T-Mobile USA gives black HTC One S to hard-working staff, leaves other Americans turning green

TMobile USA gives black HTC One S to hardworking staff, leaves other Americans turning green

International HTC One S buyers might look at the black version like it's humdrum, but if you're an American who's had no realistic choice but to get the gray T-Mobile edition, black is a rare and coveted thing. T-Mobile knows this all too well, and it's using the micro arc oxidized hue as an incentive for loyal employees: work diligently enough, and a black One S with native T-Mobile HSPA+ is yours. There's no word from the TmoNews tipster as to whether or not the color will ever reach the buying public, which could make it a rare collector's item for Android lovers -- not to mention a mild form of torture for HTC enthusiasts. The optimistic among us are hoping that it's a sign of phones to come and that both black as well as gray can live in harmony on T-Mobile shelves.

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T-Mobile USA gives black HTC One S to hard-working staff, leaves other Americans turning green originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jul 2012 07:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC One S unibody housing micro arc oxidation process eyes-on

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HTC's One S -- launched earlier this year at Mobile World Congress -- features a nifty ceramic-like finish that is achieved using micro arc oxidation. We've of course heard about the process and been treated to the details of the treatment but had yet to see it translated for our eyes to behold. HTC has a stand set up at CTIA detailing the steps from blank lump of aluminum to the finished HTC One S product with its lovely smooth black shell. Have a quick peek at the gallery below and then on to the video tour of the process steps from stamping to grinding to 10,000 volt shock. Plasma!

Zachary Lutz contributed to this report.

Continue reading HTC One S unibody housing micro arc oxidation process eyes-on

HTC One S unibody housing micro arc oxidation process eyes-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 19:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC fixes rare One S chipping finish issue, swaps phones for free

HTC fixes rare One S chipping finish issue, swaps phones for free
The black HTC One S uses a process called micro arc oxidation (MAO) to harden its aluminum unibody and make it feel like ceramic. We've recently experienced some chipping on the finish of one of our review units, so we reached out to HTC to find out if this is a known problem. Turns out we're not the only ones to report the issue, and while rare, the company's gone ahead and tweaked its manufacturing process and is offering to swap affected phones for free for existing customers. Here's HTC's statement:
HTC is committed to delivering a high quality product and great experience for all our customers. There have been a few, isolated reports of this issue. The finish on the One S was laboratory tested as being at a hardness similar to ceramic. While that's hard, it doesn't mean it's impossible to damage. Regardless, HTC takes quality very seriously and are providing all customers with an immediate fix and we are implementing some small changes to ensure customers do not experience this issue in the future.

HTC fixes rare One S chipping finish issue, swaps phones for free originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 19:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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