HTC Hero firmware update peps up the Sense Experience to something usable

Good news for HTC Hero early adopters: HTC has a new firmware update out now for the device, and it considerably speeds up the interface if the multitude of reports to be found on the internet can be believed. Seeing as this was the number one gripe with the overall excellent UI, we're incredibly glad HTC has gotten work on this, and we'll be spending some more time with the device to return our newly tinted impressions. There's a video after the break demonstrating changes, and most actions seems quite a bit quicker and smoother, all the way down to opening and closing the apps menu, and sliding between home screens. The update doesn't really include much else in the way of features, but since it's addressing the main pain point of the phone, we sure don't mind -- and neither will Sprint users, who we suppose will be getting this newly improved interface right out of the gate.

[Via Gizmodo]

[iLoveApple Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:02PM]

This firmware update is nice but Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time!

[paul34 Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:05PM]

I'm so good that I should win best female video of the year too, every award of this generation belongs to me.

[LAY Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:15PM]

@iLoveApple

Do you like fishsticks?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:15PM]

Will engadget finally have some "sense" and let it have a chance? Stay tuned...

[iLoveApple Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:21PM]

Yes, I love putting fish sticks, in my mouth.

[Dr Spaceman Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:49PM]

you're a gay fish

[MarkAnderson Posted Sep 14th 2009 5:21PM]

Well it's praise from Engadget. Grudging I suppose, but it's there.

[AME Posted Sep 14th 2009 5:30PM]

Fish sticks and fries please!

[ILLEGALWARRIOR Posted Sep 14th 2009 6:18PM]

all time (s)he said

[AvianAzn Posted Sep 14th 2009 8:22PM]

no one dont deserve nothing.

[Joshyth Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:02PM]

look like this mean it's time for me to upgrade to Hero, i'm really getting sick of iphone nowaday, and i can't do a simple restore using itunes to 3.0.1

[engadgetjp Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:04PM]

You should able to. If you don't want to restore every app, you can simply do a new phone restore that wipes out everything in your iPhone.

[paul34 Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:04PM]

Good to hear. Hopefully all future HTC devices will be like this out of the gate (which I'm sure they will). I love the direction and speed with which smartphone development has gone in the past couple of years.

[Bigballs Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:25PM]

YEA! Last couple of years just happens to coincide with the iPhone release, but still so much hate for a device that revolutionized the cellphone industry.

Give Apple some credit, blind hate just makes you look like a fool!

[Mikey M Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:34PM]

@ laxfan "Give Apple some credit, blind hate just makes you look like a fool!"

So does blind following. (1) This post has nothing to do with Apple, so bringing up Apple reeks of fan-boyism; (2) paul didn't mention Apple or the iPhone at all, so he couldn't be engaging in "blind hate" or even "nearsighted hate" of Apple.

[paul34 Posted Sep 14th 2009 5:55PM]

Actually, lax, I have no "hate" for the iPhone really. The only reason I didn't mention it was, oddly enough, to keep guys like you from turning this into a iPhone mudsling fest.

But yes. I'd say the greatest thing about the iPhone isn't necessarily itself; but rather, the "spark" that made all the other smartphone makers really step up and make smartphones with serious performance, great interfaces, and great design as well. It also helped to reignite the smartphone OS and software development game as well. Smartphones were there before, to be sure, but it just didn't get "there." Now it does.

In another six months it's going to be a great time to buy a phone - there will be choice like never before. Competition is a beautiful thing.

[Bigballs Posted Sep 14th 2009 7:12PM]

I was just saying in general on this site people hate on the iPhone even though it is helping all consumers, not just those who buy an iPhone. I wasn't implying that he was hating.

However, jumping on my back because I posted about the iPhone when he stated that phones have been better the last 2 years (since the iPhone came out) just goes to prove my point :)

[Bud92 Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:04PM]

Thats a sexy phone, and the ui is elegant 2. Good job htc.

[Nunya Bizness Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:06PM]

I thought Android was supposed to fun much faster then Windows mobile on the identical hardware?

[ricorich196 Posted Sep 14th 2009 5:53PM]

Android is lighter, that Hero is running the same processor all recent HTC phones are using 528 Mhz Qualcomm 7xxx aka Garbage.

[MarcusMaximus Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:07PM]

Huh... I wonder if that means the G1 Hero ROMs are actually usable now... Anyone know if they have the bluetooth working yet?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 14th 2009 5:06PM]

no BT yet, but I run hero on mine and it's great with compcache.

