Database Users

Another HD2 vs Others thread

Ok so here's the thing. I've always been a phone modder, started with Motorola and have always used Motorola's, but frankly they just messed up with their Android phones which is why i have decided to abandon them. Now im considering buying an HD2, mainly because of the flexibility it offers modding wise, however i plan to use Android as my main OS.
The thing is, i know the HD2 wasn't built for Android, but my understanding of it is that it runs almost perfectly if you have the right radio/rom/android build combination, plus magldr will allow for native NAND boot and WP7 has been ported by Cotulla (I am unaware of the functionality of it). I was thinking about an HTC G2 but with it being locked from permaroot that kind of rules it out, and i've heard the hinge quality is terrible. Also, the HD2 has decent hardware for a year old phone, but newer phones are offering BT 3.0, A8 processor, dedicated GPU, S/AMOLED screens, etc.
So overall im looking for a phone that will give me the best bang for my buck, and is flexible modding wise (this is critical). I don't want a phone thats just push a button and it works, theres no fun in that. So what would you guys do? Go for the HD2 which is already a year old phone or get something newer (SGS, G2, Desire, etc)? Build quality is also something important, I dont want the phone with the best specs if its built completely out of cheap plastic. The HD2 is also the cheapest option of most current phones, so yeah.
All opinions are welcome.

If you plan to use it entirely for android then I think you want the Desire HD instead......

Price is an issue, the Desire HD is too expensive for me lol, besides its also permalocked

what do you mean by permalocked?......
maybe an evo if your in an area where you could make most of it......
if not then yeah you might as well go for the HD2.........

conantroutman said:
what do you mean by permalocked?......
maybe an evo if your in an area where you could make most of it......
if not then yeah you might as well go for the HD2.........
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It means that the Desire HD and the G2 have built in protection that makes permanent root impossible as all changes to the eMMC are cached and erased upon reboot, so you can root the phone but it will be reset once you reboot. I can't use CDMA, has to be GSM

ocm7 said:
It means that the Desire HD and the G2 have built in protection that makes permanent root impossible as all changes to the eMMC are cached and erased upon reboot, so you can root the phone but it will be reset once you reboot. I can't use CDMA, has to be GSM
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didnt realise that....... im pretty clueless when it comes to android....
that however, has put me off ever replacing my HD2 with a native android device....
Did you consider the iPhone?
Just kidding.............

Lmao never! And it's just those HTC Android devices that are locked, i believe. Motorolas are also locked but i believe Samsungs are good

Just go and get it,Android works flowless on it, WM isnt as bad as they say it is.And the build quality is second to none,I just dropped it yesterday while taking a picture,not a single scratch.

WM is so much fun for tweaking, and Co0kie's Home Tab is a dream come true...
Android works amazingly - except for me battery-life remains an issue, so research this if you think it's your preferred OS.
But as a phone to tweak with, with a choice of 2 OS's and another 2 hopefully on the way, the HD2 is a fantastic choice, a great form-factor, and probably relatively cheap as it's a year old.

ocm7 said:
Lmao never! And it's just those HTC Android devices that are locked, i believe. Motorolas are also locked but i believe Samsungs are good
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I could never trust a samsung, my fiance had 2 and they both broke.......
as much as I hate her iPhone I must say that it sure is a sturdy device to cope with what she puts it through on a daily basis..........
as for my next phone............ when I get an upgrade I think Im just gonna sell it and buy a couple of spare HD2's
So yeah I think you should opt for the HD2......

The galaxy s phones are really good. I myself am using a vibrant running a custom rom. Its an awesome phone especially once u start modding it. You should browse the vibrant forum and see what all is going on.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Shameless self promotion inc... Have a look here.

Thanks for the replies, i just got a Tmous HD2 on ebay for US$206

[Q] I'm new and useless... is there a step-by-step?

