HTC Hero, coming July on Orange and T-Mobile, makes me want!

deadite66 · 26 Jun 2009 at 08:08

i'd rather wait for the samsung i7500 and get flash in october.

mrk · 26 Jun 2009 at 09:06

The Samsung looks like Ass though.

Also: http://gizmodo.com/5302637/materials-the-htc-heros-teflon-coating-makes-the-iphone-feel-like-junk

deadite66 · 26 Jun 2009 at 09:34

i buy phones for features not looks, the samsung has 8GB built in and a oled screen.

mrk · 26 Jun 2009 at 09:46

OLED doesn't make it any more special, OLED screens are just as hard to read in sunlight as normal screens. 8GB storage is good yeah but multi GB SDHC cards are out and are cheap too. The Samsung will look like tat after a few months (as usual) whereas the HTC models won't due to their build quality and materials used.

OCdude · 26 Jun 2009 at 09:59

Does the Hero have one of those red spots, so you know when it's at the idea temperature to put your steak on?

McDaniel · 26 Jun 2009 at 10:15

Plus the ram on the I7500 is supposedly pretty low

AFK_Matrix · 26 Jun 2009 at 10:46

Talking of other phones I was hunting the internet for furture Android phones and came across the Sony Ericsson P905:

http://www.concept-phones.com/sony-ericsson/sony-ericsson-p905-full-touchscreen-android-qwerty/

If it looks like that and has good specs that will be one of the nicest android phones around imo. Think I am gonna just wait till the end of my contract in November and see whats around then.

mrk · 26 Jun 2009 at 10:48

Well you know the camera will be good if SE make an Android phone

- not sure about the build quality though going by K700i/K750i and K800i ownership experience!

Also the battery should pwn as usual for an SE phone. But that P905 does look really nice..if only a concept pic.

GuruJockStrap · 26 Jun 2009 at 11:15

MarcLister said:
It does look nice. Apart from the chin which looks really quite fugly. Lose the chin and it beats the Magic, for me at least. But with that chin the Magic still is my favoured next phone.

The phones need the chin so that the trackball doesn't get damaged when you place the handset face down on a flat surface.

Like the Magics one as its quite subtle.

Rhys · 26 Jun 2009 at 11:33

GuruJockStrap said:
The phones need the chin so that the trackball doesn't get damaged when you place the handset face down on a flat surface.

Like the Magics one as its quite subtle.

Who puts their phone face down? I dont think that is the main reason for the chin.

Alfie · 26 Jun 2009 at 11:33

Hen_Dawg said:
Looks potentially great. Was gonna stay on Voda and get the Magic but this may be worth a switch...

..........Stay on voda so you can utilize the upgrade advantage. Blag a super cheap deal (ie threaten to leave becuause you want the Hero) get a magic, sell it on ebay and get a hero sim free for 429 quid.

Tobes · 26 Jun 2009 at 11:35

Rosie ROM is already available for the G1. Has been for some time. I know as I have installed it myself and yes it has Flash.

What is the G2 people speak of?

The chin is a design feature which HTC will use for ALL of it's Android phones.

I think the Hero looks nicer than the Magic but again, I'm waiting out for a device with hardware keyboard and camera flash.

Rhys · 26 Jun 2009 at 11:41

Orange UK introduces first Android handset to its device portfolio with the introduction of the HTC ‘Hero’
Orange to exclusively retail the HTC Hero in ‘Graphite’, offering it free on selected pay monthly contracts from early July The HTC Hero is the first of several Android handsets Orange will range in 2009
Orange today announced it will be launching the much anticipated HTC Hero, the first Android device to be ranged by Orange in the UK. Available from early July across all Orange retail channels, the HTC Hero will be available for free on select price plans and will be exclusive to Orange in ‘Graphite’ colour.
Offering a rich, intuitive browsing touch interface and premium design, the 3G+ enabled Hero features Google’s Android operating system, the world’s first ‘open-source’ operating system formobile devices. Android allows users unrestricted access to thousands of amazing tools and applications which can be downloaded straight to the handset – helping enhance the device’s capabilities.
Created for those wanting an optimised mobile customer experience, with easy access to Google’s most popular services, the Hero also provides users with a choice of seven specially designed unique user interface options. The handset also comes with an integrated five mega-pixel, auto-focus camera featuring camcorder capability, a mavity sensor, AGPS and 512 MB of memory with space for a 16Gb MicroSD card. What’s more, the 3.2 inch HVGA display features anti-fingerprint screen coating for improved smudge resistance and a longer lasting, clearer display.
Orange is offering the HTC Hero for free to customers who take out a £39.15 per month, 24 month contract. The package includes 1200 any network call minutes, unlimited texts, as well as inclusive anytime internet browsing so users can make the most out of their mobile experience.
Francois Mahieu, Director of Devices, Orange UK said, “We’re really pleased to be launching our first Android handset in conjunction with HTC. The first of several Android devices you can expect from us this year, we believe the Hero is a great all round device which will allow consumers to get to grips with all the things they love about the internet, whilst on the move. We expect it to be extremely popular when it hits shelves this summer.”
The HTC Hero is exclusive to Orange in ‘Graphite’ and will be available from Orange shops and www.orange.co.uk/shop in early July.

McDaniel · 26 Jun 2009 at 11:45

Excuse my ignorance, but what exactly does this mean

HTC's Sense UI not coming to any "Google" branded phones

Link: http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/htcs-sense-ui-not-coming-to-any-google-branded-phones/

Alfie · 26 Jun 2009 at 11:45

It has multi touch also. keeps getting better. I'm going to preorder and i'll get a decent review to you guys when it arrives.

deadite66 · 26 Jun 2009 at 12:12

Rhys said:
Who puts their phone face down? I dont think that is the main reason for the chin.

you can get apps so when the phone is upside down it goes in to silent mode.

MarcLister · 26 Jun 2009 at 12:15

MeAnBoY said:
Does this also mean that flash compatability will roll out onto Android OS shortly for people who arent going to have the Hero or is it hardware limitation?

I also want to know this.

GuruJockStrap said:
The phones need the chin so that the trackball doesn't get damaged when you place the handset face down on a flat surface.

Like the Magics one as its quite subtle.

But who puts their phone face down? :confused:

Rhys said:
Who puts their phone face down? I dont think that is the main reason for the chin.

See.

AFK_Matrix · 26 Jun 2009 at 12:22

Just wondering is there software on the phone for GPS navigation or is that extra? If it isn't on the phone can you buy TomTom or Garmin for Android yet?

platypus · 26 Jun 2009 at 12:30

Yeah looks awesome this phone. Wonder how long before I can get an upgrade..

Christo · 26 Jun 2009 at 12:31

mrk said:
OLED doesn't make it any more special, OLED screens are just as hard to read in sunlight as normal screens. 8GB storage is good yeah but multi GB SDHC cards are out and are cheap too. The Samsung will look like tat after a few months (as usual) whereas the HTC models won't due to their build quality and materials used.

OLED screens use less battery power and are more vivid, it has a higher capacity battery (which is v important knowing the limitations of the battery life on the magic.) Also the Samsung camera module is most likely of a far higher quality knowing Samsung, in addition with a flash which is very important in a cameraphone. Whilst the Hero looks better, the specs dont match up to the i7500.