The new HTC Sense interface: what's so new about it?

posted by Nick T. / Feb 19, 2013, 11:04 AM

The new HTC Sense interface: what's so new about it?

So, the HTC One is now official, meaning that the Taiwanese company has a new flagship Android smartphone to make us go "wow" with. What makes it so cool, you ask? Well, there's plenty to love about the device, ranging from its outstanding build quality to the powerful hardware tucked under its hood.

But software is also an essential part of a smartphone's user experience, and HTC is well aware of that. That's why the One's makers decided to overhaul the Sense user interface and change it in accordance to what smartphone owners use their devices the most.

The result is a new Sense UI – simpler, built from the ground up around the idea that people want quick access to information that interests them the most. HTC BlinkFeed is its highlight feature, accessible the very instant you unlock the device's screen. HTC Zoe is also in tow, allowing users to bring their image gallery to life with great photos and videos. But what do these features do exactly? Read along to find out!

The new HTC Sense interface

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9.1

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User Rating:

9.4

Based on 120 Reviews

Display 4.7" 1080 x 1920 pixels

Camera 4 MP / 2.1 MP front

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 600, Quad-core, 1700 MHz

Storage 64 GB

Battery 2300 mAh(18h 3G talk time)

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30 Comments

1. InspectorGadget80 unregistered

It looks very damn good. and better than the iOS in my opinion. my favorite part is the TV IV blast feature

posted on Feb 19, 2013, 11:07 AM 22

13. tusshharish

Posts: 342; Member since: Oct 23, 2012

even android love wp ui......lol....

posted on Feb 19, 2013, 11:55 AM 9

14. RiseAgainst94

Posts: 281; Member since: Mar 03, 2012

Better than iOS, but not better than Jelly Bean. I'm a WP user and I think HTC's may even look more appealing than WP8.

posted on Feb 19, 2013, 11:58 AM 7

18. AnTuTu

Posts: 1596; Member since: Oct 14, 2012

It is a very good smartphone with all these features. Now have to wait for S IV and then I"ll pick one between these 2 :)

posted on Feb 19, 2013, 2:24 PM 5

26. jsdechavez

Posts: 784; Member since: Jul 20, 2012

What's new about it? Its LiveTiles on Android.

posted on Feb 20, 2013, 5:18 AM 0

2. p0rkguy

Posts: 685; Member since: Nov 23, 2010

Android with WP8 theme by HTC.

posted on Feb 19, 2013, 11:08 AM 21

5. SleepingOz unregistered

You can always use third party widgets for a more "Android-like" experience. Most users will switch to Nova or Apex anyway.

posted on Feb 19, 2013, 11:20 AM 5

10. _Bone_

Posts: 2155; Member since: Oct 29, 2012

It's a lot more graphic than W8. I always wanted a home screen like that and the rest of the SW seems seamless too. Impressed!

posted on Feb 19, 2013, 11:38 AM 9

3. htc_prep

Posts: 303; Member since: Oct 09, 2009

i do like the idea behind it. the only question is how will the refreshes affect battery drain? and i read that the Original Sense clock is an option in the widget options. before people complain they dont like it or looks like WP8... you can disable it.

posted on Feb 19, 2013, 11:15 AM 5

12. pwnarena

Posts: 1129; Member since: Feb 15, 2013

even live wallpapers kill a good amount of battery juice. what more with all these interactivity? they should offer an option to turn them off.

posted on Feb 19, 2013, 11:50 AM 3

23. Baseballer

Posts: 132; Member since: Dec 07, 2011

I read somewhere that they'll have that option to turn it off

posted on Feb 19, 2013, 9:43 PM 0

28. LionStone

Posts: 1048; Member since: Dec 10, 2010

Whenever I have run live wallpapers on my HTC phones, it was always very minimal battery use.

posted on Feb 20, 2013, 10:35 PM 0

4. clevername

Posts: 1436; Member since: Jul 11, 2008

Thank you p0rkguy! I thought I was the only one seeing the modern UI

posted on Feb 19, 2013, 11:16 AM 2

6. bayhuy

Posts: 320; Member since: Jun 23, 2011

Crapsung fans will be mad.

