With the August 5th release date of T-Mobile’s myTouch 3G coming closer, one question on the minds of many was about the future plans of the carrier in regards to another Android model, the HTC Hero. Armed with the new Sense UI and supporting Flash on the browser, the handset was indeed looking like a Hero to many cellphone fanatics. But the air was already thick with the talk that the nation’s fourth largest carrier would not be adding the device to its arsenal. T-Mobile USA’s CTO, Cole Brodman left no doubt about his company’s plans when he said today, “(T-Mobile USA) has no plans to bring the HTC Hero to market.” Note the lack of if’s, ands or buts.
There is no promise that the HTC Hero will be available on AT&T, but there is evidence on the FCC’s web site that suggests approval of a Hero version that incorporates the bands necessary (II and V) that make it AT&T-friendly. The FCC has approved a WCDMA handset which fits nicely into the 1900 and 850 MHz combination that AT&T subscribers need for 3G data access. Whether or not this device ultimately lands on AT&T’s network remains to be seen, but even if it doesn’t, it should eventually be available through other sources and could ultimately end up in some AT&T users’ hands (unlocked, of course). If AT&T doesn’t get this handset, how many of you AT&T subscribers will try to get your mitts on one anyway?
If you want the new Android-powered HTC Hero bad enough, where there’s a boatload of cash will, there’s a way. Over on Amazon.co.uk, you can pre-order an unlocked HTC Hero before it’s July 15th release date. The price? A cool £429.99, or at today’s conversion rates, a staggering $712.14 USD. If you are in Europe and can wait a couple weeks, the Hero will be available across the UK from T-Mobile and Orange for free with a two-year contract and monthly rates of £40.00 and £39.15, respectively. According to Amazon.co.uk, the items included in the purchase are:
HTC Hero 3G Android Sim Free mobile phone
Quick start guide
Screen protector
Travel charger
Mini-USB data cable
Standard battery
Wired stereo headset with 3.5 mm connector
Accessory leaflet
2 GB microSD card
If the current economy doesn’t get you down and you have a bunch of extra $$$ or ₤₤₤ stuffed under your mattress, then pre-order your HTC Hero now and let us know when you get it! The rest of us may not be jealous of the king’s ransom you had to pay, but we’ll sure be jealous of that sweet Hero in your pocket.
According to PhoneNews, Sprint is internally testing the HTC Hero, which got announced yesterday. Fans of the operating system will be nicely surprised if Sprint is to carry the Hero, having in mind it is not just an Android phone, but the first one to feature the new personalized interface Sense. The Hero itself is slated for a U.S. launch later in the year, but there are no details about the carrier availability.
That’s not all! An Android-powered device by Samsung is also being tested, the source informs. It would be WiMax-capable, which entirely corresponds to the info provided by a previous rumor we have heard. It should be released in the end of this year or in the beginning of the next one. If this is all true, Sprint subscribers will surely be pleased, as they will get not one, but two Android devices. So far, that’s been a privilege of T-Mobile users only.
Do you like what you see with HTC’s Sense UI overlay on Android? If you want the Sense interface of the Hero but are sticking with the Android handset you already have, there is a glimmer of hope that you can have the Sense UI on your existing device. Peter Chou, the CEO of HTC, was recently quoted as saying, “HTC Sense will be available on some other existing devices.”
That’s a broad statement, but since the only Android phones available at this time are the Dream/G1 and Magic/myTouch 3G, it may be fair to say that one or both receive an update to get Sense up and running. Hopefully Dream/G1 and Magic/myTouch 3G owners can enjoy a UI facelift when Sense is made available to the older devices. Do you want Sense on your Android handset?
HTC is one of the best smartphone manufacturers, while Android, the operating system itself still remains a hot topic (despite the appearance of the Palm Pre and the iPhone 3G S). It looks logical that new information on Android-based, HTC devices will hold media attention. Now, to the breaking news. Global Certification Forum (GCF) have approved a device, called the HERO100. Most probably, this is the HTC Hero that has been much talked about as of lately. A commercial has also been rolled out, revealing the new “Rosie” interface and color varieties the phone will come in. Unfortunately, the only information available through GCF is that the device is four-band GSM, dual-band 3G (1800/2100 MHz). Will it be really running the Google´s OS? It seems we will have to wait until 24 June, when HTC is expected to officially announce the HTC Hero at their London event.
