HTC One 2014 (M8)

[blairharrington]

So I don't have to watch it, mind summarizing what's new/great about it? At first glance it seems like a phone that you'll like if you liked the original One (aluminum body, front speakers). If you didn't really care about those, then it wasn't that interesting (big body for the screen, big bezels). Does it actually change the balance gen to gen?

The video is terrible. The kid seems to be either dumb or suffering from a mental disability. It's sloppily made and frustrating to watch.

I actually didn't like the One for very specific reasons (flush buttons, wake button placement, home button placement, camera) it appears the M8 has addressed all this and hence why I'm probably going to buy this phone.

The changes I see....

* MicroSD card slot above volume rocker. (This is awesome!)

* Volume rocker extends out from the edge.

* Power/wake button on the top right. Kid in the video says it's much better than the M7 but doesn't say why exactly and you barely see it in the video. Perhaps it's larger and not flush this time.

* Phone is definitely thinner this time (and maybe a touch taller). Plastic from edges is gone. Making the phone thinner. The edges are also rounded now versus sharp/chamfered, which I believe is a welcomed change.

* On-screen buttons.

* Dual cameras on the back. What this means in operation and how many MP they are each is still a mystery.

* Headphone jack on the bottom.

* Speaker grills on the front are not symmetrical this time. Top one is a bit shorter than bottom.

* It appears the two sensors on the front left of the M7 have been moved to the top right and it's just one now. Or the sensors are gone entirely and that's a front flash camera. I don't know for sure.

Moving the wake button to the top right should make waking the phone a little easier but I'm still holding out some hope that there is a tap to wake feature. I still greatly prefer having the wake button on the right edge.

5" screen appears to be a given. Supposed improvements to BoomSound but what exactly is unknown.

 

[Bateluer]

The video is terrible. The kid seems to be either dumb or suffering from a mental disability. It's sloppily made and frustrating to watch.

Since he was dumb enough to show the IMEI and other identifying numbers, he's also now being targeted by HTC's legal team.

 

[WelshBloke]

There's some new leaked photos out (they are linked on android central). The phone looks really, really nice.
Supposed to have a 2900mah battery as well, which although not massive should be adequate.

 

[Bateluer]

There's some new leaked photos out (they are linked on android central). The phone looks really, really nice.
Supposed to have a 2900mah battery as well, which although not massive should be adequate.

The 2300mah in the One2013 seems to hold up pretty damn well, at least, in my use since last May. I can kill it in 6-7 hours if I want, but generally its ~30hrs pretty easily.

 

[ChronoReverse]

There's some new leaked photos out (they are linked on android central). The phone looks really, really nice.
Supposed to have a 2900mah battery as well, which although not massive should be adequate.

2900mah is excellent. Along with the other improvements, the M8 is now on my watch list.

If it had Qi charging built in, it would be wonderful.

 

[WelshBloke]

2900mah is excellent.

My worry is that it's going to be impossible to replace. I'm slowing down my phone replacements as the hardware gets better, there doesn't seem to be much point in buying new ones every year. I'd be looking for this to last 2 to 3 years and then I'd typically pass it on to a relative.

So while 2900mah when new would be fine I'm not sure how good that battery would be after 4 years.

 

[openwheel]

2900 is excellent and better than Galaxy S5. All things point to One being the better phone but as usual Samsung will sell 20X more phone.

 

[blairharrington]

My worry is that it's going to be impossible to replace. I'm slowing down my phone replacements as the hardware gets better, there doesn't seem to be much point in buying new ones every year. I'd be looking for this to last 2 to 3 years and then I'd typically pass it on to a relative.

So while 2900mah when new would be fine I'm not sure how good that battery would be after 4 years.

You'll probably buy a new phone before 4 years.

 

[dawheat]

There's some new leaked photos out (they are linked on android central). The phone looks really, really nice.
Supposed to have a 2900mah battery as well, which although not massive should be adequate.

I mean it's good, but for having a non-removable back, it feels like HTC could have at least matched the G2 since the M8 is physically larger. In comparison, the S5 having a removable 2800mAh battery is actually decent.

Considering the G2 came out early fall 2013, I'm surprised no one in the 5-5.2" range is topping them (assuming like the G2 it is a non-removable battery).

 

[WelshBloke]

You'll probably buy a new phone before 4 years.

Yeah but I'd like it to still work for the person I give it to.

I'm expecting phones to have a longer lifespan now as they have performance in spades. Older phones used to struggle as soon as they were released, something like an S3 should still handle just about everything that you can throw at it and an S5/new One should be even better lasting.

 

[blairharrington]

Yeah but I'd like it to still work for the person I give it to.

I'm expecting phones to have a longer lifespan now as they have performance in spades. Older phones used to struggle as soon as they were released, something like an S3 should still handle just about everything that you can throw at it and an S5/new One should be even better lasting.

I sell my phone when I'm done with it. I've never kept a phone for more than 2 years and I doubt I ever will. Perhaps you will do differently.

 

[WelshBloke]

I sell my phone when I'm done with it. I've never kept a phone for more than 2 years and I doubt I ever will. Perhaps you will do differently.

I've never sold a phone. I always pass them on to a relative or friend.

I'm looking at phones now like I look at PCs.

It used to be you had to upgrade your PC every year or so to keep up with increasing software demands.

At the moment I'm still using a Q6600 and HD6900 because even if I upgraded I dont think the new components would make much difference to how I use it.
Its the same with phones. It used to be you'd upgrade because stuff you were using was too slow or the screen was too small/too crappy. Now phones are really powerful and I'm not going to see much/any visual improvement in going up from a 1080 screen.
My main worry in keeping a phone now is is the battery going to kark it or if I'm going to run out of storage.

