Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Project Aether films northern lights at 100,000 feet using a GoPro camera on a balloon (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/project-aether-films-northern-lights-at-100-000-feet-using-a-gop/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/project-aether-films-northern-lights-at-100-000-feet-using-a-gop/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/project-aether-films-northern-lights-at-100-000-feet-using-a-gop/#comments ImageProject Aether captures images of northern lights at 100,000 feet using a GoPro camera on a balloon (video)

Sadly we can't all be spacemen. Commercial travel beyond the atmosphere is getting closer but still priced way, way, way beyond the budgetary constraints of mere human beings. The closest many of us will get to outer space is photography and, thanks to ever-cheaper and ever-more-durable cameras, getting those pictures is easier than ever. We recently visited Project Aether on location in Fairbanks Alaska, a group working to study what happens in the upper atmosphere and, along the way, inspire students around the world. Using a helium-filled weather balloon and a payload made of carbon fiber tubing, the team lofted a set of GoPro HD Hero 2 cameras, one of which captured photos of the green aurora borealis and, off to the side, the lingering the glow from a long-set sun. That black arc below? That's the earth.

We'll have much, much more to come on Project Aether in an upcoming Distro feature, but for now, enjoy the video below -- and keep your head in the clouds.

Continue reading Project Aether films northern lights at 100,000 feet using a GoPro camera on a balloon (video)

Project Aether films northern lights at 100,000 feet using a GoPro camera on a balloon (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aurora borealistAuroraBorealistgo pro hd hero 2goprogopro hd heroGoproHdHeroGoProHdHero2hd hero 2HdHero2herohero 2Hero2northern lightsNorthernLightsouter spaceOuterSpaceproject aetherProjectAetherspacevideoWed, 25 Apr 2012 08:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Kodak dons cape for a Google Cloud Print-compatible Hero all-in-one printers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/08/kodak-dons-cape-for-a-google-cloud-print-compatible-hero-all-in/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/08/kodak-dons-cape-for-a-google-cloud-print-compatible-hero-all-in/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/08/kodak-dons-cape-for-a-google-cloud-print-compatible-hero-all-in/#comments Looks like HP will be getting some company in Google's print cloud. Kodak today announced a new line of Cloud Print-friendly all-in-one devices, which let users print documents without all of those pesky cords. The imaging company is rolling the Hero 3.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 and 9.1. The low-end 3.1 features a 2.4-inch display and does printing, scanning, and copying for $99, while the top of the line 9.1 adds faxing, a 4.3-inch display, a 30 page automatic document feeder, automatic two-sided printing and Smart Sensor technology to the mix at $249. The $199 6.1, meanwhile, is the most business-minded of the bunch, with its home office networking capabilities. All of the models will be available this month. Printable press info after the break.

Continue reading Kodak dons cape for a Google Cloud Print-compatible Hero all-in-one printers

Kodak dons cape for a Google Cloud Print-compatible Hero all-in-one printers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 02:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-in-one printerAll-in-onePrintercloud printCloudPrintgooglegoogle cloud printGoogleCloudPrintheroHero 3.1Hero 5.1Hero 6.1Hero 7.1Hero 9.1Hero3.1Hero5.1Hero6.1Hero7.1Hero9.1kodakkodak heroKodakHeroprinterThu, 08 Sep 2011 02:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Mobile Miscellany: week of July 18, 2011]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/23/mobile-miscellany-week-of-july-18-2011/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/23/mobile-miscellany-week-of-july-18-2011/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/23/mobile-miscellany-week-of-july-18-2011/#comments Here's some of the other stuff that happened in the wide world of wireless for the week of July 18, 2011:
  • Images of the Samsung Admire for MetroPCS leaked. Also known as the SCH-R720, it may be the first device with Gingerbread on the prepaid carrier. It features a 3.5-inch HVGA display, 3G, 800MHz CPU, and 3.2 megapixel camera. [via UnwiredView]
  • Rogers introduced the HTC EVO 3D and LG Optimus 3D to its lineup, to be available sometime this summer. (thx Luke)
  • Speaking of Rogers, the Samsung Galaxy S Infuse 4G should be available on the Canadian carrier within the next few days, and will reportedly be yours for $150 with a three-year commitment. [via UnwiredView]
  • Spy shots of an unannounced Samsung Android device with Verizon branding, and full QWERTY keyboard were dug up (see the above image). Specs include Android 2.3.4 onboard and built-in 4G LTE connectivity. (thx Fayez) [via AndroidCentral]
  • The Nokia N900 was hacked, allowing you to boot up your choice of four operating systems: Maemo, Meego, NITDroid, and Kubuntu Mobile. [via LoveMyNokia]
  • The LG Optimus 3D appears to be popping up everywhere; it's currently available on Three UK. [via AndroidCentral]
  • A mystery device known as the HTC Hero 4G passed DLNA certification this week, causing speculation that this is the long-evasive and much-awaited HTC Kingdom. The phone's already passed through the FCC, which means we could see it show up on Sprint at any time. [via PhoneArena and PocketNow]
  • The Motorola Defy+ is rumored to be a mild refresh of the Defy, a popular Android device that came out last year. The new version would get a few minor boosts in specs and come in HSPA bands compatible with AT&T. [via TIMN]

Mobile Miscellany: week of July 18, 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 23 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3 uk3Uk4gandroidandroid 2.3android 2.3.4android gingerbreadAndroid2.3Android2.3.4AndroidGingerbreadattbelldefydlnahackedhacksherohero 4gHero4ghtchtc hero 4ghtc kingdomHtcHero4gHtcKingdomkingdomkubuntuleakleakslglg optimus 3dLgOptimus3dltemaemomeegometropcsmiscmiscellaneousmiscellanymmmobilemobile miscellanyMobileMiscellanymotorolamotorola defymotorola defy+MotorolaDefyMotorolaDefy+mysteryn900NITdroidnokianokia n900NokiaN900optimus 3dOptimus3dquad bootquad-bootQuadBootqwertyrogersrounduprumorrumorssamsungsamsung admiresamsung r720SamsungAdmireSamsungR720slidersprintt-mobiletelusthreethree ukThreeUkverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwwimaxSat, 23 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Screen Grabs: HTC Hero caught running WP7 on Smallville, Tess Mercer due for an upgrade]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/17/screen-grabs-htc-hero-caught-running-wp7-on-smallville-tess-me/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/17/screen-grabs-htc-hero-caught-running-wp7-on-smallville-tess-me/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/17/screen-grabs-htc-hero-caught-running-wp7-on-smallville-tess-me/#commentsScreen Grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dot com.
It looks like Tess Mercer's got more than one hero in her life, but only one of them is running Windows Phone 7. In this week's episode of Smallville, Lois Lane places a call to Tess Mercer, who appears to be packing a white HTC Hero. Oddly enough, though, it's not rocking Eclair. That's right, this Hero's a Microsoft man -- which has us wondering: what OS is Superman running?

