HTC VIVE continues to push the boundaries of innovation by unveiling its new consumer flagship all-in-one, VIVE XR Elite.

The headset combines Mixed Reality (MR) and Virtual Reality (VR) capabilities into one compact, lightweight, powerful and highly versatile device – perfect for gaming, fitness, productivity and more.

“The VIVE XR Elite all-in-one represents the next milestone in the progression towards the fully immersive internet, going beyond today’s VR with accurate pass-through video to open up a new realm of realism in learning and playing,” said Cher Wang, Co-Founder and Chairwoman of HTC Corp. “This advanced yet compact device offers the best of all worlds for consumers, providing the ideal physical gateway to the universe of experiences offered by VIVERSE, our version of the metaverse, with the widest variety of content inputs even up to the very latest standards such as WiFi 6E.”

VIVE XR Elite includes a full colour RGB passthrough camera, and hand-tracking, which enables a whole new dimension of MR scenarios. This can include playing games where the characters are running on your furniture, having real-time overlays on musical instruments like a piano so you can learn, and even having the ultimate workstation with multiple virtual screens while still being able to use your real-world keyboard and mouse.

VIVE XR Elite will see HTC VIVE’s biggest range of launch titles ever, with 100 new pieces of MR and VR content arriving in the launch window – from new games to classics – with more to follow. That includes, Demeo, Hubris, Yuki, Maestro, Les Mills Body Combat, FigminXR, Unplugged, Finger Gun, and more. Post-launch, even more content will arrive, such as Everslaught: Invasion, and later in the year full MR games like Eggscape.

VIVE XR Elite can be connected easily to a PC via USB-C to access PCVR content from VIVEPORT and Steam and supports wireless PC streaming over WiFi or the latest generation – WiFi 6E with low latency and great graphics.

You can even stream content wirelessly from a compatible Android phone to VIVE XR Elite, which opens a whole new world of entertainment. In the headset, you’ll enjoy viewing on your own personal cinema screen of 300 inches. That includes content from services like Netflix and Disney+ or games like Fortnite, and you can even connect a Bluetooth controller to your phone for a full gaming experience.

VIVE XR Elite takes versatility to the next level. It has a sleek modular design that can easily be transformed into a glasses form factor – simply remove the battery and fit the VIVE XR Elite temple pads. Change the physical configuration so it works best for whichever situation you’re in, whether that’s at home, in the office, or travelling on a plane.

The redesigned hinge means the extended arms of VIVE XR Elite cup your head just like the front and back of a traditional all-in-one. There’s a USB-C connecting cable on the right-hand side, which you can plug into a power source like a battery bank or airline seat.

With four wide FOV cameras, exceptional 6DoF spatial accuracy, a depth sensor, hand-tracking and capacitive sensing for your finger movements on the controllers, developers have lots of options to incorporate in VR and MR content for accurate movement to enhance your overall experience.

VIVE XR Elite has both physical controllers and hand-tracking to achieve all-important accuracy when gaming, for productivity and even learning scenarios. VIVE Wrist Tracker is also compatible to deliver enhanced hand tracking, or it can be attached to objects you want to track in XR.

The visual impact is sharp with a wide 110 degrees FOV, 4K resolution which results in a crisp image all running on a smooth 90Hz refresh rate. VIVE XR Elite has adjustable lenses so you can take off your glasses and still enjoy a clear picture with greater comfort. Find your perfect sweet spot without having to remove the headset, with a built-in fine-adjustable IPD slider placed on the outside of the headset.

Find the perfect balance of comfort and performance with VIVE XR Elite’s beautifully compact design. The full headset weighs just 625g including the battery, which is placed at the back for balance and is curved for optimal comfort, and delivers up to two hours of full XR use. The battery is removable and hot swappable, so you can keep going whether it’s changing to another power source or changing to another battery. It has 30-watt fast charging and is charged via USB-C power delivery.

It also has a removable fabric face gasket, connected by magnets to make it easy to clean or switch out for a fresh one. The sound stage is enhanced by adding larger speakers that allow layers of immersion with enhanced bass, balance and directional audio that adds up to better clarity in any XR experience, without having to rely on external solutions.

VIVE XR Elite marks HTC VIVE’s continued commitment towards corporate social responsibility. Its environment-first packaging is 99.9% paper, made from 99% recycled materials, and is 100% recyclable.

VIVE XR Elite brings the best of HTC VIVE’s hardware and software innovation together enabling you to dive straight into XR through VIVERSE, making it easier and more immersive from the second you put on the headset.

You start in a two-floor customisable social space that acts as the launchpad of your adventures – simply look at the shelf in your space to launch your favourite XR games and experiences or look at the paintings on the wall and use them as portals into new worlds. A dedicated living area means you can invite friends over to hangout and to help with keeping that work/life balance, you can go to the second floor and check out your agenda for the day.

HTC is working with a variety of technology and content partners to bring its vision of an open, interoperable, and imaginative VIVERSE to life.