I'm purchasing a used HD2 next week and want to know if there is a thread or some other resource that can walk me through the process of installing Andoird on it, in a step-by-step fashion. Also, can someone let me know what the most up-to-date HD2 Android rom release is, and how far along it is? I've never done this before, but I really want to dive in head first.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=905841
Dive in

Thanks!
I will start reading all of those guides and post more specific questions as I go along.
Any chance someone could tell me what the most up-to-date Android rom is right now?

heres a more direct one for you.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=893948
Most of us use this one http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=877777
hitting the Thanx meter for me would be nice if this helps

For the love of money and your sanity.. why are you buying an HD2 if you want to run Android??? Buy a desire HD (same size screen, more RAM).. at least it was built and designed for android! Android wont run as smooth on the HD2 as it will on the desire

Benny_L said:
Thanks!
I will start reading all of those guides and post more specific questions as I go along.
Any chance someone could tell me what the most up-to-date Android rom is right now?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Benny, since "up-to-date" is a fairly subjective term, and the available builds of Andoid (both NAND and SD) change daily (or more!), then that's not a question with a easy, single answer.
Your best bet is to first pour thorugh all the guides that motomudder linked you to above, and then once you've done that you'll be better equiped to know exactly what you want/need in a ROM, and then it'll be much easier for you to go through the available choices and make the best decision for you.
Also, questions like this (and others you have) should either go in the Q&A section, or in the thread for the ROM they're related to...I'll move this one over there now, but please be mindful of this in the future

farcry27 said:
For the love of money and your sanity.. why are you buying an HD2 if you want to run Android??? Buy a desire HD (same size screen, more RAM).. at least it was built and designed for android! Android wont run as smooth on the HD2 as it will on the desire
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
PMSL are you for real Android runs flawlessly on the HTC HD2, of course if you've got money to burn id recommend the Desire HD it costs substantially more than the HD2 but in reality isn't THAT much better.

farcry27 said:
For the love of money and your sanity.. why are you buying an HD2 if you want to run Android??? Buy a desire HD (same size screen, more RAM).. at least it was built and designed for android! Android wont run as smooth on the HD2 as it will on the desire
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
farcry, although they may not be immediately obvious to you, there are many reasons why an HD2 might be a more suitable solution for somebody, even those who want to run android. Please don't assume that your perspective and experience applies to everyone else

farcry27 said:
For the love of money and your sanity.. why are you buying an HD2 if you want to run Android??? Buy a desire HD (same size screen, more RAM).. at least it was built and designed for android! Android wont run as smooth on the HD2 as it will on the desire
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MOD EDIT: Flaming comments removed
There is MANY MANY reasons why somebody would want want a HD2 specifically for Android over a Desire HD.
1) Price!
2) Specs are very similar.
3) Multiple choice for OS so multiple choice for apps/games.
4) Android runs VERY well on HD2.
5) Price!
6) Price!
7) and more and more.

Thank you for all the replies!
The biggest factor here is price, as many people have already stated. Although network compatibility is actually something I'm relying on right now. I'm in Toronto (Canada), where we have 2 new mobile providers that run on the same AWS band as T-Mobile USA. I'm purchasing a used T-Mobile HD2 so that I can use it (unlocked) on one of these new carriers.
As far as I understand, the Desire HD doesn't even exist in an AWS version, so it's not even an option for me at all. And even if it was, I wouldn't spend that kind of cash on a phone right now. I'm getting the HD2 for a great price... that's what encouraged me to go this route.

Off topic, but has anyone else noticed the price of hd2 has gone UP in the past week or two? Coincides with a couple of software releases as well as articles ABOUT those releases. Just thought it was funny how everybody is now discovering the power of this phone and therefore the price has almost doubled since new year's eve.
Sent from my HD2 using XDA App

Ya, I ended up paying a bit more than I originally expected to. I still got it for dirt cheap compared to the other options that currently exist. Well now that I have it I am very eager to get Android running on it. Wish me luck...

HD2 (android) vs G2, comparable?

I currently own a G2, and I'm planning on getting the Sensation when it is released, but in the mean time I really want a 4.3 inch screen phone, because I haven't used the keyboard on my G2 since I got Swiftkey. My question today is, does anyone have any valid reasons why I should hold on to the G2? I'm currently the latest MIUI and overclocked to 1.5GHZ, and it's my understanding that MIUI runs pretty smoothly on the HD2. So is it worth it? or should I just stick it out until the Sensation comes out.

