HTC's HD2 is a near perfect combination of physical hardware and silicon that delivers impressive performance on a device that's surprisingly sleek given the display's massive 4.3-inch expanse. Even Microsoft's much maligned Windows Mobile 6.5 is expertly masked by HTC's Sense interface. So it's easy to understand the anticipation felt by the HD2's first US release, questions of a
Windows Phone 7 OS upgrade path notwithstanding. T-Mobile has the release honors and is now showing the HD2 as "coming soon" in its phone inventory. We've also got the first "in the wild" shots courtesy of
TmoNews showing that big Blockbuster shortcut linked front and center for downloading On Demand movies directly to the device. Still no firm price or date but
$199.99 on contract ($449.99 unlocked) sometime around
24 March sounds about right. One more shot with official T-Mobile branding after the break; the rest at the source link below.
Update: Tipster Nigel spotted a
"†" footnote to nothing (yet) at the bottom of the page that requires 4 payments of $112.50 (or 20 payments of $22.50). That's $450, matching the rumored price of the unlocked handset.
[Thanks
Taylor]
posted March 8th 2010 1:33AM
oh you beautiful, sexy, but useless device that can run wp7 but won't because you lack the proper buttons.....
@Brent1700 looks like i will be buying this on march 24th after i win $450 from my vegas trip next week...
@Brent1700
Prepare to be downranked, you horrible, nasty person!
Seriously though, with a screen like that, and with the selection of apps available for that old beast of an OS, and most of the ugliness of the OS itself covered up with a thick slathering of Sense, it's pretty hard to call the device "useless", no?
Plus, the HD2 could beat up your dad.
@Brent1700 WP7S or not, this shit's sexy as hell
@AlexSanchez
I didn't know hell was sexy....I think I need glasses
@Brent1700 How does it not have the right buttons?
@Brent1700
I think they realized that people feel that way; that's why it comes with 2 FREE movies, a Blockbuster app, a 16 GB microSD Card, and can be bought unlocked for $450 (which is a really, really good deal.). I might just buy one, WP7 or not.
@OmegaThirteen
It's missing a search button.
SOLD!
@Fdo35
1. WP7S Upgrade CD
2. Search Icon Sticker for Home Button
3. ???
4. Profit
@Fdo35
There was a "short" time ago that WP7 didnt exist and this phone was the $h!t. for me, it still is and I will so buy with or without contract. I dont care about 7, I am just not into it yet. personally
@Brent1700
this is mind blowing, to think you could buy one for $450, i got mine for €450!
T-Mobile is playing it's cards well!
@Brent1700 Why was Brent downranked? He was complimenting the phone while criticizing Microsoft's stance about allowing 7 on this great hardware. What's the problem with that?
@Brent1700
Does this shit have the proper frequencies for AT&T 3G? Might buy this unlocked to use on AT&T if so ....
That is one dead sexy phone.
@MBN I agree, weird. He reflects my sentiments exactly.
@MBN
Probably because he called the phone useless. Comes across as anti-6.5, maybe. I'm sure the phone's quite useful, personally, but that's just me.
@lamerz
nope edge is the highest you'll get on att for hd2
google it
@JeremyBenthem
"2. Search Icon Sticker for Home Button"
That's exactly what I was thinking!
And in response to theshadow27, I never said I didn't like the HD2, because I do. I see nothing wrong with Windows Mobile; I really enjoy how much control it gives the user.
*splooge*
want it, if it runs wp7
The price is not bad, but knowing that the OS is a dead end, can we expect price drop in a couple of months?
@pika2000
I don't know about you, but I'm buying one, along with a new laptop running XP, and a tv with only an analog tuner!
I will be purchasing this phone even though people say that it will not be able to Run WinMo7 simply because I know the guys over at XDA will figure it out.
Can we get some winp7 love? Can I get a witness?
no thanks i'll wait for a windows phone 7 series mobile phone..blah..crap......iphone killa!
How come this is cheaper then the Nexus One unlocked but is more expensive on contract?
Personally I'm still waiting for the SuperSonic.
@reallynotnick First, it's called economics, supply=demand. Second, it's probably to due the "lack" of an upgrade path. They might be assuming an early termination on more contracts, possibly customers leaving their carrier at that same time, and therefore not receiving the industry standard % of unrealized revenue out of the contracts that they write.
I'm buying this phone to compensate
@Broderbund
LOL +1
@Broderbund I'm buying it to overcompensate.
