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HTC’s official response to drivergate: buzz off!

Unless you’ve been living under an HTC Advantage for the last couple weeks (you totally could — they’re huge!), you’ve no doubt heard about the uproarious complaints regarding some of HTC’s latest devices and a "driver" issue. We just got an official statement from HTC, and while it’s nice to get a response, we highly doubt it will satisfy the thirst for HTC blood many customers are craving. Away we go!

"HTC is committed to delivering a portfolio of devices that offer a wide variety of communication, connectivity and entertainment functionality.  HTC does not offer dedicated or optimized multimedia devices and can confirm that its Qualcomm MSM7xxx-based devices do not use ATI’s Imageon video acceleration hardware.

HTC believes the overall value of its devices based on their combination of functionality and connectivity exceeds their ability to play or render high-resolution video. These devices do still provide a rich multimedia experience comparable to that of most smartphones and enable a variety of audio and video file formats.

HTC values its customers and the overall online community of mobile device enthusiasts and fans. HTC plans to include video acceleration hardware in future video-centric devices that will enable high-resolution video support."

37 comment(s) for this post.

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  1. On Jan 22, 2008 @ 3:51 pm, Paul Kusiak Said:

    and we get a BS response from HTC *rolls eyes*. they pretty much just told us FU. our devices already do enough so they dont need the drivers, in the future we will give the proper drivers on certain devices. oh well time to eather go class action or use the bounty. looks like the people who said htc are going to add the drivers to a update for the kaiser and other devices to be released within a few months were wrong.

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  2. On Jan 22, 2008 @ 4:00 pm, Dan Said:

    Wow…. I hate my tytn II even more now then ever..

    They basically saying they won’t release em because they wish to milk the chips first for low performance and then later reuse the same chips on a “video centric devices” in other words theyre new units.. pure kaka..

    HTC has obviously become a money grubbing company that really dont give a sh*t about their customers.. That whole statement is a freaking contradiction on its own if you think about it.

    They value their customers yet they saying we wont release an update to make your device perform better.

    Good Job HTC… no one likes you now.

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  3. On Jan 22, 2008 @ 4:39 pm, Jon Briggs Said:

    Im dumping my TyTn II. I will never purchase an HTC product under any name again and will encourage others to do the same i dont care what comes out in the future.

    I wonder if HTC really understands the impact this is having to their customer base.

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  4. On Jan 22, 2008 @ 4:44 pm, RN Said:

    I’m through with HTC and Palm after this. Both companies offer up BS excuses when there are known problems with their devices.

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  5. On Jan 22, 2008 @ 4:48 pm, NuShrike Said:

    WELL, sounds like this will be my first and LAST HTC device since HTC just gave a Palm, Inc. response.

    As soon as E-TEN unbugs their devices, I’m going there.

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  6. On Jan 22, 2008 @ 4:51 pm, Randy Said:

    So HTC are bad guys this month? Wow. How things change…

    Man, is there are a manufacturer that hasn’t let people down?

    Nokia and Samsung have let me down. I’m Tempted to go apple for my next upgrade, but I know they have a spotty record when it comes to addressing problems. Now I have to avoid HTC…

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  7. On Jan 22, 2008 @ 5:11 pm, AJ Said:

    This in the wake that RIM is delaying OS upgrades. Can any manufacturer/carrier get it right?

    Also, was the TytnII/Tilt advertised to have those capabilities?

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  8. On Jan 22, 2008 @ 5:15 pm, Mr Hopkins Said:

    I’m with u randy…too many manufacturers are shitting on consumers nowadays. For me it was Nokia with their slow ass e62 that I’m typing on now that has NEVER recvd a firmware update. And now all the money I saved this winter from bargain shopping(buying cheaper gifts) to save for a TytnII, I guess I’ll have to spend elsewhere. Hmm i might just keep the Nokia and take it to Jacob for a gold makeover. Lol

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  9. On Jan 22, 2008 @ 5:17 pm, nitesmoke Said:

    Apart from not liking windows on my phone, I never like htc because it seems like every model they release is just what the 1 before it was supose to be. I remember seeing the 8125 thinking it was awsome until I saw the battery die, the processor was slow as hell and every new model I expect it to be better, but its always slow. So I stick with RIM.

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  10. On Jan 22, 2008 @ 6:07 pm, Morghus Said:

    That’s preposterous. They’re dumping unfinished products on the market, and refuses to finish them for no stated reason? (although we all know that what they’re trying to say is that they’re milking the market for all it’s worth).

    I like my Dual, and I thought something was wrong with it since a 3 yr old pda’s more efficient. I kept thinking of returning it because it was broke. Now I know it’s not working as well because they’re being assholes.

