HTC Hero caught flashing some Android in the wild?

Remember that shockingly pink (false color, we presume) Hero that was allegedly part of HTC's planned Android lineup for 2009? CodeAndroid appears to have nabbed the first in-the-wild shots of the very phone, and it's got every bit as much "chin" in real life as it did in those fuchsia renders. That could be good or bad news depending on just how strongly you feel about the G1's unforgettable cosmetics, but also notable here is that we appear to have an honest-to-goodness 3.5mm headphone jack up top -- a first for an HTC Android device -- and an utter lack of any d-pad. The trackball is certainly gone, so unless there's some wild touch-sensitive area below the screen, it seems like the touchscreen might be the only way to navigate. How this phone ultimately stacks up against its stablemates when it hits the market later this year remains to be seen, but at a quick glance, we'd say the Magic's looking more like a beauty queen than ever.

[bender @ May 5th 2009 3:34AM]

"hey. lets put a chin there."

[Victor Stuber @ May 5th 2009 3:32AM]

HTC can you please just release the magic in the US before teasing us again?

[anthony909 @ May 5th 2009 3:33AM]

iphone 3.0 > Android cupcake

[glenskey @ May 5th 2009 4:45AM]

BOO!

[NickNick @ May 5th 2009 4:49AM]

Android >= WebOS > OSX >= Symbian > WM

[Alex @ May 5th 2009 5:40AM]

Guys,

Rather than just spouting useless "X > Y" arguments without offering any logic why, do you think maybe you could state why you think one is better than the other?

Here's a nice example:

I like iPhone OS because it integrates well with my Macs.

See that? That was an opinion backed up with justification. And not an opinion disguised as fact.

And while we're on the subject, why does everyone here feel so threatened by other people's opinions that they have to low-rank them, or just shout the opposite back at them?

I use iPhone OS. But Android looks pretty cool to me too, and I've used Windows Mobile for years and have great respect for it. As for WebOS? Definitely interesting. Time will tell for that one. Symbian? I haven't used it much at all. Does that mean I'll now claim that it's crap? No. No it doesn't.

Because I don't know a damn thing about Symbian. And therefore I post no opinion about it. I don't feel the need to attack the things I don't personally use.

Why do so many other people on here? *SIGH*

[ittybittytittykitty @ May 5th 2009 5:59AM]

You CANNOT compare Android to other mobile OSes, as it is a registered trade mark of a yet-to-be-invented product of my yet-to-be-resurrected company which kicked the bucket 5 years ago.


- Erich Specht

[thisisit @ May 5th 2009 6:06AM]

BOTHANDROID&IPHONEOSXSUX!!!
WINMO7FTW!!!

[apolloa @ May 5th 2009 8:34AM]

I like Symbian because I've used it for a few years, it has thousands of apps and is a very mature OS.

[digitallysick @ May 5th 2009 3:54AM]

HTC: Guys they really want that 3.5mm head jack

Other htc rep: But how can we screw this one up if we give them the head jack? we must take something away!

HTC: ahhh just add a big chin at the bottom, and maybe remove any dpad or roller ball, that will work

[Dave Chappelle @ May 5th 2009 4:26AM]

seriously, how did this company even make profits last quarter?... they must have made crap loads on the Diamond and Touch Pro.

[▀█▀ █ ▀█▀ ▄█▀ @ May 5th 2009 5:58AM]

@Dave
Yes, they are making lots of money with the Diamond and Touch Pro. In fact they are making money on all their phones, even the ones you might think are lacking in certain features, or are ugly in your eyes. Why? Because there is no serious competition in the WM market.

[thisisit @ May 5th 2009 4:03AM]

ANDROIDSUX!!!
WINMO7FTW!!!

[glenskey @ May 5th 2009 4:45AM]

2nd BOO!

[Valter @ May 5th 2009 3:50PM]

@ thisisshit
You suck!

[skyblaze @ May 18th 2009 12:16PM]

the botox has failed epically.

[Xoxidine @ May 5th 2009 4:43AM]

Why are all the Android phones ugly? It this how they keep costs down, by not paying anyone to design the hardware?

[Jonathan @ May 5th 2009 8:31AM]

HTC is trying to make Android phones have a unique look. You won't mistake an HTC Android phone for an iPhone, or anything else other than an Android phone, and I think they've done a good job. Is it too out there? I think the Magic is beautiful, but the G1 and Hero look odd.

[thequinox @ May 18th 2009 10:43AM]

I think the I7500 looks hot.