VIVERSE continues to demonstrate leadership in supporting open standards and is accessible from a wide range of connected devices that support a web browser. HTC has partnered with the character creation company VRoid Studios, which makes it easy to bring avatars into VIVERSE leveraging the open VRM standard. 3D modelling platform Sketchfab is another technology partner, allowing users to import a wide range of free 3D objects into their home base in VIVERSE.

HTC is also collaborating with Lamina1 to accelerate the realisation of an open metaverse ecosystem for society. HTC’s VIVERSE platform will be utilising Lamina1’s layer one tools to enable more efficient cross-world cross-platform asset distribution and management, so users can seamlessly keep their digital assets (avatars, clothes, artwork, etc) with them as they traverse the metaverse.

Lamina1 was co-founded by Snow Crash author Neal Stephenson, who coined the term metaverse back in the early 90s, and Crypto Pioneer Peter Vessenes.

VIVE XR Elite is now available to pre-order. Pre-order shipments are estimated to begin from late February 2023. VIVE XR Elite comes with the headset itself, 2x controllers, and the headset battery cradle.

The post HTC VIVE launches VIVE XR Elite appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Spark of Light, a casual fairy-tale VR game developed by the Dutch start-up, Pillow’s Willow VR Studios, has won the Award for Best Vivewave Game during the Vive Developer Award Ceremony at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco.

This award is another sign of recognition from the industry that this beautiful game, with amazing visuals and gameplay, truly is a major achievement. Last November Spark of Light broke into the spotlight when it was chosen to be the launching game title for the Vive Focus, HTC’s new 6DoF VR device.

‘At the start of the development of this game we were unsure if it would be a success, even though we believed in it ourselves’, Creative Lead, Peter Kortenhoeven says, ‘We are totally excited with this award, and will work with even more positive flow and energy on our new games now’.

‘This award is especially important because we made a clear choice to avoid violence in our games and instead build the gamer’s confidence, which wasn’t the most common or safest route to take’, CEO, Andy Lürling mentions, ‘but we really wanted to show that it is possible to create positive impact with VR games and still offer the gamer a really awesome experience’.

Spark of Light is playable on the Daydream, Gear VR as well as on the new standalone Headsets like Vive Focus. Especially in China, the game is immensely popular with the public and they have really embraced the adorable main characters, Nerow and Willow, as VR heroes.

Currently the Dutch VR game developer is working on 2 new game titles. The first is for the mid and high-end devices called Reefquest and the other is an active eSports full body VR game for location based centres and event organizations. We foresee a bright future for this developer.

The post ‘Spark of Light’ Shines @ Vive Developer Awards appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

HTC Vive has announced to us here at STG that the HTC Vive Pro Head Mounted Display (HMD) will be available for $1199 with global pre-orders staring now.

The company also announced a $120 price reduction for the current Vive full kit, bringing it down to $879 AUD in Australia. All Vive Pro HMDs purchased by the 3rd of June, 2018, which will begin shipping on April the the 5th, 2018, will come with a free six-month trial to Viveport Subscription, where consumers can choose up to 5 titles per month from the more than 400 titles available.

“With the Vive Pro we are delivering the best quality display and visual experience to the most discerning VR enthusiasts. Our goal has always been to offer the most premium VR platform available and to drive adoption for VR,” said Daniel O’Brien, HTC Vive General Manager, US.  “By lowering the price of the current Vive, we are making VR more accessible while expanding the potential market for developers. Whether you’re a VR enthusiast or new to the platform, there’s never been a better time to join the most complete VR platform available.”

Vive Pro HMD pre-orders begin today on Vive.com and other Vive retailers with units shipping globally on April the 5th, 2018. Current Vive owners can upgrade their headset to Vive Pro for the best display, audio, and comfort in the industry. The Vive Pro comes with dual-OLED displays, making for a crisper image resolution of 2880 x 1600 combined, a 78% increase in resolution over the current Vive HMD. In addition to visuals, Vive Pro also features integrated, high-performance headphones with a built-in amplifier that creates a heightened sense of presence and sound through noise cancellation capabilities. These improved graphics and audio allow for users to experience VR with enhanced clarity, making it the most realistic and immersive VR experience on the market today.

In addition, the Vive Pro has been rebuilt to maximize comfort for the most demanding VR users. The Vive Pro features a redesigned head-strap that balances the weight of the headset more evenly and features easy simple adjustment buttons for Vive users with glasses.

The Vive Pro works with both SteamVR Tracking 1.0 and 2.0, meaning existing Vive customers can upgrade the headset only and continue to use current generation controllers and base stations.

With more than 3,000 titles available, Vive continues to be the platform of choice for developers and consumers alike. Operating in over 60 countries, HTC’s content platform Viveport brings premium experiences in entertainment, education, arcade, arts & culture, and enterprise to a global audience. In addition, Viveport Subscription allows consumers to choose from over 400 pieces of content from a highly-curated offering, giving consumers the opportunity to discover the best VR content available.

Vive Pro purchases made before June the 3rd, 2018 come with a free six-month trial of Viveport Subscription where owners will get the chance to play 30 titles with their new HMD. Pro purchases made after the first 60 days of orders will come with a free two-month trial.

