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Video Tour: HTC Hero

Sep 16, 2009, 11:00 PM by Eric M. Zeman

Phone Scoop takes a hands-on look at the new HTC Hero Android phone for Sprint in this video. The hardware feels great and HTC's Sense UI allows for lots of personalization of the phone.

HTC is bringing Android to Sprint in the form of the Hero. This CDMA variant of the device launched several months ago is a monoblock device that feels great in the hand. It is light weight, comfortable to hold, and all the controls work well. In fact, it has some of the best buttons I've seen on an Android handset yet. I am very happy to report that the Hero comes with a 3.5mm headset jack, which fits most stereo headphones, though it was somewhat annoying to have to take off the battery cover to get at the microSD slot. In all, the hardware feels great. The Hero is a bigger phone when compared to the myTouch 3G, but the increased screen real estate and improved 5 megapixel camera certainly offset the larger footprint.

As far as the software is concerned, the Hero runs the custom-built SenseUI from HTC. SenseUI is meant to help end users personalize their phones and access the apps and content they want as quickly as possible. There are seven different home screens for end users to take advantage of. These screens can hold apps, links, bookmarks, widgets and more. SenseUI on the CDMA version of the Hero is definitely more responsive than the GSM version and works smoothly.

The Hero is pre-loaded with a number of Sprint services, such as its NASCAR and NFL content, as well as Sprint TV. It has a capable music player, rich web browser, and ready access to thousands of applications through the Android Market.

There's a lot to take in with this phone. The good news is, it will get even better, as Google recently announced Android 1.6 'Donut". Android 1.6 will bring new features to the Android platform that are sure to make end users happy. Out of the box, the Hero runs Android 1.5.

Enough talk. Here's Phone Scoop's video tour if the HTC Hero:

About the author, Eric M. Zeman:

Eric has been covering the mobile telecommunications industry for 17 years at various print and online publications. He studied at Rutgers Newark and University of Kentucky, and has a degree in writing. He likes playing guitar, attending concerts, listening to music, and driving sports cars.

Related

Sprint Announces the HTC Hero

Sep 3, 2009
Today Sprint announced that the HTC Hero Android phone will be available for sale starting October 11 for $180 after rebates with new agreement. The Hero, first announced earlier this year, has HTC's customized Sense user interface and tight integration with Google services such as Gmail, Maps and YouTube.

HTC Reveals Sense UI, Hero Smartphone

Jun 24, 2009
HTC today announced a new software interface for its phones called Sense, available on "all new HTC devices moving forward", as well as the first device to use it, an Android-based smartphone called the Hero. Sense includes a "Scenes" feature that lets you configure different modes for the whole interface, such as work mode and weekend mode.

Cellular South Offering Android 2.1 to HTC Hero

Jul 21, 2010
Cellular South today announced that customers with the HTC Hero can download and install Android 2.1 Eclair on their devices. Aside from all the new features found in Android 2.1, (Google Maps Navigation, pinch-to-zoom, Yahoo Mail support and better battery life) the update also includes the newest version of HTC's Sense user interface, better corporate email support and a number of bug fixes.

Sprint Now Offering Android 2.1 to HTC Hero

May 19, 2010
Today Sprint informed owners of the HTC Hero that they can now upgrade their devices to Android 2.1. Aside from all the new features found in Android 2.1, the update also includes the newest version of HTC's Sense user interface, better corporate email support and a number of bug fixes.

Sprint Hero and Moment Won't Get Android 2.0 Until 1H 2010

Dec 11, 2009
Today Sprint indicated via its Twitter account that the Samsung Moment and HTC Hero will definitely receive an Android 2.0 update. However, the update won't be available until some time in the first half of 2010.

HTC Hero (CDMA)

3.2" display 320 x 480 pixels
MSM7600 processor
1,500 mAh battery
Memory Card Slot, Headphone Jack (3.5mm)

Comments

This forum is closed.

This forum is closed.

Pg2k3

Sep 17, 2009, 2:26 AM

Sprints hero should have Version 1.6 already.

Android 1.5 and lower isn't compatible with CDMA networks so the Sprint Version has to be 1.6 already.

Rich Brome

Pg2k3 said:
Android 1.5 and lower isn't compatible with CDMA networks ...

Stock Android, perhaps, but HTC customizes the heck out of their phone OSes. They claim to have more Android developers than anyone but Google....
(continues)

...

retrolike

Sep 17, 2009, 7:53 PM

Employee discount with Sprint

I've heard that I cannot get my employee discount with the unlimited $99.99 plan, is that correct?

gr3atone

Unfortunately at this point in time, unlimited plans are not able to be discounted any further since these plans are by their nature already heavily discounted. Our other Everything Data plans are able to be discounted and you may want to consider the...
(continues)

mmark27

Sep 17, 2009, 5:33 PM

Screen lock during calls????

I have been trying to find this out from every reviewer of the phone and am unable to get a straight answer. I know that there is NO proximity sensor on the phone, but there is a light sensor to control brightness, this is not what I am talking about.

While on a phone call, does the screen dim and lock, or can one manually lock the screen so we don't push buttons with our faces or in our pockets while using bluetooth? So call someone, and while on the phone call, can the screen be locked or dim out?

Can you answer that for me please???? Mobiletechreview says it dims for whatever preset time you have on the phone, but she didn't tell me whether this would happen during a call, even when I asked explicitly.

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