Two days ago there was a strong proof on the web, that HTC that HTC is planning to hold an even on June 24 in London. The Chinese language Economic Daily News has printed a story that the event will be to show off a new Android based device, the HTC Hero. The newspaper goes on to say that the handset will be available with or without a QWERTY keyboard. The model with the keyboard will be called the HTC Memphis or HTC Lancaster which AT&T will have an exclusive to sell in the U.S. for 6 months beginning with the third quarter of this year. We have saved the most exciting news for last. While the Hero will be an Android device, it will be shipped with HTC’s popular TouchFLO 3D UI according to the report. Last month, we published pictures of what could be the Hero’s home page.
The HTC Hero has a great-looking Android ROM with gorgeous skins, and if you are rolling with your G1 and wish it were the HTC Hero, there’s a way to make it happen. We are by no means encouraging you to hack your G1 and we take no responsibility whatsoever if you end up bricking your phone, but the clever folks at xda-developers got their mitts on the HTC Hero’sAndroid ROM and have successfully ported it to a G1, complete with all kinds of customizations and enhancements not before found on the G1. Accomplishing this feat requires flashing your device and a myriad of other steps, so be EXTREMELY careful that you get it right, or get someone more tech savvy that can get it right for you. When it’s all said and done, you could very well have a G1 with a new lease on life.
A promo video of the HTC Hero has been spotted on the web. The closing frames of the video are most interesting, as they show a whole seven different color variations of the Android phone: pale green, white, black, red, yellow, turquoise and pink, all of which look really sweet. According to the source, the phone is running the new “Rosie” GUI and what we can see in the video are some nice features, such as multiple home screens, widgets, accelerometer and Google Maps.
After that funky video, we are now even more impatient for the Hero to come out. Check it out below!
The screen shot below comes from a video that is said to demonstrate the Android powered HTC Hero. Look at the new home page and you’ll see a nice change from the clock in the sky picture that we’ve seen countless times. The question is whether this new look is related to the upcoming Android 2.0 “Donut” OS or if it is a personalization from the manufacturer similar to the TouchFLO 3D that HTC uses to help navigation on their Windows Mobile devices. The design is heavy on the widgets and the infamous analog clock is back and actually takes up more of the real estate in the screen shot on the left.
When we last reported on the HTC Hero, we passed along information that the handset is expected to see a third quarter release. The phone showed up on the road map for carrier Orange France but a definitive release date and pricing has not been mentioned. So what do you think of the design?
There is no promise that the HTC Hero will be available on AT&T, but there is evidence on the FCC’s web site that suggests approval of a Hero version that incorporates the bands necessary (II and V) that make it AT&T-friendly. The FCC has approved a WCDMA handset which fits nicely into the 1900 and 850 MHz combination that AT&T subscribers need for 3G data access. Whether or not this device ultimately lands on AT&T’s network remains to be seen, but even if it doesn’t, it should eventually be available through other sources and could ultimately end up in some AT&T users’ hands (unlocked, of course). If AT&T doesn’t get this handset, how many of you AT&T subscribers will try to get your mitts on one anyway?
According to PhoneNews, Sprint is internally testing the HTC Hero, which got 
Do you like what you see with HTC’s Sense UI overlay on Android? If you want the Sense interface of the Hero but are sticking with the Android handset you already have, there is a glimmer of hope that you can have the Sense UI on your existing device. Peter Chou, the CEO of HTC, was recently quoted as saying, “HTC Sense will be available on some other existing devices.”
HTC is one of the best smartphone manufacturers, while Android, the operating system itself still remains a hot topic (despite the appearance of the Palm Pre and the iPhone 3G S). It looks logical that new information on Android-based, HTC devices will hold media attention. Now, to the breaking news. Global Certification Forum (GCF) have approved a device, called the HERO100. Most probably, this is the HTC Hero that has been much talked about as of lately. A commercial has also been rolled out, revealing the new “Rosie” interface and color varieties the phone will come in. Unfortunately, the only information available through GCF is that the device is four-band GSM, dual-band 3G (1800/2100 MHz). Will it be really running the Google´s OS? It seems we will have to wait until 24 June, when HTC is expected to officially announce the HTC Hero at their London event.
The HTC Hero has a great-looking Android ROM with gorgeous skins, and if you are rolling with your G1 and wish it were the HTC Hero, there’s a way to make it happen. We are by no means encouraging you to hack your G1 and we take no responsibility whatsoever if you end up bricking your phone, but the clever folks at 