[jack @ May 5th 2009 5:53AM]

Xoxidine i think all the android phones are designed nicely actually. Stepping away from basic designs and instead of integrating "nifty" gadget and buttons on each phone they try to do it focuses the user upon what makes it unique, the OS itself.

[Greg Mcp @ May 5th 2009 6:28AM]

"Hero"? HTC android phone names always keep me amused.

[Siddharth @ May 5th 2009 6:58AM]

why cant htc port android to a hardware with a form factor similar to the touch hd or max 4g or similar.. whats with the “chin”?!!?! If ur listening/reading HTC—> LOAD THE TOUCH HD OR ANY OTHER FONE WITH A SIMILAR FORM FACTOR WITH ANDROID AND WATCH EM DISAPPEAR LIKE HOT CAKES!!!

[Jonathan @ May 5th 2009 8:33AM]

I'm surprised people who read websites like Engadget and take the time to comment don't understand HTC's Android phones yet. Their phones have a chin to protect the trackball and screen when in a pocket or against any flat surface, and when falling. It creates a triangle instead of the screen and trackball lying flat/parallel to the ground/pocket and causing damage. I think it's a cool idea.

[Henzapper @ May 5th 2009 2:06PM]

Wait, then how do you explain the chin on the Hero? There's no trackball there. I know HTC reps already said that the chin protects the trackball. I'm just sayin, for this particular Hero handset, there seems to be no reason for chin other than inconvenience.

[superhobo @ May 5th 2009 7:21AM]

Looks like an hero to me...

[cmil1212 @ May 5th 2009 7:35AM]

ugly stuff here..

[N3TWORK BURN3R @ May 5th 2009 10:29AM]

I wanna see more of this. I looks pretty cool in the photo, but...who knows.

[Sir.Welly @ May 5th 2009 10:36AM]

HTC: "Okay guys lets we messed up and put on a 3.5 Headphone Jack!... DAmn New Guys!!"

Chief: "Well, im sure you know what to do!"

HTC: "What?? take away the screen? ooh I know put a 2.2 inch screen on a 6 inch phone!"

Cheif: "No you clueless twit, take away the trackball, the D-pad what ever you call those things, and PUT A CHIN on it.. just for the hell of it"

[Theli @ May 5th 2009 10:46AM]

It looks to me like some kind of low-cost alternative to the HTC Magic.

[*brotha @ May 5th 2009 4:53PM]

except its better cuz it has a headphone jack

and paying for a phone thats basically a computer without one is rediculous.


Its basically the same as buying a laptop without a headphone jack.

[Siddharth @ May 5th 2009 11:41AM]

@Jonathan

I'm surprised that in-spite of being an avid Engadget reader, you failed to notice the missing trackball from the HTC hero pic and the same being mentioned in the article while making your point. I agree your "chin theory" applies when a trackball is present but thats clearly not the case here. To say the least, Blackberries have done quite well without having a "crooked" form factor. HTC phones balance form and function quite well as anyone would notice looking at their product porfolio. However I think, esp with the android phones they've tilted too much towards the function side. I really hope the "crooked" chin doesn't become an Android phone Signature. Personally, I'd prefer a Touch HD form (a full gorgeous touch screen with no physical buttons) loaded with android. And am sure there are many others who would agree.

Or better still, let us-the users mix and match the hardware(more form, more function etc etc) and software(android,LiMo,WinMo etc etc) customised to everyone's personal choice. In this scenario everybody wins, I think. Who's with me?!

[sweet greggo @ May 5th 2009 1:47PM]

WTF is up at HTC and the headphone jack? I don't get it. A 3mm jack on THIS phone, but not on the G1. A 3mm jack on the Touch HD, but not on the Touch Pro 2.

What the hell?

[irepny718 @ May 5th 2009 4:40PM]

you mean to tell me this ugly ass phone will come out before the htc memphis?

[*brotha @ May 5th 2009 4:50PM]

whats with most of the new HTC phones that are coming out?

did they give up or something

-The crappiest D pads ever made
- Most of them dont have a headphone jack

like what is wrong here... this phone almost makes it (WITH THE HEADPHONE JACK!) YESSS!!!!
but .. damn i cant scroll down

so im going to have to pass on this one.


I am sorry but if i paying 400-500$ for a phone ( YOU PUT BOTH OF THOSE INTO IT, NOW)

i am so disappointed by HTC in this lineup, i litteraly dont want
any of their phones at all yet.

[switchbitch @ May 5th 2009 8:35PM]

Kinda reminds me of a TNG tricorder. I'm all cool with that.