HTC is suffering from a crisis of direction and identity, and it needs to get a grip fast.

Though the Taiwanese company can lay claim to one of the most highly regarded phones in the world, it's struggling for sales. Its stock price is reportedly at an 8-year low, audio partner Beats is said to be plotting an ouster and executives are fleeing.

It also has a leader who has critics arguing whether he can turn HTC around or stands as the obstacle in revival's way.

In a Reuters report published Tuesday, 12 former and current HTC executives spoke out against CEO Peter Chou, saying his abrasive management style and lack of strategic vision have contributed to the company's hard times.

We've never sat in on an HTC manager meeting, so whether allegations of a shoot-from-the-hip approach to product planning and the open berating of managers was true or still continues, we can't truly know.

But all you have to do is look at the HTC we have today to see that this is a company in need of righting. Here are a few suggestions to help it get its act together before we bid adieu for good.

HTC First, One and then some

Let's start with April's HTC First. The phone itself was fine, but the decision to partner with Facebook on the non-Facebook Facebook phone was misguided. Producing a mid-range handset that either plays host to a constant Facebook presence or, when you turn Facebook Home off, a nondescript Android experience is the definition of confused identity.

HTC, led by Chou, may be able to adjust to the calls of the market quickly, so it's not surprising it jumped on the chance to capitalize on this crazy thing called Facebook, but how did it fit in the company's long-term strategy? It didn't.

Then the sun came through the clouds, and we were gifted with the magnificent HTC One, a device that does seem to be having a positive impact on the company. It may not be the savior HTC hoped for, but at least it's given the phone maker some industry cred. It could've been, and still could be, a truly heroic device, if the company allows it.

Because where do you go after you launch a universally lauded phone? To variations, of course! How very trendy of you HTC. Have you been paying attention to Samsung's Galaxy line, by any chance?

HTC introduced the HTC One Mini last month and like its big brother, it's a well-reviewed phone.

But winning over reviewers and giving customers a product they end up buying are two different things. The phone is only now starting to go on sale (Friday in the U.S.), so whether people flock to the downsized (in more ways than one) HTC One Mini or it enters the land of why-did-they-do-it derivations, we don't yet know.

It will likely be very attractive to consumers in its price point ($99.99 in the U.S.) but is it good enough and different enough to defeat other low- to mid-range entrants as time goes on?

HTC is also rumored to be readying an HTC One Max, which could easily cannibalize the already not-so-superb sales of the One as well as the Mini as it's just taking flight. We've actually argued against HTC plopping a One-branded phablet on the market, and as John McCann wrote, the One Max stands to overshadow the One, further crippling HTC.

HTC has to compete, and part of that, at least in the world of smartphones, is coming up with new devices at a clip that keeps customers' attention. We get that. But HTC is different in that the HTC One is such a strong device, and the company is at a critical cross roads, that perhaps product restraint and a more spaced out product cycle would have been the more prudent approach.

That, however, sounds very un-Chou.

What's my name again?

If there's one thing Apple has really nailed down, it's a brand. You can argue the merits of its products (and many other things), but there's no denying Apple is one of the world's most recognized companies. Coke may have ruled the 20th century, but the 21st belongs to Cupertino.

It isn't alone in solid brand recognition however, as Google, Microsoft and T-Mobile all have successfully conveyed, with varying degrees of success, company values, logos, colors and product lines.

HTC could use a dose of this, without a doubt. It's taking some steps to personalize its marketing, releasing on Aug. 14 a new ad spot staring uber-cool Robert Downey Jr. The reaction was generally positive, and while the ad took a tongue-in-cheek look at what "HTC" stands for, it struck on a deeper cord than oddball humor.

What does HTC stand for? Not the letters – we liked "hipster troll carwash"– but what are the company's values? Can it refresh the used-by-others green and black color scheme? What story is its products trying to tell?

Downey Jr. tells us HTC stands for "Happy Telephone Company," a voice over purrs "Here's to Change," and it's anything you want it to be, according to the mustachioed gentleman, but we think HTC could stand to gravitate towards a more concrete message, one that resonates with consumers.

That takes strategic planning and long-term vision. Bringing Iron Man in is the first step in a larger refreshing process, we're sure, but HTC should think long and hard about what it is and what it wants to be and sell us on that idea, before we stop wanting it completely.

The leadership question

Finally, is getting rid of Chou the answer? It may not be as simple as that.

