IMacs coming on 30 November

Apple just announced iMacs are coming out Friday, November 30.

Apple revealed resdesigned, super thin iMacs in October. There were rumors that Apple was having trouble manufacturing the computers and it might not be able to make them this year.

Apparently that's not the case!

Still, Apple is going to only have one month of iMac sales for the quarter, and we expect tight supplies.

Apple says the 21.5-inch model is ready in November, with the 27-inch model coming in December.

Acer C7 chromebook review

Acer C7 Chromebook review: Chrome OS on the cheap, but at what cost?



It's been just over a month since Google unveiled its gorgeous and affordable $249 Samsung Chromebook only to surprise us days later with an even cheaper system, the $199 Acer C7 Chromebook. At first glance, these two laptops are very similar, both in purpose (cloud-based computing on a budget) and in specs (11.6-inch display, dual-core CPU, 2GB of RAM), but there are significant differences under the hood. Samsung's offering achieves its svelte form factor, 6.5-hour battery life and attractive price via a fully integrated and fanless ARM-based design while Acer takes a more conservative approach -- cramming standard off-the-shelf components like a 2.5-inch hard drive, small-outline memory module, mini-PCIe WiFi card, and Intel Celeron processor into a traditional netbook-like chassis. Does being $50 cheaper make up for the C7's lack of sex appeal and short 4-hour battery life? What other compromises in performance and build quality (if any) were made to achieve this lower cost? Most importantly, which budget Chromebook is right for you? Find out after the break.
Launch Photo Gallery



Look and feel




Cheap molded plastics abound, making this laptop sturdy but not particularly elegant.
Whereas Samsung's $249 Chromebook is purpose-built and inherits most of the finer design attributes of its larger, faster and more expensive cousin, the Series 5 550, Acer's $199 Chromebook looks and feels like a cheap netbook. In fact, other than the Chrome logo and OS-specific key labels, you'd be hard-pressed to tell the C7 apart from its twin, the company's 11.6-inch Aspire V5. Build quality and materials are on par with other low-end Acer systems we've come across -- cheap molded plastics abound, making this laptop sturdy but not particularly elegant. If Samsung's Chromebook evokes the 11-inch MacBook Air, the C7 is completely generic and purely utilitarian. Beyond the obvious aesthetic differences, Acer's Chromebook is also thicker (one inch vs. 0.7 inch) and heavier (three pounds vs. 2.4).

The screen lid and keyboard deck are painted "iron gray" while the bottom shell is made of textured black plastic and the display bezel is finished in shiny black. Strangely, each of these disparate surfaces manages to attract fingerprints to various degrees. Acer's brand is stenciled below the glossy 11.6-inch screen and in the middle of the lid. The Chrome logo is embossed in the top-left corner of the lid -- it's actually a sticker which started peeling off within minutes of us unboxing the C7. You'll find a webcam and microphone above the display and the power button with an embedded blue LED above the keyboard to the left.

Speaking of which, the keyboard uses black island keys but differs in layout from other Chromebooks, which is problematic (more on this later). The left side is home to a 10/100 Ethernet jack, VGA and HDMI outputs, plus a USB 2.0 port, while the right side features a Kensington lock, the power socket, two more USB 2.0 sockets and a standard 3.5mm headphone jack. In front, there's an SD card slot on the left and a pair of blue / orange status LEDs (sleep and charge) on the right. The removable four-cell Li-ion battery slides into the back of the system and is secured via a sliding lock mechanism accessible from the bottom.

Flipping Acer's Chromebook over reveals a few vents and grilles for the cooling fan and the speakers. What's more interesting is that the bottom shell is largely covered by a plastic door that's fastened with a single Phillips screw located under the warranty seal. Opening this door provides access to a 7mm-thin 2.5-inch SATA hard drive (320GB / 5400rpm) made by Seagate, two DDR3-1066 / 1333 SoDIMM slots (one of them populated with 2GB of RAM) and an Atheros half-height mini-PCIe 802.11a/b/g/n card (connected to a pair of antennae). This, combined with the Ethernet jack, VGA output and additional USB 2.0 port makes the C7 a lot more tinker-friendly than Samsung's Chromebook. In fact, resourceful hackers are already dual-booting Chrome OS and Ubuntu 12.04 on this laptop -- we're sure Windows 8 is not too far behind.

Keyboard and trackpad




We've been spoiled by the quality of the keyboard and trackpad on Samsung's $249 Chromebook, which seem to be lifted right from the pricier Series 5 550. The C7 falls short in comparison -- the keyboard and trackpad are decent, but we can't see ourselves writing an entire review on Acer's $199 Chromebook.

First, the keyboard deviates from the standard Chromebook layout by losing the power button (it's separate) and including caps-lock (instead of the search key). Second, it's cluttered with vestigial keys (such as Home, End, Ins, Del) which are too small to be useful and in some cases (like Pg Up / Dn) interfere with the cursor keys, something that quickly makes editing documents extremely frustrating. Third, the Ctrl and Alt keys are too small and are separated by other keys on the left side, while the Alt key is missing on the right (replaced with Alt Gr). Once you're past these niggles, it's a serviceable if somewhat mushy chiclet keyboard.

