First things first, lets make sure we have all we need.

A fresh Class 2 or better MicroSD over 2Gb (format it in Windows, either in the phone using USB storage mode, or if you have a reader, from Windows PC natively)

The HD2 needs to be running Radio Firmware 2.08.50.02 or later (I use 2.12.50.02) , and obviously you will need HSPL to flash that.

You also need to download an Android build, I use mattc’s 1.5 one (here) with some tweaks, but any of them in the XDA-Dev’s forum should work using this guide.

NOTE : The latest zImage files do not require most of this, Just replace the files in the sdCard\Android folder with the files from the zip. If you are coming from the below modification (or any other FullRam Kernel) you will need to replace the drivers again (not required any more), just copy your backed up system.ext2 over the changed one, and all will be back to normal. If you did not backup, then just re-download the distro you are using, and replace the system.ext2 file. The only file you might need to change using the below method is the WiFi driver bcm4329.ko. Also remember to copy the new version of haret.exe into your android folder.

This will fix the WiFi : To push the updated bcm4329.ko (in the zip file) do this

1. From a cmd prompt, in the tools folder of the Android SDK, type ADB shell
2. type su
3. type mount -o remount rw /system
4. type mv /system/lib/modules/bcm4329.ko /system/lib/modules/bcm4329.ko.orig (this will backup the original driver file)
5. press ctrl-c or type exit twice
6. type adb push ..\bcm4329.ko /system/lib/modules (where ..\bcm4329.ko is the location of the file from the zip)
7. type adb shell chmod 777 /system/lib/modules/bcm4329.ko
8. goto config on your device, and enable WiFi

————————— Below is the old method if you want to use that kernel ——-

We also need the latest Kernel from manusfreedom (fullram one) and latest deault.txt, and the latest graphics drivers (thanks phh) copybit and gralloc and the WiFi updated driver

We also need the Android SDK down and installed (see here) only thing really needing installing is the USB Drivers (v3 or later) and the tools, details on the Google page linked.

OK, so we have it all downloaded then. Lets go…

1. Format the SD Card, Plug the card into the HD2, plug the USB into your PC, choose the mass storage mode, and in Windows Explorer right click the drive and click Format. Let it finish.
2. Open the drive and Create an Android folder on it.
3. Unzip/Unrar the Android build you have downloaded, and copy all the files into the Android folder on the SD card.     
        
   The Below section is if you want the latest fastest kernel installed, but requires using command line tools in Windows, and having the ADB tools from the Android SDK installed.       
   
4. Copy the new new zImage.FULLRAM.noPC into the Android Folder.
5. Copy the default.FULLRAM.txt into the Android Folder.
6. Delete or rename the current startup.txt file in the Android folder.
7. Rename the default.FULLRAM.txt to startup.txt
8. Delete or rename the current zImage file in the Android folder.
9. Rename the zImage.FULLRAM.noPC file to zImage (Please make sure you have disabled the hide known extensions in Windows, or do this from the CMD prompt). The Alternative to renaming is to edit the startup.txt you just renamed, and change the zImage line to zImage.FULLRAM.noPC
        
   Finish here for the latest kernel      
10. Fire up explorer on the device, navigate to the SD Card (obviously unplug USB from PC) then to the Android folder, and click the CLRCAD file (don’t worry if nothing happens, that’s right), then the haret file. This will then boot Android.

Once Android is up and running go through the initial configuration screens if you like, however we need to fix the little graphics glitches you can see (flickery lines) this is caused by bad graphics drivers. So let’s replace them (only required if running the FULLRAM kernel)

1. Connect the USB to the device and to Windows, the USB debuging notification should pop up in the notification bar in Android. Copy the two .so files you downloaded earlier (copybit and graloc) into this folder as well
2. Launch a command prompt, and navigate to the tools folder of the Android SDK, and type adb shell mount -o remount rw /system
3. Make a backup of the files you will be deleting, create a backup folder up the tree on windows (in the CMD prompt, type MD ..\backup), then type adb pull /system/lib/hw/copybit.*.so ..\backup and adb pull /system/lib/hw/gralloc.*.so ..\backup these can then be used to restore back to the 256/384Mb based kernel if required (use the same method as below to replace files if need be, note though you have a copybit.default.so to push as well).
4. That should come back without error, now type adb shell rm /system/lib/hw/copybit.*.so and press enter, now type adb shell rm /system/lib/hw/gralloc.*.so and press enter.
5. now type adb push copybit.qsd8k.so /system/lib/hw  and adb push gralloc.qsd8k.so /system/lib/hw this will copy the new drivers to the device.
6. Run  adb shell chmod 777 /system/lib/*to set permissions (sorry forgot this step if you get a non boot,  just do this step while the device is attempting to boot, then reboot it with the next step, it should fix nonboot issues)
7. run adb push bcm4329.ko /system/lib/modules to update WiFi updated driver
8. Now reboot the HD2, type adb shell reboot to do this.

If all went well (no errors reported etc) then the new drivers are now on the device, and the reboot to WinMo should happen.

Re-Launch Android either via file explorer again (running the two exe’s) or get one of the many launchers to do it for you. Try this one for example.

I hope that helps someone that’s trying to play with Android on the HD2. Like I say, for me it works day to day without issue. I do recommend installing SetCPU though, and setting it up to scale the CPU, and slow it down when screen off etc.

Thanks to the guys over at the HTC-Linux channel for the information used here.

NOTE : Uploading a version of matcc 1.5 rom with changes already done, will post the links when uploaded. Please note though, Mattc will NOT support this release if there is issues, however do look in his thread on XDA-Developers for possible fixes. I’ve changed nothing else in his rom besides the drivers and kernel version.

