HTC HD2 caught running Android 2.1 and Ubuntu with touchscreen enabled (video)

Still clinging on to your HTC HD2? Good on ya, cos this WinMo slate's about to last you a wee bit longer -- team HTC Linux has recently made a breakthrough with getting the touchscreen to talk to the HaRET Linux bootloader. In other words, us mere mortals can finally use Linux variants like Android and Ubuntu on the HD2 the way it's meant to be, although we're apparently still a few bugs away from a stable release. Until then, enjoy the techno-fueled video demo after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[a dumb cat Posted Jun 30th 2010 3:54PM]

Long live the HD2!

[gargle Posted Jun 30th 2010 4:09PM]

who the f*** is alice, is she from buckingham palace? :D oh freestyler is such a blast.. anyways, I think it's time to get a used HD2!

[FORDY Posted Jun 30th 2010 4:10PM]

@gargle
Absolutely, I've always said, "If it ran Android, I would buy"

[Beatnik Posted Jun 30th 2010 4:13PM]

@a dumb cat
Long Live XDA developers.
Wow Triple boot. Is this HTC version of the N900? It can run almost everything.
The Ultimate Goal: make it boot iOS. Imagine installing iphone apps on HD2.
"They Blew Me"
Steve Jobs
Sent from HTC HD2

[trealtp Posted Jun 30th 2010 4:17PM]

@a dumb cat

Best news I've heard/seen all month...

[Gutsy Gibbons Posted Jun 30th 2010 4:26PM]

@a dumb cat freestylah rocka rocka microphone...

[lowdrag Posted Jun 30th 2010 4:35PM]

@a dumb cat
AWE

[lowdrag Posted Jun 30th 2010 4:35PM]

@a dumb cat
SOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BlackedOut Posted Jun 30th 2010 4:44PM]

I love my phone.
This just cements its place within my heart.

[Discourse Posted Jun 30th 2010 5:19PM]

@a dumb cat Maemo or MeeGo would be more useful on it.

[oldmanhorton Posted Jun 30th 2010 5:19PM]

@a dumb cat you know what else is a Linux OS?


webOS. thats what.




bitch.

[angermeans Posted Jun 30th 2010 6:05PM]

@Gutsy Gibbons ...From the top of my dome!

[a dumb cat Posted Jun 30th 2010 7:27PM]

@oldmanhorton

Agreed, +1.

[Dig Deep Posted Jun 30th 2010 8:21PM]

@a dumb cat

I have a feeling no matter how "good" it gets it'll still feel sub par compared to a legit Android install. IMHO. Still cool though and the HD2 does rock.

[That guy 2 Posted Jun 30th 2010 9:58PM]

@a dumb cat Why would you do this when it's the EVO with winmo? Just get an EVO!

[MichaelF Posted Jun 30th 2010 11:43PM]

@That guy 2

I'll tell you why I would get this over the EVO... Because the EVO is CDMA and the HD2 is GSM. (Am I wrong about that?)

[blenderman345 Posted Jul 1st 2010 8:45AM]

@That guy 2 : Another thing: The Evo soley runs Android, whereas as soon as this hack is released, we can run WinMo, Android, AND Ubuntu. Worth it.
Maybe... find.... a used HD2.....

[Stengo Posted Jun 30th 2010 3:56PM]

as always, not available in germany. i hate licensed music in videos

[Stengo Posted Jun 30th 2010 4:11PM]

@Stengo
well, there are always youtube proxys. looks promising, i just love this smartphone. wish someone would trade my 3g for it...

[Grubasaurus Rex Posted Jun 30th 2010 3:57PM]

Someone needs to port Windows Phone 7, when it comes out, onto this device.

[hero785 Posted Jun 30th 2010 4:10PM]

@Grubasaurus Rex
It's the mother of all phones. She can take a lot (I know that's what she said)! Long live HD2

[Blaque14K Posted Jun 30th 2010 4:11PM]

@Grubasaurus Rex why would they want to go backwards?