Chou is still considered the heart of the company, and HTC said in a statement sent to Reuters that it's committed to his leadership. It credited "Peter's vision and leadership" in making the One product family a well-received entrant, so at least publically, it's sticking with Chou for now.

The CEO has said he has no plans to leave, and according to Reuters' insiders, there's no clear internal successor anyway. That is reportedly breeding poor morale besides, you know, the whole berating thing.

So what's HTC to do, if its flawed leader isn't going anywhere?

As higher-up tensions die down (Reuters noted the "old guard has re-established" itself at the company) HTC is best to buckle down, plot what its future looks like, and figure out how to get there.

It doesn't have to the be No. 1 phone maker in the world, but the way it's going now, we're not even sure if it could be a viable phone maker in three to five years.

Thankfully, HTC is making great products, and the One is a strong foundation for HTC to build on. Strengthening its core offerings, building better brand identity and doing something to remedy what sounds like a pretty awful leadership situation are the other keys to get HTC's ship sailing forward.

Take a look in the mirror, HTC, and get it together ASAP.

• Mark Zuckerberg wants everyone to have Facebook. Read all about it.

Source : techradar[dot]com

The Nokia Lumia 1020 may have changed the mobile photography landscape, but is it going to cause any disruption in the compact camera class, too? If you aren't already familiar with the Lumia 1020's camera, it's basically a point-and-shoot or compact camera stuffed into a smartphone body. Sort of.

After reviewing Nokia's latest flagship smartphone, we were left wondering why the Finnish company would put a 41MP camera sensor into a device intended for messaging and making phone calls. Is it just to give phone a big number on a spec sheet? Or is it intended to replace your compact camera?

We've decided to put it up against the iPhone 5, which has a respectable 8MP shooter on board, and the Olympus E-PL5--a nice compact camera loaded with features and really good image quality.

The first comparison is obvious. The iPhone 5 is a smartphone that you'll find in most hands when you're out and about, and its camera has always performed well against other smartphones. Pitting it against the Lumia 1020 seems fair.

We were tempted to compare the 1020 to a full-frame DSLR given the smartphone's incredibly high megapixel count. Nokia also claims in its Lumia 1020 white paper that some of the features on the 41MP PureView camera were only found on DSLRs. But regardless of megapixel count, a full-frame sensor from the likes of Nikon or Canon would stomp on any tiny, smartphone camera sensor any day of the week.

Instead, we decided to go with the Olympus E-PL5 because it seems more in line with what the Lumia 1020 is trying to be: a compact camera replacement. The Lumia's size and portability is much closer to a compact camera than a DSLR, and like many compact cameras, it has a fixed focal length lens. It is worth noting, however, that the E-PL5 is a micro four-thirds compact camera that supports interchangeable lenses.

The E-PL5 has a 16MP sensor--a far cry from the Nokia's 41MP unit--but the sensor is much larger than the one found in the 1020. So we're going to find out whether megapixels trumps sensor size in this comparison, although if you're familiar with cameras and camera technology, you may already have your money on the bigger sensor.

In this image comparison, we're going to take a look at overall image quality, which takes into account color, contrast, details and dynamic range. We're also going to consider performance. How long does it take to fire up the device and snap a photo, and how quickly can you snap photos in rapid succession?

Another area we'll consider is low-light performance and how well each of the three devices handles noise.

Because of Nokia's claims, we're going to push each camera as far as they will go, even if one camera has capabilities that another doesn't (e.g. aperture controls and high ISO settings). This isn't going to be the sort of comparison where we try to get each camera's settings as close to each other as possible, then pixel-peep the photos. There will be a little bit of that, but for the most part we're going to push these cameras to see whether any can be considered a replacement for the other, or if they're truly in separate classes.

Source : techradar[dot]com

It's beginning to sound more and more like LG will once again venture into the crowded tablet market with the rumored LG G Pad we've been hearing so much about.

After learning the potential device would feature an 8.3-inch screen complete with 1920 x 1200 resolution, as well as a quad-core processor and 2GB of memory, we'd been waiting for the official announcement shoe to drop.

While LG still hasn't said a word about the G Pad, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) may have just given us a peek into the South Korean company's plans.

According to Phone Arena, a new filing for the LG-V500 (one of two supposed varieties of the G Pad) popped up on the FCC site, and gave us a bit more insight into what to expect.

Ain't nothing but a G thang

Unfortunately, the only new information ascertained from the LG-V500 filing is the tablet's Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

The rest of the details concerning the device are still speculative, including whether or not it will feature a Snapdragon 800 processor, though LG has its G-series smartphones would feature the Qualcomm chip.

