The HTC HD2 (O2 variant)

Over recent years O2 announced and brought to the world the renowned Xda range of machines. Unfortunately the Windows Mobile devices offered by O2 seemed to be released less often with the dark days of the iPhone and O2's singular UK market of that...

Oh dear oh dear... the camera. The pink (or should I say "magenta", to use a photographic term) hues in the photographs are scaring me big time. Have seen same discolourisation on other photos in other reviews of same device. If there was ever a time HTC had to get the camera right - this is it. I would rather not have a camera at all than one that cannot take a proper photo. It was suggested earlier this might be down to pre-launch ROM but I have to admit that I do not hold high hopes. Have seen blue cast issues on cameras which usually relate to white balance problems but this centralised magenta hue actually suggests a hardware/lens issue to me.
This NEEDS to be sorted.

Is the flash auto or can you enable it yourself?

I've been taking a few photos indoors and wanted to test the flash out but can't suss it out

I do like the focus where if you tap the screen on the person/thing that is the object of your shot it automatically sorts it for you. Very smart.

Only suffered the hue effect on one photo so far. Off to bed now but i'll test some more tomorrow.

concreteman: Screen size is indeed 4.3" and that has been corrected in the review.

So far I've not had any issues using the machine one handed at all, and I consider myself having average size fingers. Of course in landscape keyboard mode then twin thumb typing is fine

Yes understood about the cut and paste, but what we were unable to grab via screen shot is that the system now supports iPhone style grab and move gadgets assisting with the selection and cutting of the text. (See attached).

Phone number recognition does work within SMS messages, and phone number, email address of web links are recognised within Emails.

Bewlay Brother: Agreed this is the one failing so far, however I'm undecided whether it is a hardware or software issue. I'm hoping HTC will address it in any case.

johnston411: The flash is auto as a default but you can toggle it off with the flash toggle option in the on-screen controls.

Attached Thumbnails

 

mines not playing fair then as when i press the toggle it remains off

i thought that was odd

might be hard reset time

edit: it seems if the battery is low you can't turn the flash on d'oh

Oh right so you are having trouble turning it on? You can't force it on, only turn it off automatic mode.

Thanks for the RD shots. I saw another place where there is definitely an option for full screen which would give a bit more 'normal' look to what you have in your shots. On my other WinMo phones, I rotated the screen before logging in and then it connects landscape.

The photo issue seems to be pretty widespread, I'm seeing it in test shots all over the place, even if the reviewers don't always point it out. I imagine it's a firmware thing and will be able to be fixed with a software patch from HTC. There's a resolution chart here that makes the issue really obvious: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_htd2-review-418p9.php

Not a problem over the RD pics, just double checked and there is no auto-rotation and no menu option to rotate the application. Full screen is in there though, as shown on my last two screen shots.

Yep I'm seeing confirmation of the pink colouration too, here's hoping that HTC can fix it in the next ROM update.

Hi All,
I got my (unlocked, £500 worth) HD2 yesterday and it's going back.

I'm a long time HTC user (this was my 7th HTC device) and all I can say is (from my perspective) Windows Mobile/Phone and a capacitive screen do not mix. Tick boxes and drop down's are almost impossible to get (eg the arrow to get the keyboard options up).

HTC have really annoyed me by restricting my input options - admitedly, there are some that aren't so useable with this type of screen - but, annoyingly, not all keyboards are available in all applications anyway. And why oh why can't I use XT9 in (amongst other applications) opera????

Also, when selecting drop down menus (if successful) the keyboard pops up... EVERY TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The slide to unlock 'toggle' is at the top - not everyone has hands the size of Daron's! so it's a real stretch to get it one handed, and if you connect to an exchange server that imposes security, you have to go through 2 security steps EVERY time you use the device - Slide to unlock & enter passcode...

Using Pocket Informant (by far the best PIM) is a nightmare on the HD2 as accurate selection is a elusive as an oily rat! - due to the capacitive screen and (possibly) the shape of my fingers. - it's just too easy to select the wrong apt/contact and delete them by mistake.

and to top it all off... Excel... don't even think about it! If you have locked headers and the zoom set to a level that you can actually read - the damn keyboard is so big, that you can only see & use maybe 3-4 rows.

TomTom navigator 7 not compatible (tomtom's fault)

ON THE UP SIDE!

FAST!!!! Lovely clear screen. BIG! (best used with 2 hands). Can be used as a WiFi Router (drool). Camera is good - bit of a blue tinge when using flash, but daylight pics are good - responsive too (unlike previous HTC cameras).

Conclusion:
For me, this would have been a fantastic device - with a resistive (or other stylus compatible) screen. If you can't realistically use this device for business and wanted it for multimedia - you may as well get an iPhone

So, I'm going back to my Touch HD with it's lovely integrated stylus....

I'ts a shame you don't think the HD2 is up to scratch, I think it is myself but there are a few annoyances, mostly caused by the lingering WM6 in the background. These can be overcome though!

Have you tried sliding out your fingers on the menu screens to trigger the onscreen magnifier, that makes life simpler for the drop down menus and the tick boxes, entry is then easy. I haven't got the biggest hands in the world but I can operate the HD2 with one hand, and my thumb can cover the whole screen if the HD2 is held in the right position, so slide to unlock is easily achievable with my thumb.

I don't think WM6.5 can be blamed for Pocket Informant's lack of finger friendliness, the software obviously needs a revamp to fit in with the HD2's style of use, as does lots of other software. This will no doubt happen in the not so distant future.

Tomtom does run ok on the HD2, and will be supported by Tomtom before long no doubt. Have you tried the zoom function available in 'View' to pan out if you so wish in Excel, that may help you.

Thanks Boz - I really wish I could get on with the HD2 as it is a lovely device - but I don't think I should have to zoom in to get a drop-down, select, then zoom back out again. That's not user-friendliness.

PI is being revamped for WM7, but if it takes on the silly iPhone like dials, I'll not be upgrading...

Bah B****y Humbug!