HTC First, AKA the Facebook Phone, leaked ahead of special event

By Andy Boxall April 3, 2013

Check out our review of the HTC First Facebook phone.

The saga of the Facebook Phone looks set to come to an end this week, and as the event gets closer so more details on what the social network will announce emerges. We’ve heard a little about the software already, and now it’s time for more about the phone. The image you see above has been leaked through the Twitter account @evleaks, and as you can see features a phone called the HTC First, which is believed to be the retail name of the Myst/Opera.

If this is the Facebook Phone, which isn’t known for sure at this stage, and it shares the same specifications as those leaked for the HTC Myst, then the screen will measure 4.3-inches and have a 720p resolution, while a dual-core processor will power the device. A 5-megapixel camera has also been rumored, but the star of the show – hopefully, at least – will be the Facebook Home software built over the top of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

HTC has long been associated with the Facebook phone project, but this is the first time we’ve seen a rendered picture of the phone it’ll supposedly be releasing. The rendered image combined with the relatively basic specification suggests the First will be priced very competitively. A subsequent leak showing the HTC First in a variety of colors – red, white and a fetching sky blue – backs up the theory HTC intends to promote the device to younger Facebook users.

Will Facebook reveal the HTC First alongside its Facebook Home software this Thursday? Don’t forget, CEO Mark Zuckerberg has repeatedly said the company isn’t interested in hardware, so it may decide to leave the phone’s reveal to HTC and concentrate on its software during the event. Facebook’s gathering starts at 10am PT on April 4 at its California headquarters, and we’ll bring you all the news as it happens.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Facebook

Senior Mobile Writer

Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…

Mobile

Best Verizon Fios new customer deals: Get 2GB/s internet in your home

Fios TV Package

Whether you surf the web for work or you subscribe to one of the best live TV streaming services, the experience can be made better with blazing fast internet. Fiber optic internet service is the future, and with Verizon Fios you can get some of the fastest internet service around. This service would pair well with any of the best TVs and home theater setups, but it’s also something to consider if you're into online gamine or do work that requires large file uploads and downloads. We’re currently seeing some of the lowest prices on Fios home internet deals we’ve ever seen, with Verizon putting some super impressive deals out there. We’ve rounded up all of the best Verizon Fios deals available right now, including Verizon new customer deals, and they include low monthly costs, waived setup charges, and a number of freebies like Target gift cards.
2 Gigabit Verizon Fios connection -- $85 per month + free extras
One of the fastest internet speeds you can get, and the fastest speed that Verizon offers, this is the sort of subscription you should grab if all the members of your family are essentially watching 4k content all the time. It's also great for those who want to host their own media server to share with friends or family while not impacting anybody else in the home. You also get a lot of great freebies included here, such as the choice of either a $300 Target gift card or a $350 value Samsung Chromebook Go, which is admittedly an entry-level device, but it's not bad to use for just streaming content. On top of that, you can choose between 2TB of Verizon cloud storage and 12 months of Disney+ with no ads or a MoCA Ethernet Adapter for gaming and a $50 Xbox eGift Card. You could also get both of these if you add an extra $10/month, although it's probably not worth it at that point.

1 Gigabit Verizon Fios connection -- $65 per month + free extras
If the super-fast speeds aren't necessarily needed, especially if you're in a smaller household without too many folks watching content, then the 1 Gigabit version is the way to go. It is $20 cheaper, so it's a lot of money that you're saving over the course of the year, and you still get quite a few extra benefits, even at this level. You get to choose either a $200 Target gift card or the same sort of Samsung Chromebook Go that's worth $350 that's great for streaming content. You also get a similar choice as the 2 Gigabit connection, which includes either 2TB of Verizon cloud storage and six months of Disney+ without ads, or a MoCA Ethernet Adapter for gaming and a $50 Xbox eGift Card.

Mobile

Google fumbled what could have been its biggest product in years

A person holding the Ray-Ban Meta smartglasses.

What is one of the hottest, most interesting mobile devices around at the moment? It’s Ray-Ban Meta, smart glasses that not only look great but work really well too.

They’re suitably incognito yet still highly functional, giving you a reason to wear them all the time if the mood takes you. Plus, they have AI -- the big feature beloved by tech firms at the moment -- built right in. So, where was Google’s competitor at Google I/O?
A tease and nothing more
Google's concept smart glasses circled Google

Mobile

WhatsApp: how to use bold, italics, and strikethrough in your messages

How to format text in WhatsApp

WhatsApp offers many features that traditional SMS or iMessage don't. Besides free-of-cost messaging or calling services without geographical restrictions, all of its functionality is available across platforms without discrimination based on your operating system or its web client. To highlight parts of any message, you can also use special formatting — a feature that is rare among messaging apps.