HTC HD2 seen running Windows RT

At this point, it would be safe to say that the HTC HD2 is a legendary device in development circles. Apparently, an HD2 has been spotted in the wild running Windows RT, which is essentially an operating system for tablets. According to GSMArena, the hack was performed by a developer who goes by @CotullaCode on Twitter. He has posted screenshots that show the operating system running on the HD2. He hasn’t given any instructions yet, and the performance on the device probably isn’t ideal, but this is a great example of what developers can do with an open device.

It is a testament to the openness of the device, as well as the tenacity of developers, that a device that was released in 2009 can run a full-blown tablet operating system released not even four months ago. This could be attributed to the specifications of the device, which were breathtaking at its launch, and can still hold their own compared to some of the mid-end devices available today.

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The HD2 can be seen here running Windows RT

Back in 2011, developers calling themselves the Dark Forces Team managed to port Windows Phone 7 to the device. The same team also worked on porting Windows Phone 7.5, aka Mango to the device.

On the Windows RT side, things have been relatively quiet since Microsoft launched its own tablet, but details emerged recently about Nokia’s own attempts at a tablet. According to reports in the media, the upcoming slate from the Finnish mobile giant will feature cellular connectivity, HDMI and USB ports along with a 10.1-inch display that is similar to the screen found on the Microsoft Surface RT tablet. Another major revelation is that this tablet will debut in early 2013, which matches up with earlier rumours about the possible announcement date.

It is rumoured that Nokia planned to develop the tablet with a Qualcomm S4 processor under the hood earlier this year, but pushed the plan back after Microsoft’s announcement of the Surface tablet. Nokia then intentionally focused on smartphones and delayed development of the 10-inch tablet. The company is apparently still evaluating the current tablet market due to the below-expectations performance of Microsoft Surface RT. Following Nokia’s current naming convention, the tablet may be branded under the Lumia series and could have a design similar to the current Lumia phones.

Another report stated that Nokia is planning on further entrenching itself into Microsoft’s Windows 8 ecosystem, with the company seemingly set to announce the new device at the upcoming Mobile World Congress in February 2013.  

It is also speculated that HTC may be working on a tablet to rival Apple’s current range. The company is said to be working on a 12-inch tablet, as well as a 7-inch model, both of which will have the ability to make phone calls. Both these tablets will run on Windows RT. HTC is believed to debut these products in 2013.