Develop Bugs

Move from HD2 to Desire?

Seriously considering making the move from the HD2 to the Desire... Anyone else thinking of doing the same?

No ...
Why moving to a smaller screen?
Never been so satisfied with a device, like with the hd2.

best decision windows is *****y and htc does not give updates for their windows devices
i will do like you i will ghange the hd2 with desire

I also did just put an order on a HTC Desire and I'll keep my HD2 and compare... let's see. However, I do admit that the HD2 screen size is what I like

I will also be making the switch and the main reason is messaging...i cant stand it on the hd2 and im afraid to say it, but it kills it for me.

in many sites people say that the hd2's is the best screen,better also then all amoled screen(n1,omnia HD ets)....so i think that Desire is a great phone but not better than HD2....

I won't be making the move to android yet, i still think that android has a way to go yet compared to windows mobile. Plus the hd2 has a bigger screen

I tried the HD2, but sadly it's too big for me. And a bit pricey, it costs around 600 € here. Amazing piece of phonery(nice word) tho.
So i'm sticking to Hero atm and getting Desire instead.

maybe a porting for android from desire to hd2, same specs, same resolution, no optic trackball but the project for porting android to hd2 will be more easy for the developers hd2 is great hardware, not so great windows

I love the hardware of the hd2 it really is just win mob which is bugging me after moving from the iphone 3gs.. I think I will give the desire a go as I have a buyer for the hd2. Any ideas if the desire is going to have a glass screen like the hd2?

Well for me it's deciding whether to go for the HD2 or the Desire!
My bro has the HD2 and I have played around with it, a big improvement over previous HTC devices (largely the capactive screen and processing power/extra memory I guess). But the device is just too big for my liking.
Also, as Ive mentioned on another post in this section, WinMo have been lagging quite a bit with the OS (still need convincing on WinMo 7).
Unless I can find a serious flaw with it (something that affects my personal usage), I'll be getting a Desire.

First part of the process is done. Already returned my HD2. The ghost typing was killing me. (I do alot of sms's).
Now searching for a replacement and the Desire looks very good...
Have to confirm if the screen has the same HD2 grid and dots... And the ghost typing issues.

Batas said:
First part of the process is done. Already returned my HD2. The ghost typing was killing me. (I do alot of sms's).
Now searching for a replacement and the Desire looks very good...
Have to confirm if the screen has the same HD2 grid and dots... And the ghost typing issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does the nexus one have the hd2 style grid and the ghost typing? I would presume if it doesn't then the desire wouldn't. I hope some good hands on reviews appear online soon!

Batas said:
First part of the process is done. Already returned my HD2. The ghost typing was killing me. (I do alot of sms's).
Now searching for a replacement and the Desire looks very good...
Have to confirm if the screen has the same HD2 grid and dots... And the ghost typing issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did u not try the fix from this site to reduce the screen sensitivity while texting ?

I tried everything during the 3 weeks I had it. Hot fixes, patches, screen protector, less sensitivity screen, hard reset(s). In cold weather the problem was worse. Almost impossible to type sometimes.

Batas said:
I tried everything during the 3 weeks I had it. Hot fixes, patches, screen protector, less sensitivity screen, hard reset(s). In cold weather the problem was worse. Almost impossible to type sometimes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You do get used to it... But when I sometimes use my 3gs which I gave to my partner it is just a dream to type with.. But then again she wishes she never sold her blackberry and new wants rid of the iphone and wants another bold.. So the iphone is going up for sale. It really is just down to personal preference and what works for one person is terrible for the next..

Batas said:
I tried everything during the 3 weeks I had it. Hot fixes, patches, screen protector, less sensitivity screen, hard reset(s). In cold weather the problem was worse. Almost impossible to type sometimes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i type on my hd2 heyboard faster than my hardware keyboard in kaiser with nearly no mistakes

@ Batas
If you watch this video and look towards the bottom of the screen I think I saw the grid that htc use..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLjsEP_D3Os

@Coatezy Yes. You have good eye. I can see them too. Thanks!
Now I have to figure it out about the mistyping issue...

It's Time to move 2 Android
I believe that is the time 4 me to move after 4 yrs with WM started with K-Jam & ends with the HD2. I'm already tired with WM despite the fact that HTC have done many improvements for the system. I loved the Desire from the first look and it will be my next smart phone.all I need stable OS
Bye Bye WM

[Q] Desire upgrade path

Getting fed up with my blackstone, and the winmo "loading" icon. Looking to upgrade. The desire is my first choice at the moment but reading this forum has frankly terrified me.
Granted when I first got my blackstone there were lots of errors and horror stories posted in the forums and mine has been fine, so on that level I'm willing to take the risk.
The bigger issue is moving from Win6.5 with manilla, to Android 2.1 with sense.
Android seems fairly solid now. But watching the Google I/O Keynote, I wasnt thrilled with the way they intend to deliver adverts...
1) I'm guessing there isnt much difference between manilla and sense - different layouts etc, but 99% of the features in manilla are surely available in sense too?
2) Are there any common WinMo features that Android isnt capable of? I've read that android cant play some of the more common video types?
3) Google seem to be updating android a lot. HTC updates seem at best infrequent. Have HTC updated their previous android devices to the latest version of the OS / Sense?
4) Can anyone speculate on how long the desire will be upgradable? For example, i'm guessing the first 'google phone' the G1 is nowhere near powerful enough to run Froyo? Even in the mobile world 18 months seems a short lifespan for a device, since most contracts are now 24 months.
Thanks for any help. I had planned to nip to my local Orange shop and try to get myself one today, but had a few reservations and found it cheaper online. Anyway, cheers again.

