Database Users

Is the SE Xperia really that bad ?

I'm considering buying an Xperia, mostly because it is much cheaper than HTC Touch HD (I'd love to have this device). But after reading diverse reviews on the Internet, I found a lot of complaints about the performance of the device (too slow,..), on the whole the review make a negative impression on me
Apparently this is just a software/firmware issue, which should be fixed with a new firmware upgrade. But what worries me most is Sony Ericsson might not ever bother to bring a new upgrade, or they will do but eventually discontinue support for the device and switch to Android, because Windows Mobile was probably a failed start for them.
Nevertheless it is very likely that I will buy the device because I know there is site on the Internet which calls xda-developers . So I am looking forward to hearing your opinions to make my ultimate decision

SE has already released upgraded firmware and from my experience I have to say the phone is quick... very quick... I have had it for about 4 or 5 months now and it goes from strength to strength... the only down side I would say is the keyboard, its different from my Kaiser/TyTN II but I am getting used to it and its working out... GPS is very fast at getting a fix (sooo much faster than my old phone its like a biplane vs a modern jet fighter) and the internet is awesome... so over all thumbs up from me, however I bet you will find negative and positive reviews... depends on the person using it and the reason they are using it I guess...

I have been owner of the X1 for about 6 weeks now and I am very satisfied. Of course, as any other device, it has some problems. This is what I don't like about it:
-Camera takes too long to capture, images get blurry if you can't hold the phone without ANY shaking (Camera Button is hard to press, which makes this difficult)
-Panel performance is poor
-Original audio recorder was removed, I believe, There is, however, a way to record with the built-in software: As a Voicenote. But you won't get a WAVE file or anything like this with it.
I've installed a lot of software meanwhile and BASICALLY performance is very well. The display may take some time to rotate when you slide it open. The biggest problem is, from my point of view, that, when you are answering a text message, it lags and you accidentally send an empty message. So you hit the Reply-Button with your finger, phone doesn't react immediately, so you think it didn't get it and you touch again, and it activates the Send-Button which will come in place of the Reply button, so you send an empty message. This has happened twice to me so far (I've sent about 100 msgs).
No other performance issues.
I can really recommend the phone. Features are fantastic and very well worth the price... This device is next-gen, a piece of future.
EDIT: I forgot to mention, it has no Ctrl-Key on the Slideout Keyboard. That's bad.
EDIT2: And just to convince you, I have running WMWIFIRouter on my X1. My phone provides me with WLAN through 3 walls over a distance of about 20 meters. Signal Quality on the Notebook is at about 40%. Isn't this crazy?

Thanks for your quick replies.
I'm a heavy "business user" although I'm still a student , it literally means that I've been using windows mobile devices only for its business functions (calendar, task, note,email, web...) and never care about other multimedia features.
The main reason for which I wanted to switch to Xperia (from HTC Touch) is its high resolution screen, still the screen seems to be relative small (3 inch), in comparison to HTC TOUCH HD.
I use smartphone to read ebook quite often, since HTC Touch HD and Xperia share the same resolution, does it really mean that Xperia can display the same amount of content as the HD does ? Or with the same content we will barely see anything on the Xperia because the screen is too small ? In case of an ebook, does it mean that the Xperia can display the same amount of words on the screen as the HD does and the page on Xperia is still readable ?
And what about those cracks, they look scared, I've just found several auctions on Ebay from people selling their cracked Xperia ...

I've just "accidentally" won a 1 month old Xperia on Ebay for only 300euro. Nevertheless I'm still waiting for your diverse opinions Just in the worst case I can resell it and save money for other device
Truth be told, I really want to keep this device ... waiting for positive reviews

I use my phone for reading all the time... usually for about 4 or more hours a day... in English and Chinese and its simply brilliant... clear and crisp... I was originally worried about the clarity, especially for the Chinese but find its just that good I am very pleased... as for cracks... I have not yet experienced this and from the various polls on this board it looks like it might be a minority from a particular colour (silver) and a particular batch... I have even dropped my phone a few times (each time filling my shorts that I had ruined my phone) but so far (touch wood) its still good...

Shadowdh said:
as for cracks... I have not yet experienced this and from the various polls on this board it looks like it might be a minority from a particular colour (silver) and a particular batch... I have even dropped my phone a few times (each time filling my shorts that I had ruined my phone) but so far (touch wood) its still good...
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Click to collapse
Dont think this is limited to specific batches,
im on my 3rd device from a third batch (week 52 this time)
I now have 2 cracks, one on the silver trim and one near the volume button - this appears to be the common one...
dont get me wrong, it's a good phone, but I would suggest this is not just limited to one batch.

rosebud said:
Dont think this is limited to specific batches,
im on my 3rd device from a third batch (week 52 this time)
I now have 2 cracks, one on the silver trim and one near the volume button - this appears to be the common one...
dont get me wrong, it's a good phone, but I would suggest this is not just limited to one batch.
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Click to collapse
Fairplay... I am just glad that mine is not one of them...

Any idea how these cracks could ever happened It is not from the manufacturing obviously but rather the cracks develop over time ... The reason might be the metal case getting bigger due to temparature , thus crack the plastic ones ...
I always take good care of my phone or any electronic device in general, my HTC Touch still looks absolutely new after 1 year of usage, if I ever experience those crack with the Xperia (hopefully not) then I'm going mad !!

xperia is not bad just not worth the high price. if your going to do a lot of reading and not in the u.s, go for the bigger screen hd.

c_legaspi said:
xperia is not bad just not worth the high price. If your going to do a lot of reading and not in the u.s, go for the bigger screen hd.
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yes i agree with that, get a hd it's much better for your needs, the screen is so tiny in xperia you will regret later belive me.

Okay, HD and X1 share the same number of pixels. But X1 has smaller screen. So the conclusion is you will see the same amount of information on both devices. However, things will appear bigger on the HD - but sharper on the X1. For reading ebooks, the HD is probably the better choice. It depens on whetehr you are interested in a slide-out keyboard. I think that's quite useful for "heavy business users". And on the space in your pocket BTW I have no Cracks at all.

c_legaspi said:
xperia is not bad just not worth the high price. if your going to do a lot of reading and not in the u.s, go for the bigger screen hd.
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I paid half the price in Poland 'cause I bought it without Polish menu... now i have Polish ROM so I think I made a good deal

forumleecher said:
Okay, HD and X1 share the same number of pixels. But X1 has smaller screen. So the conclusion is you will see the same amount of information on both devices. However, things will appear bigger on the HD - but sharper on the X1. For reading ebooks, the HD is probably the better choice. It depens on whetehr you are interested in a slide-out keyboard. I think that's quite useful for "heavy business users". And on the space in your pocket BTW I have no Cracks at all.
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Click to collapse
Ok, I dont mind if things are smaller on the X1 as long as they are still readable. I've never used a device with a keyboard before but I'm getting annoyed with the on screen keyboard of my current device, so a slide-out keyboard must be a plus.
On my opinion, the bigger screen of the HD is good for people who want to use it like an Iphone with their fingers. I'm happy with the stylus, so I think I will go for the X1

the firmware updates for the X1 are making the Xperia better and better (and more like the kickass phone it was supposed to be - check out the R3AA rom extracts under the TOuch-IT 4.5 rom thread!). Yes the screen is tiny, but the new Panels coming out + dedicated ppl like itje making custom firmwares makes this phone worthwhile

remember people tend to post on forums when theyre unhappy about something so theres goin to be a lot of negative comments and not as many positive ones to counteract them. as to the screen size, i use the built in opera browser to surf the Three website and everything is nice and readable. id imagine an ebook or pdf would be just as legible. and if you use it in landscape mode then the screen isnt much shorter than the average paperback book page. the X1 has the extra advantage of the optical mouse which would be quite handy for scrolling through pages. id recommend turning down the sensitivity one notch though.
i think my main recommendation is to not be too disappointed at first, theres so much software available to tweak and improve it so consider it a blank canvas. i wasnt too impressed when i got mine but now ive had a chance to customise it im much happier. everyday i find at least one new cool program to add

Xperia is practically same hardware as recent HTCs. It has same speed issues as HTC and vice versa.
If you want keyboard, I think Xperia is better then Touch Pro because it has 3.5mm jack.
If you don't want keyboard, I think HD is better because of the display.
Touchlo is good system, better then panels (IMHO), but it can be ported to Xperia, and many people does not use it even on HTC.
I say wait .. in a year there will be new WM, new faster devices, new Palm, and new iPhone maybe too.

