Dead Men Walking

It would be about time to get away from 1.5 for sure, hope it is true.

http://www.androidguys.com/2010/01/13/europes-htc-hero-to-get-android-2-1-mid-february/

Quote

• Android 2.1 is much faster
• One interesting option is a preview of desktops, you can zoom out two Finders as pages in your browser. Effect. Effectively reduce the deskop, brillant view.
• Icons have clear coat (Espresso perhaps?)
• At the bottom of the menu we have: phone, menu, contacts
• HTC added a nice transition when you quit the [COLOR=#EE145B ! important][COLOR=#EE145B ! important]application[/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR](http://kona.kontera.com/javascript/lib/imgs/grey_loader.gif)
   (http://www.androidguys.com/2010/01/13/europes-htc-hero-to-get-android-2-1-mid-february/#) and move around the options.
  
• Lock screen is not rounded.
• Faster-running HTC keyboard.
• New widgets from HTC (News and Weather, YouTube)
• Improved flashplayer. Operates smoothly.
• Graphic change in the gallery and video player (Cosmetic procedures)
• And the rest of the news, which introduces a new android. (Market etc.)
• We have more RAM.  About 130-140mb after killing the process. ââ,¬Å"

I've seen that story as well. It sounds a reasonable time scale. HTC has been working with Android 2 while they have been building the Nexus One. So they have had the code long enough to tweak it for the Hero.

Just crossing my fingers that the rumours are true, cause I'm very looking forward to Android 2.1 :woot2:

2.1 now rumoured to be in March

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2010/01/27/htc_hero_android_update/

Quote from: OldBloke;3026922.1 now rumoured to be in March

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2010/01/27/htc_hero_android_update/

Now April :taz:

http://www.htcheroblog.com/2010/03/11/htc-hero-eclair-android-update-now-due-in-april/

Quote from: OldBloke;305843Now April :taz:

http://www.htcheroblog.com/2010/03/11/htc-hero-eclair-android-update-now-due-in-april/

Well, the april deadline was first a rumour from HTC Belgium. That ended up being replaced by a new one, even later in April. Nothing official yet, and IIRC the latest offical was "first half of 2010" from HTC... I have been looking into changing ROMS, if nothing has happened ultimo april... since the phone is rooted, to a 2.1. There are still problems with them, but they are almost perfect now...

Edit: quite pleased with the 3.2 beta 5 of the Modaco Custom ROM (MCR) with the new technologist core. Combined with the fact that I disabled Sense UI and changed the autokiller settings in Android, the phone is soooo smooth. I also went for WCDMA only and browing is much, much faster. The new ROM also supports SSH and other goodies, such as google voice control, where you can speak instead og type. Also, it has the WaveSecure app built in, in such a way, that any thief cannot easily uninstall it, even with a wipe.

Quote from: delanvital;306030Well, the april deadline was first a rumour from HTC Belgium. That ended up being replaced by a new one, even later in April. Nothing official yet, and IIRC the latest offical was "first half of 2010" from HTC...

Starting to get kinda impatient with this myself :sideways:

Quote from: delanvital;306030Edit: quite pleased with the 3.2 beta 5 of the Modaco Custom ROM (MCR)  with the new technologist core.

I'm kinda interested in testing out a custom ROM myself (might do even when we get 2.1, as I suppose the custom builds might be faster?). I found this forum page (http://android.modaco.com/content/htc-hero-hero-modaco-com/292018/10-mar-3-2-modaco-custom-rom-for-gsm-hero-now-with-online-kitchen/#entry1059612) providing info about installing MCR. Do you have any tips from your experience with this? Or are there any other good ROMs you could recommend for the Hero?

Quote from: Bob;306050Starting to get kinda impatient with this myself :sideways:

I'm kinda interested in testing out a custom ROM myself (might do even when we get 2.1, as I suppose the custom builds might be faster?). I found this forum page (http://android.modaco.com/content/htc-hero-hero-modaco-com/292018/10-mar-3-2-modaco-custom-rom-for-gsm-hero-now-with-online-kitchen/#entry1059612) providing info about installing MCR. Do you have any tips from your experience with this? Or are there any other good ROMs you could recommend for the Hero?

That is the page I started out with first and also the ROM I went back to. I believe this is the best package out there, the MCR. There are faster ones, and some with the later features partly implemented, but this is the most worked-through ROM IMHO. I am a paying user so I can "bake" my own ROM with the features I fancy. Quite nice.  

Regarding how to go about it - rooting the phone is rather easy, while also being the most important step. When the phone is rooted, you basically do a special key combo when booting, which boots into this menu, from where you can backup the ROM, replace it from a zip you've placed on the SD etc.

What I do, when installing a new ROM, is bake it, place it on the SD-card called update.zip, boot into the custom boot menu, do a nandroid backup of the ROM from the menu, then select update from the zip-file... wait 2 minutes. reboot. voila! I have switched ROMs perhaps 10 times now.

I would recommend doing the nandroid backup, and also backup contacts and what you might have from the phone. Just in case. I have never had a problem though.

