Windows 8 is edging closer to release with major tablet manufacturers scrambling to get in on the action in order to ship slates running an ARM version of Windows for the very first time. That is, except for HTC, who might not be quite so lucky after sources familiar with the matter...

Last week HTC published a list of phones that will receive an update to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with a projected completion date of late August 2012. This is not a very encouraging prospect considering Google officially introduced ICS last October. Also because Android's next major revision codenamed “Jelly Bean” will be close to release by then.

But this is not an issue with HTC phones exclusively. In fact, Ice Cream Sandwich is more the exception rather than the rule on Android devices across the board. There’s a total of four smartphones shipping with the OS preloaded, just over a dozen with upgrades available, and more than 30 on the “coming soon” list.

The One X is HTC's new flagship Android smartphone, the kind of phone that just leaves you breathless. Its single-piece polycarbonate body is unique in the Android world, and it is as comfortable to hold as it is drop dead gorgeous. The X's 720p resolution touchscreen display is just as attractive and functional as it is expansive, measuring 4.7 inches across the diagonal.

The One X's two marquee features, however, are likely its Android 4 OS with the new Sense 4 user interface and the phone's powerful Tegra 3 processor. The real world impact of a quad-core processor might be negligible for most tasks, but there's no denying that the marketing appeal it offers is great.

The Titan is HTC's latest range-topping Windows Phone 7 handset. It certainly lives up to its name, being titanic in size and sporting a huge 4.7-inch display. Couple this with a 1.5GHz processor, an 8 megapixel camera, and the latest version of Windows Phone 7.5 "Mango" and you've got yourself a recipe for one heck of a handset.

Not only is the Titan's display the largest that HTC has put on a phone, but it's also the largest display you'll find on any Windows Phone 7 handset. With its narrow form factor and tricked-out camera, the overall package is certainly worth a look.