lamtung said:
Any idea how these cracks could ever happened It is not from the manufacturing obviously but rather the cracks develop over time ... The reason might be the metal case getting bigger due to temparature , thus crack the plastic ones ...
I always take good care of my phone or any electronic device in general, my HTC Touch still looks absolutely new after 1 year of usage, if I ever experience those crack with the Xperia (hopefully not) then I'm going mad !!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My personal opinion for the regular crack near the volume buttons, is that this is caused by stress from the battery cover / removing the battery cover. anyone with that crack, push down on the nearest corner of the cover to the crack, the crack gets smaller.
Cheers
Steve

Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 (Kovsky) is THE BEST HTC PHONE EVER
Want un-arguable proof ??
visit the link in my signature

gtrab said:
Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 (Kovsky) is THE BEST HTC PHONE EVER
Want un-arguable proof ??
visit the link in my signature
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Click to collapse
28% for X1 is really great
i think the X1 is a great device, it has alot of plusses, some minuses.
mainly, it's not a multimedia device so don't expect much on graphics (although they work perfectly, but you can expect some problems from time to time). all other features are great, panels are good.
i have been using it for about 4 months, i bought it for 1000$, and i would say if time goes back, i WILL buy it again
previosly i have been using P910 & P1, they are both good, X1 is the best so far.
SE are really supporting the device, releasing updates, fixing problems.
the device came with R1A ROM, 3 months later R2AA08 was released, then they fixed some other things and released R2AA10 few weeks after.
i think SE are doing a great job supporting the device, they are doing their best to keep us happy, and most of us are.
the only problem of Windows Mobile is that it has lots of configuration and tweeks, install the wrong one or modify something wrong in the registery and you have to make a hard reset.
i LOVE my SE X1, and usually i have alot of arguments with friends who use iphone and it mostly ends with them hating their phones
hope i helped.

Do you regret the X1?

I've been wanting and waiting to buy the xperia since it was released. I'm finally just about to buy it (had one ordered but the order fell through on their end, and so now have time to reconsider). I'm a programmer and very technically-minded, so I am not anticipating having any technical problems with optimizing/dealing with the phone. I'm looking for something powerful (and beautiful) that I can customize and use fully for a while.
However, I see many posts here about people regretting purchasing the xperia, mostly because of sluggish performance (and case cracks). When I go to the local Sony store to play with the display phone they have, I can definitely see that I would be very unhappy with a stock set, it's too unresponsive for me, plus the finger-friendly issues with win6.1. I know all about the different speed tweaks and touchscreen response tweaks available here for the xperia, but it's hard to get a feeling for just how well they work and how much a difference they really make.
But since I'm a regular xda reader, etc, I have hopes that some of the nice roms posted here will improve the system responsiveness, I'm especially looking at gtrab's set, mobilevu's v-lite and wild child's concept rom.
My question is: even if you continue to stick with the phone, do you actually regret getting the xperia?
I've been waiting for a long time for a real killer phone and while the xperia looks like it for me, I don't want to be disappointed even with custom roms... the hero looks like an option to me if the xperia isn't going to live up to my hopes.
thanks!

Absolutely I regret it. At the time I had just drowned a k850i, and bought another k850i to replace it. Then I saw a decent deal on an X1a, and I went for it. For the money, this phone just isn't worth it. I was happier with my SE dumb phones. I'm waiting for the Idou or whatever they're calling it now. This is after spending months waiting for the c905a...

best phone if you know how to use wm or if you are not too stupid to figure out how
some people are really dumb and should just get an Iphone though

DatDereX1 said:
best phone if you know how to use wm or if you are not to stupid to figure out how
some people are really dumb and should just get an Iphone though
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Absolutely.
I never had a single doubt about it.

My question is: even if you continue to stick with the phone, do you actually regret getting the xperia?
Yes, I regret getting the Xperia X1.
I've had an XDA of one sort or another for the last 4-5 years so I'm used to WinMo and it isn't the OS that's the problem. My perception is that it is too fragile for day-to-day use. My sig says changed twice due to cracks in the casing... make that three times as of today!
It is only the fantastic ROMs from the talented chefs here at XDAdev that make it bearable. Most of the ROMs have Rhodium enhancements, and since I really like those enhancements, I'll be looking at a Rhodium next time around.

Nope because I get every dollar (even with the discount) out of my purchase. I use ALL of the features on a daily basis lol.

I do not regret buying an X1. But, buyer beware, it is not perfect out of the box.
My fun was getting it perfect for my preferences. I enjoy having the option to dig in and customize my device with various software or settings tweaks.
It is a well made device and the R3 rom which was finally released for NAM yesterday has improved my reception as well as speed and smoothness running different programs.
I have also flashed it multiple times with custom roms from the chefs here at XDA.
While the price for it was, and still is, ridiculous, I am happy with the phone overall.
I would love to see a winmo 6.5 upgrade for it in the future but realistically, I don't expect it.
I have had mine for around four months, have no cracks in the case and protect my screen with a Martin Fields protector. I use a ICE-45 OEM case.
I would recommend this phone as long as you have disposable income.
It doesn't matter what you buy, in six to twelve months something better will be available. That can be said for all high tech devices.

i do regret it, i've been using sony ericsson for 3 years and lots phones: k800> k608> M600> W880> K850 > W960 >xperia1
somehow Xperia1 is not perfect to me
- camera isnot better even than k800/k850/w960
- music player is definitely worsen/ not friendly than k850/w960- this 2 phones were amazing at its onw strengths- camera/music
- xperia speed is somehow slow/ often hang
that all i want SE to improve and put effort on X2/3 which should have combination of k850 camera/ w960 music and speed. if they do it, their phone would be perfect all aspects

If you are not too concern about the lack of response, I would say its one of the better WM phone..
If you are not too concern about phone hanging once in a while, I would say its one of the better WM phone
If you are not too concern about the music quality, I would say its still one of the better WM phone
If you are not too concern about Window Mobile OS, I would say go get the X1
Do your research on the X1 and compare features before you decide..
For me, yes, I regret it and it has such a low resell value that I am stuck with it for a while now

xperiance said:
I've been wanting and waiting to buy the xperia since it was released. I'm finally just about to buy it (had one ordered but the order fell through on their end, and so now have time to reconsider). I'm a programmer and very technically-minded, so I am not anticipating having any technical problems with optimizing/dealing with the phone. I'm looking for something powerful (and beautiful) that I can customize and use fully for a while.
However, I see many posts here about people regretting purchasing the xperia, mostly because of sluggish performance (and case cracks). When I go to the local Sony store to play with the display phone they have, I can definitely see that I would be very unhappy with a stock set, it's too unresponsive for me, plus the finger-friendly issues with win6.1. I know all about the different speed tweaks and touchscreen response tweaks available here for the xperia, but it's hard to get a feeling for just how well they work and how much a difference they really make.
But since I'm a regular xda reader, etc, I have hopes that some of the nice roms posted here will improve the system responsiveness, I'm especially looking at gtrab's set, mobilevu's v-lite and wild child's concept rom.
My question is: even if you continue to stick with the phone, do you actually regret getting the xperia?
I've been waiting for a long time for a real killer phone and while the xperia looks like it for me, I don't want to be disappointed even with custom roms... the hero looks like an option to me if the xperia isn't going to live up to my hopes.
thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I regret getting the Xperia...
The Primary Reasons (In Priorities Order) That I Got Xperia:
1) Optical Mouse - All of the reviewers on the internet kept referring the D-pad as an Optical Mouse. I didn't want an Optical Joystick, I wanted a Mouse. Furthermore the effing reviewers rarely mentioned that the D-pad was horrible.
2) The keyboard - Everyone raved that the keyboard was amazing, so I thought that I'd enjoyed it. But I think even the HTC Touch Pro 1 has a better keyboard. Why? We all know the front D-pad on TP1 and X1 sucks so much. But atleast Touch Pro 1 is designed for text functionality and has a keyboard D-pad which Xperia lacks. I was at first content with the lack of keyboard arrows because I expected the optical mouse and D-pad to work flawlessly. The Xperia does not have good indicators for Capitalization or blue FN keys. You have to look at the screen and it is hard to tell compared to looking and typing simultaneously on the keyboard. I always capitalize or insert symbols/numbers unexpectedly. The number keys are hid behind the text and I have never used a keyboard on a phone before so I thought it was a smart move with the Xperia. But it's just totally not effective.
Furthermore I rarely use the front D-pad in portrait mode because that is when my stylus is out, and I learned that it is most useful to use it when you are in keyboard mode, except the optical mouse is hard to use and I want keyboard-like arrow buttons.
3) I never had a depressed screen before - I learned that I would rather have scratches on my phone than have a depressed screen. I remember on a few forums that I praised the X1 for having the "usefulness" of a depressed screen, and now I apologize and join the other side of the argument.
4) I thought the screen was big. I was wrong, I've never had any phone with 3 inch screens before and I thought that 3 inch was big. This is why I do not install Touch Flo roms on this phone because Touch Flo owns on a 3.5+ inch screen, but is pointless in a <3.0 inch screen
5) I expected the front face keys to be easy to press and enjoyable. Boy was I wrong.
6) I thought the chrome was metal chrome as well. I was wrong again. It is chipping off already and the D-pad is also chipping off is glossy paint. But I have to admit it that peeling that paint off makes the D-pad looks much more high quality at the cost of losing the shininess.
7) I thought that the silver battery cover was scratch less and easy to remove from the back. It took me 3 months to perfect the art of battery cover removal.
8) The CPU is slow, but I think there is something wrong with my Xperia. I have a Samsung SCH-I760 in which Pocket Player and Core Player is twice as fast as the Xperia X1 with optimized settings.
The only thing that is preventing my from selling my Xperia is the fact that I love the gorgeous R3A Media Panel and its interface and the 3.5 mm headphone jack and the Flash LED.

