HTC HD2 gets early Windows Phone 7 OS port, could be released before official devices (updated: videos!)
By Thomas Ricker 
posted March 28th 2010 2:09PM
posted March 28th 2010 2:09PM
Update: Video evidence after the break. For what it's worth, the folks at XDA also think it's legit.
Update 2: Yet another video has surfaced... beta please.
Update 3: It's worth noting, as demonstrated by our friends at the:unwired, that the so-called port could be easily faked with a Remote Terminal connection back to a PC running the unlocked SDK. So while the HD2 port is definitely coming, this might very well be a hoax.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
My dreams have come true.
Looks orgasmic
Now, we can get the HD2 without waiting for the HD3 :)
Why did Engadget not cover about T-Mobile HD2 sold out within four hours in retail stores? See, HD2 does not need WP7S hype. It (WP7S) sucks anyway.
@Rick Goodman Unless they show a video of somebody clearly playing around with it, I'm not really convinced. They could be just screenshots from the unlocked emulator previewed on the HD2
I hope I'm wrong, I won an HD2 myself :)
@masochist That is a pretty presumptuous statement considering WP7S isn't even out yet.
@Rick Goodman
Damn Metro UI looks phenomenal on a screen like the HD2's.
HTC hardware FTW.
But then again, it does show how much screen estate is wasted with Metro UI's fonts and titles...etc
@Rick Goodman holy shit, this is drawn to scale right? that's huge.
@iluvms Not if you are on Sprint unfortunately.
@Rick Goodman
I have owned ( and loved) this technological jewel since last september and I never missed W7S for a moment. What I did miss is some more apps for it.
Anyway now I'm even more convinced to hold tight to my HD2 even when next week I'll receive the HTC Desire which will substitute my Hero biznez phone.
The thruth is that this phone is ( and will remain) a beast with or without W7S.
No matter how much I like to mess with Android on the Hero and its dozens of cool free apps, when I need to do something serious and/or important, or when I just want everything to work fast and precisely I still instinctively reach for my HD2 .
@masochist
Too early to judge WPS7, son. Tech blogs aren't eliable sources of info until the OS has been played to death, besides don't you think MS will add those essential features later on?
Too bad it's not ANROID
@obobo I would say "too good as it is NOT android" :D
@williamlau05
Win 7 should help msft gain back some of the market share it's lost to Android recently. As much as it's being built up as such win phone is gonna compete with Android more directly than iPhone. Just as zune competed with non iPod players. When it comes to mobile devices there is the segment that will ONLY buy Apple and the other that will NEVER buy Apple. Most folks on Engadget tend to be the later...so it's win pho 7 v. Android. iPhone never was and never will be a factor for them, no matter what Apple does. Even Apple knows that market....
@jaffreywali
Difference in philosophy I guess.
My French HD2 needs it
@Rick Goodman
Absolutely shocking. Ever since the first alarmist post about the HD2 being obsolete before it even hit the shelves, people with half a brain have said a port to WP7S was inevitable. Here we are, 5-6 months before the OS is even out and we have a working version.
By Christmas the HD2 will have Android 2.1 (or higher) + WinMo 6.5 + WP7S all available as the OS. This is a great phone that offers a tremendous amount of choice.
No surprise here!
HD2.. BOUGHT!.. and lovin it.
This is an amazingly versatile phone & almost as great as the EVO 4G. HDMI & 4G set it apart.
@boe If your on Sprint you're in even better luck with the EVO 4G launch right around the corner.
@Ender11 Yes and no. The EVO hardware is fantastic. However I need my phone for business, not play so I need certain things - top notch integration with MS Exchange and since I spend about 2 hours on the road each day I need to dial by BT. You aren't supposed to be looking or playing with your phone when you drive.
As old as WM 6.5.5 is, for the most part it does what I need my phone to do better than Android. I'm not putting down Android - it shows a lot of potential. I just can't wait for it to be ready for business use. Perhaps by the end of the year they'll fix those major gaps but right now I'd be far far better off with the really old WM platform than the new but very incomplete Android OS.
@boe I know what you mean, as buggy as it often is, WinMo is a complete OS with just about every compatibility needed.
@Rick Goodman i getting it for sure now!
