Htc windows phone 8s red. A mobile network is a radio system that allows many mobile devices to communicate with each other.

latest generation HTC smartphones on Windows Phone, in addition to balanced functionality, boast an extremely attractive design. The case made of rubberized plastic captivates everyone without exception. So the HTC 8S, which visited us on the test, was remembered for its bright and fresh appearance. And all this for 10,000 rubles.

This time, the most affordable smartphone on Windows Phone 8 from HTC fell into my hands. The model is called HTC Windows phone8s. It is not so much functionality that comes to the fore in this gadget, but appearance and the sensations that you experience when you take the device in your hands. Thanks to the rubberized plastic, you don't want to let go of the phone. It is amazing.

IN technical terms The HTC 8S is a typical mid-ranger: 4-inch touchscreen, 1GHz dual-core processor, 512MB RAM, 4GB flash + microSD support, 5MP camera, and more.

It remains to be seen how it works and whether the novelty is worth attention.

Dimensions. Contents of delivery

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In fact, the new HTC 8S turned out to be quite a compact device. It doesn't look thick or bulky. This perfect size. The dimensions are 120.5x63x10.3 mm, and the weight, 113 grams, does not feel overweight. Thanks to the rubberized plastic on the back, the smartphone does not tend to slip out of your hands. In addition, this velvety coating is very pleasant to the touch.

The smartphone comes with:

• Smartphone HTC Windows Phone 8S
• USB Charger Adapter
• Interface cable miniUSB connector
• stereo headset
• Instruction

Design, construction

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Appearance of HTC 8S is bright and memorable. The model is a parallelepiped with slightly rounded corners and streamlined shapes. The front of the device is glossy, and the back is rubberized plastic. The smartphone comes in orange, blue-black, gray-yellow and black-and-white colors. I got a blue version for testing. It looks original and neat.

Particular emphasis is placed on the ringing speaker above the screen. It is painted in a bright, in my case, bright blue color. In addition, a light indicator is hidden in the speaker (it glows when a missed call or when the battery is charging). The lower part of the device differs from the main body tone.

On the front of the communicator, in addition to the speaker, you can see the accelerometer, proximity sensor, light sensor.

Most of the front face of the smartphone is occupied by a 4-inch screen. Below the display are three touch control buttons: "Back", "Windows" ("Home") and "Search".

The volume rocker is located on the right side face, below is the camera key. At the top end there is an on / off button and a screen lock. Here you can also find a hole for connecting a 3.5 mm headset. There are no controls on the left.

The connector for connecting the interface cable and the microUSB charger is located on the bottom end.

On the reverse side there is a 5 megapixel camera eye with autofocus and LED flash. At the bottom you can see the speaker holes for external calls. The built-in speaker has an average volume margin. In most cases, it is well audible, so as not to miss a call in a noisy room.

The battery in HTC 8S is non-removable. Slots for memory cards format microSD and microSIM are located under a small cover on the back. It comes off pretty easy.

The build quality of the HTC 8S is excellent. There are no performance issues. The model is assembled at a factory in China.

Graphic features

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The HTC 8S uses a 4-inch capacitive touch screen. This is Super LCD. The sensitivity of the display is high, a light touch is enough to fix it. There is support for multi-touch technology. The display resolution is 480x800, it displays 262 thousand colors. Thanks to the G-sensor (accelerometer), the screen can automatically change its orientation. The display is protected by durable Gorilla Glass. As practice shows, it successfully prevents scratches during the operation of the smartphone.

The screen has good color reproduction, brightness, contrast and viewing angles. The backlight brightness is adjusted automatically. In the sun, the display fades, but all the information is well read.

After a long test, I can say that the screen here is average. It is felt that it is not the most technologically advanced, but it is fully consistent price category devices up to 10,000 rubles.

Keyboard and input

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As noted earlier, the HTC 8S has three touch buttons for Back, Windows, and Search. The rest is controlled by touch screen. In this case, you will not find keys for receiving and rejecting a call. You can only accept or reject a call using the touch screen. It is implemented quite simply and intuitively.

Typing is carried out using the on-screen QWERTY keyboard. It is quite comfortable even in the portrait orientation of the display - and all this is the merit of the large screen.

In general, you can enter text in several ways: using a QWERTY keyboard in a horizontal or vertical layout. To dial a special character, just press the "&123" button. To switch the layout from English to Russian, there is a dedicated "ENU" or "RU" key to the right of the space.

Interface and navigation. Functionality

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HTC 8S is running a new operating system Windows Phone 8 from Microsoft. In the future, it can be updated via the Internet to newer versions.

Of the innovations of the new OS, it is worth noting the appearance on the lock screen of weather, large clocks, notifications, as well as “live applications”, for example, Facebook - photos, statuses are shown, depending on how you set up these very live applications.

As for the user interface of the smartphone, then everything is standard. The desktop is presented as a scrollable vertical column of squares and rectangles, the so-called tiles, displaying functions, messages, and program icons. It can be like a shortcut to specific application, as well as a link to a person from the contact list, to a photo, to a web page or service. Unlike Windows Phone 7, tiles can be resized here. Up to four icons can be placed on one line.

On the desktop as a tile, you can install separate page. If you try to swipe the screen from right to left with your finger or click on the arrow at the bottom of the display, a list will open installed programs. They are not divided into directories, but are displayed in a long alphabetical list. To add to main screen new tiles, just hold your finger on the corresponding icon for 3-4 seconds - it will appear context menu with a choice of actions.

The general style of switching between applications is reminiscent of turning pages, and all this happens almost instantly. The speed of the interfaces is high, and the effects are quite appropriate, but you need to hook the audience with something.

In Windows Phone 8, the developers tried to take into account the comments and changed the views of programs running in the background. So, holding down the "Back" button you can access the list running applications. If they support the multitasking function, then when you click on the thumbnail, the program will start in the same form in which you exited it. Thus, you can work with almost all applications.

Phone Features

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First of all, these include "Phone", "Contacts", "Messages".

Hub "Contacts" is data from detailed information O phone numbers and subscribers. A record can have two dozen fields, whether it is a last name, first name, patronymic, mobile number, home phone, address Email, date of birth or anniversary, accounts of social networks, microblogging services, etc. The search in contacts occurs immediately in all fields of the client, that is, you can dial a number, first name, last name, etc.

I would also note the close integration of the Messages hub with social services. All correspondence with a specific person is displayed as a dialogue. In this case, it does not matter how the next message is sent or received - via SMS or chat on Twitter, Facebook, etc. In the same way, photos are synchronized in address book phone. They come from social media.

Dialing a number can be pulled out to the screen of squares, or you can use the “Phone” hub for this. The use of call services is intuitive and clear. From experience, I really didn’t like it when you need to make two movements to answer a call, and not one: the first - to unlock the screen, and the second - to answer directly.

Internet and Microsoft services

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Browser included as standard Internet Explorer 10 with support for HTML5, Canvas and hardware acceleration, as in the desktop version of the Internet browser. The browser works quickly and without glitches. Of the features: the address bar is located at the bottom of the screen and it is much more convenient to get to it if you work with the device with one hand. The IE10 browser loads pages very quickly, supports modern work algorithms, which is supposed to be done by a progressive browser.

Microsoft online services (music, games, office, mail, etc.) are accessed using Live ID. At the same time, with a Russian account, as it turned out, you can’t use everything that is in the Marketplace store. Only applications for Russia and the CIS are available.

Windows Phone 8 offers a range of cloud-based features. The OS has a new office Office package 365. There is basic support for the main programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) out of the box, you can create and edit documents right on your phone, without the need to install a paid package.

Multimedia features

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HTC positions the 8S as convenient multimedia tool. Among other things, the manufacturer focuses on sound High Quality. This is evidenced by the Beats Audio marking on the body of the device. In headphones, the device really sounds very, very worthy. The device can be used as good player. True, it is better to replace the native headset with something more decent.

