HTC HD2 is a multi-OS phone

The HTC HD2 is one of the very first smartphones to have a huge 4.3″ screen. Codenamed Leo, this phone was released around the world in Q4 of 2009 running the now obsolete Windows Mobile 6.5. The excellent hardware brought forth rumours that this phone will be upgraded to the latest Wndows Phone 7 OS, but unfortunately around March of 2010, it has been confirmed that HD2 will never be upgraded. This left quite a number of consumers stuck with a smartphone running on a dying OS, discontented that the superb hardware will never be able to achieve anything greater than a mere Windows 6.5. More than a year later, thanks to the open community of programmers, the HTC HD2 proudly runs numerous phone OS and even desktop OS, such as:

• original Windows 6.5
• Android
• Ubuntu
• Windows 95
• Windows Phone 7 (WP7)

I’ll briefly run through all the OS which runs on this phone and how to get them running with suitable references and links.

Windows 6.5

Level: Easy

Just switch your stock HD2 on and this is the OS you get. There’s even an update to 6.5.3 if you ever desire it. Development from software companies has come to a complete stop the moment Microsoft announced their plans for the WP7. The only development comes from the open community such as XDA. At the point Windows 6.5 stopped, the amount of apps available are enough for daily use and you’ll only be stuck mostly on Microsoft online services. With Google growing greatly,  it’s being left out of most Google online services.

 

Android

There are two different ways to run Android on your HTC HD2:

From SD Card, Level: Medium

First of all, you need to check the version of Radio ROM on your HD2. It appears on the white screen with the HTC logo when you’ve just switched on the phone. The minimum should be 2.08. Then download a few Android OS files onto a folder in your SDCARD. Boot into Windows 6.5, look inside the folder and click on the two launcher, called CLRCAD.EXE and HARET.EXE. Just wait patiently as the Android OS loads. For the full steps (including if you do not have a minimum radio ROM of 2.08), refer this post. Everytime you reboot your phone, you will return to Windows 6.5.

From phone internal memory (NAND), Level: Hard

This step will complete copy all the Android OS files into your phone’s internal flash memory or also referred to as NAND, where the original OS files for Windows 6.5 are located. This step requires connecting your phone to the computer and formatting (or the official term: flashing) your phone. Extra caution is required not to disrupt the process (such as PC not responding, power outage, disconnecting the phone USB before fully flashed), else your phone might not work. Once this is done, your phone will automatically boot into Android without going through Windows Mobile. Read the written tutorial here first to understand the steps and prepare what you need and watch the video tutorial here to see a demo of how it is done.

 

Ubuntu

Level: Medium

Android is essentially a version of Linux and so is Ubuntu. Similar to Android, Linux is able to run on the HD2 with the correct drivers. Installation of Ubuntu is also similar to Android running from a SD card, which requires file to be executed on the phone via Windows Mobile. Refer the thread here for more info. Noone can really expect Ubuntu to run as a smartphone OS, but this is fun to try since the steps are not so much different from Android.

 

Windows 95

Level: Easy

You know you are extremely geeky,  and you wish to impress you friends with endless possibilities of what can be done on smartphone. Therefore, you should see Windows 95 running on the HD2. This is possible with a emulator called QEMU. Just copy QEMU onto the SDcard and execute it from within Windows Mobile 6.5 and it will load an image file of WIndows 95 from the specific folder. Click here for a video demonstration. If you really want this OS as well, go to this page for more info.

Windows Phone 7

Level: Hard

The HD2’s hardware will not allow it to be denied to chance to run WP7, no matter what Microsoft says. The HD2 hardware is still on par with many late 2010 high end smartphones and are even better than most middle range smartphones. The step is rather similar to running Android from the phone internal memory (NAND). Instead of Android OS files, WP7 OS files are flashed onto the internal memory. Watch HD2 running WP7 here, and check this page for download info.

There you have it, five different OS running on your once abandoned HD2. If you are tired of Windows 6.5, my recommendation is to try Android on HD2 because

• Android runs of many different phones with different hardware, some having slower CPU speed and less ram than the HD2. The HD2 definitely has the right hardware to run Android.
• Developers have been running Android on HD2 much longer than WP7, therefore it is more stable and has less bugs.
• Android currently has more apps on the Android Market compared to WP7 so you would not be bored trying new games and apps. Have fun.

Windows Phone runs on HTC HD2

The newest and latest Windows Phone OS runs on the HTC HD2 as seen advertised here by HTC Malaysia on our RapidKL LRT trains. Also seen on the HTC ‘decorated’ LRT coach is a mention of the HTC HD mini (below the window on the upper left corner of the picture) and also the HTC Touch 2 (partial picture on the right).  Do both the phones comes with the new Windows Phone software as well?

Unfortunately, the answer is actually NO. Windows Phone OS DOES NOT run on the HTC HD2, HD mini and Touch 2. This is obviously a misleading ad by HTC. You don’t see computer manufacturers advertise a Pentium 3 computer beside a Windows Vista logo, do you? These three older phones (around 1 year old, give and take) actually run the older (and obsolete) Windows Mobile 6.5. I assure you that not once does Windows Mobile 6.5 logo appear on the same train.

Currently, the latest phones with Windows Phone (7) which are available on the market are the:

• HTC HD7 on Maxis[source]

• HTC 7 Mozart on DiGi[source]

• LG Optimus 7 on Celcom[source]

So, don’t be mislead by anything you see advertised by mobile phone brands (and also telcos) nowdays. Phones are gaining momentum and are gaining popularity as mobile computers that they’ll tell you anything to make a sale.

OMG!! Zombie Phone!!

What do you call a person that still moves after it’s dead? A zombie.

What do you call a phone that still runs after its battery is removed? A zombie phone.

People over at Pocketnow have discovered that the LG Optimus 7 phone still runs although the battery has been removed, but while still plugged into a charger though, pretty much like a notebook. Well, this may not be such a big deal in the end but have you tried doing it with your phone? Surely most of your phones will not even turn on without the battery while plugged into a charger.  [source]