Reviews - The HTC HD2: Windows Mobile?s last hurrah

[HEXUS]

HTC gets the best it can out of Windows Mobile before moving on to Android.

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[Skinleech]

From what I've read Windows Mobile 7 (or whatever they have decided to name it now) will not be made available on the HD2 as it has too many buttons... WinMo7 requires 3 buttons, and one of these must be a search button, so the HD2 doesn't fit the specs, despite the fact it clearly has the grunt to run it.

[[GSV]Trig]

Latest WM6.5.x builds solve a lot of the initial issues I had with the HD2, and with a bit of tweaking (HD2Tweak) the screen sensitivity etc can be tweaked to the user preference..

WM7 will end up on the HD2 regardless of its button config, remapping them to suit the "search" button.

Custom ROM's are the way forward with WM devices and have been for ages, my old dell Axim is happily running WM6 as is my old HTC Wizard 200..

[666moe666]

Bit late on the review guys, it's been out for more than a few months now =P

But yeah. Windows mobile is this phones downfall. I've had a brief go on a HTC Desire and found it much more preferable to use to my HD2.

[TheAnimus]

This phone is kind of windows mobile swan song, and reviewed so many months after launch it really does show how shockingly behind this current gen.

That said as an owner of one, the screen is brilliant, the browsing is faster, better rendered than any other device on the market, with such loverly high res you can easily read things too. It really is a good device, if you have any legacy winmo code, then it so easily the obvious winner.

[patriciaculvert]

Nimbuzz, skyfire & skype will give you a little slow down(nothing much to talk about). Even more if you running all 3 at the same time. But things should go back to normal once you close them with a task manager. so I can’t say why you are runnin...

[sammorris]

Quite a late review, I've owned one since the end of January, very impressed hardware-wise. Windows Mobile 6.5 is almost as bad as I was expecting, but the hTC interface is nice enough for it not to annoy me too much.

[Breezey]

Better late than never hey guys, had mine 5 months already :O

[666moe666]

Also, three X's out of 5 is pretty low.

When it came out (in like December or there abouts) this phone was revolutionary

[HSK]

Even before that! ^ Novemeber 11th.

Oh my gosh, I lost mine today while out bike riding :-(

I bet they're having the time of their lives with it now.

[[GSV]Trig]

Do you not use MyPhone on it, it'll tell you where the phone is.
Failing that Google Latitude?

[HSK]

I do, but the last place mapped is yesterdays :-( ...and lattitude - I think it's only going to work if google maps is running and wouldn't be accurate unless it had a GPS lock. I tried but no luck.

The phone did ring once, but after a while, it had been turned off...I got the SIM blocked and blacklisted the IMEI.

[[GSV]Trig]

When you shutdown google maps it asks if you want to carry on sharing your position, do you not do that?
Did you at least tell myphone to wipe the phone?

[Hicks12]

Been away so ive just seen this review...

I felt that 3/5 rating was pretty unjustified and low

How did you struggle with the metal back panel? I have to say its one of the easiest panels to remove on a phone ever!. Push and pull, doesnt feel like it will break and is sturdy but comes off with little effort.

Minimal package contents? I dunno it depends what you expect with it? I got all of what you stated along with a 2gb Micro sd AND a Microsd--->SD adaptor, most providers dont supply this so i welcomed it also had a HTC branded sticky label dunno the use but maybe to put it under the panel encase its lost or something? The earbuds have media functions and built in MIC iirc so thats anothing plus!.

The OS, i found it too be great although now im using WM 6.5.5 which is even better . You really experienced the bad scrolling etc? I didnt but i know a fix could be using BSB tweeks off XDA forums and enable the screen sensitivity with that, i know from a mate who suffered the same it seems that was the issue. Camera is poor IMO so maybe should of mentioned that .

Battery life, can i ask what radio/rom you were using? I get over 2 days with my HD2 and i take a few photo shots/ 50+text/ 2hours checking email+weather/ 30mins to an hour of web browsing on 3g sometimes wifi. It gets better after the first few charge cycles and using the newer radios makes me better too .

The negatives, justified apart from the last one about windows 7.... IIRC WM 6.5 will be ran simultaneously as WP7, Windows 7 has a totally different UI which too me seemed naff at the minute but thats preference. However the main point is that windows 7 has no file system/ no expansion slot support/ no 3rd party apps unless threw market place, its a much more locked down system and totally different to WM 6.5 so its hard to say and justify that buying a WM phone now is outdated because they are different markets .


Actually, looking at it maybe it is worth 3/5 because you did this review so late (well, you had to review it sometime didnt you ) and now HTC have brought out Android equivalents so the competition is alot better.

[sammorris]

Agree, once you understand it, it's easy.
Comes with everything you would expect, including the 2GB MicroSD and adapter.

The phone itself is 5/5, but I suppose the 3/5 is the maximum a Windows Mobile phone could ever really get. Only being able to use the software that comes with the phone due to the chronic badness of the WM OS is the only thing that really renders the HD2 an inferior to an iphone.