HTC Desire C announced – delivers Android 4.0, NFC and a 5MP camera on a budget

The HTC Desire C is official. HTC’s new entry-level Android 4.0 handset features a 3.5-inch HVGA (320 x 480) display, 600 MHz Qualcomm processor, 512 MB of RAM, 4 GB of internal storage, microSD card slot, 5 megapixel camera, Beats Audio, and a 1,230 mAh battery. For those who want to make sure they have the latest technology on their entry-level phone, HTC is also offering an NFC enabled version of the HTC Desire C. The phone will be available in white, black and red once it shows up in stores sometime in June.

The off-contract price for the HTC Desire C is set at £169.99, but UK service providers like T-Mobile, Orange and Three will be giving the phone away for free with plans starting at £15.50 per month.

While the HTC Desire C may aesthetically look like the HTC One series, the handset does not feature a dedicated imaging chip and the advanced performance of the One series. HTC has not announced any plans of bringing the HTC desire C to the U.S. market, but we wouldn’t be surprised if the phone showed up on regional carriers in the next few months.

What do you think of the HTC Desire C? Does the world really need another entry-level Android device?

Show Press Release HTC LAUNCHES Desire C, ITS LATEST smartphone WITH BEATS AUDIO New HTC Desire C – brilliant, entertaining and well connectedLONDON, UK — 15 May 2012 — Following on from the successful launch of the HTC One series, HTC, a global designer of smartphones, today unveiled its latest phone, the HTC Desire C. Featuring Beats Audio™ technology, this premium designed, yet affordable smartphone, allows you to hear your music just as the artist intended. The HTC Desire C also enables you to easily manage your professional and personal lives and share the moments that shape them.Available in red, white and black, and coming with HTC Sense 4.0 integrated with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), the HTC Desire C is great as a first smartphone or for those upgrading from an existing one. Packing a powerful battery and offering access to thousands of apps, games, music and movies – available through Google Play – you will always be connected and entertained whether at work, home or on the move.“Listening to music is one of the most popular things people use their phones for, so it’s more important than ever that we deliver the power and emotion artists capture in the studio,” said Jason Mackenzie, President, Global Sales and Marketing for HTC Corporation. “The HTC Desire C offers customers excellent design, easy access to content and fast connectivity – making it the perfect all round device.”Authentic sound without compromiseThe HTC Desire C features a powerful, yet rich studio-quality sound experience that is enabled through the combination of optimized Beats Audio and amazing hardware. This integration enables a rich, clear audio experience to customers no matter if they’re listening to music or playing a game.Premium design taken to a new levelCombining a durable metal frame with precision engineering, the HTC Desire C is ideal for those who want a premium-designed phone. Boasting a micro-drilled earpiece for sharp in-call sound, hyper-viewing angle display and metal camera bezel, this compact smartphone offers an unrivalled level of design and user-experience for its class.Packing the latest mobile technology into a neat, eye-catching design, HTC Desire C’s vibrant 3.5-inch HVGA screen makes it easy to browse the Web, view photos or connect with friends and family. If you like to share personal experiences with your social network, HTC Desire C’s 5 megapixel camera and instant sharing capabilities will allow you to post any moment, seconds after it was captured.Through HTC Desire C’s deep integration of Dropbox and 25GB of free online space, you also have the freedom to securely back-up, browse and share thousands of photos, videos and documents, whether stored locally or in the cloud.Ensuring that HTC Desire C keeps pace with new mobile services as they become available there is also an NFC variant of this model, allowing users to make payments or access information and offers.

Verizon’s DROID Incredible 4G LTE by HTC officially announced

After months of leaks, rumors and dozens of blurry pictures, Verizon has officially unveiled the DROID Incredible by HTC. While we’ve seen quite a few spec variances over the past months, the official handset internals match up with some of the most recent rumors.

Looking at the specs, Verizon’s DROID Incredible 4G LTE is a decent phone. It’s size matches up closely with the HTC One S, while featuring NFC and LTE connectivity like the EVO 4G LTE and AT&T’s HTC One X. Additionally, the DROID Incredible 4G LTE features a removable battery and a microSD expansion slot which will allow users to add an additional 32GB of storage to the device.

It’s hard to say which of HTC’s four devices is better than the other since they all offer features which make them each unique in their own right. The DROID Incredible 4G LTE may have a smaller screen and underclocked processor, but its removable battery and expandable storage options may actually make it a more appealing option to Android enthusiasts and power users.

Verizon’s staying silent on the price, but the press release does mention that the DROID Incredible 4G LTE will be available on its website and in Verizon stores within the coming weeks. We wouldn’t be surprised if Verizon prices the phone at $299, but we feel a fair price would be something between $149 and $179.

How do you think the DROID Incredible 4G LTE stacks up against the HTC One X, One S and EVO 4G LTE?

HTC and Verizon Wireless Reveal DROID INCREDIBLE 4G LTE

New DROID INCREDIBLE Offers Advanced Camera Capabilities, Beats Audio and 4G LTE Speeds from Verizon Wireless

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and NEW ORLEANS, May 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — From International CTIA Wireless® 2012, Verizon Wireless and HTC today announced the new and exclusive DROID INCREDIBLE 4G LTE by HTC. The DROID INCREDIBLE 4G LTE will be the twenty third 4G LTE-enabled device currently available on the Verizon Wireless network.

The new DROID INCREDIBLE 4G LTE enhances the customer experience by offering high-quality photo and audio capabilities, combined with the power of 4G LTE speeds. Running the latest version of HTC Sense™ 4.0, HTC’s branded user experience integrated with Google’s™ mobile operating system, Android™ 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, the new DROID INCREDIBLE 4G LTE brings a sophisticated, pocket-friendly device to America’s fastest 4G LTE network.

