The HTC Windows Phone 8X sports a 4.3-inch Super LCD2 720p display with a pixel density of 342ppi, and it’s protected with Gorilla Glass 2. We have to say that there’s not much to complain about with the display — viewing angles are adequate, and images and text are really crisp. The back consists of a curved piece of soft-touch plastic that provides a wonderful grip for those with butter fingers. The back is also flat enough that the device is able to rest on a surface without rocking back and forth. Holding the device feels great, and since it has a smaller 4.3-inch screen, the overall size of the 8X doesn’t make it overwhelming to hold.

Below: Our own Cory Gunther walks us through Windows Phone 8 using the HTC Windows Phone 8X, which is the same device featured in this review, save for the carrier.

On the top of the handset, you have the headphone jack (enhanced with Beats Audio technology, of course) and the power button, while the volume rocker and a dedicated camera button are placed on the right side, along with the SIM card slot towards the top. On the back, there’s the 8MP shooter with the speaker placed towards the bottom right underneath the carrier branding. The microUSB port is placed directly on the bottom in the center — right where we like it.

On the inside, there’s the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 chip with a dual-core Krait processor clocked at 1.5GHz — the same chip that’s in the Samsung Galaxy S III and Nokia’s Lumia 920. Partnered with the S4 are Adreno 225 graphics, and there’s also 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage (sorry, no microSD slot on this one either).

There’s really nothing to scoff at when it comes to performance. The 8X is fast and snappy, and the animations (which are what makes Windows Phone 8 look really good) are incredibly smooth. Apps opened quickly, and the dedicated camera button on the side of the phone makes it easy to snap a photo, which is great to have, honestly, since the camera app takes a bit of scrolling to get to. The 1800mAh battery is adequate, and while you’ll be able to go most of the day without having to keep it near an outlet, you’ll most likely have to charge it up by the evening with average usage.

Verizon’s version of the Windows Phone 8X has a little bit of the carrier’s own offerings squished inside the rest of the WP8 user interface. Thankfully, Verizon doesn’t go too crazy with the carrier-specific apps. There’s VZ Navigator, NFL Mobile, and My Verizon Mobile, which lets you manage your Verizon account and check to see how many minutes you’ve used up, as well as how much data you have left during the billing period. None of Verizon’s bloatware — if you could even call it that — gets in the way at all, and I actually hardly even noticed that the apps were there.

The 8X has an 8MP f/2.0 rear camera with a 2.1MP front-facing shooter. There’s nothing to complain about here, and while it’s not the best camera on a Windows Phone 8 device, it certainly performs. If you can’t get your hands on a Lumia 920 (which arguably has the best camera on a WP8 handset), the 8X is a good second choice. It handles low-light conditions surprisingly well. Although, even with adequate lighting, images sometimes appear darker than what they should. However, autofocus, as well as auto-exposure and white balance work pretty well.

The dedicated camera button on the side of the device is two-stage, which means you can push the button halfway down to lock in the settings and then all the way down to snap the photo. The button takes a little bit of force in order to push it down all the way, but you can also use the touchscreen as the shutter button for an alternative.

Wrap-up

Essentially, the 8X from HTC is a great and solid device to test out Windows Phone 8. Personally, it was my first time playing around with Windows Phone 8, and while it did take a little bit of time to get used to the UI, Microsoft clearly made a clean and and stylish mobile operating system, and it ran great on the 8X. Overall, if you’re wanting to stick with Verizon as a carrier (thus, taking the Lumia 920 out of the running), the 8X is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a Windows Phone 8 handset. Of course, there’s only a few options to choose from on Verizon, so the competition is still light at this point, but for $199, the 8X can certainly compete with other handsets out of the WP8 group.

We learned today that Call of Duty: Black Ops II sold 1 million copies at GameStop alone on launch day – news that shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone – and Rockstar delivered the second trailer for Grand Theft Auto V after weeks of new screenshots and news for the highly anticipated game. RIM CEO Thorsten Heins is confident that BlackBerry 10 will be a big hit when it arrives early next year, while the HTC Windows Phone 8X and Nokia Lumia 820 landed at T-Mobile today.

Steve Wozniak expressed his fear that Microsoft is doing more to innovate than Apple is, while we learned that text messaging is showing a decline for the first time ever. The HTC DLX – better known by the name of HTC DROID DNA here in the United States – will be launching in China on December 6, while AT&T launched its 4G LTE network in a number of new markets today. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 has been added to the Queen’s royal collection, and sadly, the final issue of Nintendo Power has been finished, which means that the magazine’s offices have gone dark.

We heard the very sad news that Texas Instruments plans to lay off 1,700 workers in an attempt to save some cash, while Google added one-click app installs to Google Plus feeds today. One father went to the trouble of changing the text in The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker to show his daughter that it isn’t always boys who get to be the hero, some EA Origin members are having issues with hijacked accounts, and the Facebook Pages feed is ready for some time in the spotlight.

Finally tonight, we have a couple of different reviews coming your way, both from Chris Burns. First up we’ve got a review of Roger Dean’s Dragons Dream for iOS, followed by a review of the HTC Windows Phone 8X from T-Mobile. That does it for tonight’s Evening Wrap-Up, enjoy the rest of your night everyone!

