Is this the One?

The HTC brand has been around for some time. I used to be fascinated with the brand because it was a bit ahead of its time way back then.

But, for a relatively unknown brand at the time, I thought it was quite pricey. So, I would visit the stores that carried HTC cell phones and try out their features there.

Today, HTC is back with a vengeance.

The market for smartphones is growing and HTC wants to be at the forefront as this takes place.

The price?

“The objective of cell phone companies before was to have everyone try the cell phone,” quips Richard Javier, HTC country manager. “Now everyone has a cell phone. The Philippines is at the 90 to 95 percent penetration.”

HTC comes onto the market at the right time is how Javier views it. There is a niche for HTC because, he says, everyone who buys the really low-priced smartphones at P2,000 and below try it, and then they like it. It is at that point that they opt or aspire to own a higher-end one.

 “This is where HTC comes in,” adds Javier. “We want to address those that want the experience of a smartphone and want a better quality one. We have just three basic features of our phones, namely, a great camera, authentic sound with Beat Audio and a stylish design.”

The One

HTC recently launched the HTC One S, an elegantly styled smartphone with an ultra-slim 7.9-mm metal unibody. This smartphone is the top of the line for HTC and it is designed for folks who want a powerful Smartphone and one that looks great, too.

There are some things that we fell for at first sight. Others at first touch like the HTC One S. I was told that this smartphone has been built with two new features, which are innovations in today’s smartphones.

First, there is the ultra-matte black ceramic surface. It is the result of a microarc oxidation process originally developed for use in satellites. It transforms the surface of the metal unibody into a super-dense crystalline structure that is four times harder than anodized aluminum, resisting the bumps and scrapes of everyday use. The second takes traditional anodization to a new level, with a patented HTC process that creates a subtle and sophisticated light-to-dark gradient fade through the aluminum.

Well, I must say that the HTC One S does feel sturdy in the hand. What I had was a test unit so I took extra care not to scratch or drop it. Well, I don’t think people intentionally drop their cell phones anyway. However, I did take comfort in the fact that if I did drop the HTC One S it would stay whole and still be working.

More than just being a good looker, this smartphone gets the job done and responds quickly to commands with the slight tap on the screen. After all, it is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 processor with a 1.7GHz dual-core CPU interface with rich graphics on its 4.3-inch bright Super AMOLED screen.

I had loads of fun working on the perfect screensaver and wallpaper for the HTC.

I surfed through lots of sites and tried to find something that I felt would best fit my whim for the week that I used the smartphone.

I guess all the photos I picked looked great because HTC One S is built with contoured Corning Gorilla Glass, which flows over the edges of the phone. The screen has an optical lamination, offering wide viewing angles to make reviewing pictures and videos easy.

Other features of note are the Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) with HTC Sense 4, the new version of HTC’s new user experience. HTC Sense 4 features new camera capabilities, enabling users to shoot pictures in the blink of an eye. Beats Audio technology is also integrated more deeply throughout all multimedia features of the phone.

One of the features that HTC boasts is the camera of its smartphones. With an f/2.0 lens and auto HDR mode, HTC ImageSense technology delivers fast image capture. In just 0.7 seconds you’re able to take a shot and, with its new superfast 0.2 second autofocus. You can even take pictures as you shoot HD video, or extract high-resolution stills from HD video in playback.

For music freaks there is Beats By Dr. Dre Audio, which gives users a richer, more authentic sound whether watching a YouTube video or playing a game.

One Time, Big Time

The HTC One S has a 1650 lithium ion battery that’s sealed inside. That’s not a huge capacity battery, but the One S manages really good battery life for such a high-powered smartphone.

It easily lasted through the day with moderate use including texting, calling, taking a few shots and checking e-mail and watching a few YouTube videos. It can play a stored video up to 9.5 hours, depending on screen brightness.

The HTC One S is definitely a smartphone that should be given a chance. Not only is it one of the few to run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, its HTC Sense user interface works really well.

Of course, design factor is a big plus with this beauty and the elegant and durable anodized aluminum unibody casing, thin profile and attention to detail seem to be what HTC took into great consideration when designing this smartphone.

I loved the photos I snapped using the HTC One S because of the way they looked on its Super AMOLED display, which makes any photo super colorful and sharp. And for a klutz like me when it comes to taking photos — that is really great.