posted on Feb 19, 2013, 11:33 AM 2

9. Wiki_jaan

Posts: 704; Member since: Jun 24, 2012

nope ................ :p

posted on Feb 19, 2013, 11:37 AM 2

29. jeff1434325

Posts: 97; Member since: Aug 07, 2012

get some life.

posted on Feb 20, 2013, 10:37 PM 0

7. asianface

Posts: 12; Member since: May 27, 2011

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! HTC, dangerous move!! I have to say I won't be sick of looking at my phone if it looks like that, but I'm just not sure if the general public would like that

posted on Feb 19, 2013, 11:35 AM 1

8. marchels14 unregistered

Everyone now is copying the tile thing of windows 8 cant someone think of something original.

posted on Feb 19, 2013, 11:35 AM 4

24. Baseballer

Posts: 132; Member since: Dec 07, 2011

Too bad thats only for that blink feed. The rest of the screens you custo iza with stuff you want..

posted on Feb 19, 2013, 9:44 PM 0

11. pwnarena

Posts: 1129; Member since: Feb 15, 2013

at least windows can now use the litigation route to make money.

posted on Feb 19, 2013, 11:47 AM 2

15. najariner

Posts: 24; Member since: Oct 31, 2012

that new clock widget is ugly as hell, and this metro meets flipboard ui is really overdoing it. please bring back sense 4.1

posted on Feb 19, 2013, 12:27 PM 0

16. rizevnarastek

Posts: 349; Member since: Sep 06, 2012

Actually it reminds me more of Currents then Flipboard or Windows live tiles ;)

posted on Feb 19, 2013, 12:42 PM 1

17. AshishRomea

Posts: 145; Member since: Aug 09, 2012

I LIKE THE SONY UI , SIMPLE , CLASSY , GOOD GRAPHICS AND MORE OF GOOGLE STOCK :)

posted on Feb 19, 2013, 1:06 PM 4

19. rsiders

Posts: 1898; Member since: Nov 17, 2011

As a Windows Phone user I must say the tile Sense UI(tiles are still static unlike Windows Phone) really appeals to me. And you can still switch to a more traditional Android interface. If HTC actually delivers on the camera quality(the software is killer too) and Nokia announces yet another AT&T exclusive for their next flagship device this is absolutely my next phone. I won't have to unlock it for T-Mobile to enjoy it. Are you listening Nokia?

posted on Feb 19, 2013, 2:52 PM 4

20. thelegend6657 unregistered

I hope previous devices will get new sense . Just like GS2 and note just got Nature UX Stuck on an older version of manufacturer skin is so not cool

posted on Feb 19, 2013, 6:16 PM 1

22. heyhi

Posts: 137; Member since: Feb 19, 2013

This is for you guys who dont like the UI...yeah the tile UI bla bla, WP bla bla bla, BUT, to not see the tiles, just slide it sideways, left or right, and thats it...it looks like an android UI again...i just one hands on video....the blink feed or tiles UI is just in one place, like a dedicated page for them...slide it right for example and you have the android UI again..simple as that...watch JON4LAKERS htc one hands on video on youtube and you'll see it. Just saw it.

posted on Feb 19, 2013, 8:47 PM 0

25. jackhammeR

Posts: 1548; Member since: Oct 17, 2011

totally ripped off of metro ui. At least, they got rid of this stupid weather widget.

posted on Feb 20, 2013, 1:59 AM 0

27. shadez10

Posts: 427; Member since: Jan 15, 2012

The phone itself looks like an iphone,BB z10, xperia... And now the UI looks like metro from WP... Out of ideas HTC?.. hahahahah...

posted on Feb 20, 2013, 5:26 AM 0

30. jroc74

Posts: 6023; Member since: Dec 30, 2010

I would say its more of a Flipboard clone. IMO Flip Board is inspired by Live Tiles tho... so in a 6 degress of seperation type of thing...one could say this Blink Feed is Live Tile-ish. That said....I dont want any static things on my home screen. If I have to get another launcher just to remove it...I might dont want that phone. At the same time...I use Nova Launcher now so it might not be that big a deal.

posted on Feb 21, 2013, 6:16 AM 0

31. heyhi

Posts: 137; Member since: Feb 19, 2013

man, didnt you read my post?? thats just in one place, one page that you scroll up and down...swipe your fingers to the left and you get a normal android UI again.

posted on Feb 21, 2013, 7:49 PM 0

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