HTC Hero gets a leaked Android 2.1 ROM with Sense
We just saw some leaked shots of a Hero running Android 2.1 with HTC Sense a couple days ago, and now it looks like you can get in on the action yourself, thanks to a leaked ROM now up on XDA-developers and AllDroid. Installation appears to be pretty straightforward, but there are some steps involved, so make sure you backup and set aside some time to get things right -- and let us know how it all goes in comments!
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]























@iPhoneMessenger
I love them too!
This rom is also out for the G1.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=592568
I'm pretty into the android scene (worked on the blur rom for the g1), so if you guys want some more android insight, check out my twitter:
www.twitter.com/Kmobs
@Kmobs The Scene? What is this, a Car tuning forum?
@Kmobs Now make it for my iphone pretty please :)
@(Unverified) What are you, 12?
scene
-noun
11. an area or sphere of activity, current interest, etc.: the rock music scene; the fashion scene.
@Kmobs cool story, bro.
Nice to see companies actually supporting a product after release.
hopefully Big Red is listening/reading....
@Waveblade
Yeah. I own a Samsung galaxy :'(
@raythepa
Big Red?
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_w65gPaM2jf8/Ru3Unh1YdOI/AAAAAAAAARI/IwyU6_VRLmA/P8262952.JPG
@Bomberman Why?
@Bomberman
Haven't Sammy announced any updates to the Galaxy at all? :(
@(Unverified) and my mate Chaz ;)
Samsung have announced not one update for the Galaxy. Nor have they updated the software which comes with the phone - which doesn't work with it. Actually, they have updated it, but it still won't work. They also refuse to respond or make any sort of statement :@
YAY! Time for some fun! :D
So now we get to see the phone running what it should have been running in the first place .. +0.1
@garydahlsoldyouarockfor395
It was supposed to run an OS that wasn't even in existence at the time of it's release?
@bjsguess That actually still isn't? I think he's referring to how the Droid Eris is launched without 2.0, even though 2.0 is out. But this is 2.1, which even the Droid doesn't have.
HTC seems to totally ignore the Magic crowd ... :-(
@fdomig
HTC only directly supports Magics that it sold directly, which isn't very many of them. If you bought yours from a carrier, then it's your carrier's job to support it with updates (generally by contracting that work back down to HTC behind the scenes).
If you do have a Magic purchased directly from HTC, then you've got a Sense update coming sooner or later, but I thought it was already out in certain parts of the world.
@Chefgon Bought mine from the carrier "drei" in Austria. It's the pure HTC Magic (not "comes with Google" myTouch from Vodafone/T-Mobile). I am still stuck on Android 1.5 and without Sense UI although the myTouch users in Austria already got Android 1.6.
HTC already released Sense UI for the Magic in some asian country (was it Taiwan?) but not in the rest of the world.
Is HTC going to make non-phone hardware so people who already have a phone can get in on this action?
@Jeff Kibuule: Huh?
@Jeff Kibuule yea wtf are you talking about?
@One Love Android, without the phone. Like iPod Touch is to iPhone
@Jeff Kibuule: ...android is already running on non-phone hardware (not from HTC).
Err, sorry to burst your bubble, but there's a slight mistake here. The Hero 2.1 ROM is NOT from XDA Developers. The real source is actually AllDroid.org who have sent out a tweet asking you to correct the story.
The actual source of the ROM: http://alldroid.org/viewtopic.php?f=130&t=539
The Tweet in question: http://twitter.com/alldroid_org/status/6241388885
Give AllDroid a mention, guys.
AC130!
@One Love no, Chopper Gunner all the way
GSM only? will this work with the CDMA sprint version?
@munir Yeah, I was wondering about that as well. Do you think it can be flashed to the droid by any chance?
shouldn't this be somewhat breaking news?
^ You just read about it - how much more breaking do you want it? Frontpage on f*cking CNN?
I just want it for the Droid Eris... hurry plz?
Kthnx...
I'd love to hear if there are any speed improvements, and if the browser still starts off zoomed in on a web page.
I wish HTC and Zii worked together to make something beautiful. (PMP, not Phone)
Will this rom work on the Motorola Droid or is it specifically for the Hero?
@tr3go given the fact that the Droid is on 2.0, I don't see the point. The HTC Droid Eris, yes, that would be great. But I honestly see no reason to get this on the Moto Droid.
@tr3go Not for the Droid unfortunately. We're going to have to wait until the Droid is rooted, and also until HTC releases another high-res phone with Sense UI fixed up for the 480x854 resolution.
@Triscuit If you want the sense UI though...
Is there a reason people are asking for ROMs to phoens that haven't even been rooted yet?
can't wait for this phone!
Wish I'd chosen the HTC Hero over the Samsung Galaxy now!
We'll be lucky to get Android 1.6.
If you're choosing an Android phone stay clear of Samsung!
Does anyone know what I need to do to get this new firmware? I know I have to root it, but I am new to the Hero and I would be afraid to brick the phone. Can anyone tell me where I can get step by step instructions to get this on my Sprint Hero? I need to know first on how to root this thing so I can then put this new software on it.
Thanks
@HEROvsPre
You'd probably be better off waiting for Sprint to release their version of the update. With the Droid getting so much press, I'm sure they'll be in a hurry to play catch-up to get Google Maps Navigation support.
If you don't have that kind of patience, head down to xda-developers.com, find the forum for the Hero, and carefully read as much of the forum as you can until you start to figure stuff out. If you just bust in there and start asking questions you'll be ignored, since people ask the same questions every single day, but a few good searches and some random browsing around should get you up to speed in an hour or two.
@Chefgon
Thanks dude. You know I think I will wait for Sprint to get it. Its safer that way. haha.
@HEROvsPre make sure you find out it's for the SPRINT CDMA hero, vs the European GSM Hero.
I still want to know when the hell Samsung is going to update the Moment. I love the phone to death, but I'm seriously considering returning it, and grabbing a Hero before my 30 days are up.
Seriously the damn thing has bone stock 1.5 thrown on it.
@thabrownieviking if it's going to be like the galaxy, keep waiting :p
I will be picking up the hero now, been waiting for this for a while..
If you are interested in using this ROM here is a link.
http://www.androidspin.com/home/3-latest-news/327-eclair-hero-21-by-drizzy-w-help-from-barak-a-eugene373
2.1 is old news I am waiting til 2.5 to come out and complain that a phone won't be good til it sees 3.3 and I can then complain that its so old and I will wait til 4.7.
(sarcasm)
Hopefully with the release of this in the homebrew HTC and Sprint will be inclined to keep the release of this in early early 2010!!! :D