HTC Hero pre-release model taken for a spin, previewed in Russia

It's been less than two weeks since we laid hands on HTC's latest Android masterpiece, the Hero, and so while we wait to see it again, the cats at Russian site Mobile-review have gotten some extensive time with a pre-release engineering sample, and give it some high marks for those in the "tech geek" demographic who are looking to pick one up. Some caveats to be had, including the use of pre-release Sense UI firmware and the curious case of calling the screen resistive, especially since the model we used was definitely the more finger-friendly capacitive, and all the promotional material we've seen show a capacitive model in use. Still, it's well worth a read, if for nothing else than a glimpse at the sample pictures / video we can expect to capture with the phone ourselves.

[Thanks, Fegan]

[Jimbojones Posted Jul 6th 2009 9:40PM]

thank you ShogunMaster

[nelagster Posted Jul 6th 2009 9:46PM]

you can't. welcome to engadget

[where u at Posted Jul 8th 2009 6:20PM]

How do those mobile-review people get phones so fast?

[MKANAMAN Posted Jul 6th 2009 10:11PM]

In Soviet russia, the phone previews y-... i think you all kinda get the drift here

[mrfa9in Posted Jul 6th 2009 10:15PM]

This one is actually sexy. Good work HTC. Unfortunately, T-Mobile seems to be busy drumming up the already-obsolete-before-launched myTouch.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 6th 2009 10:35PM]

Iphoners - Until the Iphone can multitask its not a smartphone, no one cares.

I really ant to see this phone function. The mytouch I'm using has 4 panels, 6 widgets and an average of 6 icons per panel and it loads slow. Its just alittle faster then the G1. This has 6 panels with the same specs. Do they not want us to use them? As for the 1ghz processor android will need to function and multitask properly expect 4-6 hours from the battery unless they go ahead with a 2600 mah battery. Just put an Omap 3 processor in there. We'll forgive the fact your biting off of Palm.

The next time I hear "Our company is switching over to Iphones" I'm replying " Really, Toys'r'us gives their employess phones"

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 6th 2009 10:48PM]

Well, I'm a custom-mer...I'd like to get my hands on one.

[nowayman Posted Jul 6th 2009 11:06PM]

"it looks like a failed attempt to beat the iPhone, honestly"

u kidding me? this thing looks gorgeous compared to my iphone.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 6th 2009 11:12PM]

IMHO, it has too many buttons for a touch screen phone. 6 plus a track ball.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 6th 2009 11:22PM]

This android looks GOOD!

[shogunmaster Posted Jul 6th 2009 11:29PM]

Yes and no. You yourself can't delete the messages, but Engadget can do it for you. Just make sure your messages are really defamatory, spam, or written by iEye. They'll take care of it for you.

[richardspagna Posted Jul 6th 2009 11:32PM]

I love apple and the cocoa touch OS but i really hope that other cellphone/PMP makers can outdo them. So far i think apple still has the best platform but maybe this HTC beauty can usurp the kings.

[dhw Posted Jul 6th 2009 11:36PM]

I hope tmobile gets this. I want this to be my next phone. 288 megs FTW..

[brothaa Posted Jul 6th 2009 11:46PM]

this phone looks sweet

i would totally get it if it had a 3.5mm headphone jack.

[brothaa Posted Jul 6th 2009 11:48PM]

im a dumbass

[cloud858rk Posted Jul 7th 2009 1:25AM]

Saves us the trouble.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 7th 2009 10:15AM]

This phone has a 3.5mm headphone jack at the top. The only thing that bothers me is its having too many buttons. Those could be accessed through soft keys or some sorts.

[Hydra Posted Jul 7th 2009 1:18AM]

This is one nice phone, DO WANT , I can't complain about any of the features , its perfect

[alecksh Posted Jul 7th 2009 3:17AM]

I know this is gonna seem like a dumb question, but what kind of keyboard is that?

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 7th 2009 3:15AM]

I have a feeling morons call first just to piss people off.

[lazaro Posted Jul 7th 2009 3:30AM]

I will gladly upgrade my G1 to this if T-Mobile keeps in the tradition of bringing Android handsets to the US.

[Imran Posted Jul 7th 2009 8:14AM]

They've just copied this entire article and posted it here!!!

http://www.gadgetcom.com/htc-hero-pre-release-model-taken-for-a-spin-previewed-in-russia/

[sr1329 Posted Jul 7th 2009 8:16AM]

'Previewed in Russia"? Uhh, that not just some random reviewer in Russia, that's Mobile-Review.

[CJ Posted Jul 7th 2009 10:05AM]

Alphanumeric/Cyrillic

For use in countries that use Cyrillic, i.e: Russia.