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Verizon to unbox new HTC Droid DNA live on Google+

  • Jon Gold (Network World)
  • 12 November, 2012 19:04

Verizon announced today that it is planning a live unboxing of the latest "Droid"-labeled smartphone on Monday, Nov. 19, at noon EST, to be streamed live on Google+. The new device is widely believed to be the HTC Droid DNA, a U.S. version of the Taiwanese company's cutting-edge Butterfly J, currently available only in Japan.

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Verizon's announcement -- which was also made via Google+ -- indicated that the official launch would come one day after the unboxing event, on Nov. 20.

If the rumor mill is correct that the upcoming device is indeed a North American Butterfly J, Verizon will have a powerful new device on its hands. Featuring a full-HD 1920x1080 display, quad-core processor and out-of-the-box Jelly Bean, the rumored Droid DNA could be a truly standout entry in the crowded smartphone market.

Leaks have been coming thick and fast in regard to the Droid DNA, according to mobile blog PhoneDog. Illustrations and leaked benchmarks of the Verizon-branded device have been floating around the Internet for weeks, and the name "Droid DNA" even cropped up on Verizon's own support site briefly, though it's since been pulled down again.

The Droid DNA -- if that's what Verizon is planning to showcase on Monday -- is highly important to HTC as well. The company has been losing market share to rivals like Samsung, whose Galaxy S III was the top-selling smartphone in the world in the third quarter of this year. HTC will have to hope that devices like the just-released One X Plus and -- in all likelihood -- Droid DNA will help it reclaim a leading role in the Android smartphone world.

Email Jon Gold at jgold@nww.com and follow him on Twitter at @NWWJonGold.

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