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HTC: We'll rebound from dismal first quarter

HTC reported a dismal first quarter as expected and projected a rebound courtesy of the smartphone maker's One family. Executives indicated that a solid launch of the HTC X One better reflects the company's competitive position.

The catch? HTC's competitive position will be better known once its new product lineup goes against Samsung's latest Galaxy device and Apple's iPhone 5.

For now, HTC was all about a dreadful first quarter. HTC had foreshadowed that times would be tough. This chart illustrates how tough.

In the second quarter, HTC projected a sequential revenue rebound with revenue … Read more

HTC on One X screen flaw: 'We would never let that ship'

A design flaw that afflicts the two curved edges of the HTC One X's screen, which we flagged in our review of the handset, may only be a problem with demo devices -- and may not affect the final retail build of the units being sold to mobile users, according to the company.

While testing the HTC One X, I found that pushing on the edges of the curved screen causes the display to flex and patches of discolored pixels to track your finger movements (see video below). It is also sometimes possible to accidentally activate something on screen by mistake, simply by gripping the phone's edges tightly. … Read more

More HTC handsets with Beats headphones? Probably not

Don't expect HTC to pack Beats headphones or earbuds with the Evo 4G LTE -- or any of its smartphones for the time being.

HTC is shelving the idea. One lesson the company learned from last year's Sensation XL and the Rezound: customers don't really choose smartphones based on the headphones -- even headphones with a brand as recognizable as Beats.

"An accessory like the headphone doesn't factor in when someone is buying a smartphone," Martin Fichter, an HTC product executive, told CNET. "If they want a Beats headphone, they'll buy it … Read more

Top secret AT&T HTC One X surfaces, sold on eBay

Sprint certainly made waves when it unveiled its own version of HTC's coveted One X Android superphone, the HTC Evo 4G LTE. Amid the new Evo's hype, you may have forgotten that the One X is slated to hit AT&T too. A sharp-eyed member of the XDA Developers forum didn't, and nabbed what looks like a prototype of the handset in a blink. … Read more

HTC wants One to be its Nexus-like premium line

When it comes to the One series of smartphones, HTC is hoping to follow Google's playbook for its flagship devices.

HTC wants One to be synonymous with Google's Nexus, which represents the latest and greatest that Android has to offer. Similarly, the One is supposed to be HTC's best combination of design, music capabilities, and camera technology.

"The One brand is so important for HTC's future," said Jason Mackenzie, head of global sales and marketing for HTC, in an interview with CNET. "We're treating it special."

HTC's One series of … Read more

CNET UK says HTC One S is slim, fast, and ICS is tasty

The second most powerful Android smartphone in HTC's new lineup, the international HTC One S, boasts a 1.5GHz dual-core chip, an 8-megapixel camera, Ice Cream Sandwich, and the company's freshest version of its Sense UI (4.0). According CNET UK, it all adds up to one delectable device. … Read more

Why Apple, Samsung's phones sit atop piles of cash (FAQ)

When it comes to making money in the smartphone business, Apple and Samsung have a license to print money, while everyone else is holding a hat out for handouts.

Apple and Samsung accounted for 95 percent of the industry's profits in the fourth quarter -- with Apple generating 80 percent by itself -- as the rest of the players struggle for the scraps. Canaccord Genuity analyst Mike Walkley said yesterday that their percentage could rise even higher in the first quarter.

Just five years ago, Nokia and Research In Motion -- two companies now desperately looking for a comeback … Read more

Apple, Samsung: All your handset profits are belong to us

The smartphone business has come down to a two-horse race: Apple vs. Samsung Electronics.

The companies are the only two that matter, at least from a profitability perspective. Combined, Apple and Samsung accounted for a stunning 95 percent of the handset industry's profits during the fourth quarter, according to a study Canaccord Genuity sent out by email.

By itself, Apple accounted for 80 percent of the profits in the period.

Profitability is a crucial measuring stick for handset makers, and hold significant sway on how companies approach the business and the kinds of products they device. A big profitability … Read more