Rumors have been circulating online that HTC is gearing up to introduce a new smartphone lineup dubbed HTC Ocean, in the near future.
According to a rumor courtesy of leakster Evan Blass, the HTC Ocean family of handsets could feature three new smartphones: the Ocean Master, Ocean Smart and Ocean Note. All three alleged devices from HTC could boast Sense Touch.
More cool HTC stuff here (including the tablet that launched @evleaks): https://t.co/S3WaZkeog9
Check it out before it gets pulled! pic.twitter.com/YJwmZb0Sje— Evan Blass (@evleaks) September 20, 2016
Danelle Vermeulen, a designer at HTC also posted a video of the supposed HTC Ocean, featuring the touch-sensitive framework, which enables one to interact with the device. However, she asserted that it was merely a concept.
Now, the folks at Tech Configuration have built on the rumors of the HTC Ocean to bring some impressive looking renders of what the series could look like. The 3D concept shows the Sense Touch in action.
"It seems the HTC Ocean will be the first smartphone to feature Contexual Touch Sensitive Frame Technology, which will eliminate need of any buttons," notes the publication. "Getting inspired from the leaks we have created our first 3D rendering of the HTC Ocean strictly following the design clues from the leaks."
Basically, the HTC Ocean lineup will be the first-ever smartphones to tout the technology, which will negate the need of any physical buttons. A user will be able to simply activate the smartphone with the command "OK Google." Clicking photos or altering the volume on the handset would merely need a touch on the side panel instead of pressing the volume rocker as done on traditional smartphones.
The HTC Ocean series' touch-sensitive frame would bring a new way in which users interact with their smartphones, using swipes rather than pressing a physical button.
The concept renders shared by Tech Configuration show a handset that seems to take inspiration from the company's HTC 10. The renders hint at an edge-to-edge display and a curved screen edges for the HTC Ocean, which boasts a metal body.
The contextual frame gives way to a buttonless design supporting a USB Type-C port, a 3.5 mm jack and two cameras at the rear of the device.
The notion of a smartphone that is entirely buttonless is fascinating to say the least. Tapping into the touch-sensitive capabilities of the smartphone like the HTC Ocean series intends to allegedly do could herald a new era for smartphones.
Check out the video of the concept of the HTC Ocean series.