Acer's trackpad almost matches Samsung's. Single-finger tracking and two-finger scrolling work as expected but pressing to click requires more force, which becomes tiring after using the C7 for a while. Of course tapping to click is available in the settings, but we prefer the tactile feedback of a properly calibrated switch.

Display and sound




There's one major difference between the 11.6-inch, 1,366 x 768-pixel LED-backlit screens on these two budget Chromebooks -- Acer's is glossy and Samsung's is matte. In fact, this is the second Chromebook ever with a shiny display (the first being Acer's AC700). Colors are slightly cooler on the C7, but brightness, contrast and viewing angles are similar on both screens -- neither is as bright as the Series 5 550, and you'll probably want to adjust the lid for the best viewing angle once you're in a comfortable position. While Samsung's matte display is easier on the eyes (especially when working outdoors), Acer's screen opens almost flat, which is a nice touch.

Neither Chromebook is going to break any records in terms of audio quality when using the built-in speakers. These sound tinny and are easy to obstruct, being located in the bottom shell near the front edge of the keyboard deck on both systems. Samsung beats Acer on loudness here, but the C7's volume is still adequate in a quiet room.

Performance and battery life




Acer's Chromebook, which is rated for four hours of operation, lasts only three hours and 16 minutes in the same test.
Acer's $199 Chromebook features Intel's 1.1GHz Celeron 847 processor and a 320GB hard drive. Samsung's $249 Chromebook is built around the company's A15-based 1.7GHz Exynos 5 Dual (5250) SoC with 16GB of flash storage. Both laptops sport a dual-core CPU and 2GB of RAM, so it's really a battle of x86 vs. ARM and HDDs vs. SSDs. On Chromebooks, the processor speed usually affects things like page rendering and scrolling, the amount of RAM impacts how many tabs you're able to open at the same time, and storage performance generally affects boot times and page caching

In our experience, Samsung's Exynos-packing system slots somewhere between the Atom-equipped Chromebooks and the Celeron-based models like the Series 5 550. Of course, those are all equipped with solid-state drives. The C7, then, is an anomaly -- it's marginally faster than its budget stablemate, both subjectively and as reflected by SunSpider web rendering results (528ms vs. 677ms), yet it takes twice as long to boot (18 seconds vs. nine). We don't remember noticing any hiccups or crashes -- as such, it's a perfectly competent Chromebook that provides middle-of-the-road performance.

Battery life is another matter. Samsung's Chromebook comes out ahead by matching its specs and scoring six hours and 33 minutes in our usual battery rundown test (which involves playing a video in a loop from local storage with WiFi turned on). Acer's Chromebook, which is rated for four hours of operation, lasts only three hours and 16 minutes in the same test. While the C7 features a smaller 2,500mAh battery (vs. 4,080mAh), it's also saddled with less-efficient components, like that 2.5-inch hard drive, the Intel Celeron CPU and its associated cooling fan. Speaking of which, the fan is always spinning, and while the speed varies, it's often loud enough to be noticed. While it's somewhat annoying, it keeps the laptop cool even when the vents are partially covered by fabric.

Software




There's a certain beautiful simplicity to cloud-based computing.
For many, Chrome OS is an acquired taste -- you really have to live with it for a few days to appreciate it. While it's not for everyone, it's a compelling option once you wrap your head around the idea. There's a certain beautiful simplicity to cloud-based computing that becomes clear once you start using a system designed to do only one thing really well -- the one thing people do the most -- surf the web. No more worries about managing apps or updating software or lending your laptop -- you're able to focus and be productive. We have several fans in our midst here at Engadget, and this pair of budget Chromebooks is generating more interest than ever among colleagues, friends and family.

Acer's $199 Chromebook runs version 23 of Chrome OS. We reviewed build 19 earlier this year, which marked a significant change for the OS -- the UI evolved from being pretty much a full-screen instance of Chrome to offering a more desktop-like experience, complete with wallpapers, a task bar and a launch menu. It also introduced additional functionality with a photo editor, broader media compatibility, offline documents including Google Books, support for Hangouts, plus tab synchronization with other versions of Chrome (mobile and desktop). That build of the OS also comes with Chrome Remote Desktop to access remote systems and share your own screen. Version 23, which also ships on Samsung's $249 Chromebook, features a revised log-in screen, additional wallpapers, a calculator app, a camera app (with funky filters) and deep Google Drive integration -- complete with 100GB of free storage for two years.

Wrap-up




More Info

Acer unveils C7 Chromebook
Samsung Chromebook review (late 2012)
Samsung Chromebook Series 5 550 review
Whether you're interested in cloud-based computing on a budget or you're just curious about Chrome OS, there's never been a more affordable selection of Chromebooks. Acer's $199 system certainly wins on price, but it looks and feels extremely cheap. It offers a fast processor along with Ethernet and VGA connectivity, but at the expense of a glossy screen, poor keyboard layout and lackluster battery life. Did we mention the sea of cheap plastics?

