The internet has been going MAD over the arrival of the second part of the Android 2.1 update for the long-suffering HTC Hero, so this is no surprise to most – but HTC has today confirmed the launch of the final part of the Android 2.1 release for the GSM Hero.
Here’s the announcement, from the UK HTC firmware update pages:
Update – HTC Hero Android 2.1 Firmware Over The Air (FOTA) update (Second Package)
In our commitment to providing you with the best user experience, we are pushing out a new firmware update to your HTC Hero. Your phone will receive a notification of this update when it is made available. Simply press OK to accept the update via a data connection such as Wi-Fi or GPRS/3G. After installing the update, you can confirm a successful update by confirming the Firmware version (From the Home Screen go to MENU> Settings> About Phone> Firmware version). The new Firmware version will be 2.1.
Update Information: Android 2.1 Platform Upgrade
Note:Please back up your data first, and you have to upgrade your phone with the first FOTA package to be able to get the Android 2.1 FOTA upgrade.
And here’s another pic of the Hero. It has been REBORN. IT LIVES AGAIN!
The update seems to be hitting unlocked phones first, regardless of which mobile operator they’re currently connected to – we’ve had some extremely NICHE European network users reporting success with the download already, while those with branded, network-specific editions of the handheld are still waiting.
HTC’s 4.3″ dual-core Android model, powered by Qualcomm’s all-new S4 processor. It’s smaller than the enormous One X, but is it as nice as its bigger brother? (SPOILER: Yes it is).
HTC is very much B-A-C-K at the top of the Android world with this, its quad-core flagship for 2012. Great camera, huge 4.7″ display and Android 4.0 running beautifully well.
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?
Chris Dalton
/ July 5, 2010Still Waiting…. patiently…. at least it’s got a signal…. not like
the new iPhone….
Shahzad Mahmood
/ July 7, 2010I spoke to HTC twice a couple of weeks ago, and they said it would be out towards the end of June. I’m still waiting. However I’m not even going to try to call Orange. I can’t wait for 2.1!!
AP
/ July 8, 2010Just called Orange and they have informed me that we will need to go to the htc website to update to android 2.1
David
/ July 8, 2010Well that’s clearly not true at the moment because the HTC website only has the generic updates which we know causes the branded locked phones not to work.
The lack of clarity and information is the real problem here, if only HTC and the network operators could give a consistent story we’d know where we are. It’s just incompetence and smacks of them not caring about their customers.
Bungle666
/ July 12, 2010Well i got a response from orange a few days ago regarding the update, i asked when it will be released and why we are having to wait. Their answer isnt good.
Put simply they have no release date for Android 2.1 on the HTC Hero and will only release any updates if they believe it improves the phone from their point of view. They wouldnt say wether they are even testing it only that there is not release date set for any update as yet for the Hero on their network.
So im gonna use a rom on my rooted hero now, orange sucks as usual….
hateOrangeUk
/ July 17, 2010Orange suck – I will never go with them again. T-Mobile now have 2.1 on their HTC Hero.
Come on Orange. Get your finger out aqnd dothe FOTA update to android 2.1 as T-Mobile have
k0zmic
/ July 17, 2010@ hateOrange
Personally I’d just go with Vodafone now since I can’t trust T-Mobile or Orange anymore with updates, just look at the T-Mobile forums. People with Nokia’s, Samsung’s, Sony Ericsson’s alike are all begging for update news.