Windows Phone Thoughts - Daily News, Views, Rants and Raves

A couple of things jumped out at me as I watched this video: first, that the Snapdragon processor/chipset of the HD2 allows Windows Mobile to finally be as responsive as the iPhone - and in fact, I'd argue it's even more responsive. HTC has continued to evolve TouchFlo 3D - seeminly now officially re-named to HTC Sense - and with this new release they've gone deeper into the guts of Windows Mobile and replaced even more than previous devices. You can finally create new calendar appointments in a finger-friendly way, and HTC Sense has been expanded in terms of built-in functionality; there's now a Twitter client, and the photo viewing software taps directly into Facebook photo albums and allows you to browse them as if they were local to your device. The rich, deep functionality of HTC Sense and the associated apps that HTC has created is truly impressive.

The question is, will HTC release this new version of HTC Sense for the Diamond2 and Touch Pro2 via a future ROM update? Or will they continue to use HTC Sense as a "buy a new device to get the new software" ploy that alienates HTC customers? Only time will tell...

"I've been honoured to have the HD2 in daily use for the last six weeks (thanks O2) and I'm very impressed with all aspects of its design and function - The Sense tabs that replace the Titanium interface work beautifully well and the deeper integration that HTC have done to hide the somewhat finger unfriendly WM6.5 interface make the device a joy to use - and yes I can say that the stylus has not been missed at all. The speed of the HD2 has to be seen to be believed (videos to follow) everything feels fast and smooth from the transitional tab navigation in the Sense screen to the speed of scanning photos in flow mode, or flicking through large pictures in the Album itself. Transitions from portrait to landscape modes in applications is nigh on instant and the same can be said when zooming in and out of photographs using the two finger pinch system. At one point I actually found I had fourteen applications loaded in the background (including heavyweight items like the Album) and there was no slow down in operation and no applications had auto-closed in the background. During the time I've used the HD2 there have been no problems with the device heating up or behaving in an adverse manner in any way."

I normally don't like to quote as much as I did above from 4WinMobile's review. However you can believe me when I say that I'm not quoting any more than my normal percentage! This thing is massive! And with more screenshots than you can shake a stick at (ANY stick.. large or small), it is worth a read. And I'm fairly sure it would make even the most ardent iPhone supporter admit that the UI is quite nice!

"The HTC HD2 is the world's first Windows Mobile-toting phone with a capacitive screen, and also packs the world's largest mobile phone display too. It's also the first WinMo phone to use HTC's Sense UI, previously used on the company's Android handsets, bringing with it Facebook integration and direct Twitter access, as well as masking well the operating system beneath it."

In an extensive review of the HD2 TechRadar compares it to the iPhone (What else is new?) and while a complete review in it's own right, it does make me wonder: Is it fair to compare a business-oriented OS to a consumer-oriented? Or is it just that Windows Mobile doesn't fit nicely into purely business or purely consumer spaces?

While the grapevine has supplied this tidbit for quite some time now, it's nice to see official confirmation. If you've been living on a desert island for the last couple of months, the HD2 is HTC's latest uber-phone sporting a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 4.3" capacitive display, WM6.5, an ultra-slim profile, HTC's latest UI overlay (HTC Sense), and just about everything else under the sun. The big deal about this confirmation is that the models currently shipping in Europe and Asia don't support US 3G bands, which meant the US market would have been left out otherwise. No clues yet on which carrier will take this up, but the HD2 should be available by Spring 2010.

"Sure, you've seen this guy in action in earlier videos... but it's still nice to get a look at this monster up close. We're still blown away by the fact that this is a Windows Mobile 6.5 device -- the skinning job that HTC has done here is nothing short of a miracle."

HTC's Sense-equipped HD2 is one gorgeous Windows Mobile 6.5 device, and Engadget has the eye candy to back it up. Scoot over there and check it out. Anyone planning on picking one up?

