HTC HD2 Now Running Apple's iOS 7
A developer has successfully ported Apple's iOS 7 operating system to the classic HTC HD2 smartphone from 2010. The relevant code has been released as open source.
Developer j0sh1x has achieved a significant feat by getting the classic 2010 HTC HD2 smartphone to run Apple's iOS 7 operating system. The project bypasses emulation, instead focusing on porting the XNU kernel and its hardware support directly to the device's original hardware. The developer has made the project's code publicly available on GitHub.
This successful port means that iOS user-space components can now operate on the HTC HD2, with the touchscreen functionality also being restored. The HTC HD2, originally launched with Windows Phone, has a long history in the tech community for its exceptional moddability, allowing various operating systems to be installed. This project adds Apple's mobile OS to that extensive list.
The port specifically targets the HTC HD2's Qualcomm QSD8250 processor and ARMv7 Thumb architecture. The code includes customized elements for the CPU, interrupts, timers, and memory management tailored for the HD2. Support for storage, display output, and touch input has also been integrated.
It is important to note that the released code is source code, not a complete firmware package, requiring advanced tooling for compilation. While a working demonstration exists, the project remains in a developmental stage. The open-source release allows for further community investigation and potential continuation of OS porting efforts for this iconic device.