Ron Amadeo

Ron Amadeo

Ron Amadeo

Ron Amadeo

Ron Amadeo

Ron Amadeo

Ron Amadeo

Ron Amadeo

Ron Amadeo

NEW YORK CITY—HTC has announced the HTC One M8... again. This time, though, it runs Windows Phone and is a Verizon-exclusive called the "HTC One M8 for Windows." HTC is the first OEM to take advantage of changes in Windows Phone 8.1 that allow for OS-agnostic smartphones, allowing (Verizon) customers to pick their hardware first and software—Windows Phone or Android—second.

We aren't glossing over any details here, either; the hardware is exactly the same as the Android version. That means you get all the good stuff from the HTC One M8: a 5-inch, 1080p LCD, a 2.36GHz Snapdragon 801, 2GB of RAM, a 2600mAh battery, and massive BoomSound speakers, all wrapped in an aluminum shell.

You get the not-so-good stuff from the original One M8, too. The device is huge for something with a 5-inch screen. The speakers add an extra set of bezels to the top and bottom of the device, and along with a strip below the screen dedicated just to the HTC logo, the device is easily the biggest 5-inch phone out there.

Double tapping on the screen will wake up the device, just like the Android version. That's good news, because the top-mounted power button is almost impossible to hit on a device this large.

HTC's questionable "UltraPixel with Duo Camera" system is still here, too. The main camera uses a 4MP sensor, and there's an entire extra rear camera to apply a fake depth-of-field effect to pictures. The M8 was one of the first Android phones with this feature, but it was immediately replicated by Google, Samsung, and everyone else in software, making HTC's additional camera look a little silly. We didn't find it very compelling in the Android version, but it's easy to ignore.

Some video hands-on time with Ron and the HTC One M8 for Windows.

HTC has also included a custom camera app called "HTC Camera." It looks a lot like the Android version, with a full-screen mode switcher consisting of big circles on a black background. The Duo Camera system is always on and allows you to blur a photo or add other effects in the editor.

HTC is the first manufacturer to enter the wild new world of OS-agnostic smartphones enabled by Windows Phone 8.1. With the new update, the OS gained the ability to use on-screen navigation buttons, just like Android. That, along with Microsoft's enhanced hardware support in 8.1, means OEMs could finally build devices that aren't tied to a specific OS. Just build something with a screen, and the proprietary buttons can be added in software.

The move is a good one for Microsoft's OS. With single-digit market share, OEMs are not eager to produce custom Windows Phone hardware. Through Nokia, nearly all Windows Phone hardware is made by Microsoft itself. With the changes to Windows Phone 8.1, though, turning a current Android flagship into a Windows Phone has never been easier. If you're the OEM, just slap on some new software.

The M8 for Windows even works with HTC's Dot View case, thanks to new APIs in Windows 8.1 Update. The Dot View Case is full of little holes and displays the time and weather through the holes when the case is closed. Cortana even works without opening the case.

As for availability, the HTC One M8 for Windows is a Verizon exclusive. It goes on sale today at verizonwireless.com for $99 on a two-year contract and will hit store shelves tomorrow.

Listing image by Ron Amadeo