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[Q] Acer - Iconia Tablet comes out next Sunday; will you give in and get it?

With no release date in sight for the release here in the US, will you just give in and get the Acer? The specs are pretty much for the most part identical but you'll have to shell out $50 more @ $449. Good thing is that you'll have a tablet real soon. One thing I can think off that will slow my purchase of the acer is the development and support for the tablet by devs. Will devs really buy it and provide roms and tweaks for it?

Assuming Amazon, who takes anything back within 30 days, carries the Acer and there are no release date updates from Asus by then, I'll probably pick it up as a temporary solution.

I wouldn't count anybody out at this point. The Transformer looks awesome if it comes out with all the goodies for $399, but there's a lot of speculation on that point.
A few things I DO like about the Acer is:
Full size USB port
1080p HDMI output
Dolby Mobile sound (supposed to be the best sounding tablet...I dunno).
I'm hoping Asus gets it's crap together and gives us a date tomorrow with preorders via Amazon.

No
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

babblin5 said:
I wouldn't count anybody out at this point. The Transformer looks awesome if it comes out with all the goodies for $399, but there's a lot of speculation on that point.
A few things I DO like about the Acer is:
Full size USB port
1080p HDMI output
Dolby Mobile sound (supposed to be the best sounding tablet...I dunno).
I'm hoping Asus gets it's crap together and gives us a date tomorrow with preorders via Amazon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. I might just end up giving the Iconia a chance but first I'd like to play with a unit. IMHO the Transformer looks way nicer and the dock just adds the icing to the cake but Asus, when's the party??? If the release date isn't released in a week and I like the Iconia then Acer will get my money.

Actually it's Best Buy that has the pre-order and I think they have a 14 day return policy. So at least you can use it for 14 days then return it.

I have stated a few times that I will at least heavily consider it. If I find out that the tablet had gorilla glass after all, it would be almost certain.

Gorilla Glass and IPS display. Now part of the must-haves for me.

marinierb said:
Gorilla Glass and IPS display. Now part of the must-haves for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where did you find this info?
Sent from my VM670 using Tapatalk

Ips and gorilla glass was part of the spec list.
Sent from my Ally using XDA App

ninja984 said:
Where did you find this info?
Sent from my VM670 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm pretty sure they were listing personal requirements, not Iconia specs
Sent from my HTC Eva 4g using Tapatalk

I was thinking about the iconia, mostly because i like the brushed aluminum and the USB port
I hope best buy has a working display model when they release it so i can see how it is in person
I am still fond of getting the transformer though, i also think there is going to be more community development on it then the Acer which makes me want the transformer.

babblin5 said:
I wouldn't count anybody out at this point. The Transformer looks awesome if it comes out with all the goodies for $399, but there's a lot of speculation on that point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm guessing 399 is too low for it though, more like 450

I think I'm going to hold out. Just watched the video review here (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1039473) and it looks like its worth waiting for a little bit longer.

Part of the spec list of the Transformer you mean; correct? From what I've read the Acer does not have IPS only a 160degree viewing angle, and is unknown about gorilla glass. -
-edit... this was intended as a reply to the comment above about Specs... my apologies.

I saw the Iconia in Curry's last Friday and although I could have sworn it's IPS display.
Not sure about the Gorrila glass though.

Check if the screen looks like negative when viewed from the bottom at a very high angle - if it is, then it's TN. Good TN is not bad though and if it looks like IPS it could be good even if it's not IPS.

Got an iconia tab a500 and returned it 2 days after....
The display, compared with ipad ips ( same ips of the asus eee pad), really sucks... Much less contrast, not so lightful , under the sun is terrible
Asus's panel is one step ahead than acer's one, my 2 cents...

I've bought the Acer Iconia A500. It's a cracking tablet, awesome looking screen which is on par with the iPad that I had and sold. The viewing angles are immense as well.
USB host works a treat, had no issues copying a pdf and some jpgs over.
I think people going on about IPS etc need to actually have a go on these tablets.

Wonder Strike said:
I've bought the Acer Iconia A500. It's a cracking tablet, awesome looking screen which is on par with the iPad that I had and sold. The viewing angles are immense as well.
USB host works a treat, had no issues copying a pdf and some jpgs over.
I think people going on about IPS etc need to actually have a go on these tablets.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd a go on this tablet, but my opinion is quite different.... perfect tablet, except for display

