Database Users

Some queries about the HD2

Okay, I'm seriously looking into getting a HD2 next month, however some of the negatives about this device concern me.
For one the speed doesn't always seem to be up to scratch compared to other Snapdragon devices (though it sports the same processor). Is it really that much of an issue? Is the HD2 still fast enough for most/all tasks? Also I've seen keyboard lag mentioned a fair bit too, a small issue, or not?
The next issue would be the pink hue I've seen on just about every sample image from the HD2, I know this is an ongoing thing and no one seems to have narrowed it down to either a software or hardware fault. Is it really that bad? Also I've seen very little shots from the HD2 that look even decent quality.
Thirdly is Windows Mobile, now I am aware of a lot of people that prefer Windows Mobile to Android, but again is it really that much of a deal breaker? I see a lot of people saying the HD2 hardware with an Android would be a match made in heaven, and that concerns me as I do not want to be left disappointed.
Basically I would like some views from both sides and someone to confirm whether this truly is the best phone I could buy, or whether I should look elsewhere, taking the above issues into account.
Thanks.

Hey,
I hope to get my HD2 next week but I have had some play time with a Demo unit and it was super fast and very smooth, think Iphone but much better. To quote comic book guy “Best phone ever” well in my opinion anyway.
I would always pick WM over Android, you can do so much more with WM.
There does seem to be a small but vocal group who are hell bent on making the HD2 out to be a bad phone or in some way crippled by HTC.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=583618

Hmm, have one now for over a week:
1. Speed - really fast and better than iphone, especially when you take into account the multiple applications at once.
2. Keyboard lag - super fast, could actually do with a slow down !
3. Pink hue - no idea about that, my screen is really excellent
4. WM vs Android - no comment, WM has been around for longer

Obviously I wasn't clear with the pink hue, I was meaning a pink hue in photo's taken with the HD2's Camera.
But thanks for the reassurance guys, keep 'em coming.

Oh, I see what "pink hue" is from your view now.
Well, HTC have never really been able to make super a quality camera function. But, the HD2 camera is OK and quick. I have not noticed a pink hue but I also would not claim to be an image expert. Nice thing on the HD2 (compared to the HD) is finally a LED flash.
But, I doubt anyone buys this as a top quality camera and, of course, no one buys an iphone as a camera either !
I'll have a play with some flash images - it would not surprise me if the LED is screwing up the colour balance.

Thanks for that Dave. I'm still very much undecided, to be honest I was 100% for getting the HD2 till I read some of the problems on the forum here. Now I'm not so sure.

The problem with reading problems on a forum is that for the most part, that's what most people come on a forum to do. Nowhere for even the most amazing device will you find more "wow" posts than "omg it sucks" posts. The majority are from people who didn't research their purchase properly. Even for what is supposed to be a developer-centric site, there is an enormous number of ignorant and unintelligent people.
It's a fantastic device, and the performance is so far ahead of my previous WM devices it's not funny. The pink middle on photos is a problem that seems to be affecting a few units (not mine), but it'll either be fixed by a ROM update or else according to HTC you can return for a replacement.
WM vs. Android is a completely personal choice. You might as well ask us what colour shoes you should wear. What do YOU prefer?

I read many post before buying the HD2, most probably I was in the same state of mind you are.
Having done a huge mistake with the SEX1, I risked my money on another WM. Have to say I'm more than pleased with this beast.
It's fast, very fast, had a ton of applications which were sucking out a lot of memory and not in one instance had I experienced lag. It was only when I went in Task manager that I realised how many applications were running. Apparently, the applications will only close when the required memory exceeds the available memory, I stand to be corrected.
Reception is excellent, far better than my SEX1.
Sound quality is impressive, again far better than the SEX1. My system volume is set at 55% and when playing music on the speaker the sound quality is very good and quite loud. Apparently when the phone senses that it's in a case it automatically increases the volume, you defo won't be having problems there.
Battery life is an issue, but it could well give you a day, for me it's not a decisive issue as the phone is connected to the pc every evening.
Camera could have been better, but then again its a phone, and hence all phones, be it 5,9,12 megapixel, will never be excellent photo takers.
Overall, I think that this phone deserves 8/10. It could well be improved with some ROM updates but the GUI, Manilla, is excellent. I love it!!

I have just recently ditched my Google G1. Whilst I enjoyed Android, I think that the Sense GUI on the HD2 is a lot better. The screen is just miles, miles better.
I was worried about the text input side of things - I have always preferred hard keyboards hence the G1. But having got used to the soft keypad of the HD2 I think it is fab.
Overall (and so far!) I would give the HD 2 a rather fantastic 9/10....LOVE IT!

Thanks for all the positive feedback guys. I guess I still really need to think this through, but I think your input will make the decision easier.