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  11. On Jan 22, 2008 @ 6:21 pm, steve Said:

    wow. I’ve never posted before but omg! these post are some of the worst I’ve read. there is no company that can totally please everybody and include everything in one phone, sure the technology is there but then everybody would complain about cost. everybody just needs to grow up, use your phone to make calls watch tv on a tv and get a girlfriend and move out of their parents house

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  12. On Jan 22, 2008 @ 7:11 pm, NuShrike Said:

    This is on par with Vista. When you release new products that are inferior (in performance and quality) to the previous products, what do you expect people to do? Bend over and take it?

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  13. On Jan 22, 2008 @ 7:41 pm, thefencechild Said:

    im not the smartest when it comes to law here, but why in hell should people be able to sue over this?

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  14. On Jan 22, 2008 @ 7:42 pm, HTCClassAction.org Said:

    See http://www.HTCClassAction.org/responses.php#official for a response to this statement.

    All in all, it comes down to it not making any sense. Even though they gave this statement (which doesn’t even really say anything much, if you look closely), HTC personnel still says a patch is underway.

    Keep in mind the possibility that this is just a statement to get some of the pressure off the story, while they may still fix this in the upcoming patch (who knows).

    In either case, counting forum, blog and news article responses from IT personnel at big companies, there are currently at least over 1000 TyTN II/Vario III/Tilts on hold from being ordered. Say they make $10 profit on every Kaiser, that’s a $10k loss, which is very likely more than it costs them to release a patch with drivers.

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  15. On Jan 22, 2008 @ 9:13 pm, Vision77 Said:

    I will acknowledge the fact that htc releases some very good devices. But this statement they released is pure arrogance and unfortunately their lack of humility will only lead people like me to spend my hard earned cash elsewhere. We the consumer can make or break you…I hope your company will muster up enough integrity to do the right thing by us.

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  16. On Jan 22, 2008 @ 11:05 pm, thefencechild Said:

    Ok i had already read that site and now have again…. PLEASE some one give me a good reason people can sue for this? I don’t believe anyone has the right to sue for basically not liking the product they bought. Has HTC lied about it maybe? I see nothing of them promising something before you buy it and then go “oops, sorry”. It just seems to me that people bought a phone and it wasn’t as powerful as they hoped. Wooptie crap.

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  17. On Jan 23, 2008 @ 12:09 am, Jeff B. Said:

    OK guys, we can take out any other manufacturer and move them to the “they were good but gave a Palm excuse” pile and that leaves us with a whopping…nobody else to buy cell phones from. So we have to take what we get and hope we don’t get screwed from the manufacturer we choose.

    So we have to stop hating on everybody for the obvious shit excuses and/or shit devices they put out and just buy the coolest sounding thing we can.

    I don’t think this will be my last HTC device since I like it so much but these types of incidents are going to make me more vigilant when I get my next phone.

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  18. On Jan 23, 2008 @ 1:13 am, e-dub Said:

    making me check out the imate even more..

    9502, please come out soon.

    eric b

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  19. On Jan 23, 2008 @ 4:27 am, Mr. Opportunist Said:

    Just as I told everyone on xda-devs….

    FAIL

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  20. On Jan 23, 2008 @ 8:43 am, Steve Said:

    Unfortunately, this is the way the consumer products world works today. Virtually all electronic products ship when they are “good enough”. As a consumer, it is now your responsibility to EXPECT THIS! I own a Tilt, and I wish it performed as fast as I know it can. But I bought it, it’s mine now, and it is what it is (and I happen to love it).

    Technology changes too fast for a company to spend money on making tweaks to a product that’s out the door, and good enough. Yes, that may be a bit short-sighted, but that’s capitalism for ya.

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  21. On Jan 23, 2008 @ 9:36 am, Anton Nilsson Said:

    It’s not over yet.
    This is one rep from one country.

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  22. On Jan 23, 2008 @ 11:26 am, SET Said:

    I do not understand. They are claiming the hardware does not even exist on the device. If this is the case, how can they make a driver for it. Maybe the device is running as best it can?

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  23. On Jan 23, 2008 @ 12:02 pm, Michiel Said:

    Just cancelled my order for a Tytn II.
    Will stick to my old Tytn (I)

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  24. On Jan 23, 2008 @ 1:09 pm, Dizzy33 Said:

    HTC lies ! If you look at their website, you will see they are talking about the video acceleration of the Qualcomm processors … Check this :
    http://www.htc.com/press_room/03-press-070905.htm

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  25. On Jan 23, 2008 @ 1:22 pm, RealityCheck Said:

    I’ve been a software developer for more than 25 years. If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that you can’t please everybody. No matter what, there’s going to be some folks who will never be happy.

    I chose the Tilt after a lot of consideration, and am very happy with my decision. It’s my 3rd HTC phone. If there are users that can’t play their super hi-res, super high frame-rate videos, then perhaps they should consider another device that was designed for that. If you want a perfectly useful phone with a wealth of Windows Mobile applications that work well, consider the Tilt.

    Oh, and I’m also a happy Windows Vista user, go figure…

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