BlinkFeed, HTC Service Pack and SenseTV listed on Google Play, complete with screenshots
We're just hours away from the expected arrival of the new HTC One (M8), and we're starting to see signs of the final preparations being made for the phone's launch. HTC has this morning released three new HTC Sense apps onto Google Play — HTC BlinkFeed, HTC Service Pack, and HTC SenseTV.
Update: HTC Gallery and HTC Guide have joined the fray.
HTC looks set to start updating key Sense components through Google Play.
The BlinkFeed app is HTC's home screen launcher, and judging by the package name com.htc.launcher, this Google Play app should contain the rest of the Sense launcher too. HTC Service Pack sounds mostly like backend stuff — "a support service update that combines previously released updates and helps make your HTC experience more reliable." And the changelog for the new SenseTV app — which has gotten a bit of a facelift since Sense 5 — shows a handful of new features. "Explore on-screen secondary content about the shows you watch, including synopsis, cast & crew, and social feeds about the show from Facebook and Twitter." And for sports, the ability to "view scores, stats, and social media buzz in real-time right on your phone."
SenseTV has been updated to work on the GPe HTC One.
The implication here is that HTC looks set to start updating key components of Sense 6 through Google Play, sidestepping the lengthy process of bundling them into firmware updates. We've seen Motorola and Sony move in a similar direction over the past year, making it easier to get new stuff into customers' hands faster.
All three apps are showing as incompatible with all of our devices, including the original HTC One (M7). However the Play Store listing for SenseTV indicates that it's been updated to support the Google Play edition M7, so if you have that device you might want to take it for a spin. We're hearing on Twitter that the app is indeed fully functional on HTC's GPe handset.
Stay tuned to Android Central today for full coverage of HTC's launch from the events in London and New York.
Source: SenseTV, BlinkFeed, HTC Service Pack on Google Play
Thanks to @Sebianoti and @marialuis27 on Twitter, and everyone else who sent this in!
Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite review: Samsung finally has an answer to OnePlus
With a Snapdragon 855 chipset, massive 4500mAh battery, 48MP camera at the back, and a large 6.7-inch AMOLED screen, the Galaxy S10 Lite is the best value flagship Samsung has released to date. You also get Android 10 out of the box, and the fact that the phone costs less than $600 makes it an absolute steal.
HyperX Cloud Flight S headset hands-on: Great virtual surround sound
HyperX released a new addition to its Cloud Flight headset line and it's a much-needed upgrade. The Cloud Flight S now supports 7.1 virtual surround sound as opposed to stereo.
The Galaxy Z Flip has a glass display under the plastic
Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip is the first phone with a foldable glass display. Or is it? Yes, but only technically.
The U12+ is the best HTC phone you can buy
There are a lot of smartphones out there, and Taiwanese manufacturer HTC makes some of the best, even if it doesn't sell anywhere near as many phones as the market leaders. This is our roundup of the best that HTC has to offer.
