HTC One (M8) for Windows might have debuted sooner were it not for Microsoft acquisition of Nokia

posted by Maxwell R. / Aug 22, 2014, 11:20 PM

HTC One (M8) for Windows might have debuted sooner were it not for Microsoft acquisition of Nokia

HTC has a winner on its hands with its One (M8) smartphone. In the Android space, it is simply the best built smartphone you can buy. The fit and finish is excellent, and the final assembly is an outstanding execution of using top quality materials without blowing the bank on things like sapphire.

More than the materials though, the HTC One (M8) is geared perfectly for the person that uses their smartphone for everything, especially consumption of media. The front facing speakers make the M8 lead the pack in that form factor.

When Microsoft loosened its manufacturing requirements to allow companies to use existing hardware designs and run Windows Phone, the HTC One (M8) was the perfect reference to build off of because of those BoomSound speakers, top shelf internals, and slick build quality.

Long before Build 2014 this past spring, Microsoft had let loose many of the initial build restrictions that were originally baked into the requirements for Windows Phone, like a dedicated shutter button for the camera and on-screen navigation buttons. Samsung immediately set out to recycle its Galaxy S4 design for the ATIV SE.

HTC was on the same page it seems with its One (M8) design, but it held back the HTC One (M8) for Windows due to the merger with Microsoft and Nokia Devices and Services. “We were waiting to see how the relationship would take shape,” according to HTC USA head Jason Mackenzie, “We weren’t sure what their strategy was going to be.”

Any tension was relieved when Microsoft announced its restructuring which is going to involve 18,000 layoffs from the company, more than 12,000 of which will be from the recently acquired Nokia unit. Given that, Microsoft needs a high-quality device like the M8 in the stable.

That said, HTC did see a gap in high-end hardware for Windows Phone. “Nokia offers terrific hardware, but HTC is just more established in the US in terms of momentum,” Mackenzie said of the M8, “[it is] the first time a smartphone manufacturer has launched an iconic device on multiple operating systems without making any compromises.”

sources: CNET via WMPoweruser

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56 Comments

1. Hashed unregistered

If it's a WP, then it must be a Lumia. Thanks HTC for the effort, but you have better chance with Android.

posted on Aug 22, 2014, 11:28 PM 8

2. dushyant

Posts: 94; Member since: Mar 14, 2011

HTC please stay away from Microflop, I don't want to see you being acquired by MS. Anyone but not MS.

posted on Aug 22, 2014, 11:29 PM 9

36. Jinto

Posts: 436; Member since: Jan 15, 2014

Grow a brain

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 6:54 AM 1

39. Liveitup

Posts: 1798; Member since: Jan 07, 2014

Microsoft has over 15 Billion dollar business, that's not Microflop that Microsuccess. Brainless noob.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 7:08 AM 6

40. Jinto

Posts: 436; Member since: Jan 15, 2014

Macrosuccess

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 7:14 AM 1

3. dushyant

Posts: 94; Member since: Mar 14, 2011

Everything Microsoft touches turns in ...., U know what it is. (I have been warned of language by phonearena)

posted on Aug 22, 2014, 11:34 PM 6

4. 0xFFFF

Posts: 3806; Member since: Apr 16, 2014

HTC is a strange company. They've done some things very well, but they seem to have a talent for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Just in recent times we've seen the 4MP UltraFail for the M8. And now getting on board with a burning platform. What a way to dilute any sense of "flagship" that was left in the M8. Hopefully 2015 will be kinder to HTC.

posted on Aug 22, 2014, 11:35 PM 4

7. xperiaDROID

Posts: 5629; Member since: Mar 08, 2013

They just want to test their own innovation on their flagship and see how it works and what the consumers think, their flagships are like lab rats. If HTC really want to stand out with their own innovation, they should test it until it's perfect then release it to the consumers. If they can't do it, they will be better off with 13 MP Sony's IMX camera sensors.

posted on Aug 22, 2014, 11:52 PM 2

8. Hashed unregistered

Burning platform?? WP is here to stay whether you like it or not. I used to be an Android user for years, and I'm very pleased with Wp right now, the OS is great, performs exceptionally well, and looks good.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 12:01 AM 5

11. dushyant

Posts: 94; Member since: Mar 14, 2011

How old are you?? Serious question.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 12:15 AM 2

18. Hashed unregistered

36,,, what does that have to do with technology site comments?

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 1:42 AM 2

20. dushyant

Posts: 94; Member since: Mar 14, 2011

See thats the thing, windows phone is fine and more user friendly for elder people who were not born in the age of technology. People between 18-35 are more likely to choose android.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 1:56 AM 5

21. arenanew

Posts: 286; Member since: Dec 30, 2013

how much sundar pischai of google for making spaming against microsoft . for brush ur mind . android use microsoft technology thay why they pay fees . google have no innvation and product . no one use goole hangout , drive totaaly use and search is full of advertisement like i earn 40000 $ in one day and last google map just ok . only they rely on you tube revenue . chrome book have only 0.1 % share in 4 years .