[GEN3RIC Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:24PM]

Nope, but there is some hackery going on with the LEDs that might lead to it working.

The version I'm using on my G1 does have its faults.. but they seem to exist in the apps. I just push an older working version (like mms.apk) and voila.

[zole2112 Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:46PM]

not as of last night, Shafty is getting close though

[coolbho3000 Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:59PM]

They're usable. The newest Jachero with 64MB swap on a Class 6 SD card is almost as fast as the stock Cupcake build I'd say, except for an occasional HTC loading screen.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 14th 2009 5:53PM]

It is.

Try the Dizzy one here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=557982

Its fast, but for that you will need a Class 6 SD Card. But 2GB will suffice anyway, if you don't have music on it.

Java also is insanely fast on this one.

Was meant to go in here.

[littlebeard Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:13PM]

i´ve heard there are trouble working the Hero on mac? can anyone confirm och deny this?

[digitaldownfall Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:15PM]

Um... http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/14/speedy-new-htc-hero-firmware-starts-to-pop-around-the-world/

[Wes Steele Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:15PM]

Repeat post..?

[digitaldownfall Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:21PM]

Ironic isn't it? Gizmodo get's it from an Engadget post, and Engadget then re-posts it...

[GEN3RIC Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:22PM]

I'm using JACxHEROSki v2.1 on my G1 and it's as smooth as this. I believe it's running on the 2.73 kernel that is included in the HTC update.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 14th 2009 5:06PM]

Same rom I run and it runs great.

[roxics Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:24PM]

Sweet. I want that phone. That exact phone, from Sprint.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:26PM]

I'm excited and can't wait to get the update on the phone. Interestingly enough I never had much of a problem about the lag people complained about. Once in awhile there is a stutter but it was mircoseconds that didn't impact my life or the sky didn't fall when it happened.

Either way, if it makes the Hero even smoother...yeah!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:32PM]

Yes, it is faster and smoother ! You can see it in action on this video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqU7D_sMwGM

[jakey Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:38PM]

Even before, the reports of sluggishness were very inconsistent. Some say it was really bad and some didn't notice. At least now it should be fixed for everyone if they had this issue.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 15th 2009 1:18PM]

Actually I didnt notice the lag before the update. But I notice it now after the update. :) The lag was definetely there, but is gone now.

[Kyle P Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:39PM]

Glad to hear it, especially considering I've put all of my eggs in the Hero's basket.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:41PM]

OMG WANT.

This UI is sooooooooooooo much more robust than my iPhone's.

I think I'll stick it out until my contract's up, and hopefully by then, the next version of this phone will offer OLED and Tegra/Snapdragon!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:43PM]

The lag was main thing stopping me purchasing the Hero, if it really is a much more speedier and usable UI then count me very much in!

[soccersgreat Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:51PM]

Nokia is the worst cell phone company ever. I dare you to disagree!
HTC hero is awesome.

[slayermd Posted Sep 14th 2009 5:20PM]

Umm....have you seen the N900?

[htowngator Posted Sep 14th 2009 4:56PM]

Linking a month old video? Really?

[Reluttr Posted Sep 14th 2009 5:09PM]

I want this phone so bad, I hope a US carrier picks it up :D

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 14th 2009 5:37PM]

Lucky for you: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/03/htc-hero-heading-to-sprint-october-11-for-179-99-no-chin/

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 14th 2009 5:16PM]

wow its about time engadget reported this

[Crim Posted Sep 14th 2009 5:30PM]

Very nice interface, looks like there may be a tinge of lag there, but nothing that would interfere with the experience. It's good to see that someone is actually able to make a smartphone that works fluidly aside from Apple; that WinMo crap is horrible. After my experience with my XV6900 from Verizon there is no way I will buy a WinMo device again.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 14th 2009 5:44PM]

Been holding back on Android device buying. Really liked the HERO but not the lagging issue.

Only problem I have now........white or brown

[vintoe Posted Sep 14th 2009 7:07PM]

Brown FTW, IMO brown looks a bit more elegant

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 14th 2009 5:52PM]

It is.

Try the Dizzy one here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=557982

Its fast, but for that you will need a Class 6 SD Card. But 2GB will suffice anyway, if you don't have music on it.

Java also is insanely fast on this one.