The other purported tablet, the LG-V507L, still has yet to appear anywhere beyond Fabletown, but there's a chance the "L" could stand for LTE, meaning LG could have plans for cellular support in place.

Competing with the Nexus 7 and iPad 4 may not be the only plans on LG's docket though, as one of the company's executives recently spilled the beans on a variety of possible products that may debut at IFA 2013.

Loose lips

In a recent interview with Dnevnik.bg, LG's Bulgarian mobile communications head Dimitar Valev affirmed plans to bring tablets back into the fold at the manufacturer.

Though Valev didn't outright detail just what those tablets would be, it appears likely the V500 and V507L figure into the company's future.

But that's not all, as Valev also divulged more about the rumored smartwatch LG could be developing, including the idea it may feature flexible LCD technology.

The interview also makes mention of a 6-inch smartphone and a mysterious Firefox OS device, though Valev was light on hardware specs for either.

LG's Optimus G Pro already clocks in at a robust 5.5-inches, but with more and more mobile competitors reaching for the 6-inch bracket, the Korean manufacturer may not want to be left behind.

None of the information thus far can be considered concrete just yet, as LG itself still hasn't made mention of any singular device, let alone a multitude of them, but with IFA just around the corner, the wait for confirmation may not be long.

• Is Google's new Nexus 7 worth all the hype? Check out our review to find out.

Source : techradar[dot]com

Android smartphone and tablet owners are now spending more on games than is being outlaid on software for the Nintendo 3DS and Sony PS Vita consoles combined, according to a new report.

In more bad news for Sony, and especially Nintendo, spending on games on the Google Play has increased while revenue from games for dedicated handheld consoles has gone in the other direction.

Perhaps even more worrying for the console makers were the findings that the majority of Google Play spending took place in the Asia/Pacific market, including Japan, which is home to both Sony and Ninty.

Naturally, way out ahead of everyone is Apple, according to the quarterly AppAnnie and IDC Portable Gaming Report, underlining iOS' position as the dominant handheld gaming platform.

Continued shift

In a post on its site, AppAnnie wrote: "In this Q2 2013 report, we offer insights into the continued shift of consumer spending from gaming-optimized handhelds to mobile devices."

The news comes as Sony looks to give the PS Vita a new lease of life, by repurposing it as a companion device for the forthcoming PS4 console, as well as cutting the price to $199 and €199 in Europe (that's around £170, AU$219)

It is also marketing the device as a home for indie developers to easily self publish their wares and have secured a host of exclusive titles.

Will these moves improve the PS Vita's chances of a life less ordinary? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

• Check out more of Sony's announcements from Gamescom 2013.

Source : techradar[dot]com

When it comes to buying new technology, it pays to be quick - a lesson fans of Mozilla's open-sourceFirefox OS were taught over the weekend.

The Telegraph reported Tuesday that Chinese manufacturer ZTE sold out the first production run of its highly anticipated Open, one of the first smartphones powered by Firefox OS.

After debuting branded eBay Stores in both the U.S. and U.K. last Friday, ZTE managed to sell out of the unlocked handsets by Monday, leaving Mozilla fans empty-handed until the manufacturer can restock its virtual shelves.

Featuring a 3.5-inch screen with 1GHz processor, 3.2MP rear camera and 512MB of internal storage, theZTE Open isn't exactly a smartphone powerhouse - but for only $79.99 USD (UK£59.99), it doesn't have to be.

Orange alert

There's no mistaking the ZTE Open, which features a bright orange back and Firefox OS, a version of Mozilla's open-source web browser reworked into a smartphone operating system.

Launched earlier this summer in Spain, Venezuela and Columbia on the Telefonica network, the ZTE Open marked the first time Americans and Britons alike could get their hands on the distinctive handset through retail channels.

The web-based Firefox OS harkens back to the days of Palm's ill-fated webOS, which has ironically alsofound a home in the open-source community after buyer HP failed to gain any traction in the market against iOS and Android.

Unlike webOS, however, Firefox OS doesn't require downloading and installing the type of apps made popular by Apple and Google, since the entire platform is essentially a glorified web browser.

Be sure to check out our full review of Google's new Chromecast!

Source : techradar[dot]com

With the tech world awash with rumours about the iPhone 5C, iWatch, and Apple iTV, a new product is hoping to tap into the steady stream of coverage Apple is getting at the moment.