A special section is allocated for the playback of music and video. This also includes podcasts, but there is no radio in this model. The Music section will offer a list of files that are sorted by name depending on the selected criteria. The following options are offered: artists, albums, songs, playlists, genres. If you click on one of the letters, you can use the function quick search among the data.

When a song is playing, the cover art of the file is displayed on the screen. At the top are three standard player control keys. Below is information about the artist, album and track name.

As for video, HTC 8S supports .3gp, .3g2, .mp4, m4v, asf, .wmv. The player interface is simple and ascetic. The screen displays the duration of the video, the time since the beginning of its playback. There are three player control keys, as well as a scroll bar that helps you quickly navigate through the movie.

Installing new programs

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New programs and other applications can be downloaded for free and installed from the Marketplace over the Internet directly from your phone. There are now more than 200,000 applications in the Marketplace. The appearance of the program is intuitive, there is a search for applications by category. They, in turn, are divided into "Programs" and "Games". Within each of the sections there is also a division into categories.

Over the past year, the number of programs and games for smartphones on WP has increased significantly, and prices for paid content decreased. So, among the most popular and sought after in the Marketplace there are free clients social networks Vkontakte, Facebook, Skype, Twitter, Foursquare, Opera browser, navigation and much more.

Photographic opportunities

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HTC 8S has a 5 megapixel camera with auto focus and LED flash, which can also be used as a flashlight.

The screen acts as a viewfinder. On the right is a button for switching photo and video modes. Below is the digital zoom key. The last button is responsible for the settings menu. On the left you can see a small part of the previously taken frame. From here you can go directly to the gallery if you click on this picture.

Different resolutions for images are supported: 5Mpix (2592x1944 dots), 4Mpix (2592x1556 dots), 3Mpix (2048x1536 dots), 2Mpix (1600x1200 dots), 1280x960 dots, 640x480 dots.

It is worth noting that the smartphone camera allows you to get high-quality pictures only in natural lighting conditions. When you need to take a photo in low light conditions, using the flash causes the frame to be blown out, and not using it significantly reduces the sharpness.

The device can record video in H.263/MPEG4 format with a resolution of 1280x720, 800x480, 640x480, 320x240 at 30 frames per second. Videos are of good quality, moving objects are not smeared.

Speed ​​and memory

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HTC 8S works on the platform Qualcomm Snapdragon fourth generation: dual-core 1.5 GHz MSM8960 Krait processor, Adreno 225 graphics core. The chipset is made using 28 nm technology. The amount of RAM is 512 MB.

The speed of the interfaces, as well as the loading of programs and utilities, fully meet the requirements of the time. Everything works quickly and without brakes, and special design effects enhance the experience.

4 GB allocated for data storage internal memory. You can expand this volume with the help of memory cards. In addition, each smartphone owner is offered a virtual flash drive on the SkyDrive service.

Communication options

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You can connect to another computer or the Internet via Wi-Fi or an interface USB cable[version 2.0].

HTC 8S supports Bluetooth 3.1 wireless accessories and headsets with EDR and A2DP, including wireless stereo headsets.

In addition to supporting packet data transfer using GPRS and EDGE (850/900/1800/1900) technologies, the smartphone supports 3G (WCDMA 900/2100). The machine can be used as a modem. Max speed data transmission in this case will be up to 14? 4 Mbps in the 3G network.

Most of the smartphones of the Taiwanese company HTC are running Android OS. However, the manufacturer does not stop experimenting, so the lineup is replenished with other devices. For example, in 2012 a gadget was released that runs on Windows Phone - HTC 8S. As you might have already guessed, it is about him that this article will be discussed.

Why was such a decision made? The fact is that the manufacturer is trying by all means to expand the audience of potential buyers. In addition to experimenting with the operating system, the company is making every effort to create a device with balanced characteristics. Did he manage to do it? Let's figure it out together.

Contents of delivery

It is worth noting that the appearance of the HTC 8S phone itself has undergone significant changes, but when choosing the design of the packaging box, the manufacturer chose to remain true to its traditions. So, before the buyer is the same white case with streamlined edges. It is devoid of any images. Information data is presented on the paper cover. On the front side there is an image of a smartphone. Under it, the manufacturer presented not only its corporate logo, but also the name of the operating system.

Unfortunately, a set of components does not surprise the modern user. It's more than standard. In addition to the smartphone itself, the box contains a charger in the form of a power adapter and a detachable cable. The latter is equipped with a microUSB plug. Since the manufacturer introduced his gadget in the middle segment, he equipped it with a wired stereo headset. However, it is the most common entry level.

Appearance

Describing the appearance of the HTC 8S Window Phone smartphone, it is worth noting that it is fundamentally different from the previously presented models. Its body is made of polycarbonate. The manufacturer preferred a strict design. The corners in the case turned out to be sharp, but on the side faces there are smooth transitions. Thanks to them, the phone fits comfortably in the hand. The front panel is protected by tempered glass. The range includes several colors. They all look pretty interesting. IN model range there is gray with a yellow bottom, orange, black with blue and black with white.

As for the dimensions, they are compact - 120 × 63 × 10.2 mm. The only thing is that some users have complaints about the thickness. She is quite big. However, smooth transitions back cover visually reduce it.

The front panel in the HTC 8S smartphone is painted in two colors. The main body is in black. Represents a screen frame. It is worth noting that she is quite thick. In the upper part there is a speaker slot, light and proximity sensors. Below the screen there is a control panel. The peculiarity of this model lies precisely in the fact that it differs in color from the main body. It can be blue, white, yellow and orange. According to users, it looks quite original. As for the content of the control panel, it is typical for devices running on Windows Phone. HTC 8S has three keys. On the left side there is an arrow responsible for the back function, in the middle - windows icon, acting as home or start, and on the right side - "Search".

In the reviews, most users talk about the absence of an oleophobic coating. The fact is that in just a few seconds front panel The phone is covered with numerous fingerprints.

The remaining controls are displayed on the right side of the device. It has a volume rocker and a standalone camera launch button. By the way, we note that the left one is completely empty. In order to turn on or block the device, you must press the key, which is displayed on the upper end. On the opposite side of it is a headphone jack. The charger socket and microphone hole are located on the bottom.

The body of this model is non-separable. However, it removes Bottom part. Under this cover are hidden slots for SIM and memory cards.

By and large, in the reviews, users praise the appearance of this phone. The only remark touched the lock key. The fact is that it does not protrude enough beyond the body, so it is quite difficult to find it by touch.

HTC 8S: screen specs

In this model, the manufacturer installed a display made using Super LCD technology. Its size is 4 inches. The resolution is quite high - 840 × 480 pixels. Due to the fact that the pixel density is 233 ppi, the picture on the screen is not divided into squares. Color reproduction is good. In total, up to 16 million colors can be displayed on the screen. The indisputable advantage is that the manufacturer protected the display with high-quality Gorilla Glass. This model is the second generation. Glass does its job very well. During operation, scratches do not appear on the screen. But the lack of an oleophobic layer gave buyers a lot of inconvenience. In their reviews, they say that the screen constantly has to be wiped.

By and large, user experience is positive. The brightness in the device is moderate, some inconvenience may occur when working in the sun. The viewing angles are maximum, the sensor is responsive, the color reproduction is calm.

Camera

HTC 8S has only one camera. Its resolution is 5 megapixels. The manufacturer additionally equipped it with a flash, so you can take pictures in low light. Also, the benefits of users include the presence of autofocus. The menu has the ability to independently choose the resolution of the image. The minimum is 640 × 480 px, the maximum is 2592 × 1940 px. There are also separate settings for photo mode and video. The latter records videos in 720p resolution by default.