Still, it's hard to ignore the C7's tinker-friendly ways. Adding another 2GB of RAM (by installing a second SoDIMM) and replacing the hard drive with a small SSD is a trivial way to achieve Series 5 550 levels of performance for less money than buying Google's flagship laptop -- not to mention, this Chromebook's already been hacked to run other operating systems. Plus, the removable four-cell Li-ion battery opens the door to larger-capacity replacement packs.

Ultimately, we think it's worth spending a little extra for Samsung's $249 model. It's more elegant, better built, thinner and lighter. This, together with the matte display, top-notch keyboard and decent battery life makes for a more polished Chromebook experience. After all, if you're gonna live in the cloud, might as well be on cloud nine, right?

Facebook will have to face vote for its policy changes

17,800 Facebook users have commented on proposed changes to Facebook’s governing documents, enough to trigger a vote on whether they’ll go into effect. Today the Electronic Privacy Information Center asked Mark Zuckerberg to withdraw the proposal to combine user data from Facebook and Instagram, and eliminate the same right to vote that users will assert in a 7-day period starting soon.

Facebook gave users one week to review the proposal to change its Statement of Rights and Responsibilities and Data Use Policy, and that period ends tomorrow morning around 10am PST. Since more than 7,o00 users have left commented on the changes, exceeding the threshold required to cause a vote, Facebook will set up a one-week voting period in the near future. Last May when Facebook made its last proposal that also received enough comments, Facebook set up a voting period starting two weeks after the comment period ended, meaning this vote could begin around December 11th.

At that point, Facebook users will be able to cast their ballot for or against the changes. If under 30% of the total user base votes, the majority decision will only be taken under advisory, and Facebook can decide whether or not to implement the changes. If over 30%, or 300 million users do vote, the majority decision is binding and Facebook must abide by it.

That’s highly unlikely to happen though, considering last time only 380,000 ballots were cast and Facebook went ahead with the changes. Considering Facebook has 1 billion monthly users and the voting period only lasts a week, getting a third of them to vote against the change in the allotted time is far-fetched. So unless Facebook retracts the proposal, it’s almost sure to become policy.

You can read my breakdown of the proposed changes here. The key points are that Facebook seeks to:

Replace the ability to vote on future site governance change proposals with enhanced ways of gathering feedback on user opinions
Share data to and from its affiliates such as Instagram, Facebook Ireland, and Facebook Payments, including user and ad targeting data
Alter the way users control who can send them messages
Explain to users that co-owned content and photos of them uploaded by others can’t be unilaterally deleted or entirely hidden
The presidents of EPIC and the Center For Digital Democracy co-authored a letter to Zuckerberg decrying the changes one by one. Some of their feedback is reasonable, though other elements seem to misunderstand that fighting spam is critical to Facebook’s long-term success. Also, both of these organizations run on donations and benefit from raising awareness by picking fights with big-name companies. With those caveats in mind, their responses to each of the first three changes outlined above are that:

“Scrapping the mechanism altogether raises questions about Facebook’s willingness to take seriously the participation of Facebook users.”
“When Facebook first announced its acquisition of Instagram, it also announced its commitment ‘to building and growing Instagram independently,’ rather than integrating the two sites. Facebook’s proposed changes implicate the user privacy and the terms of a recent settlement with the Federal Trade Commission…[that says] prior to any sharing of users’ personal information with a third party, Facebook must make a clear and prominent disclosure and obtain the affirmative express consent of its users.”
“By removing users ability to prevent strangers from sending unwanted messages, the proposed changes are likely to increase the amount of spam that users receive.”
The messaging change is vague, but has the potential to help Facebook users avoid missing Messages from non-friends that right now might be getting shuttled into the “Other Inbox” that few check or even know about. The new language about content visibility isn’t a change as much as reminder of existing functionality works.

Combining data with affiliates could anger some Instagram users who purposefully avoid Facebook. It has greater implications for those who use both. Facebook could employ its biographical and social graph data to target an as-yet-unlaunched ad unit within Instagram, or use Instagram geo-location data to improve accuracy of local business ads on Facebook. Still, even though Facebook said Instagram would operate independently, I certainly didn’t expect there to be no commingling of data and staff resources. This is critical to Facebook monetizing Instagram, and it’s going to happen.

But Facebook could actually decide to revise its change to the voting structure. I discuss at length here why the existing system is broken. It’s easy for a vocal minority like privacy activist group Europe Vs Facebook to trigger a vote, but almost impossible for that vote to be binding. The comment threshold encourages low-quality feedback instead of true discussion of what would be best for users.

In my opinion, though, it’s better than no voting system. There’s the off-chance it could be useful in a global emergency, but at the very least it gives users the sense that they have a hand in the future of the social network.

It would take some serious political science genius to turn Facebook’s site governance system into a functional, representative democracy. It would need to be simple enough for any user to participate without prohibitive time or effort, powerful enough to enact or block change when necessary, secure enough not to be gamed or hacked, yet not a major distraction to the service’s core value of Facebook. Maybe such a system doesn’t exist.

