HTC HD2 review, what do you want to know?
We will be getting an HTC HD2 shortly thanks to Clove, and will be reviewing it for your pleasure, so what questions do you want answered?
We shall be doing a longer term review with a “can I live with this device” kind of view point, along with a set of follow ups on “cool things you can do”, tweaks to the software, applications, ROMs, updates and pretty much everything you can think of.
Make sure you bookmark this page, follow us on Twitter @wmpoweruser or subscribe to the Leo RSS here, depending on what takes your fancy!
Preorder yours now from Clove!
Sphere: Related Content
Posted in 
Tags: 
i'm interested in the screen material and how flexible the device is if you try and bend it. Also general durability of the micro USB connector. screen visibility when in direct sunlight would be interesting too. could also be good if you got one of those capacitive styli and used it for a few days to see how practical it is.
[Reply]
Foamy Reply:
November 5th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
Also how effective is the LED flash in the dark?
[Reply]
Lennard Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
I'm also interested in these points too, and yes the LED flash in the dark, and I really want to know how the camera operates in very low light conditions (not dark, but not bright). how is the speaker/speakerphone. how good is the WiFi in range (a good way to test this is to turn the phone into a wireless router then use your laptop and see how far away you can you go from the phone, or check how far you can walk from you access point before the connection goes out). call quality. this might be a little off-beat but, how does it look when held up to your ear? (I would never dear put my Athena up to my ear, it's huge).
[Reply]
I already have the Leo software on my HD so know what its like, so the only thing i really want to know is at what point does the HD2 start to fail to play movies smoothly. What sort of bit rate and file types will cause stuttering. Id like someone to try an HD .mkv file and see what happens.
[Reply]
On which apps you can pinch to zoom in and if you find an ability to make more apps pinch-zoom-enabled (e.g. something in the registry).
When are you getting the HD2?
[Reply]
I´m especially interested in the usability of the new capacitive touchscreen:
What are the advantages, what are the disadvantages in all-day-use. Is it difficult to get used to it coming from a resistive touchscreen and being accustomed to using your fingernails?
Then, having the huge screen in mind, is it possible to use the device one-handed (guess that might be hard).
[Reply]
apinkel Reply:
November 5th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
I second this one.
[Reply]
Lennard Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
I used my Athena with one hand, most of the time I had to use 2 though, but it's doable. now this device is smaller so I don't think it should be a problem to use with one hand. however, I beleive it's not the same sort of learning curve that goes on when trying to get used to a different software keyboard. I think it's a wider curve when switching from a resisitive to a capacitive screen. I've used my baby mother's iphone a bunch of times and I can tell you that after you use it a couple of times you get used to it.
[Reply]
i want to know whtether there is a usb host htingn in it or not nad how it can be used!!??
[Reply]
Lennard Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
yes it comes with the USBtoPC app….is that what you're asking?
[Reply]
Strangerx Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
he means if it's possible to plug-in stuff like usb-devices such as usb-sticks, mouse, keyboard etc. (everything you plug into your computer/laptop). the toshiba tg01 supports such devices and it was rumoured that the HD2 has the same ability aswell
[Reply]
Lennard Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
if the TG01 has it then all it is just some drivers that needs to be transferred over. cooks should be unto that if it's not inlcuded in the THD2.
[Reply]
l3v5y Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
The HTC devices since the Diamond have had that, it lets you select things like Memory card mode, Internet Sharing or Active sync.
[Reply]
I am interested if the HD2 resolved the delayed dialer issue specially when receiving a call
Also, the battery performance compared to any other HTC devices
And if possible, how is the WiFi and signal reception
[Reply]
Lennard Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
I usually turn off the dialer skin because they're usually slow, but I've seen a video of the dialer and it's fast. with this device I don't think I'll be turning off the dialer skin anymore.
[Reply]
i'd like to get more information about the camera please
[Reply]
Lennard Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
+1……
I've seen a couple videos and it seems to be pretty fast, but more info can't hurt…..right?
[Reply]
Biggest question I have is how is the speed of the processor. Especially when browsing the web with IE and Opera. How does it compare to the current 528mhz chips.
