XDA developer mnomaanw has successfully installed Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows XP and Linux on HTC EVO 3D in a fairly easy process. To summarize, all a user needs to do is download the required software, modify a file or two and run the apk.  And it boots into Windows.

This Windows port for Phones is one of the best ever. It does fair justice to the hardware buttons, touchscreen by giving you fairly easy controls.

How to Install Windows 95, 98, XP on Android Phone: HTC EVO 3D

Pre-requisites: Windows 95/98/XP Image: ISO or .IMG. (IMG preferred and tested).
Step 1. Download bochs.apk [mirror] and SDL.zip [mirror]. Put SDL.zip on root of sdcard/
Step 2. Put the Windows 95/98/XP disk image .img/.iso [(need to change setting in bochsrc.txt accordingly (iso not tested yet)] of any operating system in SDL folder and rename it to “c.img”.
Step 3. Run Bochs apk. Let it boot (takes a while) and enjoy.

Note: Use this bochsrc.txt to use a folder called “HDD” on your sdcard as a drive in windows. Replace the original bochsrc.txt withthe one stated before. Further updates on xda thread.

Instructions for input controls are as follows:

• To emulate touchpad on touchscreen and left/right mouse buttons on volume
• You can also click touch screen to generate mouse left button click.(this does not work everytime)
• Back = BackSpace, Menu = Enter, left-upper corner click generates TAB
• left-lower corner click popups keyboard

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Tegra 2 was step forward in graphics and processing, bu the PC-level gaming and computing power would come to mobile devices with Tegra 3, demo from nvidia already proves that.

HTC Zeta is pretty much in works, but the leaked specs look like a dream come true. It sports Tegra 3 Quad-core 2.5GHz APQ8064 CPU along with 1GB of RAM. Screen would be the humongous 4.5-inch 720p HD display.

According to the rumors, HTC Zeta would come with Ice Cream Sandwich pre-installed with Sense UI 4.0 .

It would accommodate a 32GB of internal storage space, an 1,830mAh battery, Beats Audio, Bluetooth 4.0, an 8MP rear camera with dual LED flash, 1080p video capture and a 1.3MP front-facing cam.

It would be released in a thin form factor of 4.32 x 2.4 x 0.39 inches and weigh 146g. It would have a unique shape with the sharp corners. Pricing and availability would be available soon.

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Apple has won against the HTC in a lawsuit where ITC has identified that HTC had infringed two of its patents. It was found to have infringed two of 10 Apple patents originally asserted in the case. However, HTC will “vigorously fight these two remaining patents through an appeal before the ITC commissioners who make the final decision,”

However, the point worth noting here is that this brings almost whole of android platform into trouble as Patents appear to be at the core of Android and are likely infringed by all Android devices.

The Patents:

The 2 patents are:

• U.S. Patent No. 5,946,647 on a “system and method for performing an action on a structure in computer-generated data” (in its complaint, Apple provides examples such as the recognition of “phone numbers, post-office addresses and dates” and the ability to perform “related actions with that data”; one example is that “the system may receive data that includes a phone number, highlight it for a user, and then, in response to a user’s interaction with the highlighted text, offer the user the choice of making a phone call to the number”)
• U.S. Patent No. 6,343,263 on a “real-time signal processing system for serially transmitted data” (while this sounds like a pure hardware patent, there are various references in it to logical connections, drivers, programs; in its complaint, Apple said that this patent “relates generally to providing programming abstraction layers for real-time processing applications”)

Ground Reality

All of the patents are actually ridiculous. Where Open source encourages an innovative way, these patents are actually granted for ridiculously small and easy things in software engineering. e.g. If you see a phone number, automatic hyperlinking has a patent. Its ridiculous! Come on Apple.

But violating patent is a serious offense, at the end of the day either Google or all hardware OEMs will end up paying royalty to Apple for using their patented technology.

The whole software patent system needs to be rethought to suit modern world. Open Source projects like Linux and Android contribute a lot to world but actually endup being sued over stupid little patents of something that has been done before several times, unknowingly.

What happens Next

In worst-case there would be a import ban against many or even all Android-based HTC products in the U.S. market. Alternatively, HTC might have to remove certain functionality from its products, and that could result in a significant degradation of the quality of those devices.

Since those patents actually don’t relate to HTC’s own extensions of Android but to Android itself, they may affect all of the other makers of Android-based devices. Apple could soon be in a strong position to obtain import bans against dozens of device makers including Samsung, motorola, and all other big players of android.

Apple can grant HTC a license just like Microsoft did and let HTC pay royalty on every android phone they sell, but Apple might claim damages claim and ban imports.

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Android phones are certainly getting sexier and smarter thanks to Samsung, HTC, Sony and Motorola and HTC.

HTC’s Sensation 4g is certainly the best phone from HTC so far. Designed with the Nexus S like contour glass display, 4.3-inch super LCD, sporting qHD resolution of 540 x 960, wrapped in a unibody aluminum body, its among the sexiest phones in the market.

Apart from that it has good quality 8 megapixel camera with mind-blowing 1080p HD video capture, 768MB of RAM (uhh no 1GB like Galalxy S2?), 4GB of internal storage.

HTC Sensation also comes with all new Sense UI on Gingerbread  with new support for user customizable lock screens, 3D effects, all new apps for mail, the browser, contacts, weather, and more.

Sensation is coming to T-Mobile this summer for the US residents, worldwide months after. Its also appearing on the Vodafone in UK.

The specs of this device aligns it with Galaxy S2, LG Optimus 2x, and many more to come dual core phones on android.

Video Preview:

Checkout the HTC Sensation 4g Pics below:

image credit

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With HTC Desire HD, HTC has revamped its Sense UI on Android to bring a bunch of UI improvements, packed with some remarkable Features.

Some of the new Features which are non-standard on other Android devices:

• Revamped UI with advanced text selection, in-browser cover-art tab switching and 100s of other stuff.
• Auto-phone tracking for lost phones.
• Automatic-phone ring volume. Smarter than you can think of.
• HDMI, DLNA (multimedia sharing)
• Live Social contact status, when you receive a call.
• Offline maps navigation
• Receive sms via web
• Forward calls remotely and many more

The awesomeness cannot be described in words, watch the video after the break:

Seems like HTC might lead the Androids, all over again with its new sexy gadget named HTC Desire HD.

Even when the specs have nothing to get us excited,  the device looks gorgeous with its blazing large 4.3″ WVGA screen that is possibly AMOLED and an 8-megapixel camera with 720p video recording and Dual-Flash. Other rumored details include Android 2.2 froyo, 4GB of internal storage, the same 1GHz Snapdragon as the current Desire and, perhaps most interestingly, talk of a “unibody aluminum design.” just like apple’s.

Beyond that, it seems to have a great rounded feel, which must give a great feeling in the hand.

After the Android on HTC HD2 was done, it didnt’ take long to have Ubuntu on HTC HD2 aswell. Of course, Ubuntu isn’t such a good operating system for a smartphone – you can’t even make calls but its always fun to have Linux running on various gadgets.

Ubuntu Experience on HD2: Because HD2 has 4.4″ large touchscreen, Ubuntu experience is not that bad. On the performance front, 1Ghz snapdragon does well when it come to running various apps, see it for yourself:

Note: This is not a stable Android or Ubuntu 9.1, because there’s still a lot of work that has to be done before Android will be actually usable for most users. But its installable and pretty much usable for people who are willing to take risks.

Install Ubuntu on HD2 (Karmic Koala)

Needs Storage Card with at least 2GB free space. Recommended is a fast Storage Card (Class 4 is ok)
This is intended to be used as a netbook/desktop type setup with keyboard and mouse connected via USB. Check this site for information on how to do this.

Be sure to read included README.txt for install instructions, features and developer information.
Quick instructions: Put the ubuntu directory into the main/root directory of your Storage Card and tap HaRET executable.
password: ubuntu
use shutdown button to stop the system cleanly

Size: 635M
md5sum: 327a4b2c17e14dd5649964fe18f837e9
Download http://linuxtogo.org/~lgorris/hd2/hd2-ubuntu_0.1.zip
Mirror: http://gamesquare.co.uk/hd2-ubuntu_0.1.zip

Install Android on HTC HD2
Global instructions: Just extract to Storage Card root directory and run HaRET executable. Further details available in readme. If you still need help reach-out @taranfx.

Android build with HTC sense ™ Download: http://gamesquare.co.uk/LEO_SENSE.7z
Different random build: http://media2a.com/android/Android_Boot_Test_TS.zip

via XDA

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Here’s Top-Notch iPhone, Android models that you might be interested in: iPhone 4 vs. HTC Droid Incredible vs. Evo 4G vs. Nexus One Tech specs.

