HTC 8S

UK smartphone retailer Clove, who has been in business for 20 years, now has the HTC 8S in stock and ready for shipment. Available in blue, and priced at just £224, the Windows Phone is an affordable choice for those who wish to move onto Windows Phone 8, but not pay out for flagship models.

Microsoft has previously mentioned that Windows Phone 8 will allow users to install apps from SD cards. The claim's pretty funny. Who needs to install apps from a SD card anyway? We've got the Marketplace, or whatever it's renamed now, and that makes a fine enough source of applications. If anything, we will need the ability to install apps to the SD card, to better utilize the expanded storage property.

But it looks like Microsoft has been serious about it. Here in the company's online Windows Phone 8 FAQ, there's a little chapter instructing you on how to just to that, installing an app in the form of a .xap package from your SD card to the phone.

While the HTC 8S Windows Phone recently passed through the FCC with support for both AT&T and T-Mobile bands, word from HTC is that the 8S won't be heading to the U.S. Market any time soon.

HTC puts it all in a brief statement.

"The Windows Phone 8X by HTC is our signature Windows Phone available at AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless in the U.S. With our focus on the Windows Phone 8X by HTC, the Windows Phone 8S is not currently planned for distribution in the U.S. market."

While the 8S wasn't expected to set the world on fire, it was expected to be an entry level Windows Phone option for those not wanting to invest as much as they would with the HTC 8X. All may not be lost though. We may still see the 8S pop up as an unlocked option through retailers such as Expansys. Plus, "not currently planned" doesn't really slam the door closed on the 8S.

Source: Engadget

We knew the Samsung ATIV S was pushed back to December and now we are learning the at least one retailer is expecting inventory available on December 13th.

Expansys U.K. is expecting the ATIV S due on December 13th at a price of £449.99.  You can find the Samsung ATIV S Expansys listing here.  Additionally, it is our understanding that the HTC 8S will become available through Expansys U.K. on December 5th for £239.99.  The HTC 8S Expansys listing can be found here.

HTC has revealed a number of Black Friday deals on its HTC 8X Windows Phone across supporting US carriers. The HTC 8X has gone on sale at top networks in the states with both T-Mobile and AT&T pushing the device. The deals listed by HTC show dates and locations that are offering said offers.

The HTC 8S, though widely praised as exceptionally designed, has been MIA ever since the Windows Phone 8 launch a few weeks back. Rumor that we heard was HTC was finishing up a few last details to the software and may even had some early issues to fix before release. Regardless, it was just a matter of time before that mid-range device sees the light of day.

The Lumia 920, Lumia 820 have joined HTC's 8X and 8S Windows Phones over at the M1 Shop. The mobile phone retailer will provide an option for those residing in Singapore to make the purchase with the choice of four high quality Windows Phone 8 handsets. 

The HTC 8S has passed through the FCC, and it's revealed that the Windows Phone 8 handset will support both T-Mobile US and AT&T HSPA bands. While this is not to say other carriers wont pick up the device at a later point, it confirms availability for consumers who are with either network.

The Dutch Windows Phone website has revealed something interesting. Orange and green versions of the HTC 8S.

We've seen the 8S in yellow, black/white, red, and blue but could this be an indication that more colors are headed to the HTC 8S rainbow? We haven't seen any new colors added to the various pre-order listings such as the one over at Expansys.

The green version is growing on me, but what do you think? Do the green or orange colors appeal to you more than the blue, yellow or black/white versions?

Thanks, Mark, for the tip!