In speaking to Facebook’s Chief Privacy Officer of policy Erin Egan, I know the company didn’t take lightly the decision to propose removing the vote. It truly wants users to have a voice in its decision making. It just doesn’t want to give privacy obstructionists a disproportionately loud voice as it does now, and it seeks to get a more comprehensive, qualitative look at how users feel about changes.

But I don’t think it’s time for Facebook to throw up its hands and end its admirably progressive experiment in social networking as a republic. Put out the call to the world’s greatest political tinkerers, many of whom are probably users, and ask them to design a better system. Review the submissions, select the best ones, make the whole thing transparent. If no better site governance system can be found, go forward with this proposal. But it should not remove the vote until all the opportunities for democracy have been exhausted.



[Image Credit: IconFinder]

Motorola droid razor available at a steal

The Motorola DROID RAZR M may not be a top tier device, but it is certainly a capable Android smartphone. As we found in our review, the RAZR M offers a lot of bang for the buck when purchased from Verizon for $99. That equation has improved significantly for the holidays as Verizon is now offering the handset for only $49.99 with a two-year contract. This is a good opportunity to get your hands on a relatively decent Android smartphone without breaking the bank. Hit the break to view Verizon’s promo video that includes the offer.

Nintendo 3ds and ds record sales

The Black Friday shopping frenzy has subsided, and as the dust clears Nintendo must be fairly pleased with the performance of their handhelds.

Speaking to CNET, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime disclosed that Nintendo sold 250,000 3DS and 275,000 DS handhelds over the holiday weekend.

Fils-Aime attributed these strong sales to the "significant" Black Friday deals that various retailers were offering, including one rather attractively priced bundle.



Rumour has it



On the softer side of 3DS news, a rumour in the NeoGAF forums indicates that Target will drop the price of a regular 3DS to $139.99 next week which is $30 cheaper than its current retail price.

Also rumoured is the arrival of a Mario Kart XL bundle, similar to the one announced for Europe earlier this year.

The Mario Kart XL bundle will include a blue 3DS XL and a copy of Mario Kart 7 for $199 - which is $30 cheaper than the current suggested retail price for an individual 3DS XL.

How will the Apple TV look like..

A television set made by Apple—just the mention of it is enough to send an Apple fan into a drooling delirium.

Apple currently makes a box you connect to your existing TV. But people want the real thing, not a set-top box—and there are persistent reports that Apple may be working on one. If those are true, the current estimates are we'll see it available to consumers no sooner than November 2013.

That means there's no shortage of speculation about what it will look like and how it will work.

It's easy to picture the hardware, based on Apple's iPads and flat-screen iMacs. But what about the software?

Over at The Verge, a user named Knowledge has laid out his wishlist for the Apple TV by designing a hypothetical interface for it.

Obviously you have to have a good TV guide

"Subscriptions" would make it easy to find your favorite channels in a flash

It should be able to run a number of different apps

Google nexus shipping now!!

This evening, Google is starting to send out emails to the many of you who ordered a Nexus 4 on November 13th and were then told you would have to wait up to three weeks to get your device. It now appears that a big number of people will be getting their Nexus 4 either late this week or next week. As the email below states, shipments will be heading out “this week”, which means we should see them within a day or two of you getting your “it’s Shipped!” email or sooner.

Your Nexus 4 order is scheduled to ship this week. We’ll send you a notification, including tracking information, when it’s on the way.

Please note that your order will be charged in full when it ships. As a courtesy and to thank you for your patience, you’ll then receive a credit for the shipping charge within 7 business days.

Thanks again,

The Google Play Team

Samsung galaxy iv outed in benchmark release

It appears as though Samsung has begun the testing phase for its successor to the Galaxy S III, albeit with lower-end specs. The benchmark outs the device as wielding a WVGA display and dual-core 1.2GHz processor. Of course the rumored Galaxy S IV powerhouse won’t be sporting those measly specifications, but before you rule this leak out as a fake, keep in mind that Samsung consistently tests pre-production firmware on devices with lower specs than the model that will actually see a release.

For example, last year we encountered several early benchmarks of the Galaxy S III with these very same hardware components (which began showing up in December). This allows Samsung to thoroughly test preliminary software and make inherent changes on a test unit, despite not having the actual components that will be present in the GS4.

Source: SamMobile

China mobile starts accepting iPhone 5 preorders !

China Telecom customers are about to get the iPhone 5, according to a report in the Global Times. Customer service staff from the carrier’s Beijing branch reportedly told the newspaper that the carrier is starting to take pre-orders for Apple’s latest iOS device. A launch date was not provided, but rumors suggest the handset will hit in mid-December. Apple said earlier this year that the company intends to rollout the phone to hundreds of countries and 240 carriers by the end of 2012.

China Telecom is China’s third largest carrier and has 155 million subscribers. It started selling the iPhone 4S earlier this year and the phone took off. Before the iPhone 4S officially landed on store shelves, the carrier took 200,000 pre-orders, and after its launch in March 2012, strong sales of the iPhone boosted China Telecom’s Q2 2012 subscriber base by 8.35 million customers.