xperiance said:
My question is: even if you continue to stick with the phone, do you actually regret getting the xperia?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What none of the replies are saying is that it depends quite a lot on where you live and mostly work.
Why ? Because the X1 has a truly terrible GMS signal reception in marginal areas, irrespective of which radio ROM you have installed. I've tested this side by side with an HTC P3650 and an Acer DX900, using the same SIM in each device, directly after one another. The X1 works fine in the cities, hopeless in marginal areas.
Also the 3G UMTS (internet) capability is limited to 1900/2100Mhz in the X1. If you need UMTS 850Mhz in regional areas, try for an X1a.
The original battery is underpowered and heats dangerously with continued use of GPS or wifi while on charge.

Hmmm this is a hard one to tackle.... for me I always regret some part of the phone... maybe frustrated is the work I should use instead of regret. my phone progression has been
550 motorola flip --> Motorola TAC Elite --> Motorola QWERTY messaging phone (forgot the model) --> SE P800 --> BB 7250 & SE W900 --> BB 8830 & Nokia N95 --> BB 8830 & Nokia N85 -- BB 8830 & SE X1
the X1 marked a major change in the way I used my personal phone, primarily for e-mail and messaging, so my criteria have changed a bit. Although the N95/N85 were smart phones, i still primarily used them as phones, and not integrated messaging devices. The Blackberry was always for work, and has always primarily been a messaging device so I have drawn the baseline experience from that.
To answer your question in short: No. No serious regrets.
To answer you question in detail: Yes, I have regrets but the issues can be mitigated/X1 seemed to be the best blend of trade-offs:
1) Lack of free integrated international maps. Global data roaming costs and arm and a leg. Pay as you go in some countries don't include data, so Google Maps downloading data is a bit of a concern when i'm using the GPS abroad. This was a factor when I was deciding between the X1 or N97. I spend 9 of 12 months in home territory so i can probably manage without free international maps. (Garmin, Wayfinder don't have maps for Japan or other Asian countries that I spend time in, and you have to pay for maps unlike the free Nokia Maps app)
2) Windows Mobile quirkiness. WM 6.1 is slow. Weird things happen like accounts go missing, spontaneous reboots, lock ups, crashes, when you install different things. It's not as customizable (stock), I haven't found a voice dialler/voice synth, and the menu system is not intuitive. The messaging system is more robust however, and there is great aftermarket customization (ROMS and MODS from here), etc. I think some of these shortcommings can easily be rectified by the community, but they're still annoying. COmmunity and aftermarket support maturity ended up being a huge factor for me.
3) Form factor. It is slightly thicker than my N85, but thinner than my N95, just as wide, and only 1 cm or so taller. It is comfortable in my hand and is pocketable. The N97 is not much bigger, but the BB Bold is a lot fatter. Seemed like a good compromise.
4) Battery Life. Horrid. I could get 3-4 days normal use with my N85. I use 30% of the battery on a low usage day, and 50-60% on a moderate usage day. Mind you I use the data a lot more, which does suck up more battery, but I should get more than a day's charge out of it IMO. I'm going to chalk this up to my use of data, and hope that there is a future radio/rom upgrade that is easier on battery usage.
5) Functionality as a messaging device. I IM, e-mail, and SMS much more than I call. probably 8-to-1. I do find myself resorting back to my BB8830 for heavy IM usage sessions, possibly because I am more familiar with it, but realistically because I'm much more used to the keyboard. Heavily considered the BB Bold for this reason alone. Maybe things will change after a month or two getting used to the X1. The N97 which I also considered had serious issues as being a robust messaging device. It seemed adequate, and may have improved with further firmware releases/development, but S60 5th Edition seemed limited in more ways somehow.
6) Recessed screen. Pain in the ass. Not a deal breaker tho since I have thin fingers and am pretty dexterous. I can understand why this would be a larger issue for other people however. Definitely a poor design choice.
7) Volume. This is a quiet device. I'll have to amplify and re-jig all my custom call tones, and what not. Annoying, but manageable.
8) Poor camera. I'm used to a really good quality 5 MP Carl Zeiss lense that was on the N85. I didn't use it much but it was a nice thing to have as a backup. I feel a bit stifled by the camera on the X1, but since I'm not really using it that much, it becomes a lower weighted criteria.
So as you can see, for me, it was not a simple choice between a BB Bold, SE X1, Nokia N97, or waiting for the new Samsung B7610, HTC Touch 2, SE X2, or some other next gen device. Lots of factors, and yes I do have regrets around a lot of them, but you do the best you can and just move on.
I've found with some tweaking the X1 usable/tolerable, and meeting 80% of my needs. Nothing will ever be perfect, and if I follow the 80/20 rule, meeting 80% of my requirements for a decent price is usually as good a deal as I can ask for.

On reflection, yes... I regret it.
I resent the implication by DatDereX1 that somehow the phone's shortcomings are down to my stupidity. If it was a simple case of software, then all of the problems would instantly be resolved by a flash of the ROM - but that isn't the case. WinMo aside, the hardware is far from perfect:
* abysmal battery life
* poor responsiveness to touch
* recessed screen
* case suceptible to cracks
* poor external speaker
* reception is poor (compared to other devices in the same location on the same network)
When you throw in the stock software, you can add to that sluggish performance and poor usability. Out-of-the-box it is quite simply a device that is well below par.
With custom ROMs the situation becomes bareable but you still can't get away from the basic hardware issues... and even with the ROMs, performance is still far from lightening quick.
Even those devoted to WinMo would surely have to conceed it is not the best implementation of the OS on a device.

i bought it after selling iphone 3g...was tired of iphone's on-screen keyboard....and the phone was jus too wide...holding it made my palms ache.
other than that..the features werent elaborate
so i bought X1...X1 is everything i wanted in a phone..but it could do with many improvements.
some problems i have with x1:
1. Panels crash sometimes..very rarely..but when they do..i have to soft reset.
2. Camera is slow.
3. panels development not as fast as expected.
4. scrolling on windows mobile sux.
5. touch response....dont know if its windows mobile or hardwares fault...but it can be improved...iphone has a very good touch response.

i bought it after selling iphone 3g...was tired of iphone's on-screen keyboard....and the phone was jus too wide...holding it made my palms ache.
other than that..the features werent elaborate
so i bought X1...X1 is everything i wanted in a phone..but it could do with many improvements.
some problems i have with x1:
1. Panels crash sometimes..very rarely..but when they do..i have to soft reset.
2. Camera is slow.
3. panels development not as fast as expected.
4. scrolling on windows mobile sux.
5. touch response....dont know if its windows mobile or hardwares fault...but it can be improved...iphone has a very good touch response.