Features (Wish)List for Samsung Galaxy S III

The successor to Samsung’s Galaxy S II has got to be the second most speculated and talked about smartphone over the past couple of months, with Apple devices always taking the top spot, of course. Samsung has some big shoes to fill and after the kind of success they achieved with the S II, there’s a lot of pressure to up the ante once again. Given the kind of trend that we’ve seen post MWC 2012, we can now come to expect the S III to have these features as standard, if it has to qualify as a ‘high-end’ Android in today’s day and age. We know it will have a quad-core Exynos CPU, the screen size will probably be around 4.6 inches and have an HD resolution, the camera will most likely be a 12MP with BSI and so on and so forth. Samsung will never launch their flagship device that’s inferior in specifications to the competition and now that we’ve seen what HTC and LG have in store, we can draw a rough picture of what to expect.
However, impressive hardware alone is not enough to guarantee a successful product. If you’ve been following the rumour mills, then you’ve probably heard of some of the features that could make it to the S III and we really hope that it’s true as it would truly make it an unique phone and possibly the best Android so far.
A non-ugly, waterproof phone
So far, all water resistant phones haven’t exactly been much of a looker, except for perhaps the Sony Ericsson Xperia Active. But even that wasn’t slim, primarily because of the protective coating for the screen and all the ports. Any manufacturer so far had to fall into the same trap, if they wanted to create an ‘all-weather’ cell phone. The S III, however, needn’t go down that same route. Early last month, we heard rumours about the Galaxy S III getting a water-proof treatment and thanks to the folks at Liquipel, Samsung need not compromise on the design. Available currently in the U.S only, Liquipel will water-proof any smartphone you have for a small fee. It works by injecting the phone with a compound that resists any liquid or moisture. They even had a very impressive demo at CES.
Think of all the money or silly contraptions you’ve used to protect your phone in the rainy season. This technology makes rubberised housings and bulky chassis a thing of the past. If Samsung does implement this and we sincerely hope they do, then they will be the first to do so and it will give them a major advantage over the competition.
Feel what you see
We know that the S III will have an HD resolution screen as the bare minimum, but high resolution mobile screens aren’t exactly cutting edge right now. What if you could feel what you see? Senseg have developed a special touchscreen technology that lets you feel the texture of the image on screen. This is achieved by creating a little electrostatic field around the area that simulates a particular type of texture. They call this a ‘Tixel’ charge driver that creates a small force and by modulating the charge, Senseg can simulate different textures.
While this exact technology might or might not make it to the S III, we hope that Samsung do something special with the screen. If not the ‘Feel Screen’, then at least a higher resolution display would be a nice addition. There were passing rumours that the S III may have a 1080p screen, which seems like overkill, but then again, most high-end Android phones are, so i guess it's ok.
Wireless charging
With everything going wireless, why do we still have to put up with charging cables? According to the Wireless Power Consortium, a number of big companies, including Acer, HTC, LG, etc have certified handsets and chargers that use wireless charging.
‘Qi Certified’ products will be able to charge either from a wall charger or from another compatible device, wirelessly, just as long as they are placed in close proximity. Now Samsung’s name may not be on the list of companies that have applied for patents, but the website clearly states that it’s up to the company, if they want their name up there. Now, given how secretive Samsung have been with the S III, it’s no surprise they don’t show up on the list. This is another big advancement in mobile phones and Samsung can add another feather in their cap should they choose to include it.
Lose the plastic body
While the S II was a sturdy and durable phone, it wasn’t any match for HTC’s unibody aluminium Sensation in terms of build quality. One of the reasons they went with plastic was to keep the weight down, which was fine in 2011, but not anymore. With polycarbonate being used in the Lumia 800 and HTC going with space-age material (literally!) for the One S, Samsung have to step up their game. If you haven't already, check out this really cool video of how HTC creates the chassis for the One S.
Alternately, they could use a ceramic casing or even something fashioned out of carbon fibre or kevlar. The trouble with building chassis with materials like these is that the battery would probably be non-removeable. This is not a very big deal and we can certainly live with it just as long as they have a way to hard reset the phone in case it locks up, because I don’t want to wait around for the battery to drain out.
Gesture control?
This one’s not from any of the rumours, but just hit us while coming up with this list. Rather than using the front camera to recognize gestures, which quite frankly is quite ridiculous because, for one, you can’t use it in the dark and two, it has never, ever worked properly; i were thinking of something along the lines of a PS Vita like touchpad at the back of the phone. The entire phone needn't have this, just a small patch on the top and bottom. For instance, if you hold the phone in one hand, you can easily use your index finger to swipe the rear to unlock the phone, or have a two finger gesture to open the camera. Once in landscape mode, your fingers automatically align around the edges, which comes in handy in racing and action games. Now you never need to block the screen with your fingers, which happens a lot in first person shooters.
This way, even if the screen doesn’t have an oleophobic coating (which never really work anyways), it’s not a major issue, since you’ll be using the gesture pad. This would be a very interesting feature, if Samsung implements something of this nature, as you now have a ‘gaming phone’ as well.
While it’s great fun to speculate what upcoming tech products may shape up to be, a side effect is the pang of disappointment when you realize that none of the features that were so greatly hyped are actually true (iPhone 4S anyone?). Recently, live shots of a Samsung GT-I9300 have been doing the rounds, which is expected to launch in mid-May. To us, it’s highly unlikely that it’s the S III, as it appears to be more of an upper-end mid-range smartphone. Also, we don’t know if Samsung will actually call it the S III. While that does seem like the most logical name in the series, they could decide to start a completely new series, altogether. Samsung have managed to keep the phone a secret incredibly well, but now, the wait is getting a bit frustrating. They better have one hell of a phone in hand whenever they launch it or risk losing their huge fan following.

