HTC HD2
Microsoft’s Windows Mobile 6.5 was met with a relatively lukewarm reception in late 2009 but there was one device which opted to incorporated the new operating system.
HTC’s HD2 decided to use Windows Mobile 6.5 and it may be the only feature that is holding this device back from being truly remarkable.
The HTC HD2 is arguably the most advanced smartphone on the market today in terms of sheer processing power and hardware. Upon its release critics marvelled at the size of the device as well as the number of features HTC had managed to pack into its frame.
The HD2’s most notable attribute is its 4.3 inches of TFT capacitive touchscreen real estate. This makes it a full inch bigger than both the iPhone and the BlackBerry Storm 2 – the device’s closest competitors.
The HD2’s external design is also relatively uncluttered and simple, featuring only Windows Mobile ‘Answer’, ‘Decline’, ‘Home’, ‘Start’ and ‘Back’ buttons. It has a matt black finish which is complimented by a brushed steel battery guard. A mini USB port and a 3.5mm audio jack are also included at the base of the device.
Much has been said about the internal make up of the HD2; this is primarily due to the inclusion of Qualcomm’s 1GHz Snapdragon processor which is currently the fastest commercially available mobile processor on the market. Given the graphical demands placed on the processor by both Windows Mobile and a 4.3 inch touchscreen the HD2 performs more than admirably and is able to open applications and move between home screens with ease. In addition the HD2 also incorporates 448 MB of RAM and 512 MB of ROM
In addition to this the HD2 also features WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, a 5 Megapixel camera with autofocus and dual LED flash, Micro SD support for up to 32 GB, an accelerometer and a proximity sensor.
In terms of battery life the HD2 offered just over a single day of heavy usage. This is in line with most application rich smartphones which are currently on the market.
Although the HD2 is packed with a number of useful features, a truly impressive touchscreen and a blistering processor it is the Windows 6.5 Mobile software which ultimately lets it down.
While testing the device we were given the impression that Windows Mobile had not been well optimised for a smartphone of this calibre. This could leave users feeling frustrated at the inability to harness the HD2’s true potential. Overall we found Windows Mobile 6.5 to be little better than its predecessors and often locked up or struggled while performing multiple operations.
The HTC HD2 is a revolutionary device which has unfortunately been bottlenecked by a mobile operating system which is unable to cope with the demands placed on it by a high end smartphone. One cannot help but wonder if the HD2 would not have been better served if it were Android based.
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