Lets nail down to the Tech specs:

iPhone 4 has a great display, camera, but HTC competitors aren’t that bad too. So the Fight is all again iPhone 4 vs. Android 2.2 Froyo ?

via TiPb

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HTC’s incredible (a.k.a Droid Incredible) is freakin great on specs and does almsot everything you would ask for from a smartphone. Just like nexus one, the phone is powered by 1ghz Snapdragon processor but has a lot more than N1.
8 MP camera (Dual flash and AF) makes it good replacement for a digital camera and Sense UI makes it way more attractive than other devices running Android 2.1

What’s even more attractive is the Optical track pad that makes navigation slick. The screen is 3.7″ AMOLED WVGA is bountiful and looks better than any display I’ve seen so far.
The battery life is bit average, with 1300 MaH battery you should be able to attain Talk time of 310 minutes, Standby time: 149 hours.

Check the Video Review after the break:

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Sprint has just announced the First Android based 4G phone: HTC EVO 4G.
The Phone has lots of features that make it far better than Nexus One:

• Display: 4.3″ 480 x 800 4.3-inch TFT LCD
• CPU: Snapdragon QSD8650 1GHz processor (Same as nexus One)
• Storage: 1GB of built-in memory, 8GB microSD card
• RAM: 512MB
• Battery is better than the HTC HD2, 1500mAh
• Camera: 8 megapixel with flash, and 720p HD video,  1.3 megapixel front facing camera for video conferencing.
• Connectivity: 802.11b/g WiFi, A-GPS, 3.5mm Audio jack

Like HTC Desire, It features the nitty-gritty HTC Sense UI over the Android 2.1.
The handset runs a combo of EV-DO Rev. A and WiMAX, with calls still being made over CDMA and the EV-DO / WiMAX options for data. Interestingly, it sounds like concurrent data and voice use might be possible for the first time on CDMA carrier in this way.

Other attraction is the Sprint’s hotspot app which gives you MiFi Tethering connection sharing out of the box.
The phone is definitely most high-end Android device we’ve ever seen. Availability from this summer.

HTC EVO 4g vs. iPhone vs. Nexus One

via engadget

That’s all for now, stay tuned for more. More on Google, Android, iPhone and Tech news via @taranfx on Twitter or subscribe below:

Apple claims that HTC has infringed 20 of its patents that it had acquired for iPhone.

Apple, as always, has not included Google in the suit, many of the named patents but in reality, most are related to operating system processes. Which brings a clear indication that Apple is targeting Android.

Before even HTC responds, Google has publically supported HTC in the case:

“We are not a party to this lawsuit,” said a Google spokesperson. “However, we stand behind our Android operating system and the partners who have helped us to develop it.”

So the question is Why HTC? The fact is HTC was the first manufacturer to leverage Google’s OS and the market leader in Android, and recently Google branded Nexus One. Others have said that Apple’s action may be an opening salvo against Google.

“I think this is kind of an indirect lawsuit against Google,” analyst Shaw Wu of Kaufman Brothers told Reuters. “Simply because Apple has focused on HTC now doesn’t mean it won’t take action against other manufacturers later”

Among the written disputes, apple highlights that “This case could have implications for all other phone manufacturers which have just announced their phones at Mobile World Congress.”

This means manufactures including Sony Ericcson, LG, Samsung and HTC could fall under the same umbrella.

Steve Jobs said: “We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it. “We’ve decided to do something about it.”

The Lawsuit has been filed with the US ITC and a district court in Delaware. With this, Apple is seeking to effectively bar HTC from selling phones that use the disputed technology in the US.

Earlier, Nokia sued Apple for patent infringement in October 2009, alleging it had stolen patented technology. In response, Apple countersued in December 2009, followed by a second round of legal action from Nokia.

All this could have some serious implications on Google Android. I hope Google would back all OHA partners with solid justifications, else it’s hard to see a future for Android. Android is a great OS, may it live forever.

If you wish to see all the patents, here’s the List:

Patent #7,362,331: Time-Based, Non-Constant Translation Of User Interface Objects Between States
Patent #7,479,949: Touch Screen Device, Method, And Graphical User Interface For Determining Commands By Applying Heuristics
Patent #7,657,849: Unlocking A Device By Performing Gestures On An Unlock Image
Patent #7,469,381: List Scrolling And Document Translation, Scaling, And Rotation On A Touch-Screen Display
Patent #5,920,726: System And Method For Managing Power Conditions Within A Digital Camera Device
Patent #7,633,076: Automated Response To And Sensing Of User Activity In Portable Devices
Patent #5,848,105: GMSK Signal Processors For Improved Communications Capacity And Quality
Patent #7,383,453: Conserving Power By Reducing Voltage Supplied To An Instruction-Processing Portion Of A Processor
Patent #5,455,599: Object-Oriented Graphic System
Patent #6,424,354: Object-Oriented Event Notification System With Listener Registration Of Both Interests And Methods

Patent #5,481,721: Method for providing automatic and dynamic translation of object oriented programming language-based message passing into operation system message passing using proxy objects

