HTC Hero update to Android 2.1 pegged for mid-March
By Chris Ziegler 
posted February 9th 2010 5:35PM
posted February 9th 2010 5:35PM
We've known for ages that HTC's been working on yanking its custom-skinned Hero off of Cupcake's rusty frame, but so far, the only way to drop Android 2.0 or 2.1 on your phone has been to cheat, root, and load a custom or leaked ROM in place of the official first-party firmware. If you're too straightedge for that, though, keep the faith -- your binary isn't too far off. PR released today indicates that we can expect the Hero to get an Android 2.1 update with Sense in "mid March" according to HTC's Benelux team, and it'll feature a new Friend Stream widget that aggregates user updates across services (presumably a nod to Blur), tweaked Exchange support, and a handful of other goodies. This isn't necessarily indicative of when Hero versions in other regions (Sprint's version, for instance) will pick it up, but it's a solid start.[Image via EnglishRussia]
YESS!!!
Finally!!
Been waiting a while for this one, haven't we...! Can't wait to check out the new stuff!
What are the changes anyway?
Hope this makes it's way to the Eris, I'm too straightedged to cheat.
Want to see more about the friend stream thing....the Facebook integration is alright, but is as hit or miss as the new full Facebook facelift it got recently.
@jhearne86
You and me both! LOVE my ERIS -- but I bought it on the Verizon rep's promise that it was getting the 2.0 or 2.1 update "soon". In the meantime, some of the home screen replacement apps might freshen it up for you. Try PandaHome, since it's free. I'm happiest with GDE, but it costs 3 bucks. Search them out on YouTube to see what they can do.
@Reisa
I bought mine figuring an update was coming, but at that point there was no Navigation in Google Maps (except for the Droid) and other features in 1.6+ specific apps like there are now.
As for the Home Screen replacements, I've tried a few, SlideScreen, GDE and another one I can't remember. That's what I like about Android, if your not happy with or your tired of the UI, just change it and find something you do like. But for now I'm back to the Sense UI and I just swap a few widgets every so often to freshen things up.
Man, 2.1 sure is making the rounds.
YOU SLUT ANDORID 2.1!
Wow I feel sorry for sprint hero users. They promise updates over and over again... By the time 2.1 hits Sprint Hero there will be a better phone out. (Probably with 2.2 at that!)
@IcerC What promise have they broken? They've always said 1H 2010.
might as well wait a little bit if you're considering buying the Hero
One question: will HTC now be able to funnel as much Megan Fox to me as Motorola?
The whole custom Sense UI is probably why I will be staying away from HTC Android phones in the future. I dont want to wait 6+ months for an OS update just because they want to customize it to their standards.
@teehoo Why does everyone say this about Sense UI? Currently the onyl way to get 2.0 or 2.1 is to buy an android phone with it (ie the Droid or the Nexus). There has been NO update for either "Google Experience" phone the G1 or the Magic (MyTouch 3G) and there doesn't look like there will be one anytime soon either, this goes for all phones which came currently run or came with 1.6
So tbh, Sense UI is actually better for keeping a phone up to date to the latest android version.
@teehoo not quite. The nexus one, g1and magic are all made by HTC and are plain vanilla google builds..
Good thing about the Nexus One, is it's an incredible bit of hardware, so I plan on flashing sense when it's out and reliable for the N1 and then when 2.5 is released, maybe I'll flash back to stock... depending on features...
@SteveDhalai The HTC Hero is still at Android 1.5 despite being a newer phone than the 1.6 HTC Dream and HTC Magic
@teehoo Because they wanted to skip 1.6 and go straight to 2.0 There isn't THAT much difference between 1.5 and 1.6 and tbh the features in Sense UI not only surpass 1.6 but 2.1 aswell.
@SteveDhalai See thats the problem right there: If they didnt have to integrate their sense UI the hero would have gotten 1.6 right away, then 2.0, 2.1 etc.
Even when 1.6 did come out, HTC said we would have to wait 2 months until 1.6 + Sense UI was available.
And a lot of applications do not run on 1.5, so the difference from 1.5 to 1.6 is important!
Wow, cupcake came out almost a year ago..
Finally!
Let us all beg for no delays..
Patience is a good old thing.
This will be a great birthday present for me from HTC, hopefully it will be out by the 25th.
That phone looks sweet!
I wish HTC just gave us the option to run a stock 2.1 build. I could do without Sense.
I've rooted my Hero, but the 1.6, 2.0, and 2.1 builds are all faulty. None of them have everything working. They're all missing paid apps, and they have issues like no bluetooth, or compass, or camera, etc.
If the Nexus One comes to Sprint I'll pick it up, just because I know it's most likely to be the most often updated phone going forward.
You can disable sense if you don't like it. Just download the app called home switcher. Or uninstal it. That's what I do on mine.
@centizen The point is that the whole reason we've been waiting for 2.1 to be released is because Sense has issues that they (HTC) are working on.
I like Sense, but I would rather have 2.1 more.
I love android but I hate that every other phone has a different version of the OS. I'm not a apple fanboy but at least MOST phones run the same version of their OS.
If only I had ATT 3g in my area.....
Ugh its taking way too long. By the time it comes out the Supersonic and my Upgrade will be available!! The XDA community is like no help when it comes to this either, I should have just stayed with GSM T-Mobile Android phones then I'd have Android 2.1 + Sense!!!!!! I hate CDMA!!!!! No love from anyone
Yay! Benelux, im in the Netherlands. So ill be getting it in mid march on my hero! Been waiting for this update like for ever, its been too long :P.
I'm happy to hear that coz I love my Hero even more than I love my HD2 but what I want to hear is that the Hero will finally have a working voice dialing function.
Or at least that I could soon buy a nexus1 or an HTC Supersonic or Incredible here in Scandinavia.
Ignorance is bliss or I'mnot a power user like everyone else. . I'm on Sprints Hero with no complaints about 1.5. Any upgrade is just icing on the cake.
@miniboss ditto
@miniboss ditto
Me, I'm just a poor sap who wants a Android phone, but everytime I get close to pulling the triigger on one, they announce yet another paper tiger that's more ferocious than the last. What should I do guys? How long should I wait? My trusty Blackberry delivers the mail well and my Pre keeps getting better with each update, heck my Pre can game better than an Android!
@worldbfree4me if you have a pre and a blackberry, why do you want an android phone?
Samsung, you're killing me here.
I am assuming the Eris also?
what about the droid eris?
i feel like i got stuck with a phone that got overrun by its older brothers advertising.
Wuhuu...party....btw. they are not that slow...the 2.1 „Eclair“ is ready since 12.01.2010. So it's only 2 months after they can start developing Sense for 2.1...not that bad...
@bluefisch200
well, i guess the difference between 2.0 and 2.1 are quite small comparing to 1.5 and 2.1.
I also reckon engadget posting something about the new hero release in Q4 2k9, so they have been working for a while.
Will there be an update for the HTC Tattoo as well? Please? :)
I bet the delay from world to sprint Hero won't be as bad this time. 1.5 did not support CDMA, HTC had to hack it in. 2.1 does support CDMA, so it may just be a test only effort.
In the ROM world, the Hero GSM requires a radio update for the 2.1 root roms, but the CDMA does not.
it's about time I've been waiting for this for so long. i check engadget everyday just to hear this good news :D
Sweet!! been waiting sooo long for this.
rumor has it, it has been delayed to june...
any truth to that?
http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/32689/htc-delays-hero-update-to-june