The 'All New HTC One" (aka the M8)

[Funk]

First impressions? Pretty cool. Works well and will do a great job protecting both phone case and screen. Seems a bit perverse to have such a stunning phone and then put it in a plastic cover though. Does the case feel like £35-worth? No. But then it does have the built-in gubbins to tell the phone it's in that case - and when you consider the equivalent 'active' case for the new S5 is £45, it doesn't seem such poor value.

Speaking of which, I had the opportunity to play with the new S5 today, despite it not being on general sale until Friday. First thoughts? Standard Samsung. It's lighter than the M8 (well, plastic'll do that for you...) but I have to say, for a phone that will retail at the premium end of the market, it really doesn't feel remotely premium at all. It was as fast as you'd expect it to be (although entering the low-power state and coming back to 'normal' took aaaaaaaages) but it's just an S4 with a slightly bigger screen and a few extra features. I took two pictures side-by-side at the same time with my M8 and the S5 and I have to say that - on-screen at least - the M8's picture was massively better. I'm sure with cropping etc the S5's might have more detail, but it's more detail of a poorer photo. I don't have the picture from the S5, but this was the test image from my M8:



I also posted over in the Z2 thread about my thoughts on the camera, I'll copy them here:

Funk said:

For those with a picture fetish, I think the camera could be the thing that sways many toward the Z2 over the M8.

The M8 actually has a very good camera, it's just that the auto mode (which is what most people use) isn't very well-judged. You have incredible control over the One M8's camera so if you know what you're doing, good results are possible. Here are just a few of the controls you have in Manual mode:



I think it just takes work to get the best out of the M8's camera and most people just want to 'point-and-shoot' (which is fair enough on a mobile, given the type of use it's likely to receive).

I'll reiterate that I'm not the world's biggest user of the camera on my phone but I'll endeavour to take a load more shots over the next few days and post them up if people would like? Might help to give a more real-world sense of what it can do.

I've just read that the Z2's camera has been rated as one of the best out there; if that's critical to you then the Z2 might be a better bet for you. The other trump cards the S5 and Z2 hold are their IP ratings which makes them broadly waterproof (in fresh water - I'd imagine a chlorinated pool or seawater may be a little more of a challenge to the phones!).

Edited by Funk on Tuesday 8th April 22:34

[SimianWonder]

Thanks, quite interesting, if less conclusive than I'd hoped given how it was all done in auto-mode.

@ Funk, sorry, missed your post, the above was in reply to the youtube video. I'd certainly be interested in seeing some of your shots, and while I think I've ruled out the Galaxy S5 (broadly too similar to my current S3, and full of bloatware) the Z2 is also something I'm considering, even if the design isn't a patch on the HTCs.

Edited by SimianWonder on Tuesday 8th April 23:13

[geeks]

Funk, does the flap (oh-er) for the case stay shut properly? Bought a case without the dotmatrix on release day and it flaps around and doesnt stay shut so i didn't bother using it. If the dot matrix one does stay shut i will pick one up..

[Funk]

Yeah, that was my concern too but to give you some idea of the strength, if you open it flat on the desk, it will spring itself shut immediately.

It's getting some good feedback in the office this morning.

[IN51GHT]

Thinking the M8 will be my next phone now, like the 'feel' of it, it's case is quite tactile in comparison with Samsungs offerings. Just an iPhone 5s to consider now. although I still like the Note 3 too.

Edited by IN51GHT on Wednesday 9th April 09:33

[VEA]

I've taken quite a few pics over the last few days with mine, I will get them uploaded at some point today for people to see.

[geeks]

Funk said:

Yeah, that was my concern too but to give you some idea of the strength, if you open it flat on the desk, it will spring itself shut immediately.

It's getting some good feedback in the office this morning.

Does it have a magnet holding shut?

[Funk]

geeks said:

Funk said:

Yeah, that was my concern too but to give you some idea of the strength, if you open it flat on the desk, it will spring itself shut immediately.

It's getting some good feedback in the office this morning.

Does it have a magnet holding shut?

No, no magnet.

[Funk]

It is a bit 'gadget'. Appeals to the geek in me with the dot-matrix-style display but I'd be happy with the gel case it came with too.