In the reviews, users say that the camera copes with its tasks quite well. Especially when you consider the segment in which the smartphone is presented. A bit lacking in color saturation. Contrast is at the optimum level. This quality can be obtained when shooting in the daytime. But in the evening, noise, fuzziness, blurring of distant objects are clearly visible on the frames.

autonomy

HTC 8S has a non-removable battery. Its resource is 1700 milliamps per hour. According to the manufacturer, the battery is made using lithium polymer technology. This suggests that he is not afraid of overcharging. However, many users are frightened that the manufacturer used a non-removable battery. The fact is that these elements have their own expiration date. Most often they are able to work for an average of three years. Therefore, if the battery fails, it will not be possible to replace it with a new one.

But as for the battery life, in their reviews, users claim that with an average load, you can count on about 2 days. To save battery, it is recommended to activate automatic tuning brightness.

Reviews about the hardware platform

By today's standards, the technical equipment of the HTC 8S Windows Phone can hardly be called powerful. The platform is built on the MSM8227 processor. It was produced by the well-known company Qualcomm. This chip is based on two computing modules. With increasing load, they are capable of delivering a frequency of 1000 megahertz. The chip is manufactured in compliance with the 28-nm process technology. The system row is 32 bits. Also, this smartphone model is equipped with a graphics accelerator. The Adreno 305 video card is paired with the central processor. Its characteristics are quite enough to run videos and games on the gadget.

Supplements the characteristics of the hardware platform system memory. It is installed in the device only 522 MB. Unfortunately, this is not enough to cope with resource-intensive applications. However, in the reviews, the owners say that the phone system works without freezes. Any user action is performed very quickly. But according to many, this is not an advantage of the hardware platform, but of the Windows Phone operating system.

HTC 8S memory

The developers in the smartphone have integrated a built-in storage of 4 GB. Naturally, for a full-fledged work it will not be enough. Therefore, a method is provided to expand the memory by installing external drive. Using it, 32 GB storage becomes available to the user. An indisputable advantage is the possibility of hot-swapping a memory card.

Software

As mentioned above, the HTC 8S phone works on Windows Phone 8. In most reviews, users talk about the advantages of this operating system. For example, many liked the organization of the workspace. It is presented in two panels. On the first one there are shortcuts in the form of tiles, on the second - a list of all available programs in the device.

In the eighth version, users have the opportunity to display tiles of different sizes on the main screen. For example, if you use small ones, then 4 pieces are placed in one line, 2 medium ones and, accordingly, one large one. If desired, the owner can change the background design and choose different colors for the tiles. As for the latter, there are quite a few of them.

The reviews also discuss users and the look of the lock screen. Firmware in HTC 8S adapted to this device. Thanks to this, the screen turned out to be as informative as possible. First of all, many users have identified the advantage of being able to install any picture. Moreover, the device even supports animated images. In addition to the time and date, the lock screen displays signal strength, connected internet connection, battery status, and wireless icons. There is also a music control panel at the top. In order to activate it, you need to press the volume rocker.

The disadvantages of this operating system include one point. Unfortunately, the status bar is not permanently displayed on the screen. In order to check the charge level of the battery, for example, it must be lowered manually. Users believe that the developers did not pay due attention to this moment.

Interfaces

This model The phone only works with one SIM card. Its format is micro. As mentioned above, it is installed in a slot under the bottom removable cover. The device supports the main communication standards. It also has wireless modules. For data transfer, you can use Bluetooth 3.1. The speed of comments from users did not cause. The indisputable advantage, according to the owners, is the presence of a Wi-Fi module. Through it you can connect to the Internet. It works without fights, the signal is stable. In addition to this, in this smartphone there is a function that allows you to distribute the Internet to other devices.

Peculiarities

HTC 8S has some features that are not used in other similar devices. First of all, in the reviews, the owners singled out a mechanism called “politeness sensors”. What is its essence? This option has three purposes:

• Decreasing the volume when incoming call after the user picks up the device.
• Automatic shutdown sound in the device when you turn it face down.
• Increase the ringer volume when the phone is placed in a bag or pocket.

Of the features, it is also worth highlighting the installation of a weather widget on the lock screen. The picture is animated, with an active Internet connection, the data changes automatically.

It is also worth noting that this phone uses proprietary firmware from a Taiwanese manufacturer. She is full of useful features. These include a photo editor with effects, a flashlight utility, news, unit conversion, and more.

Summing up

By studying the reviews of the owners, you can make a list of the advantages and disadvantages of the HTC 8S model. Let's start with the cons. Users attributed the lack of a selfie camera and an oleophobic coating to them. Also, according to many, the battery life could be much longer.

In a gadget worth about 13,000 rubles. (at the time of the start of sales) there are also advantages. First of all, users refer to them as compact dimensions, if you do not take into account the thickness of the case. The quality of the materials also aroused admiration, in particular the plastic with Soft-Touch coating, which prevents the accumulation of fingerprints. The screen resolution is certainly high for a mid-range gadget. Many positive comments were made regarding the smooth operation of the system.

Information about the make, model, and alternative names of a particular device, if any.

Design

Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Used materials, suggested colors, certificates.

Width Width information refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	63 mm (millimeters) 6.3 cm (centimeters) 0.21 ft 2.48in
Height Height information refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	120.5 mm (millimeters) 12.05 cm (centimeters) 0.4 ft 4.74in
Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units measurements.	10.3 mm (millimeters) 1.03 cm (centimeters) 0.03 ft 0.41in
Weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement.	113 g (grams) 0.25 lbs 3.99oz
Volume Approximate volume of the device, calculated from dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped.	78.19 cm³ (cubic centimeters) 4.75 in³ (cubic inches)
Colors Information about the colors in which this device is offered for sale.	Grey Red Blue

SIM card

The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.

Mobile networks

A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.

Mobile technologies and data rates

Communication between devices in mobile networks is carried out through technologies that provide different data transfer rates.

Operating system

The operating system is the system software that manages and coordinates the operation of the hardware components in the device.

SoC (System on a Chip)

System on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device in one chip.

SoC (System on a Chip) System on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components such as processor, GPU, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software necessary for their operation.	Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus MSM8627
Technological process Information about the technological process by which the chip is made. The value in nanometers measures half the distance between the elements in the processor.	28 nm (nanometers)
Processor (CPU) The main function of the processor (CPU) of a mobile device is the interpretation and execution of instructions contained in software applications.	Krait
Processor bit depth The bit depth (bits) of a processor is determined by the size (in bits) of registers, address buses, and data buses. 64-bit processors have higher performance than 32-bit processors, which, in turn, are more productive than 16-bit processors.	32 bit
Instruction Set Architecture Instructions are commands by which the software sets/controls the operation of the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute.	ARMv7
Level 0 Cache (L0) Some processors have an L0 (level 0) cache that is faster to access than L1, L2, L3, etc. The advantage of having such a memory is not only higher performance, but also reduced power consumption.	4 kB + 4 kB (kilobytes)
First level cache (L1) Cache memory is used by the processor to reduce access time to more frequently accessed data and instructions. L1 (level 1) cache is small and much faster than system memory, and other cache levels. If the processor does not find the requested data in L1, it continues to look for them in the L2 cache. With some processors, this search is performed simultaneously in L1 and L2.	16 kB + 16 kB (kilobytes)
Second level cache (L2) L2 (level 2) cache is slower than L1, but in return it has a larger capacity, allowing more data to be cached. It, like L1, is much faster than system memory (RAM). If the processor does not find the requested data in L2, it continues to look for it in the L3 cache (if available) or RAM.	1024 KB (kilobytes) 1 MB (megabytes)
Number of processor cores The processor core executes program instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing many instructions to be executed in parallel.	2
Processor clock speed The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in terms of cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).	1000 MHz (megahertz)
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) handles calculations for various 2D/3D graphic applications. In mobile devices, it is used most often by games, consumer interface, video applications, etc.	Qualcomm Adreno 305
The amount of random access memory (RAM) Random access memory (RAM) is used by the operating system and all installed applications. Data stored in RAM is lost when the device is turned off or restarted.	512 MB (megabytes)
Type of random access memory (RAM) Information about the type of random access memory (RAM) used by the device.	LPDDR2

Built-in memory

Each mobile device has a built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed amount.