I only regret I have no Xperia. I bought one for my wife and she uses it greatly. I have no money currently to spend on another one. I'm stuck for 5+ years with my old trusted Nokia 6230 (not even 6230i) phone if you remember the one.
I know definitely my next phone will be some PPC with WinMo. Maybe X2...

i do regret buying the x1, because now i want something more powerful with more features, eye candy and sexier...but u know what? i am still yet to find the device.
i really want to replace my x1 but i cant see anything to replace it with, will never buy the iphone unless it comes with fm radio, camera light or flash, mp3 for ringtones and multitasking abilities...so im kinda stuck with my x1, lets hope the x2 is much sexier, or else i would be buying a future htc android device with sense ui
i have two problems with the x1 so far
1. the battery loses its paint when touched often
2. the battery life is worse than my p1i ...thing is that i did more on my p1i than i do on my x1

Not at all, I love it.
All phones have their faults, hell, I sold my E90 Communicator to get one of these.
I loved that phone too, but Nokia's support of it was abysmal (it took them over a year to release a firmware fix for the Bluetooth issue that they broke with a firmware release...) and it got to the point where it was becoming a pain to use.
With all technology, there will be problems, they are coded by humans don't forget
I'd rather have 'quirks' or little niggles that can be sorted with small apps or tweaks than to have a featureless brick any day of the week.
Plus, it gives me a chance to satisfy my *need* to play with the newest toys!

I love my Xperia.
I am sick of these threads.
I don't know why so many of you say that you regret buying it (even though one of you that said they regret it also said it was the best phone available).
If you are unsure about a product read more about it. If you regret buying an Xperia (especially since you are at XDA-dev) it's your own damn fault.

Hannigan174 said:
I love my Xperia.
I am sick of these threads.
I don't know why so many of you say that you regret buying it (even though one of you that said they regret it also said it was the best phone available).
If you are unsure about a product read more about it. If you regret buying an Xperia (especially since you are at XDA-dev) it's your own damn fault.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats so true.
It is just such a tiny little effort needed to put into the x1 to make it the most powerful phone of all.
Again I must stick to my phrase:
Regretting == Not being able to handle the X1

Thinking of returning my HD2

As stated in the thread title, I am seriously considering returning my HTC Touch HD2, because I find it almost completely unusable compared to the iphone that I owned previously.
Pros
- Amazing screen
- Everything else that has been highlighted in all the positive reviews that persuaded me to buy the device in the first place (spec, camera, connectivity etc.)
Cons:
- Touchscreen keyboard is unusable and not accurate, even after calibaration (compared to an iphone)
- Web browsing using Opera is frustrating due to the unreliable touchscreen - I find it impossible to click on links; particularly on sites such as this one (with small page numbers etc.) - even when I zoom right in I still can't click the link - there is a huge delay before anything happens, without any feedback to show the link has been clicked - this stuff just worked on the iphone, depsite the smaller screen
- Random app switching, erratic behaviour (screen moving on its own) and regular freezes in all modes/apps
For those who think I am some kind of Apple fan-boy, that couldn't be further from the truth - my iphone developed a dead strip of icons, which forced me to sell it for peanuts, so I vowed to never buy another! The truth of the matter is that the UI of the HD2 just isn't in the same league as the iphone - it's just a cheap imitation.
Maybe if it had Android instead of WM it would stand a chance, but as things currently stand, I find the HD2 completely unusable and will probably be returning it on Monday and getting an iphone, assuming I can persuade Mobile Phones Direct to adhere to the distance selling regulations that provide a 7 day cooling off period (according to their T&C's this only stands if the box is unopened, which is wrong)
Please note that I am posting this for the benefit of others, to provide my personal feedback after using the phone for the last few days. If anyone has any suggestions for how to rectify the problems noted above, I will happily try them.
Catman

I feel your pain...
Hi,
I know how you feel - I've only had it a day and i'm already getting that dreaded feeling! On the plus side I'm delighted to be away from that Stalin 'Jobsie' and his locked down iPhones - on the down side this HD2 is about as user friendly as the space shuttle compared to the jesus phone, and I sued to be so impressed with the iPaq from 6 years ago!!
I do think that I can live with it - just it's not going to be the long winded love affair type relationship - more the 'throwing at the wall' one minute, loving it the next!
Luckily, mines through o2 so i'm going to run with it for 10 days and see how we get along - if all else fails then there's always the 3GS to fall back onto. Although I wasn't for Android on this handset to begin with - from where i'm sitting now it does make more sense!
Good luck figuring it all out!

Look here :http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=583638
For some handy tweaks including, haptic feedback in Opera and the abiltiy to click links without zooming in!!!
But I do feel your pain, a little let down with the OS on this phone, everything else is excellent..... build quality, screen, asthetics, CPU, RAM, etc.. Just the OS is a pile of poo! lol

The truth of the matter is that the UI of the HD2 just isn't in the same league as the iphone - it's just a cheap imitation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot. You just proof yourself wrong ^^. Whether its better or worse is another question, but imitation? You mean the shortcuts on home screen? You're just *****in'. Pls close this thread we dont need that destructive posts.
Advice: Sell the HD2 and dont complain. I can click even the small ugly boxes in Windows Mobile itself. I dont know how long you've tried to click somethin', but if you really feel that it is impossible for you go back to resistive screen, on the Touch HD it wasnt that bad IMO.

NetDwarf said:
Thanks a lot. You just proof yourself wrong ^^. Whether its better or worse is another question, but imitation? You mean the shortcuts on home screen? You're just *****in'. Pls close this thread we dont need that destructive posts.
Advice: Sell the HD2 and dont complain. I can click even the small ugly boxes in Windows Mobile itself. I dont know how long you've tried to click somethin', but if you really feel that it is impossible for you go back to resistive screen, on the Touch HD it wasnt that bad IMO.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Everyone's entitled to their own opinion...even one sided twerps like you.

It's kinda strange for me to read your feedback, I had chance to play with the test version of the HD2 and things worked pretty well, most of your "cons" I could not find on my preliminary experience!?

Catman3146 said:
assuming I can persuade Mobile Phones Direct to adhere to the distance selling regulations that provide a 7 day cooling off period
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
(hollow laugh)
Good luck with that.

I hear you man. I have the same considerations..
I don't have freezes or random app switching though. and I don't really care about the UI since I use spb mobile shell which runs excellent and so god damn fast on this thing.
but the screen is a problem when browsing. it's not accurate enough for my taste. and using the keyboard is also more cumbersome than on my Topaz...
it really is a beautiful and fast device. sometimes it feels like using a computer more than a phone and that's pretty cool too.
I'm still thinking...

Your poor experience seems to be the result of a faulty handset. For the first 4 days of receiving my HD2, the phone's touchscreen kept making its own decisions, even when left idling on the desk. The touchscreen registered wrong inputs and I had the same impressions of the phone as you have now. It was the final straw when the phone just kept registering the 2 option in Phone mode and refused to stop until I hit the soft reset button.
I took it down to the shop I bought the phone from, had it exchanged after explaining the situation (it did take a threat of wanting a full refund when they initially refused to classify the phone as faulty) and the replaced new handset is a complete different phone to the first one I had, the touchscreen does what suppose to do!
Before throwing all hopes away on the HD2, trying getting it replaced first. It is a genuinely good product, it's a shame that quality control has let some of us down.
Your experience with Opera should be resolved by Karlos G's link.
[EDIT] My phone was also purchased from Mobile Phones Direct. They are rather poor when it comes to refund and exchanges, trying to make up excuses as to why you cannot refund or exchange the phone (lies, lies and more lies... just don't go with the flow). State your case and don't let them push you around.