The price of Viveport Subscription will increase to $11.99 AUD on March the 22nd, 2018. Current Subscribers and those who sign up before the increase takes effect, will be locked in at the $9.99 AUD price point through at least the end of the year.

The post HTC Vive Announces Price Of Vive Pro HMD appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

At the HTC VIVE Spring Product Show event in Shenzhen, China, virtual reality (VR) technology company Visbit launched Visbit 8K VR Player, the industry’s first rendering-based 8K 360° 3D video player.

With this launch, for the first time the pipeline to deliver high-end VR video experience is completed. VR users can now enjoy premium quality 8K 360° 3D VR videos without being tethered. This is an important user experience upgrade for the VR industry.

Applying Visbit’s View-Optimized Viewing (VVOS) technology, Visbit 8K VR Player is capable of playing up to 8K stereoscopic 360° VR videos at both stream-to-play and download-to-play modes. It also features spatial audio support and video encryption to protect IPs. As of now, Visbit’s 8K VR Player is now one of the top featured apps in Viveport store, and available for free to download for a limited period. In the coming months, Visbit 8K VR Player will also gradually support other standalone and mobile VR headsets.

Alvin Wang Graylin, HTC China President of VR, commented: “We know immersive video is a very important use case for mobile VR platforms. Designed with 3K resolution and 75Hz refresh rate AMOLED screen, the VIVE FOCUS standalone enables viewing of 8K resolution and is the perfect HMD for experiencing high-resolution VR videos. The Visbit 8K VR Player enables premium quality VR videos be played on VIVE FOCUS. We are glad to partner with Visbit to bring VIVE FOCUS users a significantly upgraded VR video experience.”

Dan Chen, CEO of Kandao, tested Visbit 8K VR Player and commented: “The video viewing experience of this player is very impressive. It delivers 8K resolution in great quality and supports stereoscopic. The play is smooth and stable, and I didn’t notice any latency when turning my head. Our Obsidian camera has been able to shoot 8K 360° 3D videos for a long time. However, due to the lack of 8K VR video player, we had to compress our demo videos to 4K to play, which significantly discounted the demonstration effectiveness. Now Visbit 8K VR Player resolved our problem. I believe many of our clients will also need this player.”

Elaine Lu, Visbit co-founder and COO, said: “The VR video experience to date suffered from poor resolution and unsmooth playing problems. This situation hasn’t been improved much, even after 4K has become more commonly supported. Meanwhile, content creators who have been creating 8K premium quality 360 VR videos couldn’t make their content stand out because nobody was able to see the difference between 4K and 8K VR videos. So we applied our unique VVOS technology to develop this player and enable playing of 8K VR videos with or without streaming. By demonstrating the 8K VR video viewing experience together with VIVE, we want to invite IP owners, production studios, and camera makers to team up with us and boost the premium quality VR video content. ”

In addition to demonstrating, Visbit also offer its 8K VR Player as a private demo tool to whomever owns 8K VR video content. They can use Visbit’s publisher portal as content management system and customize this 8K VR Player to be their own demo app. With the offline playing and playlist management functions, content owners can demo their premium quality VR videos at any internet condition for scenarios as exhibitions, client meeting, and more. This service will be offered globally soon.

The post Visbit Launches First 8K 3D VR Player for VIVEPORT appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

HTC VIVE, the leader in room-scale Virtual Reality (VR), today announced new hardware upgrades that deliver premium VR experiences to consumers and enterprises with the introduction of Vive Pro and Vive Wireless.

In addition, the company debuted new improvements in how VR users discover, experience and acquire VR content through a radical redesign of Viveport VR and Vive Video. These advancements deliver on VR users’ desire for higher resolution, improved audio, greater comfort, wireless freedom and immersive content discovery.

Vive Pro is a new HMD upgrade from Vive, built for VR enthusiasts and enterprise users who want the best display and audio for their VR experiences. Vive Pro includes dual OLED displays for a wider field of view and crisp picture resolution of 2880 x 1600, a 37% increase over the current Vive HMD. In addition, Vive Pro features a pixel density of 615 ppi, a 70% increase over the current Vive.

This premium resolution enhances immersion for VR enthusiasts, and the improved clarity means text, graphics and overall experience all come into sharper view. Vive Pro also features built-in, high-performance headphones with an in-line amplifier to offer a heightened sense of presence and an overall richer sound. Vive Pro’s new headstrap was built with enhanced ergonomics and comfort, including a sizing dial for a more balanced headset that decreases weight on the front of the headset. Additional improvements include dual microphones with active noise cancellation and dual front-facing cameras designed to empower developer creativity.

“There’s a clear need in the VR market for a premium VR experience with high resolution display, integrated audio and the best components available today in a headset,” said Daniel O’Brien, GM U.S., VIVE. “Vive Pro offers an immediate upgrade for both VR enthusiasts and enterprises that want to utilize the best VR experience.”

More details on Vive Pro availability and price will be made available soon.

