Is An Apple-HTC Lawsuit Battle Headed Our Way?

I feel like it has been far too long since a major smartphone manufacturer accused another one of stealing or cheating. Thankfully, HTC has given me my fix on smartphone finger pointing. According to Want China Times President of HTC North Asia Jack Tong reacted to suggestions in a lot of reviews that his company's new HTC One A9 bears remarkable similarity to the iPhone 6. In fact, there have actually been reviews on the HTC One A9 calling it an iPhone clone.

Apparently these reviews hurt Tong's feelings as he was quoted saying, "We're not copying. We made a unibody metal-clad phone in 2013." Well, there you have it. HTC made one in 2013 so Apple must be the one copying, right? "It's Apple that copies us in terms of the antenna design on the back," Tong added.

These types of copying battles have been going on for years, the most famous of which was when Apple and Samsung went back and forth in a court accusing the other. Apple was doing rather well, but the whole thing is still going on. So does this mean that another legal battle will be popping up? Will Apple sue HTC or will HTC sue Apple? Neither company has commented on anything yet, though.

Apple and HTC both agreed on a 10-year licensing deal nearly three years ago and both companies decided to stop all patent litigation. However, lawyers can find reasons to break deals if things like emotions or money get in the way.

HTC has made some pretty nice looking smartphones for some time though the marketing that goes along with these phones has been particularly terrible. Sure they have ads that star big-name Hollywood celebrities like Gary Oldman and Robert Downey Jr. though neither of those ads are memorable or captivating. Which is probably why you are just as shocked as I am to hear that both Gary Oldman and Robert Downey Jr. have been in HTC smartphone commercials.

With the recent slew of smartphones that was released, one thing has become evident. They are all pretty much the same in both look and functionality. I mean the only device that offers anything remotely different is the Galaxy S6 Edge+. It is still unclear how this whole process will turn out, though if it is anything like the Apple vs. Samsung case, at least it will be entertaining!

Content originally published here

---

Sharing this story on Social Media? Use these hashtags! #HTC #Apple #Smartphones

32GB HTC One Coming to AT&T and Sprint on April 19

AT&T and Sprint recently announced, albeit separately, plans to begin selling 32GB HTC One smartphones starting April 19 for $199.99 with a new two-year contract. In addition to that, AT&T said that it will be the only carrier in the United States to launch a 64GB version of the HTC One. That version of the smartphone will sell for $299.99 with a new two-year contract.

T-Mobile also announced that it will begin selling the HTC One "sometime in the spring", and said that it will charge $99 down with 24 equal payments of $20 in a low-subsidy, no contract plan. Online reservations for AT&T's HTC One began Thursday, April 4. Sprint began reservations on Friday, April 5.

AT&T will also be offering a free HTC Media Link HD wireless HDMI adapter with the device for a limited time. The device will allow you to connect your HTC One to an HDTV. However, you will also have to sign a separate two-year agreement for the adapter as well. AT&T and Sprint also confirmed that the HTC One will be available in both black and silver.

The HTC One comes with a 1.7 GHz quad-core processor, an aluminum case and has a 4.7" full HD screen. It comes equipped with Android 4.1 for its operating system as well as a new HTC Sense interface that is comparable to the tiles used in the Windows Phone 8. The device will also run on AT&T and Sprint's LTE wireless networks and comes with a 2300 mAh battery.

The only carrier to not announce availability for the HTC One was Verizon, who declined to comment on plans for the smartphone. It seems unlikely that the carrier will have the device, especially considering the fact that HTC doesn't list Verizon as a carrier on its website.

When the device was announced back in February, one of the biggest innovations that HTC was highlighting was the Ultrapixel camera. This camera has been designed to take better photos in low light than traditional cameras and is rated at 4 megapixels. However, HTC argues that it is capable of capturing more light and uses fewer, though larger, pixels for better pictures.

Like I said earlier, reservations for the HTC One are available on AT&T and Sprint, so if you've been waiting for the opportunity to get yours, then don't wait any longer! Head on over to AT&T or Sprint's website and reserve yours before they all run out!

Source: Computer World - HTC One with 32 GB available from AT&T, Sprint on April 19 for $200 and two-year contract