I guess your are one of the unlucky people to get a "monday"-device. mine has none of the problems you have. my screen is accurate, opera is sometimes picky when you don't zoom in, and I have never experienced any erratic behaviour. the only problem I can recall is the camera issue (pink teint).
I applied Karlo G's link but I still have problems clicking links when zoomed out. maybe I have to get more accurate I'm still getting used to a capacitive screen.

chronicle said:
Everyone's entitled to their own opinion...even one sided twerps like you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think NetDwarf has a point... an imitation? Hello? on the iphone you've got hundrets of icons and THAT'S IT!... but this beautiful Sense UI. an Imitation? omg

I agree about the keyboard. I don't understand why they couldn't just have made it the same as the one on the Hero, which is excellent.
Maybe in the next software update they will sort the problem. I have tried some other keyboards and they are even worse than the stock one IMHO, so I'm starting to think it's partly to do with the screen sensitivity. I have tried the sensitivity tweak .cab which purports to help the issue but still it frustrates me.
The word prediction algorithms on the iPhone are infinitely superior, and the screen sensitivity is balanced just right. I have both phones in front of me right now and so have a good balanced perspective on this issue.
Here's my opinion on what is better and what is worse of the two based on a year's ownership of an iPhone and a week's ownership of the HD2 (just based on my USAGE, not pure spec!)
iPhone 3G Pros
More balanced screen sensitivity compared to the HD2 - fewer mistakes with the keyboard or onscreen selections.
More efficient and reliable browsing experience
Transflective screen.
Built in podcatching client. I'm yet to find one to compare with iTunes on the iPhone, although Google Listen comes close on Android. Hopefully they will port it to Windows Mobile soon. iTunes finds even the most obscure Podcasts, most other podcatchers require going online to find feeds that are not well known as their database doesn't have the same span as Apple's iTunes store.
Comparatively small in the hand
Better loudspeaker - clear and resonant.
Better Facebook client (by a HUGE margin)
Better BBC iPlayer experience/general online multimedia experience. Many sites tailor their output to iPhone.
Easier to quickly send/reply to a text (I use iRealQuickSMS and I dont think anything similar is available on WinMo)
Built in App Store with 100s of thousands of apps at very reasonable prices (yes I know a lot of them are crap)
Better Youtube app with full sign-in option which includes subscriptions' newest videos
I prefer the iPhone email client.......the Windows one is horrible for HTML content (sorry guys)
Much better IM client in the form of Beejive than anything Windows Mobile currently has on offer. IM+ is slow and ugly.
More tightly knit development and modding scene (XDAs is split over multiple handsets)
iPhone 3G cons
Inconvenient for quickly adding music - iTunes can be a bit of a cludge
Conversion of Video content is almost always required and takes so long that I don't usually bother unless I'm going on a long journey.
Comparatively low screen resolution, screen isn't as bright and clear as the HD2
Limited bluetooth support (although I don't GENERALLY need bluetooth
No option to buy an extra battery so I often have to carry an external one with me.
Low RAM so things often slow down with heavy usage.
Processor not as powerful as that of the HD2 (although it does have hardware acceleration)
HD2 Pros
Gorgeous, huge screen
Multitasking (although I only use it for IM and the iPhone has push notifications which don't use anywhere near as much battery as having an App constantly running in the background and connected to the internet.)
1ghz processor and plenty of RAM means few slowdowns
Video playback without conversion (through Coreplayer)
Nicer weather integration than the iPhone
Better camera than iPhone 3G (but not 3Gs), dual flash.
Great built quality, slimmer than the iPhone.
More comprehensive browser, similar speed but greater screen real-estate and download support. More browser tweaks available.
Open operating system....supports third party skins such as Touchflo and PointUI
Better sound quality through the same Apple headset as the iPhone (in my opinion). Richer, warmer sound.
Easily customisable ringtones and message tones through the device itself, with no jailbreaking required.
Once unlocked, stays unlocked. No worries about device baseband update causing SIMlock.
Facebook and Youtube account/upload integration.
Expandable memory, easier to add files than the iPhone.
HD2 cons
Fiddly UI generally compared to iPhone.
Oversensitive keyboard. Poor prediction algorithms that seem to rely too heavily on getting the first letter right.
Tinny and poor quality speaker. Sounds like an old AM radio on full blast. Awkward positioning on the back.
Paltry 2g card included in box. iPhone comes preloaded with 8gb minimum
Battery charges a lot slower than iPhone
Poor App store - overpriced Apps, too few innovative ones....most of the best ones such as Coreplayer just aren't there. This is not the HD2s fault, it's just that it has a big effect on the user experience when an App store has such a lame selection. Hands up the man who'd pay £5.99 for Pacman, or £18.14 for SPB Wallet!!!
Youtube app is limited and doesn't support account subscriptions. For such a socially-orientated device this is poor show for HTC, and I'm disappointed.
Inbuilt Twitter app is inferior to most iPhone freebies such as Echofon, and a million miles away from being as good as Tweetie. The nearest Windows Marketplace Equivalent TouchTwit costs £3.99 (Tweetie is £1.79 and still a lot better). Microsoft need to get their arse in gear and sort out the Marketplace.
Rubbish Facebook app, browser is better.
These points are just what came to mind for me based on MY WANTS AND NEEDS.
I do like the HD2, I'm not saying it's rubbish. Most of the problems are just about the software, and if Microsoft step up and get the Marketplace right, and HTC release a new ROM with some upgrades and tweaks then who knows.....things might be ten times better.
Aside from it's **** speaker and the slightly dodgy camera tint issue I cannot fault the HD2's hardware. It is really lush, and I love holding it. It is a joy to have in the hand.

Catman3146 said:
As stated in the thread title, I am seriously considering returning my HTC Touch HD2, because I find it almost completely unusable compared to the iphone that I owned previously.
Pros
- Amazing screen
- Everything else that has been highlighted in all the positive reviews that persuaded me to buy the device in the first place (spec, camera, connectivity etc.)
Cons:
- Touchscreen keyboard is unusable and not accurate, even after calibaration (compared to an iphone)
- Web browsing using Opera is frustrating due to the unreliable touchscreen - I find it impossible to click on links; particularly on sites such as this one (with small page numbers etc.) - even when I zoom right in I still can't click the link - there is a huge delay before anything happens, without any feedback to show the link has been clicked - this stuff just worked on the iphone, depsite the smaller screen
- Random app switching, erratic behaviour (screen moving on its own) and regular freezes in all modes/apps
For those who think I am some kind of Apple fan-boy, that couldn't be further from the truth - my iphone developed a dead strip of icons, which forced me to sell it for peanuts, so I vowed to never buy another! The truth of the matter is that the UI of the HD2 just isn't in the same league as the iphone - it's just a cheap imitation.
Maybe if it had Android instead of WM it would stand a chance, but as things currently stand, I find the HD2 completely unusable and will probably be returning it on Monday and getting an iphone, assuming I can persuade Mobile Phones Direct to adhere to the distance selling regulations that provide a 7 day cooling off period (according to their T&C's this only stands if the box is unopened, which is wrong)
Please note that I am posting this for the benefit of others, to provide my personal feedback after using the phone for the last few days. If anyone has any suggestions for how to rectify the problems noted above, I will happily try them.
Catman
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
for me the HD2 is the best. I agreed with the keyboard but i found a solution.
Install Touch Pal and a cab in order to reduce the sensentive leval of the screen (the cab you can download on this forum). Now i can write even better as on the pro 2 - its really great. Forget I-Phone now.

I always find, the best thing to do with a new phone, is try some tweaks etc and then if it doesn't work out, return it. The tweaks usually fix most of the issues that people have. Without this site I would have really regretted getting my X1 for example. But XDA made it amazing.
I love the HD2, and the only problem I have had so far is getting used to the capacitive screen. Any of the other things (like task manager) have been fixed using tweaks from here.
We are so lucky to have all the amazing guys here on XDA developing and discovering all these tweaks for us, and keeping them all in one place.
I suggest you try some of these (they should fix most of your issues).
I would agree, the keyboard can be crazy. But I think it is a case of getting used to it. Every phone is going to be different. That's the nature of the world we live in.
Even then, I think the cons you have mentioned (most of which are fixable).
I hope you do try those tweaks and that they work for you.

Thanks for all your helpful suggestions and comments. I think it is important for people to get a balanced view about the device (particularly compared to the iphone), after reading so many unilaterlly positive reviews that fail to mention many of the flaws I have highlighted.
I will try the tweaks suggested and see how I get over the next couple of days before making a final decision (I'll post an update here), but HTC really should have done a better job with the initial release (the iphone had none of these problems - I bought one of the very first handsets in the US way before it was released here in the UK).
I am still hopeful that the issues are primarily software-related rather than dodgy hardware, but I will try to get a replacement out of MPD to try if this proves to not be the case.

I think you will find Catman, that most of the issues are related to the way the ROM is setup.
I think the tweaks should fix some of them. Have a read through the tips and tweaks list, and see what you can find. Some of them should help. Also, the CABs from smaberg here should also help.

If you sell it, contact me asap !
I am ok to buy !