Also unveiled today, the Vive Wireless Adaptor will be the first to market with a truly wireless VR headset integration for both Vive and Vive Pro. The Vive Wireless Adaptor features Intel’s WiGig technology and offers a premium VR wireless experience that operates in the interference-free 60Ghz band, which means lower latency and better performance. The Vive Wireless Adaptor will ship in Q3 to customers worldwide.

“Wireless VR has been on nearly every VR user’s wishlist since the technology was unveiled,” said Frank Soqui, General Manager Virtual Reality Group at Intel Corporation. “By collaborating with HTC to commercialize Intel’s WiGig technology, we will guarantee that wireless VR meets the most discerning quality bar for home users and business VR customers.”

In the largest upgrade to the Viveport customer experience since launch, Viveport VR redefines how users, discover, experience and acquire VR content. Instead of a traditional 2D catalog, Viveport VR content is delivered in fully immersive interactive previews. Viveport is embracing a VR first approach by including VR enabled “VR Previews,” which are interactive glimpses of content that give customers a room-scale preview of an experience and the opportunity to interact with content before purchasing or subscribing.

“Viveport is moving to a VR first experience model, and with the all-new Viveport VR, we are changing the way consumers discover, experience and acquire VR content,” said Rikard Steiber, president, Viveport.  “Until now, there has not been a shopping and browsing experience that takes advantage of the full functionality of VR. Available in early access today, Viveport VR increases interaction with content and offers developers a preview that showcases the quality of their titles and experiences.”

Earlier this year, Viveport launched the world’s first VR subscription service to provide a whole new way to access the best VR experiences for a great price. With more than 1,000 titles available on Viveport today, and more than 325 available for subscription, Vive is changing the way users browse and discover content through Viveport VR.

Today HTC Creative Labs also rolled out an upgrade to its native VR video player, Vive Video. Vive Video solves the discovery and acquisition problem for VR video content by delivering a large catalog of high quality streaming video directly to VR headsets. In addition to new features and UI upgrades, Vive Video has integrated content from Vimeo, the world’s largest ad-free open video platform home to millions of creators worldwide.

In the new Vive Video experience, a curated selection of Vimeo content will be made available to browse and view in a highly optimized native VR experiences within Vive Video-compatible headsets.

“Whether we’re building our own tools in-house or partnering with other innovative platforms, Vimeo is committed to the future of storytelling and finding new ways to support our creators,” said Christophe Gillet, GM of Vimeo’s Creator Platform. “Not only does the integration with Vive Video showcase some of Vimeo’s highest quality, human-curated content within the VR experience, but it also gives those creators an exciting new way to expose their work and engage with audiences.”

Vive Video has consistently been one of the most-downloaded and highest-rated apps on the SteamVR platform, enabling users to view 180 and 360-degree video content. Vive Video is available today for both Vive and Google Daydream platforms, and will arrive on Vive Wave in the near future.

The post HTC Vive Raises the Bar appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The pioneers of innovation; HTC have designed the ultimate android smartphone. A phone tailored especially for YOU – the HTC U.

Building upon last years HTC 10, the smartphone manufacturer known for the best personal audio enhancements and output on an android device have totally gone back to the drawing board and created something truly unique for 2017.

The HTC U features a barely re-skinned Android 7. This means that there is next to little bloatware, keeping the most of the 64GB internal storage clear for your digital hoarding.

Keeping things industry standard in the main model of the HTC U we see 4GB RAM, however, the Asian version of the phone is built with not only double storage capacity (128GB) but a game changing 6GB RAM.

Of course upgradeable storage capacity is still an option by way of microSD.

HTC Australia sent us a 64GB / 4GB RAM Australian handset to give it the once over.

If you are familiar with the HTC brand you will already be clued up on the very lightweight HTC Sense which is the proprietary software intertwined with the Android base OS.

If you are not, you will experience and uninterrupted and cluttered ease of function, intelligent experience and zero Menu and swipe lag no matter how much of a multitasker you are.

Joining the 4GB RAM, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset and their own signature Octa-core processor which runs at 4 x 1.9 GHz it is the equivalent of a medium spec’d PC in your pocket (even more so if you get the 128GB / 6GB RAM version).

The HTC U (aka HTC U 11) will handle anything you aim to play on it without breaking a sweat.

But there’s more than just super power under the hood. The HTC U is encased in a 3D liquid glass surface. Yep.

A first in the history of smartphones, ever, the 3D liquid that covers the back of the device and slightly wraps the slim bezel edges enables the phones most iconic feature – Edge Sense.

Holding the vivid FHD 5.5 inch screen smart device in your hand and slightly squeezing the sides will perform quick functions. By default it is set to instantly open the Rear 12MP camera (Front Camera 16MP for high res selfies).

Builtin to the camera (with the usual Modes) is extreme low-light readiness and UltraSpeed Focus. And it works just as it sounds. Whether you are doing an extreme close up or zoomed in to a far away object you will have clearly defined focus on the fly.

However, the Edge Sense function can be attributed to whichever App or feature you desire. There is a differing level of pressure sense when you squeeze the Sense Edge. A long harder squeeze can be assigned to one App or function and a quick squeeze to something else.

