HTC Windows Phone 8X
At an event in New York City, HTC has revealed its first devices that will run on Windows Phone 8, the yet-to-be-released mobile operating system from Microsoft.
The Windows Phone 8X and 8S from HTC both feature a unibody design based on the Windows Phone Live Tiles interface. The camera and buttons are all flush with the phone’s surface for a seamless look and feel while the components inside the device have been stacked in a pyramid shape so that the edge of the device is as thin as it can be.
Snap-happy smartphone users will be happy to hear that the 8X version comes with the same camera technology as the HTC One X, which was heavily sold on its imaging capabilities. The 8MP camera comes with an f2.0 28mm lens, serviced by a CMOS sensor and a dedicated imaging chip. The rear camera also comes with back-side illumination for improved performance in low-light conditions, and a physical shutter button for instant capture even if the phone is locked.
The front-facing camera packs 2.1MP and an f2.0 88-degree ultra-wide angle lens that can capture up to four people in one frame. It also supports 1080p video capture.
A key difference between the two smartphones appears to be the display. The 8X features a 4.3-inch HD-resolution Super LCD 2 screen, lightweight Gorilla Glass 2, and optical lamination to reduce reflections and glare. The 8S is slightly smaller with a 4-inch Gorilla Glass display.
HTC Windows Phone 8S
Both the 8X and 8S will come in a range of bold colours with a matte finish. The 8X comes in California blue, black, flame red and yellow, while the 8S comes in black, fiesta red, Atlantic blue and grey.
The phones also come equipped with Beats Audio, exclusive to HTC smartphones, and a first for Windows Phone. The 8X also comes with a unique audio amplifier powering the 3.5mm headphone jack and the speaker to dynamically adjust the audio signal for even better sound.
Both the HTC Windows Phone 8X and 8S will be available at the beginning of November with more than 150 carriers in more than 50 countries – more markets than any other Windows Phone that HTC has ever shipped.
