I have no doubt someone else will beat me to the punch, but checkout http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=508

Update is available for all who care to take a look here, there is now also a choice of custom ROMs.

And it really is that much faster and smoother.

HTC Hero does run Sense UI smoothly with the new update (which can easily be found on XDA Developers).

I have a whole bunch of live widgets running and it doesn't skip a beat.

To be honest the only thing HTC really need to do to make their phones the best on the market is to add a decent camera with a good flash.

I think the main thing that you haven't mentioned is that there is a thriving Warez scene for Android apps.

I have no problems paying for apps, but not when its so easily available for free (and yes I have paid for the few apps I thought were worth it).

If the developers were to build in some remote authentication and better security I think they might see their revenues increasing.

And as much as I love my Hero, I think the next batch of phones is going to be the turning point. Better high-end phones with Snapdragon and Tegra processors. And cheaper phones for the mass market based on the current tech. I think the sheer weight in numbers will start to show.

Yeah, but a couple of hundred thousand mockneys will be queuing up to use it!

Middle of August, holy f***ing crap. They need to sort themselves out, say a date and stick to it.

Anymore delays and they'll be putting themselves up against quite a few other Android phones due out before the end of the year.

When was that sony one due?

Not sure. I know that Orange has Graphite exclusively. T-Mobile has black exclusively. Not confirmed, but it looks like Carphonewarehouse might have pink exclusively (networks not confirmed).

None have confirmed availability in white yet.

I was looking at a deal from Expansys.White HTC Hero £79.99 on a 12 month contract for £35/month. Minutes and texts are quite low (200 of each), but then I mainly use the internet and generally use no more than an hours worth of minutes a month. Or Free on 18 month with more minutes and texts. 12 month contract means a new Snapdragon based android device in 12 months!

Or you can just buy it off contract for £400.

I'm with you on this one. I think it is one of the few phones every that actually looks good in white. I'll be getting white if I can.

I can't wait for this phone/mini supercomputer. My money is ready and waiting as soon asits available (thankfully in the UK, so at least we are definitely getting it).

One of the major things that Apple gets right is making a product available as soon as possible after its announced.
Palm announced the Pre way too early. Those people who may have upgraded on the impulse of gadget lust have now had time to consider whether its the right purchase. I suspect that they will have lost a lot of sales here in the UK to Apple and the forthcoming Hero (me being one of them).

And if they keep doing the delaying thing with the Hero they could find themselves in the same boat and driving people to other devices. Not that I really want to get tied into the Apple Ecosystem, but a new toy is needed pretty soon.

Pretty good rendition of the Rhapsody I guess.

But if you want a proper decent tune done just on printers check out 'Printer Jam' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=is-HVxmUELQ

I can't wait either, but they had better hurry up as my new technology fix can only be put off for so long.

If I don't hear a release date for the UK pretty soon I may have to go to the dark side and get an iPhone.

Got my beta code a week or so ago.

Had a quick play around, got a bit bored. I'll freely admit that I have never been into the likes of Second Life, I don't really see where the enjoyment is. But then lots of others do.

I could see it being really interesting if they integrated it tightly with any of the proper game titles. Such as viewing your Little Big Planet creations in the 'Home' world. Converging the worlds from one game to another, so to start COD you get in your battle gear and walk through the battle arena door. Basically making it a virtual world replacement for the XMB.

I think it is more of an interesting extra than something that is going to drive PS3 sales. Also a way for Sony to make more money by selling you extra items for the world, why do you think they are giving it away!

I'll use my spare time with Little Big Planet for now. Very cool building your own level to do some crazy things. Its like being a game designer without all of that hard work.