Review: HTC Desire HD

Simon · Dec 02, 2010, 21:48:19

HTC is the master of reusing and repurposing components to produce new phone designs, but with its latest Android smartphone, the Desire HD, it has truly surpassed itself.

It's one of three smartphones in HTC's current line-up to share almost identical hardware, joining the Windows Phone 7-based HD7 and the older Touch HD2, based on the previous generation Windows Phone 6.5.

Despite the different name, then, the Desire HD is a familiar face, and boasts the same strengths and weaknesses as its brethren. Its huge capacitive touchscreen is the main attraction. Measuring 4.3in from corner to corner, it's bright, clear and lovely to look at - among the most glorious screens you'll find on a smartphone today.

Read more: http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/smartphones/363274/htc-desire-hd

Rik · Dec 03, 2010, 00:32:10

When's yours arriving, Simon?

Simon · Dec 03, 2010, 00:46:11

Not till the price comes down.

I think an iPhone with that sized screen would be ideal.

Rik · Dec 03, 2010, 00:47:14

Well, there's always the iPad...

Simon · Dec 03, 2010, 00:50:11

I know... That's just a bit too big to use as a phone, though.

Rik · Dec 03, 2010, 00:57:39

Not with the size of my head.

Gary · Dec 03, 2010, 08:09:37

I have seen posts saying build Quality on the HD is not as good and that battery is pants. I am happy with the screen on my iPhone the resolution is fantastic, 960-by-640-pixel resolution at 326 ppi. So going to another device with less would be hard I think, now if the HD had a better screen maybe, also android for me is to diversified right now, there are slow updates from some OEMs which is a pain as you could wait ages for security patches or updates depending on who built your handset which is a shame.

Simon · Dec 03, 2010, 09:48:19

Can't disagree about Andriod, Gary. Things need to tighten up, particularly with updates and the apps, which is a bit pot luck at the moment.

Rik · Dec 03, 2010, 09:50:00

Leave my stomach out of this.

Lance · Dec 03, 2010, 11:31:00

Quote from: Simon on Dec 03, 2010, 00:46:11

I think an iPhone with that sized screen would be ideal.

How are you finding the iPhone?

Rik · Dec 03, 2010, 11:32:44

He checks under the bed.

Simon · Dec 03, 2010, 11:42:15

Now it's jailbroken, and I've got my own sounds on it, and a couple of other little tweaks, like Mark Read for emails, and Decline / Answer buttons on the lock screen for when a call comes in, it's fine, Lance. I wish it were easier to sync photos with iTunes, though. For some silly reason, you can't sync pics from the phone to the computer, just the other way round.

Gary · Dec 03, 2010, 14:21:07

Quote from: Simon on Dec 03, 2010, 11:42:15
Now it's jailbroken, and I've got my own sounds on it, and a couple of other little tweaks, like Mark Read for emails, and Decline / Answer buttons on the lock screen for when a call comes in, it's fine, Lance. I wish it were easier to sync photos with iTunes, though. For some silly reason, you can't sync pics from the phone to the computer, just the other way round.

On the Mac you can transfer pictures from the iphone to iPhoto to create events which is very handy.

Simon · Dec 03, 2010, 14:24:20

I can transfer pics, just not within iTunes. Seems rather silly to just have it sync one way, and the wrong way.

Gary · Dec 03, 2010, 15:59:52

Quote from: Simon on Dec 03, 2010, 14:24:20
I can transfer pics, just not within iTunes. Seems rather silly to just have it sync one way, and the wrong way.

iTunes is not the application you are using to sync photos too though, and you don't view your pics in iTunes, it would have to link to every photo app possible, so its probably easier the way its been designed.

Simon · Dec 03, 2010, 16:16:49

I can choose a single folder on the computer to sync photos with, but it will only move from the PC to the iPhone. I don't understand why it shouldn't do both ways. It's not a big deal, just another slight annoyance, but there's no jailbreak for iTunes.

Rik · Dec 03, 2010, 16:19:05

Can you not send the photos via Bluetooth?

Simon · Dec 03, 2010, 16:23:50

That would be much too convenient!

Rik · Dec 03, 2010, 16:30:09

Gary · Dec 03, 2010, 16:32:01

Quote from: Simon on Dec 03, 2010, 16:16:49
I can choose a single folder on the computer to sync photos with, but it will only move from the PC to the iPhone. I don't understand why it shouldn't do both ways. It's not a big deal, just another slight annoyance, but there's no jailbreak for iTunes.

I can sync with IPhoto or Aperture, image capture imports them automatically when I plug the phone in, which was annoying, so turned that off so I just launch what program I need and sync when I need to.

Simon · Dec 03, 2010, 16:35:55

Yes, that's what I'm doing, Gary.

Gary · Dec 03, 2010, 16:40:44

Quote from: Simon on Dec 03, 2010, 16:35:55
Yes, that's what I'm doing, Gary.

Im confused, you plug your phone in, launch the image capture program you want and it's done, so why would you want iTunes to do it? Its better to decide where you want them and then sort them yourself, launching what ever you use for image capture is the same action as launching iTunes surely, but just using another program?

Simon · Dec 03, 2010, 16:48:53

I don't always want the image capture program to start, or the dialogue box to pop up each time, so I chose for it to take no action. Bearing in mind, this is in Windows, I right clicked the iPhone in My Computer and selected the do nothing option. If I do want to transfer some photos to my 'iPhone Pics' folder, I right click the iPhone icon in My Computer and select Get Pictures. That's the manual process. My point is, this would be far easier if iTunes would just sync the iPhone with the 'iPhone Pics' folder, then the process would be automatic.