HTC Hero (GSM) Android 2.1 update finally arrives... in Taiwan
By Thomas Ricker 
posted June 4th 2010 4:26AM
posted June 4th 2010 4:26AM
[Thanks, Lee]
posted June 4th 2010 4:26AM
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Gee, why stop at 2.1? :rolleyes:
2.2 is the most desired update as it gives performance improvements and tethering.
@pika2000
They probably want you to buy a newer HTC device. I'm sure XDA-Developers will find a way to bring this puppy to 2.2, hopefully.
On a side note, why do people complain that apple is not updating their 3 year old phone yet HTC doesn't even update their one year old phone to the latest OS?
@gnawol
"On a side note, why do people complain that apple is not updating their 3 year old phone yet HTC doesn't even update their one year old phone to the latest OS?"
Exactly. The fast-paced development of Android is actually a nirvana for handset manufactures, as it guarantees quick turn-around for people to buy newer handsets. Even HTC said that everybody should just buy a new phone every year.
@pika2000
Who really wants to buy a new phone every year though? Not a month goes by without a new HTC phone annoucement/release yet you are limited to the old OS. I love the HTC hardware but i'm outdated the minute i buy the phone since I'm not even certain i'll get the latest OS upgrade from HTC.
@pika2000
To: Everyone complaining about upgrades. Don't buy a skinned UI android phone if you must have the latest OS as soon as/not too long after it drops.
Simple.
@pika2000 Totally agree with ya on this one though... despite all the features and what not, 2.2 should be minimum I would think on any of this older hardware due to the new JIT compiler... 400% speed increases would be noticed most by this hardware.
@gnawol
Mystery to me too. I think people have a sense of entitlement when it comes to updates. And I don't know who started this though. Maybe it is Apple itself that somehow built the expectation in its customers that the product will be updated indefinitely.
As for mention of it during debates, it is mainly as a counterpoint that a single manufacturer and tightly controlled devices can be immune to "fragmentation" (more specifically I call it version fragmentation, but in this case obsolescence might apply better).
It seems the issue most people (here on Engadget, not sure how representative this is of the general population) have is not that version fragmentation/obsolescence happens, but rather the pace of it with Android (mainly due to its rapid development cycle both in software and hardware that runs it: major revisions every half a year and new devices coming out constantly with better specs).
@gnawol
It's said everyday, but It bears saying again (I'm sure someone will have to point it out again tomorrow) people like us, the sort of people who read technology/gadget blogs...are NOT typical. From where I'm sitting in my office I can see two guys with a Hero. They have no clue they're "obsolete" because it means nothing to them. They bought a phone on a specific date to perform specific functions...as far as they are aware their phones STILL perform these functions. They don't know about Davlik JIT, or push intents or WiFi hotspot tethering or or the fact they can't buy apps they've never even seen in the Market.
They represent the majority. THey are why HTC are gaining share each quarter.
You people seem to only GET it when it's Apple. Apple are right. they cater to the majority and their needs. They don't offer the cutting edge that jail-breaking would offer because the majority don't know or care. Why do you believe Android is different?
@gnawol People are complaining; I'm complaining. Tuesday can't come fast enough.
@Incorrigible So, which recent Android device that have plain Android? Only the Nexus One. HTC has sense, Moto has blur, SE has their own thing.
@Tes
"You people seem to only GET it when it's Apple. Apple are right."
Really? I see the opposite. D0uchebag HTC can do no wrong. HTC is the love child of every gadget blog and readers, despite how d0uchy they are. Just watch how many people will complain when iPhone OS 4.0 is released, yet nobody question HTC where are the promised update for their older handsets like the Magic (HTC promised 2.x update for the Magic back in 2009).
@gnawol "Who really wants to buy a new phone every year though? Not a month goes by without a new HTC phone annoucement/release yet you are limited to the old OS. I love the HTC hardware but i'm outdated the minute i buy the phone since I'm not even certain i'll get the latest OS upgrade from HTC. "
That's the thing. People criticized Apple to no end for "abandoning" the oldest iPhone, yet nobody even say anything when d0uchebag HTC told them to buy new phone every year, and the fact that no Android device today have 2.2 other than the N1.
