News: HTC to retire QWERTY from its future plans

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oelly

New member
Apr 20, 2010
4
0
That would be sad because i like the look and feel of a real hardware keyboard.
And it's much more comfortable compared to a virtual keyboard.

Maybe sony, motorola or lg will build a comparable "successor" for the desire z.
 

mputtr

Senior Member
Nov 12, 2008
2,478
505
California, USA
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
the reason why HTC's qwerty phone recently are not as good as they should because of the quirky hinge mechanism and if you want to bring up HTC Chacha, then it's their screw up because that's a mediocre phone that sucks to begin with.

bring back the HTC Touch Pro type qwerty keyboard and we'll talk.
 

sino8r

Senior Member
Sep 7, 2006
3,549
735
Birmingham, Alabama
This wouldn't surprise me one bit. HTC has been making one stupid decision after the another. The One Series with non removable batteries or storage is extremely flawed thinking. I know they have been struggling lately compared to Samsung, Motorola, etc... But simplifying phones isn't the answer. Making fewer, more higher quality phones sounds good (and is something they should stick with) but not at the cost of losing features to make it 1mm thinner! Who knows with these stupid phone manufacturers though?! They might change their minds/direction again in a few months lol! I don't think they even know what they want! :D I'm really starting to lose faith in HTC whether this story is true or not.
 
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jrkr

Member
Nov 26, 2010
40
6
Almost as if they have caught the Nokia flu then?
Panic, panic and then some panic? Let's hope they don't announce abandoning Android and betting everything on Microsoft and for example thin-thin phones.
:rolleyes:
Seriously, the hardware keyboard is not on it's way out. No way. When machines can read our minds maybe.

Bought my 2nd DZ (brand new) a few weeks ago :D , a phone without a physical keyboard isn't an option for me.
 
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crestofawave

Senior Member
Dec 17, 2011
474
119
Heraklion
Samsung Galaxy Tab A series
NOOOOOOO

Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA

My thoughts exactly. NOOOOOOOOOOOOO

On a more serious note, I may be wrong but I've noticed that HTC is moving towards a more iPhoneish design of devices. Like the non-removable batteries for example.

This is a tad disappointing to be honest...I always liked HTC because the produced quality phones, like the Touch Pro2 or the Desire Z, but I don't see the same quality with the one Series.

Sent from my DZ.
 

virtualflyer

Senior Member
Mar 16, 2011
352
46
So this means I will get my new phone from someone else, I love HTC for the things we all know. But I'm not a fanboy, so no qwerty, no HTC. The problem is who... I don't like at all LG and Samsung for different reason (I think I bought the worst optimus one ever sold... And about Samsung, have you read they're about to release S-Cloud........) Motorola could get better with google and the milestones doesn't look bad at all, but google seems to be about to sell its mobile sector and motorola phones have always looked a bit too serious for me.. The desire z was perfect betweem the LG/Samsung qwerty phones thta seemed to be built for kids to break them in a hour and Motorola that looked like business phones...
Hiope they change their mind or it's fake...

Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA
 

bogdan5844

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2011
395
36
Bucharest
Two things brought me to HTC - a great keyboard and a greater interface. I love Sense UI and everything in it. I love my Desire Z's keyboard and everything about it.

Too bad. I'll have to choose..:mad:
 

redpoint73

Inactive Recognized Contributor
Oct 24, 2007
15,254
6,968
Well, the statement in the article (even if its confirmed) doesn't make any claim to the length of time they are talking about (just "future plans"). If anything, HTC has shown in the past few months that they are willing to change direction quickly in order to compete. May very well only be a present and near future plan. And while this does seem to sink hopes of finding a suitable QWERTY replacement for the Z/G2 anytime soon, I have no doubt that HTC would quickly change this stance at a later time, if they had reason to believe there was good enough demand for phones with hardware keyboards.

As for competitors with QWERTY smartphones, just my opinion that all other manufacturers tend to disappoint me with their build quality. Motorola handsets often look great on paper, and even ok in photos, but always feel like cheap plasticky crap, with clunky keyboards once in hand. Similarly, Samsung and LG continue to feel lower in build quality to most HTC products.

But on that same note, its disappointing to see HTC take the "slimmer, lighter" route with their flagship One X line. Haven't actually held one in hand yet, but I have a feeling the polycarbonate body just isn't going to feel as sturdy as HTC's aluminum body designs. I've read a number complaints about the weight of aluminum body phones, and the popular trend is obviously thinner & lighter. But I actually like to have some heft to the phone. Aluminum body phones just look nicer, and feel more durable than skinny light plastic phones. And I don't understand why people make such a big deal about weight anyway. It doesn't make any difference when its sitting in your pocket. And if you get tired holding something that weighs a few ounces, you should probably exercise more.
 
