I have been using the recently released HTC HD2 Windows Mobile device for a few days now, and wanted to summarize my thoughts on it. I have been using Windows Mobile devices extensively since 1999 when I got my first Cassiopeia E-15 Palm-sized PC, and have used most high-profile Windows Mobile devices for over ten years now.
In many ways, the HTC HD2 is the worst Windows Mobile device ever produced.
Before I explain what I mean with this, let me first highlight what I like about this device:
- HTC Sense. By providing a custom interface for doing some of the most common tasks the HTC Sense user interface is brilliant for first-time users and reviewers to get hooked to the device. Some reviews of the HD2 are actually just reviews of the hardware and the HTC Sense interface, like the article HTC HD2 review – a new era in Windows Phones’ history. Myself I find the Messaging/Email/Calendar “front-ends” in HTC Sense too limiting for daily use, so what’s left is just something that looks nice but is not as usable as a real messaging, email or calendar application.
- Screen. The screen is lovely. Crisp and clear with good brightness.
So, what is it that makes this device so bad?
Convoluted User Interface
The HTC Sense user interface is just a front-end to the very old user interface of Windows Mobile that really should have been buried many years ago. The biggest problem with Sense is that HTC did not include all of the settings in their front-end that Microsoft provides with the Windows Mobile 6.5 user interface. Let me give you some examples.
Keypad Tones
The first thing that struck me was when I made a phone call and the keypad beeps were so loud people around me asked to turn them off. So I went to “Menu” -> “Settings…” in the HTC phone application.. And found nothing… There is no way to turn off the keypad tones in that menu. So I went to [Windows] > “Sound and Screen”. Here you can change the ring signal and message tone. But you cannot change the keypad tones…
So I searched around quite a bit more. And you know what, I found it. You have to go to [Windows] > “Settings” > “Menu” > “More” > “Private” > “Phone.” Once there you have the “old” telephone settings dialog where you can change ring signal and keypad tones. That’s right, you have two dialogs to change ring signal, the “old” full featured dialog and the “new” HTC dialog with some features removed. Both are included of course in case you actually do want to remove the keypad tones.
Problem is that this “dual dialog” way of configuring the device keeps getting in your face over and over.
ActiveSync Schedule
By default Windows Mobile Active Sync will only support pushmail between 08.00 and 18.00. First thing I usually change on my Windows Mobile devices is to change this to 07.00 to 18.00. So I went into [Windows] > “Settings” > “Data services” > “ActiveSync” and was greeted with the dialog below:
As you can see I can change most things in this dialog. Except one thing. I cannot choose between what times push mail should be active. And yes, I have tried to scroll down, it’s just not there.
It then struck me that maybe the “old” dialog is stuck in there somewhere. So after some searching I found it in [Windows] > “Tools” > “ActiveSync” > “Menu” > “Scheduling”. Here’s what it looks like:
By clicking the hyperlink on the bottom of the dialog it is possible to change between what times Push Mail is active, and I could change to push mail between 07.00 and 18.00.
Do you see the similarities between the two images above? They are just one of many examples where two dialogs do almost the same thing. If you are a new Windows Mobile user you actually have to visit both these dialogs to know what items you can change in the operating system. And this is when the experience begins to fall apart completely.
Next Stop: Marketplace
So, off to give Marketplace a good look. I have an iPhone too, and use the App Store on a daily basis, so this is more or less my frame of reference how an App Store should be implemented.
The first thing that struck me when starting the Marketplace was that it used a combination of Swedish and English text strings on the welcome screen (see picture below). Yes, I might be highlighting minor issues here, but really having a start page with 3 English items and 2 Swedish items should not have passed the QA process, if there is one (I really doubt there is one though, see my comment on Czech menu items below).
Ok time to test it out. In Sweden we do not have any paid applications in the Marketplace, so there was only 72 applications to choose from. And this is from a Marketplace that has been out for quite many weeks now. Very disappointing figures really. Anyhow I went into “Most popular” and downloaded the Facebook application. Once the download finished I got the message below:
I need to reboot the device before I can use Facebook for Windows Mobile!