Memory cards

Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage capacity for storing data.

Screen

The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.

Type/technology One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the image quality of information directly depends.	Super LCD
Diagonal For mobile devices, the screen size is expressed in terms of its diagonal length, measured in inches.	4 in 101.6 mm (millimeters) 10.16 cm (centimeters)
Width Approximate Screen Width	2.06in 52.27 mm (millimeters) 5.23 cm (centimeters)
Height Approximate Screen Height	3.43in 87.12 mm (millimeters) 8.71 cm (centimeters)
Aspect Ratio The ratio of the dimensions of the long side of the screen to its short side	1.667:1 5:3
Permission Screen resolution indicates the number of pixels vertically and horizontally on the screen. More a high resolution means sharper image detail.	480 x 800 pixels
Pixel Density Information about the number of pixels per centimeter or inch of the screen. More high density allows you to display information on the screen with clearer details.	233 ppi (pixels per inch) 91ppm (pixels per centimeter)
Color depth Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for the color components in a single pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors the screen can display.	24 bit 16777216 flowers
Screen area Approximate percentage of screen space on the front of the device.	60.18% (percentage)
Other characteristics Information about other functions and features of the screen.	capacitive Multitouch Scratch resistance
	Corning Gorilla Glass

Sensors

Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that are recognized by the mobile device.

Main camera

The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on the back of the case and is used for taking photos and videos.

Sensor type Digital cameras use photo sensors to take pictures. The sensor, as well as the optics, is one of the main factors in the quality of a camera in a mobile device.	CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor)
Diaphragm Aperture (f-number) is the size of the aperture opening that controls the amount of light reaching the photosensor. A lower f-number means the aperture is larger.	f/2.8
Flash type The most common types of flashes in mobile devices cameras are LED and xenon flashes. LED flashes give a softer light and, unlike brighter xenon flashes, are also used for video shooting.	LED
Image Resolution One of the main characteristics of mobile device cameras is their resolution, which indicates the number of pixels in the horizontal and vertical direction of an image.	2592 x 1944 pixels 5.04 MP (megapixels)
Video resolution Information about the maximum supported resolution for video recording by the device.	1280 x 720 pixels 0.92 MP (megapixels)
Video - frame rate/frames per second. Information about the maximum number of frames per second (fps) supported by the device when shooting video at the maximum resolution. Some of the main standard shooting and video playback speeds are 24p, 25p, 30p, 60p.	30 fps (frames per second)
Characteristics Information about other software and hardware features related to the main camera and improving its functionality.	autofocus
	Focal length (35 mm equivalent) - 35 mm

Audio

Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.

Radio

The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.

Location determination

Information about navigation and location technologies supported by the device.

WiFi

Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for short distance data transmission between different devices.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between different types of devices over short distances.

USB

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to communicate.

Headphone jack

This is an audio connector, which is also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Connecting devices

Information about other important connection technologies supported by the device.

Browser

A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.

Video file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support various video file formats and codecs, which store and encode/decode digital video data, respectively.

Battery

Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge they need to function.

Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)

SAR levels refer to the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the human body while using a mobile device.

Head SAR (US) The SAR level indicates the maximum number electromagnetic radiation, which the human body is exposed to when holding a mobile device near the ear. The maximum value used in the US is 1.6 W/kg per gram of human tissue. Mobile devices in the US are controlled by the CTIA and the FCC conducts tests and sets their SAR values.	0.97 W/kg (watt per kilogram)
Body SAR (US) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation that the human body is exposed to when holding a mobile device at hip level. The highest acceptable SAR value in the US is 1.6 W/kg per gram of human tissue. This value is set by the FCC, and the CTIA controls whether mobile devices comply with this standard.	1.08 W/kg (watt per kilogram)

Top Windows Phone 8 according to HTC

Microsoft's Russian site has a "Windows Phone" section dedicated to phones based on the company's operating system. Nothing is said about the OS version - that means any version. However, even for a specific selection of "show all phones" you will see only those devices that are based on the new, eighth version of the Windows Phone operating system. You won’t find phones on Windows Phone 7 there - they, obviously, were simply deleted from the lists, as they were deleted from the memory of all those users who once spent money on purchasing new products on the “promising platform” Windows Phone 7 (and, later, 7.5). I don’t think that these users erased from their memory the trick that they did with them just as easily, but that’s not about that now.

Something else is curious: when you see all the names of the phones at the same time on one page, the defiant difference that the Taiwanese NTS gave to the name of its product catches your eye. Nokia Lumia 920, Samsung ATIV S and… Windows Phone 8X by HTC. Feel the difference? HTC's Windows Phone 8X is nothing more, nothing less. A rare case when the name of the company was hidden somewhere at the very end. Obviously, NTS marketers reasonably expect that in colloquial speech this long name will turn into just Windows Phone 8X, or even into 8X, and automatically become synonymous in people's minds with the main phone on the Microsoft platform. What are they hinting to us that it is HTC-smartphones that are the “true” Windows Phones? We took a sample of Windows Phone 8X by HTC for testing, but I must immediately warn you: this device is not intended for sale (it says “not for resale” on it). This is a test sample that came to our office without a box and, accordingly. without accessories. Therefore, we cannot be responsible for the fact that the described bugs will necessarily be present in copies purchased in stores, but we will mention them anyway.

Smartphone Specifications

• SoC Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4, 1.5 GHz, dual-core
• Operating system Windows Phone 8
• Display Super-LCD2, 4.3″, 1280×720, capacitive, multi-touch
• Random access memory (RAM) 1 GB,
• Built-in flash memory 16 GB
• GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
• UMTS HSPA/WCDMA 850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz
• Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n, (2.6 GHz and 5 GHz), hotspot WiFi access
• Bluetooth 2.1, NFC
• Primary camera 8 MP, autofocus, LED flash
• Front camera 2.1 MP, fixed. focus
• Li-ion battery 1800 mAh
• Dimensions 132.3×66.2×10.1mm
• Weight 130 g

	Windows Phone 8X by HTC	Nokia Lumia 920	Samsung ATIV S	Windows Phone 8S by HTC
Screen	4.3″, S-LCD2, 342 ppi	4.5″, IPS, 332 ppi	4.8″, AMOLED, 306ppi	4″, S-LCD2, 233 ppi
Permission	1280×720	1280×768	1280×720	800×480
SoC		Qualcomm S4 Plus MSM8960 @1.5GHz (2 cores, ARMv7 Krait)	Qualcomm S4 Plus MSM8960 @1.5GHz (2 cores, ARMv7 Krait)	Qualcomm S4 Plus MSM8960 @1GHz (2 cores, ARMv7 Krait)
RAM	1 GB	1 GB	1 GB	512 MB
Flash memory	16 GB	32 GB	16-32 GB	4 GB
Memory card support	No	No	microSD	microSD
operating system	WP8	WP8	WP8	WP8
Battery	non-removable, 1800 mAh	non-removable, 2000 mAh	2300 mAh	1700 mAh
cameras	rear 8 MP; front 2.1 MP	rear 8 MP; front 1.3 MP	rear 8 MP; front 1.9 MP	rear 5 MP;
Dimensions	132×66×10.1mm, 130g	130×71×10.7mm, 185g	137×71×8.7mm, 135g	121×63×10.3mm, 113g

Appearance and usability

Windows Phone 8X by HTC arrived at our office, as already mentioned, without packaging and a set of accessories, so let's move on to the description of the smartphone. Its appearance is quite unusual for HTC, and it's not just the complete absence of metal in the materials. Its very shape, especially the design of the front part, is not at all similar to all the previous familiar outlines of smartphones from this company. The front panel is more reminiscent of Nokia Lumia, the same Lumia 920, for example. The speaker grille is slightly modified, but otherwise everything is almost identical: the same convex display glass with streamlined edges, the same thin frames seamlessly merged with this glass, the same block of three touch buttons under the screen.

