10 All New HTC One (M8) features that we're likely to see

The All New HTC One will get officially unveiled in a week at an HTC event held simultaneously in New York and London, but after endless leaks and rumors, we’re wondering whether HTC will be able to actually surprise us with something there. 

Truth is that the extensive leaks over the last few months have painted a pretty comprehensive picture of the new HTC One, and pretty much all its features. We know about the supposed design, display, processor and even about the expected fancy new “Duo” camera of the new HTC One. We have also gotten a peek at the new HTC Sense 6.0 user interface, and we’ve heard optimistic news about its availability across the major carriers as well.

We still very much hope that HTC will surprise and impress us at its event, but while we are all mentally preparing for the big unveiling, we have also put up this list to present you the 10 key new features that we are likely to see in the new HTC One. Take a look at the slideshow below, and let us know what do you think: has HTC nailed the right feature set for the One?

View As Slideshow »

10 All New HTC One (M8) features that we're likely to see

1. “Duo” rear camera

The all new HTC One will be the first smartphone coming with two cameras on its back (that are not there just for 3D image capturing!). This new setup should allow it to bring some important enhancements to traditional 2D photography, plus it could allow 3D image capture as well.

2. After-shot image focus selection

In the new HTC One, you are likely to have “Duo effects” that you can apply to a picture after it's captured. Such effect could be the possibility to select the focus spot of an image after you capture it (not before), plus you should be able to soften the background for a 'bokeh'-like effect.

3. A 5-inch 1080p display

The new One should arrive with a 5-inch 1080p display, slighlty larger than the 4.7" screen of the original HTC One. The resolution of the screen has not changed (it's 1080 x 1920 pixels), but the display color accuracy and overall quality could have.

4. Snapdragon 801 system chip

The new quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 system chip is the most powerful smartphone chip that is widely available today, and we're happy to see that, in all likelihood, the new One will feature it.

5. More intense metal finish

The all-metal HTC One has eye-capturing design, and we're happy to see the new HTC One inherit that. What's new, however, is that the new One will have a more intense finish to it that you can spot in the image here.

6. Expandable storage with support for microSD cards

One key feature the original HTC One did not have was expandable storage. HTC decided to change course on that and the new One is likely to feature support for microSD cards (we'd guess that cards of up to 128GB would be supported).

7. 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models

The all new HTC One is expected to arrive in three versions - a 16GB, 32GB and 64GB one. Expect to see gradual increases in price across these tiers.

8. HTC Sense 6.0 on board

HTC has refined its Sense user interface and - while we don't expect any huge changes in  the looks and feel of the skin - some welcome tweaks and tricks have been added. The most prominent new feature seems to be support for motion gestures like double tap to wake up screen. We've already seen this feature on LG smartphones, and we find it nice to have.

9. All new One arriving with all new flip covers and cases

The new One will arrive with some truly novel flip covers and cases with a unique dotted pattern showing the weather conditions in addition to the date and hour. These cases and covers will come in various colors as well, which is nice.

10. Coming to all 4 major US carriers

Finally, we expect the all new HTC One to arrive to all four major US carriers - Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile. It will also be available internationally across many more operators, and while we don't know the exact release date, we'd bet on a mid- to late-April roll out.

All 18 built-in HTC One M8 wallpapers leak and are now available for download

The HTC One M8 leaks are reaching an alarming rate, and they're becoming increasingly thorough. Nothing says so as much as what we have at hand here -- the 18 wallpapers that the HTC One M8 is likely coming pre-loaded with.

These were sent to us by a reader of ours that did not appear interested in getting his name out there. In any case, even though we have no way of knowing this, we're rather confident that these are the real deal, as at least two of those have leaked in the past, and we've seen them elsewhere on numerous occasions. 

Obviously, wallpapers are easily changed, but we quite like what HTC has apparently come up with, and we suspect quite a few One M8 buyers will be sticking with the stock options at least for a while. At 2160x1920 pixels, these were all obviously meant to be used as scrolling wallpapers. If you find yourself fancying any of those, you can get them from the same source that we did right below. 

Thanks for the tip!

HTC One M8 stock wallpapers

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

How to enable USB debugging on Android

If you ever tried to tinker with your Android smartphone, you've probably heard of ‘USB debugging’. 

Enabling USB debugging is the first step required before you start installing custom ROMs, rooting, or any such hackery. Best of all - enabling the setting is extremely simple and quick, and in fact, you can do it in less than a minute.

Before we start, though, let’s just clarify what USB debugging is. A feature aimed mostly at developers, USB debugging opens up direct access to the Android system for the Android SDK (Software Development Kit). You can have the Android SDK downloaded on your computer, but unless you have USB debugging enabled, it won't work with your device. With all this in mind - whether you are a developer or someone who has decided to flash a custom ROM, or simply root your phone - here is how to enable USB debugging on different versions of Android:

How to enable USB debugging on Android KitKat and Jelly Bean (4.2 and later)

1. Navigate to Settings > About Phone > scroll to the bottom > tap Build number seven (7) times. You'll get a short pop-up in the lower area of your display saying that you're now a developer.

2. Go back and now access the Developer options menu, check ‘USB debugging’ and click OK on the prompt.

That’s it, you’re done!

You can now enable and disable it whenever you want by going into Settings > Developer Options > Debugging > USB debugging

How to enable USB debugging on Android 4.1 and 4.0

1. Navigate to Settings > Developer options and enable them.

2. Once you have enabled developer options, you will be able to check the USB Debugging field. Simply scroll down to it and check it - a pop-up window will notify you that you’re now a developer. That’s all it takes!

How to enable USB debugging on Android 2.3 Gingerbread and earlier

Navigate to Settings > Applications > Development > USB Debugging
Enable it - as simple as that!

This Samsung Galaxy F (S5 Premium) concept looks almost real

Although rumors had it that Samsung would introduce two different Galaxy S5 smartphones - including a premium model made of metal - the South Korean company announced only a regular S5 at MWC 2014 last month. Still, a metal-clad Galaxy S5 might be introduced by Samsung later this year.

Not long after the announcement of the regular Galaxy S5, we heard that its premium version would arrive in May. Naturally, this should be more expensive than the S5 that we’ll be able to buy starting April 11, and it might have significantly different specs - like a Quad HD (1440 x 2560 pixels) display.

While we can’t know exactly what Samsung has in store for us, we discovered a Samsung Galaxy F concept that tries to paint a pretty realistic picture on what the rumored S5 Premium could be. The concept was made by Ivo Marić, and adds a metal case to the S5 that we already know. There is also a dedicated camera button. Check out the concept below and let us know if you think it looks better than the real S5.

View As Slideshow »

Samsung Galaxy F concept by Ivo Marić

1.

2.

3.

4.

LG G Pro 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 3

Introduction

LG's first shot at a 6-incher, the G Pro 2, introduces top-shelf specs in new design wrappings, placing it in direct competition with Samsung's Galaxy Note 3. Both phablets are very similar in hardware, yet the G Pro 2 one-ups Note 3 with a camera that features optical image stabilization, and a tad larger, 5.9” display, versus the 5.7” panel on Samsung's biggie. Will these be enough to offset the extra functionality brought on by the S Pen stylus, integrated in the Note 3? Let's find out...

This comparison is based on the Korean version of the G Pro 2, the international unit might have specs, interface or design differences, like a sealed battery for example.

Design

LG G Pro 2 comes a tad less compact than the Note 3, while both strut removable back covers, swappable batteries, and expandable storage.

The G Pro 2 is built in the design tradition that commenced with the 5.2” LG G2, where the bezel area is kept to a minimum. Something similar is happening with the G Pro 2, which is more compact than other 6-inchers, such as the HTC One max, or the Nokia Lumia 1520. In fact, the G Pro 2 offers one of the best screen-to-phone-size ratios, at the whopping 77.2 percent. G Pro 2 is still a tad taller and wider than the Note 3, but bear in mind that it carries a 0.2” larger display, while weighing almost the same. The fight which phone is more compact than the other, is rather relative when we cross the 5.5” line, though - both phablets are cumbersome to carry in your pocket, or use with one hand.

The G Pro 2 and Note 3 have removable back covers, swappable batteries, and expandable storage. Samsung's phablet features the infamous stitched leather design on the back, while LG introduced a new canvas-like cover on the back of the G Pro 2, and sparkly front, for a shot at something different. We prefer LG's finish, as it provides more traction for your fingers, but those are a matter of personal taste anyway.

LG put the power/lock key, and the volume rocker, on the back of the G Pro 2. That's a feature which debuted with the G2, and we have to say that this placement is perfect for phablets. You don't need to fiddle with your big-screen handset to feel the keys anymore, risking to drop it. Simply stretch your index finger a bit, and there they are. The side and back keys of both handsets offer deep travel, and good tactile feedback.

Note 3 has something that the G Pro 2 doesn't offer – an S Pen stylus, tucked in the lower right corner. It offers an extra input option for drawing, handwriting, clipping, annotating, or simply doodling on your phone's screen, with more precision than your fingers.

View As Slideshow »

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

The screen technologies are rather different, though – Samsung uses Super AMOLED, while LG bets on IPS-LCD tech. With the OLED mobile screen technology we are used to observing cold (blueish) color temperatures, oversaturation, and brightness below the average, for instance. Note 3 is not an exception here, but the LCD panel on the G Pro 2 also has its quirks. Our display quality tests showed that its color temperature is almost as cold as the one on Note 3 – 7949 vs 8109 Kelvins – so both are far from the reference 6500 point. When it comes to saturation, however, the G Pro 2 almost on the mark, in comparison with the standard sRGB gamut, while the Note 3 is way off, and shows extreme levels of oversaturation, especially with the green set. Thus, is you are going to shop for shoes from Zappos from your phablet, better use the G Pro 2, as you might receive quite a different color than what was on the screen, if you use the Note 3 for the same purpose.

When it comes to peak brightness levels, we measured 420 nits on the G Pro 2, while the AMOLED panel scored lower, at 360 nits. LG's results are still far from the scores of the best LCD displays out there, though, like the 580 bits one on the iPhone 5s. Still, don't let the higher brightness fool you, as outdoors, in a real-life test, the Note 3 showed a bit better visibility, likely due to lower reflectance ratio.

The screen on the Galaxy Note 3 can be operated with gloves on in a high-sensitivity mode, too, which comes in handy for those with cold climates. Samsung's phone also offers several display modes, ranging from Dynamic – with flashy, oversaturated colors – to Professional Photo, which is arguably more accurate.