Telus HTC Desire HD Ice Cream Sandwich Update Cancelled
Archive note. This story reflects what was known when it was first covered. Prices, availability and carrier offers are historical. For the current picture, start with the topic guides.
What happened
Owners of the HTC Desire HD had been expecting the update. It was then cancelled, with poor device performance in testing cited as the cause. In plain terms, the new version probably made the phone slower.
It was not the first reversal
Samsung had also changed course. It chose not to update the original Galaxy S, promised an Android 4.0 Value Pack that would bring some Ice Cream Sandwich features to older phones, cancelled it, and then released it to some degree. Many owners were upset because the Galaxy S is almost the same hardware as the Nexus S, which received Ice Cream Sandwich and was expected to get Jelly Bean soon.
The custom skin question
Citing poor testing raised the issue of the custom interfaces that makers add on top of Android. These overlays clearly affect performance, yet makers keep them to set their devices apart.
What owners could do
The author suggested that anyone who still wanted the upgrade could look to the rooting and custom ROM community. That route carries risk and is not an official update path.
Frequently asked questions
Why was the Desire HD update cancelled?
The stated reason was poor device performance during tests.
Which carrier was involved?
Telus, in Canada.
Is the Desire HD still supported?
No. The phone is long out of support, and this page is a historical record.