HTC HD2 locally announced by Mark Moons (HTC Benelux)
October 6, 2009 by Paul Willen
Filed under Windows Phones
Today at the local Windows Phone launch event in Amsterdam, HTC announced a new device called the HTC HD2 (of which the codename is HTC Leo) in addition to the introductions from Windows Mobile 6.5 and Microsoft MyPhone.
Luckily HTC didn’t just announce it, but also had a few HTC HD2 demo units in Amsterdam so we could play a few minutes with this powerhouse.
HTC HD2 hardware
The HTC HD2 is a phone with the largest screen available. A whopping 4,3″ screen with WVGA resolution. Based on my first hand experiences I can only say: This screen is LARGE! Furthermore the HTC HD2 will be the first Windows Phone with a capacitive touchscreen, which means multitouch.
The HTC HD2 is the first HTC device based on the Snapdragon chipset running at 1 Gigahertz. The device is from what I can judge one of the fastest devices I have ever used. Some more key features from this device are its 5 Megapixel camera with a Dual LED Flashlight, and that again, is something HTC has never done in a device! Five Megapixels and a decent Flash to make nice snapshots in the dark.
For a complete overview of the hardware specifications I would like recommend the specification list on the HTC HD2 product page.
HTC Software on the HTC HD2
The HTC HD2 will be shipped with Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5, which makes it the 5th Windows Phone from HTC. Furthermore HTC has replaced the TouchFLO 3D with a Windows Mobile version of HTC’s sense.
HTC Sense user interface was first introduced on the Android powered HTC Hero. The prediction I made back then seems to be true – HTC Sense will eventually become a cross-platform experience to all the HTC users. Just like the Android version of HTC Sense and SPB Mobile Shell 3.5 the Windows Phone version of HTC Sense is completely widgetized. HTC really points to three basic sense thoughts:
- Make it mine – Personalize you Windows Phone the way you like it
- Stay Close – Keep all you contacts, E-Mail, SMS and Phonecalls together
- Discover the unexpected – Basically all the nice Sense features HTC built in and makes you say: “WOW!”
HTC not only drives great innovations in hardware,but certainly invests in software innovations as well.
Concluding thoughts and wrap-up
The HTC HD2 is the fastest Windows Phone I have every tried. But not only the speed is impressive. The fact that there is a 5 Megapixel camera with flash, a capacitive touchscreen, and a 1 Gigahertz Processor indicates that this is a really powerful device. The only downside of the device I could see from the few minutes I had it in my hand is it’s width. Using the device with one hand simply isn’t possible (to me) because when I keep the device in my right hand, my thumb doesn’t reach the top-left corner (Start menu) of the device.
Basically the only drawback is that the screen it too big – But who would mention this as a downside of a device??
Pricing and Availability
According to countrymanager Mark Moons the HTC HD2 will be available from the end of this month in Europe and will cost €599,- (without a subscription and including VAT). When the HTC HD2 will be available in the United States is unknown at this moment.
Instant update: It looks like the HD2 will be available in the US in Q1 2010 according to Slashgear:
Meanwhile Peter Chou confirmed to us that HTC are working on a US-spec version of the device, which will cross the Atlantic in time for Q1 2010. No word on pricing as yet.