As for the buttons below the screen, their purpose is familiar and familiar: "Back", "Home" and "Search". Moreover, the return key to the main menu is made in the form of a new Windows logo - a window in perspective, and not a window “fluttering” in the wind, as before. If you hold down the "Back" key, a selection will appear open applications, and if you hold the “house” longer, the menu will open voice control phone.

The mentioned speaker grille is made of the same colored plastic as the case itself, and on a strict dark glass this colorful and rather large plastic spot with holes looks ridiculous, and somehow even reduces the cost of the entire device. However, this is quite consistent with the general message of Microsoft with their assorted tiles of the new Windows interface 8 and advertising youth, quickly and deftly managing their rainbow-colored Windows phones.

By the way, about the colors: in total, the smartphone is available in four different color options: blue, black, yellow and orange. At least that's what it says on the HTC website. But in our market, you can officially find smartphones in only two colors: blue (California Blue) and black (Graphite Black). Cheerful colors in "gloomy" Russia, apparently, have decided not to deliver yet, deciding that they will not be in demand. Although numerous user forums scream otherwise. People want to add color to their lives and that's okay.

This multi-coloured plastic is polycarbonate with a matte outer finish with a soft-touch effect. The coating is pleasantly velvety to the touch, non-slip and perfectly held in the fingers, does not give a glossy sheen and is not too easily soiled. There are no fingerprints left on such a coating, however, any lines drawn by anything, even with a fingernail, will be visible on it. If you rub it well, then the dash can be leveled, but in principle, the coating is still subject to wear, and over time it may lose its presentation.

The entire body is made of this plastic, with the exception, of course, of the screen. The case is monolithic, completely non-separable, so there is no back cover either. Before battery it is impossible to get on your own, and the SIM card is inserted into the slot on the side of the device. The slot is equipped with a metal sled that is removed by pressing a paper clip into a small hole. Not the most convenient way, exactly copying the arrangement of the Apple iPhone.

By the way, this photo clearly shows what I was talking about: whitish spots in the area of ​​​​the slot hole are not dust, but scuffs that have appeared on the plastic that wears out over time.

The one-piece case itself, by the way, is not as monolithic as it seems to be: when the sidewalls are compressed, a creak is clearly audible in places where the plastic frames come into contact with the screen glass. In general, I personally didn’t really like the way Windows Phone 8X by HTC lies in my hand: for some reason, the side edges were “sharpened” to such an extent that they have a very small area of ​​​​contact with the hand and literally crash into the palm. Although the dimensions themselves are very good: the phone is not big, like the Nokia Lumia 920, but not small either. In addition, it favorably differs from the Lumia 920 in its low weight (130 grams versus 185!), which makes it suitable for long work on weight - for example, in public transport. By the way, unlike the same Nokia, it is convenient to use the fingers of one hand, because the finger reaches all corners of the screen.

But the hardware buttons are completely inconvenient for controlling the fingers of one hand. The power key is located at the top: to reach it, you need to fully extend your index finger, which is not as convenient as pressing the button on the side. Most of the most popular smartphones have long had a lock key not on top, but on the side, and I would like this to take root completely. There is another big minus in the location on the upper end: since the button is not placed in the middle, but always from one edge, it becomes completely inconvenient to reach it without using the second hand, either right-handed or left-handed. The location of the power button on the side does not affect which hand the owner prefers to control the phone, everything can be handled with one hand.

In addition, this key, like the others, does not protrude from the body at all, it is built flush with the surface, so it is absolutely impossible to grope blindly. Absolutely ridiculous and unreasonable step on the part of the developer. In addition, the keys are also quite hard. I'm not talking about the absence of identification icons, but HTC never had them on the buttons.

When you press the power key, the screen is locked / unlocked, and if you hold it longer, a menu will drop from the top to completely turn off the phone. A completely inconvenient single-tasking function after the familiar menu of Android smartphones, where you can not only turn it off, but also reboot, and turn on the “Airplane” mode. It's not here, it's just full shutdown devices and nothing else.

The remaining two keys are located on the right side, next to the SIM card slot. These are the volume rocker and the camera button - both are just as inconvenient for quick pressing: rigid and completely not protruding from the case.

The only communication connector here is the universal Micro-USB, it is located at the bottom end and is not covered by anything. Next to it is a microphone hole. At the top is another connector, also universal - a 3.5 mm audio jack for headphones.

On the back surface, there is a standard camera window, it is slightly recessed inside the protective metal ring, which, obviously, will not allow it to be scratched over time. A flash diode is visible nearby, and below are the same as on the front panel, numerous round holes in the plastic that form the speaker grille, and the proud Beats Audio badge.

Screen

Windows Phone 8X by HTC features a Super-LCD2 liquid crystal display with protective glass, scratch-resistant - Gorilla Glass 2. In numbers, the physical parameters of the screen are as follows: diagonal - 109 mm (4.3 inches), resolution - HD (1280 × 720 pixels), PPI pixel density is 342 dpi. This is a very high figure: the Windows Phone 8X by HTC screen is currently one of the best in terms of dot density.

The screen is sensitive to finger touches, can be controlled by multi-touch gestures, but we, of course, did not find any special tests for the number of simultaneous touches. There is a proximity sensor that blocks the display when you bring the smartphone to your ear - everything is standard. In the settings, it is possible to adjust the brightness level manually or set automatic adjustment. You won’t find the usual slider here - there are only three brightness levels laid down by the developers, plus a virtual button for turning on the machine. In principle, I liked how the automatic adjustment of the display brightness level works - the screen has such an excess supply of brightness that it practically never happens to be dark.

More about Windows screen Phone 8X by HTC will tell the editor of the sections "Monitors" and "Projectors and TV" Alexey Kudryavtsev. Here is his expert opinion.

The front surface of the screen is covered with a glass plate with a mirror-smooth scratch-resistant surface. Judging by the reflection of bright light sources, there is a very effective anti-glare filter that reduces the brightness of reflected objects. There is a special oleophobic coating on the outer surface of the screen, which to some extent prevents fingerprints and makes them easier to remove.

With manual brightness control, its maximum value was 290 cd/m², average - 108 cd/m², minimum - 40 cd/m². As a result, even at maximum brightness with bright daylight the smartphone will not be very comfortable to use, but the minimum brightness will ensure that there is no eye strain when working with the device in complete darkness. The brightness is set by selecting one of the items - high, medium and low - in the corresponding section of the setup menu. There is an automatic brightness control according to the light sensor (apparently, it is located above the loudspeaker). When this mode is enabled, the brightness increases when the ambient light increases, but the brightness of the screen does not decrease when the ambient light decreases. However, if the smartphone is put into standby mode and turned back on, the brightness will be set in accordance with the current level of ambient light. In complete darkness, the auto-brightness function reduces the brightness to 16 cd/m², then when the ambient light level increases, the brightness increases, but its increase stops at the level corresponding to the selected brightness level - at 40, 108 and 290 cd/m². There is no brightness modulation, so the flickering of the backlight at low brightness is not visible.