The Nokia Lumia 810 is a device that’s exclusive to T-Mobile, this being mostly because there are devices so very extremely similar to it on each of the carrier’s competing networks. You’ve got a device that’s made to take on the middle of the market with a slightly toned-down presentation compared to its bigger cousins the Lumia 820 and Lumia 920, but when you’ve got the device in your hand, you’ll feel as though you’ve still got a top-tier machine. Our full review (the first link in this paragraph) to see our full look.

The HTC Windows Phone 8X is a device we’ve, again, also already had a full review of back when it was released internationally and on AT&T. This device has been said to be the biggest competitor for the Nokia Lumia 920, when in fact we’re finding that it’s essentially in a different category altogether because of the Nokia-only apps that appear on the one, but not the other. HTC on the other hand has an HTC app that gives you weather information, but it’s nothing new – they had this same app onboard their older Windows Phone devices before the switch to Windows Phone 8, and it’s certainly not changed significantly since then.

These device are up for sale at T-Mobile right this minute and will be at most T-Mobile stores you’re able to walk to in your area. Have a peek at them in-person! You’ll be able to get the Nokia Lumia 810 for $149 with a 2-year contract after $50 mail-in rebate. The HTC Windows Phone 8X will cost you $199 with a two-year contract after a $50 mail-in rebate as well – bring your pocketbooks!

The Nokia Lumia 920 provides a relatively rich ecosystem considering the relatively newness of Windows Phone in general. The Windows Phone 8 universe is being headed by both Nokia and HTC, so says Microsoft, so it’d probably be a good idea to get one or the other, but Microsoft’s team-up with Nokia has been going on for a bit longer, and much more prevalently. This means things like Microsoft holding up Nokia devices at Windows Phone 8 events and using them for advertisements in general – and developers having more confidence in their ability to last long on the market, which is good for apps.

The Lumia series has a set of Nokia apps that come only with Nokia devices, including several rather neat mapping and augmented reality engagements. Have a peek at the following video to see what Nokia Maps, City View, and the rest will mean for you when you pick this device up. You’ll also see a couple other features courtesy of our friendly Nokia representative from back at the launch of this device.

Then it’s time for the real judgement. Based on our Nokia Lumia 920 full review you’ll be finding that it’s a more than capable device for your everyday high-end smartphone-loving existence. Comparatively you’ve got two devices that are rather similar in the specifications universe:

HTC Windows Phone 8X: 5.21 x 2.61 x 0.40 inchese (132.3 x 66.2 x 10.1 mm)
Nokia Lumia 920: 5.13 x 2.79 x 0.42 inches (130.3 x 70.8 x 10.7 mm)

8X: 4.59 oz (130 g)
920: 6.53 oz (185 g)

8X: Black, Yellow, Blue, Red
920: Black, Yellow, Red, White, Gray

8X: 4.30 inch 720 x 1280 pixel resolution S-LCD 2 display (342 PPI)
920: 4.5 inch 768 x 1280 pixel resolution IPS LCD display (332 PPI)

8X: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core 1.5GHz processor with Adreno 225 graphics and 1GB RAM
920: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core 1.5GHz processor with Adreno 225 graphics and 1GB RAM

8X: 16 GB built-in storage
920: 32 GB built-in storage

8X: 8 megapixel back-facing camera, 2 megapixel front-facing camera, 1920×1080 (1080p HD) video
920: 8.7 megapixel back-facing camera with PureView technology, 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera, 1280×720 (720p HD) (30 fps) video

Our full HTC Windows Phone 8X review has essentially the same software experience as the Nokia device except for the Nokia-added apps. Here HTC has what you might call a “cleaner” look at Windows Phone 8, though both devices are able to eject apps at will (such is one of the simplest and greatest abilities of Windows Phone in general.) The HTC device also has Beats Audio integrated for superior heavy sound.

The HTC Windows Phone 8X’s benefits are primarily in the hardware department with ever-so-slight differences in lightness and thinness. You’ll also find a different feel, with a sharper feel with the HTC device and a more pillowy feel with the Nokia device. We recommend literally heading in to your local retailer and holding both devices in your hand before making the decision between these two titans, that’s for sure!

It also happens to be the same day that the Nokia Lumia 920 and 820 will be available, so AT&T customers will have a few options when it comes to picking out a Windows Phone 8 device. The 8X will be coming to AT&T is a couple different varieties. First up we have the 16GB California Blue variant, followed by AT&T-exclusive 8GB models in California Blue and eye-searing Limelight (yellow). We’re not sure why you’d want a bright yellow phone, but if you want a device that draws some attention, the Limelight model is probably your best bet.

AT&T says that all three models will be available to purchase in stores and at att.com starting tomorrow, with the 8GB Limelight model and the 16GB California Blue model shipping out next week. We don’t have an exact ship date for those handsets just yet, but whenever that date is, at least we know that there isn’t much longer to wait. The 16GB model will set you back $199.99 with a two-year agreement, while the the 8GB models will only require an initial payment of $99.99.

The HTC Windows Phone 8X features a 4.3-inch screen running at 720p, so you’ll be getting high definition with this handset. Around the back, you’ve got an 8-megapixel camera, while on the inside you’ve got a dual-core Snapdragon processor clocked at 1.5GHz and 1GB of RAM at your disposal. Read our full review of the device to find out what we think!

We have one Windows Phone 8X review up already – now it’s time to see how the beast works with the high-speed action at Verizon. The Nokia Lumia 822 is quite similar to the original 820 we saw back at the launch by Nokia – and we’ve had Nokia Lumia 822 hands-on time as well much more recently. This device is the little brother of the much larger Nokia Lumia 920.

