Owners of the HTC Rhyme and its charming ways should be on the lookout over the next couple of days for an update to build number 2.20.605.13. It’s not Ice Cream Sandwich, which this device was at one time expected to be updated to, but it does remove a bunch of bloatware. In fact, that’s all it does is remove bloatware – MOD, VOD, and V CAST.

The update is 10.1MB in size.

More info.

HTC Rhyme Set to Receive Minor Update to 2.20.605.13 is a post from: Droid Life

HTC posted a timeline for Ice Cream Sandwich rollouts some time over the last few days on their support pages and it includes more details than we have seen to date. The HTC Rezound and Rhyme will see Android 4.0 in either June or July, Thunderbolt in July or August, and the Incredible 2 is now up-in-the-air as to whether or not it will see it. Previously, the Incredible 2 was listed as a device on the upgrade list, so this is a new development. If you own one of HTC’s tablets, you are stuck on Honeycomb. 

In this new support page, HTC mentions that all of these devices will see Sense 3.6 with Android 4.0.3 rather than the newly released Sense 4.0 that comes loaded on the HTC One Series. They claim that Sense 4.0 needs specific dedicated hardware which none of these older devices contains. They expect to finish rolling out ICS updates by the end of August.

Via:  HTC

Cheers Steve and Eric!

HTC Rezound to Receive Ice Cream Sandwich in June-July, Thunderbolt in July-August, Incredible 2 Status Up in the Air is a post from: Droid Life

The HTC Rhyme should see Ice Cream Sandwich at some point – both Verizon and HTC confirmed that – however, this is not it. This would be a small bug fixer as we wait as patiently as possible for that to arrive. In this update to build 2.20.605.3, Rhyme owners will see some minor changes to their docking experience, a 5-bar signal strength meter, and some other overall experience enhancers. Again, nothing major, but someone you will want to grab as it becomes available.

The update is 67.8MB in size. More info.

HTC Rhyme Update 2.20.605.3 is Ready – Dock Features Tweaked, Signal Strength Indicator Updated, and More is a post from: Droid Life

Verizon has been silent for the most part when it comes to Ice Cream Sandwich updates for their lineup of Android devices. Many of the OEMs that they deal with have informed us in one way or another, but we were waiting for Big Red to make some things official since they sign off on final software. Their list is now public and is as follows.

For HTC devices, we will see Android 4.0 on the Thunderbolt, Incredible 2, Rhyme and Rezound. Sorry original Incredible owners. For Motorola devices we will see it on the XOOM, Bionic, RAZR, RAZR MAXX, DROID 4 and XYBOARD tablets. Sorry DROID X, DROID X2, and DROID 3 owners. For Samsung devices it looks like only the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and 7.7 will see it. No DROID Charge. From LG, only the Spectrum will receive ICS.

Sooo, quite a few devices missing including a couple that should have more than enough power under the hood to run Android 4.0.

Update:  Yes, I see that it says “4G LTE devices currently scheduled” in the press release which has led many to believe that this is simply a 4G LTE only list and that some 3G devices were specifically left out. I’m having a hard time following that logic since the Incredible 2 and Rhyme were also listed and are 3G-only phones. Also, the DROID Charge which is 4G LTE, is left off. This is an assumption of course, but I would tend to lean towards this list being pretty complete.

No dates were given.

Ice Cream Sandwich Coming to Many Verizon Wireless Smartphones

03/06/2012

Verizon Wireless will deliver a tasty treat to many smartphone and tablet customers this year – Android™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS).

It’s a frozen snack that many in the Android community have been eager to try since ICS launched in December 2011 on the Galaxy™ Nexus™ by Samsung. The redesigned user interface includes many cool enhancements, including upgraded multitasking capabilities, notifications and Web browsing.

Wondering if your device will receive Ice Cream Sandwich? Here’s a list of Verizon Wireless 4G LTE devices currently scheduled to be upgraded.

HTC:

• HTC ThunderBolt™
• DROID Incredible 2 by HTC
• HTC Rhyme™
• HTC Rezound™

Motorola:

• Motorola XOOM
• DROID BIONIC™
• DROID RAZR™
• DROID RAZR™ MAXX™ DROID 4 DROID XYBOARD 8.2
• DROID XYBOARD 10.1

Samsung:

• Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1
• Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 7.7

LG:

• Spectrum™ by LG

We will continue to update this list as additional details become available throughout the year. Also, follow @VZWNews on Twitter for additional upgrade announcements.

