Unfortunately, Microsoft has just declared that the HD2 will never have an update to Windows Phone 7. Despite the fact that an update has the potential to boost the sales of the already available HD2, allowing the device to be compatible with the new OS would potentially lead to a loss of sales for the new batch of WP7 mobile phones that are expected to be launched within this year.

HTC was among the first to announce that they will be working on their own WP7 device and are expecting to have it ready by the end of the year. If the HD2 will get WP7, it could very well threaten the sales of the newer HTC device.

Hardware-wise, the HD2 is an impressive smart phone, provided that the Snapdragon is more than enough for the new OS. Despite the fact that 1GHz of processing power is already good for current standards, the new Windows mobile platform features so many dynamic elements and animations that it actually makes the Android and the iPhone OS look like bland interfaces. Another interesting point is that the new OS will be incorporating the Xbox Live Games service, which means that the new game apps might be pushing the HD2’s capabilities.

Even if the hardware on the HD2 could run the new OS, there is also the fact that the 7 series is a completely new operating system. Sadly, WinMo 6.5 will never have an update to WP7. Instead, a phone would have to be completely wiped or formatted (including the HTC Sense UI) in order to install the new mobile platform. This cannot be done with just a simple downloadable patch.

Head over to Engadget to read Paul Miller’s article.

In these cases, it makes perfect sense to be bringing a spare battery along, or simply have one that is built with lots of energy. The 2300 mAh extended use battery for the smart phone certainly looks the part, it is huge. HTC has yet to announce the exact number of usage hours the new battery will deliver, but we certainly expect to be able to go for several days without charging on this device.

On a side note, HTC has decided to add a little extra feature on the back of the new battery –a small flip open kick stand which will enable you to place the device on a table for viewing your videos (you no longer have to hold the device when you are watching a video).

For those who are wondering why this little WinMo smart phone has been so successful, the secret lies in the use of the HTC Sense user interface as a workaround to using the user interface of Windows Mobile. Windows Mobile 6.5 and its earlier versions have been criticized for the difficulty of use due to the fact that it was made for resistive touch screens and the use of a stylus. With many touch screen users used to capacitive screens, WinMo is awkward to handle.

Aside from the HTC Sense UI, the HD2 also comes with a Snapdragon processor running at 1GHz and a large 4 inch capacitive touch screen.

Get the rest of the info regarding the new battery for the HD2 on GSM Arena.

The HTC HD2 is one very well known device for it is one of those few Windows Mobile phones that are actually worth owning. It all starts with the hardware; the device comes with a 4.3 inch touch screen with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels and can display 65 thousand colors. It also has a Qualcomm QSD8250 Snapdragon processor running at 1GHz. The built in 5 mega pixel camera comes with auto focus, LED flash, and geo-tagging –and it will also take VGA videos at 30 frames per second. Best of all, the WinMo user interface does not pose a hindrance thanks to the HTC Sense UI which allows the device to use a capacitive touch screen.

And apparently, T-Mobile USA got 576MB of RAM over the standard 448MB of RAM available.

In truth, all HTC HD2 units actually have 576MB of RAM. A recent custom ROM from XDA developers will allow users to unlock the extra hardware. While this does void warranty, it proves that all the HD2 units were made equal. As to why this specification was hidden remains to be explained.

Aside from the RAM, it has also been known that the GPS and FM functions of the HD2 have to be enabled through unconventional methods as the hardware is present but is inaccessible when used straight from the box.

To get more details on the hidden functions of the HTC HD2, the extra RAM and links to XDA, go straight to GSM Arena.

All About the Screen

If you have a 4.3 inch capacitive touch screen, start to wonder if the HD2 lacks multi touch capability? Most of you may already be familiar with the fact that Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional does not support multi touch functions, so all those pinch gestures will not register. At the same time, there are plenty of HTC apps that do support multi touch. It seems like it is WinMo itself that is the problem.

At 480 x 800 pixels, the resolution is more than just impressive, it is almost unparalleled with most devices out today. The brightness is outright impressive, far surpassing the clarity of the XPERIA X2 in most demonstrations (though this may be due to the native settings on the devices).

In Comparison

Being a Windows Mobile phone, the HD2 is compared to the XPERIA X2 a lot. The two share a common operating system, but HD2 takes the advantage by having a better proprietary interface.  Mostly, it is the 1 GHz Snapdragon processor places the gap between the two devices. The HD2, like other smart phones, is a 3G device that supports quad-band networks, has Bluetooth, GPS, microSD card slot and supports various media file types.