You should of course have a peek at our Nokia Lumia 920 review to see what Nokia is bringing to the table as far as software goes – the 822 is just a bit smaller and has many of the same benefits busting out around the rim. As for the Samsung ATIV Odyssey – we don’t know one whole heck of a lot about this device yet – even its release date has been kept a secret thus far, with Verizon just saying, “exclusive to Verizon Wireless and available by the end of the year.”

The Nokia Lumia 822 will be exclusive to Verizon as well (as each version of the 820 model has a different number for each carrier, of course), and will be coming in Black, White, and Grey color models for $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and with a new two year contract. The Windows Phone 8X by HTC will be popping up by Thanksgiving in a lovely collection of colors for $199.99 with a new two year contract. This HTC model will come in blue, red, or black – the last two being exclusive colors for Verizon!

Let’s start right off with the skin for the HTC One X+, shall we? It comes equipped with a 1,500mAh battery that Powerskin says should double your battery life. Of course, it’s also an NFC-enabled skin, so you get that added bonus. The case for the HTC One X+ is available starting today (it’s up on Powerskin’s website right this minute) and will set you back $79.99. It also works with the original One X, so if that happens to be your phone of choice, you might want to give this case a look.

Next up we’ve got the case for the Galaxy Express. It’s the same idea as the case for the HTC One X+, only this one comes packing a 2,000mAh battery, which Powerskin says should extend talk time by 70%. It costs the same as the HTC One X+ case – $79.99 – and will be available starting November 20.

Finally we have the case for the HTC Windows Phone 8X, which features a 1,500mAh batter that should extend total talk time by 60%. Like the others, this case sports a price tag of $79.99, although it doesn’t seem to have a solid release date quite yet – Powerskin says that it’ll be available “around November 28.” Will you be picking up one of these for your shiny new handset?

AT&T also revealed an exclusive version of the Windows Phone 8X in Limelight (yellow) as well as California Blue, and they’re the only carrier to offer this device in such colors. These exclusive colors will only be available for the 8GB version of the phone. AT&T also says they will include a free wireless charging plate with each purchase of Lumia 920 for a limited time.

Nokia’s Lumia 920 is the company’s new flagship handset, and it features 4.5-inch PureMotion HD+ ClearBlack display with a 1280×768 resolution, and it’s protected by Gorilla Glass 2. It features a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz with 1GB of RAM. The 920′s younger brother, the Lumia 820, features the same processor and RAM specs, but has a slightly smaller 4.3-inch display.

HTC’s Windows Phone 8X has a 4.3-inch display with a 1280×720 resolution. The device also features and Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz and 1GB of RAM. Other than the exclusive AT&T colors, the 8X comes in Graphite Black and Flame Red. AT&T has not announced the release date for the 8X, nor when you can pre-order one, although the carrier says the phone will be out before Thanksgiving.

According to the announcement, the HTC 8X will be available in blue, red, and black, priced at $199.99 with a two-year contract. Meanwhile, the Nokia Lumia 822 will be available in white and gray models priced at $99.99 with a two-year contract after a $50 rebate. The Lumia 822 is exclusively available from Verizon.

The HTC 8X has a 4.3-inch display and features a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, as well as an 8-megapixel rear camera. We got our hands on this smartphone back in October; you can check out the review here. The Nokia Lumia 822 is similar, with a 4.3-inch display, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 16GB of internal storage, and an 8-megapixel camera.

Windows Phone 8 brings with it an interface that resembles the newly-released Windows 8 operating system. You’ll find Live Tiles on the home screen, which you can use to organize your phone by pinning items, such as bookmarks, in an easy-to-access location. Users who nab one of these phones will also get the Data Sense app, which monitors data usage, as well as 7GB of SkyDrive space.

[via Wireless and Mobile News]

Now there’s a lot to get here with the 8X from HTC, but we’ll be digging into the impressive new hardware they’ve brought to the table with this flagship WP8 device, as well as everything that makes it fly. The 8X from HTC is the best from them, and from Microsoft so lets take a peek.

Hardware

The Windows Phone X8 by HTC has a clumsy name, but very classy hardware. Combining this awesome new hardware with the latest from Windows, this just might save HTC. Nokia might not like it, but this has been confirmed as the “signature handset” for Windows Phone 8 — and the hardware is a huge part of that. HTC’s really stepped up their game.

The 8X is crafted in a polycarbonate shell that neatly wraps around and meets the 4.3-inch HD display for a squared-off and simple design — just like Windows Phone 8. The bland design and finish of old is replaced by an edgy, sleek, smooth, yet matte design this is elegant and stylish. A big part of Windows Phone 8 is the support for higher resolution bigger displays, and faster multi-core processors. Today we have both with the 8X.

The HTC 8X comes with a 4.3-inch 1280x720p HD SLCD2 display that looks great. It’s bright, vivid, crisp, colorful, and has exceptional viewing angles and colors. The HD resolution fits right in with WP8 and those personalized live tiles. The optical lamination and rounded Corning Gorilla glass is strong, durable, and smooth and curves right into the polycarbonate shell for a seamless design. The hardware really is the star of the show here.