[Junior Bianno]

Each to their own, but I really don't get putting this phone in a case. It's built like a tank, and it's tactility has got to be it biggest USP. It feel's great to hold and although it's a big phone, it slides easily into pockets - something I don't think it would do in a case.

The thing I didn't get about the dot matrix case is what you're supposed to do when taking pictures. Looks like you would just need to leave the cover hanging down which really isn't ideal. Also, it doesn't really fold flat across the back of the phone. Cool features when closed, but a lot of compromise IMO.

[Funk]

For all its lovely finish, I find it a little slippery in the hand without a case on.

Will see how I get on with the Dot View case, I can see your point about the camera. Nothing to stop your un-casing it for 'serious' picture-taking though?

[Funk]

The dots allow the screen to display through the case but the case itself tells the phone to do that, if that makes sense?

Just looked up the Official M8 car cradle to replace my Kidigi - £45....ouch. And it won't take it in the case either, I'd have to remove it every time...

Edited by Funk on Wednesday 9th April 13:33

[VEA]

Funk said:

Just looked up the Official M8 car cradle to replace my Kidigi - £45....ouch. And it won't take it in the case either, I'd have to remove it every time...

Edited by Funk on Wednesday 9th April 13:33

I've been thinking about car cradles today... wasn't there a new universal one that is just four bendable pipes? Can't remember where I saw it or what it was called though...

[Funk]

VEA said:

I've been thinking about car cradles today... wasn't there a new universal one that is just four bendable pipes? Can't remember where I saw it or what it was called though...

The benefit of a 'proper' one is that it puts the phone into 'Car Dock' mode and you don't have to fiddle about with a charging cable.

[VEA]

Funk said:

The benefit of a 'proper' one is that it puts the phone into 'Car Dock' mode and you don't have to fiddle about with a charging cable.

True,

Are they moveable though? As in, if you have more than one car, or is it a "permenant" solution?

[Funk]

VEA said:

Funk said:

The benefit of a 'proper' one is that it puts the phone into 'Car Dock' mode and you don't have to fiddle about with a charging cable.

True,

Are they moveable though? As in, if you have more than one car, or is it a "permenant" solution?

Screen sucker, easy to move between vehicles. The Kidigi one I have for the One X is brilliant.

[robsa]

Funk said:

VEA said:

I've been thinking about car cradles today... wasn't there a new universal one that is just four bendable pipes? Can't remember where I saw it or what it was called though...

The benefit of a 'proper' one is that it puts the phone into 'Car Dock' mode and you don't have to fiddle about with a charging cable.

I've got the original HTC One and the HTC car dock; it is a lovely dock, and does indeed put it in car mode BUT I hope HTC have updated Car Mode because on the M7 it really is utterly rubbish. It has a number of options in the nav menu that literally do nothing, it frequently needs sliding in and out 4 or 5 times before it recognises it is in car mode (this is down to software because before 4.4.2 it was perfect). The cradle is lovely though - if the M8 one is anything like the M7 one.

[Coolbanana]

I defected from iPhone and bought the HTC One M8 last week.

My wife works for HTC and so I've had a play with the M7 for some time and liked it and the M8 is a definite upgrade again. I got my M8 before she did too!

My choosing the iPhone was based upon aesthetics, feel and ease-of-use. The HTC One takes all these things a very noticeable step further; it feels more premium, looks great and is very instinctive in use. HTC's Sense 6 over Android is very good.

As a keen Photographer, whilst I prefer to always have a DSLR with me, I still value a good camera on my phone and this one works very well for what I would use a camera phone for - quick snaps. Often, I'll take a shot with my DSLR but will want to give an immediate flavour of what I'm seeing to friends and family and that is usually done via WhatsApp etc - and this phone takes great pictures for that purpose.

I'm also very impressed with the speakers for such a small device - when compared directly to other phones, it sounds fantastic.

[VEA]

A couple of pics from the last couple of days. I've not played with the settings at all, just point and shoot.

[Funk]

Ok, big post coming up. I've been taking some snaps over the last couple of days, all on 'Auto'. On the pics of my car, the close of of the rear light is full zoom from the same location as the full-width picture is taken. What's also clear on the ones of my rear garden is that changing the focal point on the screen dramatically alters the way the phone adjusts the white balance.