HTC releases a Developers Copy of the One: can we all agree this is the perfect way to appease the ones of us that full enjoy tweaking our phones?
Here’s a bit of the old official from their blog:
Here’s a bit of the old official from their blog:
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What could be better than the HTC One; an all-metal phone with 64GB of memory and a 1080p Full HD screen? How about the same phone shipped SIM and bootloader unlocked?
Introducing the HTC One Developer Edition, the most powerful smartphone HTC has delivered specifically for our developer community:
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor
- 2 GB RAM
- 64 GB of storage
- SIM and bootloader unlocked
- Open APIs for Bluetooth Low Energy, Infrared, and more
- Front-facing stereo speakers
- Two dual-membrane microphones for recording
- Multiple frequency compatibility:
- HSPA/WCDMA: 850/1900/2100 MHz
- GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
- LTE: 700/850/AWS/1900 MHz (US)
And let’s not forget that gorgeous 1080p Full HD display that brings graphics, photos, and videos to life. With the HTC One Developer Edition you have a modern platform to build and test your apps.
The HTC One Developer Edition will be available in limited quantities to customers with a US Zip Code for $649 when the HTC One is released in the United States.
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As a long-time fan of their devices, I feel like I should just stand up and applaud HTC.
This isn’t something they’re known for.
Getting fully unlocked phones to their customers hasn’t always just happened. Fully customizing their devices has been limited in the past to an online software method: the company provided a limited bootloader unlocking method thru external channels, and only then upon the sacrifice of warranty redemption. (Ouch.) That headache of a system has been in place since the Evo 3D days. (“Back in my day, 5uNny…we had to unlock our bootloaders manually…like MEN…”) It was only instituted in the first place after heavy petitioning by “custom users” and software hackers of their devices (you know, those of us over at XDA, Rootzwiki and the like.)
Although appreciated, and a decent first step, “fully” unlocked devices haven’t been available from HTC, and could only be attained via personally hacking them after purchase with third-party methods.
(Initially, this is only official for the Verizon release of the HTC One, more carrier’s versions are sure to follow, if this “Developer’s Version” system of offering devices mimics other manufacturers that offer the same.)
HTC: I for one just want to say ‘Thank you’.
This gesture has been Noticed, and Appreciated, and this is Progress.
Anytime any manufacturer visibly caters to its customers’ wishes, they should be congratulated.
(Seems like HTC really is pulling out all the stops for this device, and here’s hoping they sell a zillion of them.)
Thoughts?
Image Credits: HTC