Sprint just announced a new Android smartphone that combines sleek design, nice specs and mid-range pricing.  Called the HTC Evo Design 4G, it's also the first EVO-branded device to come with world phone capabilities.

While no powerhouse next to current market releases, it does seem like one of the more attractive mid-range options out there.  It looks premium, too, with its aluminum unibody construction and very streamlined profile.

Details of the HTC Evo Design 4G include a 4-inch capacitive touchscreen display (960 x 540 resolution), a 5.0 megapixel camera module (with LED flash and 720p video recording), a 1.3 megapixel front-facing video cam, aGPS, 3G, 4G, WiFi with mobile hotspot support for up to 8 devices, Bluetooth and microSD card support (up to 32GB).  Processing muscle comes courtesy of a single-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm CPU, paired with 768MB of RAM.

Android 2.3 Gingerbread runs at the helm, along with the usual Google Mobile Services and HTC Sense UI.  No word on preloaded apps, but we're guessing there has to be some global messaging tools in there, along with various entertainment options (as with previous EVOs).

The HTC Evo Design 4G will show up online and in-stores by October 23.  Price is $99.99 with a new two-year plan from Sprint.

[Sprint]

T-Mobile has announced a new Windows Phone Mango handset.  Called the HTC Radar 4G, it's, basically, a 4G version of its namesake Europe-bound smartphone (which, last we heard, should come out October).

Sporting an aluminum unibody design, this is one sleek-looking device.  It's youthful, without being gaudy, especially in the white/gray color scheme shown off in the product image.

Details of the HTC Radar 4G include a 3.8-inch capacitive touchscreen display (), a 5.0 megapixel camera (with a dedicated shutter button, LED flash and 720p video recording), a front-facing VGA webcam, aGPS, 4G, WiFi, Bluetooth and stereo speakers.  No word on built-in storage, though, which is quite the odd omission (considering Windows Phone devices won't have microSD cards).  Muscle is provided by a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, paired with 512MB of RAM.

You get to enjoy all the touted Windows Phone Mango features, of course, which should go under heavy scrutiny once the new batch of Windows-running handsets begin shipping out.  The press release makes note of the smartphone's "comprehensive productivity experience," "innovative communication features" and a bunch of "preloaded entertainment applications."

No word on exact pricing or release date, but the magenta carrier says the HTC Radar 4G should be hitting the market right before the holidays.

[Tmobile]

When a mobile company holds a press event, it's usually for some groundbreaking new smartphone.  We're not sure what HTC's expectations for the HTC Rhyme, but it's apparently what this week's special event is all about.

Marketed towards female users, the handset was presented with a lavender shell, although a silver version is also expected to be released.  It also comes with a color-matching bundle of accessories that include a docking station, a sports armband, a Bluetooth headset, an in-ear wired headset for enjoying your tunes, and a light-up "Charm cable," which alerts you of incoming calls and messages using the onboard LED.

Details of the HTC Rhyme include a 3.7-inch capacitive touchscreen (480 x 800 resolution), a 5.0 megapixel camera module (with LED flash and 720p video recording),  a front-facing webcam, aGPS, WiFi, 3G, 4GB of internal storage and microSD card expansion (up to 32GB; 8GB pre-installed).  Processing muscle is provided by a 1GHz single-core Scorpion processor, an Adreno 205 GPU and 768MB of RAM.

It runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread, along with the usual suite of Google Mobile Services.   Sense UI 3.5 runs on top of the OS, along with the new HTC Watch service for streaming on-demand movies to your handset.

I have to admit, the HTC Rhyme looks a lot better than I thought with the leaked pictures that made the rounds just a short time ago.  It will be released in the US under Verizon Wireless beginning September 29, although no pricing has been announced (they appear to be pimping it as a mid-ranger, though).

[via GSMArena]

We guess we speculated too soon about HTC Runnymede being the first smartphone from the company sporting their newly-acquired Beats Audio inside.  That honor actually belongs to the just-announced HTC Sensation XE, a music-friendlier version of the HTC Sensation 4G.

What magical additions will this tweaked handset get?  According to HTC, it now integrates Beats Audio technology, which should deliver "fuller bass, crisper vocals, and a new level of clarity and range."  To enjoy that, of course, they're throwing in a bundled pair of  Beats by Dr. Dre headphones which will be automatically detected by the phone once plugged in, switching the settings to a custom Beats sound profile.

Details of the HTC Sensation XE doesn't veer far from the Sensation 4G.  You get a 4.3-inch Super LCD capacitive touchscreen (540 x 960 resolution), an 8.0 megapixel camera (with dual LED flash and 1080p video recording), a front-facing VGA webcam, aGPS, WiFi with mobile hotspot, 3G, 4G, DLNA, Bluetooth 3.0, 1GB of internal memory, a microSD card slot (up to 32GB), a TV out, and a larger 1,730mAh battery (rated at up to over 7 hours of talk time).  Muscle is provided by a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor (an upgrade from the Sensation 4G's 1.2GHz), paired with 768MB of RAM.

