[HD2 Windows Mobile 6.5 ROM Development] Wowser:
Rearranging of homescreens comment

My HD2 phone used to run on Artemis and performed well thanks to the magical expertise of Sir Sternas. But I decided to move over to a an excellent, simple and fast Gingerbread MAGLDR ROM put together by TyTung based on the Nexus One. MAGDLR was created by another HD2 expert, Cotulla who kindly brought us HSPL for the HD2 (along with bepe).

After a lot of experimentation and excitement of a new operating system (which must run on HSPL2.08), I have to say with the greatest respect that Android does let you arrange the homescreen as you want it yourself (unless there is no further room to do so). I can change the clock face or download other clock widgets. For example, I replaced mine for one called Typoclock.

Android homescreens can scroll to the left and right (and you can choose which frame number you want as the default). Apps, widgets, themes and (live) wallpaper can be added or removed from or across the multiple homescreens just by dragging them around.

There are third party commercial software apps too such as DXHome, LauncherPro or an Android version of the SPB Shell as some examples. In fact I used to have SPB Shell on my HD2 when it was running Artemis WM6.5 so this might bring back fond memories to other forum users (as SPB Software House like virtually all the other commercial developers have long ceased software support of their WM6.x versions). This is a just a fact of life. The old moves out of the way for the new especially since the focus is now on smartphones and tablets.

It was just the power of the Android apps and support (which WM6.5 used to have) that motivated me to let the powerful HD2 still show off its powerful capabilities from apps available from the Android Market (which constantly keeps the apps updated with newer versions). Most of the software which I had on my HD2 with WM6.5 is now available or becoming available on the Android platform.

Even the voice recognition is fantastic thanks to the HD2 1gHz speed (speech to text) along with excellent intelligent keyboard recognition software (like Swype beta for Android which is available for free to all users who register on their website). Of course there are many alternatives (paid and unpaid) as long as you let your fingertips do the searching via the web or the Amazon AppStore for Android, AppBrain or the official Android market. On the other hand I read this year that Microsoft long pulled their Microsoft marketplace which barely had any meaningful software (both paid or unpaid) due to their new emphasis on WP7.x development.

You can see and try yourself of rearranging the homescreens because the ROM I mentioned above also is available in a dual boot SD card version too (meaning WM6.5 can be kept and preserved for posterity if required).

As for your comment of rearranging homescreens in relation to WP7.5 (Mango), I will have to defer to other forum users to comment because I have not tried or used this operating system.

Anyway despite my move over to the Android platform, many thanks again to Sir Sternas and the Artemis community for the assistance and tips through this XDA forum (including you Kuzibri) which was invaluable to me at the time when I did have WM6.5. Sir Sternas' programming abilities and dedication to the HD2 is still outstanding even despite the onslaught of Android and WP7.5. Maybe we might see a WP8.x Artemis version sometime in the future for the HD2!