[Reply]
as much details as possible about the USB host please.
and the camera, oh the camera! please lots of sample pictures and -videos, and preferrably not only the classic "hey, aint bad huh" still shot at sunlight but also moving objects indoors with more difficult light situations (such as, normal indoor lightbulb). both for foto and video, if possible.
[Reply]
Lennard Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
+1
[Reply]
Foamy Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
I can answer the first question: There is no USB host or video out.
[Reply]
Lennard Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
notify the cooks over at XDA so they can start working on transfering this functionality from the TG01
[Reply]
l3v5y Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Don't worry, I've already got the Leo ROM…
Working out which drivers it is may take longer, and making it actually work might not happen…
[Reply]
Lennard Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
once you find the driver, just let us know
I'm hesitating between a Touch Pro 2 and a HD2. I want to go for the HD2 but before I want to be sure about 2 topics not really developed on other reviews: The screen keyboard, is it good? practical? Can it replace a hardware keyboard? Is it fast?
And I'd like to know the quality of the Mic / Speaker. Touch Pro 2 had great review about this and his hand free capabilities. Is the HD2 as good?
Thank you,
Gaz
[Reply]
Frankie Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 12:38 am
Hey, I'm in no way affiliated with Cootek, but if you already have a Windos phone you definitely want to load TouchPal by cootek, I promise you after about a week you'll never want to use physical keyboard again. There is about a week learnin curve, but once you have mastered it, you can almost type with your eyes closed.
I mean just simple task like: swipping backwards on the word "play" will give you the word "played" and swipping forward will give you the word "playing". I like to use the keyboard lay out wher it combines two keys per word.
Really, I have it running on my HD and I can type faster with one hand on my HD then with two hand on my old Universal. The best part is it's basically free. I got the payed version just because I was so enthused by it. Really every Windwos Phone user should have this loaded. It's a revolutionary keyboard.
I can't even imagine how it'd run on the HD2.
[Reply]
Frankie Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 12:41 am
Continuing, you can increase the size of the keyboard by by swipping up, and decrease by swipping down. you can change the layout of the keyboard by long swipping left or right. You can also do percise input by simply swipping a key. I've been using in about a year, it's it's so freaking awesom, go through the tutorial once and your set. you'll love it I swear
[Reply]
Yes Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 1:56 am
I've actually used TouchPal and I don't particularly like it. I use the SPB on screen keyboard if needed. I'm only using a Tilt, though, so I might have a different experience on a larger and flush touchscreen.
[Reply]
Lennard Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
TouchPal, if you're afraid to learn then leave TouchPal alone. get it, use it, love it. I find that I type much faster with touchpal than I did with any other soft keyboards. just take the time to pass over the learning curve (go through the tutorial, watch videos, etc, take the time see what the keyboard has to offer) because once you get used to it your friends will be telling you to slow down on sending those long messages because they're being sent so fast they can't even finish reading the previous message you sent. Yes, once learnt the keyboard is that good.
[Reply]
Frankie Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
:'-) and I thought I was the only one who love Touchpal. The best keyboard ever!!!!!
[Reply]
Lennard Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
yes it is the best, it is literally the first thing I install on any new ROM I put on my phone….
[Reply]
How it feels without stylus, on gui element that not yet skinned by touchflo.
[Reply]
I'd like to know how the capacitive screen is to use on those ugly-old standard WM applications (Pressing the 'X' button, using scroll-bars, etc.
Ditto on battery life – how long does it last with continuous web-browsing, video/audio playback, etc.
[Reply]
How much free RAM is there after bootup with no programs running?
[Reply]
I am interested to know how its display behaves in direct sunlight (especially compared with iPhone's one).
Second thing is battery life in browsing mode, music listening and also reading mode (with wifi off).
And finally, is it possible to zoom using one hand only?
[Reply]
Hello, would like to know how Sense is compatible with "old" applications such as agenda fusion, applications which really close the program instead of putting them backwards (i use wktask, but can be others) or pocketbreeze (who show on today page next appointements tasks etc). Those old apps may be too old, but are must have for me to use WinMo efficiently, and could prevent me from buying this beautiful HD2. And, btw, is it possible to put shortcuts on the today page of Sense to most common apps or functions (all the above, shortcut for silent & vibrate, etc…) Thanks for the answer, and excuse my bad english.
