Technology
The handset maker HTC has unveiled a new smartphone that runs a Windows Phone operating system - the first in more than two years. The BBC reports:
The modified One M8 is being sold at roughly half the price of the same handset running Google's Android. This is the first time the struggling manufacturer has released a Windows smartphone in more than two years.
One analyst said the new device was "almost certainly financially supported" by Microsoft, in an attempt to gain a foothold in the US market. The new phone, which comes with Windows Phone 8.1 pre-installed, is available exclusively through US network provider Verizon.
When bought with a 24 month contract, it is priced at $99 (£60), approximately 50% cheaper than the Android One M8.
"Consumers love the HTC One M8 and today's introduction extends that enthusiasm to new audiences hungry for choice in their mobile experience," said Jason Mackenzie, president of HTC Americas. He added: "Microsoft shares our vision, and that's why we committed to bringing the Windows Phone platform to the HTC One M8."
Meanwhile the company is going all out for the Japan launch of the new J Butterfly phone. The Verge reports:
HTC CEO Peter Chou was in Tokyo today to unveil the company’s latest flagship smartphone for Japan, the new J Butterfly (HTL23) on KDDI.
The phone has much in common with the excellent HTC One (M8) released in the rest of the world earlier this year: it features a 5-inch 1080p display, twin front-facing BoomSound speakers, a second camera lens to allow for Lytro-style refocusing after taking the shot (though the main sensor is 13 megapixels rather than the M8’s four-“ultrapixel” unit), and so on.
But the J Butterfly has a few tweaks that bring it in line with local expectations — it’s waterproof and dustproof, with features like a TV tuner, mobile wallet support, and infrared connectivity.
It’s also housed in a plastic shell, rather than the M8’s sleek metal. HTC is emphasizing the quality of the glossy finishes, and the new J Butterfly does look quite attractive in person, but it definitely doesn’t feel as nice as its global counterpart.
