Crave

(Credit: HTC)

One of the smartphones that left quite an impression on us at was the HTC HD2. It could have been the massive 4.3-inch capacitive touch screen, its extreme thinness, or that the Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphone was powered by Qualcomm's new 1GHz Snapdragon mobile processor--whatever the reason, we wanted this device.

Well, it looks like we might be only a few months away from seeing this wish become reality. Already shipping in Europe and now in Taiwan, HTC announced on Wednesday that it plans to bring the HTC HD2 to the United States with a major carrier in early 2010.

Unfortunately, the company did not reveal which U.S. provider would have that honor, or any pricing information, but we should note that the smartphone will be available through T-Mobile UK on November 9 and TmoNews has spotted the smartphone mentioned in some leaked T-Mobile USA documents. We'll let you know as soon as we hear anything official, but certainly something to look forward to in the new year. For a preview of what's to come, check out our from CTIA Fall 2009.

The Samsung Omnia 2 was announced for Verizon Wireless back in June, but an official release date and pricing were not disclosed at that time. Unfortunately, CTIA Fall 2009 didn't reveal any new information, but we did finally get some hands-on time with the device.

Both Samsung and Microsoft had the Omnia successor displayed on the show floor, but a Microsoft employee was kind enough to part with his personal GSM version of the Omnia 2 so we could check it out. The smartphone was running Windows Mobile 6.5, but there's some question as to whether the Verizon Omnia 2 will ship with Windows Mobile 6.5 out of the box or Windows Mobile 6.1 with an option to update the OS. Let's hope it's the former.

Let's also hope it ships soon. With the release of the HTC Imagio and the upcoming BlackBerry Storm 2 and Android devices, the competition's getting pretty stiff. Check out our hands-on photos of the Samsung Omnia 2 below and just remember that this isn't the Verizon model, but it'll at least give you an idea of what to expect.

Samsung Omnia 2 photos

HTC HD2

(Credit: Bonnie Cha/CNET)

Of all the Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphones announced this week at CTIA Fall 2009, the HTC HD2 is arguably the sexiest and most powerful of the bunch.

The HD2 boasts a 4.3-inch WVGA (480x800) capacitive touch screen and is powered by Qualcomm's new 1GHz Snapdragon mobile processor, all while measuring just 0.43 inches in thickness. It also offers an HTC Sense user experience, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1, a 5-megapixel camera, a 3.5 millimeter headphone jack--the works.

With those kind of impressive specs and sexy looks, can you blame us for being disappointed when it was a no-show at Wednesday night's Mobile Focus event? Well, someone must have heard our nighttime prayers because HTC America's vice president of sales and marketing, Jason Mackenzie, presented us with a surprise this morning: the HTC HD2.

Though it wasn't running final software, we were impressed with the phone's responsiveness, the customizable user interface, and then there's the screen, oh, the beautiful screen. Images and text absolutely pop and you can see so much more at a glance given the extra-large screen. Perhaps the best part? HTC has added multitouch capabilities so, like the iPhone and Palm Pre, you can pinch your fingers to zoom in and out of Web pages, photos, and e-mails.

When can you get your hands on this thing? Well, as SlashGear reported Wednesday, HTC CEO Peter Chou said the company is working on a U.S.-compatible version of the HD2 for release in 2010. HTC America would neither confirm nor deny this, but Mackenzie added that the intent for the device is global distribution. When asked about possible U.S. carriers, Mackenzie didn't get into specifics but did say that the good thing about the HD2 is that it wouldn't be hard to pitch, and we certainly agree.

So while we wait, you can check out some hands-on photos of the HTC HD2 below. We'll add more commentary and first impressions soon, but feel free to get the discussion going on your thoughts of the HD2.

HTC HD2 photos

Bonnie and Kent are in San Diego this week covering the CTIA wireless trade show, so Nicole roped in Jason Howell and Donald Bell to cover all the week's news. We talk about the new Android phones, Windows Mobile 6.5, new phones for AT&T and Verizon, and of course, this week's reviews.

News
CTIA Fall 2009
Two Verizon Android phones in 2009
T-Mobile introduces Android-powered Samsung Behold II
Samsung Moment revealed as Sprint's second Android phone
T-Mobile rolls out Android 1.6 Donut to G1 and MyTouch 3G
Kyocera to announce Android phone
Windows Mobile 6.5 upgrade details
Windows mobile app store, My Phone service officially opening
AT&T unveils Windows 6.5 phones: HTC Tilt 2, Pure
HTC HD2 revealed with HTC Sense
Sprint introduces Samsung Intrepid
AT&T reveals two new Pantech handsets
Samsung launches Mythic, Flight
Verizon Wireless introduces HTC Imagio
Verizon Wireless dazzles with the Razzle
Nokia 2705 Shade comes to Verizon Wireless
A Moto Barrage for Verizon

Reviews
HTC Imagio
HTC Pure
Samsung Instinct HD
Motorola Entice W766

Upcoming reviews
Motorola Barrage
Garmin Nuvifone G60
LG Bliss
Pantech Reveal

Windows Marketplace for Mobile is a brand-new app store for Windows phones.

(Credit: Screenshot by Jessica Dolcourt/CNET)

This week, Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6.5 phones jumped onto retail shelves. There's a lot to know about the launch, from news of the platform's availability to hands-on reviews of the app store, and some of the services. We've rounded up stories, pictures, and videos here, and will continue to add links as news streams out.