Note - if for some reason your version of the HTC ROM is too new, the regular rooting procedure is not possible. This was purposedly blocked. What you apparently do, is downgrade the ROM via OTA (don't know how) and then apply the rooting approach. It is called "gold"-something.

Let me know if you have any questions, I'd gladly help.

Edit: the rooting procedure using ADB, as mentioned on the site, are way more complex than what I did. I basically just ran a special type of application... like here (http://theunlockr.com/2009/08/27/how-to-root-your-htc-hero-in-one-click/) (although it has changed since then, I have the old Cyanogen-version)

Thanks Delan, sounds like it shouldn't be too difficult. I'm not sure I'll get to it in the immediate future, but I'll remember to poke you if I end up needing help :)

Quote from: delanvital;306066and also backup contacts and what you might have from the phone.

Just a small question regarding this. I use all Google's apps for both contacts, calendar and mail (only  think I would really have to back up is text messages I guess). But how is it w.r.t. Google's apps in these custom ROMs?

A while back I remember there was a lot of fuzz when Cyanogen got a Cease&Desist-letter from Google because he included GMail, Google Calendar, Android Market and some other proprietary/non-free apps in the ROM. I think the solution Cyanogen ended up with to get around this, was to provide a backup application that users could use to legally backup their Google apps before they installed the ROM, and after the new ROM was in place these apps could be restored again. Is there something similar with MCR?

Quote from: Bob;306069Thanks Delan, sounds like it shouldn't be too difficult. I'm not sure I'll get to it in the immediate future, but I'll remember to poke you if I end up needing help :)


Just a small question regarding this. I use all Google's apps for both contacts, calendar and mail (only  think I would really have to back up is text messages I guess). But how is it w.r.t. Google's apps in these custom ROMs?

A while back I remember there was a lot of fuzz when Cyanogen got a Cease&Desist-letter from Google because he included GMail, Google Calendar, Android Market and some other proprietary/non-free apps in the ROM. I think the solution Cyanogen ended up with to get around this, was to provide a backup application that users could use to legally backup their Google apps before they installed the ROM, and after the new ROM was in place these apps could be restored again. Is there something similar with MCR?

You are like me, then it is only applications you might want to keep + texts + what you might have stored on your SD-card (MP3s, various downloads and so forth).

MCR includes all the regular stuff + more, nothing missing AFAIK.

Cheers Del :thumbsup2:
Hoping for some unexpected spare time so I can try it out.

Quote from: Bob;306156Cheers Del :thumbsup2:
Hoping for some unexpected spare time so I can try it out.

I feel I should note, that there is an odd chance that you might end up bricking your phone, it something goes wrong. Doubt it, but there, said it :)

Quote from: delanvital;306163I feel I should note, that there is an odd chance that you might end up bricking your phone, it something goes wrong. Doubt it, but there, said it :)

Yeah, I know. But if nothing else, that'll give me a good excuse to by a new and better Android phone, right :rolleyes:

Quote from: Bob;306178Yeah, I know. But if nothing else, that'll give me a good excuse to by a new and better Android phone, right :rolleyes:

Hehe... i like your thinking... same reason I have started to test more crazy ROMs. The phone is paid up and I really want 2.1, one way or the other :wink:

Quote from: OldBloke;305843Now April :taz:

http://www.htcheroblog.com/2010/03/11/htc-hero-eclair-android-update-now-due-in-april/

More rumors and details pointing towards April... http://www.htcheroblog.com/2010/03/17/htc-hero-android-2-1-update-schedule-leaked/

Quote from: Bob;306375More rumors and details pointing towards April... http://www.htcheroblog.com/2010/03/17/htc-hero-android-2-1-update-schedule-leaked/

I don't want to get my hopes up...

Quote from: delanvital;306376I don't want to get my hopes up...

Don't :sad:

Now looking like April 26th (http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/26/htc-hero-update-to-android-2-1-on-april-26th-in-home-country-of/) at the earliest.

Hope folks don't mind but Gandy and I were taking this thread way off topic, so I moved our mutterings to a new thread.

As for 2.1 I'm less bothered about the delays as I've been able to run several versions on my Hero by rooting it. None of them are what I would call fit for daily use as they either have bugs or drain the battery at an alarming rate.

Why I'm less desparate for the update is that while it's worth having it's not really a massive update in the way that say Windows 7 was over Vista. There's nothing much wrong with Android 1.5 and all that 2.1 gives is some extra bit's and bobs.

In a nutshell you get

Different graphics and menues. A bit more slick and easy to use but not greatly different from what we already have.

Gallery. Nice iPhone like swooshy pictures app with a 3D look and some better interaction with other apps i.e. camera

Friend feed thing. A single widget that aggrogates all your contacts and social networking updates. So you see your friends Twitters, Facebook updates, messages and mails in one place.

Home screen wheel. The ability to see all seven home screens as thumbnails and tap the one you want.

New marketplace and extra apps. Thumbnails of the apps, apps broen into free and paid for. