The All New HTC One (M8)

[dumastudetto]

It amazes me people still consider HTC a viable option given their lousy track record delivering software updates to consumers. I hate Samsung with a passion, but they do a pretty good job of supporting their devices over a number of years. HTC and Sony both make nice looking phones but have lousy support and software updates. As soon as they release a new flagship pretty much, your device is dead to them despite the two year contract.

 

[MRU]

Thanks, you cost me $4 bucks though

lol.... invoice me

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It amazes me people still consider HTC a viable option given their lousy track record delivering software updates to consumers. I hate Samsung with a passion, but they do a pretty good job of supporting their devices over a number of years. HTC and Sony both make nice looking phones but have lousy support and software updates. As soon as they release a new flagship pretty much, your device is dead to them despite the two year contract.

HTC rolled out kitkat to devices before Samsung....

 

[recklesslife85]

It amazes me people still consider HTC a viable option given their lousy track record delivering software updates to consumers. I hate Samsung with a passion, but they do a pretty good job of supporting their devices over a number of years. HTC and Sony both make nice looking phones but have lousy support and software updates. As soon as they release a new flagship pretty much, your device is dead to them despite the two year contract.

They aren't like that anymore, were pretty good with the M7, already had an update on my M8. Not used my 5S in a few days but will keep it for iOS 8 betas. Then trade it for the 6 - Back on subject, they have got a lot better in recent years.

 

[ucfgrad93]

It amazes me people still consider HTC a viable option given their lousy track record delivering software updates to consumers. I hate Samsung with a passion, but they do a pretty good job of supporting their devices over a number of years. HTC and Sony both make nice looking phones but have lousy support and software updates. As soon as they release a new flagship pretty much, your device is dead to them despite the two year contract.

I'm running KitKat on my M7.

 

[AppleRobert]

I'm running KitKat on my M7.

Yes and on the M7 before my Note 3.

Anyone not checking out the M8 with Kit Kat already on it because of hesitation on software upgrades is doing themselves a disservice.

 

[tbayrgs]

It amazes me people still consider HTC a viable option given their lousy track record delivering software updates to consumers. I hate Samsung with a passion, but they do a pretty good job of supporting their devices over a number of years. HTC and Sony both make nice looking phones but have lousy support and software updates. As soon as they release a new flagship pretty much, your device is dead to them despite the two year contract.

Haven't been playing close attention the past year have you? HTC has been beating Samsung to the punch with updates in nearly every case. I received upgrades to 4.3 (within 60 days of announcement) and then 4.4 (within a month of release) within the deadlines HTC set out and well before the Galaxy S4 got them. Granted, my M7 is a developer unlocked model but, regardless updates have been quicker than on anything other than Nexus or GPE devices. In general, I believe carrier branded models have been getting theirs before their S4 counterparts as well.

If anything, HTC's quick updates have spurred the industry in general to get them out quicker than they have in the past so for that I'm grateful.

 

[MRU]

Released on Vodafone here in the last 30 mins.

€629 on PAYG and from Free (on a €75 per month contract 24 months)

 

[dumastudetto]

Haven't been playing close attention the past year have you? HTC has been beating Samsung to the punch with updates in nearly every case. I received upgrades to 4.3 (within 60 days of announcement) and then 4.4 (within a month of release) within the deadlines HTC set out and well before the Galaxy S4 got them. Granted, my M7 is a developer unlocked model but, regardless updates have been quicker than on anything other than Nexus or GPE devices. In general, I believe carrier branded models have been getting theirs before their S4 counterparts as well.

If anything, HTC's quick updates have spurred the industry in general to get them out quicker than they have in the past so for that I'm grateful.

That's because the M8 wasn't out. Watch how they treat your device now. Hint: ask One X (the 2012 flagship) owners about their kitkat update that will never come.

 

[MRU]

That's because the M8 wasn't out. Watch how they treat your device now. Hint: ask One X (the 2012 flagship) owners about their kitkat update that will never come.

Hint : we don't take too kindly to trolls round here.

 

[dumastudetto]

Hint : we don't take too kindly to trolls round here.

Image

I was having a reasonable exchange of opinions with people who own current HTC devices. I think it's a legitimate concern when people are being asked to buy expensive devices outright, or expensive two year contracts what kind of support they can expect.

Maybe HTC are now committed to doing a better job now, but we can't judge it on updates for last year's flagship before the new one came out. We need to see what updates the M7 gets now the M8 is HTC's new flagship device. Because a lot of M7 owners will probably have 12 months left on their contract (at least) and would like to get updates before they buy a new phone.

Sony (who I like best of the big Android devices makers) also do very nicely with the updates while the device remains the flagship. But now the Z2 is on the horizon, Z1 owners will probably be screwed out of future updates. Just as the Xperia S owners were and SP owners now are being screwed by Sony.

I hope HTC and Sony learn to do a better job. Some of their hardware is beautiful and impressive but customer care and device support is pretty woeful at times. (I say this as an Xperia S owner who has been put off for life by the way Sony treated us customers - and is why I'm very wary of HTC who have similar problems in the past)

 

[MRU]

I was having a reasonable exchange of opinions with people who own current HTC devices. I think it's a legitimate concern when people are being asked to buy expensive devices outright, or expensive two year contracts what kind of support they can expect.

