HTC readies radical Touch HD revamp
New CPU, new OS
IFA HTC has drawn up plans for a significant upgrade to its Touch HD smartphone, Register Hardware has learned.
So long Windows - the follow-up to the Touch HD (pictured) will run on Android
The original Touch HD – launched late last year – runs Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional. But the phone firm told us that the updated version – to be called, unsurprisingly, the Touch HD 2 – will use Google’s Android OS instead.
HTC’s decision to swap to Android isn’t a great surprise, as the firm’s already shown great favour towards the OS, with releases like the T-Mobile G1, Vodafone Magic and the Hero.
However, it is odd that HTC chose not to embrace Microsoft’s inbound Windows Mobile update – version 6.5 – on the Touch HD 2.
A source familiar with HTC's plans also told Register Hardware that the Touch HD 2 will be significantly faster than the original – and faster than the vast majority of HTC handsets to date.
Most high-end HTC models currently sport run on a 528MHz Qualcomm processor, the mole said, but the Touch HD 2 will use a 628MHz Qualcomm chip. The chip isn’t clocked as high as the 800MHz processor inside Samsung’s Jet phone, but it’s a step in the right direction for HTC.
The Touch HD 2 will also feature a 3.8in touchscreen, the source said - presumably the same 480 x 800 display used in the original Touch.
A formal launch date and price for the updated HTC handset haven’t been announced. ®
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COMMENTS
3.5mm audio jack
cant see why it wouldn't have one, the last touch HD did and HTC have said they are putting them on all phones as standard due to popularity and peoples hatred of the mini-usb headphones...
Cant wait
So happy they are releasing an android phone with 800x480 res!!
Theres one thing I hate more than anything: Being forced to give money to M$ when it is packaged with the best hardware!
Hopefully it will have the 3.5mm audio jack also!
HTC Epic Fail?
After waiting 3 years for a device that was both powerful enough to run our Sales Rep's on-the-road software suite which can only run on Windows Mobile, and that had a decent sized screen that they could actually read, AND was a phone as well - now we'll have to find something else as once the original HD becomes obsolete we can't upgrade.
Either that or convince the developer to rewrite it for Android. I wonder how many other people have "legacy" WM apps that will not be able to migrate, or are most folks just using the Phone side of the device?
A couple of points.....
If you have an existing Touch HD, you can put WinMo 6.5 on your phone courtesy of the guys over at XDA Developers. I think they've also managed to get Android running on it too.
The Touch HD does have a proper headphone socket, so I would think it highly likely the Touch HD 2 has also.
@Michael C
You're a bit of an idiot really, aren't you? Does the fact that it's called WinMobile 6.5 not give something away to you? The clue is in the version number. You're accusing an operating system that has been around far longer than Android or that shitty iPhone of not having any longevity, not having enough apps/backwards compatibility, etc, etc.
You know what that makes you? Stupid.
I would love an Android phone myself, but unless the HD 2 impresses, I'll stick with my WinMobile device for now. Already got all the apps they're still developing on the other platforms. All I want is an up-to-date Android phone with a physical keyboard and a battery life that doesn't suck donkey balls.
