There was a time when phones felt more like tools than products. They weren’t simplified yet. They weren’t locked down. They were something you could explore, change, and push beyond what they were designed to do.

In this episode of Tek With Josh, I go back to the HTC Mogul, also known as the Pocket PC 6800, and talk about why it’s still my favorite HTC phone. Not because of the specs, and definitely not because it holds up today, but because of what it represented at the time. With Windows Mobile, a slide-out keyboard, and the ability to install just about anything you could find, it felt less like a phone and more like a pocket computer.

This isn’t just about one device from 2007. It’s about the moment before smartphones became predictable, and how that era shaped the way I still look at tech today.

If you enjoy this kind of reflective tech breakdown, you can also check out The Books By Josh Audio Immersion for a more introspective take on ideas, or Manga With Josh where I explore stories and series that might not always be on your radar.