First of all, I moved from a leo (HD2) to the Desire. Overall, the Desire is an amazing experience. Android is also starting to become mature. And Sense ui almost only adds stuff for a even better experience.
Previous devices have been updated once, as far as I know. But HTC is not even that bad: Samsung usually does almost nothing at all regarding updates. The only device that is sure to be updated a lot is the Google phone, N1.
2.2 is coming soon for the Desire. The next version is still far away. But since the Desire's hardware is so highend, there is a chance for the Desire to be updated for the second time.
I recommend the Desire.

2) Have both HD2 and Desire. If you are deeply insane on Exchange / Task / Time management Android is a poor's choice for now. No native Exchange support at all (Froyo seems to change this but I haven't tried it yet), average OEM (HTC) client with some rather limited Exchange functionality (no tasks) and a few clients by ISV none of them are close to Pocket Informant. The latter is expected sooner or later but likely not this year.

Noodled24 said:
1) I'm guessing there isnt much difference between manilla and sense - different layouts etc, but 99% of the features in manilla are surely available in sense too?
2) Are there any common WinMo features that Android isnt capable of? I've read that android cant play some of the more common video types?
3) Google seem to be updating android a lot. HTC updates seem at best infrequent. Have HTC updated their previous android devices to the latest version of the OS / Sense?
4) Can anyone speculate on how long the desire will be upgradable? For example, i'm guessing the first 'google phone' the G1 is nowhere near powerful enough to run Froyo? Even in the mobile world 18 months seems a short lifespan for a device, since most contracts are now 24 months.
Thanks for any help. I had planned to nip to my local Orange shop and try to get myself one today, but had a few reservations and found it cheaper online. Anyway, cheers again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Correct, before I got my Htc hero I had a Htc diamond (winmo device) and only since I had android I have lot's of funny apps
and games (some useless apps some quite handy) because of the market. And out of the box it has all the things my htc diamond had.
2. True it doesn't play divx files, but convertors are fast and there should be improved support in froyo.
3. A bit of a frustration point with my hero, it was promised an updat to 2.1 in september/december last year... it still isn't there.
Had something to do with an SKU key wich google had to approve for each and every country.
The nexus, desire and legend all have the same SKU so google only needs to approve one 2.2 rom for htc to release an update.
It's supposed to come end june... But still as you can see Htc sense delays updates, but adds to a great android experience imo
4. If google keeps updating like this I can imagine android 2.3 or 3.0 or whatever being released before june next year.
The hero already is a year old and still gets an update (a bit overtime but still...) But I don't know if htc will offer an extra update
to another android version. But I'm sure some dev's will make it work for you

Rooting, which you may or may not want to do, my G1 runs android 2.1 just fine the now. So im not worried about the upgrade path for the Desire.

1) I'm guessing there isnt much difference between manilla and sense - different layouts etc, but 99% of the features in manilla are surely available
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
2. True it doesn't play divx files, but convertors are fast and there should be improved support in froyo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why are so many android users unaware that divx is supported by the player yxflash? It did get bad press when it was first released due to buggy playback etc.
but on our 1ghz superphones it works just great. I use it on my nexus one and have recommended it to friends with the desire who use it without issue.

lynxboy said:
Why are so many android users unaware that divx is supported by the player yxflash? It did get bad press when it was first released due to buggy playback etc.
but on our 1ghz superphones it works just great. I use it on my nexus one and have recommended it to friends with the desire who use it without issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably because the general consensus of opinion is that yxplayer (now renamed) is rubbish. I've never got a single DivX file to play at an acceptable frame rate.
Regards,
Dave

djet said:
No native Exchange support at all
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know where you get this from, but Android 2.1s standard mail client supports Exchange.
Regards,
Dave

foxmeister said:
I don't know where you get this from, but Android 2.1s standard mail client supports Exchange.
Regards,
Dave
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He's confused with 1.5 or 1.6 wich has Htc exchange support instead of androids.
And about the divx, I like thing working straight out of the box, that's what you pay for
so I only commented on this because I think it should just work in stead of using apps

I have had several winmo phones as well as a palm pre. My last phone was an HD2 which is great phone but the desire has it beat, my advice- get one!

winmobile. the one thing i dont miss.
i say goto a mobile retailer and ask to see the desire and try it out.
bet you buy one

^ Probably am going to. I think i'd prefer a nexus one... just because of the more direct approach of google, quicker upgrades etcbut I hate the little track ball, the optical track seems a better idea (does it light up by the way).
Was on the phone to orange cancellations this morning and they agreed to sell me a Desire for £49.99 with the contract being 300 minutes, unlimited txts and unlimited data for £10 per month inc VAT. Which seems pretty good... now I just have to wait for them to get the handset back in stock, which should be monday... and also have a go at knocking them down from 24 months to 18.