Without preaching too much about the hardware (as we’re big fans) HTC’s added a Qualcomm 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor with 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, and a mid-sized 1,800 mAh battery. Sadly they’ve opted not to offer removable storage via micro-SD support, something that’s been improved in Windows Phone 8. You’ll get HSPA+ support, 4G LTE where available, WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, Beats Audio, and micro-USB all in a device that measures 132x66x10mm in size. It might be 10.12 mm thick but you’d never ever tell by holding this device in hand with the curved and elegant edges. It’s extremely lightweight with the polycarbonate casing being just 130 grams.

The 8X has a lot to live up to with the HTC One X running Android, the iPhone 5, and competitors in Windows Phone such as Samsung and Nokia — and the 8X does just that. As you can see above we have the simple black model, but HTC will offer blue, yellow, red, and more for a personalized love affair. To wrap things up on the hardware the design and button placement is all exception, and very comfortable with daily use. However the power button up top is flush with the device and hard to locate at times — not to mention is a bit squishy and occasionally takes more than one try. Then the squared off edges cause the bottom micro-USB port to have a few sharp edges, and can be bothersome based on how you hold your smartphone.

This is the “signature handset” of Windows Phone, and it certainly fits the bill. HTC’s envisioned and designed an elegant home for Windows Phone 8 to stay — and showcase to the world.

Software

The HTC 8X is one of the first smartphones to grace the world running on the new and improved Windows Phone 8. While it might be hard to notice at first glance, this is an entirely new Windows Phone and a step up from Mango. Everything is faster, better, HD, and more personal. This is the most personal and most customizable Windows Phone yet. There’s tons to talk about with Windows Phone 8 as far as software, so here’s a few bullet points regarding what’s new. Windows Phone 8 now has a re-imagined and more personal start screen. Their live tiles are as friendly as ever, and highly customizable. WP8 supports higher resolution displays, multi-core processors, a better camera app, native screenshots, lockscreen notifications and shortcuts, Kid’s Corner, enhanced sync and backup, and much more.

To get a better feel about Windows Phone 8 and what’s new, you’ll want to check out our in-depth Windows Phone 8 Review. For now, we’ll just rundown a few things here specifically for the HTC 8X and what we enjoyed with Windows Phone 8. Based on more than just Windows 8′s kernel this is Windows 8 in a way, for mobile. Everything is extremely smooth, fluid, and efficient. Boot times are quick, memory management is awesome, and this device flies thanks to the 1.5 GHz dual-core processor support.

Below is an in-depth video showing you many of the new things mentioned above with Windows Phone 8. You’ll see the impressive new personalized experience with live tiles and sizes, lockscreen shortcuts and notifications, kid’s corner to save you from your children, and more. Everything is faster, smoother, easier, and funner with Windows Phone 8. You’ll be flowing through tiles in no time.

The People app now has an improved “What’s new” stream where you can get updates and status details from all your friends and contacts. Now with support for Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. What makes this even more unique and personal is groups. With groups you can set certain friends or family members you wish to see what’s new and status updates from. This will cut out the clutter as I’m sure you don’t need to know what everyone in your entire contact list posts to Facebook — but the option is there.

Without getting too in-depth here the video above should give you an excellent idea of what to expect from not only Windows Phone, but Windows Phone 8. I’m sure many are looking at this option for the first time, as are there some die-hard Windows fans that can’t wait to upgrade. As far as competing with iOS and Android, this is only just the beginning of Windows Phone, but we’re starting to see their direction with 8. The start screen is the focal point of their streamlined, yet personalized experience. Managing to do both at once is a real task. With iOS your iPhone will look just like those around you, and with Android all the widgets are awesome, but they have custom skins, tons of different OS versions floating around (fragmentation) and more. While I’m not here to say which is better, Windows Phone 8 feels very similar, smooth, and streamlined — yet offers more personalization than anything available today.

With the App Store approaching 700k apps for iOS, over 650,000 for Android, and about 125,000 for Windows Phone the options are still limited, but certainly headed in the right direction. Now that Windows Phone 8 supports HD resolution displays, dual-core processors and more, we expect app and game developers to really step up their game. Whether or not they will remains to be seen however. This is only the beginning folks. The beginning of a driven Microsoft team, so stay tuned!

Performance

With WP8 performance has been seriously improved. As you saw from my various videos above the user interface is extremely crisp and fluid in its actions. From resizing tiles, opening apps and games, changing theme colors device-wide and more everything is snappy. This is in part to the new, improved, and efficient Windows Phone 8 — but you can’t forget that dual-core processor is under the hood either. While benchmarks aren’t as popular as say, our Android friends with quad-cores, here’s a few just for good measure. AnTuTu has made its way to WP and we scored nearly 12,000 here. Once more start using AnTuTu we can really measure performance. Then for fun we ran a quick test of WP Bench, and you can see those results below for an idea of just how fast Windows Phone 8 and this dual-core really is.

There really should be no debate here. This is one of the best, fastest, smoothest, and quickest Windows Phone experiences yet. Combining new hardware with the latest software, you’ll surely love what it has to offer.

Camera

Now with HTC’s camera we have the first WP device with their dedicated ImageChip for enhanced photos. Using an 8 megapixel backside illuminated sensor (BSI) for better low light, while offering an f/2.0 lens for superior performance the camera does an excellent job with today’s smartphone camera standards. We have 1080p video recording that is exceptional, although there’s still the occasional motion-blur here. Windows Phone 8 now allows for simple pinch-to-zoom in camera and video, and you can simply tap the screen to snap a photo (and focus) as well as quickly tap to start recording 1080p video.