[Thanks, Rich]

Screen Grabs: HTC Hero caught running WP7 on Smallville, Tess Mercer due for an upgrade originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 17 Apr 2011 19:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clark kentClarkKentHeroHTCHTC HEROHtcHerolois laneLoisLanescreen grabsScreenGrabssmallvillesupermantess mercerTessMercerwindowswindows mobilewindows phonewindows phone 7WindowsMobileWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7WP7Sun, 17 Apr 2011 19:12:00 EST<![CDATA[PSP-playing boy falls onto train tracks, saved by a real life hero (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/04/psp-playing-boy-falls-onto-train-tracks-saved-by-a-real-life-he/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/04/psp-playing-boy-falls-onto-train-tracks-saved-by-a-real-life-he/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/04/psp-playing-boy-falls-onto-train-tracks-saved-by-a-real-life-he/#comments Not the best news for Sony execs to be waking up to this morning, as the company's PSP has played a starring role in an unfortunate, though thankfully innocuous, incident. A 10-year old Milanese boy was recently so absorbed by his portable's make.believe world that he forgot the real one around him had boundaries with bright lines painted around them. A moment later the young gamer found himself next to the train tracks a few feet below the platform designed for human occupation, though he wasn't there long as an off-duty policeman by the name of Alessandro Micalizzi quickly leapt down and lifted him to safety. See it on video below and feel free to draw your own conclusions about your gaming habits.

Continue reading PSP-playing boy falls onto train tracks, saved by a real life hero (video)

PSP-playing boy falls onto train tracks, saved by a real life hero (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 02:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boycarabiniericopdangerousdistractedengrossedheroitalianitalymilanplatformpolicemanpsprescuesubwaytracktrackstrainundergroundvideoFri, 04 Feb 2011 02:33:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC Mecha leaked on HTC Sense]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/28/htc-mecha-leaked-on-htc-sense/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/28/htc-mecha-leaked-on-htc-sense/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/28/htc-mecha-leaked-on-htc-sense/#comments We've been hearing the hushed whispers of an HTC Mecha handset for a few months. Now we've got solid evidence of its existence thanks to the HTC's own HTC Sense web site that lists the Mecha along side the Desire HD and Desire Z when signing up for an account. Unfortunately, the image used for the Mecha (found after the break) appears to be the old Hero handset unless HTC is planning to resurrect that particular industrial design (which we doubt). Now get out of here and hit the source link to try it for yourselves.

Update: And it's gone.

[Thanks, Anthony P.]

Continue reading HTC Mecha leaked on HTC Sense

HTC Mecha leaked on HTC Sense originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 03:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>herohtchtc mechahtc senseHtcMechaHtcSenseleakmechasenseThu, 28 Oct 2010 03:57:00 EST<![CDATA[GoPro releases its budget-friendlier $179 HD Hero 960, teases 3D case for moneybags]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/30/gopro-releases-its-budget-friendlier-179-hd-hero-960-teases-3d/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/30/gopro-releases-its-budget-friendlier-179-hd-hero-960-teases-3d/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/30/gopro-releases-its-budget-friendlier-179-hd-hero-960-teases-3d/#commentsGoPro releases its budget-friendly $179 HD Hero 960, teases 3D case for moneybags It's been almost two months since GoPro announced it'd be releasing a cheaper helmet cam, the HD Hero 960, positioning it beneath the $299 and 1080p HD Hero we enjoyed last year and give those doing professional stunts on amateur budgets a chance to capture their glory. Now here it is, yours for the taking today -- if you don't mind a resolution capped at 1280 x 960 and a deleted "Hero Bus" expansion port, meaning no external displays or batteries. That port is what you'll need to use the company's next accessory, a dual camera mount shown off at Interbike (and pictured below) pairing two of the HD Heros to film in 3D. You'll need to manually stitch the resulting footage together, but there is at least a sync cable included so that the two start and stop at the same time -- something sadly lacking on the Tachyon XC 3D. That mount is set to retail for $99, but the requirement for dual $299 cameras will price this out of most budgets. However, the $179 MSRP on the HD Hero 960 makes it a compelling alternative to Contour's $220 720p ContourHD.

[Thanks, Jonathan]

Continue reading GoPro releases its budget-friendlier $179 HD Hero 960, teases 3D case for moneybags

GoPro releases its budget-friendlier $179 HD Hero 960, teases 3D case for moneybags originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d helmet cam3d helmet camera3dHelmetCam3dHelmetCamera960pgoprohelmet camhelmet cameraHelmetCamHelmetCameraherohero hdhero hd 960HeroHdHeroHd960Thu, 30 Sep 2010 11:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Sprint outs EVO 4G and Hero updates, EVO framerate cap might be solved]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/22/sprint-outs-evo-4g-and-hero-updates-evo-framerate-cap-might-be/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/22/sprint-outs-evo-4g-and-hero-updates-evo-framerate-cap-might-be/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/22/sprint-outs-evo-4g-and-hero-updates-evo-framerate-cap-might-be/#comments Last time we checked in on this problem, HTC had said that the EVO 4G's 30fps cap on video output simply couldn't be increased -- but it seems the latest firmware update might prove otherwise. We've got a couple screen shots showing details of the latest upgrades for both the EVO and the Hero; in the latter case, you've just got a couple bug fixes, but the EVO's list includes a total of four: the nasty calendar issue, the 30fps fix, a reboot problem involving GPS, and multiple Gmail sync that was busted in the Froyo update. Interestingly, Sprint's official changelog only mentions the calendar and Gmail sync fixes, so it's possible they're trying to keep the other two low-key to prevent undue questions and curiosity from folks as they upgrade. What's everyone seeing out there?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Sprint outs EVO 4G and Hero updates, EVO framerate cap might be solved originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidevoevo 4gEvo4gfirmwaregoogleherohtcotasprintupdateupgradeWed, 22 Sep 2010 13:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: Gluts and glory]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/21/switched-on-gluts-and-glory/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/21/switched-on-gluts-and-glory/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/21/switched-on-gluts-and-glory/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

Before the mass adoption of smartphones in the U.S., many fretted that the heavy subsidization model was feeding a free handset model that would keep Americans hopelessly addicted to basic voice plans and phones optimized for them. The price consumers paid in relation to the value of the handset, it was argued, was hopelessly out of whack. This year, a string of successful smartphones have shown that an increasing percentage of U.S. consumers are willing to pay $200 for a flagship device. On the other hand, there's still ample evidence that price and value can remain disconnected. And the carriers aren't making it much easier.