foxmeister said:
Probably because the general consensus of opinion is that yxplayer (now renamed) is rubbish. I've never got a single DivX file to play at an acceptable frame rate.
Regards,
Dave
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I'm grateful for being one of the lucky ones! I previously held the above opinion when trying to playback on a Hero, but ever since I have used the Nexus performance has been great. This is coming from an old WM user who experienced the "wonder" that is TCMP/Coreplayer. That said, comparing playback today between my Nexus and friend's Desire, the Nexus certainly came out on top.
Anyway it just bugs me when I hear people saying that DivX playback is an impossibility on Android. It is a possibility. Although the interface is ****, for me and others I know it works well, so hopefully the OP will not be put off.
Here's to hoping that the DivX Player/Framework will be ported from the upcoming Samsung phones ASAP!!
Regards.

Just upgraded fom the blackstone last week. At first I was a little unsure whether it is a good idea, since i was not at all unhappy with my phone. Sure, I cannot watch videos that easy (just copy dvdrips onto the phone... done) but just about everything else is just amazing. It is sooooooo damn fast, the internet experience (now you may call it that) is nearly as smooth as on a desktop pc. Also the screen looks fantastic, the colors are just so intense, you really have to see it yourself. I heard lots of horror stories too, pinkish screen, straigth lines seem jagged, no 'real' multitouch etc. But you have to try and look really hard to find these. These flaws are not noticeable during daily use.

lynxboy said:
Anyway it just bugs me when I hear people saying that DivX playback is an impossibility on Android. It is a possibility. Although the interface is ****, for me and others I know it works well, so hopefully the OP will not be put off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem with yxplayer is that it is still interpreted Java - there's no reason why a decent DivX player couldn't be written using the NDK. Still, I can't see any reason whatsoever why it should work better on the Nexus One than it does on the Desire when they are practically the same phone.
DivX support for Android is out there - Archos have it, as do LG and Samsung - the difference is that they almost certainly built support into core Android rather than just as an application. HTC also announced that the Desire would be getting an update to support DivX, but they seem to have gone very quiet on that subject.
Having said all that, I'd imagine that the Froyo JIT would help yxplayer tremendously.
Regards,
Dave

[Q] About to buy a HTC Desire Z, should I or, should I not?

Hello everyone!
My father needs a new phone and it looks like the Desire Z is the best option for buying for him.
I'm happy now with my HTC HD2, but I found out that a hell of a lot of tweaking/adjusting register/ROM-updating/enz. had to be done before it was great. When the HD2 came out the phone was great but the software sucked big time. Now I want to know, how about the Desire Z? Are there any bugs or major drawbacks? Anything really not working on these phones?
I'm thinking of trouble like I had with my HD2 which had a 3G/HSDPA-connection that hung up on me every now and than. Audiobooster which you had to turn on (again) after each song, Twitter-tab that never really worked until the last ROM-update and so on...
Let me know what sucks about the Desire Z (or why it's really great)
Thnx!

michd2 said:
Hello everyone!
My father needs a new phone and it looks like the Desire Z is the best option for buying for him.
I'm happy now with my HTC HD2, but I found out that a hell of a lot of tweaking/adjusting register/ROM-updating/enz. had to be done before it was great. When the HD2 came out the phone was great but the software sucked big time. Now I want to know, how about the Desire Z? Are there any bugs or major drawbacks? Anything really not working on these phones?
I'm thinking of trouble like I had with my HD2 which had a 3G/HSDPA-connection that hung up on me every now and than. Audiobooster which you had to turn on (again) after each song, Twitter-tab that never really worked until the last ROM-update and so on...
Let me know what sucks about the Desire Z (or why it's really great)
Thnx!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me the only minus with DZ are the loose hinge issue, the lack of a front facing camera, the fact that the hardware keyboard does not have all the usual qwerty keyboard characters and that the hardware keyboard does not tilt.
These side, the DZ is great.
To buy or not to buy? The decision will be yours, bearing in mind that there might shortly be better configured devices coming from htc in not too distant a future.

No comparison whatsoever between Windows Mobile and the Android experience on the Desire Z. Having come from the Touch Pro 2, I was used to heavy tweaking & frequent ROM flashing just to make the phone tolerable. The DZ is light years ahead of any Windows Mobile phone. Its fast, smooth, stable, and just a joy to use out of the box. The only real modification I've done is remove the Bell Canada bloatware.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App

do you need the physical keyboard? if not flash a nice android ROM on the HD2 and go to town. I left my TP2 and HD2 because winmo 6 had come as far as it could, and android leaped ahead of it. I love my G2, but I wish I still had my Hd2 to enjoy with android, I don't use the keyboard, so the hinge isn't a factor, the 4g service is still in its infancy and spotty at best, and i live in a major city. Save you money or your tmobile upgrade credit, and wait for something significantly better and that ain't the nexus S
michd2 said:
Hello everyone!
My father needs a new phone and it looks like the Desire Z is the best option for buying for him.
I'm happy now with my HTC HD2, but I found out that a hell of a lot of tweaking/adjusting register/ROM-updating/enz. had to be done before it was great. When the HD2 came out the phone was great but the software sucked big time. Now I want to know, how about the Desire Z? Are there any bugs or major drawbacks? Anything really not working on these phones?
I'm thinking of trouble like I had with my HD2 which had a 3G/HSDPA-connection that hung up on me every now and than. Audiobooster which you had to turn on (again) after each song, Twitter-tab that never really worked until the last ROM-update and so on...
Let me know what sucks about the Desire Z (or why it's really great)
Thnx!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

i have whats considered a newer desire z (i guess) and the hinge has not been a problem whatsoever. Its by far the best phone i have ever owned (Nexus one, desire, moto milestone). You will enjoy the accuracy of a real hardware keyboard as well.