@pika2000 Blah blah Apple it's not fair HTC blah blah.
Do you really worry who gadget blogs love this week ? Cause they never hate Apple ever period.
still no sign of it in the uk...screw htc roll on june 7th for the new iphone
@nathanrobinson
i feel your pain, i've been waiting a year for 2.1, my upgrades in december so im hoping that the update will come out by then, but i wont be holding my breath!
@nathanrobinson Im pretty happy with decision I made not to join the group contract and get an HTCHero like everyone else did 6 months ago and kept my iPhone 3G instead. I'll be first in ge queue for iPhone HD when it drops here.
@nathanrobinson
My Hero contract runs out in July what I'm thinking about doing is getting the new IPhone on an 18/24 month contract using it for a year and then putting it on ebay. I can then use the proceeds to buy whatever the hot new Android phone is off-line so I have a new phone for the remainder of my contract. Off line Android phones tend to be £300-400 and iphones tend not to depreciate much so I should be covered it just depends on how much the new Iphone costs in the first place.
@nathanrobinson I love my Android G1 (1.6) phone, but unfortunately I have to agree with you.
There just seems to be no high-end Android phones coming out in the UK, even from HTC. And older phones are just not getting updated.
They're not doing a 3G EVO, no Hero updates and no Incredible.
Why should I 'upgrade' to a previous gen phone when the iPhone4 is just around the corner?
No doubt a bunch of manufacturers will 'react' to the iPhone4 and bring out a comparable phone 6-8 months later. I swear, sometimes I think these guys *want* to lose to Apple...
@FNi
.
The HTC Desire is a high end device and available in the UK.
@FNi
Yeah the Desire has the same spec as the Incredible.
@fais Only problem though getting hold of the Desire in the UK is very hard, it's like hens teeth!
This is Android biggest weakness. Though, not every Android phone is capable of taking further update due to hardware and or carrier.
@cdf74dc9
Isn't it the same for every Smartphone or computer for that matter.
You can't expect older hardware to run the latest software especially in a marked developing as quickly as the Smartphone one. An analogy would be the PC market in the 90's.
i dont care if they only ave the update to the taiwan. see this phone is unactractive anyways.
Sweet.. cuz it's essentially the same hardware as the Magic, XDA dev's should have no probs porting this bad boy over! YAY!
after all those XDA geniuses' works, HTC followed.......
@s4t1sfy Are they lacking manpower?
That calendar icon is dangerously close to the Apple icon. Fight to ensue? :)
@jiubreyn
Yes Apple invented the flip desk calendar, who knew ? they must make millions from their patent.....
@fourthletter Ever hear of sarcasm smarty? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcasm
Come on UK!
Yes can't wait for the update. I just hope I have enough MB or find a Wifi Hot spot to download it. Hopefully in the next couple of days. I wonder if Orange are going to release it or HTC?
Yay! it's finally updated to Android Vista!
WOWOWOOWOWOWOWOWOW
Still looking around for a decent 2.1 rom atm
Hopefully this will fix help with it.
I always thought that phone was gorgeous, even after getting my N1. I'd love if they used that same design except with N1 specs.
android users dont flash cooked roms? why pretend like anyone who cares, is waiting for an official update?
If you have not yet taken the incredibly short time it takes to root your phone and put a custom 2.1 ROm on your phone then you blew it....
Maybe thats because the hero (well on telus) have a specific kernel version that make it verry complicated to root.
I feel like buying the HERO right now cause I'm desperate for a new phone. Still have my MOTO ROKR E8 basic flip phone. And got screwed for my Upgrade which I was already available for.
Based off this update, VillainROM has compiled a new rooted ROM that has Sense with 2.1 and its pretty darn nice! I have it on my phone right now and its pretty snappy...especially the pinch-to-zoom see all your panels....AND google navi!
Check it out!
http://www.villainrom.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=1002&start=0
pretty easy if you have your phone rooted
....if you dont have it rooted like me...go here! THis wiki helped me out a lot!
http://www.villainrom.co.uk/wiki/index.php?title=Installing_Custom_ROMs
Best of luck!
STILL waiting in the UK