Live from HTC's 2/19/13 Launch Event in New York

Text and photos by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

New York: HTC's big launch event of 2013 is finally here. Taking place right now at the Cedar Lake theatre in downtown Manhattan, the Taiwanese smartphone maker prepares to launch its newflagship smartphone called the HTC One. There have been a bunch of leaks here and there leading up to this event.

The small venue was packed with tech reporters an press while a small stage played a constant slideshow of photos. The event in NY is synched with the event in London. References

“People today immerse themselves in a constant stream of updates, news and information. Although smartphones are one of the main ways we stay in touch with the people and information we care about, conventional designs have failed to keep pace with how people are actually using them,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. “A new, exciting approach to the smartphone is needed and with the new HTC One, we have re-imagined the mobile experience from the ground up to reflect this new reality.”

HTC Launched the HTC One flagship smartphone with a new version of HTC Sense called Blink Feed screen which parses news and information from various websites as well as stereo front facing speakers also featuring HDR recording through dual mics that HTC says will do a great job recording concerts.

Sense TV is another new feature that makes use of the HTC One's IR controller for remote control of HDTVs and other devices. The idea is that the smartphone can serve as the control hub for user's home theatre experiences. 

HTC also revamped camera technology, 300 pecent more light gathering system. Touting a new sensor that supposedly does better in low light cconditions than leading competitors. HTC also introduced the Zoe feature which can create dynamic slideshows and movies by using existing photos and videos taken by the smartphone.

HTC also spoke a lot about the HTC One's design. It is the first all-aluminum smartphone that apparently integreates the data and cellular antennas into the unibody case.

Once a leading innovator in the smartphone space and the prime partner for Google's Android powered smartphones, HTC took a substantial beating in market share and popularity last year and fell behind the likes of Apple, Samsung and Nokia. This, huge dip in sales came despite the launch of some stellar products like the HTC One X and the HTC Windows 8X. The new smartphone releases can help build up interest in the brand in today's highly competitive mobile market.