The smartphone surge has been driven in part by a desire to acquire the best and by a response to carrier advertising. However, a recent run-up in advanced smartphones have made it difficult to define a clear top of the line at many carriers, and carriers simply cannot promote them all with the same attention lavished on the iPhone or original Droid. Take the turn of events at Verizon, for example, which in the space of a few months has rolled out the Droid Incredible, Droid X and Droid 2, with the Samsung Fascinate in the wings. At least the first three have been all priced at $199, with strong precedent for the Fascinate coming in at that level. And while AT&T has been a bit more diverse in the operating systems of its recent spate of high-end contenders -- the iPhone 4, BlackBerry Torch and Samsung Captivate -- they too have all been priced at $199.

Continue reading Switched On: Gluts and glory

Switched On: Gluts and glory originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Aug 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidatTcolumndroiddroid 2droid xDroid2DroidXepic 4gEpic4gevogalaxy sGalaxySherohero deviceHeroDevicesprintswitched onSwitchedOnverizonx10xperiaxperia x10XperiaX10Sat, 21 Aug 2010 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Unlocked HTC Hero gets Android 2.1 update -- no, for real this time]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/28/unlocked-htc-hero-gets-android-2-1-update-no-for-real-this-t/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/28/unlocked-htc-hero-gets-android-2-1-update-no-for-real-this-t/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/28/unlocked-htc-hero-gets-android-2-1-update-no-for-real-this-t/#comments
 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.

Unlocked HTC Hero gets Android 2.1 update -- no, for real this time originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>android 2.1Android2.1herohtchtc heroHtcHerosenseupdateupgradeMon, 28 Jun 2010 17:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Sprint: EVO 4G users getting Android 2.2 'in the near future' (Update: No upgrade for Moment, Hero)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/25/sprint-evo-4g-users-getting-android-2-2-in-the-near-future/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/25/sprint-evo-4g-users-getting-android-2-2-in-the-near-future/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/25/sprint-evo-4g-users-getting-android-2-2-in-the-near-future/#comments It looks like EVO 4G users will soon have one more thing to smile about, as Sprint has just announced that an Android 2.2 (aka Froyo) upgrade will indeed be coming to the "superphone."
With the Android 2.2 upgrade, customers can expect improvements to include the following benefits: updates to user interface, improved EAS Support, improved browser performance, including Flash 10x Support, voice dialing over Bluetooth and application storage on external memory.
No word on a timeframe yet, but you'll know as soon as we do -- promise.

Update: According to this tweet from the carrier: "HTC EVO will be updated to Android 2.2; Samsung Moment & HTC Hero will not. Future devices launching w/ 2.1 will be also be updated to 2.2."

Sprint: EVO 4G users getting Android 2.2 'in the near future' (Update: No upgrade for Moment, Hero) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 11:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 2.2android osAndroid2.2AndroidOsEVO 4GEvo4gfirmwareforecastfroyogoogleheroHTCHTC EVO 4Ghtc heroHtcEvo4gHtcHeromobile osMobileOsmomentsamsung momentSamsungMomentsprintsprint herosprint htc heroSprintHeroSprintHtcHeroupdateupgradeFri, 25 Jun 2010 11:36:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC Hero gets Android 2.1 update across Europe (update: nope, not 2.1 yet)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/15/htc-hero-gets-android-2-1-update-across-europe/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/15/htc-hero-gets-android-2-1-update-across-europe/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/15/htc-hero-gets-android-2-1-update-across-europe/#comments It's been a long, painful, drawn-out process, but it looks like we're finally closing in on getting everyone with an HTC Hero around the globe covered with Eclair. The company's European outpost has just posted some details on its Android 2.1 over-the-air update for the 2100MHz 3G Hero sold in most of the continent (including separate builds for units in Nordic countries, Greece, and Ireland), so this should quite a lot of brewing discontent -- just in time for owners to develop a raging case of Froyo envy, that is. C'est la vie; time for a Legend, right?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Update: We've heard from our friends at CoolSmartPhone that this is just another minor update, amazingly -- not the 2.1 build that other Hero owners are enjoying. What gives, HTC?

Update 2: And now HTC has gotten in touch with us directly, describing a two-part (the first of which seems to have already begun) end of June release. See it after the break.

Continue reading HTC Hero gets Android 2.1 update across Europe (update: nope, not 2.1 yet)

HTC Hero gets Android 2.1 update across Europe (update: nope, not 2.1 yet) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>android 2.1Android2.1herohtchtc heroHtcHerootaupdateupgradeTue, 15 Jun 2010 19:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Sprint's HTC Hero rooted, promptly patched over-the-air]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/07/sprints-htc-hero-rooted-promptly-patched-over-the-air/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/07/sprints-htc-hero-rooted-promptly-patched-over-the-air/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/07/sprints-htc-hero-rooted-promptly-patched-over-the-air/#commentsGreat news: the original Android 2.1 firmware for Sprint's HTC Hero was recently rooted. Bad news: Sprint and HTC were entirely too quick about fixing it, pushing out an over-the-air update this weekend that patches up the so-called "security vulnerability" without a new root yet in sight. Owners of rooted devices are naturally being advised not to pull the trigger on the new build at this time; too bad HTC couldn't have shown this kind of hustle with the 2.1 upgrade in the first place, isn't it?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Sprint's HTC Hero rooted, promptly patched over-the-air originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidfirmwaregoogleherohtcmobileotaover the airOverTheAirrootsprintupdateupgradeMon, 07 Jun 2010 09:59:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC Hero (GSM) Android 2.1 update finally arrives... in Taiwan]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/04/htc-hero-android-2-1-update-finally-arrives-in-taiwan/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/04/htc-hero-android-2-1-update-finally-arrives-in-taiwan/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/04/htc-hero-android-2-1-update-finally-arrives-in-taiwan/#comments In its day, the HTC Hero with its brand new Sense UI and browser with Flash Lite was a breakthrough, multitouch Android handset. As such, it quickly became a big seller for HTC and the carriers that sold it. Now one year later, owners of the GSM variant are still waiting for their chance at the latest Android 2.1 update. As a harbinger of things to come (we hope), the Hero 2.1 update just landed in HTC's home country of Taiwan. Unfortunately, this will likely be the last update Hero owners receive... via official channels, anyway.