Verizon Releases List of Phones to Get Ice Cream Sandwich Updates is a post from: Droid Life

Oh you thought HTC was going to leave you out Thunderbolt owners? OK truthfully, we did too. But that has all changed! According to their official Facebook page, not only will the Thunderbolt see Ice Cream Sandwich, but so will the Rhyme and Incredible 2. Yessir, HTC doin’ big thangs.

No timeframe for release was given, but they have confirmed that upgrades “are planned.” 

Via:  Facebook

Cheers Ryan!

HTC: Thunderbolt, Incredible 2 and Rhyme Will All Receive Ice Cream Sandwich is a post from: Droid Life

If you purchased the HTC Rhyme, feel free to jump into Settings>System updates to see if a surprise is waiting for you. According to our friends at Verizon, an update was made available last night to address a number of security issues. With HTC taking some heat over the last month over privacy concerns, this is a good thing.

The update is only 8.89MB and will bring your phone to build 1.26.605.11.

Pretty version of the changelog after the break.  

More info.

Cheers ___!

HTC Rhyme Update Available Now, Filled With Security Patches is a post from: Droid Life

Verizon kicked off one of the more interesting promos we have seen in a while today through their Facebook page. They are offering up to a 50% off discount of the HTC Rhyme depending on the number of “Likes” they receive. The deal will run for 6 days and if they land 2000+ “Likes” by then, anyone interested in the device will be able to grab it for half the normal price. They are calling it the “Group Buy.” Pretty cool idea, right?

Facebook Link

Cheers Jon!

Verizon Offering Up to 50% Off the HTC Rhyme Through Facebook, More “Likes” the Bigger the Discount is a post from: Droid Life

Click here to view the embedded video.

Two of Verizon’s newest devices – HTC Rhyme and Pantech Breakout – received their standard video overviews this morning.  The Rhyme walks through some of HTC’s new Sense 3.5, the accessory pack for the phone, how easily it takes pictures of bikers, and reminds you to always ignore calls from work.

The Breakout video takes you into a world of pure dance and social awesomeness.  If you need a phone that is hot in the break dancing scene, then look no further than the Breakout.  It’s also amazing at finding rooftop parties, sending texts to your crew, and bringing the “cool.”  I can’t believe I just typed all of that with a semi-straight face.   

Click here to view the embedded video.

HTC Rhyme and Pantech Breakout Receive Video Overviews is a post from: Droid Life

The glowing charm phone aka the HTC Rhyme, is now available at Verizon for $199 on 2-year contract.  Clearly geared towards women, this phone comes with its own docking station, tangle-free earbuds, and snazzy charm notifier to let you know when you have an incoming call.  The specs won’t blow your mind, but they aren’t supposed to.  It’s all about style and function with this phone – a semi-bold new concept from any phone manufacturer.

Oh, and check out this new commercial that just went live.  It’s…well, I don’t want to spoil it and will just ask that you watch it yourselves.   

Click here to view the embedded video.

Buy.

Cheers Cody!

HTC Rhyme Now Available From Verizon, Six-Armed Woman Included is a post from: Droid Life

The HTC Rhyme will land on Verizon store shelves this Thursday as one of the more female-friendly phones we have ever seen.  It’s a mid-range phone for the most part, but HTC assured all of us that the goal here was to focus on style and functionality rather than next-gen specs.  After you take a look at the wallpapers included, you’ll quickly realize that they weren’t messing around.  These might be some of the best we have seen from a phone in a long time.  

Download:  RhymeGoodies.zip  (boot animation, wallpapers and ringtones)

Some sample wallpapers:

Cheers Legion!

Download: HTC Rhyme Wallpapers, Ringtones and Boot Animation is a post from: Droid Life

Last week, the media file (wallpapers, ringtones, etc.) was pulled from an HTC Vigor RUU and given to the Android community to enjoy.  This weekend thanks to JoelZ9614 and Football, the full RUU for it (Rezound?) and the HTC Rhyme (Bliss) leaked which means Sense 3.5 ROMs from these devices will be here in no time.  Both files are well over 400MB, so if you want them, prepare to wait a while as the download links below are surely getting hammered at this very moment.