I wish they make touchwiz as functional and good as sense. After a year of owning the sgs2 I found out it's not just the specs that count. I still prefer my desire (w/sense 3.5 of course)
btw, one of the things I do like about the sgs2 is the build quality, it's not cheap that phone is almost indestructable....
edit2: the sgs2 is not plastic, it's made out of magnesium chasis with a plastic shell, magnesium is used by some of the most expesive cars and racing cycles because it is so light and sturdy (and expensive)

How is the Microsoft Surface?

Hello all
I am the owner of the Nexus 7 and i'm thinking to get the Microsoft Surface RT. I heard it was a lot laggy but these sources last from November 2012 and I guess Microsoft had the time to update and fix a lot of bugs.
So, how is as today the Microsoft Surface RT? Still laggy? Are there case where it always lags? Are games running smooth? Is Microsoft Office running smooth by now? Is the slow typing issue fixed? I want to know everything
Comparing to a Nexus 7, which will I find smoother? Which will I find best for games?
PS: I don't really play games but it tells more about specs
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

For the most part it is fixed. You may get lag in PowerPoint and ink in word. Other than that... Smooth.
Sent from my Evo V 4G using XDA Premium HD app

mines fine, but I am having a replacement.... (all cosmetic damage)
Performance; fast, no lag, smooth gaming(what ever games you can find)
Design; the magnesium case makes the surface amazing to the touch, it feels solid yet light.
it gives you confidence for when you drop it. Kickstand is brilliant (mine is still attached)
All The Good Stuff;
the surface has expandable memory(supports up to 64GB Class 10 SD)
battery life is acceptable(about 8 hours give or take - depending on what your doing)
kickstand (not adjustable)
type cover (I've had a few problems with this, but all have been replaced for free)
Not All Good;
speakers (but they can be made louder in settings)
crappy app selection (a few xbox games)
standard screen
heavy ( a little heavier than ipad)
glitches in the OS
type cover is hard to use
Hope I helped a little, things maybe added to the list!

I haven't found lag to be a problem in general when running native apps (emulated x86 is a different story, although even there most apps that work at all work pretty well). Both tablets use the same CPU/GPU and have the same RAM, so performance of the hardware is nearly a wash (the Surface RT has marginally higher resolution than the Nexus 7, which will probably have a trivial impact). Games that I've played on it run smoothly, if not necessarily at *very* high framerates. I can't compare it to the Nexus 7 as I haven't spent enough time using one, but performance is not a problem for me either gaming or browsing the web. The email client used to be laggy as hell; that's now much better. I've actually done a non-trivial Powerpoint deck on the Surface RT, and had no noteworthy problems with lag there either (scrolling was just a little stutter if I went fast, but that happens even on my work PC) although my slides weren't terribly complex.
The biggest differences, specs-wise, between the two tablets are that the N7 has GPS, NFC, and optional cellular data, but comes at 16 or 32 GB of non-expandable storage, while the Surface RT has a rear-facing camera as well as the front-facing one, 32 or 64GB of internal storage, and a microSD slot. The Surface RT also has a standard USB host port, which makes it easy to add additional storage or connect other types of devices like gamepads, cellular dongles, and even phones or other tablets (although no, it cannot run ADB).
EDIT: I'm wrong, the Nexus 7 has only 1GB of RAM, which is half as much as the Surface RT. Surface should support heavy apps and multitasking far better than N7.

Thanks for all those comments if other people have some stuffs to add I'm willing to hear them
What do you guys mean by OS Glitch?
Also, is the tablet scratch proof? (screen and back)
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

The Surface line is *extremely* durable. The chassis has been shown to survive everything from being used as a skateboard (at one of the announcement presentations) to flying off a car roof on the freeway (albeit with some denting); search and you'll find these incidents. It's intended to withstand multiple drops onto concrete from "person height" of like 3.5' or so (mid-torso-ish; I should ask my friend who works in that department again). I've personally stepped on mine by accident (lying on carpet, though) with no damage at all. The screen is Corning Gorilla Glass 2, which is extremely scratch resistant, and with the metal chassis protecting the edges, it's also very shatter-resistant. In other words, it's as close to "scratch proof" as any real-world consumer object is going to be. It is technically possible to break the kickstand, but the demo video I saw required putting a large part of a grown man's weight on the top edge of the tablet (with kickstand open) before the hinges gave.
Also, in case you didn't see above, I screwed up on the spec comparison in my previous post. The Surface RT has 2GB of RAM, twice as much as the N7. Windows RT will probably have a larger base memory footprint than Android, but the difference should still allow for a lot more multitasking and also for larger programs or data sets (I've loaded really huge Excel spreadsheets with no problem, and regularly have dozens of browser tabs open, for example).