[Thanks, Lee]

HTC Hero (GSM) Android 2.1 update finally arrives... in Taiwan originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 04:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 2.1Android2.1firmwareherohtchtc heroHtcHerosensesense uiSenseUisoftware updateSoftwareUpdatetaiwanupdateFri, 04 Jun 2010 04:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Sprint's Hero finally gets official Android 2.1 upgrade]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/19/sprints-hero-finally-gets-official-android-2-1-upgrade/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/19/sprints-hero-finally-gets-official-android-2-1-upgrade/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/19/sprints-hero-finally-gets-official-android-2-1-upgrade/#commentsAssuming you resisted the temptation to either root your Hero or update it with the recently leaked 2.1 firmware, this is your very first chance to finally slap a dash of Android future on your senescent device. Sprint has at long last made the update available, though it isn't quite yet ready to download from its site. Fear not, the good folks behind the yellow network have put together a guide on upgrading through your phone and we'll link up the download as soon as it's ready for consumption. Time to start enjoying that Google Maps Navigation magic and all the other goodies constituting Eclair's delectable filling.

Update: It's now available direct from HTC's website, as well as Sprint's own site. Thanks, all!

[Thanks, Jonathan]

Sprint's Hero finally gets official Android 2.1 upgrade originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 06:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.1android 2.1android osAndroid2.1AndroidOseclairfirmwarefirmware updateFirmwareUpdateherohtchtc herohtc senseHtcHeroHtcSensemobile osMobileOssensesoftwaresprintupdateupgradeWed, 19 May 2010 06:06:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC Hero spied with Cox firmware?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/17/htc-hero-spied-with-cox-firmware/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/17/htc-hero-spied-with-cox-firmware/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/17/htc-hero-spied-with-cox-firmware/#commentsWe've known for some time that Cox -- a name traditionally associated with cable television -- is on the cusp of turning over its trial CDMA networks in a handful of markets to the public as it marches towards LTE on a swath of 700MHz bandwidth, but what we don't know is the kind of hardware selection we can expect once these guys go live. Take it for what you will, but it seems that an unbranded CDMA HTC Hero that looks suspiciously like Sprint's version of the handset has just changed hands on Craigslist, and -- you guessed it -- it's got a Cox splash screen when you power it on. Cox's strategy boss said just last week in an interview with Light Reading Cable that there'd be Android devices in the mix for the launch, but he played coy when pressed on details; the Hero could certainly be on the short list, but doesn't it seem a little long in the tooth to kick off a brand new network launch? Of course, this could be a hoax or a cobbled-together prototype to help test the trial network, so we'll just have to hang tight and see how this cookie crumbles; in the meantime, follow the break for the damning video evidence of the Cox Hero in the wild.

Continue reading HTC Hero spied with Cox firmware?

HTC Hero spied with Cox firmware? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 May 2010 21:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidcdmacoxcox communicationsCoxCommunicationsgoogleherohtcrumorvideoMon, 17 May 2010 21:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Android 2.1 upgrade for Sprint's HTC Hero leaks out]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/14/android-2-1-upgrade-for-sprints-htc-hero-leaks-out/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/14/android-2-1-upgrade-for-sprints-htc-hero-leaks-out/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/14/android-2-1-upgrade-for-sprints-htc-hero-leaks-out/#comments Okay, so the Moment's Android 2.1 upgrade is official -- great. But what about the Sense-powered Hero? There's no firsthand word just yet other than the promise of a Q2 release, but there is a firsthand ROM (seemingly) floating around that gives us hope we'll hear something from Hesse and crew any day now. Oh, yeah, and there is the cool part about being able to just grab the binary now and get your upgrade on without waiting, if you're as brave and impatient as we tend to be around here. Let us know how it goes, folks.

[Thanks, Divyam]

Android 2.1 upgrade for Sprint's HTC Hero leaks out originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 May 2010 20:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>android 2.1Android2.1eclairfirmwareherohtcleakromsprintupdateupgradeFri, 14 May 2010 20:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon's HTC Droid Eris getting Android 2.1 any time now (yep, it's here!)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/11/verizons-htc-droid-eris-getting-android-2-1-any-time-now/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/11/verizons-htc-droid-eris-getting-android-2-1-any-time-now/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/11/verizons-htc-droid-eris-getting-android-2-1-any-time-now/#commentsWe'd been hearing rumors lately that HTC's Droid Eris -- a phone that has never quite made it out from under the Droid's shadow -- is in the midst of being discontinued by Verizon, but the imminent launch of an Android 2.1 update might just buy it a new lease on life. In fact, the update makes this phone just about the first Hero variant anywhere in the world to be graced with an upgrade to Google's latest and greatest stuff, beating Sprint's version thanks to a string of delays that have pushed it out to some unidentified period in the second quarter. We've yet to see any reports of folks actually receiving the update notification on their devices, but Verizon's official support Twitter account is tweeting about the upgrade -- which should fix numerous bugs on top of the hotly-anticipated Eclair boost -- so we'd expect it to start hitting the wild shortly. Keep us on top of your experiences in comments, won't you?

[Thanks, Richard]

Update: Verizon has now posted the PDF changelog for your perusal while you wait. Thanks, Michael V.!

Update 2: It has begun... but this OTA update is being brewed in small batches, it seems, as we're getting reports from Droid Eris owners that have received their Eclair update each and every day.