Patents #5,519,867 and #6,275,983: Object Oriented Multitasking System and Object-Oriented Operating System
Patent #5,566,337: Method and apparatus for distributing events in an operating system
Patent #5,929,852: Encapsulated network entity reference of a network component system
Patent 5,946,647: System and method for performing an action on a structure in computer-generated data
Patent #5,969,705: Message protocol for controlling a user interface from an inactive application program
Patent #6,343,263: Real-time signal processing system for serially transmitted data
Patent #5,915,131: Method and apparatus for handling I/O requests utilizing separate programming interfaces to access separate I/O service
Patent #RE39,486: Extensible, replaceable network component system

[via BBC, all Patents via Google Patents]

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I knew it was coming, nad here it si, Hack to get HTC Legend’s Sense UI on Nexus One.

Paul brien has come up with a solution to get it onto Nexus One. Apart from the UI, there’s more exciting goodies:

• 800 x 480 video recording, an upgrade from 720 x 480 ( I still have to differentiate practical benefits)
• Face recognition and touch focus for the camera
• Adobe Flash 10.1

He has claimed that some of the most of the stuff works:

- If you rebuild the boot image replacing the kernel it runs. I’m running my own custom kernel with himem and bits.
- The system.img doesn’t fit on the N1 (!), it’s nearly 200MB. I booted by moving some stuff off the system partition.
- The trackball works.
- The 4 bottom keys work.
- The proximity sensor works.
- The LED works.
- The light sensor works.
- The compass and G sensor work.
- The camera works fine and is great with face recognition and touch focus.
- The FM radio loads, but makes no sound / finds no stations it seems. Maybe we need Desire radio ROM?
- The build I have is watermarked – i’ve removed the obvious visual watermarks but no, you can’t have this release – when I get a watermark free drop, yes
- It’s FAST!
- WiFi, Bluetooth works
- 800×480 video recording, camera maxes out at 3MP (fixed in later builds)

- Mic not yet working – likely related to the voice cancellation feature (not tried to fix this yet)

More on this coming soon. Stay in touch @taranfx or via RSS.

You can add HTC Sense keyboard to your Nexus One. the process is not hard if you are used to it,  thanks to  XDA-Developers.

Instructions:

• Download Low resolution version (v4) or High resolution version (v3)
• Unzip and install the two .APKs (HTC_IME & Clicker) to SD card.
• Navigate to Menu, Settings, Language & Keyboard. Select Touch Input and enter Touch Input settings. You should be able to select quite a few languages.
• To change keyboard, long press on lower left key on stock keyboard

Tip: As far as installation goes,  Just search the Android Market for AppsInstaller, which is a free utility and install it. AppsInstaller scans your SD card and allows you to install any applications on the card. It takes 4-5 minutes and the new keyboard is worth it. The keyboard comes with a touch calibration utility, much more like the iPhone. Definitely it’s faster than the native Android keyboard. And there’s still a dedicated key for voice-to-text input, so it’s a win all around.

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The HTC desire bring the Polished, shaped and smooth UI to Android, making it the best Android device ever built. Why is it best? Well, hardware is as good a Nexus One and the UI is far more intuitive.

HTC had long showcased their Sense UI with HTC Hero, since then they made a new niche of users who loved the way it navigates. But they haven’t seen the true power combined with Android and 1Ghz Snapdragon.

The Desire, of course, fulfills all your senses by featuring everything original Nexus One’s did plus a trackpad in place of the old trackball. Sense UI now features new Leap function that allows viewing different home screens at the same time by pinch gesture. We already know about Friend Stream feature that collates all the social network updates to the contacts in Address Book. Other improvements come in the browser, web client, widget and better news reader application.

The display is still the same 3.7-inch AMOLED display carries over, but the software uses it better than ever. Users can leverage full Flash 10.1 multi-touch features.

Let’s go detailed on the Specs:

• Display: 3.7-inch AMOLED WVGA
• Processor: 1 Ghz Snapdragon
• ROM: 512MB
• RAM: 576 MB
• Camera: 5 MP, DVD quality video (near 480p)
• Dimensions:  119x60x11.9 mm
• Weight: 135g
• Cellular: quadband GSM/EDGE, dual band (900 MHz, 2100 MHz) 7.2 Mbps HSPA
• Battery: 1400 mAh
• WiFi, GPS, accelerometer, compass

Finally, word on Availability: HTC is only announcing that it’ll be “broadly available” throughout Europe and Asia in the early part of the second quarter, while it’ll come to Australia via Telstra. Supersonic, care to save us?