Thanks you Just watched a lot of videos on destructions test and performance So far so great

Now isn't a great time to buy hardware, since this is the tail end for last year's hardware cycle. Models, especially RT ones, are hitting clearance. There's the Dell XPS 10 RT (posted in Windows RT forum) for $250 if you want to jump. No firsthand knowledge, but the XPS 10's Snapdragon S4 is faster than the Surface's Tegra 3.
Edit: Looks like the Dell XPS 10 deal is dead. Please ignore.

jamesst20 said:
Thanks for all those comments if other people have some stuffs to add I'm willing to hear them
What do you guys mean by OS Glitch?
Also, is the tablet scratch proof? (screen and back)
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My Screen has had no scratches so far.... And for the back of the device, well that has had a few scratches, I think they are from my keys and loose change.

e.mote said:
Now isn't a great time to buy hardware, since this is the tail end for last year's hardware cycle. Models, especially RT ones, are hitting clearance. There's the Dell XPS 10 RT (posted in Windows RT forum) for $250 if you want to jump. No firsthand knowledge, but the XPS 10's Snapdragon S4 is faster than the Surface's Tegra 3.
Edit: Looks like the Dell XPS 10 deal is dead. Please ignore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do you mean? I don't think the Microsoft Surface RT 2 will be out before end of 2013 or maybe start of 2014 :$ and rumors says it will be smaller
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

Gorilla glass has a very high hardness rating, in general in order for an object to get a scratch the object scratching it has to have a higher hardness rating (no innuendo intended).
There are few common items with a higher hardness than gorilla glass. Some precious gems like diamond and sapphire (by extension ruby) will easily do it, so basically don't try scratching a wedding ring (if you happen to be married and using a diamond ring if course) against your screen. A few rare alloys can do it. Gorilla glass shards are of course the same hardness as gorilla glass so can also damage the screen. Sand (both builders and beach) is also capable of scratching the screen. That's about it. If you really tried you could do it with a material softer than gorilla glass but chances are by that point your not scratching the screen but plain shattering it (which is one thing, gorilla glass is damned scratch resistant and pretty tough but still possible to shatter)

>What do you mean?
My dad did fortune-telling as a hobby, mostly for friends and acquaintances. He did palm-reading, and had all these complicated astrological charts. One thing I've learned from him is that people don't want to hear the truth (inasmuch as "truth" can be divined) if it's bad news; they only want good news. Fortune telling isn't about reading people's fate as much as reading people.
Likewise, people asking for opinions from existing owners aren't looking for advice as much as affirmation, because the natural tendency for owners is bias toward their already-made choice. It's called the confirmation bias.
>I want to know everything.
You won't know much by asking questions with only one answer. Do the work and start reading. Windows RT and Surface RT have been covered ad nauseam on tech sites, including this forum.
But that's not what you want to hear, so I'll oblige: I think the Surface RT is perfect for you. Buy now. Don't wait. There's always something better down the line, and you can keep waiting forever.

e.mote said:
>What do you mean?
My dad did fortune-telling as a hobby, mostly for friends and acquaintances. He did palm-reading, and had all these complicated astrological charts. One thing I've learned from him is that people don't want to hear the truth (inasmuch as "truth" can be divined) if it's bad news; they only want good news. Fortune telling isn't about reading people's fate as much as reading people.
Likewise, people asking for opinions from existing owners aren't looking for advice as much as affirmation, because the natural tendency for owners is bias toward their already-made choice. It's called the confirmation bias.
>I want to know everything.
You won't know much by asking questions with only one answer. Do the work and start reading. Windows RT and Surface RT have been covered ad nauseam on tech sites, including this forum.
But that's not what you want to hear, so I'll oblige: I think the Surface RT is perfect for you. Buy now. Don't wait. There's always something better down the line, and you can keep waiting forever.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't worry I did read a lot
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

By the way, I forgot to give some news here!
Ar first I bought the Microsoft Surface RT. I really realky enjoyed it! The only thing I didn't like from it was a few missing apps (such as Facebook) and maybe a missing Microsoft Visual Studio. I really wished I could do some programming on it So yeah after a week I returned it.
I then bought the Surface Pro wich I liked way more. Faster and I could use my Windows Programs I didn't like the fact the Pro version couldn't receive notifications in sleep mode, that really disapointed me. Also, it was impossible to set alarm since in sleep mode it wouldn't ring.
I had to sell it about 3 months later because I needed money to afford my school books and stuff but really, I really liked that tablet.
Envoyé depuis mon Nexus 4 avec Tapatalk