Verizon's HTC Droid Eris getting Android 2.1 any time now (yep, it's here!) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 May 2010 15:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 2.1Android2.1droid erisDroidEriseclairfirmwaregoogleherohtcsoftwareupdateupgradeverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwTue, 11 May 2010 15:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Sprint: Samsung Moment and HTC Hero Android 2.1 updates now coming 'in Q2']]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/07/sprint-samsung-moment-and-htc-hero-android-2-1-updates-now-comi/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/07/sprint-samsung-moment-and-htc-hero-android-2-1-updates-now-comi/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/07/sprint-samsung-moment-and-htc-hero-android-2-1-updates-now-comi/#commentsOuch. Just a few days ago, it seems like a certainty that Sprint would be pushing out Android 2.1 updates to the aging Samsung Moment and HTC Hero, but now a company admin has stepped in to assure us that things aren't nearly that close to go. The full text is pasted in after the break, but the long and short of it is this: the long-awaited 2.1 update is now on track "to be available in Q2." The carrier did confess to wanting this out sooner rather than later, but hey, at least your patience is really, really appreciated.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Sprint: Samsung Moment and HTC Hero Android 2.1 updates now coming 'in Q2'

Sprint: Samsung Moment and HTC Hero Android 2.1 updates now coming 'in Q2' originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 May 2010 14:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 2.1Android2.1downloadfirmwaregooglegoogle androidGoogleAndroidheroHTCHTC HeroHtcHeromomentoperating systemOperatingSystemosotasamsungsamsung momentSamsungMomentsmartphoneSprintsprint heroSprintHeroupdateFri, 07 May 2010 14:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Sprint's HTC Hero update to Android 2.1 finally coming on May 7?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/04/sprints-htc-hero-update-to-android-2-1-finally-coming-on-may-7/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/04/sprints-htc-hero-update-to-android-2-1-finally-coming-on-may-7/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/04/sprints-htc-hero-update-to-android-2-1-finally-coming-on-may-7/#comments 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]

Sprint's HTC Hero update to Android 2.1 finally coming on May 7? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 21:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 2.1Android2.1googleherohtcrumorsprintupdateupgradeTue, 04 May 2010 21:33:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC Hero won't see upgrade to Android 2.1 until June, at least in Europe]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/21/htc-hero-wont-see-upgrade-to-android-2-1-until-june-at-least-i/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/21/htc-hero-wont-see-upgrade-to-android-2-1-until-june-at-least-i/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/21/htc-hero-wont-see-upgrade-to-android-2-1-until-june-at-least-i/#comments Plenty of UK Hero owners were disappointed this morning upon hearing the news that free Google Maps Navigation had spread beyond the borders of the USA but required Android 1.6 as the minimum OS version. Stuck in their Android 1.5 world, they must have hoped that HTC would just hurry up and open the gates to Eclair heaven, but hurrying up is, regrettably, the opposite of what's happening. Tech Radar heard from a Google rep that the Hero's move to Android 2.1 won't be happening until June, and followed it up with HTC directly. The official response was that a free update for European Hero variants will indeed be provided "starting in June." At least this cloud of disappointment will only hang over Europe, as other territories -- like Taiwan -- might still get the update reasonably soon.

[Thanks, Paul]

HTC Hero won't see upgrade to Android 2.1 until June, at least in Europe originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Apr 2010 12:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 1.5android 2.1android eclairandroid osAndroid1.5Android2.1AndroidEclairAndroidOseclairfirmwaregoogleherohtchtc heroHtcHeroupdateupgradeWed, 21 Apr 2010 12:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Sprint's HTC Hero and Samsung Moment Android 2.1 updates on track for early May?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/16/sprints-htc-hero-and-samsung-moment-android-2-1-updates-on-trac/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/16/sprints-htc-hero-and-samsung-moment-android-2-1-updates-on-trac/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/16/sprints-htc-hero-and-samsung-moment-android-2-1-updates-on-trac/#comments Look, we're calling it: as Android goes, anything older than Eclair is officially lame sauce at this point. Manufacturers need kick things into high gear and offer upgrades for the good of their customers -- custom skin or no -- so we're glad to see that folks on Sprint might be mere weeks away from official updates for a couple of their devices. The Hero and Moment are both stuck on Cupcake for now, but we've known for a while that Android 2.1 is in the cards, and an internal screen at Sprint appears to show that we can expect the updates to launch in "early May." For what it's worth, enterprising Moment owners can already get their Eclair on -- but a more official option is always the best way to go, right?

Sprint's HTC Hero and Samsung Moment Android 2.1 updates on track for early May? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>android 2.1Android2.1herohtcmobilemomentrumorsamsungsprintupdateupgradeFri, 16 Apr 2010 14:59:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC Hero update to Android 2.1 on April 26th in home country of Taiwan]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/26/htc-hero-update-to-android-2-1-on-april-26th-in-home-country-of/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/26/htc-hero-update-to-android-2-1-on-april-26th-in-home-country-of/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/26/htc-hero-update-to-android-2-1-on-april-26th-in-home-country-of/#comments We're past mid-March and rapidly approaching the early Q2 launch estimates for the Android 2.1 update for HTC's Hero. Now Engadget Chinese has tipped us to an official HTC release date issued on Plurk (a very popular, Twitter-like social service used locally) in HTC's home country of Taiwan: April 26th. So we should see the update go hot globally, with the latest version of the Sense UI in tow, at about the same time. You know, if you haven't grown tired of waiting and already hacked it in.

HTC Hero update to Android 2.1 on April 26th in home country of Taiwan originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 07:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.1androidandroid 2.1Android2.1firmwarefirmware updateFirmwareUpdateherohtchtc heroHtcHeroplurksensesoftware updateSoftwareUpdatetaiwanFri, 26 Mar 2010 07:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Sprint to release Android 2.1 update for Hero and Moment 'over the coming weeks']]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/20/sprint-to-release-android-2-1-update-for-hero-and-moment-over-t/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/20/sprint-to-release-android-2-1-update-for-hero-and-moment-over-t/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/20/sprint-to-release-android-2-1-update-for-hero-and-moment-over-t/#commentsIf you recall, about a month ago Sprint tweeted that it was working on delivering Android 2.1 upgrade for its HTC Hero and Samsung Moment in early Q2 this year. An optimistic guess would be April, right? Funnily enough, Techie Buzz has heard that two eager customers managed to squeeze a more precise date out of Sprint over a phone call -- end of March or even March 26th. Don't go reaching for that champagne just yet, though -- a self-proclaimed Sprint employee shared a recent internal memo on XDA-Developers forum, revealing that it's "actively working on having the Android 2.1 platform available to our Hero and Moment customers over the coming weeks," and that "more information coming in April." Oh Sprint, you do love playing with our little minds, don't you?

