HTC Sense is a graphical user interface developed by HTC Corporation for mobile devices running Android, Brew and Windows Mobile.
Based on the TouchFLO 3D design, HTC has referred to HTC Sense as both a user interface in itself and also as a user experience layer on top of TouchFLO 3D.
Announced June 24, 2009, the first phone running Android to feature HTC Sense was the ,and the first Windows Mobile phone to feature HTC Sense (an updated TouchFLO) was the HTC HD2, announced October 6, 2009.
While the Windows Mobile version of Sense is the successor to TouchFLO 3D, with information featured on separate tabs, the Android version presents information through Android desktop widgets and applications, and includes launcher, app drawer, and lock screen replacements.
At the Mobile World Conference 2010, HTC showed their new updated HTC Sense UI to debut, with an upgrade available for the Hero and Magic. The new version is based upon Android 2.1 and has new interface features such as the Friend Stream widget, which aggregates Twitter, information and Leap, which allows access to all the home screens at once.
When the HTC Sensation was released a new and improved HTC Sense 3.0, which added additional new interface elements, including an updated lock screen that allows applications to be pinned directly to it for easier access. The HTC EVO 3D also features Sense 3.0
Two versions of Sense were developed for Android 4.0. Sense 4.0, included on HTC's new devices beginning with the "One" series (such as the HTC ONE X), was designed to provide a refreshed and more minimalist look closer to stock Android than previous versions, whist integrating with the new features provided by Android 4.0. Sense 3.6, which is distributed through updates to older HTC phones, is designed to have a closer resemblance to previous versions of Sense.
Versions
HTC Sense (2009)
- Released on the HTC HERO with a small handful of apps with social capabilities that connected to Facebook and Twitter
- Built atop of Android 1.6 Donut
Sense 2.0 (2010)
- Improved release. Debuted on the HTC Desire and HTC Legend. Upgrades for the HTC Hero and HTC Magic were released.
- Introduced FriendStream and the Leap Feature similar to Mac OS X's Expose
- Built atop of Android 2.1 Eclair
Sense 3.0 (2011)
- Debut on the HTC Sensation
- Updated lockscreen with app shortcuts. Other lockscreen styles include widgets that display content such as weather, photos, etc.
- Introduced HTC Watch, a movie streaming service
- 3D homescreen transition effects when swiping to the next homescreen
- Build atop of Android 2.3 Gingerbread
Sense 3.6 (2012)
- First on the HTC Sensation and HTC Vivid
- Similar to Sense 3.0 but included a new dock in which 4 icons can be placed.
- Built atop Android 4.0 ICS
Sense 4.0 (2012)
- Debut on the HTC ONE X, HTC ONE S, HTC DESIRE C and the HTC ONE V
- Introduced a new home screen with a new way to place widgets.
- Toned down the 3d transitions.
- Lighter and faster than past versions of Sense.
- Built atop Android 4.0 ICS