The dedicated two-stage camera button is a nice touch, but is almost pointless when you can just tap the screen to take a quick photo. However, it does allow you to press and hold to skip unlocking the phone and head right into the camera app to snap a quick shot and never miss the perfect moment. Here’s a gallery of images testing the 8 megapixel camera and ImageChip, as well as a 1080p video clip.

Offering a 2.1 megapixel front facing camera with the 8X, HTC has one of the best cameras for video chat using Skype and more. Offering the widest angle lens on any smartphone, in landscape mode the HTC 8X can fit 4 people in-frame using the front facing camera. Get ready to share and enjoy some family moments together on Skype with ease.

Phone & Battery

As a phone the HTC 8X is comfortable to hold, easy to use, sounds great with Beats Audio, and is just the right size for a new smartphone user. We don’t have a tiny small display, or a massive 5.5-inch Galaxy Note II screen size. It’s the perfect size for most, and will be a joy for first time smartphone buyers. The speakerphone is one of the loudest, and crispest sounding speakers we’ve used to date. A lot of that is thanks to Beats Audio, but music still inevitably has that tin-can sound to it.

Battery life has always been a strong suite for Windows Phone, and the same holds true with WP8. The changes under the hood to the Windows 8 kernel, software stack, and efficiency allows for all-day battery life. You’d think those increases would be balanced out by HD screens and dual-core processors, but they are not. Qualcomm’s 1.5 GHz S4 is their latest offering that is highly efficient. Without being able to properly test 4G LTE radios on our international 8X we can’t comment there, but I’ve achieved far better battery life than expected with an 1,800 mAh battery. Expect a solid 14-15 hours with average usage from push notifications for emails, browsing the web, the occasional game, and more. I’ve managed a good 4-5 hours of actual “screen-on” time during the day, and still had enough to make it through an entire work day without reaching for a charger.

Competition

As far as competition goes HTC also has their lower end Windows Phone 8S that still will be plenty for most, but will come at a lower price point due to a slower CPU, less RAM, and a smaller 4-inch screen. It still has the aesthetics we love, and of course Windows Phone 8. Then Nokia — who we can’t forget — will be on the other side of the battle with their impressive Lumia 920 and its slightly larger 4.5-inch HD display. Without mentioning Android or iPhone the Windows Phone 8 platform has a lot to look forward to in terms of competition. Then the Samsung ATIV S with its massive 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED display will surely shake things up.

For those looking for an all around package in this new Windows Phone 8 ecosystem the 8X by HTC is an optimal choice. We’ll reserve full judgement for once we’ve had our hands on the rest of the pack.

Wrap-Up

With the 8X from HTC the Windows Phone platform has a new leader, being called the “signature handset” of Windows Phone 8 — and it delivers just the qualities that Microsoft was looking for. This embodies their OS’ style and design. It’s elegant, sleek, and powerful! Without a doubt the all new Windows Phone 8X by HTC is one of, if not the absolute best WP device we’ve tested to date. Offering the newest OS with it’s sleek new personalized features, an impressive HD display, powerful dual-core performance and more this phone is everything we’ve been waiting for in the world of Windows Phone.

Like mentioned above, HTC faces some stiff competition from the other manufacturers in the game, but with this new device they’ve certainly set the tone for their product line. Windows offers phone users a truly easy to use smartphone experience. Now that they’ve polished up their interface and added more features, Windows Phone finally has the hardware and software requirements to compete with the big players in mobile. We can’t wait to see what else HTC brings to the table, and this is certainly a great start for the new realm of Windows Phone 8. Get the new Windows Phone 8X by HTC from AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon coming in November.

On top of this, the carrier will also be bringing the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, LG Optimus L9, and Google’s Nexus 7. The Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, Lumia 810, Windows Phone 8X, and the Nexus 4 will be available at T-Mobile starting November 14. The Nexus 7 will be coming November 5, and the Optimus L9 will available on October 31.

The Galaxy Note II has been available on T-Mobile for a few days now, but the carrier is putting it in with their holiday lineup, and the same thing goes for Samsung’s flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S III. Both of these devices will be at the forefront of T-Mobile’s offerings along with the aforementioned devices.

Prices for devices start as low as $79.99 for the Optimus L9, and go as high as $369.99 for the Galaxy Note II. T-Mobile is actually selling the Note II $70 higher than other carriers, who are charging only $299 for the 5.5-inch phablet-style smartphone. If you’re in the market for a new device this holiday season, you may want to look into treating yourself with a brand new smartphone.

Qype Deals and Offerum are also contributing offers, with local sorting so that users will be able to sift through cheaper meals, massaging, and the inevitable waxing and hair treatments, that are nearest to them. However, HTC says that there will also be deals on the company’s own products and accessories, though exactly what they’ll be is unclear.

Other sorting options will include popularity, the size of the discount, the price, and when the deal expires. Each can be reviewed, bookmarked, or shared; it’s not clear whether, if you share a deal with a non-HTC Best Deals user, they’ll see the same offer, but it seems likely.

In addition to the 8X and 8S, and the One X+, the HTC One X and One S will also get Best Deals in a subsequent firmware update. HTC hasn’t said when that new firmware will arrive.

