Shortages of Samsung’s AMOLED display have finally forced HTC to change supplier and display technology.  HTC has finally made an official announcement that the HTC Desire and global Nexus One will both be equipped with SONY’s new SLCD screens which feature VSPEC III technology. 

The new screens should offer a better experience for customers since SLCD should reduce power consumption and increase display performance when viewed in direct sunlight.  We expect HTC to make the change in production immediately, though we don’t know how long it will be before the handsets with the SLCD displays will show up in the marketplace. 

Surprisingly, HTC’s press release made no mention of the HTC Incredible, which has been struggling with supply shortages due to the Samsung AMOLED display ever since it went on sale two months ago.  We’re hoping to hear back from HTC shortly so we’ll be sure to keep you posted if we get an update from them. 

UPDATE: We just heard back from HTC in regards to our inquiry on the DROID Incredible.

Because amoled supply is being relieved on other models, we currently feel we can meet demand of droid incredible with amoled screens. Of course we may need to change our minds and add sLCD screen models should demand continue to remain high.

HTC officially moving to SLCD displays for the Nexus One and HTC Desire

HTC Introduces SLCD Display Technology To Its Portfolio

New Displays to be integrated into HTC Desire and Nexus One

Taoyuan, TAIWAN – July 26, 2010 – HTC Corporation, a global designer of smartphones, today introduced Super LCD display (SLCD) technology into a variety of HTC phones including the HTC Desire and global Nexus One later this summer. The SLCD display offers an exceptional natural balanced colour, clear contrast, broad viewing angles and improved power efficiency.

“HTC is experiencing high-demand for many of our phones, specifically our phones with 3.7 inch displays. The new SLCD display technology enables us to ramp up our production capabilities quickly to meet the high-demand,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. “The SLCD displays provide consumers with a comparable visual experience to HTC’s current 3.7 inch displays with some additional benefits including battery performance.”

SLCD is the latest generation of LCD technology that offers improved performance from earlier LCD panels including approximately five times better power management. SLCDs also offer an enhanced viewing experience with wider viewing angles that are enabled by Sony’s new VSPEC III™ technology.

About HTC

HTC Corporation (HTC) is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile phone industry. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC creates innovative smartphones that better serve the lives and needs of individuals. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.

We’ve been promised Android 2.2 for all of HTC’s 2010 phones, but if you’re looking to get your hands on Froyo a little early and happen to own an HTC Desire, we’re happy to announce that Android 2.2 has landed. The new build from udK_dev is mixed in with HTC Sense, offering a pretty complete build of Google’s latest Android treat. Keep in mind that in order to install udK_dev ‘s Froyo ROM you will need to have root access on your HTC Desire. If you’re not really convinced you want to undergo the rooting process and the hassle of flashing a new ROM that’s not officially supported by HTC, we would also like to point out that udK_dev has managed to bake in 720p video recording as well. For more details and step-by-step instructions on how to install the ROM, hit up the source link below.

ROM highlights

• Android 2.2 Froyo (FRF-85B)
• Kernel 2.6.32.15
• New Radio 32.41.00.32U_5.08.00.04
• New Base v2.04
• 720p Video recorder
• Native APP2SD
• App Sharing
• Car Panel
• Plurk
• Torcia
• Wi-Fi Hotspot

Source: XDA-Developers

Froyo may have just hit the Nexus One, but HTC is already working hard to bring Google’s latest treat to a few of their other phones.  HTC has informed Recombu that they are already working on porting their HTC Sense UI to Android 2.2 and have plans on releasing it for the HTC Desire, Legend, and Wildfire in Q3.  We have already heard that HTC had plans to release Google’s latest build of Android to the HTC EVO and DROID Incredible during the summer.  HTC Hero owners are still in the dark about a Froyo update and many are still waiting to get their hands on Éclair. 

We are working hard with our partners to update the HTC Sense experience on Froyo and distribute it to our customers as fast as possible. We expect to release updates for several of our 2010 models including Desire, Legend and Wildfire beginning in Q3.

