The HTC Desire S certainly has the brains to outsmart its opponents, but it’s hardly lacking in the physical stakes, either. Its all-in-one unibody design gives it the bullet-proof exterior required to do battle with maniacal evil-doers. Join us as we go behind the scenes to report on exactly what makes this Android-based handset such a tough cookie to crack.
A year in the making
You join us as we report live from the 2011 Mobile World Congress, Barcelona. We’re on hand to investigate one of the most gripping stories of the event – the sleek new design of the HTC Desire S. Previously seen on handsets such as the HTC Legend and HTC Desire HD, this innovative aluminium exo-skeleton provides a sturdy suit of armour for the Desire S, ensuring that it can withstand the rigours and wear and tear of a two year contract.
The HTC Legend was the first phone to showcase this groundbreaking feature. Machined out of one solid piece of metal, the phone’s shell boasted improved rigidity and toughness. Because it was sculpted out of one continuous piece of material, there was no need for cumbersome battery covers to break up the sleek lines of the device.
HTC carried over the concept to its big-screen wonder the HTC Desire HD, but the decision to deploy it in the HTC Desire S – the successor to one of the most popular Android handsets of all time, the HTC Desire – shows that the company’s technology has been successfully perfected. As far as HTC is concerned, unibody construction is the way forward, and it’s honed its craft.
Form and function become one
HTC’s chief marketing manager John Wang explains what this smartphone means heroes and heroines everywhere. “The body is the frame, and the frame is the body,” he says. “Form is function and function is form. It’s extremely solid. The top, the side and the bottom are all made from the same piece of metal. When you hold it in your hand, it doesn’t even feel like a phone.”
When cradling the 115 x 59.8 x 11.63mm frame of the HTC Desire S in your trembling palm, it’s hard to disagree with Mr. Wang – the phone feels like nothing you’ve ever experienced before. The premium aluminium finish tells you that you’re dealing with a true smartphone heavyweight – a sleek and attractive handset that can withstand even the most demanding punishment.
Born survivor
Most phones fear contact with solid surfaces, and balk at the thought of sudden impacts, bumps or scrapes. Dropping your average handset onto cold, unfeeling concrete usually results in it splintering into multiple pieces. The HTC Desire S laughs in the face of such tribulations. Because the entire frame is one single piece of material, it can survive the kind of castigation that would have other smartphones holed up in the local infirmary for weeks.
Accessing the battery, SIM card and MicroSD card slots is easy as well – there’s a flap which grants access to all of these features. Rather than being a chink in the HTC Desire S’ armour, this access point is extremely well-protected. The dependable locking mechanism ensures that none of these vulnerable items are exposed to the elements should the HTC Desire S take an unfortunate tumble. The Desire S isn’t quite invincible (what superheroes are?), but it’s the next best thing for peace of mind.
Read more about the HTC Desire S
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