Now I am more or less beginning to wonder if this whole Windows Phone with the Marketplace is more or less a bad joke. Why on earth should I have to reboot my device just to install a free Facebook application? Is this Microsoft’s response to the iPhone App Store?
Usability Issues
There are two main usability issues with this device:
- The capacitive screen. On the iPhone the capacitive screen works perfectly. In the Windows Mobile world, it is more or less a complete disaster outside the HTC Sense interface. On regular Windows Mobile devices applications will get unique events for stylus_down, stylus_move and stylus_up. On the HD2, the screen will only send the stylus_up event to the applications – all other events are treated by the gesture-based addition to Windows Mobile. What does this mean? For starters, it means it’s virtually impossible to select items from drop-down boxes. Where you previously could click with your stylus and drag to the selected item and release, it’s now like some sort of mini-game where you could have sworn you clicked the right option but it always shows you the wrong one. Just try changing the event and reminder times for calendar items using the non-HTC calendar ([Windows] > “Outlook” > “Calendar”) and you will know what I mean.
- No directional buttons. While not a problem in itself, many applications such as Pocket Informant was built for devices with directional buttons (e.g. to move left-right in weekly calendars) and have problems adapting to devices without these buttons. In Pocket Informant 9.0 there is some “touch” support, but it behaves badly and has lots of issues that I have reported to the WebIS team. Issues I experienced just after using the device for two days. The HD2 means new challenges for Windows Mobile developers, who already have quite many discrepancies to work around developing for the platform.
Language translations
It’s actually quite funny that almost every HTC device I have owned so far has had some sort of weird translations, especially in the camera application. This device however wins so far. The following screen is from the HTC contacts application, notice the text string #2 from the bottom:
It’s not in Swedish, and it’s not in English (like the Marketplace that uses a mixture of English and Swedish text strings). I am guessing Czech. The interesting part is that Czech text strings occur more than once on this device – here is the “Send Contact” dialog:
The title and cancel button are in Swedish, where the two top items are another language, I am guessing Czech.
Conclusions
If you really must use a Windows Mobile device, I would actually advice against purchasing the HTC HD2. Compared to older Windows Mobile phones you will get a convoluted user interface where you have to spend quite considerable time navigating around to find the right settings. The capacitive screen makes it hard to select items on the screen, and not having navigational buttons breaks many popular applications such as Pocket Informant. The Marketplace in Sweden only has 72 freeware applications, and you have to reboot your device after installing some of them, so if you want an “app device” then Windows Phone devices are not for you.
My overall feeling is that not a single Swedish person could have actually tested this device before it went into production. When Gizmodo reviewed the HD2 they called it “HD2 – a tragedy” but they still said that they believed it was “the best Windows Mobile phone on the market right now.” My view is that it usability-wise is one of the worst Windows Mobile devices on the market, much thanks to the multiple settings dialogs and the difficulties of using Windows Mobile without stylus and navigational buttons.
Since I am involved in quite many Windows Mobile development projects, the mere existence of the HD2 with its capacitive screen means we can no longer use standard Windows Mobile UI elements such as drop down dialogs since they are near to unusable on the HD2. So right now I am quite puzzled when it comes to Windows Mobile development. You cannot use the built-in UI since it’s close to unusable on the HD2 and you cannot access HTC’s user interface framework, so you have do choose a third option. What that option is I don’t know – anyone has any suggestions?
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Hi thanks you so much for the time taken to analyse this HD2 problem.
But its all you personal view not everybody will submit to that.
1. Convoluted User Interface; I’m not a guru with mobile phone but my best phone as been window mobile with nokia as alternative. regarding the issue of user interface, the problem is not with HTC but microsft who refuse modify and polish the UI on thier OS. if you drop HTC for samsung or LG you will still face with such overlay UI on those devices. or spb shell which is popular among the UI for WM, it will also take you to a core point WM that is very ugly for today’s mobile.
2.Usability Issues: I must tell you the capacity touch screen on HD2 is a step in a right direction for most window mobile user who want their phone to be like apple Iphone. but the truth is that even if HTC or window mobile 7 is completely capacitive(stylus less) you still cant find an impressive application in market place that can make use of capacitive screen at these point in time. we are only playing a catch up game.
again since this is the first time we’ve seen capacitive on window mobile its take time before we all get use to it. I upgrade from HTC TOUCH HD, and i can’t even remember the last time i use stylus on it to be honest. yet its responsive screen.
