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Well that sure didn't take too long.  Looks like the T-Mobile HTC HD2 (aka WM6.5's last hurrah) has received a ROM update.

Slight word of caution: we're hearing this isn't 100% officially public yet, but perhaps the final ROM for T-Mo employees/testers, etc. So expect an "official" announcement next week by T-Mobile and HTC on this exact update.

The OS build is bumped to 21892 (a very good build, we might add), updated radio, updated Swype , reportedly more stable and responsive (via XDA forum) and finally, it includes a new app to see your account information. 

If you want to know all of the software changes, here ya go (not for the faint of heart!).

You can grab the download directly from HTC here.

Update: HTC pulled it :-/

Update II: T-Mobile will make the update official on the 18th!

[via TMoNews and PPCGeeks forums]

Confession: we here at WMExperts, unfortunately, know jack about Linux, their distros (sounds like a fun party) nor how to really do anything in the OS.

Still, we imagine there are a handful of you who want (but can't) sync your trusty WM6.5 device with your favorite Linux OS. True? False? We dunno.

Luckily Linux pro 'Feedsbrain' (ahem) has written a nice tutorial on how to just that.

Now to us, his directions are written in an alien language, but for your linux-experts out there, we're pretty sure this will make sense.

Now go read and let us know if this was remotely helpful!

"Synchronize Windows Mobile 6.5 and Linux Box"

If you've been following over the weekend, over at XDA the supposed first Windows Phone 7 ROM was posted (see full coverage here and here).

Getting into that ROM package is a bit tricky since their are new tools need for the new format, but progress is being made.

Case in point, user 'Fdo35' has found some images in the "oemavatar.cab" in IMGFS. Those images might be a mockup of the HTC Mondrian, specifically when the phone syncs with the Zune desktop software, ala Windows Mobile Device Center and it pulls up the image of the phone for that custom look. Or it may be just a dummy image.

Also found in the registry were references to the device not having a physical keyboard and a "4.3in WVGA Optrex" screen; similar stats to the HTC HD2 (but the rendering looks more like the original HTC HD). In addition, this ROM is possibly working off a "... QSD8650A/B (both are mentioned) chipset, which supports both CDMA and GSM, and is the only Snapdragon chipset which will get the new 1.3GHz Scorpion core"

So, what to make of all of this? Let you imaginations run wild or put your skeptics cap on (we advise the latter, but prefer the former). Hopefully more info will be coming forth on what exactly we're looking at.

[via XDA]

It appears we are using our Windows Phones and other cell phones more for data applications than voice calls.  In a New York Times article, the wireless industry association CTIA reports that in 2009 the amount of data in text, e-mail, streaming video, music and other services surpassed the amount of voice data in calls.

CTIA has witnessed a decline in voice data over the past two years with the call duration following suit. The average length of a local call was 1.81 minutes in 2009 compared to 2.27 minutes in 2008.

Conversely, data usage has increased. Text messaging alone increased almost 50% since 2008. Phone design is also becoming more data friendly with more QWERTY keyboards popping up.

So, are you part of the data crowd who text's short messages to your spouse, friend or family member instead of making a short voice call to them? Do you rely more on email than voice calls?

[via: Gearlog.com]

• Live at the Sprint Evo 4G launch party in New York
• Android updates: Samsung Moment gets Android 2.1, Android 2.1 update for the Droid Eris is rolling out and Android 2.1 leaks out for the Sprint HTC Hero
• Android 2.2 reportedly runs non-native apps 450 percent faster

• AT&T BlackBerry Bold 9800 "slider" Available in June?!
• White BlackBerry Bold 9700 Now Available from Rogers
• CrackBerry.com Podcast 052 - Four Wild & Crazy Guys!