Keep in mind that “beginning in Q3” does not indicate that HTC’s Froyo rollout will be starting any day.  The vague timing reference gives HTC a lot of leeway and will hopfully help them avoid the HTC Hero update fiasco. 

Source: Recombu

While we knew that the launch of the HTC Desire on US Cellular has been delayed by Samsung’s inability to produce their 3.7” AMOLED displays quick enough, HTC has just announced that the HTC Desire will be hitting the U.S. market sometime in August.  Until now, we only thought that the phone would be heading to US Cellular, but HTC’s email announcement indicated that the phone could be showing up at other regional operators as well.  The announcement is short and simple, not giving any details on which other carriers would be stocking the phone later this summer, but it’s clear that the HTC Desire will not be coming to any of the big four.  At this point, most customers on the larger networks who were looking for something like the HTC Desire have probably already picked up the DROID Incredible, Nexus One, or the recently launched HTC EVO 4G. 

Just wanted to let you know that the HTC Desire will be coming to the US via select regional operators beginning this August. The operators will have more specific details on the device (pricing, specifications, etc.) as we get closer to availability, but I can tell you that it will feature the same 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and Android 2.1 with HTC Sense that has proven so popular on the international version of HTC Desire.

The HTC Hero has already been well received by customers in regional markets, and the HTC Desire represents the next step for HTC in bringing the power of Android and the usability of HTC Sense to even more consumers across the country.  We’ll continue to keep you posted as we get closer to availability.

Those of you hoping to get your hands on the HTC Desire in North America will need to start packing their bags and heading north. Canadian service provider Telus will be the first to offer the HTC Desire on this side of the Atlantic. Telus’ version of the desire will be named HTC Triumph. Don’t worry though, that looks to be the only thing that Telus has tinkered with. The Telus HTC triumph will feature all the same specs at the HTC Desire and should be available before the end of July.

Source: MobileSyrup

Probably one of the most notable features of Android is the ability to download apps from the Android Market.  Simply select the Market icon and you’ll be treated to nearly 40,000 applications to choose from.    However, things aren’t so simply if you just picked up the HTC Legend or the Desire.  You still have access to the Android Market, but many of your favorite apps are most likely most visible to you.  Apparently, Google has not updated their ROM database for the Android Market which dictates which phones can see paid and copy-protected apps.  Google uses the database to limit market access to handset in countries that are not yet set up for paid apps, but until Google adds the HTC Desire and Legend to the database, your shiny new phone will be limited to the apps not marked with copy-protection.  It’s unclear if this issue is affecting all versions of the two handsets or a specific subset from a certain carrier over in Europe, but we’re hoping the issue won’t last for too much longer. 

Source: Androinica

If you’re living in the UK, you can most likely walk over to your closest T-Mobile store and pick to the HTC Desire with no issues.  HTC is expected to launch it on other carriers within a couple weeks as well.  But what if you simply want an unlocked phone?  Retailers were expecting to get their shipments from HTC this week, but word on the street is that delivery has been delayed.  Clove is reporting that HTC has postponed delivery of the unlocked HTC Desire to April 13^th.  Apparently, the delay affects all retails that plan on socking the HTC Desire.  The HTC Legend is already in stock at Clove and other online retailers.  We’re not sure if HTC is simply having distribution issues or is prioritizing where the handsets go.   At the moment, all we know is that we have to wait at least one more week before we can purchase an unlocked HTC Desire.  Let the waiting continue….

Source: Clove Technology

Last week, we got our first glimpse of the gray/silver HTC Desire that’s heading to BelCompany in the Netherlands.  This morning we woke up to find a link to a video that shows off an all black version of the Desire courtesy of AndroidSuomi.fi

Right now, we don’t have any details to do with the video, though it looks like HTC will be rolling out several different colors of the HTC Desire as the phone is released on multiple carriers across Europe.  Maybe HTC should simply make the Desire a little more like the HTC Tattoo.  Customers could choose between a rainbow of available colors and then go a step further and add their own customizations, names, pictures, or logos.  I’m waiting for an all white HTC Desire with Silver accents.  How about you?