Has anyone got an MP3 of the Benny Hill theme tune?
Speaking to esteemed UK tech site TechRadar today, HTC confirmed earlier rumours that its long-awaited HTC Hero Android update would arrive later than thought – giving the “Eclair” Android ROM update a new launch date of JUNE.
They’ve completely skipped May and gone straight for June. Brave move. Here’s what HTC told TechRadar today:
“HTC will be providing a free update to Eclair for European HTC Hero variants. Starting in June, anyone owning an HTC Hero will receive an initial preparatory update, shortly followed by the full Eclair update.
“For the full update, we would recommend using a free Wi-Fi hotspot or an unlimited data plan, otherwise standard data charges may apply”
That’s amazing. Before the proper update, there’s an “initial preparatory update” to get out of the way as well? Something tells us there’s a lot more to this story/debacle than is being publicly acknowledged. Here’s a photo from the archives:
We need to create a “stock” news story about the Hero ROM situation in which we simply change the month and republish it once a week. This is a bit of a global embarrassment now, HTC, to be honest – how hard can it be to shuffle Android 2.1 files onto the Hero?
It’s smooth to use, the 1080p display is sharp, clear and bright, the device is extremely light and thin and therefore very pocketable and portable — much more so than other 5-inch phones we’ve used. And yet… we’re a bit unimpressed by the overall package…
A relatively high-spec smartphone, with a 4.5″ display running at 480 x 854 resolution and powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, plus the Ascend G510 arrives running Android 4.1.1 — albeit potentially hindered by Huawei only sticking 512MB of RAM inside it..
The Panasonic Eluga marks the company’s return to the European mobile phone scene years after several years of absence, and it’s come back to us with a moderately high-spec Android model that features a rather stylish, slim case.
Sony returns with an all-new mobile design for 2012, pairing a dual-core processor with a 720p display. It’s a lovely phone, but is it enough to end our Samsung and HTC obsession?
LG’s updated Prada phone comes with an absolutely crazy black & white theme, but is it just for fashionable suit wearers who want to make themselves look a bit more interesting?
Mark
/ April 21, 2010It’s rather shocking how HTC have handled this mess.
I bought my HTC Hero based on NTC telling us 2.1 was coming in March, this clearly was never the case, and it got put on the backburner to focus on Desire and Legend.
I am now finding there are more and more apps I can’t use because they require Android 1.6 or later.
HTC should have just done a simple port to 1.6 a LONG time back, to take the pressure of for a 2.1 update. That would mean users would be able to use at least Google Navigation and the like.
I’m now decided to root my phone, as I can’t wait anymore on HTC’s endless false promises.
Dave
/ April 21, 2010This is getting utterly ridiculous. Like Mark says, clearly software updates for their older phones are being left in the dust because of their new handsets, the Desire in particular.
The thing that really annoys me though, is that I actually phoned HTC customer services about 4 days ago, who proceeded to quote the previous “end of April” date to me. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Hero, it’s a great device, but it’s not like it’s incapable of handling 2.1. Like the article says, it can’t be that hard to get it running properly on a Hero.
Sort it out HTC.
cokey
/ April 21, 2010the htc hero is the first and last htc phone i will buy, simply because it has took them that long to inform the public of when this update is going to come out and for not telling people why its took this long to role the update out. think its time to go back to a more basic handset so issues like this arent going to boil my blood, really not happy with this company
albert
/ April 22, 2010If this is true this s*** is seriously ridiculous (agree with y people) I would root my phone but I m a bit scared I will screw something up!!!! Really pissing
albert
/ April 22, 2010One more thing. How come can HTC legend, desire and incredible have the new sense with android 2.1 ?!!! Is really so hard to pack this into the hero, huh?!!!!!!
Daniel Owen
/ April 22, 2010Clearly not that hard as the homebrew boys have been making it look easy! VillainRom on my hero is much better than anything HTC have produced (whilst I appreciate they actually produced a lot of it), 2.1 with working navigation in UK, tested this morning.
Personally I got tired of waiting!
Mark
/ April 22, 2010Rooted my T-Mobile G2 Touch last night, running “Sense 2.1″ ROM, and it’s working quite nicely. No downsides so far, I can get protected apps from the store, and everything I have tried so far appears to be working correctly.
It also seems far less buggy than T-Mobiles current firmware.
I find it utterly bizarre that in one hand phone manufacturers don’t want people rooting phones, and in the other they are driving people there by their lax attitude to maintaining their products.
I no longer care if/when the update arrives. If it turns in in June, and is good, then I may unroot it a and put it back to stock HTC firmware (no way am I letting it near T-Mobiles offering).
Anonymous
/ April 22, 2010HTC can now kiss my ass.
I tried holding on and being dedicated to what looked like an up-and-coming underdog, but this is disgusting.
I’m sure someone on eBay will enjoy my old phone.
Edu
/ April 24, 2010CHECK THE “HTC! Stop lying to us!” ONLINE PETITION!
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/a6262/petition.html
angela
/ April 26, 2010Boo to HTC.
I am tempted to root my phone now but stupid T-mobile has made it more difficult to do that.
Ben
/ May 12, 2010Calm down people, you’ll all soon forget this saga the second the update comes out, better HTC take their time and get it right than rush and release a glitchy update, I’m no programmer but I imagine updating these phones is harder than it looks
Dubya
/ June 2, 2010Well its now JUNE so let’s see if HTC has since grown a backbone…
Gary C
/ June 2, 2010The problem surely is even if HTC does stick to this date, it’ll then take the individual networks MONTHS to then stick on all their crap we always remove and release it?
I reckon Hero owners on some networks are simply never going to get it.
spidev
/ June 5, 2010Frm the bottom of my heart – the delay is a conspiracy frm the first annoucement promising us HTC hero of the update ft took embarrassingly long! A ploy to tire us out to go buy other ‘2.1 HTC’ sets… only tt many woe hv jumped ship to other brand!
Stu
/ June 14, 2010In HTC’s defence….want it bad, get it bad.
Nick
/ June 18, 2010Did receive the rom-update, by temporarily advancing the date to 2011. After applying it the phone reboots, does takes some time, no data loss. Now waiting for the real thing.