True, this is going limit what type of phone case you will be able to use from a third party, but need not worry as HTC provide you with a case in the box. Being a clear case aswell you do not lose the brilliant hue and glisten of the world first liquid glass casing.

Superb. Absolutely superb. But… there is the risk of accidentally triggering the preset Edge Sense function by gripping your phone too tightly, or placing into the pocket. The Edge Sense feature will generally ignore the lock screen and fire up once squeezed. As much of a marvel it is, it may also take some getting used to in the way that you handle your phone.

HTC are a brand known for audio in their smartphones. Breaking ground between 2012 and 2013 by engineering a BEATS audio amplifier chipset on to the phones inner-workings, they moved onwards to their own IP called BoomSound.

This technology differs from the BEATS audio, by way of ensuring clarity of audio, whether it be music, movies, hands-free and more. BoomSound has evolved once again in the HTC U and it tailors audio, yep, specifically to you and the headset that you are wearing by scanning both the deice and your hearing zones.

Coupled with Sonic U and Active Noise Cancellation filtering.

HTC are also the only smartphone manufacturers to include top shelf industry quality earplugs with their phones. The HTC U sees the headset not use a 3.5MM socket, but instead plugs in to the Micro-USB also used for charging. By removing the confines of the very aged 3.5mm plugs, the USB adaption allows a better and higher rate of data-flow for super loud, clear (and bass if you want it) audio like you have never experienced on a smartphone, Apple or Android.

Incase you have your own earplugs or headphones the HTC U does come with a Micro-USB to 3.5mm adaptor in the box.

BoomSound really needs to be experienced as words just don’t do it justice.

Battery longevity and charge times take a leaf from the majority of all high end devices. A single full charge will see you right for two to three days (four at a stretch) upon light to moderate use. Heavy use will get you up to 14 to 16 hours before dying. Fast charge does feature and 10 or so minutes will keep you going, usually, throughout an entire work day (dependant on usage).

With a Fingerprint sensor at the front, dust and water resistance the HTC U is totally brilliant – and has been engineered and built for the brilliant you.

The post HTC U (11) Smartphone Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

PC virtual-reality fans can now experience a much more refined version of the previously PlayStation VR-only Batman Arkham VR.

Now available for both HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, Batman Arkham VR, developed by Rocksteady, the same outfit that brought us all the Arkham games- bar the lack-lusterBatman: ArkhamOrigins, invites us to become the Batman.

After a rather harrowing sequence, where the game casts you as a young Bruce Wayne witnessing the unfortunate event that inspired him to dress up as a bat, you get to don the cape and cowl.

For years, I’ve been playing the wonderful Batman Arkham games, walking in the shoes of Batman as he takes on the unsavory denizens of his beloved Gotham City. But it is only playing as the Dark Knight in Batman Arkham VR that I felt like the Batman.

After the introduction, a characteristically unamused Alfred suggest that you sleep in a bed rather than on the piano that find yourself awaking on. Your hapless butler suggest that you meet him “downstairs”. Oh yes, to the BATCAVE!

Fitting the Batsuit is pretty awesome. And the developers know it is. They provide you with a mirror for you to pose in, the reflection perfectly matching the movement of your head and the Vive controllers in your hands. I could have spent an hour posing menacingly in that virtual mirror.

From there it’s on to the amazing Batcave, complete with a waterfall. You can also see Batman’s huge dinosaur and coin trophies, a tip of the hat to his 1940s adventures in the comics. There’s also a working Batcomputer and Batman’s forensic lab.

A trip in either the Batmobile or the Batwing (which is, sadly, only a method of fast travel – you don’t actual fly or drive anywhere), finds you at a crime scene. Like in the main Arkham games, this VR outing acknowledges part of the Batman mythos often overlooked by Hollywood – that Batman is the world’s greatest detective. Setting up a crime scene works so well in VR as we witness the crime projected over a deserted alleyway.

The clues take us on a trip around Gotham meeting many of its colourful occupants.

The visuals really show what happens when a AAA studio get hold of VR kit. The graphics are incredible totally immersing you into the world of the Batman. Looking at the fine detail of thePenguin’s face as I looked at it up close was like a trip to a virtual Madam Tussaud’s wax museum. It was like he was really there, swinging upside-down in front of me.

Batman Arkham VR makes use of some advanced VR rendering methods:  Fixed Foveated or Nvidia MultRes Shading. Both methods result in the same outcome, with the game rendering the centre of image at a higher resolution as the outside, matching the natural differences in which we see images in front of use compared to those in a peripheral vision. In graphical processing terms, this optimizes the display, resulting in a better framerate, and thus a better VR experience.

Batman Arkham VR basically amounts to an hour-long interactive prequel episode ofBatman: Arkham Knight. But it is one of the most entertaining hours of VR that you can experience right now.

The post Batman Arkham VR (HTC Vive) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

You affectionately squeeze the hand of the one you love. A baby intuitively squeezes her mother’s finger. A child squeezes his teddy bear to feel safe at night.

