In this episode of Tek With Josh, I take a break from current tech news and go back to the company that made me fall in love with smartphones in the first place: HTC. Before phones became uniform slabs of glass, HTC was experimenting, taking risks, and giving users tools that encouraged curiosity and customization.

This isn’t a spec breakdown or a history lesson. It’s a personal reflection on growing up with Windows Mobile, discovering early Android, learning how to root phones, and working retail during some of the biggest smartphone launches of all time. HTC didn’t just make devices — they shaped how many of us learned to use, understand, and care about technology.

What We Talk About

My first experiences with HTC phones during the Windows Mobile era

The T-Mobile Dash, HTC Mogul, Pocket PC devices, and early smartphone experimentation

Why Windows Mobile felt ahead of its time

Playing games, watching videos, and customizing phones before app stores were polished

HTC’s role in launching Android with the G1

The Hero, EVO, and why the EVO felt like a true iPhone competitor

Working retail during major HTC launches and what that era felt like

Rooting phones, custom ROMs, and learning Android from the inside

The Nexus lineup and HTC’s influence on Google hardware

The rise and fall of HTC as a smartphone powerhouse

Why phones today feel less exciting — and what we lost along the way

Why This Episode Matters

HTC represents a time when smartphones felt personal. When hardware experimentation mattered. When learning your phone meant something more than choosing an ecosystem. This episode is about remembering that era — and acknowledging how much modern smartphones owe to a company that no longer gets the recognition it deserves.

Final Thoughts

Phones are more powerful than ever, but they don’t always feel meaningful. HTC made me want to tinker, explore, and truly understand the technology in my pocket. That curiosity stuck — and it’s the reason I still care about tech today.

About Tek With Josh

Tek With Josh is a podcast focused on technology, nostalgia, and thoughtful commentary on the devices and platforms that shape our everyday lives.

Listen, read, and explore more at:

👉 BooksByJosh.com