Spigen Slim-Armor for HTC One M9: Why we love HTC - Sprint Product Ambassadors

Who remembers what the HTC One line of devices "used" to be called?
I shouldn't really say that... What I SHOULD ask is: What was HTC's original Android flagship device?
That's right... it was the EVO. And what was one of the coolest features of the EVO?
The kickstand!
There were variations of the kickstand - spring-loaded, reversible, even completely removed from one version of the Evo, and that sure did cause a stir! "I can't sit my phone up and watch -<insert-your-favorite-work-day-sporting-event-here> anymore!" was what I heard A LOT.
I feel like the Spigen gives you the best of both form and function with their Slim Armor offer. I have dropped my phone on multiple occasions, and whether it has been on the face of the device, or if it's been on a corner, or the back, the case has handled the impact to perfection. ZERO screen cracks or scratches, ZERO chipped corners or scuffed back of the device, and still a reasonably slick appearance. It's not as slim as some of the other Slim Armor style cases, but I feel like it's a bit more resistant to impact.
And of course... the kickstand! I'll be honest - it doesn't feel like the sturdiest of kickstands, but it certainly does the trick in terms of holding the device up and letting me run with a hands-free 2nd screen next to my laptop to watch the UEFA Champions League Semifinal... I mean... ummm... CNBC stock prices? (go Barca!)
Check out this product - I really do like their cases, and have nothing but positive feedback for the durability of the Slim-Armor I'm using right now!
D
Disclaimer: The Product Ambassadors are Sprint employees from many different parts of the company that love technology. They volunteer to test out all sorts of Sprint devices and offer opinions freely to the Community. Each Product Ambassador shares their own opinions of these devices, therefore the information in this post does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Sprint. The PAs do not represent the company in an official way, and should not be expected to respond to Community members in an official capacity. #sprintemployee.

A9 uses Gorilla Glass 3 not 4

Hi all, I wanted to make sure that everyone was aware of the fact that there is widespread false information regarding this component of the A9.
EDIT: Both HTC and Corning have confirmed the device uses GG 3.
Timeline of events:
Oct 20: A9 announced as having Gorilla Glass 4
Oct 20: Internet is filled with articles repeating this information
Oct 28: Reviews of A9 appear online, some reviewers such as: The Verge, SlashGear, and PocketNow state that the device uses Gorilla Glass 3., most others (ArsTechnica, GSMArena, AndroidPit, etc) all mention the use of Gorilla Glass 4.
Oct 28: HTC silently edits the website to remove the number '4' from any references to the Gorilla Glass on the A9.
Current state: 95% of the information posted online about this phone states Gorilla Glass 4, but there is good reason to believe this is incorrect. HTC did not make a statement to it's customers, even to those of us who pre-ordered during the time where it was advertised as having Gorilla Glass 4.
Nov: Consumers who contact HTC are told the device uses GG4.
Dec: Corning confirms that HTC is using GG3.
Dec: HTC confirms GG3 via twitter
Sources:
The current USA htc.com page no longer specifies the version of Gorilla Glass.
"The HTC One A9 features a super-thin metal frame with an elegant finish, expandable SD card memory and edge-to-edge Corning® Gorilla® Glass. "
Current HTC USA site
HTC USA site on Oct 21 2015, and shown on Canadian HTC website as of Dec 3.:
"The HTC One A9 features a super-thin metal frame with an elegant finish, expandable SD card memory and edge-to-edge Corning® Gorilla® Glass 4. "
It is listed by Corning as using Gorilla Glass 3, and also by the following review sites: Slashgear, PocketNow, The Verge, Engadget, and ZDNet.
So what do you think about this - Does it even matter? Is it the last straw?
I'll admit that the screen on my A9 has performed just fine so far (other than the brightness control), but regardless I feel like HTC has pulled a fast one.
Note: User cameron1292 has contacted HTC and was told the A9 uses GG4. Posted here
Dec Update:
Corning provided the following statement:
Corning said:
Hi ...,
Thanks for your note. HTC’s official product website (http://www.htc.com/us/smartphones/htc-one-a9/buy-b/)
simply references Corning® Gorilla® Glass.
However, we’ve reached out to HTC and they have confirmed that the One A9 uses Gorilla Glass 3. They have expressed confidence in the proven performance of Gorilla Glass 3 and have indicated the device passed a stringent set of drop, scratch and bend tests conducted by both HTC and their operator partners worldwide. If you have further questions, you can reach out to HTC directly.
Thank you,
The Gorilla Glass Team
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Kardon403 said:
Edit: User cameron1292 has contacted HTC and was told the A9 uses GG4. Looking for more confirmation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just wanted to confirm. Was it HTC USA that confirmed GG4?