blunted09 said:
i have whats considered a newer desire z (i guess) and the hinge has not been a problem whatsoever. Its by far the best phone i have ever owned (Nexus one, desire, moto milestone). You will enjoy the accuracy of a real hardware keyboard as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's what it comes down to, do you want/will you use the physical keyboard

i got 1 from negri to work on att bands and im absoulty loving it

redpoint73 said:
No comparison whatsoever between Windows Mobile and the Android experience on the Desire Z. Having come from the Touch Pro 2, I was used to heavy tweaking & frequent ROM flashing just to make the phone tolerable. The DZ is light years ahead of any Windows Mobile phone. Its fast, smooth, stable, and just a joy to use out of the box.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1. I had a TP2 as well, and the stock ROM sucked.
I am still running the stock ROM (1.34) on my Desire Z, and I love it. I'm sure the custom ROMs are great/even better, but the stock ROM on the DZ is so much better as an experience compared to my old WinMo phone.

Thnx to everyone who answered my question! I've got enough info now. My father is going to buy the Desire Z and I guess he's gonna like it

Naw, he's not going to like it . . . he's probably going to LOVE it!

Dalamak said:
do you need the physical keyboard? if not flash a nice android ROM on the HD2 and go to town. I left my TP2 and HD2 because winmo 6 had come as far as it could, and android leaped ahead of it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android was ahead of wimo7 before google even bought it.....
I love my G2, but I wish I still had my Hd2 to enjoy with android,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Avoid actually paying money for anything that comes with MS on it... you should only pay for things that you actually USE.
I don't use the keyboard, so the hinge isn't a factor,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How can you not use the keyboard? I've tried struggling my way through the IME, but despite the missing characters, I continually find myself opening the keyboard. Much MUCH easier to type with real physical buttons.
the 4g service is still in its infancy and spotty at best, and i live in a major city.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WHAT 4G service? Despite the lies, tmobile does NOT have ANY kind of 4G service. What they have is [email protected] Mb/s. It is STILL 3G and 3G ONLY.
Save you money or your tmobile upgrade credit, and wait for something significantly better and that ain't the nexus S
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could always be waiting for the next thing... there will ALWAYS be something better if you wait just a little longer. At some point, you have to actually buy the thing.
And the other thing is that the wait could be longer than you expect. It took TWO WHOLE YEARS for them to produce a phone that was a worthwhile upgrade over DREAM. A whole lot of phones have had some really compelling benefits, but considering the whole package, nothing else has yet been able to measure up.... so go ahead and wait until October 2012.

dhkr123 said:
WHAT 4G service? Despite the lies, tmobile does NOT have ANY kind of 4G service. What they have is [email protected] Mb/s. It is STILL 3G and 3G ONLY.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I used to say too. But someone else here pointed out a press release from the ITU, who have *changed* their definition of 4G to now include this sort of HSPA+.
Who said the big companies have no influence over the standards bodies ?
:facepalm:

Review/Comparison: Desire Z vs. Touch Pro 2

I’ve defected from Windows Mobile and the Rhodium over to Android and the HTC Desire Z (code name Vision). About a million years ago (late December, actually) Jackos asked that I write a review/comparison of the device, for which I am happy to oblige. Unfortunately, a newborn baby, holiday travel, and work travel have conspired to delay me from writing such a review. But I’m finally taking the time to fulfill the promise. Jackos thought such a review would be useful for those that are looking to upgrade from the Rhodium, so hopefully that is still relevant. Based on a recent thread, I would think so! http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=949121
The move to a different OS was certainly something that I’ve been debating for some time. But as we all know (and possibly unwilling to admit), Windows Mobile is outdated and nearing the end of its useful life. Windows Phone 7 so far is a big disappointment to me. The OS seems very limited in many of the same ways the iPhone is, with reviews at various websites and comments by users verifying this notion. One article I read about WP7 was that the OS is not a good choice for power users. Android was looking more and more attractive to me. To me, it carries on the spirit of Windows Mobile in terms of customization. Things are not accessed quite the same way as Windows Mobile (there is no registry), but there is still tons of customizations, mods, and hacks available.
Being the owner of the Tilt (Kaiser) and Tilt2 (Touch Pro 2, Rhodium), I’ve become a big HTC fan, and wanted something similar, with a hardware keyboard. The Desire Z has a very similar form factor to the Rhodium, with a hardware keyboard, nearly the same screen size, and similar dimensions. I found out that Bell Canada released the HTC Desire Z in November, with 3G bands compatible with ATT's network. I decided to take the plunge. Not an easy pill to swallow, as an unlocked, unsubsidized device like this goes for a premium price of around $600 (and obviously not for everyone). But what the heck, its a been a good year, and I decided to get myself a Christmas gift. Of course, if you are in Canada, Europe, or on T-Mobile, you have access to specific versions for those locations and carriers at a much better price.
Let me tell you guys, this device is amazing. The build quality is excellent, the phone feels very high end, with most of the body being a gorgeous brushed aluminum, accented with some slightly grippy/rubbery “soft touch” plastic (also nice looking, and does not cheapen the appearance). The feel of the phone is much nicer, and seems more sturdy then the Rhodium.
The camera is 5MP with a LED flash, and yields somewhat better photos than the Rhodium. The screen is gorgeous. While the iPhone “Retina” and Samsung AMOLED displays get all the hype, the super LCD screen on the Desire Z is still very nice. Direct comparisons I have read rate it only slightly below the quality of the iPhone or Galaxy S displays. Touch response is excellent, and registers multi-touch very well.
Much has been said about this phone’s unique “Z Hinge”. See the Engadget review, if you aren't familiar with the Z-hinge: http://mobile.engadget.com/2010/11/25/htc-desire-z-review/
Some have complained about the phone not staying firmly enough in the keyboard open or closed position, or have expressed concerns of the durability of the hinge. Personally, I like the hinge and how it is designed to open easily with the flick of your thumb. But if you’re in doubt, you might want to play around with it in person before committing to buying the phone.
The keyboard itself is very good. But strangely, not quite as nice as the one on the Touch Pro 2. The the keys are slightly smaller (and one less row of keys), and do not have quite as much “travel” when pressing the keys. It feels like a slight step backward from the Rhodium, but still one of the best keyboards around. Having come from the ATT version of the Rhodium (which replaced the row of numbers with random symbols and punctuations), the missing 4th row of keys is not a big deal. But owners of other Rhodium variants will no doubt miss the number-dedicated row of keys.
Another piece of hardware that is strangely not as good as the Rhodium is the speaker. The speaker on the Desire Z is not quite a loud as on the Rhodium, but the difference is fairly minor, and most people will probably overlook this. The 3.5mm headphone jack is a welcome addition, and good riddance to adapters and special headphones that were needed on the Rhodium (at least the GSM version).
At the time of the phone’s release, this was one of the fastest Android phones available (although there is a new generation of dual core Snapdragons coming soon). Don’t be fooled by the fact that the CPU is clocked at 800 MHz. This is a newer generation of Snapdragon than the 1 GHz ones found on phones such as Nexus One and the EVO, with a different fab process and faster GPU also. The Desire Z benchmarks faster than those phones, as well as the Galaxy S, Droid X, and others. The CPU can also be easily overclocked to 1 GHz without over-volting and affecting battery lift; and much higher than that with over-volting.
Battery life seems somewhat shorter on the Desire Z compared to the Rhodium. I was often able to get 2-3 days on a change on my old Tilt2. On the Desire Z, I usually have to charge every night. I can maybe get through a day and a half; but at least a day with all but the heaviest usage. And to be honest, I’m using the phone much more than I did my old Rhodium, so that is a factor as well.
I've played around with Project Android on my trusty old Tilt2, so Android is not completely new to me. It took me a bit getting accustomed to where some things are located, but that is true with switching to any new phone OS. The OS is overall pretty user friendly. It just takes a little while to dedicate to memory where some settings and other things are located. And there is certainly a learning curve once you are ready for customizing/modifying. There is lots of new terminology, process, and tools to learn if you want to “root” (gain super user rights to access system files) and flash a custom ROM, or do other system modifications.
Knocks on Android for not being as "smooth" as the iPhone seem largely unfounded to me. The Desire Z is super smooth, and of course has tons of customization and functionality that the iPhone will never have. And if you coming from Windows Mobile, you are going to be blown away by the smoothness and stability of the OS. The only real performance weakness I’ve seen so far is switching from portrait to landscape on the homescreen, particularly when you have lots of widgets loaded.
Using the phone is a pleasure. Browser rendering is fast, with the stock browser working very well, and Flash enabled. I’ve been previously in denial that capacity touchscreens are a good thing, but multi-touch pinch-to-zoom really does make browsing a joy. Text selection (such as for cut/paste) is aided by a zoom feature that activates with a long touch on text, and also by the optical trackpad (which allows moving the cursor by single characters).
I already keep my contacts, email, and calendar on Google. So the Google integration is awesome for me. I just entered my Google login and password, and it synched all that stuff in a couple minutes. If you are not a Google user, things might be slightly annoying, as the OS will try to steer you toward creating a Google login. Google Navigation is built-in, and will give you point-to -point directions, with audio cues, and first person perspective. It works better than the tools on Windows Mobile such as Google Maps and Bing. It works so well, in fact, that I've often been using Google Nav instead of my Garmin Nuvi GPS unit in the car.
I knew moving to Android would open up a lot of software options, and in this I was not disappointed. There are tons of useful applications and games on the Android Market, and the list is constantly growing. Software developers have embraced Android, which is a refreshing change coming from Windows Mobile. Yes, there is a ton of fluff and junk in the Android Market. But most of the major applications you can think of have a quality Android version.
I’m not a developer. So I can’t comments on the development potential of this device and Android versus Windows Mobile. But so far there is pretty good developer support on the Desire Z. And many have claimed that developers will support this phone for a long time, as they seem to favor devices with a hardware keyboard. There are several stable custom Froyo (Android 2.2) ROMs available, including Sense and non-Sense options, as well as CyanogenMod (a popular and highly customized Android ROM). Gingerbread (Android 2.3, the latest version, just released) ROMs are in the works, with alpha/beta versions already available for testing. Personally, the stock ROM has been so stable and usable for me, I haven’t really been that tempted to flash a custom ROM yet, versus a Windows Phone, where a custom ROM is virtually a necessity.
I’ve babbled on for much too long. In short, if you are looking to upgrade from the Rhodium to something with a similar form factor, the Desire Z is highly recommended. Here’s a quick summary of the Desire Z versus my old Rhodium:
Pros
OS is light years ahead of Windows Mobile (smooth, stable, fast)
Awesome build quality, with a sturdy feel
Better display
3.5 mm headphone jack
Great selection of quality applications
Slightly better camera (5MP) with LED flash
Cons
Keyboard not quite as good
Speaker not quite as good (minor)
Shorter battery life
Z Hinge durability may be an issue
P.S.: If you like the review, please click the "Thanks" button below!