Download:  Bliss | Vigor

If you aren’t familiar with unpacking RUUs, hang tight, and someone will complete the task before long.

XDA:  Bliss | Vigor

Cheers Smokeey and suprafreak1000!

RUUs for Both the HTC Vigor and Bliss on Verizon Leak is a post from: Droid Life

In addition to the free 2GB of storage that users receive when signing up for popular cloud storage service Dropbox, owners of new HTC Sense 3.5 devices – like the Rhyme – will get an additional 3GB for free. There are a variety of cloud services tied to other operating systems and phones, so this newly formed partnership between Dropbox and HTC simply makes sense.  While it’s not the 25GB that Windows Phone 7 users get with Skydrive, it’s at least a step in the right direction.  Our lives are revolving more and more around cloud storage these days; it’s about time an Android phone manufacturer did something on this front.

And not that we have confirmation on this, but it’s pretty unlikely that older phones like the Thunderbolt or Incredible 2 will receive this added bonus or Sense 3.5.  HTC definitely hasn’t show that it is the type of company to work backwards with its Sense skin.  The funny thing is, Sense 3.5 is clearly able to run on lower-end phones (single-core processor, 768MB of RAM, etc), but will likely only see it on new phones going forward.

Via:  Pocket Lint

New HTC Sense 3.5 Devices Like the Rhyme Will Receive Bonus 3GB of Dropbox Storage is a post from: Droid Life

A pre-order for the HTC Rhyme is starting exclusively at Target on September 21, but HTC just announced that it’s actually going to be available in stores on September 29, next Thursday.  The device, sporting a 3.7″ WVGA display, single-core 1GHz processor, 5MP rear camera, front camera for video chatting and Sense 3.5 can be had for $199 on a new 2-year contract.  Seems steep for a single-core phone without 4G LTE?  Well, HTC is throwing in a docking station, charm indicator, and tangle-free earbuds into the box, three accessories that would normally run you upwards of $50.  No Beats by Dre integration and possibly a non-removable battery – interesting.

For a whole bunch of videos and pictures, hit the jump.  

Fancy unveiling video:

Click here to view the embedded video.

All about design:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Accessory lineup:

Click here to view the embedded video.

It has a really nice camera:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Lastly, from the words of HTC themselves:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Gallery:

HTC UNVEILS HTC RHYME™, AN ELEGANT NEW PHONE EXPERIENCE

HTC Rhyme integrates sleek new design, a refreshed HTC Sense™ experience and a family of integrated accessories with advanced smartphone features
HTC Rhyme to be available globally in October; exclusively in the U.S. from Verizon Wireless in the coming weeks

NEW YORK CITY – September 20, 2011 – HTC Corporation, a global designer of mobile devices, today unveiled HTC Rhyme™, a new kind of phone created for people who require advanced features but want a phone that is sleek and fits seamlessly into their lives. The result is the elegant HTC Rhyme that delivers a fresh approach of integrating distinct colors, HTC Sense™ and complementary accessories for a natural personal experience.

“HTC Rhyme represents an entirely new approach, based on recognition that there is a substantial group of consumers who want their phones to be more personal and complimentary to every moment of their day,” said Scott Croyle, vice president of design, HTC Corporation. “HTC Rhyme is focused on delivering this through a fresh new style and experience that includes a family of innovative accessories like the HTC Rhyme Charm and Docking Station that are meant to naturally integrate into people’s lives.”

Sleek, Fresh and Stylish
HTC Rhyme offers a smart, elegant unibody design with every detail carefully crafted to deliver a unique sensory experience. The materials, the curves, and the dimensions are all designed to feel great in your hand, without sacrificing advanced features. HTC Rhyme comes in three colors: Clearwater, Hourglass and Plum, the color Verizon Wireless will be offering in the U.S.

“The HTC Rhyme is an exciting new approach to the mobile lifestyle that integrates hardware, software and accessories in a unique way,” said Marni Walden, vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless. “We believe this clean, intuitive experience and signature design is a testament to HTC’s ability to interpret what customers have said they want in a mobile device. We are thrilled to offer the HTC Rhyme exclusively on the nation’s largest, most reliable network.”