If I wasn't on my phone I would have posted the chat. The two said I can assure you it's cornering 4. And I said are you positive because there is widespread online talk about it being 3. And they assured me again that it was 4. That could be a deal-breaker for me and I might call att and try and get it swapped. Their site also says 4
---------- Post added at 09:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:31 PM ----------
Haz04 said:
Just wanted to confirm. Was it HTC USA that confirmed GG4?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes USA

The fact that HTC intentionally removed the reference to GG '4' from the online description really says it all. There is fairly solid evidence that the device is not what they say it is, if it's true then this is some genuine widespread false advertising. HTC knew about the error sometime around the end of Oct, it's nearly been a month and the device is still advertised as using Gorilla Glass 4.

Kardon403 said:
The fact that HTC intentionally removed the reference to GG '4' from the online description really says it all. There is fairly solid evidence that the device is not what they say it is, if it's true then this is some genuine widespread false advertising. HTC knew about the error sometime around the end of Oct, it's nearly been a month and the device is still advertised as using Gorilla Glass 4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeppppp. It's still on ATT website as 4. I'm thinking about calling them and getting a different phone. I like this one a lot but the fact that I'll be paying 500 for a phone now with gorilla glass 3 not 4 and the false advertising kind of pisses me off.

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Corning has provided the following statement:
Corning said:
Hi Kardon,
Thanks for your note. HTC’s official product website (http://www.htc.com/us/smartphones/htc-one-a9/buy-b/)
simply references Corning® Gorilla® Glass.
However, we’ve reached out to HTC and they have confirmed that the One A9 uses Gorilla Glass 3. They have expressed confidence in the proven performance of Gorilla Glass 3 and have indicated the device passed a stringent set of drop, scratch and bend tests conducted by both HTC and their operator partners worldwide. If you have further questions, you can reach out to HTC directly.
Thank you,
The Gorilla Glass Team
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Feel free to bury your head in the sand if you think the A9 uses GG4.

It was certainly a downer when I came across this too ... but then again it didn't affect my buying decision.. Wish HTC had got it right the first time though.

A GG3 confirmation from HTC twitter.
https://twitter.com/CozyTech/status/672162126350434304

Well it's settled then, thanks for the info. At least I can say my a9 screen still looks perfect after 2+ weeks of use

I appreciate knowing the truth about the glass, although it is really an unimportant issue IMHO. Many phone makers don't say which glass they are using - often because they don't use Gorilla Glass and consumers neither know nor care about competitors.
What bothers me here, and on the other thread, are the accusations of dishonesty on the part of HTC. I suppose those saying such things are not very experienced with what it takes to do a simultaneous world-wide product introduction. In an earlier life I was a high tech product manager, and I do understand how mistakes like this can happen, and are not fixed in an instant (and particularly for such a small detail). My guess is that the A9 was originally planned (likely from a year or more ago) to have GG4 (and the 617 SoC). By the time the phone was in prototype stage the preliminary marketing materials (brochures/datasheets/website/PRs/manuals/support & training materials/etc) were being finalized, and included the description at that time. Then sometime before production started a decision was made to revert to GG3 - possibly for cost or availability reasons. To then go back and change all of those materials was a substantial effort, and was never going to happen instantly. Consider that every national subsidiary, every carrier that is handling the phone, every web page in every country (and language) had to be corrected, and each of those was likely not under the direct control of the HTC product manager for the phone. All work-in-process needed correction. And everyone who had already been trained had to get the message, and then remember the new description. And then how to remove all of the old references? In short, it is a huge task, and one not done quickly. Meanwhile this is happening at crunch time. The crucial holiday shopping season has begun, customers (and carriers) are clamoring for product, and there is either a supply shortage, unexpectedly high demand, or both. Product development is still continuing on the Verizon and Sprint models, production has been delayed on the red and gold versions. A response was quickly organized to contact the disappointed pre-order customers, another distraction.
Keeping all of the above in mind, do you really think it reasonable to expect an instant and total fix to such a small detail?
Cut some slack folks.

