Sprint's HTC Hero update to Android 2.1 finally coming on May 7?
This is turning into a serious boy-who-cried-wolf kind of situation, but evidence is growing today that HTC and Sprint are finally -- yes, finally -- ready to drop a hot batch of Sense-laden Android 2.1 on eager Hero owners. A screen shot of a Best Buy employee news page reads that the update was "delayed until this week" and will be "in all stores" by this Friday, May 7; what that means isn't exactly clear, but it could suggest that all Heros being sold in Best Buy Mobile locations will have the update applied by then. As for current customers, Best Buy is sending out instructions on how staff can help owners upgrade if they happen to wander into the store, but otherwise, it should be available from HTC's site (yeah, no over-the-air action here). Stay tuned, folks.
[Thanks, John]
[Thanks, John]
























What about the Droid Eris? When is their ever going to be an update for it?
@afawaz3 Yeah no sorry, if you don't buy the most expensive android phone available you won't get any updates, at least not until a long while after they're released.
I think this is the one reason I'd never get an android phone. I doubt even the nexus one will make it to 3.0!
Bout time....ive been hittin firmware update for 2 months now
They will put the special geek squad optimized software update on there for you for only...
$59.99!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is such a problem. Only reason I got this phone was because. I was told it was getting updated.
@dooleycasey Join the crowd. I was feed the same line of crap by the manager at the store I bought my Hero at. Got mine on my birthday. Jan, 27th of this year. The manager guaranteed I would have 2.1 on my phone in no later the 60 days. Stupid me for trusting a Sprint Manager.
Love android but is reasons like this why I left it.
If it is not a vanilla based rom you will wait forever to get an update.
And as it stands the only phone capable of reciving quick over the ait updates is the N1 and that was a huge fail.
@FrankDTank The Samsung Moment still has a vanilla 1.5 on it.
Oh look, my picture made it on engadget..
All handset makers that use Android need to unite and have one update at the same time. They need to figure this out asap, no need to be waiting for a month before you can get an update simply because you are with a different carrier. Need a universal release date for all handsets for all carriers. Make it easy with people and way more convenient!
Welcome folks, 2.1 is really fantastic. I moved from the iphone for it! Mad I know but I really don't regret it in the least!
With an Iron Man theme? That would be epic. I might switch if it had an Iron Man theme....ok i still wouldn't.
According to my local sprint store(its a corporate store). This is in line with the 2.1 update. They said within the first 2 weeks of may. So if the 7th is for the hero. The moment will be a few days behind! I can't wait.
@BrianlikeshisMoment I have an email from the dan@sprint.com email address telling me 2.1 is scheduled for release during the 1st two weeks of May. That being said...........Sprint reps, corporate store or not, have no credibility on release dates. They have been confirming every rumor since I have allowed myself to sink into this self inflicted drama over the update back in February. UGH!! I'll see believe it when I see it.
@cherryboom You obviously don't know much about Android. Some of the builds of Android OS taking longer to update specifically for them. (Ex. HTC Hero w/Sense UI)
Besides, most of the time it takes longer for the updates to finally be for the public because of carriers/manufactures. In this specific case, its because of Sprint.
WHERE THE FUCK IS THE UPDATE FOR MY HTC MAGIC!?!?!?!?
I've been using one of the leaked ROMS on my Hero and I'm actually quite disappointed how few features 2.x adds. The Android Market looks a little different and there's an expose-ish thing for your home screens. That's about it. You can run 2.x only software. There really aren't many other new features. I hate to judge performance on a leaked ROM but some of the frustrating lag still exists -- dial pad lag, scrolling through your contacts, wonky multi-touch in the browser, etc.
bout time! I've had 2.1 for about a month now...its a lot faster, but I still want the EVO! Bye Bye HERO come here EVO!
Yesss so get done with last exam, then going to mongolian barbeque. Sprint please make my day complete with some 2.1 or 2.2 (Hail Mary) for my hero to make my day complete!
Lol again, I swear this is the only android news we ever hear - one of the phones getting their long awaited upgrade, only for it to Turn out to be a load of bs. The joys of android, I need to buy one just to get in on this action.
@sl86
It certainly is exciting!
Shame there's still no word about the Eris 2.1 update as well. That was supposed to happen in Q1. I already loaded the 2.1 leak to my Eris, and if you're a Hero owner, hell, you've been waiting a hell of a lot longer than me. But, if you haven't just loaded a leaked version yet, then you my friend, are one with the force. Godspeed, official updater.
