HTC One (M8) gets Developer and Google Play editions

25 March, 2014
The Dev edition will cost the same, while the GPe one will actually command a $50 premium.

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  • f
  • fcreeves
  • xJ3
  • 29 Mar 2014

Dev Edition has software integrated into Android called Sense. In my humble opinion, I believe it is more intuitive experience as it is VERY evolved. Sense is actually older than Android. It has evolved from Windows smartphones that predate Android phones. Sense has widgets (apps that run on the home screens) that are not not found on non-HTC devices, but many apps have been created to try to duplicate them. The time clock with the flipping numbers with the weather icons overlayed is one of the most familiar copied widgets.

Google Play Edition

This is Google's Pure Android software which has been made familiar to many on the Nexus branded phones and tablets. Pure Android should technically run faster, but with the current generation of hardware it is hardly noticeable.

I myself prefer the Sense Experience. I do prefer Pure Android on Tablets though. I have had nearly every device out there in my hands and played with them thoroughly. I am the local phone and computer guy. People give me their new smartphones (tablets and computers too) and say they will pick them up that night or on the weekend while I set it all up for them. I do flash custom ROMs on many of these phones. On Galaxy phones, I love pure Android as the hardware is good,but I would not be the owner of a Galaxy phone...I've tried twice. I do not think Samsung's Touchwiz is...well, it's not Sense...not intuitive. For instance, on the Galaxy S4 if you typed the letters of someone's name on the dial pad, all the names of your contacts that meet those numbers would be available to choose from. The difference with HTC's Sense it will do the same but the most dialed numbers will appear first. Example, if you put the letters J-O-H-N on the dial pad the john that you dial most will appear on top of the list vs Galaxy device you would have to scroll all the way down the desired person alphabetically. See, all in all this is OK to someone who did not evolve with the Sense product...they missed out. Many, many, many people gave in to the $45 million Samsung advertising budget on jumped on the Galaxy bandwagon. Hey, I'm not knocking it, because it is good hardware under that plastic, but all those people missed the Sense experience and are Touch-Wiz-know-it-all's that rightfully love their device. That last sentence was for the Galaxy fanboys only.

Hey, take all this with a grain of salt because as I am just 'One' who truly believes that 'no Sense, is nonsense!'

    • D
    • AnonD-248837
    • j8i
    • 29 Mar 2014

    Charlie, 27 Mar 2014Whats the difference between HTC unlocked version vs Google... moreI'm probably in the minority, but I actually prefer sense over stock android. I hate TouchWiz on Samsung devices though.

      • C
      • Charlie
      • y0D
      • 27 Mar 2014

      Whats the difference between HTC unlocked version vs Google Play edition?

      Which is better expereince, SENSE 6 UI or the Stock Andriod?

        • T
        • Tej
        • Y68
        • 26 Mar 2014

        koby, 26 Mar 2014the dev edition uses Sense but has its bootloader unlocked ... moreThank you..

          • k
          • koby
          • xxv
          • 26 Mar 2014

          Tej, 26 Mar 2014Hi can you please explain the difference between Developer ... morethe dev edition uses Sense but has its bootloader unlocked while the GPE comes with stock Android

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            • Tej
            • Y68
            • 26 Mar 2014

            Hi can you please explain the difference between Developer edition and Google play edition..

              • D
              • AnonD-39775
              • ajM
              • 25 Mar 2014

              i rest my case: "The HTC One (M8) audio quality is by far the best we've seen a mobile device produce so far - and that's including tablets. Even its impressive predecessor pales in comparison with the latest HTC flagship, which is not only the loudest around, but also delivers perfectly clean output.
              The HTC One (M8) did perfectly in the active external amplifier part of the test, posting great scores all over the field. In addition it had volume levels higher than every other mobile device on the market right now.
              More impressively, there's virtually no degradation when you plug in a pair of headphones. The stereo crosstalk rises so little that it remains better than what some smartphones deliver without headphones. The rest of the readings remain perfect too, while the volume is as high as they come. What do you know - dropping the Beats logo actually led to even more spectacular performance by the HTC flagship."

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • 4GZ
                • 25 Mar 2014

                i was hoping the developers version would have 64gb of space :(

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • kc0
                  • 25 Mar 2014

                  Developer edition is available here: http://shopamerica.htc.com/cell-phones/productdetail.htm?prId=42973

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