At launch, twelve deal providers are involved with the app. HTC says it’s working on adding more to that list, as well as introducing new categories. Partnerships with mobile operators are also on the cards.

The Windows Phone 8X by HTC, for instance, is currently listed at $99.99 with a new, two-year agreement from the same retailer. It’s unactivated, unsubsidized price is the same $599.99, but HTC is obviously being more aggressive than its Finnish counterpart.

At $100, that pits the HTC 8X against Apple’s iPhone 4S, though the iOS smartphone has twice the storage of its 8GB Windows Phone rival. Considering HTC also opted not to give the 8X a memory card slot, instead preserving the unbroken lines of its unibody plastic casing, that could prove to be a considerable limitation, even with Microsoft’s SkyDrive cloud storage push.

The Lumia 920 lacks a microSD slot too, but at least gets 32GB of internal capacity. Best Buy has no listings for the smartphone’s accessories, such as the wireless charging plates, though based on UK pricing we’re not expecting them to come cheaply.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

That “step above” could consist of wireless charging, location-based services, photography under the PureView brand, or something else, but whatever it is it’s over and above the basics of the OS, Elop argues.

Mildly spanking rivals while remaining loyal to Windows Phone overall has become something of a habit for Elop in recent weeks. Speaking to GigaOm earlier this month, he countered suggestions that the rumored Microsoft own-brand Surface Windows Phone 8 might damage Nokia’s prospects.

“I don’t think it changes the relationship” Elop said of Nokia and Microsoft’s partnership, should a Surface phone appear. “It’s incumbent upon us at all points in time to build the world’s most innovative smartphones. Which is what we believe we’ve done, for example, with the Lumia 920. That’s something that’s done based on years and years of work, and years of investment in what makes great mobile devices.”

In fact, Elop is doubtful that Microsoft taking the sudden decision to lead the Windows Phone device parade, Google Nexus-style, would actually work out too well, because it takes significant periods of time to develop compelling features. “The reason the Lumia 920 is standing out so well amongst the competition, one of the reasons is the imaging capability, this low-light photography capability” he points out. “That’s five or six years of work in our labs, engineers doing nothing else but working on that technology. Saying, “oh, this year, we’re going to do our own phone,” doesn’t allow you to do that. You have to make those investments over a period of time.”

Those investments may well expand to encompass a more holistic ecosystem of devices than simple smartphones. Asked about the possibility of tablets or, further afield, TVs and other product lines, Elop was coy on plans but honest about the gap in Nokia’s current portfolio. “We haven’t announced anything specifically, but what I will say is that people in their digital experience expect to be able to move seamlessly between form factors like a phone, a tablet, a television, an automobile, on and on and on. So we’ll participate in different elements of that to a greater or lesser extent.”

Don’t expect a tablet immediately, however, as Nokia focuses on getting a solid start in smartphones. “The ecosystem in which we’re involved, we’ve got to be a part of a world where people are experiencing all of those things. Everything’s got to hang together” the CEO points out. “So yes, there’s a lot of opportunity there.”

Nokia and AT&T announced earlier today that the Lumia 920 would be ranged by the carrier as an exclusive in the US, the second time AT&T has been the sole place to pick up a flagship Lumia Windows Phone. Although rival brands have had great success broadly spreading their devices across multiple networks, Nokia has previously insisted that its strategy of focusing marketing and sales training on one specific carrier has paid dividends as it attempts to reposition itself in the smartphone marketplace.

Ever wonder how much Americans have spent on iPhone repairs? Wonder no longer, because SquareTrade says that we’ve $5.9 billion on repairs since 2007. Samsung once again reiterated its intentions of taking Apple to court over the iPhone 5, while HP announced a range of new ultra-light notebooks today. HP didn’t stop there though, as it also revealed a brand new ENVY desktop, which we have to say looks pretty sleek. Verizon talked about how good its Share Everything plans are during an investors conference today, and the ASUS Padfone 2 might be getting a reveal next month.

Prices for the freshly-revealed HTC 8X and 8S were announced today, and Chinese manufacturer Cube has a new tablet incoming that sports a display similar to Apple’s Retina display. Qualcomm was seen touting its Snapdragon S2 processor today for some reason, and SkullCandy revealed a trio of new gaming headsets. Speaking of gaming, we heard rumors that Half-Life 3 will have open world elements, and were amazed by a new multiplayer trailer for an upcoming game called Cube World. Amazon’s Kindle eReaders and tablets have been banished from the shelves of Walmart, and the all-new ZTE Anthem will soon be heading to MetroPCS complete with 4G LTE capabilities.

Android users were given The Bard’s Tale and Fort Courage today, while the US Senate claimed that Microsoft avoided paying $6.5 billion in taxes over the last three years. Facebook Messenger got an update on Android today, as did the regular Facebook app, and Sony told us why we didn’t see a price cut on existing PS3 models when the company revealed its brand new super-slim console. Microsoft can officially claim another victory over Motorola in Germany, and finally tonight, we have a hands-on with the excellent 10Terra Nexus 7 Bamboo case, which is looking to get funded on Kickstarter right this minute!

That does it for tonight’s Evening Wrap-Up. Enjoy the rest of your night, and join us back here tomorrow as we wrap-up Friday’s news and ring in the weekend!

Retailer Clove has the 8X up for preorder at £399.99 including tax ($648), while the 8S is listed at £224.99 including tax ($364). In contrast, UK sales of the iPhone 5 kick off at £529 ($856), again including tax, while you can pick up a Galaxy S III unlocked and SIM-free for £462 ($748).

