HTC One Android 4.2 update kills the awful menu bar, adds Instagram to BlinkFeed
The long-awaited Android 4.2 update for the HTC One has been slowing making its way around the world over the past week or so, but thanks to Android Central, we now have a good look at what's on tap in it.
Context & Ripple Effects
HTC had already seen the One included in Facebook Home support, making social-service integration a visible part of the handset’s software identity. The addition of Instagram to BlinkFeed extends that approach beyond Facebook’s launcher layer.
The update arrives alongside an 83% year-over-year decline in HTC’s reported second-quarter profit, giving the company a reason to use software maintenance and interface refinement to sustain the flagship’s appeal.
First-order effects
- HTC One owners lose the on-screen menu bar, returning that display area to apps and content.
- Instagram gains a placement in HTC’s BlinkFeed, putting its updates alongside the handset’s existing social and news streams.
Second-order effects
- HTC’s earlier Facebook Home compatibility and BlinkFeed integration make the One’s software experience more dependent on partnerships with major social services rather than Android alone.
- The update gives HTC a concrete post-launch improvement to emphasize as it seeks to support the One while its quarterly profit has fallen sharply.
Third-order effects
- If handset makers keep treating social feeds and interface changes as update features, Android differentiation will increasingly be expressed through OEM software layers and service partnerships rather than hardware specifications alone.
The trend: Android handset makers are using software updates and third-party content integrations to differentiate devices built on the same core platform.