For anyone struggling with the keyboard, go to the hints and tips thread and install the referenced CAB to reduce screen sensitivity. My keyboard was basically unusable but installed it and it works about the same as the iPhone maybe slightly better because errors are still corrected with the dictionary a lot better...

Catman3146 said:
but HTC really should have done a better job with the initial release (the iphone had none of these problems - I bought one of the very first handsets in the US way before it was released here in the UK).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow if you think the iPhone had no problems at launch, you really are living in backwards land.
BTW, I don't think any HD2s have exploded yet either. I'm not sure if you think incendiary injuries are a positive or negative feature? To be "balanced" we should agree that it is both.

Wow, I find the keyboard excellent, I wonder whether its a ROM-version thing...
Regards browser - have you tried Opera Mobile 10?

Handled The Beast Today

My persistent knocking on the doors of mobile phone providers within a 30 mile radius from my home finally paid off today when I finally managed to get my hands on a HD2 (hoorah).
I have always said that there is no way on earth I would spend over £500 ona sim free device without first seeing one in the metal and testing it out. No one in their right mind buys a house or car without first seeing it and, if appropriate, testing it out before buying.
First Impressions:
Even though I had seen a dummy earlier, the size of the screen does come as a bit of a surprise. However this is a very thin device which makes the whole thing just about manageable. It is not quite as in-your-face, size-wise, as, say, the Toshiba TG01. Be aware though that there is absolutely a shedload of real screen estate to play with on the HD2.
Build quality looked very good. The back plate looks like a well machined item. I tweaked the keys around a little but did not experience the "wobble" that others have talked about.
The screen is a fingerprint magnet of the first order; however it is nothing a quick blow of hot, moist breath and a clean handkerchief can't cure very quickly. Maybe an appropriate screen protector might be helpful; however I cannot confirm.
Something else that was immediately apparent was just how fast the device is. Apps opened near instantaneously and the device was simply a joy to use.
The camera was rather interesting: as a brand new device, straight out of the box and booted up for the first time, the camera screen started up with a pink hue across the whole of the screen. I immediately thought of the pink issue that a lot of people have spoken about. However after about a minute the camera settled down and the pinkish hue cleared up.
The guy from o2 said that he had seen this start-up effect on all of the cameras he had seen/used/demonstrated/sold to date so I am assuming that this is "feature" of the device.
All the shots I took (indoors in artificial light) came out just fine and the quality, to my eyes, was good as far as camera's on mobile phones go.
I did not find the lack of a hardware camera button a problem. The fact is I actually preferred the on-screen shutter button; seemed pretty cool and effective.
The Keyboard:
I opened up MS Word and moved onto the dreaded keyboard.
Within a couple of seconds I could clearly see why some of you have given up on this device and sent it back. The keyboard out of the box is awful and stringing 2 words together was a real pain. However switch off the T9 function and the keyboard is transformed into something very very useful.
Yes, you have to be quite accurate with your fingers. I found I got the best results using my fingertips pointing near vertically downwards rather than horizontal and flat. The former method presents a narrow minimal area of the finger to the keyboard, resulting in reasonable/acceptable accuracy, while the latter method simply created problems, pulling in adjacent letters to the ones I wanted to use on nearly every occasion.
The key here is that, given I had no more than a half hour with the device, I found that I made no more mistakes with this keyboard, at no greater frequency, than I do now with my resistive keyboard on my TYTN, which I have had for over 3 years.
I did not get a chance to test the voice, email or sms functions as I did not have the time. Therefore I am unable to verify whether the problems others have mentioned were present in the device I tested or not.
Availability:
It is difficult to work out what the strategy is with the supply of this device. The 3 o2 shops I went into had only received 2 devices each! 2 out of the 3 shops had sold them on within a day and the 3rd, where I did my test, had 1 left.
None of the shops could confirm for certain when their next supplies would be in or how many handsets they would get. Each one suggested contacting them on a regular basis to see what the position is.
For me, given that this is a device in demand at probably the most advantageous marketing point in the year, i.e. the run up to Christmas, I cannot understand why there is so much uncertainty around the supply chain.
What Next?:
Now that I have finally laid my hands on the device, the key question I had to address was this; given all the horror stories on here about various problems, etc, was it sensible for me to become another early adopter given that this device will be used for business purposes where reliability is essential.
The decision I have made is, given the work currently being undertaken by C'monex and others coupled with custom roms already in the pipeline, plus the hints and tips thread in this forum, on balance I think it is just about worth the risk me jumping in and purchasing a device.
I was at this point 3 years ago when I first purchased my TyTN. To this day I consider it an absolute miracle that the device did not end its days under a hammer within the first week of ownership, so appallingly awful was that device straight out of the box.
Over time, and with a lot of people doing sterling work on here, things turned around to the point where I have a device that is rock solid stable, reliable and good to use.
I would strongly suggest that if anyone is considering buying this device, they find a live model to play with first before making their minds up. I can see why the keyboard could be a real deal breaker although I intend to purchase a capacitive stylus to get around some of the problems I foresee with non-finger friendly winmobile applications.
Conclusion:
This device looks very promising and yes, it does have issues, based on the reports we have seen here on XDA. You need to play with one first before making a decision to buy.
The keyboard is very different to a resistive one and requires patience, perseverance and good technique to get the best out of it.
I did not have enough time to have an exhaustive, comprehensive play with the device; however I have seen enough to determine that, on balance, and based on emerging developments here on XDA, I could live with it. Besides my current device is now long in the tooth and needs replacing.
The only fear I have is that once I have paid out my hard earned cash for this device, HTC bring out an Android HD2-like device using the snapdragon processor, which is really what I would prefer.
My order for a HD2 plus a HTC Hero goes in next week, depending on stock availability in the UK.
I hope this quick walk through is helpful to those who are trying to make a decision on this device, one way or another.
WB

Thanks WB for this excellent overview - certainly more down to earth and focused than most reviewers who don't know what to expect in HTC phones.
I too had a similar experience to your TYTN when I purchased my Polaris. Mine nearly took a high dive from the 30th floor of an office block when I got it. However in February this year, I installed epimazzo's KhanX ROM and didn't touch it again given how stable and usable everything was.
I've been watching the Leo forum closely for the past two weeks and I can see some of the top cookers hovering and waiting to pounce (oh, Hard SPL, wherefore art thou?). This device has so much potential and is so exciting that I purchased mine sight unseen.
The bugs and wrinkles are...ahem...par for the course if you buy a HTC phone these days. To my mind, there is nothing that appears insurmountable to the ROM chefs (respect). As I said, the phone has monstrous potential - seems like a solid GPS implementation plus the accelerometer, compass and proximity sensor. Bingo!
I had the option of going for any of the Samsung Omnia II, the Acer F1 and the Toshi phones. But none of those has the depth of support found here on xda (only iPhone comes close in community support). HTC owes many people on this forum in a big way - without it, probably you and I would have sh_tcanned HTC years ago...
And for someone who is always fiddling with my phone every day, the possibility of squeezing performance out of this thing is half the fun. May not suit those who need a perfect phone OOTB (like the iPhone for example).
He says confidently before he hits the SMS lag problem...