Hello
I've used HTC for years since opening my eyes past the Nokia and Sony Ericsson stuff so had the Vario 2 and 3 and then loved the touch hd (blackstone). Finally went for an Android with the release of the Hero as it got such rave reviews and phone of the year etc...
Basically it depends what your priorities are to be honest. My overview of the phones are these:
HERO = Great user friendly device with simple layout, all makes sense and is easy to use and does everything well although nothing is outstanding. Great allround phone for the medium - high end user. Apps are unbeatable for ideas, functionality, price (or lack of as hundreds possibly thousands are free!) and generally GOOD phone. Fun, functional and well priced. Camera is naff!
HD2 = Not so user friendly although it makes sense to the experienced user but very serious piece of kit. Not as fun but very customisable and powerful, superb speed, good amount of cabs out there and assistance from some of the geniuses knocking around on this site etc. They can help you do pretty much anything you want to it. I personally love this phone more than any other phone i've ever used but i like the windows thing even though the marketplace is a con and expensive and very empty still (i know it's newish but they shouldve at least launched with a decent selection ready for people as incentive!). The screen is outstanding, the camera is much better now that HTC have discovered that Flashes exist! Still not on a par with Samsung or Sonys but its a balance in a product so priorities again. The Sense and Touchflo is great, future rom potentials is there too.
If you want a gimmicky (although good) app based fun phone get the Hero, if you want a serious power-smartphone get the HD2 and customise away.
HTC are such a great non mainstream company (in Joe Publics eyes not us gadget lovers) but i feel with phones like the Hero they really are gonna be a main player in less than 3 years as long as they keep their superb efforts up!!!
Good luck!

Well this thread has been very useful to read I'm trying to decide between iphone 3GS or HTC touch HD2. Would love to find a phone that doesn't lag ...
Do people still feel the same way 3 months later - have HTC come out and fixed any problems? Does the HD2 start to lag after its been in use for a while - or is it still really smooth for people?
Sorry if there are other threads that answer these questions ... links to any similar discussions would be good if that's the case.

Just wondering

Hello all. As a prospective HD2 owner I just wanted to pose a question or two in regards to the changes that have occurred to the phone now that you're all happily running the latest and greatest custom versions of 2.2. I have an X10 and sadly for me, i'm still running 1.6 Needless to say the idea of being able to dual boot Win Mobile and Android is pretty cool. And from what i'm reading, you'll all be flashing android directly in the not to distant future.
Anyway, my question is in regards to hardware and apps. The first is the camera. In initial reviews of the HD2 the camera had some issues with funny "hue's" showing up in the photo. Some would look pinkish. And the other question is in regards to video recording. Again, initial reviews state that switching from camera to video was laggy and jumpy and that the video quality itself was choppy, and well, sucked. Has any of this improved with the jump to Android? Will it be possible to record at 720p like so many other phones are doing now?
As far as apps are concerned have there been any issues with media apps like MixZing, or Meridian? Any here using Vignette for the camera? How do games play on the phone now? There are a multitude of multitouch games out there that are currently beyond my reach with the X10 (lets not get started on the multitouch debate). If you hadn't guessed i'm looking to use this phone primarily for multimedia purposes. Just don't want to waste my time with another device that leaves me wanting just a bit more. That being said I can get my hands on one for very little so recouping my $$ via resale shouldn't really be an issue.
Thanks for taking the time to read this novel and any help / suggestions are appreciated.

I can only answer your question about recording in 720p. AFAIK, 720p recording is not yet supported in any kernel tree. I also don't know if hardware-wise it is possible to record in HD. I don't really use my HD2 for multimedia purposes so I really can't tell more at this point.

To potential students and Desire HD buyers....

I know what it's like, the ability and situation to spend money on any device you wish...especially when an upgrade is necessary. What you have to remember, as a student as well as a person, is what device will serve your needs more? Do you want a more multimedia-oriented phone or a business phone? What will consume less time and work out of the box? Right now, it is a very critical time for me. I have seven exams in January alone. If you are in a situation even a fraction of what i'm in....well you get the point. I previously owned the HD2 for the best of a year before "upgrading" to a Desire HD. I would say that Windows Mobile, although an extremely flexible OS that allows for many tweaks and customisations, is an extremely old and "outdated" OS...it requires a dedicated owner and a lot of time to get it the way YOU want it. Also, you will get into a habit of regularly flashing custom roms and trying out another Android build etc. I believe that it is a phone for people who wish to experiment and realise the potential of a device. On the other hand, you have a Desire HD. I would see it as an entertainment class phone. It has the same size screen as my old HD2, but more vibrant colours. The speakers are low and softer in volume, although who ever uses phone speakers to listen to music? As students and on the train and in lessons, we use our phones to listen to OUR choice of music in privacy and as a form of time-passing and relaxation. The Desire HD is a valuable music player, as it reproduces sounds far better than my HD2, thanks to SRS and Dolby sound effect algorithms. It is quite adept at playing multimedia, and has 720p capture AND playback abilites. There is also an 8mp camera sensor, and nice applications. Personally, I believe a Desire HD will be more suited to you. It is a newer model with more powerful/updated hardware. I have one, and it is flawless. Android on the HD2 will never be on the level of a Desire HD. The Desire HD natively runs the OS, and the device is fully stable. Booting into Android on a HD2 and back and forth to Windows will take at least a minute either way. It's up to you in the end, but I advise you go for a Desire HD. Although it's more expensive, it's all the more appealing and filling. Thus you will have the latest device, best hardware, a smooth OS experiance and the ability to download programs from the Market at the swipe of a finger. As a side note, if you want another device recommendation, it would be a HD7. Rumours have it that it is selling for £414.00 on Amazon and less on Ebay! In the end, the choice falls to you. I hope i've clarified the situation for you (And in case you are wondering, no I don't regret getting a Desire HD. The experiance, smoothness and perfection alone are enough to make me happy and show off my device)