That’s all for now, stay tuned for more. More on Windows Phone, Android, iPhone and Tech news via @taranfx on Twitter or:

Overall Feel

The phone, looks large, but is actually not that bad to hold in the hand, thanks to pocket-friendly dimensions of 120.5x 67×11 mm.

HTC HD2 vs. iPhone

The phone is smooth and rubberized on the back, and feels nice to hold. It slips nicely into the pocket as well, thanks to slim design with 0.43 inches  thickness.

Specs

On the Technical side, Phone is powered by Qualcomm’s 1GHz Snapdragon mobile processor, the same that powers Sony Ericsson X10, X3.  Like HTC Hero, it also offers an HTC Sense user experience but on Windows Mobile 6.5 instead of Android. Other Specs include, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1, a 5-megapixel camera with Flash, a 3.5 mm headphone jack.

Multitouch, Apps & User Interace

Powered by a good 1Ghz processor, I expected it to do good with UI and Multitouch. And I must admit, I was deeply impressed. Opening applications was delight, they opened quickly, unlike other Windows Mobile 6.5 devices. The UI is amazing, especially the weather app. Photos loads quickly and is very responsive.  The Opera browser comes inbuilt that replace dirty Mobile IE. As a result,  websites rendered well and were available to scroll around, and pinching and zooming reacted almost instantly, this proves the capacitive touchscreen was a great decision by HTC. The experience is very similar to that of iPhone. But, because of a larger display, I might actually endup rating it better than iPhone.

Websites actually looked glorious on the phone. And the good part, it supports Flash. The HTC Sense UI experience is far better than HTC Hero. It’s now more realistic and smoother multitouch. Apps like Facebook, Weather, outlook, blah are integrated well and works like charm.

Here are few Videos from Other Sources that will give you better idea:

Verdict:

Personally, I have never liked Windows Mobile phones unless they are powerful. This one is indeed top of the line, with rich set o features and possibly the best Windows Mobile Phone ever created. this Phone Proves that HTC has ripped off bad parts of windows Mobile and replaced them with custom solutions with touchFlow and SenseUI. Overall, we’re very impressed especially with the great Visuals, UI, High resolution, large Display that does multitouch too. How Does it compare to Motorola Droid vs. iPhone? We will compare 3 of them soon.

HTC HD2 is already Launched in Europe, Asia, and and US too.

I would highly recommend one.

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HTC had worked with Google to develop the first smartphone based on Android, the  HTC Dream which was good enough and now the latest Android handset from HTC, the HTC Hero.

HTC still holds the widest range of Android devices. Other companies joining the race include the Ultra cool Sony’s Xperia X3 Rachael, and one Motorola handset.

More Android Phones

Why more and more Vendors will be adopting Android ?

The reason is  obvious, it’s free, Open Source and industry standard for Mobile OS. Mobile vendors no longer have to spend money buying Symbian, windows and other Mobile OS. and most important Android is highly customizable.

It features a 3.2-inch HVGA touch-screen display. The smartphone is optimized for Web, multimedia and other content and also includes aGPS, a digital compass, a gravity-sensor, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, a 5-Megapixel autofocus camera and expandable microSD memory. The built-in browser just like your iPhone, but it supports Adobe Flash.

Specifications:

If you are looking for the Complete UI / Design Review, check it out here.

Here is the Video Review from stuff.tv:

Things are getting exciting in the mobile phone arena. First we get the beefed-up iPhone 3GS, and now we have a new Android HTC Hero. Uptil now, Android has been dumb and lame. Then, all of sudden from nowhere first Augmented Reality App was released and now  HTC Hero has Flash 9 capability with Flash 10 coming later this year, giving it a competitive edge.

Flash on mobile platform will enable Rich experience of Web content and applications that couldn’t run on previous mobile phones. There are a whole set of Flash games and other media that are available. While this content is now available on the Hero, the iPhone can play YouTube videos but no other Flash media, but it will be all possible in future.

People even say that Apple has intentionally suppressed Flash. The reason for this is obvious: Apple wants control of which applications are permitted to run on the iPhone, and more importantly, a cut of the pie. Applications written in Flash would bypass the iPhone App Store, and they won’t earn what they are doing today by there 70-30 game or 80-20 game whatever it is.

I believe that once the Hero gains some momentum, Apple will make a move. But story on both sides has negatives for Microsoft, nobody is running towards Silverlight. May be windows mobile will be the sole platform and Microsoft’s homepage as the sole publisher

Cehck the demo of Flash on Hero.

Demo source: Adobe.com

The HTC Hero, the third Android device from HTC, is the first device built on HTC Sense, the device-maker’s new customizable user interface.

