windows phone 8x

HTC's budget-friendly Windows Phone 8S not coming to U.S.

HTC won't be making its budget-minded Windows Phone handset, the 8S, available in the United States.

In a statement to Engadget yesterday, the company called its higher-end device, the 8X, its "signature Windows Phone" and said that with its focus on that handset, the 8S "is not currently planned for distribution in the U.S. market."

Sources told The Verge that the 8S was originally tagged as a lower-cost phone for T-Mobile but that Microsoft decided to prioritize testing of the Qualcomm 8960 chipset that's found in the 8X (as well as in Nokia'… Read more

HTC's Windows Phone 8X, Nokia Lumia 822 ship November 13

Verizon Wireless is launching not one, but two Windows Phone 8-based devices next week.

The company announced on its site today that the HTC Windows Phone 8X and the Nokia Lumia 822 will both ship on November 13.

The HTC Windows Phone 8X comes with a 4.3-inch display and 8-megapixel rear-facing camera. The device comes in the customer's choice of blue, red, or black. The handset can connect to Verizon's LTE network and comes with 16GB of onboard storage. It will retail for $199.99 with a two-year contract.

The Nokia Lumia 822 is a bit cheaper … Read more

AT&T unveils pricing for Windows Phone 8X, Lumia 920, 820

AT&T unveiled the pricing for its Windows Phone 8 devices with the hope that the three phones appeal to different customers.

The Windows Phone 8X from HTC will cost $199.99 with a two-year contract, although a yellow or blue-colored version with half the memory will be available as an exclusive product for $99.99. The device can be combined with an optional wireless charging case, while the Verizon Wireless version will have wireless charging built in to the phone.

AT&T said that the phones will be available for order on Nov. 9, and will ship … Read more

AT&T drafts behind Microsoft's Windows 8 media blitz

AT&T hopes the third time's the charm when it comes to Windows Phone.

While the company isn't putting all of its marketing muscle behind its lineup of Windows Phone 8 devices, it expects to benefit from the massive promotional push of Windows 8 from Microsoft. The telecommunications provider believes the proliferation of Windows 8 computers and tablets in the market will drive previously unseen demand for the smartphones.

"We are coordinating together to make sure we have an effective launch," said Ralph de la Vega, head of AT&T's mobile arm, in … Read more

Nokia Lumia 920 camera vs. HTC Windows Phone 8X vs. iPhone 5

Nokia has trumpeted the ability of its Nokia Lumia 920's 8.7-megapixel camera with image stabilization, low-light enhancements, and PureView algorithms. Photo quality was strong and fairly consistent, though photos had a blue cast to them and the Lumia 920 had problems with contrast and absolute sharpness compared with the others.

In the meantime, HTC's 8-megapixel Windows Phone 8X took some pretty nice photos as well, though there was more swing between the highs and lows. For its part, the 8-megapixel iPhone 5 won some and lost some, but retained the most consistent.

Don't just take my … Read more

Verizon's Windows Phone 8X will get wireless charging

The Verizon Wireless version of HTC's Windows Phone 8X may have one advantage over the AT&T version: support for wireless charging.

Verizon confirmed to CNET that the Windows Phone 8X will indeed get wireless charging capabilities. The Verge first reported on the feature and that it would be exclusive to the carrier in the U.S. The wireless charging addition will be built into the phone, and wouldn't be noticeable to users.

Wireless charging, which has been sold through third-party retailers and famously touted in Palm's smartphones, is making a bit of a comeback. Nokia's Lumia 920, … Read more

For holidays, T-Mobile goes big on Android and Windows Phone 8

Hurricane Sandy forced T-Mobile to cancel a Holiday Showcase event planned for New York City today, but the storm didn't prevent the carrier from announcing its 2012 product lineup for the holiday season. The iPhone is absent, of course, but T-Mobile will deliver a strong lineup of Android and Windows Phone 8 tablets and smartphones. As you'd expect from the carrier, some devices, like the LG Optimus L9 and Nokia Lumia 810, are decidedly midrange. Yet, other handsets, like the HTC Windows Phone 8X and new LG Nexus 5 are top of the line.

Here's the skinny … Read more

HTC can't take the heat, warns of rough holiday quarter

HTC today warned that its revenue and profitability will continue to slide in the fourth quarter amid continued pressure in the smartphone business.

The Taiwan-based company, which primarily builds smartphones and some tablets, warned that its revenue will fall 40 percent year over year to 60 billion Taiwan dollars ($2.05 billion). Its gross margins are expected to decline to 23 percent in the period vs. 27.1 percent a year ago.

The results reflect the continued struggles that virtually every handset manufacturer face, with too many competitors scrambling for a piece of a pie that increasingly is getting eaten … Read more

Microsoft won't solely favor Nokia with Windows Phone 8

Microsoft and Nokia may have vowed to support one another through thick and thin, but Redmond's newfound vocal support of HTC's Windows Phone 8X device means Microsoft isn't relying on one partner to see its platform through.

Our invitation to Microsoft' official launch of the Windows Phone 8 operating system cleverly wraps event details into HTC's premier Windows Phone. It turns out that this design is one of four depicting key Windows phones that Microsoft sent to journalists inviting them to the event. Two show off HTC handsets and two depict the Nokia Lumia phones.

Microsoft … Read more

AT&T doubles down on Nokia with exclusive Lumia 920 deal

AT&T said today it will sell Nokia's Lumia 920 and 820 Windows Phone smartphones, just the latest in the carrier's increasingly crowded lineup of mobile devices.

The phone is expected to hit the market in November, although AT&T wasn't more specific. The company also didn't provide any pricing information. The Lumia 920, however, will be exclusive to AT&T.

The two phones are critical to Nokia's continued survival. While the Lumia 900 was a modest success for AT&T, its performance didn't wow anyone. Nokia is hoping for … Read more