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HTC launches Desire Eye smartphone and RE camera

By James Lu - on 9 Oct 2014, 4:45am

HTC Launches Desire Eye smartphone and RE Camera

HTC unveiled two new devices in New York today, both aimed at photography enthusiasts. The HTC Desire Eye smartphone features 13MP rear and front-facing cameras and is loaded with software to help you take better pictures, while the RE Camera is a new tube-like 16MP camera designed for quickly taking high-resolution snap shots and video.

HTC Desire Eye

HTC is the latest manufacturer to jump on the 'selfie camera' bandwagon with the HTC Desire Eye, a 5.2-inch Full HD smartphone boasting 13MP rear and front-facing cameras, and powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 2.3GHz processor. The rear camera on the Desire Eye is fitted with an f/2.0, 28mm lens, while the front camera has an f/2.2 22mm lens. Both cameras are equipped with back-illuminated BSI sensors for more accurate autofocus in low-light conditions, as well as dual-LED warm/cold flash.

Build-wise, the Desire Eye has a unibody plastic build, and is IP7 water resistant.

To complement the Desire Eye's hardware, HTC is also launching a new software called Eye Experience. The software is a suite of functionality tools designed to help you take better pictures and videos. For example, the Split Capture function will combine simultaneous photos and videos taken on the front and back cameras into one split-screen image or video, allowing you to simultaneously shoot pictures and document your reaction to the view at the same time.

You can also insert yourself into the picture with the Crop-Me-In function, which crops the image taken from the front-facing camera and positions you into the scene captured by the rear-camera.

Other new features include voice-activated commands (just say "cheese") and Live Makeup that can show you skin smoothing effects in real-time before the image is captured.

Along with the Desire Eye, the Eye Experience app will also be rolling out  in the coming months to the following HTC smartphones: HTC One (M7), HTC One (M8), HTC One E8, HTC One mini, HTC One mini 2, HTC One max, HTC Desire 816, HTC Desire 820 and HTC Butterfly 2.

The HTC Desire Eye is expected to launch worldwide later this month.

HTC RE

HTC's other new product is a bit of a departure from the company's usual portfolio. The RE camera is a periscope-like cylindrical tube camera with a large grip topped by a 16MP 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor with a 146 degree ultra wide angle f/2.8 lens. The device measures 96.7 x 26.5mm and weighs 65.5g, making it approximately the same size and weight as a small portable power bank. It has a built-in grip sensor that activates it as soon as it is picked up, eliminating the need for a power button. A single, large shutter button captures photos with a single tap or records videos with a longer press. On the front of the device a second button lets you activate video recording options like time-lapse. Storage-wise, the RE's micro-SD card slot supports cards up to 128GB, and an 8GB micro-SD card will also be included. 

The RE has an 820mAh battery, recharged through a micro-USB port in the base. According to HTC, the camera can take 1,200 16MP pictures on one complete charge, or 1 hour and 40 minutes of continuous Full HD recording.

The RE doesn't have its own viewfinder, and HTC says that this is because "for the moments that really matter, you want to be at the heart of the action, not peering through a lens." You can however sync RE to your smartphone and use its display as a viewfinder. Interestingly, the RE app will be compatible with all Android 4.3 or better devices, as well as all iOS 7 or above devices.

HTC is aiming RE as a action-camera of sorts and it is IP57 rated against dust and water, letting it be fully submerged in 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes without damage. A variety of accessories, including a dedicated bike mount will also be available.

RE will be released in four colors: orange, teal, blue and white later this month in the U.S. with other markets to follow.

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