Posts Tagged ‘windows mobile’

HTC HD2 Not Upgradeable To Windows Phone 7 Series

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

In what can only be described as a tragedy of epic proportions, owners of the HTC HD2 Windows Mobile superphone, the current king of WinMo smartphones, have been told in  no uncertain terms that the HD2 will never ever be upgradeable via official channels to Windows Phone 7 Series (WinPhone7) when WinPhone7 is released.  This puts to bed many a speculation that it may indeed be upgradeable.  So, if you’re planning on buying an HD2 hoping it will be officially upgradeable, sorry, no go.  Your only option is to wait for some enterprising hacker over at the xda-developers website to cook up a WinPhone7 ROM or firmware or operating system for the HD2; I’m quite sure this will be forthcoming.  However, bear in mind that these custom ROMs are never as fully or rigorously tested as official ROMs, so do this at your own risk.

Sad news indeed.  No wonder HTC is on a roll lately reducing the pricing of its Windows Mobile handsets – with news like this, I foresee a drop in demand from the more tech savvy with regards to new WinMo phones; everyone will simply wait it out till the end of the year – but this is good news for the Android and iPhone platforms – perhaps they can snag some new customers who are unwilling to wait that long!

Source.  Go on now, I’ll give you a moment to get that box of tissues and cry it out.  Ya know ya want to…

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The HTC HD Mini Pictured

Monday, March 8th, 2010

To whet your appetite for some upcoming phones, here’s a picture of the new HD Mini, the HD2’s little brother, on top of the Star newspaper for size comparison.  Quick – go dig up that old copy of the newspaper to see how big the HD Mini is, so you can start budgeting for it now!  Sorry, I can’t tell you where this picture was taken, nor by whom – maybe I took it and have played with it, who knows?  I can’t share release dates either, but suffice it to say, “soon”.  And no, you won’t get any indication of pricing out of me either even if you waterboard me – but I’m really hoping this will be sub RM 2,000.

And once we get this quarter out of the way, I can also share with you some other good news if you’re an Android fan.  Again, I can’t tell you any more, otherwise I’ll have to shoot you first, then I’ll get killed myself for divulging too many secrets.  OK, I’ve said too much, I have to find a safe place to hide from the corporate assassins now.  Bye…

Oh, and if you have any spy shots of unreleased phones you would like to share, please do send them to me, and I’ll credit you (or maybe not, to save your job, hahaha…).

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No Buttons, No Upgrade

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

So says Microsoft on the possibility of existing devices, especially the new-ish HTC HD2, being upgraded to run Windows Phone 7 Series when it is released at the end of the year.  Many existing and future owners of the HD2 were hoping that their beloved devices would qualify for an upgrade; in fact, at the recently concluded Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Microsoft actually said to wait until MIX 2010 which would commence in mid March for an official announcement.  So why the change of mind/heart now?  It’s certainly very strange.

The buttons I’m referring to are the three mandated to be on every Windows Phone 7 Series device – search (aka Bing), back and home buttons.  The HD2 actually has 5 buttons – make call, end call, back, home, start – 2 too many, but this is not thought to be the deal killer as far as upgrade went.  So, the HD2, although it meets many, if not all of the rumoured hardware specifications for Windows Phone 7 Series, does not qualify because it is missing the all important Bing search button.

A big ouch, if you ask me.  And yet another reason why sales of Windows Mobile devices will take a plunge this year.  Which means that companies like HTC will have to depend on other platforms to make their numbers – and since HTC only manufactures Windows Mobile and Android phones, it looks like their fortunes for 2010 depends very heavily on their relationship with Google!

Source 1, source 2, source 3.

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Expansys Prices The HTC Desire, Legend And HD Mini

Friday, February 19th, 2010

Wow, that was quick.  Barely 24 hours after HTC unveiled its latest smartphones at the Mobile World Congress, without officially announcing a price, the expansys, a large online retailer of things IT, have put up a pre-order page for the three handsets.  All three are expected on 12th April, which is not too far away.  I have a feeling that we can see ours by this time as well, if not, perhaps a couple of weeks later.

The price for these three models, which are unlocked and hence is able to be used with any supported carrier network?  The Desire will sell for £450, approximately RM 2,386, the Legend for £400, approximately RM 2,121, and the HD Mini for £350, approximately RM 1,856.  I don’t know about you, but I like these prices – and I like the fact that smartphone pricing, even the premium models, are on a downtrend.  Like I said, if the HD Mini does come in below RM 2,000 it should find its fair share of buyers here.

Source, via androidcommunity.

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More On The HTC Desire, Legend And HD Mini

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

HTC finally put up some promotional videos for its new smartphones – the superphone called the Desire, and the slightly more modest Legend and HD Mini.  Check out the videos below for a first look.  I think the Desire looks really desirable (pardon the bad pun!) while the Legend would make one look cool with its build and the HD Mini just looks plain cute.

HTC Desire (specifications)

HTC Legend (specifications)

HTC HD Mini (specifications)

Lots more videos to be enjoyed at HTC’s YouTube channel!

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