This news calls for a hysterical laughter..
@Rick Goodman i think this is an april fools joke. just watch out
WAAAAAAAA! AWESOME-OOOOO!!!!!
@Rick Goodman
now for HTC HD2 + WP7S + W6.5 Multitask
@Rick Goodman
I know!!! I can't wait to put all my ctures on it, and start using the WP7 day agenda da!
@masochist Regardless of whether u like series 7 or not if you plan to stick with windows after the hd2 is dated you'll be getting one next upgrade unless they've moved on to series 8 (....lol or mobile vista)
@Rick Goodman
I am so tempted to get this phone. But the lack of Zune support really kills it for me. Why not a summer Windows 7 mobile release to coincide with all those Iphone 3g adopters coming off their contracts?
Oh No!!!
After the upgrade, my multitasking doesn't work. My copy paste ability is gone. And somehow, Ballmer now gets to veto any apps he does not like.
@Dick Lynch
..and if you actually look into the 4G it's not very fast. In fact Tmobiles HSPA+ is currently faster than wimax.
@williamlau05 I agree that the features will be added in, but why is a tech blog like Engadget not a reliable source of new? They certainly do a better job than any mainstream organization, and they assume their audience actually has a few neurons wrapped inside their skulls.
@bjsguess
Hey Android 3.0 by that time, it's due out on the Evo!
@Rick Goodman Yes, those screenshots are a dream come true, I'm sure MS will realize the thing they will be missing if they don't import wp7 to HTC Hd2. Reactions with WP7: http://bit.ly/windows-phone-7-reactions-examined
@Hosain man in the last WP7 video add from Microsoft you could saw an HD2 running it half a second...
@TareG
I think the additional space is actually intended though, in order to give it a clean, eye-friendly design. Speak to any designer and ask them about the importance of 'white space' to users when reading information, and they'll probably tell you that it's very important.
Personally, i quite like the space just for the styling - I'm running WinMo 6.5 now on a Touch Diamond2, and if I have to leave the Sense overlay, it always feels amazingly cluttered and squashed (though I'm sure a screen the size of the HD2's would help me out there anyway!!)
:-)
@r00tcause Take the 4g away and it's still a badass phone! Sprint's 3g is bangin' bro!
@Rick Goodman Its FAKE see here http://bit.ly/dxd4dT
Dear god, I want this. Not sure if I like the WinMo 7 OS yet as I haven't had time to read up on it's features and layout yet. I'm still peeved about no native copy/paste functionality as that's almost a deal-breaker for me, but perhaps there's something about the OS that will win me over.
Frankly, I'm looking for an excuse to ditch my 3G iPhone and give it to my mother. It's slow, locks up all the time and I hate having to use iTunes with it. Plus I'm sick of not being able to see content people send me or on some of the websites I frequent that the iPhone doesn't support.
Been thinking about the Nexus One, but this sure looks tempting. Anyone have experience with Android the Nexus vs WinMo7? I'm not opposed to going back to T-Mob, but I hate switching carriers just for a new piece of tech and I want the fastest connectivity I can get on a regular basis.
@Rick Goodman IT'S FAKE! Check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZovb8onH-g
@brendakellent
probably the HD3 will be using the same hardware as HD2 except less buttons. XDA definitely will have one in the works for those wanting WP7 on their HD2.
@Rick Goodman Now imagine WP7 on HTC Evo 4G *orgasm*
i want it!!! who cares about the buttons.. if it doesn't affect any of the actual day-to-day experience
@ahchar
you know the only issue with the buttons is that it doesn't have one called search, they can easily map that to the home key and put a search icon sticker over it
Reeeeleaaaseee the betaaaaa!
Good to see HTC doing so well. Between WPS7 and Android they're really giving the customers a great choice.
I'm diehard Android but I love to see MS get a clue. Finally the Zune gets the credit it deserves.
Awesome, but I'm waiting for the EVO. HD2 + Android = pure awesomeness molded into a physical form.
@Physicsguy89 agreed. HD2 + android = best phone ever. The EVO is the phone of my dreams. I hope it comes to att without it being crippled (we all know that will never happen) oh well I have my nexus one to hold me over and I love it!