Nothing feels as close, connected and personal as the sensation of touch or the warmth of an embrace. And no device is as personal in our lives as our smartphone.

Inspired by the power of touch and the Brilliant U, HTC has unveiled HTC U11, the world’s first smartphone with revolutionary new squeeze interaction. Made for “U” with design, materials, and experiences that reflect your inner drive, passion, creativity, and individuality,

HTC U11 offers the most advanced features ever in a smartphone, including HTC Edge Sense, the next dimension in touch interaction with your phone. In addition the unique Liquid Surface is a stunning, unique design that reflects you.

HTC have always been at the top of the pack with their smartphone audio. The HTC U11 has HTC USonic, their most advanced headset ever built for personal audio, now including Active Noise Cancellation.

HTC Sense Companion, Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa feature as your mobile personal assistant which, all together, makes the HTC U11 a new standard of what you can expect from a smartphone.

One of the most remarkable features of the HTC U11 is the U touch where HTC Edge Sense transforms this fundamental sense into a completely new and revolutionary interaction with your phone. With a simple squeeze, HTC Edge Sense lets you easily engage with your phone in an unprecedented yet intuitive way, helping you more naturally enjoy the things you love like taking photos, opening Facebook, or launching any of your favorite apps.

For example, with HTC Edge Sense, launching your camera has never been easier. No more fumbling for buttons or awkward hand positions. No more worrying about dropping your phone while you pose. Just lift, squeeze, smile, and snap.

You can also send texts faster and easier than before. Texting can be impossible when you are on the move, but using HTC Edge Sense for Voice to Text, you can speak your text messages without having to slow down. Lightly squeeze, speak your message and send your texts on the go. Too easy. You can even customize the squeeze gesture: open email with just a squeeze. Or launch your favorite game (or any other app). Or pick any one of a host of options.

Want even more touch control? HTC Edge Sense gives you the ability to activate advanced touch and use a “short squeeze” as well as a “squeeze and hold” for even more functionality at your fingertips. And because Edge Sense is based on actual pressure applied to the side of the device, it can be used in nearly any condition – including while wearing gloves or in weather such as snow or rain that would normally be a challenge with capacitive buttons.

HTC U11’s liquid glass surface is crafted to impress using Optical Spectrum Hybrid Deposition. By layering highly-refractive precious minerals across the phone’s back cover, they have created vivid new colors that transforms light with every movement you make.

The new seamless, curved look of HTC U11 is achieved with 3D glass on both front and back. Heating and then bending the glass using extreme pressure results in unique, 3-axis symmetry for a phone that is slim no matter which way you hold it.

HTC U11 has a 5.5” Quad HD 3D glass screen designed for vivid, crisp images and text in any light – even direct sunlight. With our best display and true-to-life color reproduction, we provide you a purer full-framed viewing experience. Our display avoids the cropped pictures or distorted colors at the edge that are the results you can expect from a curved screen.

Plus, HTC U11 is water-resistant, so no need to worry about splashes, spills, or dunks.

HTC U11 introduces the latest version of HTC USonic, which now combines Active Noise Cancellation with the ability to tune audio to your unique hearing. By leveraging built-in microphones on the headset and USB-C data connectivity, USonic earbuds map your inner ear with an advanced sonar-like technology and then adapt the sound profile to your unique biology. This creates an incredibly personal and optimized listening experience with vibrant audio shaped specifically for you.

USonic now incorporates Active Noise Cancellation, which reduces disruptions and distractions around you, so you can stay focused on your music. Active Noise Cancellation continuously monitors environmental sound levels, and quickly adjusts to any new noises or disturbances. You’re free to stay focused on your music, videos, or games.

HTC BoomSound Hi-Fi Edition speakers got an upgrade, too. HTC have improved the speaker design to deliver more loudness and better Dynamic Range Audio. On top, the tweeter now offers an acoustic chamber that allows the highs and mids to sound richer. While below, the woofer sports a new speaker and improved magnetic circuit design for louder, clearer and deeper bass tones. You really have to hear it to believe the power of BoomSound.

But wait, there’s more. So much more. HTC didn’t forget about the mic’s in their audio overhall. Totally upgraded, using four optimally positioned omni-directional microphones together with our new Acoustic Focus technology, HTC brings you our best 3D audio recording quality yet. HTC U11’s microphones work together to record audio from all directions, and when shooting video with Acoustic Focus, you can visually zoom in to target your subject and amplify their specific sounds.

Also included in the box is an HTC USB-C to 3.5mm adapter with a built-in DAC that offers great audio performance and wide compatibility with all other devices and earphones.

HTC U11 has achieved the highest ever rating for a smartphone camera for both photo and video by independent metric DxOMark4. Their multi-axis optical stabilization system and super-fast autofocus in all lighting conditions make the camera quick, your pictures sharp, and videos smooth. We improved our camera and video for a more dynamic exposure range with HDR Boost without the lag, new white balance enhancement, a major reduction in noise, and excellent detail preservation.

