Gadgetory

hi this is Brian Bennett for cnet com and i've got a treat for you today android fans here in my hands is the HTC One Google Play edition essentially it flaunts all the premium style of the standard HTC One but instead of HTC Sense UI layered over Android this phone runs clean and adulterated android for got to to jellybean that's currently the most recent version of Google's mobile software even better google says at the HTC One Google Play edition gpe for short qualifies as a true nexus class handset that means it will be first in line to receive fresh Android updates as they roll out just like other Nexus phones this all sounds pretty sweet but the HTC One GPE will cost a lot of dough up front 599 dollars to be exact google plans to sell the device directly through its google play store and the phone should hit shelves by july 9th so what does all this cash net you first you get oodles of premium design and build quality courtesy of the HTC one's now-iconic all aluminum chassis what's really different here though is the software this phone runs with the freshest version of Android jelly bean yet the 1g PE has a clean simple interface that's nimble and responsive there's no carrier bloatware dodgy third-party apps anywhere to be found either to be clear though you do miss out on all the slick innovations in HTC sense such as the Zoe share and video highlight camera features the TV remote app that uses the ones IR blaster and useful weather and messaging notifications blinkfeed has gone to but I doubt its absence will cause a riot the jelly bean camera app isn't that bare bones it features an HDR mode a number of scene modes manual white balance and exposure controls all in an arc shape you I you also have the photosphere feature which such as images into 360° panoramas plus an ordinary horizontal panorama mode google says that the unlocked HTC One GPE which runs on gsm cellular networks will accept SIM cards from t-mobile and AT&T it is also designed to grab 4G LTE signals if available I'm Brian Bennett for cnet.com and this has been a first look at the HTC One Google Play edition is it the ultimate combination of smartphone hardware and software be sure to check back soon for a full review