I really appreciated reading this review. I'm a Tilt 2 user, that hasn't found anything new out there to make me want to give up my Rhodium and I have the same feelings regarding Windows 7, so I'm very hesitant to give it a try. Android is completely new to me, but from what I've read, it seems like the natural progression for those of us on Windows Mobile.
I'm on AT&T, so I will keep a watch on this phone if AT&T decides to release their version down the road (but I won't hold my breath ). I've never used unlocked devices either so, unless they come down in price, I won't be experimenting with this model for a while.
Thanks again for posting this. I look forward to reading more about your experiences with this device.
Have fun!
Debbie

Thanks for the review. I enjoyed reading it. Well done, sir!
For a conclusion: Was it worth the money if upgrading from Rhodium?

DebbieNY13 said:
I'm on AT&T, so I will keep a watch on this phone if AT&T decides to release their version down the road (but I won't hold my breath ). I've never used unlocked devices either so, unless they come down in price, I won't be experimenting with this model for a while.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Having finally lost iPhone exclusivity, AT&T seems to be starting to release some decent Android devices, such as the HTC Inspire (Desire HD variant). I'm skeptical they would release the Desire Z, but maybe they will release a future HTC device with a QWERTY keyboard. One can only hope.
If the keyboard is not an absolute requirement, the Inspire looks like a very nice phone. Larger display than the Desire Z, 1GHz processor (faster then the Z), and a slightly better camera. I've actually been finding myself using Swype more and more, and the keyboard less and less. So that has me rethinking the whole QWERTY keyboard thing, a little bit. Although I still use it from time to time for longer texts and emails.
BTW, if you like the review, please click the "Thank you" button!

Jackos said:
Thanks for the review. I enjoyed reading it. Well done, sir!
For a conclusion: Was it worth the money if upgrading from Rhodium?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're very welcome.
For me, spending the money was worth it. It was a lot of money to spend on a phone, but I absolutely love it. I tried to stick with WM as long as I could. But everything just works so much better on the Desire Z. I knew it would be a big improvement, but all my expectations were exceeded.
If you are in a market where your carrier offers this phone for a subsidized price, its a no-brainer.

Very nicely written
I have a TP2 now, also considering the Desire Z since it has a (rare these days) hardware keyboard.
Seeing how the DZ performs (especially when overclocked, wow!) does make me feel quite confident it's somewhat future-proof performance wise.
I do love the tilting screen of the TP2 very much, especially when I'm at the computer and using the TP2 for MSN or FB chat or something like that. Like having a miniature laptop
Have you ever missed the tilting screen of the TP2?
When my contract expires next month I can get a free DZ if I extend my contract.
I'll go to the T-Mobile store tomorrow and see if I can play around with one

ericino said:
Very nicely written
I do love the tilting screen of the TP2 very much, especially when I'm at the computer and using the TP2 for MSN or FB chat or something like that. Like having a miniature laptop
Have you ever missed the tilting screen of the TP2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Personally, I was finding myself using the tilt feature on the TP2 less and less. Lots of times, I found it easier to just slide the phone open, write a quick text, then close it quickly, without having to mess with tilting the screen up and down. But of course, this is a personal preference.
The only times I've been missing the tilt screen is while watching video. With the TP2, I could tilt the screen up, then place the phone down on a table to watch. HTC should have added a kickstand, like on the Desire HD. It would have been a very easy to add, and super useful.

