desire

Vodafone's Desire update brings unexpected apps

HTC Desire owners on Vodafone's U.K. network received an over-the-air update early Tuesday that came with some unexpected features.

No, it wasn't Android 2.2, code-named Froyo, which brings with it considerable speed updates, home screen enhancements, and tweaks that make it easier to update and manage installed applications. Instead, it was a handful of Vodafone-branded applications, a new Vodafone-branded restart animation, and changes to the user's home screen applications and Web bookmarks.

Angry users have hopped on Vodafone's forums to voice their disapproval. Many are irate over the fact that these apps, which include … Read more

HTC trying to make name for itself in China

HTC announced Tuesday that it's launching its own name brand of smartphones in China, with four phones set to take the stage this year.

Although the mobile phone maker already holds a presence in the Chinese market, its phones there have previously been sold under the Dopod brand. These will be the first phones in China to carry the HTC name.

"We are proud to introduce the HTC brand in China and look forward to bringing a fresh customer-centric smartphone experience to consumers in China," Cher Wang, chairman of HTC, said in a statement.

The phones will … Read more

HTC to switch to Super LCDs on some smartphones

This summer has seen no shortage of hot smartphone releases, including the HTC Evo 4G and Motorola Droid X. However, it's seen its fair share of smartphone shortages.

Part of the shortage problem is that the device manufacturers aren't able to get enough of the right components to make their handsets. HTC, in particular, has had a hard time getting enough AMOLED displays from Samsung; however, rather than wait, HTC is taking matters into its own hands and will begin using Super LCDs (SLCD) to a number of its smartphones, the company announced on Monday.

"HTC is … Read more

HTC Desire HD rumored for October

Though demand is still high for HTC's Evo 4G, the rumor mill is already abuzz about HTC's next big Android phone.

According to a few recent leaks, the Taiwanese handset maker is working on a follow up to the HTC Desire dubbed the Desire HD.  The phone is said to run Android 2.2 and have a 4.3-inch touch screen, an 8-megapixel camera capable of recording HD video, 4GB internal memory, as well as the increasingly popular 1GHz Snapdragon processor.

Also according to the leaks, the phone will support XviD video playback, SRS surround sound, and … Read more

Why I became an Android fanboy

After four months in the Android realm, and in particular one week each with an HTC Desire and Google Nexus One, I've become a convert.

Android isn't perfect, but it works very well for me, and no doubt we'll see further improvements at the Google I/O conference this week. My biggest complaint had been performance, but that's been put to rest by the powerful hardware of new-generation models--not just the Desire and Nexus One, but also HTC's Incredible and Evo, Motorola's Droid, and doubtless many others on the way.

The Apple iPhone is … Read more

HTC Desire coming to U.S. Cellular

We missed this little nugget earlier in the week, but we still think U.S. Cellular customers will find it of interest.

Using its Facebook page to announce the news, the carrier revealed that it will offer the HTC Desire this summer after the device has gone through testing. The Desire, which was introduced at Mobile World Congress 2010, is an Android 2.1 smartphone similar to the Nexus One but with HTC Sense.

In addition to the Desire, U.S. Cellular also teased that it would offer another yet-to-be-named Android device in the future. What could it be?

(Source: … Read more

HTC Incredible inching toward Verizon

One handset we've yet to really tackle on Android Atlas is the forthcoming HTC Incredible. Designed like the Nexus One, the Incredible boasts a 3.7-inch display, 256MB RAM, an optical trackpad, and Android 2.1 with HTC's Sense UI. The screen is said to be "very vibrant" and may be AMOLED, like the recently announced Desire and Legend.

The Incredible appears headed soon for Verizon. We've already seen it in the carrier's inventory system and handsets rarely appear there unless a release is around the corner. With CTIA coming up next month, perhaps … Read more

MWC 2010: Day 2 wrap-up

T-Mobile kicks off the second day of Mobile World Congress 2010 with the announcement that they'll be bringing the highly coveted HTC HD2 to the U.S. market. This Windows Mobile smartphone is equipped with a 4.3-inch WVGA multitouch screen, a 1 GHz Snapdragon processor, Wi-Fi, and plenty of other goodies like compatibility with Blockbuster's OnDemand video app, a Barnes & Noble eReader app, MobiTV, and six months of free in-flight Wi-Fi courtesy of Gogo Inflight Internet. T-Mobile says it expects to ship the HD2 in Spring 2010. T-Mobile also announced its plans to roll out HSPA+Read more

HTC's triple threat: Legend, Desire, and HD Mini

BARCELONA, Spain--On Tuesday, HTC announced three new smartphones at Mobile World Congress 2010: the HTC Legend, the HTC Desire, and the HTC HD Mini. The trio represents some of the first devices that really showcase the efforts of San Francisco-based design firm One & Co since it was acquired by HTC back in December 2008. In addition, they offer an enhanced Sense experience and expand HTC's Android and Windows Mobile offerings. Let's meet each of them, shall we?

HTC Desire Previously known as the HTC Bravo, the Desire is essentially the Nexus One with HTC Sense. The sleek … Read more

A new antidepressant really turns women on

To all the men (and women) I've ever heard complain about the female libido, it's time to take the batteries out of your high-tech remote-control sex toys.

Flibanserin, a drug originally designed to fight depression, turns out to be an ineffective antidepressant but a highly effective libido booster in women who report low sex drives, according to results pooled from three separate clinical trials. (It's long been thought that antidepressants suppress sex drives, so it makes its own strange sense that a poor antidepressant might not have the same suppressing effect.)

"It's essentially a Viagra-like … Read more