“HTC Sense is focused on putting people at the center, by making your phone work in a more simple and natural way. This experience revolves around three fundamental principles that were designed by quietly observing and listening to how people live and communicate,” the company said in a statement. Essentially, HTC Sense makes phones simpler to use, HTC said.

.

The Build & Design

The smartphone features beveled edges and an angled bottom and is contoured to fit comfortably in user’s hands and against their faces while they’re on a call. This would comfort of a flip phone without having the flip in actual.

The Hero uses an anti-fingerprint screen coating for smudge resistance and a longer-lasting, clearer display. The white HTC Hero includes a Teflon coating for a durable surface that’s soft to the touch.

The HTC Hero also integrates a dedicated search button that goes beyond basic search, offering users a contextual search experience that searches Twitter, locates contacts, finds e-mails and searches any other area on the smartphone.

Features Outline:

It features a 3.2-inch HVGA touch-screen display. The smartphone is optimized for Web, multimedia and other content and also includes aGPS, a digital compass, a gravity-sensor, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, a 5-megapixel autofocus camera and expandable microSD memory.

“HTC Hero introduces a more natural way for reaching out to people and accessing your important information, not by following the status quo of today’s phones, but by following how you communicate and live your life,” Peter Chou, HTC’s CEO, said in the statement. “HTC Sense is a distinct experience created to make HTC phones more simple for people to use, leaving them saying ‘it just makes sense.’” HTC Sense, which will be available on all new HTC devices moving forward, is based on three key principals: “Make It Mine,” “Stay Close” and “Discover the Unexpected,” the company said.

HTC said Make It Mine encourages users to dictate and organize how they access people and content. Make it mine is nothing but a customizations that users can go for. That means users can add glance-view widgets that push content like Twitter feeds, weather and other information to the surface, or users can have quick access to business information like e-mail, calendar and world times. HTC is also releasing a new profile feature called “Scenes” that lets users create different customized content profiles around specific functions or times.

HTC Sense’s Stay Close feature integrates calls, e-mails, texts, photos, status updates and more into a single view to let users keep up to speed with certain contacts. HTC Sense also includes friends’ Facebook status updates and photos and Flickr photos alongside text messages, e-mails and call history in a single view.

And the Discover the Unexpected principle enables HTC Hero and HTC Sense users to customize the phone further, by adding features like the ability to turn the phone over to silence a ring or improve the smart dial to make faster calls. HTC Sense also adds “Perspectives,” a new way to view content like e-mail, photos, Twitter, music and other types in new ways.

According to HTC, the HTC Hero with HTC Sense will be available across Europe in July and in Asia later in the summer. HTC will also release a distinct North American version of the Hero later in 2009. Pricing information was not available.

Specifications:

The Hero comes as HTC continues to lead the Google Android charge, planning to release as many as 18 Android-based smartphones this year. On the market so far are the HTC-built T-Mobile G1 and the HTC Magic. T-Mobile this week also unveiled plans to release another HTC-built Android smartphone, the T-Mobile myTouch 3G, later this summer.

Source : HTC.com, CRN

As soon as Apple rolled out its preview of iPhone OS 3.0, the comparisons to existing (and forthcoming) mobile OSs started flying. While the major update isn’t exactly a done deal, it’s pretty far along, and we’ve been able to glean quite a bit from our time with the developer beta we’ve been checking out. iPhone OS, Android, webOS, Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, S60; if you’re in the market for a new smartphone, your choices have been getting exponentially more complicated lately, and 3.0 won’t make the selection any easier. Luckily for you, Engadget is here to make sense of a frightening and uncertain landscape. Read on for an in-depth look at the similarities — and differences — between modern mobile operating systems.

Basics

When it comes to OSs, it’s generally true that you’re only as good as your kernel, and these days, there’s no shortage of options in that department. Comparing core systems is difficult — each one has its own strengths and weaknesses, but we’d be lying if we didn’t say that the underlying structure of the iPhone OS is pretty robust. Since it’s built atop OS X, which in turn is built atop Unix, it tends to be fairly sophisticated and stable (even if Apple has managed to lag it up with its UI). Android is Linux based, though its basic functionality is sandboxed in a particularly healthy variation of Java. S60 and Windows Mobile may be more mature, but that age doesn’t always work to their advantage, and while RIM has done a tremendous job at updating its look and feel, the OS — which is based around a proprietary kernel — still showcases some of its ugly, underlying Java from time to time.

As you can see in the chart below, the basics slot these devices into fairly specific categories, though it’s obvious that Apple is trying to nudge its way into the enterprise world (the company went out of its way to cite business customer satisfaction at the preview event). Of course, we don’t expect to see the BlackBerry OS and Windows Mobile leaving that space any time soon.

