HTC Proto, if real, won't help HTC regain the Android crown
One week before IFA, new images surface of what could be HTC's next middle-of-the-road Android release.
Rumors of a slightly improved HTC One V recently started leaking online, alongside hints of an HTC fall refresh.
Details for the so-called HTC Proto point to a larger 4.0-inch display and 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor. Nothing major to be sure, but it can't hurt HTC's chances against other models due this year. Additional specifications for the handset fall in line with the One V and should include 512MB RAM, 4GB internal storage, and a 5-megapixel camera.
The first official-looking images of the HTC Proto show a more rounded design, with no signs of the One V's chin. In fact, it's strikingly similar to the Desire V, which recently launched in China.
Should the Proto follow suit, we can look for microSD expansion, Bluetooth 4.0, Beats Audio, and a 1650mAh battery. In other words, more of the same stuff that HTC is already doing.
HTC sorely needs a hit right now, but the HTC Proto won't be much help for a company looking to grab a bigger slice of the pie. To be fair, this handset has likely been in the works for the better part of a year. It may be a few more months before we see anything from the reinvested and refocused HTC.
It isn't clear when HTC plans to announce the HTC Proto; however, Germany's IFA is just days away and would be a good venue. That said, if they have a beefed-up HTC One X and tablet-like handset on the horizon, we may yet see a splashier, standalone press event away from the Berlin noise.