UK pricing factors in the not-inconsiderable 20-percent tax rate, and we’d expect both Windows Phones to be cheaper in the US. Still, they’re some ambitious numbers from HTC, and given Windows Phone 8 has an uphill struggle to claw market-share from iOS and Android, undercutting the flagship from both platforms is a sensible strategy.

HTC 8X and 8S hands-on:

It also bodes well for on-contract pricing, though while networks AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile USA have all confirmed they’ll be offering both models (with some LTE flavors too) subsidized numbers aren’t available yet. We’ll know more closer to launch in November.

We grabbed some hands-on playtime with the new phones, so check out our first-impressions of the 8X and of the 8S.

Today was also a pretty big day for the Apple fans out there, as the company officially released the final version of iOS 6, and we were there with the full iOS 6 changelog. A new version of OS X Mountain Lion launched alongside iOS 6 (10.8.2 to be specific), and new benchmarks show that the iPhone 5 is a beast when it comes to browsing. IHS iSuppli says that the 16GB iPhone 5 costs Apple $207 to make, and a Samsung Facebook campaign has been invaded by the pro-Apple crowd. Samsung ultimately got the last laugh though, as it released a new commercial informing the consumers of the world that the best has already arrived.

T-Mobile USA has named John Legere as its new CEO, and he sat down for a hello to everyone on YouTube. AT&T brought its 4G LTE service to 8 new cities today, and ZTE gave us an idea of when it will launch its first phones running Firefox OS. The Samsung Galaxy Note II has been announced for all major US carriers, and US Cellular gave the new device a price tag of $300 and a late-October launch. Earlier in the day, we heard that Google was planning to launch a new update for Google Maps on Android, and sure enough, that update arrived just a few hours later with a couple cool new features in tow.

Tobii and NTT DOCOMO will soon be showing off a new tablet with Tobii’s eye-tracking technology, while the Raspberry Pi’s turbo mode gives it a 50% boost in power. After its two co-founders announced yesterday that they were leaving the games industry, BioWare outlined its plan for the future (spoiler: it includes more Mass Effect and Dragon Age), and Toshiba announced the latest in its line of Camileo camcorders, the rugged BW20. Finally tonight, we have a review of the all new Kindle Fire HD for you to check out – does Amazon’s latest impress or does it fall flat? Read the review to find out!

That’s all for the Evening Wrap-Up, folks. Now go out and enjoy the rest of your night!

The tension has seemingly been prompted by HTC’s deal with Microsoft to brand the 8X and 8S as the “signature Windows Phones.” Microsoft will use HTC’s handsets for its promotional material and advertising around Windows Phone 8, and CEO Steve Ballmer appeared on-stage at today’s event to wax lyrical about how the smartphones embodied the updated platform.

That’s a position many expected Nokia to automatically assume at Microsoft’s right hand, given the Finnish company has entirely committed to Windows Phone and is even paid by the software firm to subsidize development and marketing.

Although HTC has undoubtedly put plenty of effort into the slick designs of the 8X and 8S, the software experience is more off-the-shelf. The company confirmed to us that, bar a homescreen clock Live Tile, there’ll be none of the custom apps or HTC Hub content found on the original HTC Windows Phone 7 models. Nokia, in contrast, has a suite of exclusive apps, including Nokia Music and Nokia Transport.

Those questions are apparently enough to leave Nokia confident that its phones remain ahead of the game. “Happy to add a new Signature to the Windows Phone ecosystem” Weber suggested, “behind the Lumia 920.”

“HTC designed the Windows Phone 8X and 8S to blend the virtual and the physical utilizing a three dimensional, unibody-style based on the Windows Phone Live Tiles” the company said today. “These smartphones are perfectly sculpted with a dramatic taper making them feel thin in your hand.”

Inside, HTC’s engineers stacked up the various circuit boards and components in a multi-layered pyramid. It means there’s no camera bump around the lens on the back, for a start, while the Gorilla glass curves neatly into the plastic casing.

Iconic design behind the Windows Phone 8X and 8S by HTC:

We’ve got more on both phones in our 8X hands-on and our 8S hands-on, and buyers will be able to check the two handsets out for themselves when they hit shelves across the US, Europe and Asia in November.

HTC 8X and 8S hands-on:

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Both phones will be available in LTE versions for the North American market, HTC has already confirmed to us, though we’re guessing that not all three of those carriers will have an LTE device. Similarly, it’s not been announced whether each carrier will range each color combination – both phones have four apiece – or if they’ll each stick to a certain subset.

HTC 8X and 8S hands-on:

Of the two, the 8X will be the more expensive. It has a 4.3-inch 720p Super LCD II display, 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dualcore processor and twin cameras – 8-megapixels on the back, 2.1-megapixels on the front for video calls and 1080p vanity videos – whereas the 8S makes do with a smaller, 4-inch WVGA display, 1GHz dualcore S4 and a single, 5-megapixel camera.

Exact pricing and specific launch dates will follow on closer to commercial availability in a couple of months time, and after all Microsoft has to give Windows Phone 8 its official launch first anyway. Still, expect to see a whole lot more of the two new HTC handsets in the coming months: as “signature” phones they’ll be featuring in Microsoft’s promotional campaigns for the OS.