[Via Global News and iDownload blog]

Deals of the day Black Friday

Cyber Monday may be coming to a close, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t still great deals to be found. While you might have seen a few on IntoMobile earlier today, there’s certainly a nice chunk of tech toys that you might have missed out on.

One of the best deals you can find right now is the 7 inch Kindle Fire for only $129 on Amazon, which is an awesome deal if you’re looking for a very capable Android tablet on the cheap. There’s a ton more deals for you to choose from, so just take a gander below!

Top Deal
7″ Kindle Fire 8GB Wi-Fi Tablet for $129 with free shipping at Amazon. (normally $159 – use coupon code FIREDEAL).

Mobile Phones
Cyber Monday: HTC One V Android Smartphone [Virgin Mobile] for $49.99 with free shipping at Virgin Mobile. (normally $149.99).

AT&T Cyber Monday $0.99 Smartphone Blowout Sale.

Cyber Monday: Wirefly’s Shout & Holler Sale – 50+ Phones Under $1 + Free credits & Extras!

Cyber Monday: Boost Mobile Sale with $70 off Galaxy S II, 25% off phones and more.

Laptops
17.3″ Dell Inspiron 17R 3rd Gen Core i7 Quad-core Laptop w/1080p LCD, 8GB RAM, 1TB HDD + 32GB SSD, 2GB GeForce GT 650M for $899.99 with free shipping at Dell Home (normally $1,188.99 – use $100 coupon code).

18.4″ Alienware m18x r2 Core i7 Ivy Bridge Quad-Core Gaming Laptop w/1080p display, 2GB GeForce GTX 660M, 8GB RAM for $1,699 with free shipping at Dell (normally $1,999 – use coupon code: 5PQJJW8VQQR?).

15.6″ Dell Inspiron 15R Special Edition 3rd Gen Core i7 Quad-core Laptop w/1080p, 8GB RAM, 750GB HDD + 32GB SSD for $849.99 with free shipping at Dell (normally $1,049.99 – use coupon code: G0LN9LD3FT8RB$).

15.6″ HP ENVY 6t-1100 Core i5 Ivy Bridge Ultrabook w/ 32GB mSSD & Windows 8 for $649.99 with Free shipping at HP Home (normally $799.99 – use $150 coupon code HOLIDAY150HP).

14″ Lenovo IdeaPad Y400 3rd Gen Core i7 Gaming Laptop w/8GB RAM, 1TB HDD & GeForce GT 650M for $749 with free shipping at Lenovo (normally $1,249 – use $500 coupon code: CMDOORBUSTER).

11.6″ Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11 NVIDIA Tegra 3 Windows RT Tablet for $679.20 with free shipping at Lenovo (normally $849 – use coupon code: CYBERMONDAY).

Tablets
$100 off tablets at AT&T with 2yr contract (iPad, Galaxy Tab, others).

$40 off pre-orders at OfficeMax: Barnes and Noble Nook HD and HD+, starting at $159 (use coupon code).

Pre-order: Dell Latitude 10 64GB Windows 8 Pro Tablet for $624 from Dell with free shipping (normally $964, use coupon code 051348KD$Z8QDB).

Personal Portables and Cameras
Nikon D3100 14MP DSLR Camera w/18-55mm Lens + Free Accessories for $494.99 with free shipping at Dell Home (normally $549.99 – use coupon code VGW2GRNP6$N2D7).

Samsung NX1000 Mirrorless WI-Fi 20-Megapixel Digital Camera w/20-50mm Lens for $449 with free shipping at ABT (normally $699.99).

Peripherals, Misc and Accessories
23″ Dell U2312HM UltraSharp 1080p IPS-panel LCD Monitor for $199 with free shipping at Dell Home (normally $299 – use $100 coupon code).

2TB Seagate Expansion USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive (STBV2000100) for $79.99 with free shipping at Dell (norm

Deals of the Day – Cyber Monday Edition! originally appeared on IntoMobile.com on 2012-11-27T03:55:04Z. FV1gMYsz9b5j

Fans show support for gta v via petetion

Mike Julliard is a fan of Grand Theft Auto who believes that "GTA is an amazing PC game and the idea of it not being on PC is a mistake!"

Julliard started a petition on change.org, to show Rockstar how many people want to see GTA V available on PC.

Rockstar hasn't ruled out releasing GTA V on the platform, with Rockstar vice president Dan Houser stating earlier this month that GTA V on PC and Wii U were up for consideration.

The petition reads:
To: Rockstar Games,

Please release GTA V on PC. GTA games have been a large part of so many peoples lives and it's a big shame not seeing the newest iteration of the game being released on the most powerful platform. Things like modifications have always been a HUGE part of PC gaming and modded GTA is some of the most insanely fun times you can have.

I hope you consider the release of GTA V on PC as it'll make many people very happy!

At the time of writing the petition has gained support from 42,814 people, and needs 57,186 in total.

GTA V is out on Xbox 360 and PS3 in Autumn 2013.