The HTC 8X appears to be using an IPS-type matrix, although the manufacturer claims the "Super LCD 2" type. In any case, visual examination reveals characteristics IPS: the screen has very good viewing angles without color inversion and without significant color shift even at large deviations of the gaze from the perpendicular to the screen, however, when the diagonal is deflected, the black field is noticeably brightened, although it remains close to neutral gray. When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of black and white fields is very good. The response time for the black-white-black transition is 23.2 ms (14.5 ms on + 8.7 ms off), the transition between halftones 25% and 75% (by the numerical value of the color) and back takes a total of 33 .8 ms. The gamma curve built on 32 points did not reveal a blockage either in the highlights or in the shadows. The exponent of the approximating power function turned out to be 1.92, which is slightly less than the standard value of 2.2, but not so much that the overall brightness of the images is very different from the natural one. In this case, the real gamma curve practically coincides with the exponential dependence:

Contrast is good - 660:1. The color gamut is actually sRGB:

The spectra show that the matrix filters moderately mix the components to each other:

The color temperature is relatively high, around 8000 K, but again, not so high that the shades go too blue. A positive role is played by the fact that the color temperature changes little over the entire part of the gray scale that matters (the range close to black can be ignored, since color reproduction is not so important in it, and the measurement error of color characteristics is high):

The deviation from the black body spectrum (ΔE) is relatively large, although less than 10, which is quite acceptable for a consumer device:

In total, sRGB coverage is the biggest plus of this screen, and not a very high maximum brightness value, partly offset by the presence of an anti-glare filter, is the biggest, but not a critical drawback. In all other respects the characteristics HTC screen 8X correspond to a typical screen of a modern mobile device with an IPS type matrix.

Sound

The sound of the external speaker is quite loud, pleasant and aesthetically finished, because the sound has a wide range of frequencies, including bass. At the maximum level, the speaker does not choke or wheeze. If you put the phone on the table, the sound is almost not muffled by the surface. By the way, about muting: in a smartphone, you can instantly mute the sound of the incoming signal if you turn the phone upside down. This is one of the features of HTC smartphones, which the company has been implementing in its solutions for a very long time. A set of such unique NTS settings (they will not necessarily appear in WP-smartphones from other manufacturers; on the contrary, they are present in some smartphones from other manufacturers based on other operating systems) is called here the “politeness sensor”. In addition to the mentioned coup, the device can be set a couple more reactions: when you take the phone in your hand, it will mute the sound, and vice versa - increase if the smartphone is put in a bag or pocket.

Setting a ringtone is now not as difficult as it was in Windows Phone 7. Now, when connected to a computer, you can simply drop the file into a folder through the standard file manager(Explorer), and then select it through the settings menu.

The auditory speaker is unremarkable: the sound is clear enough, but not too loud. During a conversation, changing the volume is very inconvenient due to the inability to find the volume control key, so I personally picked up the optimal level and did not touch it anymore. The interlocutor himself hears you during a conversation, also legible and clear (this was checked), so everything is in order with the microphone and its sensitivity.

The regular audio player is not rich in settings, if not ascetic. I did not find any equalizers there, however, there is the possibility of using Beats Audio proprietary technology. Back in August 2011, HTC acquired a controlling stake in this company, so the corresponding sound enhancement and processing technology, as well as the logo of this brand, have become an integral part of the Taiwanese company's top products. However, this technology works, it is worth noting, only with connected headphones. The presence of the Beats Audio amplifier is, again, one of the distinguishing features of HTC smartphones, and it is not found in other smartphones on the Windows Phone 8 platform. menu, but there is nothing unique about it.

Camera

Windows Phone 8X by HTC is equipped with two digital camera modules, with front camera The NTS decided to stand out especially this time. It was equipped with a module with a resolution of 2.1 megapixels and a wide-angle lens with an aperture of F2.0. This camera can even record 1080p video. Obviously, this is necessary in order to shoot your talking face, because for video shooting everything else, it’s probably better to use standard methods and rear camera. Although, perhaps, users will find a special meaning in this over time.

The main camera, like the front one, is controlled by a special HTC ImageChip chip - the company always focuses on it, and there was a lot of talk about this when the first phones with such a chip were introduced. This image processor, coupled with the ImageSense toolkit in HTC Android smartphones, was responsible not only for image processing, but also for reducing the time to prepare for shooting. Now we have checked all this in the new HTC smartphone on the Windows Phone system: the first frame is not taken instantly, but rather quickly, however, there is no activation of the camera from the locked state in this device. That is, unlike the latest NTS Android smartphones, here you cannot instantly activate the camera by pressing a hardware key on the side - you must first unlock the screen. I did not see here another very convenient opportunity - taking a photo while recording a video.

The factory settings of the main (rear) camera are traditionally set to shoot with a wide aspect ratio of 16:9 (resolution 6 MP). Pictures are taken at a size of 3264×1836.

In order to achieve maximum resolution, you must manually rearrange the shooting mode in the settings to a resolution of 8 megapixels with an aspect ratio of 4:3. In this case, images are obtained with a size of 3264 × 2448 pixels, examples of images can be viewed in detail by clicking on the thumbnails below.

Thanks to the back-illuminated (BSI) sensor, shooting in low light conditions should be improved, however, I did not really like how windows camera Phone 8X by HTC copes with this in the dark.

And a few more photos taken with maximum settings are available by clicking on the thumbnails.

The Windows Phone 8X by HTC camera shoots video at a maximum HD resolution of 1080p. Below are a few videos shot at maximum settings, as well as at 720p for comparison. The video is saved in MP4 format (video is MPEG-4 AVC [email protected], sound - AAC LC). The factory settings are initially set to shoot at maximum resolution.

• Movie #1 (40.1 MB, 1920×1080)
• Clip #2 (53.4 MB, 1920×1080)

• Movie #3 (22.3 MB, 1280×720)
• Movie #4 (16.6 MB, 1280×720)

Software and telephone part

As a software platform in Windows Phone 8X by HTC is used latest system by Microsoft - Windows Phone 8, which replaced Windows Phone 7 (7.5), and even earlier was forgotten today Windows Mobile. Users accustomed to diversity in recent years Android features OS, noted the closeness of the seventh Windows versions Phone, which was very similar in this to the iOS infrastructure created by Apple. Now, with advent of Windows Phone 8, the system begins to gradually "open up" to the user. A big step forward was the rejection of the need for mandatory synchronization through Zune program. Now Windows Phone can be connected directly to the computer and safely scatter files with any extension through the usual folder explorer.

Any folder in file system Windows Phone 8 can also be created with my own hands- another thing is that not every file will be further read by the phone system itself.

But that's the thing software, both own (Microsoft) and third-party, which is not yet striking in variety. In the company's application store (and programs on Windows Phone can only be installed from it), you can't find such a variety that is available to Android and Apple iOS users. Nose Microsoft capabilities and their punching pressure, few doubt that in the near future the number of software for Windows Phone will begin to grow by leaps and bounds. By the way, NTS has installed its own section in the application store, but it still looks sad with as many as five programs.

In the meantime, let's turn to the Windows Phone system itself: its unusual interface impresses many with its fresh look at seemingly ordinary things. Tiles of the start screen, huge fonts that go beyond one screen, horizontal layout of screens - all this turned out to be not quite familiar. Users also liked the speed with which the interface of the new OS works - how screens are flipped, programs are opened. By the way, it is worth noting that in terms of the interface, Microsoft has taken a very tough position: third-party shells cannot be built into Windows Phones, just as it is impossible to turn off the tiled interface in Windows Phones without hacking. big windows 8. It is clear that with such violent methods the company is trying to "hook" users on these tiles as soon as possible, but still I would like to have more freedom and democracy in this matter. I personally do not like these tiles at all, but I have absolutely no choice left within the Microsoft OS.