HTC U11 introduces Auto HDR Boost to give you all the benefits of HDR without the lag. HDR Boost offers clearer, more balanced pictures by taking multiple shots that measure the darkest shadows and brightest highlights without any slowdown. HTC U11 enhances textures and colors, increases visible detail and brings out the best in every shot. When shooting video, emporal Noise Reduction automatically uses information from the previous and next frames to remove unwanted noise and deliver the clearest video.

Great news for serious photographers: HTC U11 incorporates the new UltraSpeed AutoFocus with same full sensor auto-focus technology that’s found in top DSLR cameras, so you can enjoy significantly faster focus speeds, with snappy and delightful performance. In addition, HTC U11’s exceptional optical and electronic stabilization system will keep your photos and video steady and crisp even when your hand is shaking.

The new front camera now combines high-resolution 16MP detail and our UltraPixel light sensitivity for brilliant selfies day or night. It also utilizes the same powerful HDR Boost and noise reduction as the main camera.

Three brains are better than one, so inside HTC U11 you can find three intelligent companions devoted to you: HTC Sense Companion, Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa. In mainland China, the HTC U11 also offers Baidu DuerOS. It will get to know you and your daily patterns over time in order to offer you more convenience every day.

For example, HTC Sense Companion is smart enough to notice if you have any late appointments that day and will remind you to recharge while you have time or bring a power bank. It will make sure your phone is running at its optimum speed by suggesting to clear junk files and unused apps for more free space. It will let you know if you need to dress for inclement weather conditions, track your fitness progress relative to your goals, recommend great nearby restaurants at mealtime, and much more.

HTC U11 runs the latest version of Android, so it also includes Google Assistant, the helpful personal assistant powered by Google se arch and services for finding directions, getting answers, managing your tasks, planning your day, and entertainment. HTC U11 is also the first smartphone on the market to feature hands-free wake word access to Amazon Alexa. By simply asking questions such as “Alexa, what’s the weather today?” or saying things like, “Alexa, turn on my living room lights,” Alexa will respond to your needs anywhere you go,  making it easy to control smart home products, ask for news, weather, music, and the 12,000-plus skills in the Alexa skills store. The Alexa voice service is currently available to customers in the United States, U.K., and Germany.

HTC U11 is the first smartphone to be commercially released worldwide that is exclusively powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Mobile Platform. So no matter what region of the  world you live in, you get an octa-core processor with breakthrough speeds, jaw-dropping graphics, impressively smooth performance and outstanding battery life. Every HTC U11 also includes UFS 2.1 for an extremely fast processor paired with the fastest memory performance. Experience Gigabit Class LTE (up to 1Gbps) with the integrated Snapdragon X16 LTE modem, which is designed to deliver fiber optic speeds on the go for lightning-fast music and video downloads and to get almost instant access to the web, social media sites or your content in the cloud. You get 25% faster graphics than the HTC 10, with 35% or 3 hours more video playback, 30% or 8 hours more music playback and 43% or 3.5 hours longer web browsing time via a LTE network.

A blazing fast processor with amazing camera and incredible HTC USonic sound means you’ll want a lot of storage for apps, games, photos, music, and entertainment: HTC U11 offers 4GB RAM/64GB storage and 6GB RAM/128GB storage options, so fun on your phone is always available.

HTC U11 also offers a fingerprint reader for enhanced privacy and security. Requiring just a few minutes to set up, the fingerprint reader will unlock your phone with the press of your finger – making it faster and easier to jot the note, capture the photo, or do anything you want with your phone on a moment’s notice.

The HTC U11, available in Amazing Silver, Sapphire Blue, Brilliant Black, Ice White, and Solar Red, and will be available worldwide from May 2017 onward.

The post Made for the Brilliant U: Meet the HTC U11 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

HTC, a global leader in mobile innovation and design, has today announced the Australian launch of the new HTC Desire 650, a stylish and feature packed device that again raises the bar for entry level smartphones.

Initially available from Vodafone AU, the HTC Desire 650 stands out from the crowd featuring an eye catching 50 per cent smooth and 50 per cent grooved design.  Building on the massive success of the Desire range in the Australian market, the HTC Desire 650 is the perfect smartphone for the value seeker consumer looking for a unique and personalised mobile experience.

“Personalisation is increasingly important to consumers in today’s smartphone market, yetit is not always easy to find.  The HTC Desire 650 delivers this in abundance,from outside and within.From the unique 50/50 smooth and grooved design, to our fullycustomisable yet streamlined HTC Sense platform, the HTC Desire 650 delivers a very smooth Android experience,” said Ben Hodgson, Country Manager HTC Australia & New Zealand.  “Coupled with a brilliant imaging and audio experience, we’ve created a truly striking device containing each and every element that today’s smartphone users demand.”

The HTC Desire 650’s all new 50/50 design is not only stylish but also offers enhanced ergonomics for a more comfortable experience. The grooved texture adds extra security in your hand with a firmer grip, while also letting you know just by touch which way is up.  We know though, that there will always be occasional bumps and scratches, which is why the phone’s roomy 5-inch screen is protected with tough Corning Gorilla glass.  In addition, the HD 720p display provides visual clarity with vibrant colours, making it perfect for watching your favourite shows and videos at any time.

