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| name = HTC Rhyme
| logo =
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| available = <!-- Country {{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD}} (Carrier) -->
| discontinued = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| predecessor =
| successor =
| related = [[HTC Desire S]], [[HTC ThunderBolt]]
| type = Smartphone
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| weight = 130 g
| os = [[Android (operating system)|Android]] 2.3.4 (upgradable to Android 4.0)<ref name=aandme-4.0/>
| cpu = 1 GHz [[Qualcomm Snapdragon]] MSM8655
| gpu = [[Adreno]] 205
| memory = 768 [[megabyte|MB]] RAM
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The '''HTC Rhyme''' is a [[multi-touch]], [[Slate phone|slate]]-format [[Android (operating system)|Android 2.3]] [[smartphone]] designed and produced by [[HTC]]. The Rhyme was released in the United States exclusively by [[Verizon Wireless]] on September 22, 2011, with releases in Asia and Europe beginning in October 2011. The Rhyme is a mid-range smartphone, distinguished by its use of an updated [[HTC Sense|HTC Sense 3.5]] user experience, and a selection of bundled accessories; such as a charging dock, wireless speakers, and an [[Light-emitting diode|LED]] "[[Charm bracelet|charm]]" that can be used as a notification light. While it was not explicitly marketed as such by HTC (who referred to it as a "lifestyle" phone), the Rhyme was primarily developed and targeted towards women.
The Rhyme received favorable reviews for its performance, robust physical design, and a cleaner user interface in comparison to past HTC phones, along with its accessories. However, the Rhyme's overall specifications were panned by some for being too low-end in comparison to other recently released smartphones, or for being too similar to the [[HTC Desire S]].
==Development and release==
In May 2011, the technology blog [[The Verge (website)|This Is My Next]] learned that HTC was holding focus groups with women in their 20s and 30s regarding a new, female-oriented smartphone codenamed "Bliss", which would be released by Verizon Wireless by the end of the year. Leaked details from the groups indicated that the phone would have a "calming" [[sea green]] color scheme with a design resembling a cross between the [[HTC Desire S|Desire S]] and [[HTC Desire Z|Desire Z]], and be pre-loaded with [[calorie]] counting and comparison shopping apps. Details also emerged about accessories that would be bundled with the Bliss, such as a speaker designed to be attached to a car's [[sun visor]], a speaker dock for charging, and an LED "charm" attachment that could be used to provide notifications.<ref name=verge-blissrumor>{{cite web|title=HTC Bliss: a Verizon Android phone for women?|date=4 May 2011|url=https://www.theverge.com/2011/05/04/htc-bliss-verizon-android-phone-for-women/|publisher=The Verge|access-date=28 January 2013|archive-date=16 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616061333/http://www.theverge.com/2011/05/04/htc-bliss-verizon-android-phone-for-women/|url-status=live}}</ref> Photos of the device's hardware and software leaked on a Chinese website in August 2011, revealing a new version of [[HTC Sense]] with updated widgets and a streamlined home screen layout.<ref name=engadget-bliss35>{{cite web|title=HTC Sense 3.5 beta screenshots leak, bring tears of joy to weather widget lovers|url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/08/25/htc-sense-3-5-beta-screenshots-leak-bring-tears-of-joy-to-weath/|publisher=Engadget|access-date=28 January 2013|archive-date=15 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130315102540/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/25/htc-sense-3-5-beta-screenshots-leak-bring-tears-of-joy-to-weath/|url-status=live}}</ref>
On September 19, 2011, the final version of the device, now known as the HTC Rhyme, was leaked by a [[pre-order]] advertisement from [[Target Corporation|TargetMobile]]. A Target PR representative stated that the Rhyme would become available in-store on September 29, 2011.<ref name=ac-rhymerelease>{{cite web|title=HTC officially announces the Rhyme for Verizon, Europe, Asia|url=http://www.androidcentral.com/target-mobile-aka-radio-shack-plans-verizon-htc-rhyme-presale-sept-21|publisher=Android Central|access-date=28 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130326090254/http://www.androidcentral.com/target-mobile-aka-radio-shack-plans-verizon-htc-rhyme-presale-sept-21|archive-date=26 March 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=engadget-blisstarget>{{cite web|title=HTC Rhyme preorders said to begin September 22, Plum-colored exclusive at Target? (updated)|url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/09/20/htc-rhyme-preorders-said-to-begin-september-22-plum-colored-exc/|publisher=Engadget|access-date=28 January 2013|archive-date=30 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130101702/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/20/htc-rhyme-preorders-said-to-begin-september-22-plum-colored-exc/|url-status=live}}</ref> HTC officially unveiled the Rhyme during a press event the following day, and also confirmed that it would be released exclusively by [[O2 (United Kingdom)|O2]] in the United Kingdom on October 17, 2011.<ref name=tr-rhymeunveiled>{{cite web|title=HTC Rhyme unveiled with light-emitting cube|date=20 September 2011|url=http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/htc-rhyme-unveiled-with-light-emitting-cube-1028105|publisher=TechRadar|access-date=28 January 2013|archive-date=27 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627085003/http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/htc-rhyme-unveiled-with-light-emitting-cube-1028105|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Features==
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==Reception==
[[File:HTC Desire S.jpg|right|thumb|Critics panned the Rhyme for being too similar to the [[HTC Desire S]] (pictured)]]
The HTC Rhyme received mostly positive reviews. The performance of its 1 GHz single-core processor was considered responsive, but some reviewers encountered occasional lag when launching applications. The updated Sense 3.5 interface was praised for its cleaner home screen layout in comparison to other HTC phones, and its new ability to add and remove pages from the screen—but Engadget's Lydia Leavitt still criticized the Rhyme for containing too many miscellaneous HTC apps and widgets alongside Verizon's "[[Pre-
The Rhyme's accessories were met with mixed reviews. CNET considered the included dock and accompanying functionality to be a "nice extra", but that the charm was an accessory that only some people would actually use. For pricing reasons, it was also suggested that a version of the Rhyme without the accessories included should have been offered as well. Engadget considered the charm to be a "glorified girly [[notification LED]]" that was difficult to see in sunlight and hard to attach to purses due to its "inflexible" clip. Its earbuds were also criticized for their poor fit, and their "scratchy and downright embarrassing" audio quality. However, TechRadar considered the charm to be useful, primarily because "it can often be a little difficult to wrench a phone out of a bag in time to catch the call."<ref name=cnet-rhyme/><ref name=tr-review/><ref name=engadget-htcrhyme/>
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