HTC Sense
HTC Rhyme is not only defined by its soft, simple design and distinct color scheme but by the refreshed HTC Sense experience. This unique twist on HTC Sense carries over the visual language of the hardware design and includes an all-new home screen that provides a clean and uncluttered way to interact with the essentials. The home screen enables quick, uncluttered previews of your appointments, messages or whatever is important to you. HTC selected custom wallpapers to offer a variety of original art to complement the HTC Rhyme experience.

With a beautiful 3.7-inch WVGA, super LCD display and high-quality stereo sound, HTC Rhyme also offers advanced imaging capabilities that begin with its 5-megapixel camera that includes auto focus, power LED flash and instant shutter for capturing those memorable moments whenever they arrive. In addition, the camera features a number of photo-taking and sharing elements, including face detection, which ensures that friends are always in focus, action burst scene, which automatically takes five consecutive shots of a scene, and panoramic mode, which lets users stitch several photos for those larger-than-life views. The HTC Rhyme’s locked home screen can be customized to display the most important content, making it quick and easy to see social updates, photos, snapping a photo or the weather forecast by simply turning on the display.

HTC Rhyme makes entertainment come to life through HTC Watch, which features a wide selection of movies and TV shows that can be downloaded for instant viewing.

Integrated Accessories
HTC Rhyme’s suite of accessories is designed with the same sensory focus in both function and style. Created to help you experience HTC Rhyme as a natural part of your life, the integrated accessories make your phone more personal than ever before.

· HTC Rhyme Docking Station – The Docking Station simultaneously recharges the phone while turning the Rhyme into an alarm clock and music center so you can wake to your favorite songs played directly from the built-in Bluetooth capable speakers.

· HTC Rhyme Charm – The Charm is an innovative approach for discretely alerting you to incoming calls or messages while the HTC Rhyme is deep in your bag. The Charm is a small light-emitting cube that attaches to the phone by a cord that can dangle from your bag and also be used to quickly pull the phone out of your bag. It also makes it easy to find your phone buried in your cluttered purse or backpack.

· HTC Rhyme Sports Armband – The Sports Armband allows you to work out in style while keeping your apps and music close to you.

· HTC Rhyme Tangle Free Headphones – The Tangle Free Headphones take the hassle out of listening to your favorite music.

· HTC Rhyme Bluetooth® Headset – The wireless headset follows the same design cues as the phone itself and enables for easy hands free use.

· HTC Rhyme Bluetooth® Car Speaker – The wireless speaker clips onto sun visor in your car for easy and safe driving.

Availability
HTC Rhyme will be available in the coming weeks in the United States, exclusively with Verizon Wireless, and across Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific in October. In the U.S., the Docking Station, Tangle Free Headphones and Charm will be included in the box.

About HTC
HTC Corporation (HTC) is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile phone industry. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC creates innovative devices that better serve the lives and needs of individuals. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.

HTC Rhyme Officially Announced, Headed Exclusively to Verizon on September 29 is a post from: Droid Life

Itching to get the latest on the HTC Rhyme before it is announced in NYC tomorrow?  Feel free to cruise on over to Verizon’s website and sign-up now.  The device will go on sale this Thursday with its charm notifier, plum color scheme, and Sense 3.5.

Cheers @0mie!

HTC Rhyme Sign-up Page is Live is a post from: Droid Life

The HTC Rhyme (formerly known as the Bliss) will be available for pre-order at indirect Target outlets this Wednesday, September 21.  The device, which is clearly being targeted at women, will come in “plum” instead of that awful chewed-seaweed green that we once saw it in.  It will have the fancy little charm dangly thingy so that you will know when your phone is ringing or has just received a message while in your purse.  There will be “tangle free” headphones tossed in and a new-school docking station that we have not seen for any other HTC device in the past.

Update:  We initially thought this would just go out to indirect Verizon stores, but after seeing the sign-up page go live just minutes ago, we are now thinking this will be a much bigger release.

The specs won’t blow you away, but aren’t awful:  3.7″ display, front and rear cameras, and Android 2.3. Pre-orders will begin on Wednesday the 21st for $50 and there is a better-than-average chance of announcement for the phone at tomorrow’s HTC event in NYC.  The colors of the press invitation certainly would lead us to believe it’s going down.  

All other information regarding the pre-order along with details on the dock, charm and headphones can be found below.

Cheers J!

HTC Rhyme in Plum Available for Pre-order at Target September 21, Illuminating Charm Included is a post from: Droid Life