Sprint to release Android 2.1 update for Hero and Moment 'over the coming weeks' originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 20 Mar 2010 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 2.1Android2.1cdmafirmwarefirmware updateFirmwareUpdateherohtchtc heroHtcHeromobilemomentsamsungsamsung momentSamsungMomentsprintSat, 20 Mar 2010 13:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Sprint: Android 2.1 update for Hero, Moment coming in early Q2]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/16/sprint-android-2-1-update-for-hero-moment-coming-in-early-q2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/16/sprint-android-2-1-update-for-hero-moment-coming-in-early-q2/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/16/sprint-android-2-1-update-for-hero-moment-coming-in-early-q2/#comments
And there you have it, folks -- word straight from Sprint that the much-anticipated Android 2.1 update will be coming to the HTC Hero and Samsung Moment "early" in the second quarter of this year. As you may recall, Sprint has actually been talking about this update since December, but "early 2Q10" is at least slightly better news than the previous "1H2010" estimate the carrier's been dishing out.

Update: Sprint has posted a follow-up tweet saying that OTA vs. PC-based or in-store upgrades are "still TBD upgrade options."

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Sprint: Android 2.1 update for Hero, Moment coming in early Q2 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 2.1Android2.1firmwarefirmware updateFirmwareUpdateherohtchtc heroHtcHeromomentsamsungsamsung momentSamsungMomentsprintTue, 16 Feb 2010 12:34:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC enhances Sense with Leap and Friend Stream (updated with video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/16/htc-enhances-sense-with-leap-and-friend-stream/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/16/htc-enhances-sense-with-leap-and-friend-stream/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/16/htc-enhances-sense-with-leap-and-friend-stream/#comments Our recent chance encounter with a multitouch-friendly iteration of HTC's Sense UI turns out to have been a preview of the company's latest version of the software. Announcing that it has "enhanced" the already quite delectable skin, HTC has noted it'll be available preloaded on the brand new Desire and Legend handsets, and as a free download for the venerable Hero. So what's new? The press event this morning told us about Leap, the new pinching function that allows you to view all your home screens at once (see above), and Friend Stream, which aims to be your social media aggregator du jour with its one stream combining Facebook, Twitter and Flickr updates. There's also a new newsreader application and widget, along with additional improvements to the browser and web client. You'll find the full PR after the break and early impressions of the new interface in our hands-on with the new phones.

Update: See a full walkthrough of the new UI in a video after the break.

Continue reading HTC enhances Sense with Leap and Friend Stream (updated with video)

HTC enhances Sense with Leap and Friend Stream (updated with video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 06:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid osAndroidOsdesirefriend streamFriendStreamherohtchtc desirehtc friend streamhtc herohtc leaphtc legendhtc senseHtcDesireHtcFriendStreamHtcHeroHtcLeapHtcLegendHtcSenseleaplegendmobile osMobileOsmwcmwc 2010Mwc2010sensesense uiSenseUiskinsmartphonesuiuser interfaceUserInterfaceTue, 16 Feb 2010 06:34:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC Hero shows off multitouch-enabled Sense UI on video]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/11/htc-hero-shows-off-multitouch-enabled-sense-ui-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/11/htc-hero-shows-off-multitouch-enabled-sense-ui-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/11/htc-hero-shows-off-multitouch-enabled-sense-ui-on-video/#comments Bear in mind we don't know for sure whether this is a forthcoming iteration of the Sense UI or just an industrious hacker, but the video after the break shows off some pretty sweet multitouch integration into HTC's Android skin. Pinch-to-zoom, that most notorious of functions, is used to achieve an Exposé-like overview of all the widgets you have open, with an easy tap getting you into the one you want. It seems a relatively intuitive action, even if the person showing it off does his or her best to make it look as clumsy as possible. This should be most enticing when considered in light of the purportedly upcoming HTC Hero update to Android 2.1 -- who's to say this isn't what HTC is cooking up as an extra topping for that Eclair?

[Thanks, Nader]

Continue reading HTC Hero shows off multitouch-enabled Sense UI on video

HTC Hero shows off multitouch-enabled Sense UI on video originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 11:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid osAndroidOsexposeexpose-likegoogleherohtchtc herohtc senseHtcHeroHtcSensemultitouchpinch and zoompinch to zoompinch-to-zoomPinchAndZoomPinchToZoomsensesense uisense ui 2.1SenseUiSenseUi2.1Thu, 11 Feb 2010 11:19:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC Hero update to Android 2.1 pegged for mid-March]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/09/htc-hero-update-to-android-2-1-pegged-for-mid-march/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/09/htc-hero-update-to-android-2-1-pegged-for-mid-march/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/09/htc-hero-update-to-android-2-1-pegged-for-mid-march/#commentsWe'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]

HTC Hero update to Android 2.1 pegged for mid-March originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 2.1Android2.1firmwareherohtcsensesense uiSenseUiupdateupgradeTue, 09 Feb 2010 17:35:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC Hero-controlled Mindstorms bot hints at Android uprising]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/htc-hero-controlled-mindstorms-bot-hints-at-android-uprising/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/htc-hero-controlled-mindstorms-bot-hints-at-android-uprising/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/htc-hero-controlled-mindstorms-bot-hints-at-android-uprising/#comments Using a cellphone to control a robot -- or a pretty sweet helicopter -- isn't exactly a new idea, but there's something about the combination of Android and Lego Mindstorms that promises to break the possibilities wide open. Swedish tech company Enea Linköping is one of the first we've seen to directly link an Android app to the Mindstorms brain over Bluetooth -- they're using an HTC Hero to control two simple rover bots. Unfortunately, since Android 1.5 doesn't support the Bluetooth serial profile, there's a hack involved: the phone actually sends out commands over WiFi,which are passed through a WiFi-Bluetooth tunneling app on laptop before hitting the bots. That means there's a little lag involved, but now that Android 2.1 has serial Bluetooth support we're hoping things get a little more streamlined in the future. Video after the break.

