Keepin' it real fake, part CCXL: HTC Hero gets iPhone flair

It's just like the old riddle: what looks like a Hero, thinks it's an iPhone, and does double-duty as an old-school FM handheld? Why, it's the TVG3 -- and when combined with some prototypical shanzhai flair, its (con)fusion of attributes from all over the cellphone space make this one a stunning exemplar of KIRFness. Behold! 3.2-inch touchscreen, G-sensor (aka gyroscope), dual sims, Bluetooth, WiFi, built-in TV tuner, HTC looks and an almost-iPhone UI: not bad for $130, eh? In case you won't be in Shenzhen any time soon, you can get a closer look after the break.

[Thanks, Jules H]

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 4:47PM]

an abomination.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 4:50PM]

ew gross, it looks like a future Microsoft product

[ROFL Posted Nov 9th 2009 4:51PM]

Except one thing...this has nothing to do with Microsoft.

Your attempt at life...it...it has failed.

[p0p0 Posted Nov 9th 2009 5:03PM]

And fails like a current gen Apple product! Best of both worlds!!

[superhobo Posted Nov 9th 2009 5:23PM]

So this is how Bourne got into espionage...

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 4:49PM]

Who knew...the hero CAN get uglier.

[N900 Posted Nov 9th 2009 5:22PM]

Who knew, douche comments CAN get lowranked.

[EpsilonNot Posted Nov 9th 2009 4:51PM]

I realize it's a TV antenna, but that antenna combined with the chin really makes it look like a modern evolution of those classic brick-phones.

[superhobo Posted Nov 9th 2009 5:24PM]

Things like these probably featured in futuristic comics from the 1980s.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 4:52PM]

Well. . . at least that giant antenna takes attention away from the chin.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 4:53PM]

I want it!

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 4:53PM]

Fugly, and no ATSC tuner = Should have sold it in the 80's

[Gas Posted Nov 9th 2009 8:41PM]

I'm guessing the lack of ATSC tuner = you get to watch static on your commute to wherever?

[ACEdotcom Posted Nov 9th 2009 5:11PM]

that thing looks like an '80 AM/FM radio and a Hero got to together and started to do unspeakable things to each other.

[A Brown Kid Posted Nov 9th 2009 5:12PM]

If it's any consolation, I have an HTC Hero theme on my jailbroken iPhone...
and I love it...

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 5:25PM]

Oh, I bet it gets Eclair before Sprint. ;-)

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 10th 2009 9:27AM]

Oh snap!

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 5:38PM]

I feel kind of stupid because I actually love that antenna, seriously want to mod out an oldschool brickphone with new innards and a mighty battery.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 5:45PM]

I actually wouldnt mind one of those

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 5:52PM]

I bet it gets better 3G reception than my iPhone 3GS 3.1.2 :P
My toaster does.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 6:31PM]

Oh man, that font. Commodore 64 here i come!

[Dr Yusuf AlKindi Posted Nov 9th 2009 6:56PM]

It is all about convergence, baby!

Was that a digital tv tuner? Does it have a built in blender?

[superhobo Posted Nov 9th 2009 8:14PM]

Soon Google = Buy n Large

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 8:32PM]

LOL, the browser on it is called safari, but the logo is a E...lol

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 9:36PM]

When will the chinese knockoff manufacturers realize they can have Android on their devices for free, they don't need to kludge together some crappy imitation OS?

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 9:48PM]

CCXL?

[HaZaRd Posted Nov 9th 2009 11:09PM]

I got all the way down here and thought I was alone in noticing that :P

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 10:35PM]

Imitation is the greatest form of flattery.

[JacobRoss Posted Nov 10th 2009 6:49PM]

being that TV signal is switching to Digital, does that mean we have to get a converter box for this gadget?