HTC talks 'disruptive' tablet, tentative smartwatch plans

HTC Flyer
New HTC tablets are in the works, despite past failures like the Flyer

HTC has "disruptive" plans for its future device offerings, with new smartwatches and tablets in the works, according to executives.

HTC chairwoman and co-founder Cher Wang and CEO Peter Chou told the Financial Times yesterday that the company will branch out beyond smartphones even as it posted its first ever loss last quarter despite critical praise for the HTC One

Apparently many consumers don't actually care what critics think, as the phone didn't sell terribly well.

Still, HTC isn't eager to jump into anything.

The future is now

That applies especially to wearable tech like smartwatches, an area being explored with mixed results by competitors like Samsung.

Samsung's Galaxy Gear has been met with mixed response so far, and HTC's leaders aren't oblivious to that fact.

"It has to meet a need, otherwise if it's just a gimmick or concept, it's not for people's day-to-day lives. That is an opportunity for us," Chou said of HTC's own smartwatch plans.

"People laughed at us when we came out with the first smartphone… Now everyone has a smartphone. I'm pretty sure wearables will be the same, but don't judge from what is in the market [now]."

Wang added that more HTC tablets are in the works as well, despite HTC's earlier tablets, like the HTC Flyer, not being successful.

"When the tablet comes out it will be something nice and disruptive," Wang said.

TechRadar asked HTC if it has anything more official to share about its tablet and wearables plans, and we'll update this story if we hear anything useful.

Michael Rougeau

Michael Rougeau is a former freelance news writer for TechRadar. Studying at Goldsmiths, University of London, and Northeastern University, Michael has bylines at Kotaku, 1UP, G4, Complex Magazine, Digital Trends, GamesRadar, GameSpot, IFC, Animal New York, @Gamer, Inside the Magic, Comic Book Resources, Zap2It, TabTimes, GameZone, Cheat Code Central, Gameshark, Gameranx, The Industry, Debonair Mag, Kombo, and others.


Micheal also spent time as the Games Editor for Playboy.com, and was the managing editor at GameSpot before becoming an Animal Care Manager for Wags and Walks.