The 8X also includes Gorilla Glass and an optical lamination touchscreen, 16GB of internal storage (though no microSD card slot), WiFi a/b/g/n, NFC, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, and the usual digital compass, GPS, and other sensors. North America will get LTE versions, while EMEA will get HSPA+/DC-HSDPA models.

Beats Audio branding is, unsurprisingly, included, but the 8X actually accommodates a pair of amplifiers: one for the headphone jack, and another for the phone’s speaker. It’s not the only multimedia boost: the 8-megapixel main camera uses a BSI sensor and HTC’s Image Chip for better processing, and is capable of 1080p Full HD video recording.

Interestingly, the front-facing camera is also able to record 1080p HD, and uses a a special ultra-wide angle 88-degree lens so that it can fit up to four people in-frame simultaneously. That should be useful given Microsoft’s extra emphasis on Skype in Windows Phone 8. Four color variants will be offered: blue, black, red, and yellow, though not all markets will get all color options.

As for the HTC 8S, that will target a more affordable price point, with a smaller display and twin-tone casings in black/white, grey/yellow, red/orange, and blue/purple. It pairs its 1GHz dualcore with 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage and a microSD slot, as well as LTE for North America, and there’s WiFI b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, GPS, and a digital compass.

The camera is a 5-megapixel unit with 720p HD video recording, but there’s unfortunately no front-facing camera which seems a missed opportunity on HTC’s part. Instead, you get Beats Audio branding, though only the DSP and Beats headphones equalizer presets, not the twin amps of the 8X.

Both phones will go on sale in November 2012, with the HTC 8X being snapped up by 126 operators in 50 countries, and the HTC 8S by more than 146 operators in 52 countries. In the UK, Three, Orange, T- Mobile, Vodafone, O2, and Virgin Media will all be offering both handsets, as well as unlocked versions through the usual retailers.

In the US, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon will be offering the phones, while in Europe it will be Vodafone, Orange, and T-Mobile doing the honors. Telstra, Vodafone Australia, Singaport Telecoms, Chunghwa Telecom, Smartone, Optus, and Telecom NZ will be offering the pair in Asia-Pacific.

Check out our hands-on with the HTC 8X and HTC 8S for some first-impressions, and you’ll find all the specifications in the gallery below.

HTC is particularly proud of the design language of its new Windows Phone 8 line-up, based – so the company’s designers say – on the squared-off Live Tiles of the OS’ homescreen, only plumped up and crafted in polycarbonate. Whether or not that convinces you is beside the point; in the hand, the 8X is a solid and tactile shape, legions apart from the bland and bloated lumps that were HTC’s first Windows Phone 7 devices.

The matte-finish plastic – which will be available in blue, black, yellow, and red, though the red won’t be making it to the EMEA – is easily gripped and the curved edges are comfortable to hold. It doesn’t make for a bulky phone, either, though the 8X is arguably reminiscent of Nokia’s own polycarbonate smartphone range, perhaps more in the way the Gorilla glass smoothly meets the bezel.

Whatever the inspiration, it’s a solid and nicely weighted phone. HTC – or more accurately Microsoft – isn’t allowing anybody to dig any further than the Windows Phone 8 homescreen, but that’s enough to give a glowing impression of the 4.3-inch Super LCD II display. At 720p HD resolution it’s crisp, and the viewing angles are great, aided not least by the optical lamination construction of the display stack itself.

Windows Phone 8X by HTC hands-on:

Colors are vivid and blacks (which make up so much of Windows Phone’s UI color scheme) are suitably inky. A bright lockscreen image was the closest we could get to a decent test, which the 8X handled with aplomb. HTC will theme the UI colors according to the handset’s own hue, though that will be user-adjustable if you’d rather have contrast.

HTC’s specifications certainly don’t single the 8X out as the weak cousin of an Android device. Hardware we’re familiar with from the One X make an appearance in a new Windows Phone guise, with NFC, LTE (for North American models, at least; Europe will have to make do with HSPA+/DC-HSDPA for the moment), a 1.5GHz dualcore Snapdragon S4 chipset, and 1GB of RAM. The decision to bypass expandable storage and instead settle on 16GB of fixed internal memory is unpleasantly reminiscent of Microsoft’s initial limitations on Windows Phone, however, and while we understand HTC was loathe to mar the 8X’s sleek lines, it’s hardly a capacious phone for the sort of power user it’s targeted at.

Happily the camera promises to redeem the 8X somewhat, taking a step ahead of what the One X already offers. The main, 8-megapixel backside-illuminated shooter is paired with an f/2.0 lens and HTC’s own Image Chip processing, while the front camera is an impressively pixel-packing 2.1-megapixel BSI CMOS which can also shoot 1080p Full HD video. HTC is particularly proud of its front lens, too, an 88-degree wide-angle example that can fit four people into a vanity shot.

That, along with the Beats Audio tuning that throws not one but two amplifiers at the 8X – one for the boosted headphone jack, the other for the integrated speaker – will have to wait to prove its worth until review samples arrive. If anything, though, HTC has convincingly done its part: delivered an admirable house for Windows Phone 8 to live in. Whether the smartphone – and its 8S sibling – sinks or swims in the marketplace depends on just how good Microsoft’s platform proves to be, and how much heft the software giant puts behind its marketing. At least as the “signature handset” of Windows Phone, the 8X promises to reap the main rewards of the hype machine.