If we are talking about tiles, then the following should be said about them: now their size can be changed by the user himself. When you long press on such a tile, it appears extra menu, in which you can stretch or shrink it. That is, now the user is free not only to make any tiles for the desktop with his own hands, but also to give them a size from a small square to a large rectangle. It’s hard to say whether this is a breakthrough or not, but I personally have always liked the symmetry in iOS, its uniformity of shapes and sizes of squares, and I didn’t like the randomness of different suits. android icons. On the other hand, keep in mind that tiles in Windows Mobile are interactive and can display information that updates over time, such as the weather. Some information in a regular-sized square may not fit, then it will be convenient to just stretch such a tile wider. True, it should be noted here that not all icons will be beautifully displayed when stretched - some pictures that were not optimized for a different resolution by the developers may become pixelated and loose.

We won't be in every review new Windows Phone to describe in detail the capabilities of this operating system - instead, we will create a separate full-fledged material with Windows description Phone 8 and its capabilities, especially since Microsoft has issued a very rigid set of rules for device developers, leaving them very little room for creativity. Manufacturers Windows smartphones Phone has little to stand out, so they all look like twin brothers so far. Even the SoC is still selected by a single manufacturer. Therefore, in the reviews we will try to highlight those features that are inherent only to phones of a certain brand. Nokia is lucky in this sense: they can stand out in that they have their own mapping system, which has grown to a whole range of applications, from navigation to augmented reality. By the way, it is worth noting that this NTS smartphone also uses Nokia cards, which cannot but rejoice. The free service provides the ability to use any world maps offline, you just need to download them to your phone's memory in advance. Unlike Nokia smartphones, there is no voice navigation - only offline maps, but it's better than nothing.

However, everywhere there are some inconvenient little things that are seen as just annoying flaws in the developers. For example, the lock screen is interactive, it displays not only the audio player, but also calendar entries, which is convenient. But for some reason they forgot to turn on the display of the remaining battery charge in percent - I did not find this feature at all. At the same time, the usual visual charge indicator in top line status is displayed only for a couple of seconds, and then disappears - you need to call this line again with a pull gesture from above. This is inconvenient: we are used to the fact that all the vital indications are always before our eyes, be it an Android smartphone, an iPhone, an old push-button telephone or even an ordinary reader. There is no such a convenient drop-down system menu (notification bar) as in the Android OS, there is only a non-interactive little line, and even that immediately disappears.

Or here's another example: something is written in the cells of the calendar, but you can read it? But in the gallery, right on top of the photo, just a giant text constantly looms, which, against the background of a screenshot of the system, produced such a stunning effect. And in general, these huge fonts with lines going off the screen are seen as a dubious achievement of designers, if not a mockery - no matter what Microsoft marketers say.

But there are also undoubted amenities, and even curious finds: for example, a special section called "Children's Room". Its essence is simple: here you can set in the settings access only to those applications and services that you can trust your children, and then let them play safely with your smartphone. I often hear from friends who are concentrating on their smartphones something like: “yes, I let my child play, and he screwed something up for me.” With the advent of this setting, it will become easier for such people to live clearly.

There was also a free pre-installed dictionary-translator here, which will certainly save time searching for it in the store. I remember how long I was choosing a dictionary for iPhone, and then I switched to Android, and everything started all over again. I still don't understand if the dictionary is included as standard in the OS or only HTC pre-installs it in their smartphones, but it turned out to be a very pleasant discovery anyway.

The device has support for NFC technology - a short-range wireless high-frequency communication technology, which makes it possible to exchange data between devices located at a distance of about 10 centimeters. This technology primarily intended for use in mobile phones and payment terminals, and in some countries is already being used with might and main for contactless payments, paying for public transport or even personal identification. In our country, NFC has not yet become widespread, but one of the applications is already being offered by the domestic mobile operator MTS, which has organized NFC support for contactless payments. The Mobile Wallet package includes a special MTS SIM card with MasterCard PayPass technology linked to bank card MTS Money. In addition, an NFC antenna is included with the kit, which must be able to be placed in the SIM card slot. That is, for such contactless payments, in any case, just a smartphone is not enough - you also need to get and insert a new special SIM card into it, as well as open an appropriate account with MTS Bank. But in the case of a phone with NFC technology support, you also don’t have to install an antenna - and this is not such a simple matter, and in iPhones and others like them, where the SIM card is pushed into the case through a slot, it simply cannot be installed.

On smartphones based on Windows Phone 8, NFC can be used to transfer various data between phones, such as links in a browser or photos, if such capabilities are provided by the developer of a particular software.

C telephone functions Windows Phone 8X by HTC copes at the level of modern devices - no worse and no better. During testing, the smartphone did not lose the network, as far as I managed to notice, but spontaneous shutdown and reboot were my regular guests. I don't know if this is just a problem with the test sample, but I heard that the first users of the Nokia Lumia 920 complained about a similar problem.

The interface of the telephone part is quite convenient, intuitive, the keys, numbers and letters are clearly drawn, typing on the virtual keyboard is quite comfortable. The ringer is quite loud, but the vibrating alert causes concern: it is rather weak, and besides, it only works for a few seconds, and I did not find where it could be reconfigured.

And finally, I would like to draw the attention of users, especially those who are accustomed to Android system that for a complete Windows usage Phone will need to have a hotmail.com account, exactly as needed Account gmail on android.

Performance

The hardware platform of Windows Phone 8X by HTC, like all Windows Phone 8 produced, is based on a Qualcomm system-on-chip. Here it is SoC Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4, with a central dual core processor operating at 1.5 GHz (ARMv7 Krait). The RAM is 1 GB, and the storage available to the user to upload their own files is approximately 14.5 GB. It is impossible to increase the available volume, since the smartphone simply did not provide a slot for microSD memory cards. Again, I don’t want to kindle an endless controversy on the ethics of a ban on memory expansion by developers: personally, this volume is frankly not enough for me, and I will never buy such a smartphone for myself, at least for this reason alone. However, to other users, this problem may not seem so critical.

Further, in the performance section, it is still empty, because there are no representative benchmarks in the online application store yet, and those that have been found give some strange results, reporting on the maximum performance reaching the ceiling.

I would just like to note that watching movies on a smartphone is quite possible due to pre-installed decoders, a powerful SoC that easily pulls out 1080p resolution, and an excellent screen in its resolution and especially in pixel density.

Battery Life

It is generally accepted that the Windows Phone system is less energy-intensive than Android, but this device has a not too large battery (1800 mAh). Therefore, I did not get the impression that Windows Phone 8X by HTC, in terms of battery life, is at least somewhat ahead of its rivals on the Android system. The same day of work in normal mode: checking mail, SMS, calls, automatic synchronization of accounts via Wi-Fi and 3G, as well as Internet surfing and downloading several applications from the online store.

It was not possible to check the duration of operation of Windows Phone 8X by HTC in certain modes of continuous operation due to the mentioned problem with frequent shutdown and reboot of the device. All tests (reading, watching videos, games) failed for obvious reasons. The time to fully charge the Windows Phone 8X by HTC battery is about 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Prices

The average retail price of the device in Moscow in rubles at the time of reading the article can be found by moving the mouse to the price tag.

Outcome

At the moment, the official price for Windows Phone 8X by HTC fluctuates in our market from 21 to 23 thousand rubles. This is higher than the price of any other NTS smartphone, not counting the most powerful novelty. HTC One X+ - but Windows Phone 8X can not be compared with this most powerful device, neither in screen size, nor in hardware stuffing, or even in battery capacity. The described phone does not represent anything special in terms of its characteristics today, and such a high price is obviously dictated only by the novelty of the Windows Phone platform. As for the players in this sector, the main and almost the only competitor so far is, of course, Nokia Lumia 920. If we compare the characteristics of both devices head-on, then the NTS smartphone loses literally in all respects. At the same time, the price of the Lumia 920 is only a thousand and a half to two thousand higher. For those who really want to quickly get acquainted with the new platform and purchase a top-end Windows Phone, the scales in the choice will most likely tip towards the Nokia device. That one is better and bigger screen, camera, battery. Windows Phone 8X by HTC will rather appeal to those who dislike large spatulate shapes in pocket communicators. In addition, the Nokia Lumia 920 has another disadvantage - its unusually large weight for a smartphone is 185 grams. Yes, only Nokia can make such phones, regardless of the state of affairs. For those who do not see the mass and dimensions of the Lumia 920 as unacceptable, this device will most likely be the most suitable option at the moment. However, everything can change if the price of Windows Phone 8X by HTC drops significantly in the near future.