Perfect review!
I'm also considdering the DZ, and the review almost answered all my question.
But I still have one question: What do you do if you want to navigate without being online?
So if you're abroad and don't want the rediculous roaming costs, how do you navigate?
I now use TomTom really a lot, and I don't know what to use when I switch to the DZ.
TomTom has all the maps on the memory card, is there a good replacement for Android? With regular updates?

ronh said:
Perfect review!
I'm also considdering the DZ, and the review almost answered all my question.
But I still have one question: What do you do if you want to navigate without being online?
So if you're abroad and don't want the rediculous roaming costs, how do you navigate?
I now use TomTom really a lot, and I don't know what to use when I switch to the DZ.
TomTom has all the maps on the memory card, is there a good replacement for Android? With regular updates?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a paid Android app called Copilot, which is supposed to be pretty good, and does what you want. But I haven't personally used it. There are others, as well.
Also, the Euro version of the Desire Z has a feature of the "new" Sense called HTC Locations, which has a 30-day free trial, than once you pay the monthly fee or buy a lifetime license, you can navigate using maps downloaded to the SD card. Unfortunately, Locations and the Car Panel were removed in the Bell Canada version of the DZ. Likewise, the T-Mobile G2 does not have it, as it is Sense-free. But the feature can be obtained by flashing the stock Euro ROM to either the Bell DZ or the G2. I haven't done this, and I have no idea how well Locations works in the US. But comments by DZ users in the UK and Europe indicate they seem to like it.

i too miss my tilt 2, especially the tilts sliding kb. thats why i come back to these boards every now and again.
i got an evo back in august. i never thought id get another smart phone without a keyboard since i have had the 8125 8525 8925 and tilt2. its been a much easier transition than i thought moving to a phone with a giant screen let alone switching to a different os
almost anything i could do with wm i cant do with android only better. android is way more reliable and the tilt2 was a touch underpowered.
as soon as someone comes out with a 4.3inch lcd with a sliding kb that will be my next phone
off topic, don't believe the hype about the evo battery being weak, i get 24-40 hrs per charge, average is probably around 30 hrs and that's with 2 weather apps, face book, 4 emails accounts and Google searches off and on all day with gps location and blue tooth on. i also have a stock rom, although its rooted.
btw tc excellent read.
oh and as far as gps, i too was curious about the navigation, google nav is the best gps nav app i have ever used, but it does rely on a cell phone data connection, i think it gets enough of the info cached ahead incase you loose signal but if it needs to reroute and you dont have signal you are dead in the water. so i went on to try a few stand alone gps apps and i ended up going with aura, it looks pretty and it works but i dont like it, but its a good backup to have incase i dont pay my bill, lol, or loose signal.

Redpoint i hate to rain on your parade, but i went and seen that you have quite a few threads some of which are here in the Pro Tilt 2 forums regarding this new phone you are in love with, why not go to the forum for that phone ?
here make it easier for you...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=594
Sorry the tilt is a great phone although it is getting dated, but that is no reason for what you are doing ....

F2504x4 said:
Redpoint i hate to rain on your parade, but i went and seen that you have quite a few threads some of which are here in the Pro Tilt 2 forums regarding this new phone you are in love with, why not go to the forum for that phone ?
here make it easier for you...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=594
Sorry the tilt is a great phone although it is getting dated, but that is no reason for what you are doing ....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was specifically asked for a comparison between the Touch Pro 2 and the Desire Z; for TP2 owners who may be interested in upgrading. If it was a straight up review of the DZ only, and no mention of the TP2, I would agree with you. But as you can see from reading my review, I make ample comparisons and references to the TP2, so I believe its appropriate here. The DZ is also a very logical upgrade from the TP2 versus just about every other phone on the market, due to its very similar form factor and same manufacturer.
You said I "have quite a few threads" about the DZ. But this is the only thread I started. I posted a reference to this review on 2 other threads started by others. Those threads were started by users looking for an upgrade similar to the TP2, so that actually reinforces my decision that this forum is the correct location for the review/comparison.
I did debate it for a while (of where to post), and your comment is not unreasonable. But I didn't see the Desire Z the best place to post it. The huge majority of the users on the Desire Z/Vision forum already own the phone, and they don't need to see a review for it. If the moderators don't agree with my judgment call, they can move the thread.
And you linked to the forum for the Desire, not the Desire Z. They are completely different phones.

Considering what HTC 7 Pro has become, looks like the Desire Z is the only one phone coming from HTC to replace the TP2. What a pity!
I'll wait until something new comes out to replace my PPC. TP2 still does a great job for me.
Thanks again for the review.

potna said:
i got an evo back in august. i never thought id get another smart phone without a keyboard since i have had the 8125 8525 8925 and tilt2. its been a much easier transition than i thought moving to a phone with a giant screen let alone switching to a different os
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It true, with Swype, I actually find myself using the screen keyboard much more than I would have thought. In fact, for my next phone I may seriously consider one without a hardware keyboard . . . maybe. But I personally can't stand typing on-screen without Swype.
potna said:
oh and as far as gps, i too was curious about the navigation, google nav is the best gps nav app i have ever used, but it does rely on a cell phone data connection, i think it gets enough of the info cached ahead incase you loose signal but if it needs to reroute and you dont have signal you are dead in the water. so i went on to try a few stand alone gps apps and i ended up going with aura, it looks pretty and it works but i dont like it, but its a good backup to have incase i dont pay my bill, lol, or loose signal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had that same thought about having a nav program that doesn't need a data connection, so I have a backup in case I am in an area with dodgy coverage, or for foreign use. I might check out something like Copilot, which is only $5 for the US maps (and interestingly $80 for Europe!).