[BlackedOut Posted Jun 30th 2010 4:46PM]

This will probably end up being a much easier port than Android.
And yes I do believe this is going to happen, probably before WP7 is even released.

[proppat Posted Jun 30th 2010 5:14PM]

@Grubasaurus Rex I doubt the HD2 has the horsepower for Windows 7. The specs Microsoft calls for are pretty fierce.

[deliteguy Posted Jun 30th 2010 5:20PM]

@proppat
HD2 had the best specs up until the evo, and it's still there with the best. Don't you ever under estimate the hd2 again. I'm going to pretend I never read your post.

[nicolasgoddone Posted Jul 1st 2010 11:32AM]

@proppat Don't sweat it, XDA most likely will beat the pulp out of Win Mob 7 until its propper to use in decently speced mobile phone.

[shhaight Posted Jun 30th 2010 3:58PM]

SCORE!

[RealGame22 Posted Jun 30th 2010 4:14PM]

@shhaight Just call it a Android!!! Runs good

[DaHarder Posted Jun 30th 2010 4:00PM]

Wha.....? Awesome!

[ashleythehottiest Posted Jun 30th 2010 4:00PM]

......isn't this another EVO without the front cam, 4G, and 8 MP cam?

[SolidSnake Posted Jun 30th 2010 4:08PM]

@ashleythehottiest
But it can boot most modern mobile operating systems known to man.
Thats a plus.

[Fugo Posted Jun 30th 2010 4:08PM]

@ashleythehottiest
No. And the HD2 do have got a front facing cam.

[gargle Posted Jun 30th 2010 4:09PM]

@Fugo on which planet?

[redspear Posted Jun 30th 2010 4:22PM]

@gargle
Europe! T-mobile nixxed it.

[SEscobedo Posted Jun 30th 2010 4:23PM]

@Fugo

WTF are you smoking? The HD2 does not have a front camera.

[SolidSnake Posted Jun 30th 2010 4:34PM]

@SEscobedo
In Europe it does.

[Jblaze248 Posted Jun 30th 2010 5:19PM]

@SolidSnake prove it....i never heard of a hd2 with front facing cam

[deliteguy Posted Jun 30th 2010 5:31PM]

@Jblaze248
Wow, you guys are like 2 little girls fighting. The hd2 doesn't have ffc. And the hd2 doesn't need 4g cause tmobile already gives 4g speeds+

[SolidSnake Posted Jun 30th 2010 5:33PM]

@Jblaze248
you are right. I thought it did in Europe...

[n11 Posted Jun 30th 2010 4:00PM]

If this was about 6 months ago, I might've got one for this. But with rumors of the HD3, I'm gonna have to continue to sit tight.

[loseover4 Posted Jun 30th 2010 8:56PM]

@n11 what rumor ?

[fusion44 Posted Jun 30th 2010 4:01PM]

I can't play this stupid video because it contains content from Sony Music Entertainment??? AAHHHHHH

[Oettinger Posted Jul 1st 2010 5:15AM]

@fusion44
Me too, this sucks :(

Regards

[SgtR Posted Jul 1st 2010 5:16PM]

@fusion44

You're missing out bro. I'm knocking some serious shapes out over here.

[Butterfingers Posted Jun 30th 2010 4:01PM]

This one's not gonna slip through my fingers.

[loocas Posted Jun 30th 2010 4:02PM]

Still waiting for the WP7 ported to HD2...

[Bud92 Posted Jun 30th 2010 4:03PM]

Damn.

[flex10 Posted Jun 30th 2010 4:07PM]

long live android death to windows(only thing that would make this better froyo yummmmmmmmmmm)oh and i have seen this done on touch pro 2 but this kicks on pro's but android ftw(ps totally random but im putting oled panels on my bike and thinking using something portable with android this will do just fine)

[Bskballa92 Posted Jun 30th 2010 4:07PM]

YAY

[Rosco911 Posted Jun 30th 2010 4:10PM]

Almost a week late.. good keeping up with NEWS...