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Weathered old HTC HD2 dresses up like a Nokia X
You may remember the HTC HD2 from posts such as "will it play Tekken 3?" and "wait, it runs Windows RT now?" Despite the handset's age, a stalwart community keeps it relevant by getting anything and everything to run on the developer favorite. It's only fitting, then, that the HD2 be one of the first to don Nokia's heavily skinned version of Android, other than the unreleased X family, of course. That's right: An XDA Developers forum member by the name of gilbert32 has apparently succeeded in porting some form of the Nokia X Android build onto a rather beat-up-looking HD2. We say succeeded, but while it looks the part and plays a booting sound when fired up, "everything else" is admittedly non-functional. Then again, if the goal was to show the HD2 still has legs after all this time, then mission accomplished, sir.
HTC HD2 gets unofficial Android 4.1 Jelly Bean port, becomes the Phone That Would Not Die
There's a golden rule for the HTC HD2: if there's a new mobile OS, the HD2 must get a port. It's practically a law of nature, then, that Evervolv at the XDA-Developers forums has produced a pre-alpha port of Android 4.1 for the originally Windows Mobile-based legend. More components are working than not despite the extremely early state, with the camera, Google Now and web browser being the remaining bugaboos. We're still warned that the experimental firmware isn't meant for day-to-day use, but there's every intention of making the release stable -- good news for anyone who's eager to avoid a flash-in-the-pan ROM. If that happens, the HD2 will have had nearly as many lives as a cat.
HTC HD2 keeps spry with Mango RTM and custom ROM, looks to clear final hurdle (video)
You likely know the HTC HD2 as the phone that just can't be held in the past. While it started life with Windows Mobile 6.5, it's since met better fortunes with Android, Meego, and most recently... NoDo. Now, after the leak of Windows Phone Mango RTM, things are about to heat up once again. First, we've come across a video that clearly shows the HD2 gobbling up version 7720 of this tropical fruit without missing a beat. Also, xda-developers members YukiXDA and xboxmod are preparing to release their own concept ROM based on this release. Both projects are currently held back by the OS's inability to properly recognize the phone's microSD card, but that seems to be the final step before a full scale release. If you're interested, check the video after the break and make sure to bookmark the source link. Life is about to get a whole lot more interesting for your HD2.
HD2 keeps active with NoDo ROM, shows no sign of slowing down (video)
No thanks to Windows Mobile 6.5, the HTC HD2 is managing to keep spry as it's approaching retirement. Rather than relegating itself to playing shuffleboard with the codgers, it's been dancing to the tunes of Windows Phone, Android and Meego. Now the HD2 is learning NoDo's moves, and from the looks of its demo video, the phone is quite a performer -- take a peek after the break. Of course, this wouldn't be possible without a jolt from the WaterBear development team, which bundles the 7392 security update, an HD7 registry key and some language fixes. If this is new territory for your HD2, it'll require a little assistance from HardSPL (for unlocking), MAGLDR (the bootloader), and the proper radio file, but it seems like a worthwhile pursuit. After all, there's no sense in keeping this handset cooped up in the old folks home -- it's bound to rile up the nurses. [Thanks, Ehsan]
HTC HD2 can now dual-boot Windows Phone 7 and Android, promises to love them equally
You've seen Windows Phone 7 and Android both ported to the stately HTC HD2, now how about having them on the same device at the same time? Well, not literally at the same time, that'd be all sorts of confusing, but the restless souls over at xda-developers have figured out multiple ways to install both WP7 and Android on the HD2 while using the same SD card. We've looked at them and none of the methods seem particularly trivial or, you know, easy, but then what would be the point of a dual-boot solution if everyone could just up and do it? Detailed instructions await at the source link. [Thanks, engadgeteer]
HTC HD2 gets a shot at MeeGo, still suffering from abandonment issues