[Reply]
l3v5y Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
I should be able to answer those without a device…
Sense is just a skin over Windows Mobile, anything you can do on WM you can do on the HD2, you may lose some functions because they need precision which is lost by capacitive, but I'll see if I can get "magnifier" on all screens/a configuration utility so you can use it everywhere.
If you have shortcuts in your start menu, you can add them to the icons on the Sense today page.
[Reply]
1autrefred Reply:
November 8th, 2009 at 6:29 am
Thanks a lot for your answer. Sounds logical. But still wondering how it works in "real life". how about switching between 2 or 3 opened apps, view calls list during a call, how pocketbreeze could show all appointement on the start page/home screen if there is no more start page (but the sense page), if it is possible to put more than 9 shortcuts (9 blocks only are available, 3 of them always displayed), …. the whole impression i have is that the sense skin is not very upgradable, despite it's beautiful. And i love to tweak and put shortcut everywhere on my WinMo 5. But maybe this is not the right place here for such questions, and once again, thanks a lot for the answer.
[Reply]
Sound quality, noise ratios, etc. when compared to other popular devices, battery life, visibility during daytime (when sun is active).
[Reply]
How well you can see whats on screen when outside ? I have TyTN and I can't see anything on screen outside.
[Reply]
I'd be interested to know the quality of the external speaker in comparison to the diaomond. My diamond's is shockingly poor and i rarely here my phone ringing anywhere even slightly noisy.
[Reply]
l3v5y Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
I've got a Diamond, so that should be a relatively easy comparison… Hopefully.
[Reply]
How well do applications such as Remote Desktop or Calligrapher work without a stylus?
[Reply]
1. 720p mkv files (just to know how it performs, won't wanna waste the storage)
2. Audio output quality (bass, treble, noise, etc…)
3. SPB mibile shell 3.5 (and if it's possible to turn on H/W acceleration)
4. many of the things others said
thanx alot !!!
[Reply]
In the early benchmarks published on XDA-dev, the HD2 performed quite poorly in 3D graphics. We all thought that it was a matter of pre-production graphic drivers… Has the situation improved with the retail version?
[Reply]
My biggest concern is that it's not running WinMo 6.x Pro, right ?! I need the MS Office apps will I be relegated to the TP2 instead, dammit ? :S
Also, wished it had a transflective LCD so its usage in daylight was as good as indoors. My circa 2002 Dell Axim had a transflective LCD but NO ONE else has ever implemented it, why ?!
[Reply]
EludiumQ36 Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
Concern abated, the (Euro) HD2 runs WM6.5 Pro (http://www.htc.com/europe/product/hd2/specificati...
[Reply]
mighty Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Yeah it's windows mobile Pro (touch screen). There's no difference whatsoever between the OS here and the one on Touch Pro devices. So you can use it for office as long as you can work with a software keyboard.
[Reply]
Lennard Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
yes it runs WinMo 6.x Pro….it should come with winmo 6.5 though. yes it comes with the MS Office apps.
about the screens the lack of transflective LCD, it can be that they are very expensive, that they draw too much power, could be that color saturation isnt' that good….it could be many reasons
[Reply]
With their version of USB Host, can you just plug in a regular USB keyboard and start using it without adding 3rd party software like USBinput:
http://teksoftco.com/index.php?section=usbinput
Also, will Bluetooth compatible keyboards like the Freedom Universal, work with Leo?
[Reply]
The HD2 does not have a general USB host capability. I've tried it. It does not work (no flash drives, no custom hardware with my own drivers that are known to work on other snapdragon devices with USB host – such as the Toshiba TG01).
HTC has disabled it, again.
[Reply]
Hey, great useful site. My question… Can you add 3rd party apps (like facebook) to the sense scroll bar on bottom of the home page? not in the shortcuts, but actually on the scroll bar alongside the peep icon and weather etc?
[Reply]