Theres lots of little hardware bits that are fun that I want though.

 

[ChronoReverse]

Overall I don't feel any need to upgrade my GS4 for the same reasons. If this had a 2 day battery I would have ZERO qualms with it.

 

[WelshBloke]

Overall I don't feel any need to upgrade my GS4 for the same reasons. If this had a 2 day battery I would have ZERO qualms with it.

Thats what I'm getting at.

Taking the rumours as true; if this had, say, a 3200mah battery and they got rid off that extra bit of bezel I think everyone would be clamouring after it.

As it is it still sounds like an excellent phone though.

 

[blairharrington]

I've never sold a phone. I always pass them on to a relative or friend.

I'm looking at phones now like I look at PCs.

It used to be you had to upgrade your PC every year or so to keep up with increasing software demands.

At the moment I'm still using a Q6600 and HD6900 because even if I upgraded I dont think the new components would make much difference to how I use it.
Its the same with phones. It used to be you'd upgrade because stuff you were using was too slow or the screen was too small/too crappy. Now phones are really powerful and I'm not going to see much/any visual improvement in going up from a 1080 screen.
My main worry in keeping a phone now is is the battery going to kark it or if I'm going to run out of storage.

Theres lots of little hardware bits that are fun that I want though.

Upgrade your PC every year? I've never come close to such a thing. Usually I hold onto a computer until it gets so slow I can't use it. I also think most consumers do the same.

Phones are a different issue. Most consumers, at least here in the States, bank on the 2 year upgrade cycle when they can get a new subsidized phone. Even with T-Mobile and AT&T's new approaches the majority of Americans will be signing 2 years contracts for the foreseeable future.

Personally, I get the itch to get a new phone roughly every 2 years. 24 months after my purchase there are new things calling my name. Better cameras, thinner devices, etc. The issue of speed is pretty irrelevant at least for now because most of us will be more than happy with LTE and dual band wi-fi.

Obviously not everybody is the same. Some will just keep a phone until it literally breaks or stops working properly. But I think most consumers simply want to upgrade in due time.

 

[WelshBloke]

Upgrade your PC every year? I've never come close to such a thing. Usually I hold onto a computer until it gets so slow I can't use it. I also think most consumers do the same.

I'm not talking about literally throwing the old one out and getting a new one, but I probably used to at least upgrade the CPU or GPU once a year or so.

But you make the point I'm trying to express.

Usually I hold onto a computer until it gets so slow I can't use it. I also think most consumers do the same.

Thats where we are getting with phones.

Phones are a different issue. Most consumers, at least here in the States, bank on the 2 year upgrade cycle when they can get a new subsidized phone. Even with T-Mobile and AT&T's new approaches the majority of Americans will be signing 2 years contracts for the foreseeable future.

That maybe true in the States. I'm not trying to talk for anyone but myself.

Personally, I get the itch to get a new phone roughly every 2 years. 24 months after my purchase there are new things calling my name. Better cameras, thinner devices, etc. The issue of speed is pretty irrelevant at least for now because most of us will be more than happy with LTE and dual band wi-fi.

The issue of most of those things is irrelevant as all of them are getting to a point of "good enough". The main bits left are probably storage, battery life and the camera.

Obviously not everybody is the same. Some will just keep a phone until it literally breaks or stops working properly. But I think most consumers simply want to upgrade in due time.

I think a lot of people just upgrade because they are on a contract and get a "free" phone.

 

[Dari]

I mean it's good, but for having a non-removable back, it feels like HTC could have at least matched the G2 since the M8 is physically larger. In comparison, the S5 having a removable 2800mAh battery is actually decent.

Considering the G2 came out early fall 2013, I'm surprised no one in the 5-5.2" range is topping them (assuming like the G2 it is a non-removable battery).

SONY topped them.

 

[blairharrington]

The issue of most of those things is irrelevant as all of them are getting to a point of "good enough". The main bits left are probably storage, battery life and the camera.



I think a lot of people just upgrade because they are on a contract and get a "free" phone.

Nope. Usually they buy one of the more popular phones. Flagship iPhone or Galaxy

Also don't underestimate adults who get tired of their 2 year device and want something new and shiny.

 

[Zaap]

HTC is hopeless.

 

[blairharrington]

HTC is hopeless.

Their marketing is amazingly bad. Look at their 2 latest videos on YouTube. Embarrassing.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0brzd7BfM4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzNgVIZirDk

 

[mcginnis]

^^That's horrible D:. I'm passing on this htc one. Last htc phone I liked was the Evo 4G LTE but when they removed one of the front buttons on the one, I didn't like it.

 

[Bateluer]

Their marketing is amazingly bad. Look at their 2 latest videos on YouTube. Embarrassing.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0brzd7BfM4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzNgVIZirDk

Still head and shoulders above LG's pubic hair hand.

 

[blairharrington]

So someone on Reddit is claiming to have used the M8 and is saying there are swipe gestures with the screen off to wake it, bring up BlinkFeed, etc. That would be HUGE.

 

[shabby]

So someone on Reddit is claiming to have used the M8 and is saying there are swipe gestures with the screen off to wake it, bring up BlinkFeed, etc. That would be HUGE.

Similar to what lg has with the knock knock thing, and similar to swipe2wake that's been available for almost 2 years for the galaxy nexus. Oem's are a bit slow when it comes adding cool features that are posted on xda and such.

 

[ChronoReverse]

Things like knock-knock, swipe2wake and so on are often added to phones by the XDA folks. So even if the M8 doesn't have it, there's a good chance you can get it if you're willing to root.

(Swipe2wake and knock-knock are available like this for my GS4 for instance).