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Entelligence: The HTC HD2 and the future of Windows Mobile
Entelligence is a column by technology strategist and author Michael Gartenberg, a man whose desire for a delicious cup of coffee and a quality New York bagel is dwarfed only by his passion for tech. In these articles, he'll explore where our industry is and where it's going -- on both micro and macro levels -- with the unique wit and insight only he can provide. A few columns ago, I wrote how folks shouldn't dismiss Windows Mobile. This week, Microsoft released Windows Mobile 6.5 and it's further proof that this OS is very much a serious contender in the mobile OS platform wars. What makes Windows Mobile 6.5 work isn't so much the OS per se, but rather the Windows Phones that are the basis for the ecosystem. Despite Steve Ballmer himself apologizing for the delay of Window Mobile 7 a few days ago, there's a lot in WinMo 6.5 that Microsoft should be proud of. Overall the OS itself has been tweaked a lot for performance -- I've tried devices that were running WM 6.1 and were upgraded to 6.5 and there's a dramatic difference in speed. Microsoft has also worked hard to make the new OS much more finger friendly, with UI elements that really required a stylus in the past much more usable with a finger instead. There's also some nice integration with new services such at the marketplace for mobile applications and MyPhone synchronization. That's all well and good, but it's one device that I've had the chance to use for just a few minutes that's really affirmed my view of Windows Mobile viability, and it has me very excited about the platform. It's the new standard for Windows Phones and it's pretty much the device that every other Windows-powered phone is going to need to live up to. It's called the HTC HD2 (code named Leo) and it's a game changer in my opinion.
HTC HD2 hands-on and impressions... on video!
We had a chance to give HTC's newest darling device -- the Windows Mobile 6.5-sporting HD2 -- a more thorough hands-on today, and we wanted to share our impressions. Firstly, we must say that HTC has done perhaps its most ambitious skinning job ever here. So while this does run atop Windows Mobile 6.5, you rarely see the OS poking through the gorgeous new Sense user interface the company has created. If you're used to TouchFLO 3D (or Sense on Android), this should seem old hat to you, but keep in mind there are some major changes here that dramatically affect the Windows Mobile experience. As you probably already know, the Snapdragon-based device sports a 1GHz MSM8250 CPU, a massive, 800 x 480 capacitive display (with multitouch functionality thanks to more tinkering from HTC), a 5 megapixel camera with dual LED flashes, a 3.5mm headphone jack, FM tuner, and GPS chip on-board. We were frankly blown away with how slick this phone is. Mind you, WM 6.5 still shows its not-so-fresh colors here and there, but the general experience of using the device is handled mainly through the Sense interface, and it blows the hinges off of any other Windows phone experience we've had. Ever. From the lag-free gestures which get you around the device, to image pinching and zooming with that aforementioned multitouch, the hesitation-free jumps in and out of applications, and typing on the sprawling, HTC-ified onscreen keyboard, using the HD2 is a joy. There's no getting around the fact that the phone is still very much anchored to Windows Mobile, but what HTC has done here is nothing short of a revelation. Why Robbie Bach didn't bring this up on stage today at Microsoft's open house event is anyone's guess -- though we have to imagine that when your OS is this heavily gutted (HTC has even completely removed stock apps like calendar and contacts and replaced them with its own versions, and the company had to hand-roll the capacitive / multitouch interfacing), it might not be the best example of what you've done. We'll be waiting with bated breath till we get more hands-on time with this phone, but until then, we can all enjoy some lengthy video of the device in action... so check it out after the break. Update: Second video is up!
HTC HD2 to arrive Stateside in early 2010 -- huzzah!
Snap, looks like that painful feeling in our gut was just from that late-night Mickey's sesh after all. HTC's Peter Chou told SlashGear today that the monstrous, amazing HTC HD2 will be coming to the United States of America sometime in Q1 of 2010. That's not too far off, but let's be honest -- it's gonna be a long wait. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
HTC's HD2 gets official, we get our hands-on it (Updated: with video!)
