HTC First UK launch delayed due to ‘customer feedback’

Have you been waiting to get your hands on the HTC First, a smartphone that has Facebook home pre-installed? If this is the case, we have bad news for you. Facebook and EE have confirmed that the handset’s UK launch will be delayed.

In a statement sent to the Wall Street Journal, Facebook said, “We’ve listened to feedback from users on their experience using Home. While many people love it, we’ve heard a lot of great feedback about how to make Home substantially better. As a result we’re focusing the next few months on adding customization features that address the feedback we received.”

EE said in a statement, “We will continue to build on our strong relationship with Facebook so as to offer customers new opportunities in the future.”

In a statement sent to PC Pro, EE said, “Following customer feedback, Facebook has decided to focus on adding new customisation features to Facebook Home over the coming months. While it is working to make a better Facebook Home experience, it has recommended holding off launching the HTC First in the UK, and so we will shortly be contacting those who registered their interest with us to let them know of this decision.”

Tags: EE, Facebook, Facebook Home, First, HTC, HTC First
Category Phone News |

HTC confirms ‘Ultrapixel’ camera causing the delay of the HTC One

HTC confirmed that the ‘Ultrapixel’ camera of the HTC One was the reason behind the smartphone’s delay.

The Wall Street Journal reports Benjamin Ho, HTC’s new chief marketing officer, responding to questions about the delays surrounding their new flagship. He said, “We have a lot of innovations but we haven’t been loud enough.”

WSJ says that the Taiwanese firm’s “new approach is part of HTC’s efforts to reassure investors and customers that it is turning around.” Since, “Its sales were down 41% in the fourth quarter from a year earlier, as it lost ground to rivals like Apple Inc. and Samsung.”

WSJ adds, “Mr. Ho outlined other marketing changes for HTC, such as increasing the digital marketing budget for the company by 250% this year compared with 2012, and increasing traditional media marketing spending by 100%.”

Speaking about the Ultrapixel cameras causing the delay, Ho said, “Our friends in the media have been asking why there has been a delay in shipments for the new HTC One, whether there is a component shortage. There is some shortage, because the phone’s camera was designed specifically for us, and production cannot be ramped up so quickly.”

So there you have it. The delays are being caused by problems with the production of the Ultrapixel camera. We’re hoping HTC gets around these issues. Otherwise, it will lose more market shares to the likes of the Apple iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy S4.

What do you make of these delays surrounding the HTC One? Share your thoughts through a comment on our Facebook page.

Tags: Camera, HTC, HTC One, One, Ultrapixel, Ultrapixel camera
Category Hardware News |

HTC One won’t be landing until the end of March

If you were looking to get your hands on the HTC One, you must have been expecting to be able to purchase the handset on the 15^th of March (Friday). Sadly, it will be delayed, landing in shops either at the end of the month or the start of April.

HTC said in a statement, “We will start fulfilling pre-orders by the end of March in certain markets and will roll out product to more markets as we approach April.”

This delay comes after reports claimed that there weren’t enough parts available from suppliers to build the handset.

We’ve grown accustomed to manufacturers not living up to their promised release date. However, the timing couldn’t have been worse for HTC. Samsung is about to launch the Galaxy S4 today, which is their biggest rival aside from the iPhone. If only the One was available on time, then impatient phone shoppers would have gotten their hands on HTC’s flagship before Samsung’s superphone hits shops.

It is crucial that HTC sells a lot of its flagship, after it announced disastrous earnings. With the expected success of the Galaxy S4, the Taiwanese firm needs all the advantages it can get. With this delay, HTC’s future is slipping more into uncertainty.

Disappointed the release of the HTC One will be delayed? Does this make you want to get the Samsung Galaxy S4 instead? Let us know through a comment below.

Tags: delay, HTC, HTC One, One, release, release date
Category Phone News |