Maybe HTC are now committed to doing a better job now, but we can't judge it on updates for last year's flagship before the new one came out. We need to see what updates the M7 gets now the M8 is HTC's new flagship device. Because a lot of M7 owners will probably have 12 months left on their contract (at least) and would like to get updates before they buy a new phone.

Sony (who I like best of the big Android devices makers) also do very nicely with the updates while the device remains the flagship. But now the Z2 is on the horizon, Z1 owners will probably be screwed out of future updates. Just as the Xperia S owners were and SP owners now are being screwed by Sony.

I hope HTC and Sony learn to do a better job. Some of their hardware is beautiful and impressive but customer care and device support is pretty woeful at times. (I say this as an Xperia S owner who has been put off for life by the way Sony treated us customers - and is why I'm very wary of HTC who have similar problems in the past)

HTC have gone on record with their HTC Advantage to support a product with software updates for 2 years

http://www.htc.com/us/go/advantage/

Whilst still not as good as iOS or even windows phone, that's still a good step in the world of Android.

 

[dumastudetto]

HTC have gone on record with their HTC Advantage to support a product with software updates for 2 years

http://www.htc.com/us/go/advantage/

Whilst still not as good as iOS or even windows phone, that's still a good step in the world of Android.

I was not aware of HTC Advantage. That is a strong step forward with the promise of updates for 2 years from launch. That's exactly what OEMs should be doing and giving up this insane notion that abandoning support for devices within a year is a good way to get them to buy the latest and greatest every year.

The free one-time cracked screen replacement offer is very generous too within the first 6 months of ownership. This is exactly the kind of thing OEMs should be doing to create positive experiences customers remember the next time they are in the market for a device.

 

[tbayrgs]

In case anyone was pondering getting an unlocked or Developer edition of the HTC One (M8), HTC is offering a $50 discount today only.

 

[Sensamic]

HTC has gotten better with updates... with the M7.

Remember just a couple of months ago HTC confirmed no 4.3 for the One X (which just got 2 updates, from 4.0 to 4.2). And the One S, which just got one update.

But they have gotten better. True. Let's see if they keep it that way and not just with their current flagship. The One Max and Mini seem to be getting updates too, so that's great.

 

[Robster3]

I read somewhere this phone has its own notes app, i can't find it?

 

[MRU]

I read somewhere this phone has its own notes app, i can't find it?

Should be called Notes.


Have you rooted your phone ? If so that loses some stock apps I believe.

 

[Robster3]

Should be called Notes.


Have you rooted your phone ? If so that loses some stock apps I believe.

Nope no rooting going on here, wouldn't know how to root i can't find one.

 

[MRU]

Nope no rooting going on here, wouldn't know how to root i can't find one.

lol. unless they perhaps have combined notes with another app ? You could try evernote from the playstore.

 

[Sensamic]

Should be called Notes.


Have you rooted your phone ? If so that loses some stock apps I believe.

Really? Which apps?

Didn't know about that!

 

[MRU]

Really? Which apps?

Didn't know about that!

After you unlock the boot loader for example you lose the stock calculator and voice recorder.

(There are four HTC apps installed on /data instead of /system (flashlight, calculator, ringtone trimmer, and sound/voice recorder). When unlocking the phone, the process completely wipes /data and so those four apps are deleted)


This was with the M7, I'm not sure whether its still true with the M8.

 

[joshwithachance]

I got my M8 today and I absolutely LOVE it.

The 2 reasons I gave up my original HTC One last year was because the camera was too sub-par and the battery life wasn't good.

Thankfully, the camera is much improved, particularly after applying the uFocus bokeh effect. And based on the reviews and what owners of the phone are saying, I'm expecting the battery life to be excellent as almost everyone is saying it has the same endurance of the Note 3, which is VERY impressive.

Doing everything on the phone is super smooth, the speakers are RIDICULOUSLY loud and detailed, the new gestures work seamlessly, the front camera is extremely impressive (As you would expect being a 5MP shooter), Sense 6 is very clean and functional (definitely the best OEM skin by far), and the design/build quality is outstanding (even better than the original M7).

All in all, HTC has another winner on it's hands, and most likely the best overall smartphone of 2014 (We'll have to see what Apple brings out with the iPhone 6, and Samsung with the Note 4 though). And while everyone called the M7 a flop, I don't think 6 million units sold is a bad thing at all.

 

[mclld]

I personally think people get too carried away when declaring camera horrible or bad. Just because a camera isnt as good as one on another phone doesnt mean it is bad.

 

[ucfgrad93]

After you unlock the boot loader for example you lose the stock calculator and voice recorder.

(There are four HTC apps installed on /data instead of /system (flashlight, calculator, ringtone trimmer, and sound/voice recorder). When unlocking the phone, the process completely wipes /data and so those four apps are deleted)


This was with the M7, I'm not sure whether its still true with the M8.

Interesting. I have a non-rooted M7 on AT&T and do not have the flashlight or ringtone trimmer apps.

 

[rockitdog]

Held the M8 for the 1st time yesterday- didn't care for it. It's too long, IMO. I'm holding out for the S5.

 

[joshwithachance]

Held the M8 for the 1st time yesterday- didn't care for it. It's too long, IMO. I'm holding out for the S5.

The S5 is the unimpressively designed phone, let's be real. If you want to walk around with a device that looks like a bandaid, cool. Samsung always screws up with their S-line, but knocks it out of the park with their Note line. It confuses me.