[Lollipop UPDATE!] The (formerly) better One

Lollipop UPDATE - how about it?
HTC has released some time ago Android 5.0.2 for the One E8. On this occasion, I have rewritten this review, draw comparisons with 4.4.2 and want to report on how the E8 has beaten in the past three months with me.

Purchase decision - why E8?
For me, it has become the E8, as I am not interested in a metal case and it would rather have a decent camera, which is why I have taken distance from the M8 One. The One M9 here would indeed have been a compromise, but the costs (as of April 2015) more than twice as much as the One E8. Judging by the significant new features for the user I consider this extra cost for inappropriate, which is why I have unhesitatingly resorted to E8.

The test first glance - how robust is the E8?
The E8 is (unfortunately) not a chameleon, so it shines with me still in Polar White. From the splendor of the first unpacking but the majority is now gone. The polished surface has now to hundreds of micro-scratches and also some deeper grooves. Various crashes has the E8 but survived unscathed, making it far ahead of the aluminum colleagues who carry quirks already at the slightest impact.
The build quality meets now to no longer completely - over time the housing has apparently warped so voids are created and the unit is now regularly heard creaks (even with regular use).
Otherwise, the design still knows how to please.

Handling & Display
The size is for a 5 "device still undeniably above average, one but really used to it. Even the top-mounted home button no longer bother after a while. The E8 combines still very good grip on, can be generally easily operated with one hand and convinces with a very balanced weight.
When display I have to complain that now a dirt has found its way between the glass and panel - which can be seen only if you're looking through a magnifying glass then. I noticed it when replacing the screen protector.
Other than that I like the display is still very good - with the Lollipop update even a little better, because HTC has apparently bolted to the calibration. The colors really now more natural and balanced, not so transferred and contrived as previously KitKat. Sharpness, white point and black levels remain good.

Power & Performance - brings the lollipop a boost?
Like the One M8 the E8 uses the Snapdragon 801 with 2.3GHz core clock, combined with 2GB of memory. The Lollipop update Google has some tweaking under the hood made that will make Android more smoothly and faster. Among other things, the runtime was by default switched to ART, in addition were made, inter alia, with Volta Project Improvements to the efficiency.
Has done something? Oh yes, that was it - but nothing good. The E8 scored earlier with an excellent performance, from which, after upgrading to 5.0.2 is not much to feel. The system freezes or even crashes constantly a whole from the RAM management is catastrophic and all fall on stuttering and exceptionally long load times. The many new animations give the OS also a tough touch, similar to Windows Phone.
While these problems could certainly be resolved in a bugfix update, with HTC's update policy is likely, however, be such a long time coming.

HTC Sense
Although there is an update of the sense launcher was in the run that brought the look of one's M9 to E8, and the lock screen after Lollipop update received a new layout, the new version is still running with Sense 6.0. If an update is carried out on 7 Sense, HTC is not known on demand. The new theme engine that brings the new launcher with them is pure gimmick 7 without a corresponding sense and provides no added value for the rest of the system, but it brings confusion rather. The design is thus also no longer conclusive. I personally use now another launcher.
At the optic has otherwise done with Lollipop not much, the animations and transitions have been adapted to the guidelines of Google's content design, color scheme and layout are largely the same. The system font has been revised and is now to read a little more pleasant.
Another new feature is the option to switch to the multitasking view between Google's map-based view and HTC's 3x3 grid. With HTC's new variant is that the menu is now Page-based and can therefore be different from so far show more than just the last 9 used apps. This change was sorely needed, but I personally prefer the original view of Google.
The new Notification center is no longer two-sided, but arranged to overlap. Incoming notifications are now also displayed as full message at the top of the screen and can be either open or rejected directly. In addition, let incoming notifications prioritize and set up appropriate profiles.
After Lollipop update I have personally found that the reliability of Motion Launch has suffered somewhat. The E8 now often not respond to my input.

Battery - there was physical conditioning?
Since I already have the E8 few charging cycles, the runtime is optimized or a little. With regular use (50% social media, 15% Music / Video, 15% productivity apps, 10% Photography, 5% 5% Games & phone) offers 2,600 mAh power cell enough juice for about 1.5 days ago. The active life with display moves depending on the utilization of the hardware still between 5 to 8 hours.
After Lollipop update the battery life is unchanged at my unit. Since the endurance at a high level is, that's not so bad, but with all the optimizations that should offer lollipop, I would have at least hoped for here a small improvement. The charging time is also unchanged, but still good.

