Sprint/HTC Hero

Tarrant220 · 10-20-2009, 01:44 PM

So next to my work Sprint is offering me a killer deal on service and after tooling around with the Hero a little bit I like it well enough. I like Sprints new free calling to any cell phone on any plan feature they now offer with their service as that pretty much kills my reason for being with T-Mobile.

If I went with Sprint I'd go with a Hero, I was just curious of anyone here has played with one a lot or has one and could offer some opinions on it aside from it looking almost exactly the same as a My Touch.

Mageling · 10-21-2009, 09:09 AM

While I don't have an actual Hero, I did dabble with the Hero ROM for quite some time while running it on my old G1 from T-Mo.

You might want to take what I have to say with a grain of salt since I used to toy around with developing ROMs, but I enjoy the look of the Android OS more than the iphone.

The Hero is a better hardware platform than the MyTouch (HTC Magic) and is overall just a great phone. I see the Angroid OS really taking off in the next year or so depending on what Verizon does with the Droid phone that they are releasing w/ Motorola. My understanding is that Google had a heavy hand in development of the device.

I think my concern right now would be finding out if you will be able to run the 2.0 software on the Hero. I've been away from Android ROM development for the last 6-7 months, so I honestly can't say which devices will run which ROMs now.

One site I would suggest checking is xda-developers - They have tons of information there on most/all of the HTC model lines.

Tarrant220 · 10-21-2009, 09:20 AM

Talking to Spring this morning they said it will indeed run the 2.0 software.

Sarrasis · 10-24-2009, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarrant220

Talking to Spring this morning they said it will indeed run the 2.0 software.

heh, that must have been a Freudian slip because you probably won't get 2.0 on your HTC till around spring 2010.

Because HTC uses the Sense UI which is highly customized they are very slow on updates. The Droid will be the only Eclair device till next year at the earliest.

Also, if you are sold on the Hero, it will be on Verizon next month (probably called the Desire or Droid Eris).

Luthair · 10-24-2009, 09:14 PM

He isn't limited to the HTC released software.

Mageling · 10-25-2009, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarrasis

Because HTC uses the Sense UI which is highly customized they are very slow on updates. The Droid will be the only Eclair device till next year at the earliest.

Um.... you must be high. Or just bad at the internets.

Early builds are going to make it on tons of devices, just like the Hero ROM was on a G1 before the phone was even released.

Cad · 10-25-2009, 05:31 PM

I'm stuck on Sprint for the time being so I am trying to acquire an HTC hero - thoughts? I want something with a large touchscreen that I can browse the web/do more on. Right now I have a BB Curve and it works lovely for everything except browsing..

Sarrasis · 10-26-2009, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mageling

Um.... you must be high. Or just bad at the internets.

Early builds are going to make it on tons of devices, just like the Hero ROM was on a G1 before the phone was even released.

Well yeah, I'm sure you could put some half-baked version of 2.0 on it. I was referring to an official release from the manufacturer.

Cad · 10-28-2009, 06:31 AM

I picked up a Sprint Hero off of ebay so once I get it activated and play with it some, will post impressions.

Tarrant220 · 10-29-2009, 09:52 AM

Awesome, looking forward to it I still haven't decided if I'm getting one or not.

Cad · 10-30-2009, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarrant220

Awesome, looking forward to it I still haven't decided if I'm getting one or not.

So I got the Hero, but still waiting to activate it.. we're on some crazy cheap retention plan so we're moving some stuff around before I can get on the new phone. Apparently with Sprint the new phones HTC Touch, Hero, and Palm Pre you have to be on a standard Everything Data or Simply Everything or one of the Everything Share plans, they won't let you be on a crazy retention plan with those phones.

I did play with the menus and whatnot while I was charging the phone, and the typing isn't bad at all - I have a blackberry curve right now. Once I get used to the touchscreen I'm sure it'll be totally fine.

Cad · 11-01-2009, 07:05 PM

Posting this from thehero now, and so far I really like the phone. The browsing is pretty painless, the sites look more or less just like they do on a computer for the most part. Sprint did fuck me and I ended up with a new phone number, and had to do the mass text of shame. Oh well. I like the UI a lot so far. If anyone has any questions about the thing i'll be glad to help.

Tarrant220 · 11-01-2009, 07:08 PM

hows the touch screen for typing? The iPhone is the only phone I've been able to use as far as that goes without it being a pain in the ass.

Cad · 11-01-2009, 08:54 PM

It's not too bad in landscape mode, the buttons get really big and it's hard to mistype. The only time I fuck up in landscape is when I type too fast and the phone has to catch up or I hit too many keys at once. I mean you wouldn't want to write a book on the fucking thing but it's fine for short emails/texts/whatever. I've had it one day and I'm comfy. Portrait keyboard kinda makes me want to gouge myself in the balls, but fortunately you can go landscape anytime.

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10-21-2009, 09:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mageling wtf m8? Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 625 -5 Internets	While I don't have an actual Hero, I did dabble with the Hero ROM for quite some time while running it on my old G1 from T-Mo. You might want to take what I have to say with a grain of salt since I used to toy around with developing ROMs, but I enjoy the look of the Android OS more than the iphone. The Hero is a better hardware platform than the MyTouch (HTC Magic) and is overall just a great phone. I see the Angroid OS really taking off in the next year or so depending on what Verizon does with the Droid phone that they are releasing w/ Motorola. My understanding is that Google had a heavy hand in development of the device. I think my concern right now would be finding out if you will be able to run the 2.0 software on the Hero. I've been away from Android ROM development for the last 6-7 months, so I honestly can't say which devices will run which ROMs now. One site I would suggest checking is xda-developers - They have tons of information there on most/all of the HTC model lines.

10-24-2009, 09:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
Luthair Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 1,538	He isn't limited to the HTC released software.

10-25-2009, 05:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
Cad Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dallas Posts: 6,678 -38 Internets	I'm stuck on Sprint for the time being so I am trying to acquire an HTC hero - thoughts? I want something with a large touchscreen that I can browse the web/do more on. Right now I have a BB Curve and it works lovely for everything except browsing..

10-28-2009, 06:31 AM	#9 (permalink)
Cad Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dallas Posts: 6,678 -38 Internets	I picked up a Sprint Hero off of ebay so once I get it activated and play with it some, will post impressions.

11-01-2009, 07:05 PM	#12 (permalink)
Cad Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dallas Posts: 6,678 -38 Internets	Posting this from thehero now, and so far I really like the phone. The browsing is pretty painless, the sites look more or less just like they do on a computer for the most part. Sprint did fuck me and I ended up with a new phone number, and had to do the mass text of shame. Oh well. I like the UI a lot so far. If anyone has any questions about the thing i'll be glad to help.

11-01-2009, 08:54 PM	#14 (permalink)
Cad Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dallas Posts: 6,678 -38 Internets	It's not too bad in landscape mode, the buttons get really big and it's hard to mistype. The only time I fuck up in landscape is when I type too fast and the phone has to catch up or I hit too many keys at once. I mean you wouldn't want to write a book on the fucking thing but it's fine for short emails/texts/whatever. I've had it one day and I'm comfy. Portrait keyboard kinda makes me want to gouge myself in the balls, but fortunately you can go landscape anytime.