HTC Night Mode also offers a pleasant viewing experience in low-lighting, allowing you to easily use your phone at night without having to strain your eyes.

The HTC Desire 650 features a 13 megapixel rear camera with backside illumination (BSI) sensor to produce vivid and detailed photos even in low-light conditions.

Plus, sweep panorama enables shots up to 180˚ wide for stunning landscape photos.  The 5 megapixel front camera is packed with a host of selfie features, including instant beauty mode, and auto and voice controlled shutter to quickly and easily capture snaps in high-quality.  The HTC Desire 650 also comes pre-loaded with Google Photos to offer free and unlimited cloud storage for your pictures, meaning you can capture and keep every moment while retaining plenty of space free on your phone for your daily activities.

Supplementing the brilliant design, camera and screen is a crisp, certified high-res audio experience. HTC BoomSound profile when paired with headphones offers high definition audio quality for a fully immersive experience whether you’re listening to your favourite songs, or sitting back to watch a movie.With Google Play Music included and ready to go on the HTC Desire 650, you’ll also have your very own collection of up to 50,000 songs accessible anytime, anywhere – making it the perfect device for music-lovers.

All of this is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 quad-core processor, so you can run multiple applications simultaneously with no trouble. The HTC Desire 650 also offers a significant 16GB of storage, and has room for up to 2TB of additional space with its microSD expansion slot.

The HTC Desire 650 is now available in Dark Grey from Vodafone at $199 AUD prepaid.

The post Fun Meets Functionality – HTC Desire 650 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

HTC recently announced to us here at StG the Australian launch of the HTC One X10, the latest addition to the HTC One franchise. Available from Vodafone and JB Hi-Fi now, the HTC One X10 delivers a sleek, stylish and premium experience at an affordable price. Packed with functionality normally found in higher end smartphones, the HTC One X10 is the perfect blend of style, innovation and design meeting the needs of even the most sophisticated user.

The HTC One X10 is a zero compromise solution combining a high capacity 4000 mAh battery providing up to 2 days of use, a convenient fingerprint scanner that unlocks with a simple touch and a stunning, precision crafted metal body designed for durability. This mid-range priced device also features a huge 5.5” screen delivering an amazing viewing experience in addition to a high resolution, ultra-wide angle 8MP front facing camera with f/2.2 aperture for the clearest, brightest selfies.

“Following on from the HTC One X9, its highly successful predecessor, every aspect of the HTC One X10 is premium, except the price. Not only does it look sleek & stylish, it delivers on performance and convenience at a price that’s among the best value in the market today.” said Thomas Dexmier, HTC Australia and New Zealand Head of Sales and Marketing. “The handset has been carefully crafted to achieve the perfect balance between an elegant and rich design that will satisfy the style needs of our consumers, providing top of the range performance at a mid-range price point.”

The HTC One X10 is the smartphone that lets you do more for longer. It sports a huge 4000 mAh battery that gives you the charge you need for up to 2 days on the go. That’s enough power to listen to up to 1,200 songs, making it ideal for even the most dedicated and sophisticated music aficionado. And increased battery capacity comes without increased device thickness delivering zero compromise between performance and beauty.

Built to impress, the HTC One X10’s metal body is as stunning as it is built strong. Crafted with precision and designed for durability, the HTC One X10’s gentle rounded edges fit a big 5.5” screen comfortably in the palm of your hand. The HTC One X10’s sleek and stylish curves are accentuated by a 3D diamond cut, delivering an impressive shine that’s built to last.

Great news if you love taking photos. HTC One X10 brings you brilliant low light performance with a pixel-popping 16MP main camera and f/2.0 aperture. It’s quick too. This camera focuses in a flash, thanks to its integrated Phase Detection Auto Focus. HTC One X10 also brings you an upgraded Pro-mode with handy presets that let you adjust camera settings on the go.

For big social circles High-resolution meets ultra-wide in HTC One X10’s selfie camera. You get a high resolution 8MP camera with an f/2.2 aperture for clear, bright selfies. And you get an ultra-wide lens that fits in more friends, scenery and good times. Who needs a selfie stick when you can create wide-angle selfies this easily?

HTC One X10’s fingerprint sensor is the convenient way to keep what’s on your phone safe from prying eyes, unlocking at the touch of your finger. The sensor recognizes your fingerprint from almost every angle and learns to recognize you even more accurately over time. Plus, you can take photo and video selfies in a snap simply by tapping the fingerprint sensor.

HTC One X10 has Boost+ pre-installed, with a dedicated Smart Boost mode that dynamically optimizes the phone’s memory and boosts performance to keep your phone running like new. You’ll be able to game longer too: Boost+ automatically adjusts game resolution to keep you in the action.

The HTC One X10 has a price tag 0f $549 AUD or can be purchased under plans at Vodafone AU.

The post THE HTC ONE X10 TAKES STUNNING TO THE NEXT LEVEL appeared first on Shane the Gamer.