this smartphone click.