It runs Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread, along with HTC Sense UI and the usual Google suite of apps.  Appearance remains largely the same (with the addition of new Beats Audio branding), as well as the dimensions (126.1 x 65.4 x 11.3 mm).

The HTC Sensation XE will be available in Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa beginning late September.  No pricing has been announced, though.

[via UnwiredView]

The rumored HTC Runnymede just got some official-looking product shots, courtesy of the Chinese website ePrice.  As you can tell from the image, this is no shabby render buy a blogger -- it looks like the same thing that will come with press releases when HTC does announce the phone.

The most notable part of all this is the Beats Audio branding in the back, which likely makes this the first recipient of that $309 million purchase from last month.  We're not sure if having the logo means this will deliver a highly-improved audio experience, be ridiculously expensive (like those similarly-branded headphones) or both, however.

Leaked details of the HTC Runnymede include a 4.7-inch capacitive display (480 x 800 resolution), an 8.0 megapixel camera module with dual LED flash, a front-facing 1.3 megapixel video cam, a 1.5Ghz single-core processor,768MB of RAM and either 16GB or 32GB of onboard storage. Of course, you can expect the usual wireless connectivity features, along with other modern smartphone standards.

If this sounds like the HTC Titan, it probably is -- except with Android (instead of Windows Phone 7.5 Mango) and HTC Beats onboard.  Hopefully, the Beats integration means something that's more than just a cosmetic addition, though.

The ePrice post seems to suggest that the HTC Runnymede will be announced on September 20 during an HTC event in the US (the big media outfits have already gotten their invites).  We're guessing it will get a name change, too, since Runnymede just sounds like a word a four year old will make up.

[via ePrice China]

At the IFA last week, HTC showed off two upcoming handsets that both run Windows Phone 7.5.  The Mango-running duo consists of the HTC Titan and the HTC Radar.

As you've probably heard, Mango will come with over 500 new additions to the platform, making for an overall more solid mobile OS.   Like the previous iteration, though, the new version comes with no microSD support, so you'll be living in an iPhone-like "transfer files regularly" existence.

HTC Titan

HTC's largest phone to date, the Titan's highlight has to be the 4.7-inch capacitive touchscreen display (480 x 800 pixels).  While it was definitely outshone by the Galaxy Note's 5.3-inch frame, this is is definitely not something to sneer at, especially with the solid hardware, brushed aluminum shell and clean slim lines  (5.18 x 2.78 x 0.39 inches).

Details of the handset include an 8.0 megapixel camera module (with dual LED flash), a 1.3 megapixel front-facing webcam, aGPS, 3G with HSPA, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, 16GB of built-in storage and a 1,600 mAh battery module.  Muscle is delivered by a 1.5GHz processor, paired with 512MB of RAM.

HTC Radar

The more modest of the duo, the Radar is also smaller, packing a 3.8-inch capacitive touchscreen display (480 x 800 resolution).  Details include a 5.0 megapixel camera module, a VGA front-facing camera, aGPS, WiFi, 3G, Bluetooth, 5.1 channel surround sound and 8GB of internal storage.  A 1GHz processor powers the thing.

Release Details

Both the HTC Radar and the HTC Titan will hit European and Asian markets beginning October. Listed pricing on Amazon UK has the Titan for £489.99 (around $790) and the Radar for £349.99 (around $560), although HTC hasn’t announced anything official.

[HTC TITAN, HTC Radar]

T-Mobile just announced one of their most awaited smartphones.  That will the HTC-made MyTouch 4G Slide, a beast of a handset with some serious hardware onboard.

Like the previous 3G Slide, this one packs a full QWERTY keyboard that you can slide out from the side.  It shares some similarities in design with the 4G-less predecessor, but it's an entirely new phone with slightly better aesthetics in tow.

Details of the MyTouch 4G Slide include a  3.7-inch Super LCD screen (840 x 450 resolution), an 8.0 megapixel camera module, a front-facing webcam, aGPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G, 4G and all the usual smartphone jazz.  Muscle is provided by a dual-core 1.2 Ghz processor.   Android 2.3 Gingerbread is the OS of choice, with HTC Sense 3.0 running on top.  Naturally, you get the usual Google suite of apps, along with a collection of software to take advantage of that high-speed broadband access it comes with.

HTC appears to be pimping the handset's 8.0 megapixel camera, which boasts dual LED flash, 1080p video recording and, according to the company, zero shutter lag.  While we doubt they'll kick Nokia's ass when it comes to phone cameras any time soon, we don't see many smartphone users rocking the Finnish company's products either.