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Basics						Return to Top
	Android Cupcake	BlackBerry OS 4.7	iPhone OS 3.0	S60 5th Edition	Palm WebOS	Windows Mobile 6.5
Kernel Type	Linux	Proprietary	OS X	Symbian	Linux	Windows CE
Platform Adaptability	Excellent	Good	Poor	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Platform Age	Young	Mature	Adolescent	Mature	Young	Mature
First-party Enterprise Support	None	BlackBerry	Exchange	Exchange, Domino, BlackBerry	Exchange	Exchange, Domino, BlackBerry
Wireless Technologies	GSM, WiFi	GSM, CDMA, WiFi	GSM, WiFi	GSM, WiFi	GSM, CDMA, WiFi	GSM, CDMA, WiFi

User Interface

Apple nailed it out of the gate with many of its UI ideas. Gestures, lists with inertia, and plenty of touch-friendly sliders, wheels, and buttons generally make the iPhone OS a pleasure to navigate. While Android borrows some of that functionality, its uneven UI still doesn’t match up (though Cupcake certainly makes a few welcome improvements). Windows Mobile and the BlackBerry OS have made some gains here over the years, but they still suffer from inborn deficiencies that are clear the moment you start using them (especially the Storm’s 4.7 implementation), and S60 has a long, long way to go before it’s up to speed. The only real competitor in terms of user-experience right now appears to be the Palm Pre, which capitalizes on many of the gains Apple pioneered and throws in a few tricks of its own, like those cards as well as a bigger emphasis on gestures.

A key innovation over the past couple years has been the emergence of capacitive touchscreens in mobile devices, which allow for lighter touch, greater display clarity, and true multitouch at the expense of stylus compatibility. The iPhone, webOS, and Android have all embraced the technology, but Windows Mobile and S60 aren’t quite there yet, largely because they still make use of UI elements too small to accurately press with a human finger. To keep up, they’ll need to get cranking on this over the coming versions. Of course, all of these platforms (save for webOS) can sport a virtual keyboard of some sort — a technology particularly suited to a capacitive screen — but we’ve yet to see a single one pull off a typing experience as solid as what Apple offers.

As good as they may be in stock form, both Apple and Palm leave users hanging if they want to customize — hell, changing font sizes is taboo with the iPhone, much less a total reskinning of the interface. If you’re into making your device all your own, Windows Mobile and BlackBerry are where you want to be; customization isn’t just allowed with these platforms, it’s practically encouraged. In fact, Microsoft pretty much touts the flexibility as a feature nowadays (a quick glance at this year’s MWC offerings is proof of that).

User Interface
	Android Cupcake	BlackBerry OS 4.7	iPhone OS 3.0	S60 5th Edition	Palm WebOS	Windows Mobile 6.5
Screen Gestures	Yes	Yes	Yes	Limited	Yes	Limited
Screen Technology	Capacitive	Capacitive	Capacitive	Resistive / Capacitive	Capacitive	Resistive
Multitouch	Yes (unofficial)	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
UI Skinning	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Input Methods	Virtual keyboard, physical keyboard	Virtual keyboard	Virtual Keyboard	Virtual keyboard, T9, and triple tap; character recognition; physical keyboard	Physical keyboard	Virtual keyboard, character recognition, physical keyboard

Core functionality

Now here’s a category where the operating systems really start to show their colors. While Apple is finally adding the promised — but delayed — push notification to its devices, it’s still lagging far behind in some pretty important areas. First off: multitasking. Much like an original Palm OS device, Apple seems stuck in the past with its open-quit-open app switching scheme, which it claims is in the interest of preserving battery life. Windows Mobile, S60, Android, webOS, and BlackBerry all handle true multitasking, allowing you keep multiple apps open in the background. The push notifications will help, but nothing beats being able to return to an active app, particularly if you’re doing something like loading a web page or using a map to get around.

Palm is smartly introducing a web-centric functionality called Synergy in its webOS, which allows you to pool contacts and calendars from disparate sources, while the iPhone OS, BlackBerry OS, Windows Mobile, S60, and Android still present mostly siloed options in that department (without some third-party involvement). Apple has made strides with its new calendar functionality — CalDAV support, for example — but it still doesn’t present anything as revolutionary for dealing with scores of contacts. We do give the company marks for finally, mercifully, allowing users to share contact cards, however.

