Definitely considering a HTC hero

LeperousDust · 26-07-2009, 16:37

Played with one in the orange shop the other day, and the only bad thing i've read about them is they have a "slow" calendar app because of the new HTC gloss, and a few slow transitions, becuase HTC have plopped this lovely new OS on top of old magic hardware which is a shame. But! Using it myself i never noticed any slow downs at all, so i'm definitely considering it again now.

Anyone else? I like the idea of continual development and updates (as long as my hardware can cope). The screen is totally lush and a nice little camera, it feels smaller than i imagined it would and light too.

Only thing i'm a little erked about is decent (i mean decent) GPS software, i can't really seem to find anything out there that rivals tomtom properly, which is a shame, i'd like to see tomtom porting to android, tomtom runs on linux on its standalone units doesnt it? So surely its just a matter of time before some demonstrates it can be done?

Questions questions, and also it works out fairly expensive as well like, that probably the biggest thing putting me off right now

Mark · 26-07-2009, 17:02

Are you at home (south of the border)? If so, which shop? Asking on the slight chance it might be where I'm going as I want to find one to play with myself.

LeperousDust · 26-07-2009, 17:09

Yeah i played in Liverpool, the orange shop around Liverpool 1 didn't have any (or the battery had died i can't actually remember) but theres a second shop round the corner that had a live unit

She let me play with it as long as i wanted, i was seriously impressed, although that shop didn't have a sim to put in it so i could really get a real feel for the web which is slightly annoying. Wanted to try some first action real flash content see how it really holds up...

Mark · 26-07-2009, 17:11

That wouldn't be any bother for me. May as well abuse my existing Orange SIM for that. I'll be in Liverpool ONE Friday afternoon so hopefully I can find the store (and they've still got one).

PS - I'll be heading to the nearby Apple Store first. This was mandatory otherwise I'd have been too tempted by the all-you-can-eat Chinese, though I'm honestly not sure which is worse.

Daz · 26-07-2009, 19:13

I'm definitely considering it. Upgrade date with T-Mobile is the 28th, just waiting for them to put it in the shops so I can have a play with it.

As for TomTom on Android, I guess we just have to see how TomTom on the iPhone sells!

LeperousDust · 26-07-2009, 19:50

Thats a niggly thing holding me back though, cause i've got tomtom (or other decent) solutions that work very very well, android is just waiting around. Android has MASSIVE MASSIVE potential, i just hope it takes off seriously, if it does it will be amazing...

Daz · 26-07-2009, 20:00

Fwiw, I think it will. The Android will grow beyond phones quickly, which will make the Marketplace appealing.

There are a couple of nav solutions already on the AM (Google Maps and AndNav2(free) being two of them), and if there are genuinely no workable options I'm gonna leave my old Touch original in the glove box. That in the car and the others on foot and I'll be covered. I'd jump on TomTom if it was available though of course.

[edit]
http://www.jack-frost.co.uk/essential_android_apps.html <-- random free apps which look spiffy.

LeperousDust · 26-07-2009, 21:33

Nice they look pretty good, i can't say i'm definitely not tempted, i'm just wondered whats the next hardware stetp for HTC because until the hero android has not really had its fair share. Android is all about hardware as well because the platform itself is always around and updating and refreshing which is great unless your hardware can't keep up.

I'm currently on a rolling contract with T-mobile as well, so technically i could upgrade whenever, but i love the flexibility of this contract but obviously dont want to be stung by sim free price tag!

Daz · 26-07-2009, 22:43

Well, if the regular upgrades are important to you, then the Hero has a bit of a question mark over it there. It's not a 'Google Experience' phone, meaning that HTC have changed enough of the OS that Google cannot support it directly. When 2.0 ('Donut') does get released - or indeed any intermediate release before then - you wont be able to upgrade directly from Google, HTC will need to roll it up with Sense (and EAS, and whatever other customisations they have) first. Which nobody's quite sure if they're going to do, and how quickly.

The G1 and Magic were both upgradable, even over the air, straight from Google HQ - the Hero wont be. You'll always have the Marketplace though.

LeperousDust · 26-07-2009, 23:30

Oh yeah i totally understand that, but i don't mind getting my hands dirty with guides and other peoples handywork which will most likely be around. I just mean the actualy OS ecosystem is fantastic, and i have no doubt HTC will keep on top of things anyway, they're a fantastic little company

. Google experience really means nothing to me, OTA firmware is nice but tbh its no biggie.

26-07-2009, 16:37	#1
LeperousDust Bananaman Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Liverpool/Edinburgh Posts: 4,817	Definitely considering a HTC hero Played with one in the orange shop the other day, and the only bad thing i've read about them is they have a "slow" calendar app because of the new HTC gloss, and a few slow transitions, becuase HTC have plopped this lovely new OS on top of old magic hardware which is a shame. But! Using it myself i never noticed any slow downs at all, so i'm definitely considering it again now. Anyone else? I like the idea of continual development and updates (as long as my hardware can cope). The screen is totally lush and a nice little camera, it feels smaller than i imagined it would and light too. Only thing i'm a little erked about is decent (i mean decent) GPS software, i can't really seem to find anything out there that rivals tomtom properly, which is a shame, i'd like to see tomtom porting to android, tomtom runs on linux on its standalone units doesnt it? So surely its just a matter of time before some demonstrates it can be done? Questions questions, and also it works out fairly expensive as well like, that probably the biggest thing putting me off right now __________________

26-07-2009, 17:09	#3
LeperousDust Bananaman Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Liverpool/Edinburgh Posts: 4,817	Yeah i played in Liverpool, the orange shop around Liverpool 1 didn't have any (or the battery had died i can't actually remember) but theres a second shop round the corner that had a live unit She let me play with it as long as i wanted, i was seriously impressed, although that shop didn't have a sim to put in it so i could really get a real feel for the web which is slightly annoying. Wanted to try some first action real flash content see how it really holds up... __________________

26-07-2009, 17:11	#4
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	That wouldn't be any bother for me. May as well abuse my existing Orange SIM for that. I'll be in Liverpool ONE Friday afternoon so hopefully I can find the store (and they've still got one). PS - I'll be heading to the nearby Apple Store first. This was mandatory otherwise I'd have been too tempted by the all-you-can-eat Chinese, though I'm honestly not sure which is worse. Last edited by Mark; 26-07-2009 at 17:15.

26-07-2009, 19:13	#5
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	I'm definitely considering it. Upgrade date with T-Mobile is the 28th, just waiting for them to put it in the shops so I can have a play with it. As for TomTom on Android, I guess we just have to see how TomTom on the iPhone sells! __________________ apt-get moo

26-07-2009, 19:50	#6
LeperousDust Bananaman Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Liverpool/Edinburgh Posts: 4,817	Thats a niggly thing holding me back though, cause i've got tomtom (or other decent) solutions that work very very well, android is just waiting around. Android has MASSIVE MASSIVE potential, i just hope it takes off seriously, if it does it will be amazing... __________________

26-07-2009, 17:02	#2
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Are you at home (south of the border)? If so, which shop? Asking on the slight chance it might be where I'm going as I want to find one to play with myself.

26-07-2009, 20:00	#7
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	Fwiw, I think it will. The Android will grow beyond phones quickly, which will make the Marketplace appealing. There are a couple of nav solutions already on the AM (Google Maps and AndNav2(free) being two of them), and if there are genuinely no workable options I'm gonna leave my old Touch original in the glove box. That in the car and the others on foot and I'll be covered. I'd jump on TomTom if it was available though of course. [edit] http://www.jack-frost.co.uk/essential_android_apps.html <-- random free apps which look spiffy. __________________ apt-get moo Last edited by Daz; 26-07-2009 at 20:04.

26-07-2009, 21:33	#8
LeperousDust Bananaman Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Liverpool/Edinburgh Posts: 4,817	Nice they look pretty good, i can't say i'm definitely not tempted, i'm just wondered whats the next hardware stetp for HTC because until the hero android has not really had its fair share. Android is all about hardware as well because the platform itself is always around and updating and refreshing which is great unless your hardware can't keep up. I'm currently on a rolling contract with T-mobile as well, so technically i could upgrade whenever, but i love the flexibility of this contract but obviously dont want to be stung by sim free price tag! __________________

26-07-2009, 22:43	#9
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	Well, if the regular upgrades are important to you, then the Hero has a bit of a question mark over it there. It's not a 'Google Experience' phone, meaning that HTC have changed enough of the OS that Google cannot support it directly. When 2.0 ('Donut') does get released - or indeed any intermediate release before then - you wont be able to upgrade directly from Google, HTC will need to roll it up with Sense (and EAS, and whatever other customisations they have) first. Which nobody's quite sure if they're going to do, and how quickly. The G1 and Magic were both upgradable, even over the air, straight from Google HQ - the Hero wont be. You'll always have the Marketplace though. __________________ apt-get moo

26-07-2009, 23:30	#10
LeperousDust Bananaman Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Liverpool/Edinburgh Posts: 4,817	Oh yeah i totally understand that, but i don't mind getting my hands dirty with guides and other peoples handywork which will most likely be around. I just mean the actualy OS ecosystem is fantastic, and i have no doubt HTC will keep on top of things anyway, they're a fantastic little company . Google experience really means nothing to me, OTA firmware is nice but tbh its no biggie. __________________