I would like to thank you also for the comparison and ask you about what I haven't read elsewhere.
Is there ability for teleconferencing inDesire Z?
Besides the mentioned problem with the DZ's speaker there were a few times that the feature was (even more than welcome) life-saving while using my rhodium. That, and the Excel files editing.
Also, (a "pro-" feature, not mentioned elsewhere) what about video out?
Am I asking for too much?

Redpoint:
I too have made the upgrade, from TP2 to G2 (Desire Z). Your findings mirror mine almost exactly.
Just in case any one is curious, I'll add my 2 pence.
I still kind of miss the resistive touch screen (think gloves or stylus for precision), but the cap screen is über responsive, and as you said, multi touch is pretty sweet.
I do not miss the complete lack of development of applications for WM. At least at any corporate or popular apps level.
I do miss the great MS Office and Outlook integration. Android does play nice with Exchange, though.
FWIW: Tmo G2's do have a Office compatible suite that should work for docs and xls, but I didn't get a chance to use it. I flashed to a new ROM too fast
I still have the TP2, and will likely futz with it some more, but the G2/DZ is a worthy successor.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App

calrification on pro2 vs DZ
Sir/s,
i would like to know if DZ has the following functionalities:
1. exchange sync of email, calendar and contacts.
2. when you download exchange email, is it in html format?
3. can DZ record 2 way voice call? (not via speakerphone)
Above are the features that im frequently using on pro2.

[Q] after TP2

Time has come to get thinking about the new phone. i loved/still am tp2. What do look, Where to look. Please reccomned.

Nothing really good in sight.
Here is a comparison between the Desire Z and Touch Pro 2 in case you really want to upgrade.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=955526

The Desire Z seems really fragile especially the hinge - makes you wonder if one day it will break on you. I also consider to make a switch now that the TP2 is really old but a good replacement model has yet to come. Best is to go to a shop and try the Desire Z to see if it suits you.
Personally, I won't go to a Desire Z - maybe if you like a larger screen/Android, you can consider the Desire HD/Desire or even Hd2.

Final5k said:
The Desire Z seems really fragile especially the hinge - makes you wonder if one day it will break on you. I also consider to make a switch now that the TP2 is really old but a good replacement model has yet to come. Best is to go to a shop and try the Desire Z to see if it suits you.
Personally, I won't go to a Desire Z - maybe if you like a larger screen/Android, you can consider the Desire HD/Desire or even Hd2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those devices don't have a qwerty keyboard. They have a complete different form factor.

im with sprint in america nad have a sweet deal in order to get a new phone i would have to switch plans. i love the tp2 just want a better camera and front facing camera and a browser with flash now that skyfire is gone

Htc arrive windows 7 or Transform
Sent from my MSM using XDA App

swaters3 said:
im with sprint in america nad have a sweet deal in order to get a new phone i would have to switch plans. i love the tp2 just want a better camera and front facing camera and a browser with flash now that skyfire is gone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For an another browser, try uZardWebp

i have it, but it doesnt work like skyfire. so its not really a solution for flash.

Thinking Nokia E7
I'm facing this dilemma as well...I've had my TP2 since day one and was greatly anticipating the 7Pro (HTC Arrive on Sprint). I was disappointed to see the 7Pro didn't have a front facing camera nor did most of the application work in landscape mode, this to me was the most alarming thing.
This has become very frustrating as I don't want to become a Blackberry guy, nor do I really want the Desire Z. What I want is a newer version Pro2 with the same keyboard and a smoother OS.
I was thinking the E7 might be a viable option even though its has a 4-row keyboard. The front facing camera will work with Tmobile's 3G...but the OS is Symbian3 which is severely behind Apple, Android, and Blackberry but it's the only real viable option in my opinion...
Although, cruising around Pocketnow.com I did see HTC trademarked the name Pro so the HTC Pro may be the long awaited Touch Pro 3...hopefully

forster said:
Time has come to get thinking about the new phone. i loved/still am tp2. What do look, Where to look. Please reccomned.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the HTC Arrive is a worthy upgrade to the Touch Pro 2.

I just got my TP2 and am loving it.. when I do eventually look to upgrade this thing, my biggest feature need is TV-out, I use this and GPS more than anything. I have to keep with Windows or Android because of run.GPS which I use a large amount as well to track my runs and bikes.
Anyone know if any WP7 supports TV out at this time?

MDavisiw said:
I just got my TP2 and am loving it.. when I do eventually look to upgrade this thing, my biggest feature need is TV-out, I use this and GPS more than anything. I have to keep with Windows or Android because of run.GPS which I use a large amount as well to track my runs and bikes.
Anyone know if any WP7 supports TV out at this time?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TP2 supports TV-Out - just need to buy the correct cable.

GSM or CDMA?

cafcwest said:
TP2 supports TV-Out - just need to buy the correct cable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you,
I have the correct cable, what I was trying to state is that and GPS are the most used functions on the phone (I use these features more than I use it as a phone!)
I was inquiring if there is any current WP7 phones that offer TV-Out, otherwise I dont see myself upgrading anytime in the future.