HTC
promised the world an
Android 2.0-based firmware for its
Hero line once it figured out the nitty gritty details of porting
Sense to Google's latest code, leapfrogging
Donut altogether -- but now, it looks like they're gonna do one better. Screenshots found today show a Hero running Android 2.1, which would dovetail nicely with the fact that Google had
teased a "minor update" to 2.0 before the end of 2009 back when it announced Eclair last month. The interface looks largely untouched from 1.5, proof that HTC was able to bring Sense up to speed with minimum drama; it's unclear when this'll all be available, but considering that Sprint's version
just got a super-minor update, some carrier-branded versions could be in for a wait. One more pic after the break.
posted Nov 29th 2009 5:01PM
I'm planning on switching out my Pre for the Hero on Sprint. SenseUI would take care of the lack of Android 2.0 for me, for a little while anyway.
@(Unverified) Likewise, almost. I'm looking to trade my iPhone 3GS for a GSM Hero.
@(Unverified) Yep, I know what you mean. I think I'm gonna stick it out with my Pre though, and unless things don't pick up, maybe open a new line and get it,
@(Unverified) What's wrong with the pre? I was thinking about getting it once it comes to verizon but you think android/sense is better?
@(Unverified) Nothing is wrong with the Pre, Palm just seems really slow at rolling out new updates for webos.
@flextopia The Pre is a much Smarter Smart phone. Hero with Sense UI is kinda dumbed down.
@(Unverified) what's wrong with the pre? i just got the eris with the backup plan of switching to either the pre or the rumored htc passion.
@(Unverified) The Hero is a dumbed down smartphone compared to the pre? Are you on crack? WebOS does not compare to Android 2.0. As soon as a better android phone comes out (snapdragon) I'm switching over from the iPhone
@(Unverified) Yes webOS is a much better platform than Android. Its much more intuitive and the multitasking is also executed much better.
@(Unverified)
Exactly, WebOS doesn't compare to Android cus WebOs is much better but the Android is so different can't even compare them. It's on many different handsets with different manufacturers. It's no where as slick as WebOS but it has tons of apps and tons of customization.
@XChrisX There has been atleast one major update every month since webos was introduced in July. We are already at 1.3.1. Iphone does not get updated that fast (I should know I switched from Iphone to PRE) neither does android AFAIK.
Webos is a more elegant system. It is easy to use and with Palm's support of homebrew very customizable as well. Of course the app store is still in beta and there are only 400 or so apps but there is at least one app for everything that would want it to do. iphone may have 100,000 apps but how many are clones of each other ? I had 11 pages of software and most were games.
I have 60 apps on my PRE (3 games).
@(Unverified)
The problem is the Pre was behind the 8 ball on features & options when it was released. If they had shipped a really complete 1.0 product there wouldn't be a need for quick updates but this is a device that only got the ability to change your notification sound less than what? A month ago? That's a major problem. WebOS definitely implements multitasking better than Android. Notifications are probably about equal. Android has its own "Synergy" feature for contacts. Android has better third party app support, widgets, lots of options for different hardware types, and a ton more control over settings. I imagine Google will address Android's multi-tasking UI issues pretty quickly. It's the only major problem with Android at this point compared to its competition. (arguably it works about the same as WM in this respect, so only Palm has a better implementation IMO)
@Hotrod
That's exactly what I have done.
Never regretted one little tiny bit.
finally!
@AndroidRokz even thought htc is not very competitive when it comes to specs with the droid until the passion comes out
@AndroidRokz where you that same dude that was complaining of no Android 2.1 news?
@HighestRanked yes
It would be nice but I don't trust it. What's with the blockiness?
@CJ100570 did that on purpose to block sensitive information
@CJ100570 watermark cover-up. I'm surprised you didn't mention it was running on a G1, I thought that would be worth a mention.
@CJ100570 It's an HTC watermark saying whose phone it is, so they can catch leakers.
@coolbho3000 You mean the blockiness is BLOCKING the watermark showing whose phone it is.
So would 2.1 be Flan?
@B3astofthe3ast no, it's an incremental upgrade. They save the pastry names for the big ones, like cupcake, donut, eclair, ect.
@AndroidRokz well, bear in mind that Donut was a minor bump over Cupcake.
Yes, Donut was only .1 over Cupcake, which leads me to believe this might be flan. I wonder why HTC is allowed access to 2.1, why doesn't google just dump it into the source tree?
@B3astofthe3ast I thought dumps come after development is completed, and the OS has been released, and not before.
2.1 is just the icing on the eclair.
@Jeff Kibuule OEMs get exclusive dibs in the batter.
@B3astofthe3ast No, I think it'll be Tart
@Chris Ziegler
It was only a .1 upgrade in the version number, because it was mostly an update towards the SDK in which they added a bunch of API's, which in turn, adds more functionality to 3rd party apps...which in turn(and I'm sorry if this is starting to sound repetitive), adds a ton more functionality to the phone. Honestly I would argue that with the number of changes made in 1.6, it should be considered 2nd in biggest feature change since Android 1.0(1st being 1.5[Cupcake]).
can't wait
This needs to come out right meow.
@Needsahaircut "Right meow"? Stop talking to your cat when you're typing.
I don't know why but I find your comment hilarious.
@MowDownJoe Perhaps we can work out a deal right meow. You stop talking like a *meow* human and we'll stop *meow*ing.
@Needsahaircut
Great movie, gonna watch it meow.
"Gonna hafta give you a ticket meow."
@ROFL
It's quite the film.
@Needsahaircut
They are right meow working on a sequel to Super Troopers. They already have the money, script and full cast signed up...
Chicken fuckers...
@shogunmaster
No way!
If you're for serious, my day has been made.
@Needsahaircut
if only they could make it half as funny as club dread...
/s
@Streetfights
yeah club dread sucked
Supertroopers is funny as hell tho
Android is as delicious as it's version names make it sound
If only cellular plans were affordable in Canada...
@ExoCreme you're right!
@ExoCreme
Ain't that the freakin' truth. I'm with Telus right now and I'm craving the Hero badly, but their plans START at $50/month and I pay about $25/month now for a really good plan. I simply can't justify the 100% increase in cost.
If you want to use that as evidence, I can give you a screenshot of my G1 running 2.0 right now. How do you know it's not a ROM just reading a manipulated build.prop file?
How do you even know it's even running on a Hero?
@beersurfing check this - http://twitter.com/kingklick92 ! Guy has a leaked 2.1 ROM with tons of proof. And btw, there will landspace Sense UI version in 2.1 for Hero according to him
My hero is not so hero without 2.1.
Needs more speed
the right fixes
Balls.
you know.
Still. Waiting. For. Google's Turn by Turn navsystem!
@Jaylittles531 It's not, every dev on XDA's forums has the dump.
@Hydraulics You mean Google Maps with Navigation?