HTC President Jason Mackenzie has taken to tweeting to reaffirm his position that his company would deliver on his promise to send Android 4.3 to global HTC One smartphones by September 30. And to that end, unlocked HTC One 4G Android handsets should now have access to the over the air download. If you are the owner of an unlocked HTC One smartphone, check your notifications and you will be able to download the Android Jelly Bean 4.3 OS update. There are still a couple of days left for that operating system boost to hit carrier-based HTC One models, but that is likely not to occur until October.
The Verizon HTC One can be purchased at a reduced sale price starting at $49.99.
Mackenzie had promised the update to all HTC One smartphones, regardless of carrier, back in August. It appears the September 30 deadline will pass without most carrier sponsored HTC One handsets receiving the boost which includes camera upgrades, several Sense 5 improvements, and overall stability boosts. Though HTC One owners from Verizon, Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile will probably be bummed that the OS improvement has not yet reached their handset, Android operating system releases have traditionally been an unreliable affair.
Having said that, the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean arrival is imminent, so if you own one of the powerful handsets, don’t fret. You can also check your notifications every few days, and then follow the screen prompts to download the transfer when it is available. Just remember to always have a full battery charge before downloading an operating system upgrade. Some of the more essential features that the official Android 4.3 Jelly Bean firmware delivers are new radios, several minor bug fixes and the ability of video highlights to support feature soundtracks. Improved color contrast when using the camera in low light environments is also on board.
The update has begun in Taiwan and is moving westward, and includes an OpenGL ES 3.0 upgrade for more realistic 3D graphics rendering, as well as more efficient dial pad capabilities with auto complete. A Bluetooth Low Energy application is on board which will help conserve power, and compatibility with any Bluetooth Smart accessories is also offered. Android 4.3 should also deliver Wi-Fi only location scanning, better keyboarding text input, and faster switching from the lock screen on your HTC One 4G smartphone.
As handset owners of Verizon can attest, that company is usually the last to roll out any operating system upgrade, and there is no reason to believe that will not be the case this time. However, with HTC most probably missing their self-imposed deadline of September 30 with this operating system update, you can expect your carrier to roll out Jelly Bean 4.3 as soon as possible. Remember to create a backup of any personal settings and data you have on your HTC One smartphone before attempting a download, and you will experience fewer headaches if you are connected to a stable Wi-Fi connection.
The Verizon HTC One can be purchased at a discounted price tag now starting at $49.99.
