HTC has confirmed that it will not be releasing a Google edition of its HTC One flagship running a pure version of Android without HTC Sense.
In the wake of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition unveiling at last night’s Google I/O keynote speech, the Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer has confirmed it will not launch a similar HTC One version.
The Google branded version of the Samsung Galaxy S4 will rid the handset of its defining TouchWiz UI giving users a Google Nexus 4 experience with the Galaxy S4 specs and body.
“This is a Samsung Galaxy S4 running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean with the same software experience shipped on our Nexus devices. It’s Google’s take on Android and it’s on the Samsung Galaxy S4,” said an official Google spokesperson.
Confirmed for a US launch on June 26, a UK release date hasn’t been revealed as yet, but the American consumer can purchase one for $649 (£425) directly from the Google Store.
HTC One Features
The HTC One features a 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM powered by a 2,300mAh Lithium-Polymer battery.
Running Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean from the box, the HTC One has the new version of the HTC Sense 5 UI installed that introduces the HTC BlinkFeed feature. BlinkFeed transforms the HTC One homescreen into a customisable live stream of content from more than 1,400 media sources.
HTC Sense also brings with it the new HTC Zoe software to complement the flagship’s UltraPixel camera technology with f/2.0 and Full 1080p HD video recording capabilities.
The Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer already offers a developer version of the HTC One, so it wouldn’t make sense for HTC to offer the handset with a Google Nexus 4 remodelling.
Next, read our HTC One tips and tricks.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