Great post!
I'm in the same boat as you almost, student with limited $$ and looking to upgrade to something which will work great out of the box with a lot of potential when I wona mess around.
I'm deciding between HD2 and DHD. I've been very keen for a HD2 for months but now that I got a good sum of cash I'm leaning more towards the DHD, it's just so beautiful and feels great, plus those capacitive buttons are awesome.
I have a WinMo phone atm and I know exacly what you mean with customizing and ROM changes, it really takes time to make it work.
I won't even look at WP7 until it matures more and see how it turns out.
I think I will be getting DHD in about 2-3 weeks, can't wait!
...unless something better is announced (Tegra 2 )

I really don't see any sense in this post - at least not under the used title. you can find phone specs on the websites or every single online retailer and you can find plenty of guides, reviews, tests and comparisons everywhere (including this forum) that actually help you in your decision to make.
I like my DHD and I've decided consciously to buy it seven weeks ago. Being a student myself, I would have expected from this topic to talk about a couple of decent apps that help you to organise your notes (e.g. dropbox, evernote), about voice recording software for your lecture, about anything actually related to studying.
As for the "and Desire HD buyers"... oh, well, this should have made me suspicious.

CM7 support?

I've wanted to know for the longest time if any rom developement like CyanogenMod 7 is going to come out even if it is majorly slimmed down
Sent from my MB520 using XDA App

I suppose it depends on how you define "the longest time". The topic has certainly been discussed here before.

Well boys and girls here is the official response from the CM team on developing a version of CM7 for our beloved NSTs: To put this topic on track and provide an answer to OP:
No -the NST is not up for CM
As for the "script kiddies" comment, grow up or do it yourself.
/thread That was from the head moderator.
Original thread link: http://forum.cyanogenmod.com/topic/30624-nook-simple-touch-mod/
Seems like any mods close to CM 7 will come from the talented developers among us.

With guys like that making our case, I don't think we've got a chance in hell! Nothing like pissing off the developers you're dependent to put your device at the bottom of the list.
I would, of course, love to have some selection of ROMs, but given the limitations of the hardware, and the focus on reading and battery life, I'm not sure how much can be achieved:
There are color Android devices running 2.3 with multi-touch for $100 for those that want "more tablet" functionality at low price.
Battery life is already very, very good. CM7 is often associated with poor(ish) battery life, so I wouldn't expect it to improve, at least not dramatically. You still have to reduce background and wifi usage to keep any sort of good battery life.
I can understand the concern about obsolescence and "future proofing", but let's face it, it's a $100 device that I'll probably actively use for 2 years, max. My Palm III still works beautifully, my Sharp Zaurus as well. Hell, I could get my old Atari Portfolio working if I had to. Putting CM7 on those won't compel me to pull them out of the drawer and use them again.
Don't get me wrong: I'd love to see some development, and would throw in a few bucks to support it. I just wonder if most of what's wanted can't be achieved by working on the existing firmware. I do want the B&N firmware (reader, library, store) functionality (hopefully, all fixed by B&N someday), so my needs may not be typical.

Well, since in my country there are B&N stores -at all-, I just ordered one because of the hardware, size and price. I have no interest in the B&N firmware at all due to this.
I'm up for the task though. I'm mostly busy with work and real life but I want to use this as a cheap, android-compatible tablet I can root and then use as secondary display (VNC)/device rooter/flasher (HTC Magic )/Android app development/etc.
CM7 might be heavy, yes, it's so heavy it's slow in my device, but CM6 works fine & dandy and even better with some optimizations of my own, so I bet this device is able to run, at least, Froyo, which is enough to run around 80% of market apps if not 98%, if I'm not wrong.

[Q] Best OS?

Hello,
I have had my HTC/Verizon xv6800 for over 3 weeks now. I think it is impressive for its age, but would like a better OS/GUI as it seems a little "clunky".
I have researched what is already out there, but the shear volume of versions is daunting, which is why I am seeking help hear as I am a noobie to this sort of thing.
When I bought it off ebay, there was someone selling a WM6.5 version (of course I can't find it now). It looked like it had more visuals and apps than I need, but it was closer to what I would like. I would rather have a lighter, faster OS and GUI.
I would like to keep all the basic capabilities, but more of a finger-friendly (than stylus-friendly) interface. Stable, light, easy-maintenance are the priorities.
Thank you for your help.