CarinaPDX said:
I appreciate knowing the truth about the glass, although it is really an unimportant issue IMHO. Many phone makers don't say which glass they are using - often because they don't use Gorilla Glass and consumers neither know nor care about competitors.
What bothers me here, and on the other thread, are the accusations of dishonesty on the part of HTC. I suppose those saying such things are not very experienced with what it takes to do a simultaneous world-wide product introduction. In an earlier life I was a high tech product manager, and I do understand how mistakes like this can happen, and are not fixed in an instant (and particularly for such a small detail). My guess is that the A9 was originally planned (likely from a year or more ago) to have GG4 (and the 617 SoC). By the time the phone was in prototype stage the preliminary marketing materials (brochures/datasheets/website/PRs/manuals/support & training materials/etc) were being finalized, and included the description at that time. Then sometime before production started a decision was made to revert to GG3 - possibly for cost or availability reasons. To then go back and change all of those materials was a substantial effort, and was never going to happen instantly. Consider that every national subsidiary, every carrier that is handling the phone, every web page in every country (and language) had to be corrected, and each of those was likely not under the direct control of the HTC product manager for the phone. All work-in-process needed correction. And everyone who had already been trained had to get the message, and then remember the new description. And then how to remove all of the old references? In short, it is a huge task, and one not done quickly. Meanwhile this is happening at crunch time. The crucial holiday shopping season has begun, customers (and carriers) are clamoring for product, and there is either a supply shortage, unexpectedly high demand, or both. Product development is still continuing on the Verizon and Sprint models, production has been delayed on the red and gold versions. A response was quickly organized to contact the disappointed pre-order customers, another distraction.
Keeping all of the above in mind, do you really think it reasonable to expect an instant and total fix to such a small detail?
Cut some slack folks.
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Click to collapse
I understand what you're saying, I might have sensationalized the issue somewhat. Still, they didn't even bother mentioning it to customers who pre-ordered the device. Not only did they do a poor job correcting the information, they intentionally made it ambiguous by not specifying '3'.
I don't care about the glass, I just think the way they handled it is questionable. This is why I made a poll, everyone seems to have a different opinion on the matter which is great. I don't expect an 'instant' fix, but over a month after release is a bit much. It only takes a second to add it to the bottom of the notice email all pre-orders received regarding the delay on shipping + verizon support. The biggest thing for me is that they updated the site right away, but when doing so they intentionally left out the new information. I guess I expect too much.

Kardon403 said:
they intentionally made it ambiguous by not specifying '3'.
they intentionally left out the new information.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem is that you keep assuming ill intent without any evidence whatsoever. You obviously have no clue about how hard it is to propagate changes at the last minute in a large operation. My guess is that the product manager did send out an email announcing the change in spec, but there is no way his distribution would go directly to all who needed to know, and we all know how messages morph as they pass through multiple hands. I can well imagine that the website coder got the message to remove the "4" without specifically being told to replace it with a "3", and not wanting to risk further errors did not add the "3" on his own. That is how these things happen. No dishonest intent, just imperfect humans.
The thing is, HTC has gone out of their way to preserve good will. I have never heard of a consumer goods company actually calling customers to apologize for a delay and offer alternatives (an expensive and resource-consuming effort). And to offer customers a credit for 25% of the value of the product is very generous. I think that is clear evidence of their intent to treat their customers well. They do not deserve to have their reputation impugned.
It is worth noting that this introduction has suffered from poor planning and/or implementation. I do sympathize with the delays in coding and FCC approval of the carrier-specific models (each one needing a separate approval), and the apparent delay in availability of the colored aluminum cases. It is a very difficult choice to delay the introduction until full availability or hit the Xmas sales season, but not both. Still, these problems should not be leaking out into the customer base.
It is a popular trope to see corporations as evil. A corporation is not a person (regardless of what our flawed Supreme Court may say); it is an organization of many people. While there certainly are executives who do bad things, much of what goes wrong is the result of human error. I have found it best to remember: never assume a conspiracy when simple incompetence is a sufficient explanation.
Greg

So you're saying at the end of Oct, when they updated the site, they didn't know it was 3? They sure knew it wasn't 4. Is it too much to ask for them to have emailed the people who pre-ordered to let them know of the mistake? Is it too much to expect that when customers call in to ask, they would not be lied to?
Wouldn't you think the instruction to update the public facing website would be fairly specific? This is probably the most popular page on their site.
I just don't understand why HTC deserves so much 'slack'. They still haven't updated the Canadian website and it's December. When I was a teenager I worked at a job maintaining accurate prices/info on 100's of items, it's not actually that difficult. I don't see why I shouldn't expect more from such an established brand.
I don't think HTC is evil, I like the brand, I still have my first HTC phone and it works like new. I bought the A9, I like HTC, but I don't like seeing them operate like this.
I guess you are taking the point of view that it was a honest mistake, but I think the move to omit the new found information was completely intentional, which is why the site is not currently reading "Gorilla Glass 3" and it probably never will.
Note: I've edited some of my previous posts, in case anyone wondering what CarinaPDX is referring to.

Want to bump this. Did anyone else hear about this more? HTC told me via e-mail that the phone *in the USA* still uses GG4.

I have lots of tiny scratches on my phone already. USA a9 with a dot view case. I had a screen protector, but it kept sliding on my phone. I took it off about a week ago, and since then, scratches.