DROID INCREDIBLE 4G LTE by HTC features Beats Audio™ which is enabled across the entire experience for a rich and authentic sound whether customers watch a YouTube™ video, play a game, or stream music over 4G LTE. Beats Audio allows customers to listen to music the way the artist intended with thundering bass, soaring midrange and crisp highs.

The DROID INCREDIBLE 4G LTE captures life’s special moments with an advanced 8-megapixel camera with quick activation from the home screen so customers never miss that perfect shot. Additionally, there’s no longer a need to choose between shooting video or taking photos, HTC Video Pic™ allows users to shoot HD video and capture photos at the same time. With 4G LTE speeds, sharing photos and video via email, uploading to the cloud or posting to social networking sites is a breeze.

DROID INCREDIBLE 4G LTE is packed with features to make life easier and customizable. Customers can personalize and use lock screen shortcuts to quickly access their four favorite apps. Folders can easily be created on any home screen for additional customization and organization. A Read Later feature allows people short on time the ability to save browser content like news articles and websites that can be viewed later, even while offline. The smartphone is also NFC capable so customers can take advantage of Android Beam™ to quickly share Web pages, apps, contacts and YouTube™ videos with friends by simply tapping two compatible phones together.

The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network is available in 230 markets across the Unites States. In real-world, fully loaded network environments, 4G LTE users should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink. When customers travel outside of 4G LTE coverage areas, devices automatically connect to Verizon Wireless’ 3G network, where available, enabling customers to stay connected from coast to coast.

Additional features:

4-inch super LCD qHD display
8 megapixel rear-facing camera with autofocus, LED flash, BSI, f/2.2 and 28 mm lens
Front-facing camera for video chatting with friends and family
1.2 GHz dual-core Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ S4 processor
Mobile Hotspot capable to share 4G LTE connection with up to 10 Wi-Fi-enabled devices
Support for up to 32 GB microSD™ memory card
1,700 mAh lithium ion removable battery

The new DROID INCREDIBLE 4G LTE by HTC will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com in the coming weeks.

N.O.V.A. 3 announced by Gameloft, more sci-fi shooting on the way

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In not wholly unexpected news, Gameloft have confirmed the existence of the third title in their sci-fi shooter series, N.O.V.A. The title, N.O.V.A. 3 has been formally announced, and will be coming soon to Android.

Otherwise, details are pretty much non-existent. Gameloft  have been holding press events, and have said that more information will be revealed soon. In the meantime, check out the teaser video after the break. It doesn't give much away, but it still looks pretty incredible all the same.

via Pocket Gamer

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Google's revenue up 24 percent over 2011; stock split announced

Google this afternoon released its first-quarter 2012 earnings results. And as you can imagine, there are a lot of zeros in them. Specifically, revenue was at $10.65 billion for Q1 2012, 24 percent higher than in Q1 2011. Cash on hand at the end of March was $49.3 billion, and Google added about 600 jobs in Q1.

Additionally, Google announced what essentially is a stock split, creating a new class of non-voting capital stock that will be awarded via a dividend to existing stockholders in a one-to-one manner.

We'll be listening in on the conference call in a few minutes to see if there's any Android-specific news.

Source: Google Q1 2012 Earnings; Founders Letter

Motorola DEFY MINI announced for Greece

Motorola has announced that the DEFY MINI will be available in Greece in mid-April.  This follows their announcement that it will also launch in Italy this month, and has already been released in Brazil.  Spec-wise, this is a decidedly mid-range phone, but for someone that needs something durable it's a smart way to go.  As a reminder, it's packing a 600MHz processor, 512MB RAM, a 3MP rear camera, VGA front-facing camera, and has a 3.2" Gorilla Glass display.  There's also dust and water resistance, much like it's larger sibling, the DEFY.  We had a little time with this at CES, and it appears to be a solid mid-range offering for Motorola.

Source: Motorola

HTC One X Deluxe Limited Edition announced in Taiwan

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With the One X due to launch internationally in the next month or so, HTC has revealed a limited edtion version of the handset in its home territory of Taiwan. Taiwanese site ePrice reports that the HTC One X Deluxe Limited Edition includes a set of Beats Solo wireless headphones, along with some fancy minimalist packaging.

Taiwanese retailers will start taking pre-orders for the limited edition One X starting next Tuesday, March 20. At this stage it's unknown whether HTC plans to launch this limited package elsewhere, but we saw a similar bundle with the Sensation XL in the UK last year, so our fingers are crossed.

In case you've just emerged from a month-long hibernation, the One X is HTC's flagship smartphone for 2012, with a quad-core CPU, a 720p screen and HTC's new ImageSense camera tech. We got hands-on with the device at MWC and last week's Three UK showcase event.

Source: ePrice; via: Unwired View

Samsung Galaxy S III to be released next month after it's announced this month, says ZDNet Korea

The Samsung Galaxy S III (or now, apparently, the Galaxy S3) will be released in April, after it's announced in March, says ZDNet Korea, citing marketing sources. Could well happen. Or not. Of course, Samsung has to announce the phone, and then release dates will roll out worldwide as they always do -- slowly and gradually. And those of us here in the United States will have to wait for the carriers to make their own announcements. ZDNet's sources say it'll all revolve around some heavy Summer Olympics marketing, which would make sense.

We'll let you know when we actually see announcement invites or something ... what's that word ... official.

Source: ZDNet Korea