3. I don’t know about Language translation issue , cos my version is english and it as never shown any other language apart from that.
Lastly, If HD2 have to rewrite all windows UI to make it look sensible for stylus free they can not rewrite all windows mobile core program nor the third party application. I mostly use Spb mobile shell on my THOUCH HD to make my phone more touch friendly. if am ttired I’d remove it use touch tfl3d back and forth. and remember HD2 is mid range compare to Iphone 3GS that sell as double as the price of HD2. can you honestly buy HD2 FOR £998 from expanys as against the normal price of £430 ex vat for HD2.
HD2 IS NOT THE BEST ON ITS OWN WITHOUT GOOD APPLICATION but we can not just throw it away like that. if you don’t like sense on ur HD2 just remove it from window home application.
Re: Bash
My view of the HD2 was primary from a usability and productivity perspective. I’m not really interested in why it looks and functions like it currently does (you say that “the problem is not with HTC but microsft”) – I am looking at the device as a whole. And from that perspective I believe that the HD2 is worse than many other Windows Mobile devices, much thanks to the multiple settings dialogs and issues navigating legacy Windows Mobile applications with the capacitive screen.
You state that the HD2 is a “mid range phone compared to iPhone 3GS” which I find interesting. Here in Sweden the HTC HD2 costs more than the 32GB iPhone 3GS (€700 for the HD2 versus €680 for the iPhone, both prices are for phones without subscriptions and including VAT). I never discussed the price in the article though, but it is my personal view that a low price tag should never mean lack of quality assurance in the final product. And for the premium price tag of the HD2 I expected better.
Over the past year many colleagues and friends that previously used Windows Mobile devices such as the Xperia X1, Touch Diamond 2 and Touch Pro have bought iPhones, and every single one of them have expressed to me how happy they are with their new purchase. They really love their iPhones. I believe this is the main challenge for Microsoft and HTC, to create devices that users love and want to talk about with their friends and colleagues. The HD2 is not that device.
Re: Johan
Where do you get the pricing info?
As I checked a minute ago the iPhone 3G S 32GB goes for approx. 9000 SEK and the HD2 for approx. 6000 SEK (www.prisjakt.nu).
Even the 16GB version of iPhone 3G S is more expensive at approx. 8000 SEK.
Regarding the language issues you’re experiencing… who runs even windows mobile in swedish? And since this is a pretty quick fix in any upcoming update I can’t consider this as a huge issue.
Re: Emil
The price you list for the HTC HD2 is from imported HTC HD2 devices, not phones targeted for the Swedish market. These phones can never be customized to use a Swedish UI but are English only. This is why I don’t compare these imported devices to the iPhone that can be configured to use any UI language and soft keyboard, including Swedish.
HTC HD2 at Dustin (without subscription)
http://www.dustin.se/pd_5010335473.aspx
Price: 7000 SEK including VAT
iPhone 3GS 16GB at Telenor (operator locked but without subscription):
http://bit.ly/83CMRR
Price: 6581 SEK including VAT
I have bought plenty of development iPhones from Telenor so far and I don’t have subscriptions connected to any of them, and I have paid the price listed above.
As for the language issues: You probably know this but you cannot change the OS language of Windows Mobile phones like you can with the iPhone. This is why I always buy Windows Mobile phones targeted for the Swedish market, especially ones like the Xperia X1 that has dedicated ÅÄÖ buttons. I wouldn’t count on HTC to release a language update for the HD2; historically they have mostly released short patches to fix critical issues or larger ROM upgrades that more or less just patches the OS to the latest version but keeps the rest the same.
