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Hardly the most media-centric handset on the market, the HTC Explorer incorporates the standard Android music player and video playback options, yet in a bid to keep costs low, and as an indication of the handset's priorities, is one of the very few devices on the market today that doesn't come boxed with even a low grade pair of plastic in-ear headphones.
Ticking off the now essential and universally expected MP3 player capabilities, the standardised Android music player is located on the central app menu, with those keen to use the HTC Explorer for its musical charms also able to benefit from a dedicated home screen widget.
Offering more efficient access to tracks for quick audio playback at will, the music player widget is further enhanced by album art inclusions and a simple, easy to use touchscreen controls layout.
With the standard collection of MP3, WAV, MP4 and WMV file types supported, consumers looking to use the HTC Explorer for audio or video absorption will need to splash out on a large capacity microSD card, since the woeful 90MB of internal storage will hold virtually no content.
Although a dedicated video player is available and the HTC Explorer proves comfortable in the hand when holding it for media consumption, the handset's less than impressive TFT display means any video playback is viewed with a certain level of disinterest and a lack of vibrancy.
As standard on all Android-filled Google-based handsets, YouTube is integrated via a dedicated and pre-installed application to provide further video viewing options.
Failing to impress when used for either audio or video playback, the HTC Explorer's inbuilt speakers are lacking in depth, pumping out hugely tinny, almost robotic and synthesized tones that do away with any well rounded notes at the outer limits of the audio spectrum.
On a more sedate side of the handset's media abilities, and the time-consuming experience proving troublesome and tiresome. Editing options extend to cropping and rotating.
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