Update
Well, since I wrote the short review above and read XDA LEO forums end-to-end so my initial thoughts on jumping in and buying the device faded a little. Part of the problem was the sheer volume of negative noise coming from a number of people on these forums plus the fact that I have been here before with the Tytn, taking a year before I had a device I could both trust and like.
Those painful memories made me think long and hard about jumping in and doing the deed. What I needed to do was to get a sense of perspective and balance which was proving difficult to find on XDA. Also being able to lay hands on a device at will to play with was proving very difficult as the limited stocks becoming available were flying off the shelves as fast as they were coming in. This was at odds with all the negativity I was picking up here.
Now don't get me wrong, I am not knocking people. Those that were brave enough to post their honest views about the device, albeit negative ones, did me a huge favour, despite the fact that most of them faced massive hostility from the masses. What this meant for me was that instead of going into any decision rosy eyed I knew that if I bought into the HD2 world there would be problems to overcome, over and above the usual tweaks that one does because its windows, don't you know?!
Some sense of balance was found via the following polls, which I found to be invaluable:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=598900&highlight=polls (severity of grid display)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=595655&highlight=poll (weird touch-screen behaviour)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=591011&highlight=poll (earpiece and voice quality)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/poll.php?do=showresults&pollid=2075 (HD2 speaker quality)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=592375&highlight=poll (in search of balance).
So, approaching the festive season with the family nagging me to tell them what I wanted for Xmas, I rang a supplier, talked through all the known issues with them, which they were aware of. However the rate of returns on HD2's to them was so small as to be infinitesimal which meant one of 2 things:
- People were buying the device and either liking it or could live with it or
- The supplier wasn't telling me the truth (highly unlikely as I have been using them for a while now).
They were happy enough to agree to take the device back and return my funds if I did not like it either under the 7 day distance selling rules in the UK or by me ringing them up and indicating my preference.
Went back to the family, gave them the news and......a brand new HD2 landed in my sack on Xmas day via Santa Claus. What an amazing guy he is! Someone should offer to have his children for him.
Broke the box open last night, ie Xmas night and despite my anticipation, took time out to charge it up properly. Time spent now conditioning the battery correctly equals solid battery performance later down the line.
Tackled the beast in anger today. It is true to say that in the metal, this is a beautiful piece of engineering. Build quality on my version at least is excellent with none of the wobbly keys and ill fitting screen problems reported by others being noticable.
Went through setting up the device as I want it (yes, its been a long day and I have stopped now), made a complete backup immediately as my master backup, then installed tips no 8, 44, 46, 58 from the hints and tips thread and made another backup, separate from the original. This way if anything goes wrong I can simply roll back to the last successful change.
Points Worth Commenting On:
Keyboard:
The keyboard needs a degree of accuracy to use it successfully. I did not find the sensitivity out of the box an issue at all. Where I had to be absolutely accurate was in keying in my sim unlock code into the phone. Got that wrong too many times but practice will make perfect.
An even greater level of accuracy is required when trying to put ticks into selection boxes, e.g when installing Memmaid. This can prove frustrating as can the process of copying and pasting. I am sure that the capacitive stylus coming out of HTC will help with this "problem".
For me the keyboard works best without T9 switched on. However for sheer speed the Swype keyboard which I have installed is the way to go. Another version of this board (SlideIt) is readily available and I will be moving to that asap as Swype is NOT free-ware nor, as I have just found out, not officially released yet for the windows platform.
Weather Animations:
The weather animations are very good, just the sort of thing a chap needs to gain bragging rights down at the local pub. I have already seen most of the animations today due to the readily changing weather conditions we have had where we live.
Back Cover:
There is a serious but amusing thread on here where someone could not get their back cover off. Having already been through that thread I was not looking forward to my experience. However I can report that as long as you follow the instructions in the guide the cover is pretty easy to take off and put back on.
Overall First Impressions:
There is a hell of a lot to like about the HD2. There are things that I felt needed to change to suit me better. I have altered SMS to show in traditional mode rather than conversation mode as this works best for me.
Twitter and Facebook are of no use to me so these have not been configured.
I have yet to work out how to get the built-in picture viewer to pick up and show my pictures on the external SD card and there are a whole host of other things I have yet to get done. However day 1 has gone very very well indeed.
I will add to this post as I get to know the device a little better. In the meantime I am off to read the full manual to pick up on what else I need to know.
WB
PS: For those interested I am running Rom 1.48 straight out of the box. Not bothered with the SMS fix as I have not had any issues with SMS sending and receiving so far.
I am being meticulous about killing off apps not required but running in the background via the task manager. Also been straight onto the notification queue lock-up problem by installing Memmaid to sort that out.
Need to find a way of making sure that the X button really does kill off these open apps to save valuable memory space.
PPS: Really annoying niggle is after 10 goes I have not been able to put on the HTC screen protector properly. No matter how hard I try, even using a large cardboard piece to smooth it out, I can't get all the air bubbles out. I really want to use the protector but as it stands, I might have to take the risk and ditch it unless someone can pass on a full-proof method for putting the damned thing on properly.
I have never ever had this problem before in all the years I have had of devices that needed their screens protecting.
More updates soon.
WB

Regarding keyboard I recommend to use Swype or Finger Keyboard.

its a support forum 99% of posts here will be problems

wacky.banana said:
The only fear I have is that once I have paid out my hard earned cash for this device, HTC bring out an Android HD2-like device using the snapdragon processor, which is really what I would prefer.
My order for a HD2 plus a HTC Hero goes in next week, depending on stock availability in the UK.
I hope this quick walk through is helpful to those who are trying to make a decision on this device, one way or another.
WB
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Click to collapse
Honestly I'd recommend waiting for the Xperia X10 if you want an android device. The HD2 in its current state is not something I'd want to use for everyday business use; it has still got some minor problems that needs addressing.

Toss3 said:
Honestly I'd recommend waiting for the Xperia X10 if you want an android device. The HD2 in its current state is not something I'd want to use for everyday business use; it has still got some minor problems that needs addressing.
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have they sorted the speed of the x10 out yet, last videos i saw it was terrible

sharpey said:
have they sorted the speed of the x10 out yet, last videos i saw it was terrible
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It's still in its beta stages so the software is bound to get faster once they've sorted out the minor bugs. I really doubt Sony would release it in its current state, but considering HTC released a device without proper texting support and awful call quality I can't say I'd be surprised.

Next year HTC brings out the HTC Bravo, it's an Android Phone (V. 2.0) with the snapdragon 1GHz and total similar to the HD2 instead of the 3,7" AMOLED (more than 16 mio colors) display .
I think it's the same as the hd2 just the android version of it
regards
HTC BRAVO: http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/htc-bravo-pictured-more-lucidly/

sharpey said:
its a support forum 99% of posts here will be problems
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Click to collapse
@ sharpey,
Hey fella, merry Xmas to you. If you have been on here as long as I have you would know that XDA is not a support forum but a Developers forum, hence the name XDA-Developers. The conversation and posts used to be about cooked roms, hacking, development of tools and utilities, etc and pushing the technical envelope, NOT coping with people who won't or can't RTFM (read the manual).
It's only in recent times that new users have attempted to change the format and shape of the forum and it has now become, in part, a support forum because people like me like to help other people. Only problem is the noise generated by this process tends to obscure the real nuggets of good information one is looking for before investing in a device like this, e.g, SPL availability and associated development, availability of cooked roms, flexibility of the device from a hacking perspective, and so on. This is what I meant when I said I was looking for a balanced view on here but found it difficult to find what I was looking for although the polls I have linked to also provided useful info.
@ all others,
This thread is just a running update of the journey I went through until I got a HD2. I know there are a lot of people out there who are holding back on buying one as they are confused by how much information/misinformation there is out there on the HD2. All I am doing is sharing my experience in the hope that it helps someone.
Right now the device is 2 days old and I am Just loving it. :. Yes, there are some minor annoyances like the lack of a sent indicator when sms messages are sent; however I trust the device and if I want to be sure I simply look in my sent box to confirm the message is gone.
If you are considering buying a HD2, read this thread plus all the links, read the independent 3rd party reviews then go play with one in the metal, and, if you are happy, go buy one and ENJOY!!
WB

Is the Leo really that bad? Advice please!

Hi all,
Well, I'm a bit confused here and slightly disappointed.
After all the hype surrounding the Leo pre-release, I was well up for it when my mobes was due for a contract renewal, but reading the forums and speaking to people such as Vodascum it seems all it not as good as I had hoped. There seem to be loads of people plagued with problems and issues which doesn't seem like a good thing at all.
The phone seems to have an awesome hardware package and an extremely good HTC skin over the WM6.5 base, but is it worth the hassles that people seem to be experiencing? Will WM7 solve everything and make it a true iphone killer?
What are your thoughts? Have you been struck with issues? Is it worth getting in the hope WM7 will make it better? My Diamond is ace, but it's getting old and needs replacement. I previously REALLY wanted a Leo, but I'm not so sure now - help meeee!
Cheers ta.

I love mine, Had the pink spot issue but that was solved with a patch. I have played around with various CookedROMS but have reverted to 1.61 as it seems stable.
Personally, I don't regret all the hassle I went through getting hold of it. and wouldn't hesitate recommending it!
TA

There's more people on this forum that are happy with their HD2 than there are ones that are unhappy with it.
I think you've only seen the 1 sided argument that is unfortunately getting shouted about.
Some people are having a few minor issues, and a smaller number of people are having some major issues, but there's a very large number of people that are having no issues, or very slight ones that they simply don't care about.
For example, the pink hue on photos is so barely noticable on my phone that it really doesn't matter (unless I take a picture of a piece of white paper and then reduce the image size by 80%). Also, I can type like a madman on it, barely making a mistake, but others say it's the worst keyboard in the world (or that it's "KILLING THEM"!!)
The only real way for you to find out is to get one. Most service providers give you 14 days to return something you don't want, and it's a legal requirement to provide at least 7 days, so just get one and have a play. Decide for yourself. No-one can tell you whether you'll like it or not.