• Opera Mobile 10 available for Maemo
• Nokia restructures management

• Verizon Pixi Plus free after contract
• AT&T Palm Pre Plus Review
• 3D Games coming to Pixi

• Is the iPhone going to Verizon? Why would AT&T want Palm Pre Plus, BlackBerry 9800 slider?
• Steve Jobs: iPad promises freedom from porn
• Apple loses second iPhone HD/iPhone 4G prototype, police investigation exposes details of first loss

• First actual Windows Phone 7 ROM leaks
• Skype says it may still be on Windows Phone 7
• Push notifications and Windows Phone 7

Over at XDA, forum member 'kwbr' has linked to some guides (hosted by HTCPedia) that were published for Microsoft's TAP or Technology Adoption Program. The guides themselves are quite lengthy and go into much detail revolving around three core areas: development, architecture and customization and are related to an earlier leak on WP7 architecture (read here).

Of most interest for the tech-savvy (e.g. tweakers, ROM chefs) would be the one pertaining to device customization. Perhaps of little surprise to our audience, but Windows Phone 7 evidently has a registry for manipulating many areas of the OS (startup screens, languages, start tiles, default ringtone, camera modes, etc.).

This may mean at some point an on board registry editor might be able to manipulate these values to do what we do now: customize the UI to our liking, at least within certain limits. However, there could be one obstacle: the registry might be locked down or inaccessible. Still, assuming access, Microsoft has done all of the work for us already by documenting these changes and showing their relative parameters--as opposed to the current "hunt and peck" method that we've been using for years.

The material is dated by a few months, so information has probably changed. Still, it provides some useful data for those who want to know.

Download PDFs below; Read original XDA thread here.

• Application Development Guide
• WP7 Architecture Guide
• WP7 Customization Guide

[Thanks anonymous]

What happens when "fake" CEO Steve Ballmer takes the new Apple iPad for a spin? Evidently, he's none too happy with it. Are you kiddin' me?

Full hilarious video after the break and yeah, we don't owe you a new keyboard if you are imbibing while watching. You've been warned.

[1938Digital via Redmond Pie]

HTC seems to have some Neo-Plasticism art fans under their employment.

In possibly one of the more clever wink-nods in phone-naming history, the "HTC Mondrian" (see story below) seems to take its influence from famous Dutch painter Piet Mondrian, whose work you see above.

If you don't see the visual influence between one of Piet's most famous pieces and a certain 'Metro UI' then we don't know what to tell you.  Or just a coincidence? 

And if this purported first leaked Windows Phone 7 ROM is a hoax? Our hats off to the folks for going that extra mile in being so witty.

[thanks to MonteCristoffOn for noticing!]

Evidently, the first leaked ROM from a true and true Windows Phone 7 device has made its appearance.

We say evidently, but perhaps it should be supposedly since as of now, we don't have any proof of anything besides a file. This does come from a Chinese site and spoofs (cough, HD2 running WP7, cough) are a plenty these days. So grain of salt, lets not all believe it quite yet, yadda yadda.

Information is sparse at the moment as the XDA folks sort through the information and decide what the next step will be.

What is known so far is this:

NBH_WM7_AKU_6176_WWE_for_HTC_MONDRIAN
Model: HTC Mondrian (Cingular USA)
AKU: WindowsMobile_7_AKU_6176
Language: 0409_WWE

So no shocker there that HTC will probably be the first to market with a WP7 device. AT&T may be a surprise for some, seeing as they have not been exactly embracing of anything Windows Mobile as of late.

Download-mirrors for the ROM can be found here, though we're betting they won't be of much use to many. And no, porting this to your Touch Pro 2 or HD2 probably won't be an immediate possibility, so don't get your hopes up just yet.

Update: Becoming more legit. Da_G (his rep is quite high) has posted this:

After further examining the file, there is indeed an IMGFS inside, the D000FF format appears to be a new "store" type of .bin, will need to figure out the format for it to pull out imgfs (because just cutting in a hex editor gives you some invalid data)

Also, IMGFS is compressed with XPH (rather than XPR or LZX as we're used to)

[XDA via @Conflipper]