@EggoEspada
i really can't disagree with cherryboom here. carriers and manufactures have been doing this since before Android though and this is something i feel most new OSes are trying to prevent. the carriers focus on releasing new phones and push support for already released (not even old) phones to the back burner. they don't make money on firmware upgrades so it's not a priority. i have a TP2 on Verizon and it came with WinMo 6.1 but when the AT&T version came out a few months latter, it already had 6.5 on it. it took them like 6 months after that to get 6.5 out officially on Verizon. i just say thank god for HTC and XDA.
i know Froyo is aiming to stop this and on other fronts WP7 is going to do the same thing while iPhone OS and webOS already have this in place in some form.
@taypotts
I just tipped engadget on the xda-dev thread and make no claims to the accuracy. I am not the original source of any of the information, however this shot refutes your statement that this is not the 2.1 update:
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/1876/attachmentka.jpg
Now I wanna make this clear please. I have an iPhone n I love my iPhone but I been thinking about an android but I been also using an android phone. The G1 and a nexus one. Now this is the deal. I'm having a hard time trying to like the freaking phone. The web browser is not bad none of them come close to safari. The touch screen or no android phone come close. Either the droid or incredible they feel kind of fake idk if that makes any sense. Let's not even talk about the apps. Is just plain suck big time and like someone said. I don't think the nexus one would make it to android 3.0 now can someone actually explain to me how is the android os better than iPhone os?
@Flacofromny23 To avoid injuring yourself with Android, I suggest sticking with your iPhone. You're far too delicate. Android can't provide you the warmth and cuteness your iPhone gives. It's for grown-ups only.
too late, I 've already update my Hero to Legend...........
@CaptainPlanet
no offense mr. planet, but i don't think you have the cachet of lord vader.
I am loving HTC but this is one area where they absolutely fail... and HARD.
It does not need to take 18 months to release an OS update.
Absolutely and completely ridiculous.
@Johnny Rockets
The Sprint Hero was released on 10/11/09, less than 7 months ago.
It seems that android forgot to copy iPhone smooth update thingy .
Hope its coming to the UK as well. I'm sick of waiting.
I put 2.1 ROM on my GSM Hero, I know it's not official version, but was so laggy, I reverted to 1.6.
I think the delay comes from older processor with more advanced OS. Hero can't handle it! So a reduced feature set 2.1 that's less taxing on the Hero is likely.
Would explain the huge delay. HTC won't release a slower ROM!
I'm holding my breath, Engadget. I'll send the coroner's bill to your offices.
Sorry to inform but this is actually talking about the GSM version of The Hero. Not anywhere in the article does it say anything about Sprint HTC Hero.
@Bill Cosby
What Best Buy you know sales the GSM version of the Hero? Don't be negative!
@Bill Cosby
You know, technically you are correct. No where in the "article" does it say anything about Sprint HTC Hero, but the title on the other hand:
Sprint's HTC Hero update to Android 2.1 finally coming on May 7?
Unless "Sprint's" is an Engadget acronym for GSM?
Dare I say Ironman 2 and 2.1 on the same day? That's right Shia give me all you got!
I have and Eris and was researching what is happening with 2.1 on it. Looks like sales End Of Life for Eris is this month (May 2010). So I will update using the leaked 2.1. I like this phone and am disappointed that Verizon has abandoned it.
Well talked to one of my friends who is a Geek Squad member and he says he hasn't heard anything of this and "doubts the Best Buy Mobile Department would have the intelligence to pull off such a task." So I did the next best thing and called Sprint and the kind Indian lady advised after placing me on a brief hold that they're in fact getting an update for this phone and it will be this month however they do not have an exact date and it may require me to go to the website, so thats what I got after a little digging.
I am tired of HTC of waiting on HTC and Sprint. I know longer believe them. I hate my f'n Hero, and my wife hates hers. My old friends, that I recommended the hero to hates theirs, and now me. I like the android platform, but HTC is ruining it by putting it on such a slow piece of junk. I should have took engadget's reviews to heart.
I will just wait on Jason Chen to sell his IPhone that is still hidden someplace.
that would be good if best buy would even know how to set up the phones
http://www.androidpolice.com/2010/05/06/no-may-7th-android-2-1-update-for-sprint-htc-hero-and-yet-again-we-are-sad-pandas/
Probally not gonna happen guys and gals... my wife is gonna go nuts... she has been waiting on this.
Welp its the 7th and no update!
@TheJason yeah...Suck.