Poor HD2, it could never know life as a (legitimate) Windows Phone 7 handset, and instead has to sustain the indignity of hack after hack -- slouching back to the slums of its Windows Mobile 6.5 default as its only respite. Well, here's another shovelful of shame: MeeGo 1.1 has been ported to the phone, and it looks pretty snazzy. It runs about as well as anything runs MeeGo right now (which is to say: very poorly), but we see some promise in this OS as a deliciously open Android alternative, and the basic UI seems very comfy on the HD2's ahead-of-its-time gargantuan screen. Check out a video of MeeGo in action after the break. If you listen very closely you can hear the sound of the HD2 weeping large, colorful tears. [Thanks, Ali]
HTC HD2 and Nexus One get some Gingerbread crumbs (update: EVO, Droid and Desire, too)
With Gingerbread freely distributed to the open-source masses, it probably won't surprise you to hear there already a custom ROM for Google's darling Nexus One. But what if we told you Android 2.3 is now available for the HTC HD2 as well? That's right, the Windows Mobile 6.5 powerhouse can now snap off a sugary piece of the same Android code, and from what we hear in the XDA-developers forums, it works pretty decently, too. Like the Samsung Galaxy S we saw getting the green tie treatment this morning, the HTC HD2 and Nexus One don't exactly have stable, fully functional builds, but as long as you know what you're doing and don't need petty luxuries like cameras, GPS receivers and official Google apps, you'll probably be just fine. Find files and a modicum of instruction at our source links below. Update: While these cookies are half-baked, unconfirmed and potentially dangerous to those not well versed in the art of Android hackery, we're hearing that the HTC EVO 4G, original Motorola Droid and HTC Desire are now sporting early Gingerbread ROMs too. It seems the source code is relatively easy to compile for other phones, so with any luck there'll be a compatible build for your device soon. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
HTC HD2 runs Windows Phone 7, makes us yearn for more (video)
HTC HD2 owners have been trying to shoehorn Windows Phone 7 onto their hapless devices practically since day one, but it looks like a port won't make it into the wild before the platform's formal US launch. That doesn't mean you should give up hope, however, because one variant seems to be at least partway done, winding its merry way from boot through the splash screen and deep into the speedy UI in a far more convincing video demo than the last one that hit our inbox. Though no apps are actually demonstrated nor so much as a basic phone call (pretty please?), multitouch pinch-to-zoom appears to work just fine, and we've little doubt any remaining quirks will be worked out in due time -- if not nearly as soon as new HTC HD7 owners migrating from the HD2 might have liked. Video after the break. Update: Here comes a new, 5-minute video of the purportedly WP7-equipped HD2 (via XDA.cn / Pocketnow), this time side-by-side with the Surround and with expanded functionality -- Office, Zune, and more. Video is also, as you might've guessed, after the break. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
HTC HD2 spotted running Windows Phone 7, for real this time?
After some initial waffling on the subject, Microsoft has pretty steadfastly denied that any older Windows Mobile devices would be able to run Windows Phone 7 -- even the seemingly capable HTC HD2. That hasn't stopped folks from hoping and trying, however, and developer / hacker Cotulla has now produced a video that appears to show an HD2 booting and (briefly) running Windows Phone 7. While a 1:30 long boot process doesn't exactly make for the most exciting video, it is at least a bit more convincing that the ones that cropped up in the early Windows Phone 7 days, which seemed just a bit too slick to be true. Head on past the break to see for yourself.
HTC HD2 Android and Ubuntu builds now available for mass consumption
We're approaching the end of an era -- the legacy of Windows Mobile handsets getting spotted running some open sourced OS or another shortly after their release. With Windows Phone 7 on the horizon the HD2 will surely be one of the last, but you can extend that grand tradition just a bit longer by installing your choice of Ubuntu Karmic Koala or Android 2.1. Those builds we reported on earlier have been made available for general consumption and, while installing them certainly doesn't seem to be entirely risk free, neither of them touch the phone's internal flash, so you're never more than a reset away from the comforts of WinMo. If you're feeling adventurous this weekend, both downloads are on the other end of the source link below.