HTC 8X

HTC 8X review: Windows Phone 8's compact flagship  Mobile

 posted Oct 29th, 2012 at 2:30 PM293 

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• Table of contents
• Hardware
• Performance and battery life
• Camera
• Software
• Wrap-up

MORE INFO

• Windows Phone 8X by HTC: 4.3-inch 720p display, LTE, dual-core S4, available this November
• Windows Phone 8X by HTC hands-on: Microsoft's modern mobile OS personified in polycarbonate
• Windows Phone 8 review

It feels like forever since Microsoft announcedWindows Phone 8 back in June, but the mobile OS is finally here and with it comes the inaugural volley of compatible handsets. The first one to cross our desks is the global, unlocked version of HTC's Windows Phone 8X, a device we first saw in September. Unlike other current flagships, this phone breaks the bigger-is-better trend by providing a full set of high-end specs in a relatively compact package -- combining a 4.3-inch 720p Super LCD 2 display, Qualcomm dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor and NFC in a sleek and colorful package. Does the 8X have what it takes to carry the Windows Phone 8 torch? Is this a bona fide flagship despite its reduced footprint? Has HTC designed a better handset than its existing Android superphone, the One X? Find out in our review after the break.

HTC Windows Phone 8X review

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HTC Windows Phone 8X review (AT&T model)

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HARDWARE

We're not going to mince words here: we're madly in love with the design of HTC's Windows Phone 8X. It combines angular lines with curves in unique and delightful ways, then adds a bucket of color to the mix. Our review unit is the global, non-LTE model in a handsome shade of purple-ish blue called California Blue (other colors include Graphite Black, Flame Red and the amazing Limelight Yellow). In the US, both T-Mobile and AT&T will be offering the handset but it's not clear if all these hues will make the final cut. Like HTC's One X (and One X+), the 8X starts life as a solid block of colored polycarbonate. Here, however, it's machined down into something akin to a pillow -- a rectangular unibody with gently rounded corners that tapers softly to a thin edge around the device, with a sheet of black Gorilla Glass in front. While Nokia pioneered the process of machining colored polycarbonate (both matte and glossy finishes) with the N9 and the Lumia 800, HTC's pushing the envelope here with what looks like soft-touch frosted surfaces. Oh yes, except for maybe the black and white versions, people will notice this phone -- you've been warned.

It combines angular lines with curves in unique and delightful ways, then adds a bucket of color to the mix.

In a day and age when most flagships have 4.65- to 4.8-inch screens (or bigger -- hello, Galaxy Note II), it's refreshing to see a top-tier handset with more compact dimensions. As mentioned above, the HTC 8X is built around a 4.3-inch HD display which allows the body to be narrower and better suited for one-handed operation. The phone feels extremely comfortable in hand and features great proportions despite a generous bezel (especially at the top and bottom). At 130g (4.59 ounces) it's not a heavy device, but the sleek design does a fantastic job of hiding the thicker-than-average 10.1mm (0.4-inches) profile. The pillow-like colored polycarbonate back is flat enough that the 8X is able to rest on a table without rocking back and forth when touched. It's home to the 8-megapixel, f/2.0 autofocus camera (accented by an anodized aluminum ring in a similar shade of blue and flanked by a single LED flash) in the top center. The HTC brand is embossed in silver smack in the middle, and the Beats logo, speaker grille (an array of tiny machined holes) and certification details in fine print can be found in the bottom-center.

Gorilla Glass covers the front of the 8X and tapers slightly at the edges to blend into the colored polycarbonate. While the build quality of our review unit is generally top-notch, the bottom-left corner of that glass surface is not perfectly flush with the body. This was even more pronounced on another handset, enough for light to leak out of the gap when using the device at night. Hopefully HTC will remedy this minor flaw as production ramps up. Beyond protecting the 4.3-inch, 720p panel, this sheet of glass covers the 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera (top-left) and capacitive buttons along the bottom (back, Windows and search) which are both stenciled and backlit in white. One of the most striking aspects of the 8X's design is the earpiece which matches the blue hue of the rest of the phone. We're pretty sure it's part of the machined chassis and protrudes through a cutout in the front glass. Cool, eh? A notification light is seamlessly embedded inside the earpiece -- light just shines through the right end of the grille -- and a silver HTC logo is wedged between the earpiece and the screen.

One of the most striking aspects of the 8X's design is the earpiece which matches the blue hue of the rest of the phone.

Walking around the surprisingly thin colored polycarbonate edge of the 8X, you'll find the standard 3.5mm headphone jack, secondary mic and power / lock key on top; the micro-SIM tray (with its obligatory release pin hole), volume rocker and dedicated two-stage camera button on the right side; plus micro-USB and primary mic on the bottom. It's worth noting that all these controls (power / lock key, volume rocker and camera button) are made of anodized aluminum in a similar shade of blue as the rest of the handset -- a lovely touch for sure. The only drawback is that these controls are super thin and almost flush with the body, making them difficult to find by touch. Since the 8X relies on a unibody manufacturing process, the 1,800mAh Li-polymer battery is sealed and there's no microSD slot. Instead, storage is provided in the form of 16GB of built-in flash -- this is a bare minimum these days and might be a sticking point for some. Regardless of these limitations, this is an exquisite design and we'd love to see HTC make a compact Android flagship with the same look and feel.