Called the iTap, this peripheral looks to be perfect for those whose love for Apple runs both hot and cold.

All right, you've got us: it's just a charging plug shaped like a tap. But it's just the sort of thing Jony Ive would design if he hadn't sold his soul to the Bauhaus movement.

More blips!

Did this blip give you a sinking feeling? Don't worry, there's plenty more to w(h)et your appetite:

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Source : techradar[dot]com

Good news for those of you who love hooking your smartphone up to TVs or monitors to watch a movie or play a game on a big screen: MHL 3.0 has been announced complete with 4K (Ultra HD) resolution capabilities.

For those of you who are unsure what MHL is, in its most basic form it allows you to plug your smartphone or tablet into an HDMI port in your TV via the handset's microUSB port.

Nokia, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba make up the MHL Consortium that governs the standard and the latest update in the form of version 3.0 will be available from next month.

More sound, screens and peripherals

The 4K upgrade means the bandwidth for the service has been doubled over MHL 2.0, and alongside the visual update version 3.0 also offers 7.1 surround sound support for better a better audio experience.

For those of you who like dabbling with more than one screen at a time MHL 3.0 also supports multiple displays as well as input devices such as keyboards and mice.

Of course you're only going to fully benefit from this upgrade if you a) own an MHL enabled device (of which we're told there are over 330 million in the world) and b) own a 4K monitor or television, which are still very expensive at this point in time.

However, as the mobile phone or tablet increasingly becomes part of the connected home, the ability to stream 7.1 surround sound will be key for online video services, or content you've downloaded to your device. We can see a time when such enhancements can be charged extra for, enabling new content streams for media providers.

The price of 4K technology will also drop over the next few years, and it's good to see that at least our wired connections between mobile devices and large displays will be ready for the mass uptake - now on to 4K wireless streaming.

Source : techradar[dot]com

Chances of a smartphone sporting a flexible display arriving before the year's end are slim, but we're hearing that we may at least see concept devices before 2014 rolls around.

According to Korean site ETNews the two major manufacturers of flexible displays - Samsung and LG - will start shipping the screens this November with a couple of concept smartphones in the pipeline.

This is all coming from unspecified "industry analysis", so we're taking it with a heavy dose of salt, but the source goes on to claim the concept handsets will be billed as 'unbreakable and light' and used as pilots to gauge market response.

Flex your muscle

Both Samsung and LG have a lot of work to do if the market reaction is positive however, with both firms needing to increasing their flexible panel production lines to cope with a mass market device.

That means will probably have to wait several months into 2014 before the first real, flexible smartphones possibly hit shop shelves.

Samsung is really pushing the flexible display envelope, as it recently set up a competition encouraging people to come up with ideas surrounding the technology with a prize of $10,000 (about £6,400, AU$10,900) up for grabs.

It's not just smartphones that are being groomed for flexible displays, with tablets and wearable tech such as smartwatches also heavily tipped to benefit from the bendy screens.

Source : techradar[dot]com

LG has announced that it's developed the world's first, and highest resolution, Quad HD AH-IPS LCD display for smartphones capable of giving an incredible pixel density of 538ppi.

The 5.5-inch panel sports a 2560 x 1440 resolution, considerably sharper than the screens on the Samsung Galaxy S4 (441ppi), HTC One (469ppi) and LG G2 (424ppi) which all boast still splendid - yet smaller - 1080 x 1920 displays.

While questions might be raised over the need for such a high density display on such a small surface area LG claims its new screen will allow users to enjoy Blu-ray quality movies and view desktop versions of websites without image distortion on their smartphones.

Now that's great for the average Joe consumer, but LG's screen tech breakthrough with improved contrast, more delicate colours and life-like images could see it excel in various fields such as medicine and military scenarios where greater detail is required.

Slim Jim

If that retina-popping resolution wasn't enough, LG is claiming that its fancy new display is also the world's thinnest at 1.21mm in depth - which could see our top end smartphones get even thinner than the already svelte 7.9mm Xperia Z and Galaxy S4.

This is still some way off the 4K resolution we're beginning to see on televisions, and while 3840 x 2160 on such a small display is not really necessary - with questions raised over what the human eye can distinguish - it's surely only a matter of time before we're carrying round a 4K screen in our pocket.

It's not clear when we'll see LG's fancy new screen actually make its way into a handset, although it's quite possible we'll get treated to it sometime next year.

Source : techradar[dot]com