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 2:21 AM 2

33. Pattyface

Posts: 1658; Member since: Aug 20, 2014

I use hangout sir and love it. Trolling on either side is silly.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 6:17 AM 2

24. Hashed unregistered

I think you are mistaken, I'm so well involved in technology, I have an Android tab, it's rooted and running xposed modules, I have WP phone, it's great, and I'm a GIS data analyst in an IT company

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 2:26 AM 4

30. ArtSim98

Posts: 3535; Member since: Dec 21, 2012

How about 16? I love Windows Phone and especially full Windows 8.1. Using Android on phone right now though. Love BB too.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 5:30 AM 4

32. Pattyface

Posts: 1658; Member since: Aug 20, 2014

Lol on that one. So 36 is elder? I say smarter, more mature, financially established. I could go on and on but I'm sure you wouldn't agree or understand.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 6:15 AM 4

44. dushyant

Posts: 94; Member since: Mar 14, 2011

I am 20 36 makes you almost twice as old, i you would be half as smart as you think you would understand what i ment

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 7:43 AM 1

46. Jommick

Posts: 221; Member since: Sep 10, 2013

Hi, I'm 20 too. I've had all three major platforms, all of which are excellent in my opinion. I've had a jail broken iphone, rooted android, and a window broken wp; owned tablets in all mobile os variants as well. I currently own and operate my own company where I build PC's from parts, offer tech support, do hardware config, software setup, network setup and analysis, solutions consulting, etc. for consumer and enterprise clients. I'm also currently finishing up my MCSE certification, should have that before fall. Unrelated, but I'm also financially stable, happily married, and have twin boys on the way. But no, you're right, because you're 20 years old, you have an opinion, and you know everything there is to know about anything. Anyone older than you is a dinosaur and anyone younger than you is too immature to be relevant. /s

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 8:37 AM 1

47. Pattyface

Posts: 1658; Member since: Aug 20, 2014

Again so 36 makes me an elder? Point proven sir.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 8:40 AM 1

61. AfterShock

Posts: 4147; Member since: Nov 02, 2012

Gibberish nonsense. Pattyface has four aces, you have a handful of deuce.

posted on Aug 24, 2014, 9:50 PM 0

37. Liveitup

Posts: 1798; Member since: Jan 07, 2014

WP influenced influenced both Android and iOS from an standpoint. quit writing stupidness.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 6:56 AM 3

62. AfterShock

Posts: 4147; Member since: Nov 02, 2012

http://files.gendo.nl/images/AOL-Metro.jpg Borrowing things it seems to influence others?

posted on Aug 24, 2014, 9:51 PM 0

64. AfterShock

Posts: 4147; Member since: Nov 02, 2012

No you should wake the frak up and use your eyes. It's too easy to see, AOL was the inspiration to WP, and now you are bandying it as gospel. Flat is not WPs design period.

posted on Aug 25, 2014, 7:41 AM 0

41. 87186

Posts: 312; Member since: Aug 01, 2014

ok, but I'm 28. let me guess, I'm still an "elder". haha give it a break and find a better hobby. if you don't like MS, fine. you follow WP news just to badmouth it. seriously. take a few steps back, look at your day, and ask yourself "how have I contributed to society". if you struggle to think of something, then I suggest you stop from behind your keyboard. go IMPACT this world. trolling a multi BILLION dollar corporation is doing NOTHING.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 7:25 AM 2

56. AfterShock

Posts: 4147; Member since: Nov 02, 2012

Elder lol? Go do that theory elsewhere. Android, Nexus user here, long live the king.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 6:00 PM 0

13. 0xFFFF

Posts: 3806; Member since: Apr 16, 2014

Sorry, Hashed. You need to go re-read Elop's original memo about the "burning platform" to understand. The market share of WP is declining and will continue to do so now that Nokia has been assimilated into Microsoft. WP offers no unique value to the mobile market. It is a closed source clone of some old version of iOS with "live tiles" glued on the front and "big fonts". Without Microsoft pumping billions into WP *every year* it would just die on the vine. And as WP is just a big money loser year after year, there is no purpose in Microsoft even making it. Sooner or later the CFO and/or Board of Directors will say "no more".

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 12:58 AM 2

17. Hashed unregistered

The burning platform was symbian, not WP. And I can see that their is more interest in Lumia handsets, more people are using and buying them, of course WP isn't as powerful as Android, but it is getting there. Have a nice day 0xFFFF

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 1:41 AM 5

26. juandante

Posts: 679; Member since: Apr 23, 2013

"The burning platform was symbian, not WP. " I stoped reading here, as you didn't understand the irony. You should go back to play monopoly as at 36 I don't think you can understand technology website.