Connectivity
After Lollipop update me a bug noticed that affects the reception: Namely, LTE can not select in the settings. It can be, however, more than a detour again activate. For this purpose, open the Phone app and enter the following combination on the keypad: * # * # 4636 # * # * - This will open a device's own test menu. Here in "Phone Information" and tap "Select your preferred network type" point to scroll. In underlying drop down menu then can activate various settings - recommended here is the setting GSM / WCDMA / LTE car actually "is not intended" Please otherwise modify any other parameters, since access to this menu by the end user. ".

We continue with the review: the reception with the E8 remains good with me. I have so far failed where all other devices a signal partly in corners. The WLAN has such a wide reach, that I (! Usable) have on my car park 50 meters from the house is still receiving. Nevertheless, there is a shortcoming with the Lollipop update: the range is very high, often the connections but do not function. Phase manner, a second by second basis alternating between WLAN and 3G watch, during which the Internet is not working. Also in general, the response times are considerably longer and make mobile surfing an ordeal.
The GPS still works very reliably and precisely, the E8 is regularly its use as a navigation device. When used in the vehicle to me a deteriorated stability and link quality of the Bluetooth connection was misbehaving since Lollipop update however.
NFC could work more precise in my experience, often the devices can not find or require several attempts before a connection is made.

Acoustics
During a telephone conversation, the E8 convinced with rich, full, and especially natural sound. My interlocutors are always pleasant to hear and properly understood. In the background noise or no noise can be heard.
About taste can not be known to argue over one however: HTC has with Boom sound simply the best smartphone speakers on the market. Voluminous, strong, loud and clear echoes the music from the stereo front speakers. Especially voices are reproduced in extremely natural, which is why the E8 is ideal for film and Serienjunkies. Even at the highest volume, the sound tends not even begin to distort. An excellent performance.
A bit of a shame is the fact that the equalizer has dropped the boom Sound victim. This allows the sound to customize in any way. During the boom sound setting is indeed good for the genre Dance and Electro, go other music genres in the "bathtub characteristic" slightly below.
The output from the headphone jack is also extremely loud - too loud for my taste. At the highest volume no longer listening pleasure is possible because the sound blaring so that a pain eardrums. For the sake of health, I recommend therefore moderate volume.

Camera
The biggest criticism of the One M8: the Ultra pixel camera. HTC waived the E8 to same and instead it uses a classic 13-megapixel sensor without unnecessary gimmicks with second lens or this kind. The Lollipop update HTC has seemingly turned a few screws, because the results of the camera can no longer convince quite after the update.
The already well-known from the M8 One problem with the incorrect exposure occurs now at E8 on reinforced. Dynamic range is worse than before, either bright areas greatly outshines or dark areas too contrasty. The HDR mode helps here though, but it needs some seconds for a photo and thus robbed of all camera snapshot capability, which is otherwise given due to low shutter lag well.
An image sharpness and detail resolution, nothing has changed, they are still good.
Weaker light images still exhibit the same noise, but which still falls within the ambit. In very dark conditions, the camera may be denied, however, completely: the residual light is no longer used, the picture remains largely black. Other devices provide significantly more here.
The manual mode has been preserved fortunately: exposure value, exposure, ISO and focus can be fully regulated by hand, only the shutter may be (their design for a smartphone camera) does not vary.
For video recording, however, the E8 can not fully convince even after the update. Video recordings are very fluid, the motion sharpness is very high. However, when shooting video, it can be seen that the E8 does not have image stabilization. For this offers the Cam a 60 fps mode and the ability to record slow motion video at 120 fps. In the latter, it is a pity that the video is completely stored in slow motion. Sequential selection is not possible, also the sound is missing. This can eg iPhone 5S and Xperia Z3 better.
A special feature is the fact that the basic settings of all camera modes can be set by the user. Who, for example, want to take pictures in manual mode by default, can set this as the default mode. Even individual parameters can be saved as a profile and easily accessed.

New conclusion:
Under the Lollipop update many good features of the E8 have suffered. Especially in performance and camera that are for me personally with the most important aspect of a smartphone, significant concessions were made. So I am rather annoyed by the E8 currently less than enthusiastic. The lame performance and no longer as compelling photos disappoint, the problems with the Internet connection are also not in a modern smartphone unacceptable. Battery, display and acoustics are otherwise continue at the highest level.

Currently convinced me that unfortunately E8 not as much as at the beginning or with the KitKat firmware. A downgrade is not possible to my knowledge, so I am forced, the E8 subtract a star. If HTC timely replacement delivery an update and correct the issues that I rate the whole happy again. To date, however, I can only advise you to take into account the criticisms in a purchase decision.