Links : Download Links

All seems to be running just fine (day 3 of this Rom), remember that you need to either use SSPL or (recommended) HSPL for the Leo.

As you can see, it’s all rather pretty, and after being an avid Titanium user for some time on the HTC HD, the extra grunt the HD2 has seems to breeze through the overhead of the SenseUI that HTC ship.

Obviously there is stuff I haven’t covered here, the twitter client that HTC ship still (even in this latest build of SenseUI) seems to chew a lot of CPU when it’s updateing for some reason, not a problem as I use MoTweet, and the Keyboard sometimes has issues capitalising things, and that’s been an issue in all the latest SenseUI builds.

All in all, I think it’s the ‘best of breed’ device experience of the moment, I cant stand the closed of nature of the iPhone, Android (as nexus shows) is still not there at the moment, yes this is what MS SHOULD have delivered right from the start, but at least they got there.

Bring On Windows Phone 7 (hopefully using CE6.x core)

Let’s think about this for a second.

1. Tablets have no keyboard, and as far as I know, the computer world, even with Windows 7 and MacOSX have not got the point where we can live without one. Yes software keyboards do work (I have a HD2, and works well on that), but they will all have the same issues as the iPhone/Windows Phone devices have, Screen Real Estate. Half the screen will be gone while the keyboard is visible. Surely a netbook would not only be cheaper, but more useful here if all you want to do is browse the net and read email?
2. Portable Media, The tablets are all based around the same technologies as netbooks, so we know that 1080p is out (even if screen res supported it) and probably 720p for that matter (screen res again). And if you want a PMP, then there are plenty of good ones around (like the Arcos) that even do a bit of internet and email, that’s forgetting the HTC HD2’s and iPhones of the world.
3. Notepad/Scribble concept, these too are shot nowadays with capacitive screens as your finger, no matter how small/thin it is is never going to be as good at this sort of thing as a stylus is. However multitouch is a ‘must have’ now, and that’s only available (easily) on capacitive displays. So another bust.
4. Portability, come on, it’s more portable than an NC10? my wife put’s her NC10 in her handbag, and if you want portable get a HD2/iPhone.
5. Power, these are thin little ‘cosmetic’ devices, there not going to have massive battery time, simple as that. Most of the NC10’s weight comes from it’s battery.
6. OS’s, until the Apple announcement comes out we have no idea what OS their device will run, however it’s been rumoured to be a supersized version of the iPhone OS, and that means all that platform’s problems. The Windows 7 devices run the baby version of the OS, so at least it’s ‘fullish’ featured.

So, why is everyone getting so het up over these things? I really am at a loss to work out what they will be used for besides bragging rights. The Windows based ones (as long as ram is upgradable) could conceivably be upgraded to Premium versions of the OS, and then get used for Micro Media Centers, but that’s an expensive way to have telly in the bath.

Am I missing something? but as far as I can see, a Laptop/Netbook is not only going to be cheaper, but a damn site more useful as a device.

There are some things to note though.

Device needs Compact FrameWork 3.5 installing on it – .NET Compact Framework 3.5 Redistributable

There is a new ‘test’ ROM out for the WWE (unlocked) devices, which is what I am running Download Here

Lower the screen sensitivity, obviously this is personal choice, but I found the screen far too sensitive. (Download desense / Reset to factory)

Other things that you should probably do :

• Enable the Magnifying Box for text selection
  HKLM/Software/HTC/TextSelection/EnableMagnifier and change from 0 to 1
• Turn on 802.11n support
  HKLM/Comm/BCMSDDHD1/Parms/11nModeDisable = Change from 1 to 0
• Add shorcut’s for apps that are for some reason installed and left unlinked (all in Windows Folder)
  eT9MyWords.exe / bubblebreaker.exe / solitaire.exe
• Install Dutty’s task Manager (the Original HTC task manager) –

Download

That’s about it for now, full review when I have a chance to go through the whole thing

Nope it’s about Twitter clients on WinMo. I’ used to use PocketTwit, it was perhaps a little ‘heavy’, but hey whats a couple of K between friends. It’s got a great interface, and is certainly high on the wow factor, and looks sublime on the HD’s screen.

I tried installing it on 6.5RTM and it’s a no go, not quite sure why, but crashes out every time.

So I went hunting for another client to get me through till PocketTwit  starts working again (and yes tried the dev build).

I bumped into Twikini, I remember trying it before, and then not using it because I bumped into PocketTwit. So downloaded it, Installed and must say it’s actualy quite nice, from another point of view though. Yes it’s not got all the flash and bells of PocketTwit, but what it does do it does well. It’s quick, lightweight, and in it’s way it looks pretty (well it’s clean anyhow).

So if you have a device that’s not upto PocketTwit for any reason (screen size, processor, memory or whatever) then I sudgest giving Twikini a go, you wont be sorry.

And it’s quite pretty, reminiscent some would say of the Audi R8, but more organic than the Audi 2 seater.

Price is expected to be about the R8’s £80.000 so not a million miles away from the Porsche and Audi competition.

Frank Stephenson is looking after styling, he comes with a good pedigree (Fiat and Ferrari), and you can certainly see P11 influences in the car.

Slightly shorter than the R8, and similar power levels (450bhp) should make for some fun.

So here they are, they include the Audio (RealTek) and Lan (Marvel).

So download away.

If you want it, just download it and either open from the download or double click it and Windows 7 will ask permission to add the search provider.

Any issues let me know. (oh you might have to right click and save as the file and make sure the file extension is osdx)