HTC's Button-less Phone Just A Concept For Now
Veteran mobile news leaker Evan Blass (known as @evleaks on Twitter) hinted that HTC could well be introducing a completely button-less phone called HTC Ocean which would be controlled simply by taps and swipes .
He shared a video put up by longtime HTC designer Danelle Vermeulen, perhaps accidentally, on her personal website, showcasing the concept with its key features.
Vermeulen has since issued a clarifying statement saying that its "just a conceptual piece and does not represent any real product from HTC." But many still think that it could indicate the future design aesthetics for HTC phone. After all, most of the other concepts present in her website are of real products.
The video which is now password-protected on Vermeulen's site but available on Blass's feed, highlights a new feature called "Sense Touch" which allows users to touch the phone's edge to control various phone functions, doing away with buttons entirely.
Other than this touch feature, the functions of the phone rely mostly on voice commands including tasks like opening apps, calling friends or playing music.
The fact that the video is now password-only access has resulted in speculations that the idea is actually beyond just a pet project of the designer or a pitch idea.
If this does come into fruition, HTC Ocean would offer a nifty change in terms of both aesthetics and UI . Several industry watchers have pointed out its similarity to Google's HTC-made Pixel phone, while many thought that perhaps it would be introduced to upcoming flagship phone HTC 11.
But with Vermeulen's denial, those ideas may have to be laid to rest. HTC has refused to comment on the issue. Fans are now looking forward to the launch of Pixel at Google's press event on Oct. 4.
More cool HTC stuff here (including the tablet that launched @evleaks): https://t.co/S3WaZkeog9
Check it out before it gets pulled! pic.twitter.com/YJwmZb0Sje— Evan Blass (@evleaks) September 20, 2016