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]
Android port for HTC HD2 overcomes big hurdle, finally getting close
The great thing about the HD2 is that it remains one of the most gorgeous pieces of smartphone hardware ever released -- but as long as it's saddled with the dead OS walking known as Windows Mobile 6.5, its stature in the power user community is perpetually stuck in first gear, no matter how pretty HTC has managed to make it. To that end, some of those very same power users have been working tirelessly to salvage the beast and shoehorn Android on there, but they've been tripped up by some errors involving the phone's Snapdragon core and the so-called HaRET tool used to boot Linux from Windows CE-based devices that have made a proper port seem all but impossible. Those hurdles have been overcome in the past couple days, though, which means a marginally consumer-friendly Android build might finally be within reach -- and considering that there's no proper EVO 4G equivalent from HTC in Europe yet, this project could have an awful lot of value. [Thanks, Aaron H.]
T-Mobile offering up to $350 off an HD2 in exchange for your iPhone, soul
HTC's HD2 is the hottest piece of WinMo of the moment, and ever since it got the nod for an (unofficial) update to Windows Phone 7 it's been looking all the more tasty. Now it's getting more affordable too -- if you happen to have an iPhone you're willing to give up. T-Mobile appears to be running a promotion at certain locations through May 19 that would give between $100 and $350 off of a new HD2 for anyone trading in a working handset. Frankly we don't figure too many dedicated iPhoners will be taking this opportunity to hop onto the Windows Mobile train but, if you can get yourself a cheap old handset from a friend who upgraded, you might just be able to snag yourself a hefty discount on a hunky new smartphone.
Shocker: HTC plans Windows Phone 7 Series device by year's end
In news apt to surprise absolutely no one, HTC CEO Peter Chou told Forbes this week that his company would make a Windows Phone 7 Series handset by the end of the year. For the sake of argument, we suppose there are a couple reasons he wouldn't want to. Historically, HTC has pledged loyalty to Microsoft time and again, even making the premium HD2 a Windows Mobile exclusive, but conspiracy theorists might suggest Microsoft returned the favor by denying the HD2 entry to Windows Phone 7 Series. Also, HTC has been rocking the bejeezus out of Android as of late -- the news that the company's planning a WP7S phone comes alongside HTC's claim that the Nexus One was a success. Regardless, we never questioned if HTC would build a WP7S handset, only when; there's no way they're going to let a lucrative new smartphone market get mopped up by the likes of Samsung and LG.
Aircell tempts HTC HD2 owners with six months free in-flight WiFi
Now that Aircell has finished roping every major US airline into its plan for world domination providing inexpensive WiFi on most every flight, the company's dealmakers have had to fall back on, shall we say, less integral partnerships to advance their strategy. First up? If you're the owner of a shiny new HTC HD2 on T-Mobile, you get six months of Gogo in-flight WiFi, free of charge. Simply register with the company anytime before June 2011 and it's clear skies for your connection. You can consider the expiration date a bonus alarm clock -- by that time, you'll be ready for a phone with enough buttons for Windows Phone 7 Series.