As a side note, I just noticed that the HD2 got two reviews at Dustin both giving it a rating of 1 out of 5, with the following note posted by some upset user (in Swedish, not written by me of course):
‘Varning! Köp inte denna förrän det finns en ROM-uppdatering som gör att det finns ett ordentligt svenskt tangentbord (med å, ä och ö) på egna knappar samt en rättning i HTC Sense så att det går att använda tangentbordet att skriva på ordentligt. OBS! Det går inte att skriva med en penna utan man kan bara använda fingrarna och detta är tyvärr inte rolig upplevelse just nu. Jag har använt HTC telefoner väldigt länge men HTC HD2 lever tyvärr inte upp till förväntningarna. Den är dessutom ganska buggig, stänger av sig då och då samt säger att “device.exe” har slutat att fungera vilket gör att man inte kan ringa. Mycket irriterande.’
From http://www.dustin.se/pd_5010335473.aspx
I found it quite interesting that people complain about not being able to use the stylus for keyboard input on the HD2, another usability issue to consider especially for the “old dogs” in the Windows Mobile world. It’s something I wouldn’t have considered an issue at all.
btw Johan, text is in “Slovak” not guessing “Czech”, but it doesn’t matter of course.
hi,
while I agree on some of the issues you mention, I think you’re looking for something that wm htc devices and most of its users are only partially interested in: something sleek.
while I don’t say I wouldn’t enjoy an iphone interface, I also realize that I’d rather cope with some of these problems if I can have some other freedoms,flexibilty and reasonable prices, always compared to iphones (as you do). Moreover most glitches you mention except the cap. screen one can be said for the hd1 and other devices. in the end I think you are comparing ferraris to audis, if you pass me the comparison. last, I also find here the hd2 is cheaper than a iphone 3gs
I can only reflect on my 10-days experience with the HD2, and I found meny of the problems mentioned to be true. Eg. it is nearly impossible to select any items from the drop-down menu, it is very difficult to find certain commands through the complex maze fo the phone’s structure, etc… Unfortunately the manual (doenloaded from HTC) is missing exatly those items that may drive someone like “nuts”, eg. how to set the battery indicator back after by mistake I approved that the current time to be always shown, etc… etc…
I guess some of the problems can be corrected by the new stylus that can be used on the capacitaive screen, we shall see…
However, the phone is still a technological marvel and I trust that the hotfixes and upgraded ROM downloads will take care of these issues in time. Remember how many flaws are in new products (such as cars, aeroplanes, etc…) and they are all sorted out.
As to the iPhone; although I don’t own one, the few people I know that have one are not very happy with them either. And the iPhone is out for quite sometime now with the 3rd generation edition…
Hi David,
Thanks for the feedback. There are lots of things to like about the HD2, and I really try to use it as my main unit. The main reason for me to use Windows Mobile right now is Pocket Informant, which you find at http://www.pocketinformant.com/
If you don’t use Pocket Informant you really ought to check it out, it’s the primary reason I still use Windows Mobile and why I will probably keep using Windows Mobile for quite some time as well (neither Android or iPhone apps can reach the built-in calendar database that is synced to Exchange).
As far as upgrades are concerned, as long as the HD2 will be upgradeable to 6.5.x when it’s launched in first half of 2010 I’m quite happy with it. The latest screenshots to 6.5.x actually looked quite good on the XDA forums.
Cheers
Johan
Thanks for the interesting article and point of view.
Regarding the “Czech” text strings, it’s actually “Slovak” (I am Czech, but we understand each other quite well, hence the very similar words).
I bought my first HTC device (running windows mob 6.0) about a year ago. I hated the fact that I had to mess around with windows settings to get the phone how i wanted it. I think that HTC have noticed the dislike of having to venture inside the WinMo setting to change a simple item etc, this seems to be the reason why it is hard to get in depth options from WinMo on the HD2… Good and bad in different ways but the less you see of windows the better.
The language thing is not an issue, you seem to just want to pick a whole in everything you come across… just my 2 cents.
Having to reset your phone takes all of about 30 seconds, save your work and reset it… how can that annoy you? It’s like getting annoyed with turning off your car to put fule in the tank…
I have given my phone to others to have a play with and they all wish that had it, many iphone users wish they had it…
You comment on the Marketplace is a bit single minded. I take it you dont like plugging your HD2 into your comp to install some applications from the millions of websites that sell applications for Windows Mobile? If you wanted applications such as “Pint of Beer” you should have got a girls phone such as the easy to use, no hassle, 3 year old can work it, iphone.