Continue reading HTC Hero-controlled Mindstorms bot hints at Android uprising

HTC Hero-controlled Mindstorms bot hints at Android uprising originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbluetoothhackherohtchtc heroHtcHerolegolego mindstormsLegoMindstormsmindstormsrobotwifiMon, 08 Feb 2010 12:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Orange UK's HTC Hero gets a minor firmware bump]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/05/orange-uks-htc-hero-gets-a-minor-firmware-bump/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/05/orange-uks-htc-hero-gets-a-minor-firmware-bump/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/05/orange-uks-htc-hero-gets-a-minor-firmware-bump/#comments Want Android 2.1 on your Hero? Of course you do -- but don't look for it from HTC... at least, not yet. It should be available eventually -- and in the meantime, you're obviously welcome to do some digging for a cooked ROM from the good people at xda-developers -- but for now, High Tech Computer is kicking out another Cupcake-based firmware for Hero users on Orange in the UK. Don't expect anything groundbreaking here, but CoolSmartPhone reports that there's at least a new People widget with a 3 x 3 grid, which sounds particularly handy for anyone with nine or fewer friends. If you want it, it's a quick download away -- not as cool as an OTA, of course, but still better than accidentally submerging your phone in boiling water.

[Thanks, Anders]

Orange UK's HTC Hero gets a minor firmware bump originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidfirmwareherohtcmobileorangeorange ukOrangeUkukupdateupgradeFri, 05 Feb 2010 19:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Android display battle: In the end, there can be only One]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/03/android-display-battle-in-the-end-there-can-be-only-one/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/03/android-display-battle-in-the-end-there-can-be-only-one/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/03/android-display-battle-in-the-end-there-can-be-only-one/#comments It's not everyday you get to see six (6!) Android devices pitted against each other in a display-quality grudge match. No, not that sensor sensitivity nonsense again, rather, just a plain ol' video playback comparison for your subjective observations. Fortunately, the Android-loving kids over at HDBlog shot a video of the MyTouch 3G, HTC Hero, Motorola Milestone / Droid, Acer Liquid, Nexus One, and Samsung Galaxy (laid out clockwise in the image above). In our opinion, the Nexus One with its 3.7-inch AMOLED display packing a 800 x 480 pixel resolution comes out on top with the best overall image (though slightly on the red end of the color spectrum) -- good thing the video wasn't shot outdoors where that AMOLED is all but unreadable. But hey, that's our opinion, form your own in the video after the break.

Continue reading Android display battle: In the end, there can be only One

Android display battle: In the end, there can be only One originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aceramoledandroidbattlecomparisoncompetitiondisplaydroidgalaxygoogleherohtchtc heroHtcHeroliquidmilestonemotorolamytouch 3gMytouch3gnexus oneNexusOneoledsamsungshootoutWed, 03 Feb 2010 06:25:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC posts kernel source for Tattoo, Sprint Hero]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/22/htc-posts-kernel-source-for-tattoo-sprint-hero/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/22/htc-posts-kernel-source-for-tattoo-sprint-hero/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/22/htc-posts-kernel-source-for-tattoo-sprint-hero/#comments The terms of the GPL require that developers of Android handsets out the source code for their phones' platform kernels, something HTC, Samsung, and others have generally been good about (emphasis on "generally") -- and now HTC's gone ahead and pushed a couple more notables into the public domain. The Tattoo and the Sprint-branded version of the Hero are the latest to get their innermost software workings exposed; the Tattoo should be an interesting choice here because it's one of the lowest-end Android sets released to date, and the Sprint Hero's been taking some heat for a while now for its lack of code exposure. We're happy to see HTC stay in compliance, yes -- but really, we're even happier to know that it's now in the hands of people who intend to tear it apart and do cool stuff with it.

HTC posts kernel source for Tattoo, Sprint Hero originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidherohtckernelmobilesourcesource codeSourceCodesprinttattooFri, 22 Jan 2010 14:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Keepin' it real fake, part CCLI: Xperia X10 + BlackBerry UI + ??? = profit]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/14/keepin-it-real-fake-part-ccli-xperia-x10-blackberry-ui/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/14/keepin-it-real-fake-part-ccli-xperia-x10-blackberry-ui/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/14/keepin-it-real-fake-part-ccli-xperia-x10-blackberry-ui/#comments Meet the Hero C7000, the closest thing you can get to a Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 right now. Problem is, that's not very close -- in place of SE's highly customized Android skin, for example, you'll find a positively delightful rip of RIM's UI for the Storm series on a 3-inch display (as opposed to the genuine X10 article's 4 inches). Not quite what you were looking for? Well, look at it this way: at the right market you'll be able to find it for a minute fraction of the X10's cost -- and without a carved-in-stone ship date, maybe this thing can hold you over for a while.

Keepin' it real fake, part CCLI: Xperia X10 + BlackBerry UI + ??? = profit originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 08:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blackberryc7000chinaericssonherohero c7000HeroC7000kirfmobilesonysony ericssonSonyEricssonx10xperiaxperia x10XperiaX10Thu, 14 Jan 2010 08:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Russia gets mocha-edition HTC Hero, plastic flavor coming soon]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/11/russia-gets-mocha-edition-htc-hero-plastic-flavor-coming-soon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/11/russia-gets-mocha-edition-htc-hero-plastic-flavor-coming-soon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/11/russia-gets-mocha-edition-htc-hero-plastic-flavor-coming-soon/#commentsRussia gets mocha-edition HTC Hero, plastic flavor coming soon Sure, you lament about this or that certain smartphone not coming to your wireless provider of choice, but imagine if that phone hadn't even been released in your country. For those who are Russian and for whom That Certain Smartphone is the HTC Hero, your time is finally coming, and soon. HTC sent out devices to many members of the .RU press, but rather than providing functioning ones they received models made entirely of chocolate. Not entirely encouraging, but the company's Cyrillic Twitter page (which has been responsible for creating a stir in the past) is saying the phone is coming soon, as in the next few weeks, and HTC also created a Facebook fan page for the phone over the weekend. So, buckle up Russian readers; looks like you're getting your Hero soon.

Russia gets mocha-edition HTC Hero, plastic flavor coming soon originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jan 2010 09:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chocolateherohtchtc heroHtcHeroreleaserussiaMon, 11 Jan 2010 09:51:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC Hero gets firmware update (no, not you, Sprint customers)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/htc-hero-gets-firmware-update-no-not-you-sprint-customers/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/htc-hero-gets-firmware-update-no-not-you-sprint-customers/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/htc-hero-gets-firmware-update-no-not-you-sprint-customers/#comments The GSM version of the Hero just got hooked up with a new firmware update, version 2.73.771.73 (H3G). We don't know what's in here yet -- HTC hasn't offered up a changelog -- but we're foolishly hopeful that it's something newer than Android 1.5 (emphasis on "foolishly"). Let us know how it goes, folks.

