They're in a very sticky situation right now, and I don't really know what they can do. I mean even if they came out with the best phone of the year, I'm not sure if anybody would pay attention. The low light camera and occasional heat are really the only problems with the current flagship, so address that definitely. Figure out a way to keep BoomSound, but update the look on the front. I personally like the look of the front because it's different than the solid glass fronts of 99% of phones out there. But I don't think others feel the same. The backs of their phones are still some of the best looking to me, and that includes most of the Desire phones. I think if they can update the front in an interesting way, that might help.1080 is fine with me, but apparently we're at a point in Android where 2k or 4k is gonna be a necessity on flagships I guess.
Their releases are kind of all over the place. They do need focus there. M9, M9 +, M8s. Why do the need all these honestly? I'd say the M series, M series+, and maybe 2 Desire (1 low, 1 mid) phones are al they need. There's too much variation all across different regions that doesn't make sense.
Finally, I'm not sure about the rest of the world, but HTC really has no presence in the US market. What marketing they have is crappy, carriers don't care about pushing HTC either. The M7 and M8 were two of the best reviewed Android devices of the release years. Nobody really paid attention. They need some kind of big marketing push. Something new though. Not just commercials. Uh-Oh needs an even bigger push. It's one of the only things that differentiates themselves from other OEMs.
I agree with most of what you said. Starting with the marketing, they really have to do a much better job IMO ... what specifically, idk. I'm not privy to their information, nor do I get paid to be in their marketing department, but they need to do a better job.
I also think they need to define their brand. I'll take Moto as an example. Unfortunately for HTC, they don't have a Lenovo backing them, so they don't have the cash, or the time to be as patient. That said, Moto has a clear vision and a direction. I don't think HTC needs to reinvent the wheel, but they should trim down their models to 3 or 4 per year, and consider a direct to consumer distribution strategy.
As far as the actual phone, I agree that they certainly need to make changes. Unfortunately my personal preference, and yours, might not equate into what's best for HTC. For instance, I don't think any phone should have anything greater than 1080p for the obvious reasons, but at least people in the US that judge a phone from the 3 bullet points on the display might think otherwise. I also think they should cater to the 4.7" crowd and fill that hole that so many people hope to see filled by a phone with flagship specs. At the same time, make a 5.5" version for the phablet people. And to distinguish themselves, use the biggest battery possible. They'll never compete with Samsung and LG in the camera department, but there's room for a smaller display with high end specs, and there definitely room for a flagship that'll last 24 hours.
Finally, I'd agree with the boomsound IF they remove the black bar. I've seen so many HTC owners defend it, but the truth is, people are turned off by it. Personally I didn't look past it, and after seeing @evleaks version I had planned on getting one, but once I saw the black bar on the M9 my decision was made.
Not sure if they even do all that, they'll even survive. I think it's gonna take an Asus or another company to take over in order for them to succeed. But they definitely need to take more of a Moto approach than a Samsung or Apple.