HTC’s are for the explorative people who like the challenge of customising their devices to 100% their own, iphones are for sheep and people who don’t know how to work computers
this is all pathetic, i have the HTC HD2, AND I LOVE IT, you just want to fine problems with it, you complain about the language isnt swedish, and its in something else, well you seem to have perfect english so i dont see what your problem is there, i have only one problem with mine, and it is the calling, it struggles to connect to the other phones which i am trying to call, i have to be in a 3/4 bar signal, but that could just be either my phone or the location i am in, but i dought its the location tbh as i am in a major town soo…… idk? but i have used every interface and all the apps, and it all works and is amazing, your just a moody **** and if if you think its terrible well why dont you try and make a phone then, the HTC HD2 is better than the iphone and any other phone out on the market, i have asked so many people opinios, and they all agree with me. if it does brake or have a fault dont complain, go and get it fixed or change for a new one, as i bet its still in its warrenty as its soo new and the warrenty is probaly for 5years at least, as thats how amazing it is.
I’m glad to hear that you two have found a phone you like in the HD2! I have tried to use the HD2 as my main phone for a few weeks now, but I keep falling back to the iPhone due to the number of applications I use in my daily life.
Lets not kid ourselves this os is a nightmare. My wife has the htc hero
and its so much easier to use. But my main problem is the web browsers that come with this phone. None of them are quite right,Opera and Internet explorer are useless. Skyfire is slightly better
but far from perfect. O and i would say not being able to make a call is
a rather big problem, i would love to say i was really smart and bought
the best phone out there but i didnt so im not.
I wish I actually had a chance to find out what the HD2 does. purchased the phone in Geneva, charged it, turned it on,started in French, 30 mins later still could not find how to put it in English, called HTC, was told it’s not possible. My first phone that couldn’t change the language.
Any advice anyone ?
Look’s like this is going on ebay.fr
Have a look here glen but if u cant read the language it maybe tricky.
I think this is pretty straight forward.
http://www.htc-phones.org/how-to-change-htc-hd2-sense-language.html
Thanks for the link.
It went back to the shop,so no problem.
Anyone know if it’s just windows mobile that are language locked as I’ve had many smart phones, & never had this issue before,I also have the samsung i8910 HD which is on Symbian,but no problem changing the language.
I had an HP 1400 (PocketPC) which was language locked to German.
Glen: All Windows Mobile devices are language locked in Flash ROM, and you cannot change the UI language later. My guess is that this is primarily to support local dealers and prevent cheaper imports (the Swedish HD2 as an example is much more expensive than the English counterpart).
Johan: Thanks for the heads up. Any idea why it’s only Windows Mobile devices & not Symbian or Andriod ?.
how to disable 3g network because everytime i login to the internet , it hooks me up with the 3g network instead of wi-fi. Although i have disable 3g network(data connection) ?
http://handheld.softpedia.com/progDownload/BandSwitch-Download-37329.html
try that link,download cab file to any pc then copy over to sd card on phone.Open up file manger on phone and browse to sd card and click on bandswitch it should then install.
Just tried it seems to work ok(ISH)
Guys, replacing the rom with a different language works… HTC may not have the necessary stuff available granted, but xda-developers does a pretty good job of getting sound and useful roms into the market. Personally I’ve always used one xda rom or the other – never stuck with the original onboard rom.
I’ve also had a few problems with HTC HD2. For some reason it fails to send text messages, although still puts them in the sent items folder with a sent status. the only time I find out is hwne people are telling me they don’t hear from me! I have had the phone replaced but still has the same issue. I am close to binning the phone! Does anyone know of a setting that causes this to occur. Rebooting occasionally helps, but is a real pain to keep doing this.
From what i read you have to disable htc text and just use winmobile
for texting.Htc are working on a fix.
I am very dissapointed in this phone I wish I got the android now arrrgh I only got this phone as I thought it was getting great reviews and for me visually it ss beter but…the main this it keeps freezing saying low memory…I cant even get streaming sites like spotify and the apps are sooooo limited shame there is no android version….