TehPwnd said:
I have lots of tiny scratches on my phone already. USA a9 with a dot view case. I had a screen protector, but it kept sliding on my phone. I took it off about a week ago, and since then, scratches.
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Click to collapse
are you serious? My A9 never had a screen protector and it has been a month now.. around 4-5 times dropped on the wooden floor, but absolutely no scratch on glass/body. Try wiping those scratches (if you used dot view case, it looks like scratches, but when you wipe them, it should be clean again) and post how it goes. I need to order a screenguard too maybe
---------- Post added at 02:15 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:14 AM ----------
km8j said:
Want to bump this. Did anyone else hear about this more? HTC told me via e-mail that the phone *in the USA* still uses GG4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the same response multiple times

CarinaPDX said:
The problem is that you keep assuming ill intent without any evidence whatsoever. You obviously have no clue about how hard it is to propagate changes at the last minute in a large operation. My guess is that the product manager did send out an email announcing the change in spec, but there is no way his distribution would go directly to all who needed to know, and we all know how messages morph as they pass through multiple hands. I can well imagine that the website coder got the message to remove the "4" without specifically being told to replace it with a "3", and not wanting to risk further errors did not add the "3" on his own. That is how these things happen. No dishonest intent, just imperfect humans.
The thing is, HTC has gone out of their way to preserve good will. I have never heard of a consumer goods company actually calling customers to apologize for a delay and offer alternatives (an expensive and resource-consuming effort). And to offer customers a credit for 25% of the value of the product is very generous. I think that is clear evidence of their intent to treat their customers well. They do not deserve to have their reputation impugned.
It is worth noting that this introduction has suffered from poor planning and/or implementation. I do sympathize with the delays in coding and FCC approval of the carrier-specific models (each one needing a separate approval), and the apparent delay in availability of the colored aluminum cases. It is a very difficult choice to delay the introduction until full availability or hit the Xmas sales season, but not both. Still, these problems should not be leaking out into the customer base.
It is a popular trope to see corporations as evil. A corporation is not a person (regardless of what our flawed Supreme Court may say); it is an organization of many people. While there certainly are executives who do bad things, much of what goes wrong is the result of human error. I have found it best to remember: never assume a conspiracy when simple incompetence is a sufficient explanation.
Greg
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow! Do you work for HTC??? "The thing is, HTC has gone out of their way to preserve good will."
My experience has been anything but 'HTC going out of their way...'
I pre-ordered my unlocked A9. Received an email from HTC acknowledging my order and another stating a delay. That was the last time I EVER heard from HTC regarding my order. I've never received my order either.
I've contacted HTC numerous times to cancel my order and finally just the other day received an email from HTC acknowledging my cancellation request. From the time I pre-ordered until the email regarding my cancellation, I contacted HTC numerous times and was repeatedly told my order was still being fulfilled even though during my previous contact I canceled. This happened on at least 4 different occasions. I was never contacted by HTC offering me any discount or even an apology. I ended up buying my unlocked A9 off of ebay and paying more than my pre-order price at HTC.
They are complete idiots in my book. I've been supporting HTC for quite awhile, M7, two M8's and now the A9. If you look up, 'one hand doesn't know what the other hand is doing', you will see the company HTC.
Really liking the phone though, but like most everybody else, am not liking that they switched the specs and dropped GG4 without so much as a $*#@ you very much! Absolutely horrible customer service.

No, I don't work for HTC. In fact purchasing this phone is the first time I have had any dealings with them.
My point was that an error in published spec, likely the result of a late spec change, is in no way a sign of evil intent. Even the best managed corporations make small mistakes like this. Stuff happens.
I will stick with my positive comments about personal phone calls and discounts. Somebody was trying to help out customers, at considerable expense to HTC. I suspect that the effort got called off before everyone was reached as it became apparent how many resources were being tied up in the process.
On the topic of incompetence, well yes they have demonstrated heroic levels of it. They seem to be flailing around trying to fix things, only to raise expectations that then aren't met. In my case a few days after receiving my A9 (after cancelling and re-ordering per HTC) I was sent 3 emails at the same time that alerted me to the fact that the original order that was cancelled had indeed just shipped, that it was a mistake and that a return authorization was issued, and how to properly return it. Oh, and my account was charged another $400 which they would give back when they received the phone. Also, for a single day many accessories were offered at deep discounts, but since some were out of stock it was impossible to order to lock in the price. Why offer a sale price when the customer can't actually buy the product, or for that matter why have a one-day sale at a time that many customers still haven't received their pre-ordered phones?
What is distressing is the seeming randomness of the preorder process. Some buyers received the products without problems. Others got phone calls and/or emails regarding the problems. Others apparently heard nothing. And for some of us that were helped by re-ordering the product, we found an additional product shipped (and billed).
So far I really like the A9. It does seem that HTC has their product act together. But their North American marketing/sales arm has a remarkable resemblance to the gang that can't shoot straight - something we can agree on. I hope they get someone in there who knows their product management, and who has the authority to get the IT system fixed. The home team in Taiwan should be pretty upset about this.
Greg

If GG3 or GG4 i do not care. I have no scratches in my Display. No tiny Scratches, no big Scratches. The Display is very good. On iPhone 6 i had after three Days tiny Scratches. On HTC One A9 after three Weeks no Scratches.