The device specs seem to be an exact match to the version from the Netherlands, with exception to the radio being used. This version will take advantage of the North American 3G network. There’s no pricing information that I was able to find. However, it appears that the B7330 will be available for purchase starting on April 28th (Yes, that’s today!) from Bell, and May 4th from Rogers.  You can check out the device and all it’s specifications from the Samsung Canada website.

Source = MobileSyrup

The first thing you’ll need to do is find a tool that allow you to set the file permissions on the device. There are a number of tools out there, find one that allows you to toggle the read-only setting of files. If your Windows Mobile 6.5 device is from HTC and is sporting HTC Sense interface, you’ll need to turn that off. If you’re not sure how, check out my post from last week for details.

You need to browse to the Windows folder on your device and locate a file called Titanium_***x***.cpr, where ***x*** is the screen resolution of your device. In the case of the HD2, it’s Titanium_480x800.cpr. Once you’ve located the file, right click and select properties and then disable the read-only setting. Copy the file to your computer and make a backup. Open the file using any text editor you have available to you.

For every row on the Today screen there is an expanded and condensed section – ClockExpanded, ClockCondensed / CalendarExpanded, CalendarCondensed / etc…  The condensed settings are used when the item is not selected, and expanded is used for when you highlight the item.

To make the changes in the images above, I only changed a couple settings. I focused on the condensed sections for each item. Here are the changes I made to the PluginLabel element within the condensed section:

• Added – HorizontalAlignment="Center"
• Reduced font from 18 to 12

Once you’ve made your changes, save the file and copy it back to your device and then reload the template. To do this, I simply select another item as my today screen and OK my way back to the today screen and then browse back into settings / Today and select Windows Default to have it load your new settings. If it doesn’t work, copy your backup file onto the device.

With those 2 simple changes, I gave new life to the Today screen.  The best part, it doesn’t stop with just the today screen. XML powers the lock screen (LS_LockScene_***x***.cpr), the call answer screen (LS_PhoneCallScene_***x***.cpr), alerts (LS_PhoneAlertScene_***x***.cpr), and more. So get hacking! I’m looking forward to seeing what cool and amazing things the community can produce.

From the Start menu, tap on Settings. HTC does a nice job of simplifying the settings screens with Sense on Windows Phones and we need to change a setting that is not exposed in their interface.  Tap on Menu and then select All Settings from the menu that appears. When the settings menu opens, tap on Today and then at the bottom of the screen tap on the Items tab. By default the HD2 is going to load HTC Sense for the today screen plugin. Just tap on Windows Default at the top of the list and then OK to save the changes. That’s it, that’s all.  Now you can enjoy using Microsoft’s default Today screen for Windows Mobile 6.5.

The HTC Mini is based on Windows Mobile 6.5 and brings the experience of the HD2 to a smaller footprint. The HD2 experience is truly something special. If HTC can make this into a smaller device, it will be interesting to see and use. The single best thing on the HD2 is the screen. If they can pack the processor and power into a smaller footprint, will the device be as attractive? It’s a hard question to answer. With a smaller screen, they will need to make sure that the smaller screen is just as brilliant as it’s larger brother or it won’t succeed.

The HTC Legend and Desire are both Android based devices. The Legend is like version 2 of the Hero, adding a AMOLED screen LED Flash, optical trackball, a faster processor – 600MHz, and some more memory.  The Desire is HTC’s version of their Nexus One phone, but with an optical trackball and an extra button.

You can read check out the press release over at MobilityMinded – HTC Mini, and HTC Legend, Desire. And then let us know what you think of HTC’s latest devices.

The theme generator is for Windows Mobile 6.5 devices only.  First thing you need to do, is pick your device from the rotating images. Then you can select the color you want to use, followed by the wallpaper image. You can even upload your own image and zoom/crop the image as you see fit. Once you have it just the way you like it, you can save it as a CAB file to your computer and pass it around for everyone to enjoy. You can also send it directly to your phone using an SMS message. It’s free and it’s cool. It’s worth checking out. Build a theme and share it here with us! I would like to see what everyone is capable of creating with this tool.

While that’s just short sighted and stupid on Microsoft’s part, the solution is pretty simple. All I need to do is download the CAB from the web and I’m good to go. Sadly, it’s just not that simple. You see, the .NetCF 3.5 installer is a 33MB desktop installer that contains the CAB files inside of it. So you can’t simply download it to your device and install.  Now I’m really wondering what the hell Microsoft is thinking. Have they lost sight of the end user in all this?

Let’s take a look at the steps to install the .Net Framework 3.5 on your Windows Mobile 6.5 device: 1) boot up laptop, 2) goto download page, 3) download huge 33MB installer, 4) install on desktop, 5) find 1 small 2.5MB CAB file left behind from installer, 6) ActiveSync your phone, don’t use ActiveSync then you need to copy it to a MicroSD card and insert that into your phone. 7) On your phone, launch File Explore and find the file. Run the file.

And now the steps if a CAB file was available directly from Microsoft’s site: 1) goto download page, 2) download file, 3) install file. DONE.

I would really like to see some sort of explanation on A) why it’s not already baked into the device ROM, and B) why the end user can’t simply download the CAB file directly to their device.