Italian site Solopalmari have scored what looks like the very first unboxing video of the when-is-it-going-to-be-in-stock HTC HD2 (original link here, Google-translated version here). What's shown isn't the final packaging, which is a relief - I saw the video first before reading the article, and thought HTC were nuts to have the accessories look like they've just been thrown in the box. Thankfully that's not the case, though I wonder if you can really call this an unboxing video when the "box" isn't what you're going to get at retail. Oh well, enjoy the view.

"HTC Corporation, a global smartphone designer, today unveiled a global advertising campaign that is based on HTC's new Quietly Brilliant brand positioning. As HTC's first global advertising campaign, the YOU campaign is being rolled out across 20 countries in the coming weeks and features the tagline, 'You don't need to get a phone. You need a phone that gets you.' This represents HTC's commitment to focus on people, their needs and how they work and live to ensure that HTC devices suit them."

With a plethora of new and upcoming devices up its sleeve, HTC has gone mainstream in the marketing department. It's just unveiled its YOU ad campaign that's set to be rolled out in twenty countries. The primary take-home point is that HTC's devices are all about the people (you). Yeah, it all sounds like marketing fluff. Admittedly, I wasn't entirely sold on the idea at first (and at this stage, you probably aren't either), but after watching the TV ads, I'm actually digging the way this campaign is headed. Check them out after the break, then drop your thoughts in this thread.

Read more...

If you're a Touch Pro2 user with Vodafone UK and are eager to upgrade to Windows Mobile 6.5, your moment has arrived. The update is free and yours to grab at the Vodafone UK site.

The audio is Greek to me - literally, it's two Greek guys talking - but mute the audio and enjoy the video. Finally, someone with a camera that can focus and decent lighting to boot! The Touch HD2 looks like an amazing device, and the updated version of HTC Sense (a.k.a. TouchFlo 3D) is ridiculously responsive and gorgeous on this device. The only weird thing I noticed was that they had a hard time doing the reverse-pinch to zoom out on the browser. I wonder why that wasn't working very well?

When I first heard about this beast, my initial thought was that it might be just a bit smaller than my Advantage with that massive 4.3" screen. Turns out HTC had a big trick up its sleeve - because capacitive screens (yes, the HD2's got one) doesn't require that much bezel space to fit, the frame is small enough to make the body almost (though not quite) comparable to phones with much smaller screens. The comparison to the iPod touch above is a pretty good example - in fact, in terms of volume, the HD2 is actually slightly smaller than the iPhone 3GS thanks to a thinner profile. My only concern now is, how the heck do you use the hardware buttons at the bottom while using the HD2 with one hand? For more example pics, check mobile-review.com.

If you're an HTC Touch Pro2 or HTC Snap owner, HTC has released the Windows Mobile 6.5 software update for those devices - though I'm a bit unclear on whether this update is only for European phones, or for any phone that matches the generic spec of these two phones. This is the generic version, so you'll be losing any carrier-branded updates - but that might be a blessing in disguise...

"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."

It looks like there's a lot to like about the HTC HD2, but I'm honestly questioning the 4.3 inch screen. It looks HUGE in Eric Lin's hands...is 4.3 inches too big? What do you think? I guess I'll have to see it in person to decide. Other than that, wow, does this device look hot! HTC Sense - the new term for TouchFlo3D - looks buttery smooth in performance. This looks like it's going to be a great device - and it seems like it's even going to come to North America...

"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."

HD2, the name now popular for the Leo, appears to be on track for O2 UK - including this possible catalog image that's leaked out. Looks good for my friends across the pond to pick one of these up soon, if they so desire.

"Verizon's HTC Imagio is a touchscreen Windows Mobile 6.5 handset, or "Windows Phone," with a healthy, if expected, spec set, iiiiinnncluding!: a 3.6-inch WVGA screen, Wi-Fi, GPS, a 5-megapixel camera, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and microSD storage expansion (but sadly, no included card). It's also the first smartphone with V CAST Mobile TV, which is a Flo TV-based live streaming TV service that looks and feels a bit like digital cable, phone-ified. Accordingly, it has an adorable kickstand."