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crestofawave

Senior Member
Dec 17, 2011
474
119
Heraklion
Samsung Galaxy Tab A series
I'm afraid H/W Keyboard phones have gotten less popular.

The ones that are out right now don't really compare to the DZ and it doesn't seem like there'll ever be a worthy successor to it. Thus, there will be a lot less users and even less devs on such phones.

I don't know about you guys, but whether I like it or not, I'd easily give up a H/W keyboard for a good and lasting dev scene like ours.

@redpoint I've had the chance to play around with a One X yesterday and I think you stand correct about the build quality. I'd much rather prefer an aluminum body over polycarbonate.
 
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xT4Z1N4TRx

Senior Member
Apr 13, 2011
1,973
1,872
Wolverhampton
I'm afraid H/W Keyboard phones have gotten less popular.

The ones that are out right now don't really compare to the DZ and it doesn't seem like there'll ever be a worthy successor to it. Thus, there will be a lot less users and even less devs on such phones.

I don't know about you guys, but whether I like it or not, I'd easily give up a H/W keyboard for a good and lasting dev scene like ours.

Yep same, I'm thinking of getting the one x in summer... if it doesn't fit in my pocket then the one s. Need a new phone to be honest

Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA
 

bvdbasch

Member
Jan 29, 2012
13
2
This news saddens me! I've desperately been waiting for HTC to release a new QWERTY phone. I'm not a fanboy, but a sensed up android just feels best.

Now if only Nokia pops out a Lumia QWERTY I'm theirs. Sorry HTC, better luck next time my cell plan let's me pick a new phone ;)

But if that doesn't happen I guess it's the Sony Experia Pro for me. Not a huge upgrade, but a upgrade not the less. Plus it's unrooted users got ICS OTA a while back. I'm still waiting for HTC to show us that same love...

Sent from my Desire Z using XDA
 

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  • 5
    They need a new desire Z-like phone based off the One S!!!

    Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA
    4
    Almost as if they have caught the Nokia flu then?
    Panic, panic and then some panic? Let's hope they don't announce abandoning Android and betting everything on Microsoft and for example thin-thin phones.
    :rolleyes:
    Seriously, the hardware keyboard is not on it's way out. No way. When machines can read our minds maybe.

    Bought my 2nd DZ (brand new) a few weeks ago :D , a phone without a physical keyboard isn't an option for me.
    3
    Well, the statement in the article (even if its confirmed) doesn't make any claim to the length of time they are talking about (just "future plans"). If anything, HTC has shown in the past few months that they are willing to change direction quickly in order to compete. May very well only be a present and near future plan. And while this does seem to sink hopes of finding a suitable QWERTY replacement for the Z/G2 anytime soon, I have no doubt that HTC would quickly change this stance at a later time, if they had reason to believe there was good enough demand for phones with hardware keyboards.

    As for competitors with QWERTY smartphones, just my opinion that all other manufacturers tend to disappoint me with their build quality. Motorola handsets often look great on paper, and even ok in photos, but always feel like cheap plasticky crap, with clunky keyboards once in hand. Similarly, Samsung and LG continue to feel lower in build quality to most HTC products.

    But on that same note, its disappointing to see HTC take the "slimmer, lighter" route with their flagship One X line. Haven't actually held one in hand yet, but I have a feeling the polycarbonate body just isn't going to feel as sturdy as HTC's aluminum body designs. I've read a number complaints about the weight of aluminum body phones, and the popular trend is obviously thinner & lighter. But I actually like to have some heft to the phone. Aluminum body phones just look nicer, and feel more durable than skinny light plastic phones. And I don't understand why people make such a big deal about weight anyway. It doesn't make any difference when its sitting in your pocket. And if you get tired holding something that weighs a few ounces, you should probably exercise more.
    2

    There's only two on that list I like....on page 2... the desire z and g2

    Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA
    1
    This wouldn't surprise me one bit. HTC has been making one stupid decision after the another. The One Series with non removable batteries or storage is extremely flawed thinking. I know they have been struggling lately compared to Samsung, Motorola, etc... But simplifying phones isn't the answer. Making fewer, more higher quality phones sounds good (and is something they should stick with) but not at the cost of losing features to make it 1mm thinner! Who knows with these stupid phone manufacturers though?! They might change their minds/direction again in a few months lol! I don't think they even know what they want! :D I'm really starting to lose faith in HTC whether this story is true or not.