A smartphone is not just another gadget; it is in fact the very need of a digital consumer. As device technology and wireless networks have improved, we find ourselves using our smartphones?and those big, beautiful screens?to accomplish more throughout the day. We spend a considerable amount of time on phone calls, texting and email, surfing the Web, updating social media sites, watching video, or simply using everyday applications that regularly connect to the internet. Unfortunately, battery life doesn?t seem to have improved as much as device features over the past few years.
Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC has put a great deal of effort into improving overall device performance and battery life. Not only that, in recent months its designers have come up with some stunning concept ideas for its smartphone range?Rhyme, Sensation, Radar and One X. Today, we have the beautiful HTC One S for you, an eye-catching Android handset, that too packed with alluring features.
First, a quick update on the overall Indian mobile handset market. The overall mobile handsets market registered sales of 50.2 million units during January-March 2012. Total smartphone sales touched 2.7 million units during January-March 2012. Smartphones make up 5.3% of units sold and almost a quarter of total handset revenues. No prizes for guessing as to why India is a key market for HTC and other handset vendors.
As soon as you pick up the HTC One S, you notice that it?s different to other Android smartphones. It?s thin at 7.9 mm, light at just under 120 grams and feels great in the hand thanks to the brushed aluminium finish. The R33,590-a-piece HTC One S has a svelte form with a unique visually pleasing gradient design that undulates between subtle shades of metallic silver and gray. Those looking for a highly durable handset will love the unibody design in the sophisticated light-to-dark gradient finish, which feels soft to touch yet is super scratch-resistant and perfect for those looking for a stylish accessory. The handset combines a sleek and slim design with a super-fast dual-core processor.
I would say that the HTC One S is truly a complete package of style and performance. It is leap ahead in the style stakes. The 4.3-inch touchscreen sits on top of a powerhouse 1.67 GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, 1 GB of RAM and 16 GB storage. The screen is a 540 x 960 pixel high definition Super AMOLED that boasts 256 pixels per inch. The 8-megapixel camera records 1080p video and the audio is augmented by Beats Audio technology.
In my test-run, the HTC One S was perfect for taking pictures, watching videos and keeping up with the latest music, news and sports events, especially the ongoing Olympics games in London. It delivers super-fast instant image capture and excellent picture quality through its unique ImageSense technology. With a blisteringly fast 8 megapixel camera that auto focuses faster than the blink of an eye, alongside a host of advanced camera functions, users will never miss that perfect shot. The camera on HTC One devices starts up in just under a second to ensure you capture the moment. Plus with photo and video capture buttons on the same screen, it?s easy to switch modes or simply snap a photo while recording HD at the same time.
HTC folks say that fashion fanatics can capture the catwalk or latest street styles by snapping multiple images using the continuous shooting mode, record the action as a film and simultaneously take still shots, or even extract high-res images directly from the video later on. Music fans can make use of the low-light capabilities so they never lose the perfect picture in a dark concert venue or record the live performance on the high definition camcorder. Combine this with an easy-to-use interface that allows sharing at the tap of a screen, the next perfect profile picture is just around the corner.
For those who love music, the HTC One S integrates Beats Audio for studio-quality sound so, whether blasting heavy house tunes or relaxing to the latest acoustic sessions, it will feel as if the artist is performing right in front of you. Those with a busy lifestyle will appreciate the in-built HTC Media Manager software, which makes it even easier to wirelessly update libraries and transfer songs without connecting to a computer.
To ensure that precious photos, music and files are never lost, this HTC phone comes with 25 GB free Dropbox space, meaning everything needed to protect those memories or the treasured music collection is backed up and stored safely online. The HTC One S is available with a selection of accessories which enable users to get even more out of this powerful device. For instance, the HTC wireless Media Link HD enables the phone to connect directly with a HDMI-enabled television, taking all content stored on the phone onto the big screen with a swift three finger swipe across the phone?s screen.
Gamers can also make the most out of TV streaming by activating mirror mode and transforming the handset into a games controller, while showing-off their skills on the big screen. Those who can?t bear to miss a call or text need not worry, as the phone?s multi-tasking ability means users can still call and message without interrupting a movie or game. In addition, users who spend time behind the wheel can wirelessly link up the phone to a car sound system thanks to the HTC Car StereoClip, allowing them to take full advantage of the phone?s integrated mapping and navigation services, while blasting out the latest hits from the music library.
All in all, the HTC One S is a good-looking phone with advanced features.
SPECS
Dimensions: 130.9 x 65 x 7.8 mm
Display size & type: 4.3 inches, Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen
Operating system: Android v4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
CPU: Dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait
Memory: 1 GB
Camera: 8 megapixel, 3264 x 2448 pixels
Video: 1080p@30fps, stereo sound recording
USB: MicroUSB (MHL) v2.0
Weight: 119.5 g
Estimated street price: Rs 33,590