I think johncmolyneux pretty much sums it up. I have had/have some problems(Slow loading SMS is the main one) BUT im still a very happy chap. I would only advise you not to get this phone if you don't want to spend time tweaking it. Without installing a few extra apps and making some tweaks here and there i wouldn't be anywhere near as happy. For me thats the main reason i got it. I wanted something i could really play with and customise as opposed to other more locked down devices.

jp_iles said:
Hi all,
...There seem to be loads of people plagued with problems and issues which doesn't seem like a good thing at all....
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Click to collapse
I'm not sure I'd say there are "loads of people" who are "plagued with problems". Rather, there seems to be a tiny but vocal minority of people here on this forum who do nothing but complain about issues that the majority of people haven't experienced.
The HD2 is an excellent phone and I'd happily recommend it to anyone.

+1
Myself and a few of the Mods on 4WM have HD2's and they are very good indeed. There are a few users who fiddle with settings, install dodgy tweaks then complain when things go wrong.
Give it a try- hopefully you won't be disappointed

I've not had any problems with mine and I'm very pleased with it indeed. Still running the stock 1.43 ROM with all the hotfixes applied. Go for it. I'm sure you won't regret it.

jp_iles said:
.... I previously REALLY wanted a Leo, but I'm not so sure now - help meeee!
Cheers ta.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello,
I truly understand your dilemma. Read the threads below then go find yourself a device and play with it.
The key to your decision is this; if you are happy and able to find the time to tweak your device as necessary then you will end up enjoying it. If you don't have the time or are easily frustrated or prefer the simplicity offered by other packages such as Nolia and iphone then DON't buy this phone.
DO NOT buy this phone without playing with one in the metal first.
Hope this helps.
WB
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=595166
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=575604
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=583638

I'm also running the 1.43 stock rom.
I never had any issues with the sms not being sent.
The pink dot is fixed by the patch.
No other bugs for me, this is truly one of the best investments I've done.
People having problems with their phones probably would write here and even start new threads, but as long as the phone is working well there's no reason to write or for that matter, start a new thread just to say "my phone owns". Which is probably why you've got the impression of many people having trouble with their HD2's.
As I said, many people have had the sms-sending issue, which I've never experienced.
The ONLY real bug I have is the slow loading of the SMS's, which I hope will be solved. It does not kill me however.
Funny story, yesterday me and my friend (who has an iPhone) tried skype over our mobiles, as we both have use the GPRS for free but have different operators we finally found a way to call eachother for free.
We first tried skype over WiFi and it worked great. He then turned to the 3G and tried to call me, while Skype told him that this function is not available. So on the iPhone 3G-calling did not work (I don't know if there is a workaround for this or not, it doesn't matter, it's not standard and if you want to make it work you'd have to tweak it which makes the iPhone no better than WinMo).
I then tried the 3G and it worked perfectly.
I really can't see what all this WinMo bashing is about. I've played around with the iPhone and it is so boring, I could never imagine trading my HD2 for the iPhone.

Of 120 who have responded to a poll on the HD2 on this site, 3 had opted to return it, 4 hated it and were stuck with it (I'd bet at least one of those has since recanted), 12 were ambivalent and 89 either liked or loved the device. The balance of nine related to the plans of non-owners of the device, of whom six were keen to get one and three weren't.
You can find the poll and the results here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=592375
jakem is correct in regard to the noisy minority, but then that is only really to be expected - if you have problems you are likely to complain. NeilM may be even closer to the truth in terms of ill-advised 'tweaking'.
There was a surge of slightly suspicious negative postings by very new members that led to speculation around a smear campaign - you pays your money and you takes your choice on that one.
Personally, you would have to prise mine out of my cold, dead hand...

The phone is great - had a Nokia N95 so not familiar with tweaks so ran the HD2 stock 1.43 ROM and it has been fine, fine, fine. Due to useful sites like this, I have got a few of the tweaks on and set the phone up how I like it. Was thinking of an iPhone last year but would not touch one now as it would be rubbish in comparison!
Would recommend you get one, read the manual and take your time before loading lots of apps, etc on it!!

jp_iles, if you loved your Diamond you will certainly love the Leo. I had a Diamond and thought it was awesome, granted battery life was terrible, GPS was inaccurate, camera was rubbish but this didn't stop it being the best phone I've ever owned until now . The Leo does have some problems and can be twitchy but IMO this just adds to it's charm, I'm sure the guys/girls here at XDA will do the same as they did for my Diamond and keep releasing/patching/tweaking stuff which will just evolve the Leo into something even better than it is now.

I had my hd2 for a week. It never ran more than 5 minutes at one time. It is gone in for repair. I will miss it. I will not replace it. Having been an early adopter for more than a decade, I know there is always a price t pay one way or another. My computers, laptops, micro pc, pocket pcs and cell phones have all taken a back seat to this device. Hope this helps you in your decision.

i love my hd2, wouldnt trade it for all the iphones in cupertino.

I absolutely LOVE this phone!
I still have my Touch Pro knocking about and I was using today to do some bits and pieces, it's utterly pants in comparison!! The size of the screen is useless, the resistive screen is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO unresponsive compared to the capacitive on the HD2 (having said that, the ability to accurately "write" using a stylus or your nail is definitely missed).
The speed of the HD2 is just spot on (though I wouldn't turn down "more" speed!). The GPS lock-on time is infinitely better than any other phone/external GPS receiver I have ever used. I don't know what more to say, it's amazing!
I. LOVE. THIS. PHONE.

It is a nice phone, well in my opinion , the
1. build quality seems solid but do not drop this beautiful piece of hardware
2. vibration feedback motor resonates a little but not annoying
3. earpiece and handsfree(back) speaker have irritating resonating sound
4. wired headset produces this irritating resonance as well
5. phone calls made with earpiece or back speaker are too loud
6. phone calls and music do have good quality on both BT carkit and BT stereo headset thus use these when possible
7. when having a call it is still possible to "press" wrong buttons with ears or even when in pocket
8. reliable software
9. nice camera but whitebalance corrects white to be pink
10. gps reception is excellent
well that's about it.
I really would like 3, 4 and 5 corrected.

Thanks for the swift responses peeps, lots of useful thoughts.
I'm still really miffed that Vodascum aren't offering it any more to non-business customers, although I'm sure I got my Diamond when they were only offering it to business customers. Meh - I shall try the "I'm leaving you" trick to get a nice deal out of them. If that doesn't work, I'm off to O2 - we have internal transmitters at work so thats a bonus.
Thanks again.
JP

I'm not sure I'd say there are "loads of people" who are "plagued with problems". Rather, there seems to be a tiny but vocal minority of people here on this forum who do nothing but complain about issues that the majority of people haven't experienced.
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Click to collapse
Exactly. That sums it up perfectly.
Look at this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=592375
75% are happy with the device. Another 10% are ambivalent. That is a better result than the iPhone reached in recent satisfaction surveys - despite that HTC has no reality distortion field like Apple.

Hi
I come from Diamond, then HD and now HD2. The HD2 is the best of all those because it is really very fast and excellent big display. Some thoughts:
1- HD camera is probably a little bit better than HD2 one. HD2 has the flash and this is good, but pictures seem more focused and crispy on HD
2- USB connector is a microUSB, not the worldwide miniUSB. I bought a couple of adaptors on ebay to allow reuse of all my cables at home, work and car
3- Stop the tentation to throw it away after the first hours of usage because you cannot select on the screen list boxes and check boxes! HD2 does not have stylus and it requires a little bit of experience (couple of days) to hit in the right place the small icons or list boxes
But in any case I would never come back to HD.
Regards
Stefano

stefanospizzica said:
2- USB connector is a microUSB, not the worldwide miniUSB. I bought a couple of adaptors on ebay to allow reuse of all my cables at home, work and car
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A few times I heard it was an advantage. Still don't understand why.