The 8X's non-PenTile Super LCD 2 display crams 1,280 x 720 pixels into a 4.3-inch diagonal -- that's 341ppi of HD goodness, if you're keeping track. It's also optically laminated to the glass surface for more sharpness and less reflections. All this results in a gorgeous screen with inky blacks and natural colors that's bright enough to handle direct sunlight. Strangely, the viewing angles don't quite match what we've experienced with the One X, despite both phones sharing the same panel technology. We're being picky here, to be sure, and most people will be hard-pressed to notice a difference.

The 8X's Super LCD 2 display crams 1,280 x 720 pixels into a 4.3-inch diagonal -- that's 341ppi of HD goodness, if you're keeping track.

Spec-wise, the 8X features a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 SoC paired with 1GB of RAM. This is a huge improvement over Windows Phone 7 devices which are limited to a single core processor and 512MB of RAM. As we pointed out above, there's 16GB of internal flash with no way to add more -- while Windows Phone 8 supports microSD storage, HTC chose to do without. Our global review unit sports quad-band radios for both GSM / GPRS / EDGE and UMTS / HSPA+ (the latter compatible with 2100, 1900, 900 and 850MHz), but some upcoming models (like AT&T's) will also provide LTE functionality. Additional radios include 802.11a/b/g/n (dual-band), Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, A-GPS and NFC. Finally, you'll find the usual collection of sensors on board: proximity, ambient light, compass, accelerometer and gyroscope.

PERFORMANCE AND BATTERY LIFE

We're particularly blown away by that 914ms SunSpider score.

It should come as no surprise that Windows Phone 8 paired with a modern dual-core processor driving a 720p display feels just as snappy and responsive as Windows Phone 7 running on a single-core CPU with a WVGA screen. We've always been satisfied with the subjective performance of Windows Phone 7, and this continues with Windows Phone 8. On the one hand, the raw benefits of using faster silicon are likely offset by switching from Windows CE to the Windows NT kernel. Then again, the new OS architecture brings significant benefits to the table, such as better multitasking, enhanced security and a common set of APIs for developers. We put the HTC 8X through our usual set of benchmarks and the results are rather interesting. Keep in mind that WPBench and AnTuTu are Windows Phone 7 apps that might not work properly in Windows Phone 8. Still, this device is clearly much quicker than any other Windows Phone handset we've tested before. We're particularly blown away by that 914ms SunSpider score.

	HTC Windows Phone 8X	HTC Titan II	Nokia Lumia 900	Nokia Lumia 800
WPBench	221	94.5	92	86
Battery rundown	2:30	2:50	4:29	2:40
SunSpider (ms, lower numbers are better)	914	6,445	6,902	7,200
AnTuTu	11,775	2,635	2,596	2,398

Calls sounded loud and clear on the 8X, both with the earpiece and the speaker. Ditto for music playback through headphones and earbuds, which demonstrated the same impeccable audio quality we documented with the One X. The company is obviously putting an emphasis on the listening experience with its phones lately, and it's paying off. Reception was problem-free and our HSPA+ speed tests peaked at 8 Mbps down and 1.5 Mbps up, which is pretty much what you'd expect from an unlocked handset on AT&T's network in San Francisco. Devices built around Qualcomm's dual-core Snapdragon S4 usually provide superior battery life and the 8X is no exception. Even though WPBench's CPU-intensive battery rundown test drained the sealed 1,800mAh Li-polymer pack in just two hours and 30 minutes (with the display turned on), we're taking this result with a grain of salt since we're dealing with a Windows Phone 7 app. In our normal battery usage test, we easily managed to extract an entire day's use from a full charge, and we think most folks will have no trouble replicating this.

CAMERA

If you're familiar with the impressive camera found on the One X (and One S) you'll feel right at home with the 8X.

If you're familiar with the impressive camera found on the One X (and One S), you'll feel right at home with the 8X. This shooter combines the same 8-megapixel backside-illuminated sensor, f/2.0 wide-angle autofocus lens and ImageChip technology as its Android cousins, and performs just as nicely. What's lost in the shuffle are some of HTC's ImageSense tricks, such as the ability to capture stills while recording video, plus the burst, HDR and panorama modes. Instead, you're treated to a basic camera interface which looks pretty much identical to what we last saw in Windows Phone 7. Here you'll find a double-arrow icon for a new feature called Lenses, which are plug-ins designed to extend the shooter's functionality. It's likely that HDR and panorama will eventually return as Lenses, but for now there are three to choose from. Bing Vision (pre-installed) scans barcodes, QR codes, Microsoft tags, books, CDs and DVDs. Photosync shoots wraparound panoramas or full synths, such as 360-degree views. PhotoStrip mimics a photo booth by taking five pictures, one second apart (this is adjustable) and combining them into a strip.