[Thanks, Nabeel M.]

HTC Hero gets firmware update (no, not you, Sprint customers) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 11:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidfirmwareherohtchtc heroHtcHeromobileupdateupgradeFri, 08 Jan 2010 11:14:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC Hero's Android 2.1 ROM hacked onto Droid with all sorts of busted]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/htc-heros-android-2-1-rom-hacked-onto-droid-with-all-sorts-of-b/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/htc-heros-android-2-1-rom-hacked-onto-droid-with-all-sorts-of-b/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/htc-heros-android-2-1-rom-hacked-onto-droid-with-all-sorts-of-b/#comments We don't really recommend trying this yourself if you like "using" your Droid for performing "tasks," but if you're the 1337 type or you're just looking for a quick, easy, and fun way to brick a perfectly good Eclair device, you might want to take a look at this ported ROM that's just hit the streets. What we're looking at here is an early, half-baked conversion of that leaked Hero ROM with Sense and Android 2.1, apparently with functional messaging and calling (whew) but without a working WiFi stack. If nothing else, this is a good start for the community; hopefully we'll see something a little more solid soon that can actually be used day to day without an iron will and a brass pair.

HTC Hero's Android 2.1 ROM hacked onto Droid with all sorts of busted originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 2.1Android2.1droidhackherohtchtc heroHtcHeromobilemotomotorolaromsensesoftwareWed, 30 Dec 2009 20:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Nexus One stands with iPhone and Hero, interface gets a 5-minute walkthrough]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/22/google-nexus-one-stands-with-iphone-and-hero-interface-gets-a-5/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/22/google-nexus-one-stands-with-iphone-and-hero-interface-gets-a-5/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/22/google-nexus-one-stands-with-iphone-and-hero-interface-gets-a-5/#comments
The Google Nexus One trickle continues. Today's two menu items include a 5-minute demonstration of the Android 2.1 interface -- shaky, sure, but it's a pretty thorough rundown of all the menus. We're also serving up some low-resolution picture comparisons of the Nexus One laying side-by-side with the iPhone and HTC Hero. It still eludes us how all these leaking parties don't seem to have in their possession a decent DSLR or camcorder (feel free to give us a buzz, we'll gladly help out). Video after the break.

Gallery: Google Nexus One stands with iPhone and Hero, interface gets a 5-minute walkthrough



Continue reading Google Nexus One stands with iPhone and Hero, interface gets a 5-minute walkthrough

Google Nexus One stands with iPhone and Hero, interface gets a 5-minute walkthrough originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 2.1Android2.1googleherohtchtc heroHtcHeroiphonenexusnexus oneNexusOneoneTue, 22 Dec 2009 23:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Sprint's HTC Hero and Samsung Moment on track to get Android 2.1, not 2.0]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/sprints-htc-hero-and-samsung-moment-on-track-to-get-android-2-1/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/sprints-htc-hero-and-samsung-moment-on-track-to-get-android-2-1/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/sprints-htc-hero-and-samsung-moment-on-track-to-get-android-2-1/#commentsSo Sprint's backtracking on its promise to deliver Android 2.0 to its Hero and Moment in the first half of next year, but it's backtracking in an awesome way for a change of pace -- they'll actually be getting 2.1. That makes tons of sense considering that the leaked Hero builds have all been on 2.1 and 2.0 will be all but obsolete by the time HTC gets around to releasing anything -- so yeah, we probably could've predicted this anyway, but now it's official. Unfortunately that 1H 2010 window hasn't been reigned in at all, but here's hoping this is a case where they under-promise and over-deliver.

Sprint's HTC Hero and Samsung Moment on track to get Android 2.1, not 2.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 2.0android 2.1Android2.0Android2.1cupcakefirmwareflanherohtcmomentsamsungsprintupdateupgradeThu, 17 Dec 2009 20:29:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC debuts widgets for Sense-equipped Android phones]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/htc-debuts-widgets-for-sense-equipped-android-phones/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/htc-debuts-widgets-for-sense-equipped-android-phones/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/htc-debuts-widgets-for-sense-equipped-android-phones/#comments HTC was already in the Android software game by virtue of the fact that it drops a fully-customized UI and widget suite on some of its models, but this is new: they've migrated over to the Market. Now, what'd be insanely awesome here is if you could, say, buy Sense for $9.99 and install it on any Android device, but yeah, not so much -- what we've actually got here is a four-pack of free widgets that are compatible with the Hero and Droid Eris. Dice, Today in History, Tip Calculator, and Battery are each downloadable individually; none are particularly exciting or different than what's already available in the Market, but they've all got that famous HTC high style and the exclusivity of knowing that Motorola, Acer, Samsung, and Huawei riffraff can't use them. All four are available now.

HTC debuts widgets for Sense-equipped Android phones originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid marketAndroidMarketbatterydicedroid erisDroidErisherohtcsensesense uiSenseUitip calculatorTipCalculatortoday in historyTodayInHistorywidgetwidgetsThu, 17 Dec 2009 13:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Sprint says Android 2.0 coming to Hero and Moment first half of next year]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/11/sprint-says-android-2-0-coming-to-hero-and-moment-first-half-of/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/11/sprint-says-android-2-0-coming-to-hero-and-moment-first-half-of/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/11/sprint-says-android-2-0-coming-to-hero-and-moment-first-half-of/#commentsIn the wake of Verizon's Droid Eris update announcement, Sprint couldn't very well rest on its laurels and let the world go by while its Android babies grow stale on version 1.5, could it? Indeed, the company has announced today (via Twitter, of all things) that it'll be bringing Android 2.0 to the table for its HTC Hero and Samsung Moment in the first half of 2010. Naturally, we wish they could tighten that up to the first quarter (or heck, this month, for that matter), but as far as we can tell, HTC isn't yet done prepping Sense for 2.0 so they're probably in a holding pattern there. As for the Moment, it's running stock 1.5 -- and we'd certainly expect it to run stock 2.0, too -- so we're not sure what the holdup is on Sammy's end, but you can bet we're looking forward to seeing the Google juice running in full AMOLED technicolor.

Sprint says Android 2.0 coming to Hero and Moment first half of next year originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 2.0Android2.0eclairherohtcmomentsamsungsprintupdateupgradeFri, 11 Dec 2009 17:10:00 EST