Unlocked HTC Hero gets Android 2.1 update -- no, for real this time

False starts aside, that promised late June Android 2.1 upgrade for the GSM version of the HTC Hero is finally here -- for unlocked models, anyhow. It seems that users are being greeted with an update clocking in at nearly 80MB, and despite HTC's own warning to the contrary, apps aren't being wiped, so you should be able to undertake the endeavor pretty safely. Orange and T-Mobile versions of the phone apparently haven't yet begun to see the rollout, but the wait shouldn't be terribly long now -- meanwhile, let us know how your upgrade experience goes in comments, folks.

[Ninetysix Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:25PM]

Congrats guys.

[who said what Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:34PM]

@Ninetysix

For some reason, updates always feel so good! :D

[ZeroTF Posted Jun 28th 2010 6:27PM]

@who said what its because u no sumthing goods going to happen

[who said what Posted Jun 28th 2010 6:32PM]

@ZeroTF

With exception of the ones from McAfee right?

[dagetz Posted Jun 28th 2010 6:55PM]

@Ninetysix yup well done guys now you only have to wait another year or more to get froyo....and then gingerbread...well at least you will be retro right :P

[DPSci Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:26PM]

or you could just root and run froyo in like 2 weeks

[newtonuk Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:26PM]

Yep, got it on my SIM free Hero!

[gatdorfl Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:27PM]

@newtonuk you smug sonofa-

[newtonuk Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:29PM]

@gatdorfl Okay, I admit it, it's my wife's phone :-)

[gatdorfl Posted Jul 4th 2010 4:26PM]

@newtonuk ^___^

[gatdorfl Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:27PM]

Finally! Whew. Now I can pretend my Hero is a Legend.

If there're any phone makers in the audience - pay attention. If I hadn't known this update was coming, I wouldn't have been so pissed that I had to wait like 6 months.

[One Love Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:27PM]

Even sadder than sprint hero. (Is that even possible?)

[DefPoet Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:48PM]

@One Love
Behold 2. Is the saddest

[Exbloder Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:50PM]

@One Love If you have a samsung

[One Love Posted Jun 28th 2010 9:36PM]

@DefPoet : My condolences.

[xyrec Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:27PM]

FINALLY!

[drAndrew Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:28PM]

Sad that 2.2 is rolling out to phones and the Hero is just now getting 2.1

[Lopek Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:29PM]

I have an unlocked phone and no update available... another false dawn. How very HTC.

[newtonuk Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:30PM]

@Lopek I advanced my date forwards two months and got it straight away!

[DefPoet Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:51PM]

@Lopek
Rooyt that thing NOW its criminal at this point not to root any version of the hero

[Bhav Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:55PM]

@newtonuk This just won't work for me :(

[ZeroTF Posted Jun 28th 2010 6:29PM]

@Lopek is it that ur phone is on contract for orange/ t mobile

[Lopek Posted Jun 28th 2010 6:53PM]

@ZeroTF

No, as I said it is an unlocked phone - bought SIM free. Have not got the update but having problems installing - see my later comment.

[magadget Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:29PM]

Luvin the fragmentation!

[pitnefor Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:31PM]

own like 5 different android devices on various different networks.. one of them is bound to be up to date

[etwashoo2 Posted Jun 29th 2010 4:38AM]

@magadget

I'd call this defragmentation.

[pitnefor Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:30PM]

always posting android! post more iphone

[SoraDX Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:38PM]

@pitnefor lol wut? Enough iPhone bs,more android!

[DeFlanko Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:39PM]

@pitnefor
Really? Was that called for?

[Wello Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:39PM]

@pitnefor
I hope you are trolling. For real.

[UptownDonkey Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:46PM]

Don't hold your breath for any future updates. Trying to get 2.2 for my Eris, which is now EOL-ed by both Verizon and HTC, and it appears all of the proprietary drivers for camera, GPS, etc don't exist for 2.2 -- looks like the end of the road for these devices. Really sad considering they both went on sale in the US what? 8 months ago?

[jalexoid Posted Jun 29th 2010 9:43AM]

@UptownDonkey That is the best reason why software device drivers have to be open-sourced under GPL!

[qakgob Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:48PM]

Here comes cursorsense...

[P Z Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:48PM]

If I see another android post I swear...

[xyrec Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:50PM]

Currently updating!

[umarfarrukh Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:55PM]

@ everyone
Please let me know , I am in UK with orange network, but my phone is sim free and unlocked by orange. I have changed the date as well to future two months, but seems to have no notifications for any software upate. please help

[fais Posted Jun 29th 2010 6:07AM]

@umarfarrukh

I think You'll have to wait if you have the Orange version of the phone as these have different software and carrier specific serial numbers. This is for the white version of the you could get off-line.

[POZ Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:55PM]

SUCKPILL! I need to throwoutify my G1. 2 will never get there. Not that it matters. I need an upgrade soon.

[GBobBillyBob Posted Jun 28th 2010 6:00PM]

I feel like iv finally been allowed into the party. Yeh ok il never get into the V.I.P. room, but its a damn sight better than sitting on the keen looking thru the window like the last 6 months!

[GBobBillyBob Posted Jun 28th 2010 6:09PM]

@GBobBillyBob

That's kerb not keen....

[Ebichu Posted Jun 28th 2010 6:00PM]

What a load of crap. I have a Hero and can renew my 1 year contract in 5 days. And to add insult to injury; I'm on a branded version. :/

[DarthPaul Posted Jun 28th 2010 6:02PM]

I'm on Orange but I rooted my phone after a week of having my Hero (about 8 months ago) & I've been running Villainrom for months now (now up to 10,3 based on the proper 2.1 release) & will never look back

[umarfarrukh Posted Jun 28th 2010 6:06PM]

Please Help
let me know , I am in UK with orange network, but my phone is sim free and unlocked by orange. I have changed the date as well to future two months, but seems to have no notifications for any software upate. please help

[ChaskaCF Posted Jun 28th 2010 6:14PM]

this article is a little outdated seeing as I got the over-the-air update from Sprint(GSM version) almost a week ago. Nevertheless, im still happy about the firmware update.

[xyrec Posted Jun 28th 2010 6:14PM]

Got it installed! Playing around with android 2.1 :D

[Lopek Posted Jun 28th 2010 6:20PM]

Downloaded successfully after a restart and a recheck.

However upgrade failed - need to ensure you have 25MB phone memory free to complete the upgrade. Cleaning out and retrying.

[Lopek Posted Jun 28th 2010 6:33PM]

OK, this is ridiculous. Trying to delete apps to make space and keep getting the "New Update" message. If I try to cancel that it says it will delete the downloaded update.

FFS who thought this out... or didn't

[Hydra Posted Jun 28th 2010 6:23PM]

Its been so long for you guys, I feel sorry you hero owners. I would haven given up so long ago

[TechIreland Posted Jun 28th 2010 6:24PM]

ok so I have the Hero on Meteor in Ireland but I haven't routed mainly because I'm concerned that the radio updates won't work with my network here and also i don't know where to find an easy to follow guide for routing.....so will this official 2.1 update prevent me from ever routing in the future?

[ZeroTF Posted Jun 28th 2010 6:27PM]

is there any t mobile g2 touches in this tread, we still havent got the update yet :(