Hi,
Im am satisfied with my HD2. BUT I am still abit perplexed as to why alot of the functionality in e.g. the calendar, not only can you only switch between month and agenda with the “quick link” but the categories you have defined doesnt show up in Sense UI (they are all present in the Outlook version of the calendar). Apart from this I feel the tilt sensor is somewhat slow most if the time, if it even works.
All in all the only good things about the Sense UI are the “Home screen”(even without tilt support), the music player and browsing pictures (excluding videos, where sense refuses to show the filename or title of the video). Emails not being registered as read, alarms not repeating their signal (not sure if this is because of the Sense UI), are however some of the constant nuisances.
Personally I love my HD2 but I use it more like a phone the some kind excel editing business crap because if I wanted to do that I would have got a Touch Pro. HD2 is great for watching videos, music, browsing, social media(Peep). Its has am SMS bug that HTC are busy sorting out as I type this otherwise its awesome. If you wanted a business phone with a stylus or hardware keyboard, you bought the wrong device, this phone is for media.. PS is disabled the keyboard tones pretty easily.. Settings > Locale&Text > Text input > Typing sound (insert laughter)
I got my HD2 5 days ago. I am having sms problem like Cailean. I also have problem to surf net even it’s connected thru wifi (surfing thru 3g is ok). Got it formatted once and problem solve for less than 24 hours and I can’t surf net thru wifi again. Very disappointed.
I’ve had this device for over a month, using it constantly. Its best phone and device and gadget I’ve ever owned!!! What is this guy talking about??????
You have to give it a week of use before you begin to love it, more than your family and friends. lol.
i am 100% agree that hd2 is worst window mobile and i think its wastage of money and wastage of time i am surprise that why he launch this with checking .
i think htc should refund the money of thousand people from the world
Kirker: I have used the HD2 almost daily for over ten weeks now as a development phone, and am still not “loving it”. Just recently the very sharply cut camera bezel on the back of the phone scratched a table quite bad which makes me very wary of using this device at all.
Yes I agree, it’s one of the worst Windows Mobile Phone ever developed.
For me the biggest problem was with the typing, somewhat very inaccurate with fingers and a lot slower especially coming from Fitaly.
Doing excel work was also a tragedy, very hard to select, copy, and paste, took me very long before dialog box showed up.
I hate HTC Messenger, can’t really dig out and search for past sms. User Interface became less intuitive and confusing.
I could talk on and on what I hate about HD2, but I won’t.
bottomline usability and productivity compromised with HD2.
I don’t have this phone, and I don’t have iPhone either. I just read this and other reviews about. But I think language problem is real issue, even it will be fixed. It is something like minimal requirement. If you can use english because you like it, or just because you are from english area, it doesn’t mean if somebody pay for a phone then should accept such issues. And for such prize? For english speakers who wants to use in english, I accept it’s not an issue.
Also I think if a mobile gives possibility to use an application and it’s shipped with phone, then if somebody wants to use it, then it should be useable after it is discovered how its work. eg.: on my phone there is a possibility to open and use PDF files. First I was happy, even i didn’t plan to use much, sometimes could be great. But it was really pain to use, so I had to forgot this option. What I wanted to say if something is not working as expected then it is a pain and it is important how much you pay for an “option” what is not really work when you really want to use it.
Loads of the crap comments on here are user errors. I can type fast, with the latest update I can text fast, everything is ace and I’ve had mine for 3 months. Maybe HTC should do a special needs device for people that cry about stupid shit. Excel doesn’t work great but that’s to do with the device being captive, this will be fine when new version of Excel comes out, because WinMo 7 will be more captive orientated – HTC has released a great device but it is slightly ahead of its time.
Btw XT9 is brilliant fixes your typing when you hit a neighbouring key.
Yeah to say the HD2 is the worst WinMo device ever is sensationalist and inaccurate. It has probably the best hardware ever and the best version of WinMo (if that is possible, because it has always been fairly lame IMO) The Sense UI took a bit of getting used to admittedly, a few times I needed to google stuff to see where everthing is, but hey, if you can’t be bothered learning a new UI then stick to smoke signals or semaphore and leave the rest of the world to embrace new technology while you grumble away in your cave.
It is the best phone I’ve ever had, and this is my 5th HTC WinMo phone