In our today's review - the HTC 8S smartphone. According to some Russian marketers, the brand-manufacturer of the device expects to win the sympathy of customers in the middle price segment. The main arguments: the balance of the characteristics of the device, as well as the traditionally high quality for the brand.

In addition, Microsoft, which released the OS under which it is controlled this phone is trying very hard to prove its worth in the competition with Android and iOS platforms. According to some experts, HTC 8S is a smartphone designed to combine two marketing principles: a recognizable prestigious brand and a democratic price. To what extent does the device correspond to this thesis?

What's Included

The set of delivery of the gadget in retail is quite standard. The box contains the smartphone itself (equipped with a non-removable battery with a capacity of 1.7 thousand mAh), a charger, a cable for connecting the device to a PC via USB, and a stereo headset (regular, wired).

Appearance

The body of the product is made of pleasant to the touch polycarbonate, its shape is very strict, the corners are sharp. The gadget fits perfectly in the user's hand. The smartphone is delivered to the Russian market in four possible colors: black and white, gray (with elements of yellow), blue, and red.

The experts who tested the device praise it for its good design (while noting the fact that this characteristic applicable to most other devices from HTC). Experts note that the body materials resist external pollution well. The assembly quality of the device is estimated as high. There are no loopholes.

The dimensions of the HTC 8S phone are neither big nor small. Device length - 120.5 mm, width - 63, thickness - 10.3. This, by the way, is very similar to those of the prestigious iPhone 5 (123.8 x 58.6 mm). Many experts note that both devices are united by thoughtfulness and elegance of the proportions of various body elements.

Control

Just like on many other Windows Phone-based smartphones, the device is configured with a control mechanism in accordance with Microsoft standards. They can deviate from them in the most exceptional cases. The main controls of the device are the screen and three touch buttons located below it. There are also additional tools. These include a block of keys located under the display (with white backlight), which can be used in low light conditions.

On the left side of the case is the "Back" button (and if you hold it, a list of running applications will appear on the screen). In the center there is a branded "flag" of Microsoft Windows (performs the function of returning to the main menu, as well as calling the voice control system - with a long hold). On the right is the button to launch the search engine.

Experts note a high level of comfort using touch buttons. You can confidently work with your smartphone, without fear of missing and not hitting the right key. There is a high brightness of the backlight under the touch buttons.

At the top end of the phone is a button to turn off the display. It is convenient that it is difficult to press it by accident, since it is located on the same level with the body. If you hold this button, a window will appear, with which you can turn off the power of the device. Next to the key is an audio jack. At the bottom end of the phone is a micro-USB slot, as well as a microphone.

On the right side of the case is a button that controls the volume level. Just below it is the key for turning on the smartphone's camera (with a short but sure press), focusing it (with a light, barely noticeable touch) or shutter release (long, sure pressing).

In the front of the case, on top, there is a voice speaker. It is covered with a neat mesh. Next to it is a light sensor, a motion (proximity) sensor, as well as an indicator that changes color with various user actions. For example, if a smartphone connects to a PC or charger, it will flash red.

Now we have the next item. HTC review 8S - characteristics.

Display

The smartphone is equipped with a technological display type S-LCD. Diagonal - 4 inches, resolution is 800 by 480 pixels. The phone screen can display, as is the case with many similar devices, 16 million colors. The display is covered with durable protective glass in version 2.

Experts note the moderate but sufficient screen brightness of the HTC 8S. The reaction to touching the surface of the display with your fingers is rated as excellent. Color rendition is characterized by experts as very calm, pleasing to the eye. There are opinions that the picture quality is somewhat inferior to screens made according to HD standards. But there are also counterarguments: the experts who voice them say that for the price category in which the smartphone is sold, this is already great.

Camera

The phone is equipped with a camera with a resolution of 5 megapixels. There is a regular flash (which, if necessary, can be used as a flashlight - however, for this you will have to download special application). The quality of pictures shown by the camera installed on the HTC 8S phone is estimated by experts as high. Movies can be recorded at a resolution of 720 pixels. There is an autofocus function.

Battery

Phone HTC 8S is equipped with a battery capacity of 1.7 thousand mAh. He is non-removable. This, according to some experts, can be a significant drawback. Batteries are known to have an expiration date. Over time, any battery fails. At the same time, other experts believe that this "shelf life" is more than sufficient in terms of the probability of replacing the device with a new one - 3-4 years. Therefore, this feature, they believe, can not be considered a minus.

Experts who tested the device note that with an average intensity of use of the phone offline work It may take about two days until the battery is completely discharged. In the music listening mode, the device can withstand about 4 hours, while talking - about 60 minutes. There is a module for automatically adjusting the brightness of the screen, designed to save battery power. Experts note that for a phone sold in the middle price segment, even these rather modest figures can be considered good.

Performance

The smartphone has a processor running at a frequency of 1 GHz with two cores, 522 MB of RAM, and 4 GB of internal flash memory. It is possible to connect additional modules microSD format. It may seem that the above characteristics of the HTC Phone 8S are very modest. Still, today's typical standards (even in the budget segment) are four cores and at least 1 GB of RAM. But experts who tested the device note highest speed gadget work.

According to some experts, the speed of the phone may be due to the peculiarities of the Windows software platform, which makes it possible to more efficiently manage hardware than, say, Android does. A lot of users who left about HTC phone 8S reviews on the Internet confirm the theses of experts about the unusual speed of a smartphone with relatively modest technical characteristics.

Connection

The smartphone supports the main communication standards used today - GSM, UMTS, 3G. Is in the device bluetooth module version 3.1 (with EDR function). WiFi supported. The experts who decided to write a review about the HTC 8S note that wireless module works without significant failures and freezes. You can also activate the WiFi router function in your smartphone and "distribute" the Internet to other devices.

Cartography

The smartphone uses a standard for many HTC devices GPS navigation software. Using it, you can download maps so that you can then use them offline when there is no Internet. Interestingly, this function is not formally free. But the corresponding costs of the smartphone owner are already included in the cost of the device. Therefore, the user does not bear any financial costs. Used in HTC-maps contain a fairly detailed drawing of houses, their numbering. There is a mode for indicating the level of traffic jams in the city.

Fancy features

Having listed the characteristics common to most other smartphones and HTC 8S, let's look at a few branded features that distinguish the device from analogues.

The smartphone is equipped with an interesting mechanism called "politeness sensors". Its structure is represented by three main functions: reducing the volume of the ringtone (when the owner takes the phone in his hand), increasing it (when the device is placed in a pocket), and mute the sound if the device is turned face down. Each of the options is performed automatically.

The second notable feature is that in the screen lock mode, the user sees nothing more than a weather forecast.

The third interesting mechanism built into the smartphone by the manufacturer is HTC's proprietary shell, which provides the owner of the device with big amount useful information in real time. This includes news, stock quotes, detailed forecasts and actual weather conditions.

Expert CVs

Most of the specialists who tested the smartphone did not reveal any signs in it that would at least somehow indicate the poor build quality and software operation. Many consider the fact that the firmware installed on the HTC 8S in the form of a "mobile" version of Windows provides excellent performance as the main advantage of the device. Experts note that the device has every chance to win the sympathy of Russians due to its affordable price and a wide range of functions.