HTC speaks out on Hero Android 2 update
Out this month, firm insists
Still awaiting the promised Android 2 update for your HTC Hero smartphone? Here's what HTC has to say about it:
“Android Éclair update for HTC Hero will be released by the end of June.
"The upgrade will come in two parts, the first of which will roll out from this week and will be detected when the Hero next automatically checks for software updates.
"The second part of the update will follow towards the end of the month. As the second part of the upgrade will wipe all data on the handset, Hero users should ensure any important data has been backed up before proceeding with the installation.
Due to the size of the update, wherever possible, we would advise using a Wi-Fi connection for this download to avoid additional data charges.”
Originally expected in February this year, the upgrade was subsequently put back a month. It didn't show up in March, and in April HTC said the release really would make an appearance, in June.
HTC got European Hero owners hopes up by launching the long awaited update for the smartphone earlier this month... but only in Taiwan. ®
Review HTC Hero Android smartphone
COMMENTS
Wipe and upgrade
HTC aren't reading, probably too busy releasing new phones, as you say.
It's just unbelievable that installing an upgrade involves wiping the phone. If this was, say, ooh, *Apple* then there'd be a flame war going on right now about how piss-poor Apple's software developers are.
But no, this is HTC and Android, so it's OK to insist that users find some way of backing up all their stuff first. For most non-tech users with an HTC Hero, Android=HTC=Android. Once you've wiped all their data because they didn't or couldn't back it up, you've perfected a way of putting them off HTC phones and anything else tagged with Android for life.
What's backing up?
If my HTC Desire is anything to go by, Android doesn't provide a way to back up all data and settings. And from what I can see, no third party app does a complete job.
This is a great way to support your customers. First make them worried in case they lose important data. Then give them an hour or two's work re-installing apps, re-entering settings, and sorting out the inevitable problems that come with a complete re-install, such as when the APN settings get screwed up.
This is one of many reasons that I've come to the conclusion that an Android phone is a great toy for those who enjoy beta testing.
TIP
If you want to force your phone to download the new firmware set the date on your phone a month ahead ;-)
Or, if you CBA waiting for them to get....
their ass into gear, you can just run over to http://www.villainrom.co.uk and grab a 2.1 version of android which works fine on the HTC Hero, with all the lovely toys they offer.
I thought it would be hard, but actually, once you get your mind past the "uh oh" point of flashing your own rom you found on the net, you start wondering why you bothered to wait for HTC in the first place.
they are absolutely incompetent that a bunch of hackers on the net can do something that HTC apparently can't do. months before they can't do it.
They better not be lying again
or I'll be upgrading away from HTC and android all together to the iPhone and to hell with the closed nature. People going "sod it I'll just get a desire" are doing exactly what HTC want them to.
The platform was sold on the promise of timely updates, the first of which should have appeared Q4 last year.....