HTC EVO 4G is Sprint's Android-powered knight in superphone armor, we go hands-on
We've been rumoring a WiMAX "HTC Supersonic" for a while now, and Sprint just dropped the hard news: the phone will be dubbed the HTC EVO 4G, will be released this Summer and it's easily the best specced phone we've ever witnessed. The hardware is of quite obvious HD2 descent, but with Android onboard and some nice aesthetic tweaks, the EVO 4G takes on a life of its own. The handset is centered around a 480 x 800 4.3-inch TFT LCD, with a Snapdragon QSD8650 1GHz processor under the hood (the CDMA version of the QSD8250 in the HD2 and Nexus One), and even a helpful 1GB of built-in memory and 512MB of RAM -- hello app storage! Even the battery is bigger than the HD2, and the camera is an 8 megapixel monstrosity with flash, that's capable of 720p video, and is augmented by a 1.3 megapixel front facing camera for good measure. The phone features HDMI out (though you'll need an adapter for turning it into a TV-familiar HDMI plug), 802.11b/g WiFi, and an 8GB microSD card. There's that still-rare Android 2.1 underneath an updated version of HTC's Sense UI. But... despite all these wild features, what actually sets the EVO 4G apart is the fact that it's Sprint's first 4G phone. The handset runs a combo of EV-DO Rev. A and WiMAX, with calls still being made over CDMA and the EV-DO / WiMAX options for data. Interestingly, it sounds like concurrent data and voice use might be possible for the first time on CDMA carrier in this way (killing AT&T's well-advertised differentiator), though Sprint says that's still in the testing phase. One other new feature is the Sprint hotspot app, another MiFi-style connection sharing number, which is obviously aided greatly by the WiMAX on board and can support up to eight concurrent users. Follow after the break for our hands-on impressions and videos of the phone in action, including an up-close-and-personal test of the touchscreen keyboard. Below you'll find galleries of the phone by its lonesome and up against the Nexus One and iPhone 3G. Update: We've got a graph comparing the Nexus One and Droid with the EVO spec for spec, and there's also a pictorial shootout with the Desire and HD2. Pick your comparo poison! %Gallery-88840% %Gallery-88836% %Gallery-88834%
T-Mobile's HTC HD2 gets purchased and unboxed early (video)
T-Mobile's not officially selling its world-beating HD2 until Wednesday, but if you've a Walmart nearby and hankering to get HTC's latest and greatest a few days early, it might be worth a trip out. JDMiPhoner managed to score one from his local Wally World a full four days early, and he's been kind enough to unbox it, boot it up and give us a few first impressions on video. Is it really worth a couple of Benjamins with Windows Phone 7 Series just a few months away? Head on past the break if you'd care to be reminded of just how painful it is to know that this WinMo 6.5-packin' gem won't ever be upgradable (natively, anyway) to WP7S. [Thanks, Andrew] Update: Windows Mobile Nation got one as well (also from Walmart), and has hosted up a nice gallery of shots here.
T-Mobile goes official with HTC HD2 launch details: March 24th for $200
We've heard it all before, but it's always nice to get a modicum of legitimacy from a primary source. T-Mobile has now officially announced the release details for the HTC HD2 -- you know, that phone whose cool factor has dropped a few Mega Fonzies since we confirmed once and for all it wasn't getting a Windows Phone 7 upgrade. Look for it next Wednesday, March 24th, for just a penny under $200 on a two-year contract (and $450 without). Hey, at least this one's definitely got copy and paste, right?
Confirmed: HTC HD2 will not be upgraded to Windows Phone 7 series
Bad news, HTC HD2 owners: Microsoft has finally come right out and confirmed our suspicions that the mighty HTC HD2 won't be upgraded to Windows Phone 7 Series. Joe Belfiore just told us that the HD2 is "not compliant with the Windows Phone 7 Series hardware specifications," which should end any of the lingering doubt that's clouded this issue since MWC. That certainly puts a damper on the HD2's upcoming launch on T-Mobile, but hey -- every Microsoft employee here at MIX is carrying one, so it's clearly the WinMo handset to get until it's eclipsed by 7 late in the year. Pour one out for the king, friends.
HTC HD2 said to be launching March 24th for $199, no Windows Phone 7 support
Well, we'd already had a pretty clear indication that the HTC HD2 would be launching on T-Mobile on March 24th (or possibly the 23rd), and Laptop Magazine is now reporting that a "very close T-Mobile source" has confirmed that the 24th is indeed the date, and that the phone will run $199 on a two-year contract (or $449 off-contract). The March 23rd date that recently cropped up is apparently just the day the MobiTV software will go live. Just as notably, Laptop also says that it has confirmed that the phone won't be upgradeable to Windows Phone 7 Series -- although, at this point, we'll have to hear that first-hand to truly put an end to the speculation. Thankfully, that should happen in just a few days.
