Mike Southby

As some of you may know if you are following my Twitter updates, last week I broke my G1.

Now I had been thinking for a while that it was getting a little left behind in terms of technology with all the newer handsets on the market, so the obvious choice was to replace it with something newer and stereotypically of me, something totally different (what is it they say about a change?).

So that left me with a few choices, either another Android device (I’d already thought previously about a Nexus One), an iPhone, the Palm Pre or, a Windows Mobile device.  Logically knowing my love of all things Android it would have made sense to go with the Nexus One, but somehow I found myself being drawn to the sheer lushness of the HTC Leo, or as we know it in the UK market the HD2.  In terms of design, I think it’s a fantastic phone, technology wise too it ticks all the boxes with the latest Snapdragon 1Ghz processor and that huge 4.3 inch screen but, and there’s a catch, it runs on the Windows Mobile platform.  After being a very happy Android user, my head told me not to go for another Windows Mobile device after having many previously, and yet it didn’t take too long until I saw the words ‘thank you, your order has been successfully completed and should arrive shortly’ appear on my screen.

Now I’d like to take this opportunity to say I am well aware that the basic Windows Mobile platform is not a patch on the Android, however HTC have ported their very successful ‘Sense’ interface for the very first time onto a Windows Mobile device with the HD2.  In doing so they have effectively removed (visibly) the Windows Mobile interface for all but the most backend of tasks giving the platform a much needed new lease of life.  There will be those who at this stage will be cringing and telling me what a mistake I have made but there can be no arguing that of all the mobile platforms, Windows Mobile ‘just works’ when it comes to seamless office integration, by that I mean push email with Exchange and the ability to view, edit or create documents on the go; put simply, Windows Mobile is in my opinion, the best business solution for mobile users, it always has been.  Sure, Android can do all these things too, but unless you want to port all of your business needs to Google Apps (which is not as stable or reliable as they will have you believe, I know this through my own experiences), it’s a little ‘clunky’ getting things to work seamlessly as you need 3^rd party applications and workarounds.

Having said that it’s not all great, I haven’t used Windows Mobile for a few years but in terms of application support it’s not a patch on Android, or the iPhone for that matter.  Social integration and the ability to download useless applications for fun is where the money is at these days.  How I’ll miss the ability to make rude noises or hold my phone to my mouth as if it were a glass and watch the ‘beer’ level go down.  OK, perhaps not.  Still, I will have the ability to run the social networking applications I have been used to using such as Twitter, Facebook and FourSquare so all is not lost.  Also worth remembering is that what the Windows Marketplace (which let’s be honest is a joke compared with the Android Marketplace or the iPhone Apps Store) lacks in terms of applications, is somewhat made up for by the work of developers over at the XDA Developers Forum.

For my needs though, I think – indeed I hope – Windows Mobile 6.5 with Sense on the HD2 will be just fine.  I guess only time will tell; watch this space for updates over the coming weeks.