Our friend Drita at Engadget Spanish was lucky enough to spend some extended moments with HTC's just announced HD2 -- also known as the Leo. It's got exactly the same specs we just heard about: a 4.3-inch WVGA capacitive display, a 1GHz MSM8250 Snapdragon processor, integrated FM radio, a 5-megapixel camera, Bluetooth 2.1, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. They found this Windows Mobile 6.5 baby to be elegant and light feeling in the hand, the touchscreen to be responsive and quick, and HTC's Sense UI beautiful. The phone's also quite snappy, and we have to say we can't wait to get our hands on one ourselves. As far as availability goes -- well, we know it's going to run €649 and it will be available in November on Vodaphone in Spain (we've also heard it's headed to T-Mobile UK), with additional carriers following after December. Check out the gallery, and head over to Engadget Spanish for a fuller hands-on experience. [Via Engadget Spanish] %Gallery-74700%%Gallery-74808%
HTC Touch HD2 gets spec'd, rumored for T-Mobile UK
By all accounts, HTC's shooting to create the be-all, end-all king of the Windows Mobile dominion with its mighty Leo / HD2 / Touch HD2 / whatever it's called -- and a comprehensive list of specs published over on xda-developers would certainly back up that statement. Notable items on the list include the previously known 1GHz MSM8250 (that's a Snapdragon, by the bye), full HSPA with up to 7.2Mbps on the downlink, a stunning 4.3-inch WVGA capacitive display (allegedly with multitouch support so that it can be upgraded to Windows Mobile 7 down the line), an integrated FM radio, 5 megapixel autofocus cam with dual LED flash, Bluetooth 2.1, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Sadly, it seems the phone's just set up for 900 and 2100MHz 3G, continuing the original Touch HD's bunk tradition of leaving North America out in the cold. Separately, rumors are swirling that T-Mobile UK could be joining O2 in offering the beast, and CoolSmartPhone has landed some sort of a promo shot of an HD2 branded as the "Touch HD2" in full T-Mobile livery, so we'd say that's a pretty strong indicator. Too bad this is all falling on deaf ears over at T-Mobile USA, eh? [Via pocketnow.com and wmpoweruser.com] Read - Specs, additional pictures
HTC HD2 makes first official appearance in O2 UK catalog
We've been furnished with the above page from an O2 in-store catalog detailing the HTC HD2 (aka Leo), which was set for a UK release on October 12 (though we're hearing that may have slipped to the 26th). Interesting that it's pictured with a stock Windows Mobile 6.5 UI instead of TouchFLO 3D. Is O2 rushing HTC's new hotness out the door in response to losing its iPhone supremacy? Or did an absent-minded employee just slip out the catalogs ahead of time? We're getting in touch with O2 to find out and will update with more details as we get them. For now, check out the full catalog page after the break. [Thanks, Peter W.] Update: After O2 stonewalled our phone enquiries, we decided to drop by our nearest (which was still annoyingly far away) store to have a look for ourselves. Alas, we only found September issues of the catalog, and the above snapshot is from the October iteration, which sports a big fat Pre promo on the front. So, anyone else seen an advance copy yet?
HTC Leo benchmarked, leaves blisters
The HTC Leo has already got hearts-aflutter the world over with its high-end spec sheet and huge capacitive touchscreen, but now that some early benchmarks have hit we might have a full-on fanboy panic on our hands. That 1GHz Snapdragon processor isn't just for show, people -- you're looking at least a 300 percent improvement over the Touch HD on every single 3D graphics benchmark with an astounding 1,822 percent improvement on one test, and raw CPU performance was nearly three times as fast. Yeah, those are some wild numbers -- we'll have to see what battery life is like when this thing ships, but for now we'd recommend hitting the read link and taking in the full set of benchmarks.
HTC Leo's TouchFLO 3D build demoed on video
The HTC Leo is shaping up to be a pretty monumental Windows Mobile launch, and not just because of that high-res capacitive touchscreen and 1GHz Snapdragon processor -- it's also running a nicely refreshed version of TouchFLO 3D. The cats at PocketNow managed to grab an early ROM and install it on a Touch Diamond2, check the video after the break to see the new icons, dynamic background wallpaper, and much, much more.[Via MobileTechWorld; thanks Mistyk]
HTC Leo looking confirmed for O2 UK debut, will be free on the right plan
If you needed another reason to frown upon the state of the North American wireless industry, allow us to go ahead and turn your attention to Exhibit A here. What you're looking at is some promotional material backing up earlier rumors that the HD2 / Leo is en route to O2 in the UK, but what's especially upsetting (though not terribly surprising) is the knowledge that customers will be able to scoop up HTC's new ultra-high-end WinMo beast for zilch on an O2 1200 tariff -- a plan that runs something like £45 (about $72) a month. Oh, and that's on an 18-month contract, not 24. Meanwhile, we'll be lucky to ever see the Leo land in its natural, original, HTC-approved state on a carrier at any price in the US, but hey, at least we've still got some more Touch Pro2 launches to look forward to, right? [Thanks, anonymous tipster]
HTC HD2 inches closer to reality, hitting Europe in October for around 600 Euro?
