Some questions about HD2 before buying?

[taylormah]

I have been veteran WM user and like the clean simple today's screen of the platform where I could add plugins of different apps and show my calender entries for the day. I am using a WM 6.1 device right now, I don't have any experience with WM 6.5, so I don't know if stock WM 6.5 has the same concept of plugins and today's screen. I am considering getting a HD2. I was wondering what happens when an app (lets say this app was created before WM 6.5) installs a today's plugin, how would that plugin be accessible through Sense UI (and on stock WM 6.5 in general)?

Also, How compatible is HD2 with older WM apps? Do apps have to have a 480x800 version available to work on HD2, or even the lower resolution apps will work on this device (with some scaling or distortion maybe)?? (Basically I want to know if my current set of purchased apps/games will be usable on HD2 also?? Most of the games I have are 3 years old and didn't have a 480x800 version of it)..

Does the phone have any issues or is there anything about HD2 that I should know/consider before buying it???

Thanks for help guys. I am really excited about this device.

[20blks]

I'm not as experienced with windows but to me there's nor much difference other than sense ui.

[newroc]

most if not all programs should work fine on wm6.5 or wvga. in fact, all of my tmo wing's 320x240 programs worked on my 320x320 epix, 480x640 tp, and current wvga hd2. if it doesn't work, you can install RealVGA or a number of other free programs for resolution compatibilities.

as far as Today screens, when I had the TouchFlo3d for wm6.1, i installed SecondToday so I could use my legacy today plugins mapped to a softkey, so I had the best of both worlds.

now that I have wm6.5 w/ Sense2.5, you can install Cookie's Home Tab to customize the home screen with up to 80 quicklink icons (like apple) and/or 7 calendar items together with 600+ clocks. see this PocketNow Cookie's article .

alternatively, you can choose between Sense or Classic WM or Default Titanium home screens. If you choose to stay with classic WM, there's a new program you can install called Easy Today Launch which allows you to add quick link buttons as a today plugin. Whenever I switch out of Sense2.5 to the classic WM homescreen, I use a combo of BatteryStatus Clock, TodayAgenda, and Easy Today Launcher with 18 icons on my today screen. Still great on battery life and low ram usage for older devices.

[taylormah]

as far as Today screens, when I had the TouchFlo3d for wm6.1, i installed SecondToday so I could use my legacy today plugins mapped to a softkey, so I had the best of both worlds.

Hey newroc, do you think SecondToday can also be used with HD2 and mapped to a HW key? Also, is there a way to map all HW keys to different shortcuts?

[taylormah]

I went to tmobile store to play with a demo unit. They did not have a demo unit, so the rep let me play with his own. I found his HD2 to be very laggy and unresponsive. What could be the deal? I have read enough people saying that its blazing fast device that I can not accept a unit will be so slow...

[MasonDoctorJT]

Mine is not the least bit laggy.maybe he had a bunch of apps open.

[taylormah]

I found the icon and font size to be really big. Maybe that is to make it more finger friendly or to suit the size of the real estate of screen, but is there a way to make the icon sizes and font size (like of the soft keys, or on the icons) smaller??

[omegajb]

I had the HD2 for about a month and just sold it. I like the 1Ghz Snapdragon processor and amount of memory but I had a few problems. Both handsets original and warranty replacement had serious hissing out of the earpiece, if I had a headset it was fine. The second issue was the keyboard, this is where I saw the most lag, I tried all kids of tweaks but typing was tough and if you had to enter passwords accuracy was tough.
I text and email a lot and if the onscreen keyboard is slow and would freeze I just couldn't deal. Other than that I loved the phone, the screen was amazing and all my older apps worked on it.

[maiki]

Hey newroc, do you think SecondToday can also be used with HD2 and mapped to a HW key? Also, is there a way to map all HW keys to different shortcuts?

There are apps like doublelauncher, hbutton, vito buttonmapper, etc., that enable one to map different apps to hardware buttons via double and triple presses, press and hold, etc.

However, the HD2 hardly has any hardware buttons. It only has the Call and End buttons (I don't think those can ever be mapped to different functions, as they need to be available for phone usage, and the Windows key, and a Home key. (Those two are also not usually mappable.) In looking at one in the store, I did not even see a volume button, nor a camera button. I guess in these days of "all touch", they try to do everything by touch screen as possible.

I'm thinking of getting an HD2, but I find that lack of hardware buttons a drawback. I have found it convenient, with other WM devices, to be able to launch apps, and other controls via a hardware button press (or double press, or press and hold), and woulkd miss that with the HD2.

[maiki]

Well--since the main functiion of a phone is to be a................................................. phone----

How well does the HD2 work as a phone?

How welll does its BT functions work?

How well does it work for tethering a laptop to?

[Deke218]

The HD2 is excellent as a phone. Bluetooth is great also. As with all WM devices, a few simple tweaks will correct any issues you may have.

I'm thinking of getting an HD2, but I find that lack of hardware buttons a drawback. I have found it convenient, with other WM devices, to be able to launch apps, and other controls via a hardware button press (or double press, or press and hold), and woulkd miss that with the HD2.

Whatever you can do with a previous device - hardware key wise - you can do with the HD2... With the exception of a dedicated camera button, nothing else is missing. You can always map the keys to you liking.

[maiki]

Whatever you can do with a previous device - hardware key wise - you can do with the HD2... With the exception of a dedicated camera button, nothing else is missing. You can always map the keys to you liking.

How can you do the same key-mapping as on other WM devices, when the HD has far fewer keys, keys (like Call and End) that are not usually mappable?

[maiki]

What about tethering? How well does the HD2 work for that, both connected by cable and by Bluetooth?

[MasonDoctorJT]

There are apps like doublelauncher, hbutton, vito buttonmapper, etc., that enable one to map different apps to hardware buttons via double and triple presses, press and hold, etc.

However, the HD2 hardly has any hardware buttons. It only has the Call and End buttons (I don't think those can ever be mapped to different functions, as they need to be available for phone usage, and the Windows key, and a Home key. (Those two are also not usually mappable.) In looking at one in the store, I did not even see a volume button, nor a camera button. I guess in these days of "all touch", they try to do everything by touch screen as possible.

I'm thinking of getting an HD2, but I find that lack of hardware buttons a drawback. I have found it convenient, with other WM devices, to be able to launch apps, and other controls via a hardware button press (or double press, or press and hold), and woulkd miss that with the HD2.

There is a volume button, Also, even the send and end keys are mappable. You just long-press them for different functions other than send or end.

[Scottish Skyedance]

I have HD2.
After applying screen sensitivity hack, it works a lot better.
Most of applications (including some for WM2003) works with WM6.5 as it's compatible with legacy (I don't guarantee any pre-2002 because I don't have any).
However, HD2 may be the last WM phone because I am migrating to Android. I have most of applications for nexus one (including slingplayer), the only thing I miss is streaming windows media support.