This $200-with-contract device - or $100 after a rebate - is a study in how flexible Windows Mobile is. So flexible, in fact, that HTC took out almost everything that Microsoft put into Windows Mobile 6.5. Start Menu? Replaced by HTC software. Home screen? Replaced by HTC software. Internet Explorer 6? Replaced by HTC software. I've never seen a device launch with a new operating system, then work so hard to cover up that operating system. Microsoft has a significant problem on their hands here when their biggest partner wants to make the device look and act nothing like Microsoft's vision for the software. I can't really blame HTC though - without their investment into TouchFlo3D (now dubbed HTC Sense I believe), Windows Mobile phones would have been even worse off.

"AT&T* and HTC Corporation, a global designer of mobile phones, today announced the upcoming availability of the HTC TiltTM 2 and the HTC PURETM with Windows® Mobile 6.5. The HTC PURE delivers a touch screen experience in an alluring, compact form factor, and the HTC Tilt 2 features the convenience of a tilting touch screen combined with the practicality of a slide out full QWERTY keyboard."

Ah, AT&T is announcing two great Windows Phone offerings, the Pure (The HTC Touch Diamond 2) and the Tilt 2 (The HTC Touch Pro 2). Who knows what's pure about a Touch Diamond, or why we didn't see a crazy new name similar to "Fuze" (Perhaps the "Cerket Braker" or "Swich"), and I'm sure these two new offerings won't help AT&T's abysmal coverage issues (Hey, you'll love the 70% of calls you don't drop in NYC, right?)!

"Although not a soul alive is shocked by the news, today Verizon Wireless announced it will be releasing the HTC Imagio - its first Windows Mobile 6.5 device - online starting October 6th. The Imagio, known to most by its codename Whitestone, will feature the following key specs: 3.6″ WVGA touchscreen display (resistive, of course), 5 megapixel camera with autofocus, Wi-Fi, EV-DO Rev. A, quad-band EDGE and 2100MHz UMTS/HSDPA for international roaming"

Tomorrow is the big day for those of you cursed with Verizon's fee-loving wireless service. If you want, you can own a HTC Imagio! The 5 MP camera makes for a nice digital camera quick-replacement, and at least with Big V's service you should have coverage in pretty much any rural area you probably don't want to be at in the first place!

News and leaks about the Touch HD2 nee HTC Leo are now coming in fast and furious. This latest includes (official) confirmation of the name, at least on T-Mobile (sorry folks, Europe only so far). If you want to know when it'll hit the shelves, scuttlebutt from various sources has it that the HD2 will be available by the end of this month from a variety of carriers across Europe and in Australia. Sorry, no pricing info forthcoming just yet, but chances are you're looking at premium positioning with prices to match. Will this come to the US? There's a version with US 3G bands in the works (the HD2 is not a world phone), but nothing confirmed yet.

The device-formerly-know-as-Whitestone, now dubbed the HTC Imagio? Yeah, it's definitely coming to Verizon, and the video above is a walk-through of the device.

"For this review I had the HTC Touch Pro 2 for about 3 weeks thanks to HTC and I found it quite hard to let it go. It performed flawlessly during my testing and the new TouchFLO3D made using it virtually stylus-free. It is simply stunning both in performance and in functionality."

Clinton Fitch seems to have been a big fan of the Touch Pro 2, a device sitting on my own desk right now (It's the TP2's turn in the rotation between a Dash 3G and a MyTouch 3G). I must admit, it is one of the most stylish and polished devices I've used in quite awhile. Kudos HTC!

"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"

Looks like the Leo, or the HD2, or whatever it wants to call itself, may be showing up in the UK as early as October 12. Those on O2 may want to be aware if they're interested in replacing an aging device. Or just want another one to play with!

UPDATE: And MAN is that thing fast! Engadget reported yesterday that benchmarks are showing it to have about a 300% increase in raw CPU speed over the original HTC Touch HD!