While there is no word on the expected price or the actual date of availability, this is a significant win for T-Mobile, and will play a key part in growing their customer base.

For those of you north of the border, it’s worth mentioning that the HD2 on T-Mobile’s network would result in a perfect match for the new Wind network in Canada.

Let us know your thoughts on the HD2. Are you interested in switching to T-Mobile so you can enjoy this device when it arrives? The full HTC press release can be found after the jump.

LAS VEGAS – January 6, 2010 –T-Mobile USA, Inc. and HTC today announced the HTC HD2 is expected to be available for the first time in the US exclusively from T-Mobile USA this spring.  With its industry leading, high-resolution, 4.3-inch capacitive touch display and high-powered features, the ultra-thin HTC HD2 phone delivers content in a sharper, brighter and richer way.

The HTC HD2 comes equipped with the 1 GHz Snapdragon™ by Qualcomm mobile processor and utilizes T-Mobile’s high speed 3G network for a fast mobile data experience.

“T-Mobile and HTC have a long history of partnering to deliver innovative, cutting-edge products to T-Mobile customers,” said George Harrison, vice president, marketing product innovation, T-Mobile USA.  “The HTC HD2 delivers a thin, sophisticated design and powerful features that we are excited to add to our dynamic smartphone line-up this spring.” 

The HTC HD2 is the first Windows® phone with HTC Sense, a software experience focused on putting people at the center by making their phones work in a more simple, natural and personal way. With the HTC Sense experience, the HTC HD2 includes a variety of enhancements that expand and improve the overall phone experience. For example, the HTC HD2 includes a proximity sensor that is used to prevent false screen touches when the phone is picked up to answer or make a call, and a light sensor automatically adjusts the brightness of the display. 

“Combining the intuitive user interface based on HTC Sense with an outstanding set of specifications and the powerful T-Mobile network, the HTC HD2 adds up to be not only an amazing device, but an amazing experience as well,” said Jason Mackenzie, vice president of HTC America. “The HTC HD2 is a Windows phone that has already been enthusiastically received in Europe and Asia and we are excited to bring this highly-anticipated device to the US, exclusively through T-Mobile USA.”

The HTC HD2 uses the first capacitive touch display on a Windows phone for the smoothest possible performance and to make viewing, zooming and resizing websites, Microsoft® Office files, PDF documents and pictures easier with just a simple pinching motion. The large capacitive display makes it easy to read and reply to Outlook® e-mails, edit a Word document or modify an Excel® spreadsheet right from the HTC HD2. Additionally, the HTC HD2 delivers advanced phone features including:  GPS functionality, a Web browser, and an advanced 5 megapixel auto-focus camera with dual LED flash for capturing images, even in dim conditions.

Availability

The HTC HD2 is expected to be available in the U.S. exclusively to T-Mobile customers this spring.  More details will be available at http://www.sticktogether.com/htchd2.

3G coverage is not available everywhere. For information where T-Mobile 3G service is available or to see T-Mobile’s Personal Coverage Check tool, please visit http://www.TMobile.com/Coverage .

About T-Mobile USA, Inc.

Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA, Inc. is the U.S. wireless operation of Deutsche Telekom AG. By the end of the third quarter of 2009, almost 151 million mobile customers were served by the mobile communication segments of the Deutsche Telekom group — 33.4 million by T-Mobile USA — all via a common technology platform based on GSM and UMTS, the world’s most widely used digital wireless standards. T-Mobile’s innovative wireless products and services help empower people to connect to those who matter most. Multiple independent research studies continue to rank T-Mobile among the highest in numerous regions throughout the U.S. in wireless customer care and call quality. For more information, please visit http://www.T-Mobile.com . T-Mobile is a federally registered trademark of Deutsche Telekom AG.

About HTC

HTC Corporation (HTC) is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile phone industry. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC creates innovative smartphones that better serve the lives and needs of individuals. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com

Check out the video’s at Mobility Minded and let us know if you’re thinking of adding one of these to your holiday wish list.

Click on the images below to view the original size image.

So what’s so special about the LG IQ? Well, it’s running Windows Mobile 6.5 and sports LG’s S-Class user interface, which made for a really nice and finger friendly navigation. The S-Class interface was fully customizable allowing you to change which icons are displayed along the bottom and appear in the expanded menu. LG also allows you to turn this off and use the standard Windows Mobile 6.5 interface if you would rather use that. The device has a 1500 mAh battery, 5 mega pixel camera, MicroSD, and a Snapdragon 1 Ghz processor. The finger scanner on the front of the device works as your navigation and authentication to unlock the device. When it comes to navigation, I found the finger scanner worked really well. It was very much like a touch pad on a laptop. Swiping your finger from top to bottom would cause the page to scroll. The S-Class home screen allows you to swipe left and right to alternate “desktops”.

The IQ has a neat little accessory – the Pico projector. You simply remove the battery door and clip this bad boy on. It then allows you to project the screen of the device onto a table top or wall. It’s not as powerful as a full on projector of course, but it’s more than enough to share pictures or video’s with your friends over a round of drinks.

I’ve included a couple pictures that I took. Unfortunately, it was rather dark in the venue so the pictures didn’t turn out anywhere near as I nice as I would have liked. Not to worry, LG is going to try and send us a review unit once these become available. So we’ll post many more pictures then!