The MyTouch 4G Slide will be available beginning July, priced at $199.99 on a new two-year agreement.

[T-Mobile]

If you loved the HTC EVO 3D but couldn't care less for the 3D gimmick, this is probably the phone you'll want next: the HTC EVO 4G+.  Too bad it's only announced for Korea.

Sporting a design that's a near-twin to its sweet-looking 3D brother, the handset ditches the stereoscopic talents both on the display and the rear camera.  It retains, pretty much, everything else, though.

Details for the HTC EVO 4G+ include a 4.3-inch capacitive touchscreen 9540 x 960),  an 8.0 megapixel camera in the rear (with dual LED flash and 1080p video recording), a 1.3 megapixel camera in the front, aGPS, WiFi with tethering, 3G, WiMax, DLNA, SRS virtual surround, 1GB of onboard storage, microSD card expansion and a 1730 mAh battery.  Muscle is provided by  a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, paired with 1GB of RAM.

The version of Android running at the helm is unspecified, so is the version of HTC Sense over it.  We're surprised there's no digital TV, though -- this is Korea we're talking about.

Some folks are saying the US version of this will be the HTC Kingdom, toting Sprint radios and, we're guessing, exactly the same thing everywhere else.  No pricing or release dates were given.

[HTC]

While far from a frontrunner in terms of hardware, the HTC Merge is likely to carve a small niche in the market simply for being one of the few CDMA world phones released in the US.  So how well does it stack up in today's smartphone landscape?

Physically, it has an attractive look and premium feel, courtesy of the brushed aluminum on both the edges and the back cover.  It also brings quite a bit of heft, which is great when you've got it in hand but could be troublesome in your pocket.  Display is a 3.8-inch capacitive touchscreen, with 800 x 480 resolution.  While sufficiently bright and sharp, it's nowhere near the AMOLED displays you can find on today's premium devices.  It also has a slide-out landscape QWERTY keyboard, which did well enough (although notably small and less snappy than many keyboards in the market).

As a phone, the HTC Merge makes for good calls.  Voices sounded muted at times, but they were always clear enough to understand.  Those on the other reported the same problem as we experienced.  Speakerphone, on the other hand, was very good, with plenty of volume reported on both ends of the call.   Battery is rated at 6.8 hours of talk time.

Android 2.2 Froyo is onboard, along with Sense UI, although it uses an older version (1.6, the most recent is 2.3).  As such, it's got all the usual Google services and HTC widgets, along with a variety of third-party apps (Quickoffice, Peep, City ID and more).  Processor is a paltry 800Mhz, though, so make sure to consider that if you're thinking of running some of the heavier games on this.

You get all the usual Android smartphone features: a variety of voice options, some PIM tools, basic and advanced messaging, support for multiple social networking accounts, and the usual  wireless connectivity set (3G, WiFi with mobile hotspot, Bluetooth, aGPS).  Like we said, this is CDMA world phone, which means you can use it with a GSM SIM card elsewhere in the world.  It won't work with GSM carriers within the US, but it should work well for local networks when you're out of the country.

The 5.0 megapixel camera takes bright, sharp and colorful outdoor shots, although indoor snaps left a bit much to ask for (even with flash and autofocus).  It takes good 720p videos, too, although the audio parts run a little low on volume.

Overall, the HTC Merge is a solid smartphone and should be one of the best options in US Cellular's range.  The world phone support is the star feature, though -- all others are pretty standard fare for current mid- to high-end releases.   Price is $149.99 with a new two-year agreement.

After leaks upon leaks, Verizon has finally put an official stamp on the HTC Droid Incredible 2.   While the specs aren't quite as incredible-sounding in light of oncoming Android hardware, it's still quite the muscle-packin' smartphone.

The follow-up to last year's Droid Incredible S, the new handset doesn't stray too far from the original both in looks and internals.  As such, it isn't the top-of-the-class device that the Incredible was when it first rolled out, although it does cram a few new niceties.

The Droid Incredible 2 gets a bump up in screen size (4 inches compared to its predecessor's 3.7 inches), apart from adding a front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera and DLNA compatibility.  It retains the same 1GHz processor, 8 megapixel camera (with 720p video) and OS, though (Android 2.2 Froyo), so it could feel a bit underwhelming as an upgrade.  Other details include your usual smartphone favors, like aGPS, WiFi, 3G with HSPA, mobile hotspot (up to 5 devices), stereo Bluetooth and microSD card expansion.

One big differentiator could be international support, as Verizon claims that the new device is global-ready, capable of utilizing voice and data services in over 200 countries.  Availability begins this Thursday, April 28, priced at $199.99 on a new two-year agreement.

[Verizon]