HTC Windows Phone 8X sample shots

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This camera takes wonderful photos, with plenty of detail. Color balance and exposure are extremely accurate even in the most difficult conditions. Low-light performance is strong thanks the fast f/2.0 lens and backside-illuminated sensor -- noise, while sometimes noticeable, rarely becomes an issue. It's also the fastest Windows Phone shooter we've used yet, although there's still room for improvement with the autofocus speed when taking closeup shots. Video is captured in HD at 1080p / 30 fps with mono audio, continuous autofocus and an average bitrate of 20.5 Mbps -- unfortunately this drops to 15 fps when recording at night. The results are generally decent, but low-light video performance is rather disappointing. Like all Windows Phone handsets, the 8X comes with a dedicated two-stage camera button which locks focus and exposure when half-pressed. While this key is a bit too narrow and too flush with the edge of the phone, it's still better than nothing -- Android manufacturers, take note.

SOFTWARE

Still, coming from Windows Phone 7, this new OS feels like an evolution, like yet another minor version bump.

We're not going to get into the details of what's new with Microsoft's latest mobile OS -- that's what our ultra-thorough Windows Phone 8 review is for. Still, coming from Windows Phone 7, this new OS feels like an evolution, like yet another minor version bump. Of course, there's a lot more going on under the hood, changes that should allow Windows Phone 8 to grow and mature. The seeds are planted, but will they blossom? That really depends on how this mobile OS is received by developers. Case in point: seamless Google integration, or the lack thereof -- it's impractical for most of us at Engadget to use a Windows Phone handset as our daily driver. There's no way for us to do our jobs without proper support (including notifications) for advanced Gmail features, multiple private Google calendars, Google talk and Google Voice. Even the latest Twitter and Facebook clients are eons behind what's available in Android or iOS -- not to mention the lack of official apps for Google+, Google Music, Instagram, Dropbox, Flipboard, Uber and Square, to name but a few.

HTC does provide a few in-house apps and additional settings on the 8X but these look identical to what the company previously bundled on its Windows Phone 7 devices. There's an app simply called HTC which aggregates up-to-date weather, stocks and news along with a matching Live Tile. Connection Setup helps with APN configuration: select your country and carrier and the app handles the rest. Flashlight is exactly what you'd expect -- it turns the LED flash on the back of the handset into a torch with three levels of brightness. Photo Enhancer lets you apply filters to existing pictures complete with an Auto Enhance option. Converter offers a quick and easy way to convert between various units and currencies. The 8X also gains a couple of entries in the settings menu with a Beats Audio switch and the "attentive phone" toggles (Quiet ring on pickup, Pocket Mode and Flip to mute ringer).

WRAP-UP

There's no doubt that HTC's Windows Phone 8X is a worthy flagship. It combines phenomenal looks, solid construction and high-end specs in a relatively compact and delightfully colorful package. We're impressed with the speedy Qualcomm dual-core Snapdragon S4, great battery life, beautiful 4.3-inch 341ppi Super LCD 2 screen and strong 8-megapixel camera. Yes, the 8X is a fantastic ambassador to Windows Phone 8, but after using it for several days, we're longing for a similar phone from HTC running Android -- at least until a stronger app ecosystem develops for Microsoft's latest mobile OS. Still, if you're betting on Windows Phone 8 it really comes down to the 8X's exquisite design and reduced footprint versus the Lumia 920's better camera, larger screen and wireless charging. Which one's right for you? Stay tuned for our upcoming review of Nokia's flagship.

Update: We've also spent time with AT&T's version of the HTC 8X, and taken a look at the differences right here.

TAGS: 1.5GHz, 1080p, 1280x720, 1GB, 1GB RAM, 1gbRam, 4.3-inch, 8MP, 8MP camera, 8mpCamera, 8X,backside-illuminated, continuous AF, continuous autofocus, ContinuousAf, ContinuousAutofocus, dual-core,Gorilla Glass, GorillaGlass, HD, hspa+, hspa+ 21, Hspa+21, htc, HTC 8X, HTC Windows Phone 8X, Htc8x,HtcWindowsPhone8x, microsoft, Microsoft Windows Phone, Microsoft Windows Phone 8,MicrosoftWindowsPhone, MicrosoftWindowsPhone8, mobilepostcross, NFC, Qualcomm, Qualcomm Snapdragon S4, QualcommSnapdragonS4, review, Snapdragon S4, SnapdragonS4, Super LCD 2,SuperLcd2, video, Windows Phone, Windows Phone 8, Windows Phone 8X, WindowsPhone,WindowsPhone8, WindowsPhone8x

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HTC Windows Phone 8X

•  Verizon 
• AT&T 8GB 
• AT&T 16GB 
• T-Mobile

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• KEY SPECS
• REVIEWS • 3
• PRICES

• TYPESmartphone
• OPERATING SYSTEMWindows Phone (8)
• SCREEN SIZE4.3 inches
• INTERNAL MEMORY16 GB
• CARRIERS (US)Verizon / Alltel
• DIMENSIONS5.21 x 2.61 x 0.4 in
• WEIGHT4.59 oz
• RELEASED2012-11-13

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Microsoft Windows Phone 8