We already heard about a potential October 12 launch for the HTC HD2 (Leo) on O2 in the UK, and now we're hearing October for the Netherlands as well -- with a 550 to 600 Euro price range. Of note, the tipster who dropped this knowledge on pocketnow.com also says that Pocket IE on the phone won't have multitouch gesture support, despite the capacitive screen's support for multi-finger input -- though with Microsoft's own Zune HD sporting a multitouch version of Pocket IE, we have to believe it's in the works. Just like everything good and decent planned for Windows Mobile. [Via All About Phones]
HTC HD2 (aka, Leo) launching on O2 UK October 12th?
A trusted tipster with a proven past just gave us the launch day scoop on the hotly anticipated HTC Leo. A Windows Mobile 6.5 handset we recently spied with HD2 branding and a 4.3-inch capacitive touchscreen display with 800x480 resolution -- a pixel density that should give plenty of room for finger-friendly TouchFlo 3D navigation. According to said source, the O2 intranet site lists the "HTC HD2" on its future products list with an October 12th launch date. O2 peeps will immediately recognize the lack of XDA branding which makes the claim a bit suspicious. Then again, HTC has been trying to break the shackles of pointless carrier rebranding for years. Truth be told in the days ahead.
HTC Leo spotted once again, friends call it "HD2"
This new Leo hotness from HTC sure is making the rounds, and we certainly can't get enough of it. Its latest appearance shows the handset from some sexy angles, but also gives us a new tidbit to chew on: the Bluetooth menu identifies the phone as the HD2. So, is this the much-rumored successor to the Touch HD, or an absolutely gorgeous impostor? We'd venture a guess, but we're too busy longing for that 4.3-inch capacitive LCD to care. [Via MobileTechWorld]
HTC Touch HD2 to be an Android set?
Fanboys the world over swooned over the HTC Touch HD when it launched last year, but word is that HTC's planning on making a major change to its high-res handset for the sequel: it's switching to Android. That's at least the hot whisper 'round the tubes this afternoon, and while that would ordinarily be enough to make the 'droidboys to go crazy, there's even more -- the CPU is reportedly a 628MHz Qualcomm chip, not the slightly overtaxed 528MHz number we've seen in every other Android handset to date. Sure, it's just a measly 100MHz, but if that's enough to make Sense and HD video on the 3.8-inch 480 x 800 display run smoothly we'll be all grins. If any of this is true, that is.[Via BGR]
Sanyo's Xacti HD2 high-def camcorder delivers 7 megapixel stills
It's deja vu all over again: at almost this exact same time last year, Sanyo unleashed the world's smallest HD camcorder in the form of its VPC-HD1, and now the company has stepped up its game with the brand new Xacti HD2. Maintaining the same pistol-grip form factor and 720p resolution as its predecessor, the HD2 kicks the stills up to seven megapixels, delivers 75% better low-light sensitivity, and perhaps best of all, ships with a docking station that sports HDMI out. Like the HD1a, this new model boasts support for SDHC, and Sanyo claims that a big fat 8GB card will store almost three full hours of footage. Other notable specs include 16:9 mode, a 2.2-inch LCD, 10x optical zoom, and spoken directions to help newbs get shooting right away. Expect the HD2 to drop sometime in March, and even though you're getting a number of improved features, Sanyo managed to knock $100 off of the HD1's initial price of $800. Check out the gallery below for some hands-on action... Sanyo's Xacti HD2 high-def camcorder delivers 7 megapixel stills
BMW offers up HD Radio in its entire fleet of 2007 vehicles
Yeah, we're still anxious to find out what this bizarre looking thing is too, but BMW is making waves again, and this time it's crowning itself as the first automaker to offer HD Radio receivers as a factory-installed option on its entire fleet of vehicles. Yep, this spring you'll be able to get HD Radio loud and clear without yanking the factory head unit on the 2007 BMW 3-, 5-, 6-, or 7-Series model, as well as the firm's X3, X5, and Z4. The company also noted that its receivers would support HD Radio multicasting, and stated that the option would cost folks a cool $500 if they deem it worthy.