News

• Windows Mobile 6.5 upgrade details
• With My Phone mobile sync, Microsoft reinvents the wheel
• Shazam debuts in Windows Marketplace for Mobile
• Windows mobile app store, My Phone service officially opening
• IE 6 for Windows phones: Interface improved
• Microsoft's Windows phones hit the market

Windows Mobile 6.5 phones

• Fall collection: Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphones
• AT&T unveils Windows 6.5 phones: HTC Tilt 2, Pure
• Microsoft to launch more than 30 Windows Mobile 6.5 devices by end of year

In pictures:

• Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphone photos
• Windows Marketplace for Mobile--screenshots
• Inside Internet Explorer for Windows Mobile 6.5

Windows Mobile 6.5 videos:

Internet Explorer Mobile 6: First Look video

(Credit: Screenshot by Bonnie Cha/CNET)

By now, you've heard about the launch of Windows Mobile 6.5 and some of the new features added to Microsoft's mobile operating system, such an improved Internet Explorer Mobile, My Phone backup service, and Windows Marketplace for Mobile. However, what if you want to get the benefits of 6.5 without having to get one of the new smartphones?

Well, to help current Windows Mobile phone owners, Microsoft has posted an update guide that outlines upgrade eligibility. Essentially, devices running Windows Mobile 5.0 and Windows Mobile 6.0 are out, but Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphones, such as the Samsung Jack, the T-Mobile Dash 3G, and the HTC Touch Pro2, have the green light. That said, release schedules and availability will be up to the carriers.

My Phone's Web dashboard resembles an in-box.

(Credit: Screenshot by Jessica Dolcourt/CNET)

In step with the release of Windows Mobile 6.5 phones, Microsoft also graduated its My Phone syncing service for Windows phones (6.0-6.5) from beta to a full release. As we reported earlier this morning, most of the new features are premium additions to help you find your phone if it gets lost or stolen. We'll get to these later on. For the most part, the My Phone service acts as we expect it to--as a small app you download onto your phone, with the bulk of the management taking place on your dashboard online.

Sure enough, after downloading My Phone and signing in with your Windows Live ID (or signing up for a new one), you'll pick from a list of data types you want to sync. These include contacts, calendar items, notes, tasks, memos, photos, and videos, songs and text messages, and documents.

Syncing took over a half hour the first time around, but we were on a terribly weak EDGE connection. Let that be a lesson to all. In the style of our times, the online dashboard resembles an e-mail in-box. From it, you can view the contents of your phone, and to some extent manage certain aspects. for instance, you can add a new calendar item and comfortably edit contact info from the desktop keyboard, but we haven't found a way to add a contact or create a new text message. You can upload songs from any desktop to remotely load onto your phone, but My Phone missed the smattering of songs we already had on the phone. The photo sharing feature is more fleshed out, with options to publish images to Windows Live, Facebook, Flickr, and MySpace.

We're bummed that Microsoft hasn't broadened the syncing and sharing capabilities since My Phone's beta days. With so many other start-ups creating fuller featured in-boxes and management dashboards than My Phone, it seems to us that Microsoft has unnecessarily reinvented the wheel.

(Credit: Shazam)

Shazam, which has long been helping users identify songs, artists, and albums on other mobile platforms like the iPhone, BlackBerry phones, Nokia phones, and Android devices, now makes its Windows Mobile app store debut as a freemium application. That is, anyone can use the basics for free, but a few more-advanced features will cost you.

Here's what you can do for free: When you activate Shazam and hold the phone near the source of the recorded music, the app checks the sample against Shazam's online database and returns suggestions to you. The app also leads you to opportunities to buy the song if you'd like. You'll get five chances a month to identify songs.

A one-time fee of $4.69 gets you unlimited searches, called "tagging" in Shazam's lexicon. The premium version, called Shazam Encore, also features popularity charts for all songs tagged by all users, artist and band bios, a discography, and music and albums reviews. It will also include an Amazon-like recommendation feature that suggests songs based on your other preferences.

Shazam's freemium model is the first the company has attempted , though CEO Andrew Fisher notes that Shazam is sold as a premium app in 70 percent of its worldwide markets. Factoring in exchange rates, Shazam sells for the equivalent of $5 on most platforms. So does a major mobile competitor, Midomi, which already offers a rival product (that also lets you hum or sing a tune) on the same mobile platforms. In fact, Midomi costs $4.99 in the Windows phone marketplace.

Music lovers will get to try Shazam Encore for free on Windows phones. After seven days, they can pay to upgrade or can continue using the basic features five times a month. Fisher told us that Shazam users tag an average of 10 songs per month.

Shazam will roll out to the Windows Marketplace for Mobile in English in 30 countries, with multilanguage support expected to follow some weeks later. It wasn't in our Marketplace at the time of writing, but we'll keep you posted.

Related: See how Shazam works on iPhone.

While Microsoft didn't have anything new to announce at its first annual Open House in New York on Tuesday, it spent a lot of money turning the huge New York Armory into a showcase for its fall product line.

Robbie Bach, head of Microsoft's entertainment and devices division, delivered a 30-minute opening presentation highlighting everything from Windows 7 to Windows Phone to Xbox Live and Zune. But the Open House was really intended to be an open house, with a heavy emphasis on lifestyle applications for the company's various products.

There was also some rather funky stuff (read:weird) that included women dressed up in bird costumes. So check out the slideshow below--and Natali Del Conte's video report, above--to get the full flavor of the event. And as always, feel free to comment.

Microsoft Open House 2009