Oh god, I really can't get away from this phone. Everytime I tell myself I should get an Android phone, I see pics of that ridiculous hardware.
I think I'm going to get it...XDA will treat me nicely.
More pictures at the Tmonews link...that screen, i actually like the green and red call/end buttons on the TMo version, argh
Call me when this thing has Android with Sense on it. *sleeps*
@Cena
Uh, buy it right now and get Android from XDA developers. I know I can on my Touch Pro 2 right now
@skyler17
Nah, I'd rather have Android out of the box. I'm not big into all of that techno babble and thingymajiggers.
@Cena
How about getting the Dell Mini 5 when it comes out. It has pretty much the same hardware bigger screen and android. When it comes out it will have the latest iteration of android though no sense. Just a suggestion.
This phone is a tragic story. Probably the best phone on the market today and everyone is going to just pass it by because of MS's WP7 requirements.
I was planning on dropping my G1 for this beauty, but like most everyone here.. I've just gotta wait for WP7 compatibility.
>physical hardware and silicon
silly cone seems like hardware also, no?
T-Mobile is really trying to compensate for the fact that Windows Mobile is, well, a dead end so-to-speak (Don't downrank me, I still like Windows Mobile anyway.). They're including just about anything you could want, a couple FREE (but no cheap) games, a game demo, a 16 GB microSD card, 2 FREE movies, a blockbuster app, a "MobiTV" app, a built-in E-Reader, and, of course, HTC Sense. This is so tempting (especially the price).
How many people are dropping their G1 for this or at least thinking it over constantly?
The specs are just too much to resist and who knows when Tmo will get a 4" Android phone.
@Hussain Rahim Given that the G1 can barely run donut and that buzz nonsense showed just how committed Google is to phones that came out before November (that is, not at all), I am almost certainly going to be dropping my G1 for this one. I'm sure lots of others are as well.
Besides, it's just that time. I am so tired of having a phone with no headphone jack.
@rafiparrr The lack of headphone is driving me up the wall too. As well as the god awful media playback capabilities.
I thought I was Android for life but T-Mo (and Google) has forced my hand.
At the speed of T Mobile, by the time a 4" HTC device with Android Froyo is released I'll be eligible for another upgrade.
@Hussain Rahim
Me. I too thought I would never stray from android, and I still love android as an OS, but the HD2 is nerd perfection for a phone.
Don't get me wrong it's a great phone. But, I had it for 6 weeks. The Qwerty is not as responsive as other phones. I had loads of video but had to install 2 additional media players to make them play. Seemed nothing I did in the conversion fixed this, some worked, some didn't.
It's certainly a head turner and the Mods you can download at XDA developers make it as customizable as any. Biggest problem though is if you've had a fruit based phone in the past you've been spoilt by the App store. Marketplace is rubbish. Luckily for me it had a good resale price on eBay so it had to go. Back to the fruity goodness for me :-)
@cherryboom & @xenon73
I suggest both of you get the HD2 and an ipod touch. Use either HTC's or Window's Wifi router and get the best of both worlds. Play your games and app fondling fun on the touch and get serious business done (that is if you have a job and are not in high school) on the HD2. Heck, while you're at it, provide the Wifi to your friend's netbooks at the same time.
@xenon73
I agree, this phone is not for the masses. Which is why I have suggested to most that have taken an interest in my phone (HD2) to buy an iPhone. Apps are great but a little too gimmicky for me, and gaming wise it has a lot more options (PS1, GBA and soon to be Xbox Arcade). Also watching Movies and TV shows is a dream on that screen.
@leykis101 I hope it lacks the feature that requires it's owner to act like a smug prick on the internet. I'm sure the views are great, but you should really move out of Steve Jobs' colon; everything you say is starting to reek.
It's consumer electronics pal. Try and remember when you're shaving your head and getting in line for your free kool-aid and comet ride.
damn it to helll!!!! I want this phone on sprint!!! im tempted to switch to t-mobile for this phone
@leykis101 What with all the apple fanboys being mostly douchbags, I think Windows Mobile is more hip at the moment. Anyone care to contradict that?
Thanks for the early upgrade, T-Mobile. You've never let me down and when the 21mbps comes my way I'll have one of the best phones on the market. Win. Anyway, along with a few others, the fellas over at XDA will help us out. That 'home' button can be changed into a search button... sure it can.
March 24th cannot come soon enough!