If you are into phone hacking then yes you will love it. I run Android from NAND using cLK for my bootloader and it is great. If I was to show it to someone right now that did not know the HD2 was originally a Windows Mobile device would think it came with Android as you don't see the bootloader boot up using cLK, but you do using MAGLDR.
Just make sure you get a good HD2and don't let someone pull a fast one on you and sell you a defective HD2. There has been a few people on here that that has happen to. So testy the phone if at all possible befor buying it or request a video of the phone in operation if buying it on line.

adamtheindien said:
I currently own a G2, and I'm planning on getting the Sensation when it is released, but in the mean time I really want a 4.3 inch screen phone, because I haven't used the keyboard on my G2 since I got Swiftkey. My question today is, does anyone have any valid reasons why I should hold on to the G2? I'm currently the latest MIUI and overclocked to 1.5GHZ, and it's my understanding that MIUI runs pretty smoothly on the HD2. So is it worth it? or should I just stick it out until the Sensation comes out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well...
I have both HD2 and Desire Z (G2). I rarely use its keyboard either.
If you like to tweak, hack or try custom ROM, it worths having HD2 before move into Sensation. You can flash many type of ROM, not only Android, you can also flash WP7.
Cheers

T-Macgnolia said:
Just make sure you get a good HD2and don't let someone pull a fast one on you and sell you a defective HD2. There has been a few people on here that that has happen to. So testy the phone if at all possible befor buying it or request a video of the phone in operation if buying it on line.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What would be your advice on not getting duped? How do I make sure it's a good HD2?
Sent from my HTC Desire Z using XDA App

adamtheindien said:
What would be your advice on not getting duped? How do I make sure it's a good HD2?
Sent from my HTC Desire Z using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well like I said if you are buying it from somewhere non the internet. I would request they make a video of the HD2 being used to place a call, scrolling through the start menu, opening and closing apps, taking a picture and video, turning off then back on and booted into bootloader. A video like this would only take like five minutes.
If you are buying from a individual that you are going to meet face to face. Then do all of the same things as I mentioned above with the HD2 bbefore forking over the cash.

... and remember to check the proximity sensor. my mate got a nice lemon with ps not working at all and it's freezing and crashing quite often too.

Unless you are suffering from obsessive flashing disorder, then this phone might put you at ease. However, if you only want something that works. then I'd suggest you stay away. There's no functionality difference between the phones really, just performance at most.

If you are waiting on the Sensation then I would see no need to drop the G2 for an HD2. Less than a month away most likely for the Sensation. I've been waiting on the SGSII and during that wait my Mytouch died (what a little trooper he was) so I picked up a used HD2. ROM beast! Once the SGSII comes out for TMOUS (I hope!) I'll get that and use the HD2 to run Ubuntu.
Only get an HD2 if you play on still playing with it after you get your Sensation.

[Q] Thinking about the HD2, opinions?

Hello everyone, I just recently lost my phone and im officially back on the market for a new smartphone. I was wondering what everyone thinks about the HTC HD2. I haven't seen any good reviews on youtube--at least not specifically running on Android... Can anyone give me some input?
HTC HD2 originally runs on Windows (which im not used to) but it seems pretty similar to android according to some youtube videos [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neQ_iFf4s2Y]
So what do you guys think? If I do get the HD2.. should I flash it to ICS? Jellybean? Gingerbread? Or just stick with the windows? And if I do flash it.. does it compromise the speed?
Thank you for your help!

chrisleealee said:
Hello everyone, I just recently lost my phone and im officially back on the market for a new smartphone. I was wondering what everyone thinks about the HTC HD2. I haven't seen any good reviews on youtube--at least not specifically running on Android... Can anyone give me some input?
HTC HD2 originally runs on Windows (which im not used to) but it seems pretty similar to android according to some youtube videos [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neQ_iFf4s2Y]
So what do you guys think? If I do get the HD2.. should I flash it to ICS? Jellybean? Gingerbread? Or just stick with the windows? And if I do flash it.. does it compromise the speed?
Thank you for your help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Depending of the price you are going to buy one, this is still the greatest phone made by HTC.
You can flash whatever rom you want, ICS and JB run smooth.

