HTC launches Android-powered Sensation

HTC has lifted the lid on its latest Android-powered smartphone, the Sensation.

The company formally announced the phone on Tuesday at an event in London. The device will feature a 4.3-inch touchscreen display — with contoured glass along the top edge — and a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor.

HTC said that the qHD resolution display (960 x 540 pixels) on the multimedia-focused device provides around 35 percent more pixels than a standard display. It has a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9.

The handset measures 126.1 by 65.4 by 11.3mm and weighs in at 148 grams, including the battery.

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The handset will have an 8-megapixel camera capable of 1080p HD video capture at 30fps. It will also arrive with dual-LED flash. Under the bonnet, the Sensation will run on the Android 2.3 operating system.

Rounding off the list of smartphone staples, the Sensation will offer HSPA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS connectivity.

HTC said the device offers better email and calendar features, and will launch apps faster than earlier handsets thanks to its dual-core processor.

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The device brings with it the newest version of HTC's Sense user interface, version 3.0. The lock screen now allows users to instantly launch into an app docked on it; weather, time, stocks, user photos and social-network updates can all be docked on the lock screen. Apps are opened in one motion by dragging them inside the new lock circle.

Other Sense updates include a revamped home screen and tweaks to the weather app, adding new animations and sound effects.

An HTC spokesman told ZDNet UK that "some elements" of Sense could make their way onto older HTC handsets.

"It's not as simple as taking HTC Sense and putting it on the older handsets. We want to make features available that make sense on the older hardware," the spokesman said. "We may bring certain features to specific phones on a handset-by-handset basis."

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Also new to Sense 3.0 is integration of the HTC Watch premium television and movie-streaming service, which so far has been confirmed for the HTC Flyer tablet only.

Ahead of the official HTC announcement, Vodafone accidentally posted details of the Sensation on its website. These were later removed.

The Sensation will be available from Vodafone from around the middle of May, HTC said. Other retailers and operators are expected to start selling it by the middle of June. Pricing details were not disclosed.

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