A big problem that Apple has yet to address with OS 3.0 is its obnoxious, obtrusive notifications. Where Android and webOS slide a handy “tray” into view to let you know you’ve got something incoming, the iPhone regularly piles on one notice after another, leaving you with a stacked, productivity-stalling, ugly mess of pop-ups. Apple, you kill this kind of annoying garbage in your browser — why do you think users want it in their phone? Even older systems get this one more right than Apple does — both Windows Mobile and the BlackBerry OS use a mixture of pop-ups and background notifications. It’s perplexing that a company so concerned with usability and simplicity has done nothing to address the situation in three iterations of its software.

Still, Apple has certainly answered the call (no pun intended) on a lot of user-requested features. Stereo Bluetooth support, MMS, that new Spotlight homescreen (aka global search), tethering capabilities, unlocked Bluetooth support for the touch, turn-by-turn direction capability, and a whole lot more. The sad part is that these additions only really bring the OS to speed with almost all of its competition, making this update a victory, but still kind of a bummer if you take the long-view.

And don’t even get us started on copy and paste.

Core Functionality
	Android Cupcake	BlackBerry OS 4.7	iPhone OS 3.0	S60 5th Edition	Palm WebOS	Windows Mobile 6.5
Notification Style	Tray	Pop-up, background	Pop-up	Pop-up	Tray	Tray, pop-up
Contact Integration / Management	Google	BES, BIS	Exchange, ActiveSync, Mac OS Address Book	Exchange, Domino, BlackBerry, iSync	Synergy	Exchange, Domino, BlackBerry, ActiveSync
Multitasking	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Copy / paste	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Media Support / Ecosystem	Amazon	Non-DRM iTunes	iTunes	Ovi	Amazon	Windows Media Player / None
Global Search	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Firmware Updates	OTA	Tethered, OTA	Tethered	Tethered, OTA	Unknown	Tethered, OTA
Browser Engine	WebKit	Proprietary	WebKit	WebKit	WebKit	Internet Explorer
Tethering	Yes (unofficial)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Stereo Bluetooth	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Third-party development

This is where Apple really shines. While Windows Mobile and S60 have had thriving developer bases for a while, no one has brought applications and app development to the forefront like Apple. It goes without saying that the company has revolutionized the way devs do business, and torn down dozens of barriers to entry in the process. No single company has made it easier for developers to create work (and profit from it) on a mobile platform. The new version of the iPhone OS seems designed to stoke that system, introducing 1,000 new APIs and allowing developers to offer things like in-game commerce and peer-to-peer networking.

Of course, the system isn’t without its negatives, and Apple has endured more than its share of (deserved) critics of its opaque and sometimes unfair application approval process. While they say 96 percent of apps receive approval, we’re fairly confident what gets left on the cutting room floor is hurting end users. Just think, with its current policies, you’ll never see an Opera or Firefox browser for the device.

Regardless, other companies are currently playing catch up to Cupertino’s game, with all of the major OSs offering some version of an application store now or in the near future. To date, none have been remotely as successful as Apple’s outing, but none have the luxury of being tied to a pre-existing revenue stream like the iTunes Store — and with the exception of Android’s Market, they really haven’t had time to marinate with the public. Only time will tell if companies like Palm, Google, and (gasp) Microsoft will be able to turn on the fire hose of development and go toe-to-toe with Apple.

Third-Party Development
	Android Cupcake	BlackBerry OS 4.7	iPhone OS 3.0	S60 5th Edition	Palm WebOS	Windows Mobile 6.5
SDK Availability / Support	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Official App Store	Yes	Coming	Yes	Coming	Yes	Yes
App Availability	Medium	Medium	High	Medium	Low	High
Native Applications	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
On-Device App Management	Excellent	Good	Excellent	Good	Excellent	Good

Wrap up

Ultimately, there are loyalties and preferences that no chart can help you navigate. We won’t go as far as saying it’s a matter of choice — we believe that the newer, younger operating systems offer far more than the aging ones can at this point (unless you absolutely need something like BES). In particular, the improvements Apple’s made in its forthcoming update speak to many of the issues we’ve had since the platform’s launch in 2007, patching a slew of flaws in its mobile OS, and making the advantages of something like Android or webOS (what we know of it) a little less obvious. That said, you won’t find the open source freedom of the former, and there are a handful of innovations in the latter (yet to be roadtested, but extremely promising nonetheless). One thing is sure regardless of what side you throw your lot in with: the hype Apple created with its devices has spurred a space race in smartphones, and the end user is reaping the benefits.

Galleries

iPhone OS 3.0 hands-on	Microsoft announces Windows Mobile 6.5	Palm Pre: official UI shots
Android Cupcake	BlackBerry OS 4.7	S60 5th Edition