The HD2 is THE allrounder smartphone ever made
Great Hardware and open for multple Operating System
You should flash android anyway
There are very good ICS and JB roms out there
I for myself sticked to GB roms (MIUI GB Version most of the time i had one) because the camera was running much better
then in the ICS or JB roms and that never got fixed.
Its a great phone
Here in Hamburg / Germany the phone cost between 120€ and 200 € depending on its condition
Hope that helps you
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app

If today my hd2 breaks...i will buy a galaxy note2 and give it to my wife and take her hd2..
Sent from my HTC HD2 using Tapatalk 2

The HD2 supports a wide variety of operating systems: Windows Mobile 6.5, Windows Phone 7, all versions of Android, Ubuntu, Maemo... If you like wasting time flashing your phone, then the HD2 is definitely the best choice.
The most stable Android builds so far are still the Gingerbread ones, but JB is not bad either. Developer interest for the HD2 is slowly decreasing, but there are still a few builds out there that get regular updates.

chrisleealee said:
Opinions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you are capable of a slightly-more-technical-than-most-phones flashing process, and want a technical toy with roms and options and possibilities that may or may not be running 100% correctly, may have a glitch or two here and there, but gives you as much freedom as you can cope with, then get a HD2.
As to what you should flash, , flash everything, if you like a rom, use it, if you don't, change it.
If you want a 100% android phone and are only interested in maybe skinning up a rom, changing icons, installing apps, then get an android phone.

The HD2 has great xda support, it really is one of the best. However, I would not consider the HD2 unless you could get it for really cheap
HD2 Pros
Great xda support with tons of different OS
No really, I will only buy Nexus phones now because i was spoiled on how great the support was for the HD2... It seemed no other phones reached the level of HD2 (for andriod)
HD2 Cons:
Hardware buttons do not last very long (~year) and I much prefer software/touch buttons.
Outdated hardware. EX: Galaxy Nexus is much faster/refined
Other issues that may or may not have been fixed since i last used the HD2:
Corrupt blocks causing random crashes
Bad Multi-touch (sucks for games)
Battery life kinda sucked

[Q] New phone

Hi everyone
I’m new to this forum and forums in general so I hope I’m in the right place for my question.
I can upgrade my Galaxy S 3 in December and I was looking at the HTC One but my carrier keeps trying to talk me out of it and is trying to sell me on the Galaxy S 4 or the LG G2.
What I would like to know is witch phone you would choose and why and not just because of specs but also just personal reasons why you would pick the one over the other.
Thank you.

Go with the HTC One
I have tried Samsung and LG and I prefer HTC sense to all the other interfaces. HTC corporate is the only manufacturer I know of that provides support for unlocking the bootloader, etc. to promote open development.... like what takes place here. I was very pleased with my Evo3d, and HTC blew me away with the One, which I currently own. I have experienced issues with all other brands. Also, the custom rom selection is unbelievable. I am running ViperOne 3.1 and it is by far the best I have ever seen or used. Hope this helped.

Hi
I'm happy with HTC since as said bl unlocking is officially supported.
I don't like Samsung coz of preinstalled apps I didn't need. The other thing is their whole marketing strategy which I can't stand.
No experience with LG phones, but their DVD writer rocks @ almost cheapest price
Sent from my HTC One V using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

hello
I prefer the HTC is a very good phone

patsan74 said:
I have tried Samsung and LG and I prefer HTC sense to all the other interfaces. HTC corporate is the only manufacturer I know of that provides support for unlocking the bootloader, etc. to promote open development.... like what takes place here. I was very pleased with my Evo3d, and HTC blew me away with the One, which I currently own. I have experienced issues with all other brands. Also, the custom rom selection is unbelievable. I am running ViperOne 3.1 and it is by far the best I have ever seen or used. Hope this helped.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much you just made me make up my mind especially because of the boot loader and open development since that is exactly what I am wanting to start playing with.

Happy to help
Faffa159 said:
Thank you very much you just made me make up my mind especially because of the boot loader and open development since that is exactly what I am wanting to start playing with.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Happy to help! One thing I didn't mention is I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the camera on the HTC One.....the new technology is astounding and the most important aspect of all the additional light (200x's more) allowed into the pixels is the shutter speed is almost instant, and low light shots are clear. You wont miss a shot an you can probably print 8 x 10 photos just fine. If you are rooting, check out the Viper Roms. I have tried a lot and found theirs are very stable and carry the most customizations.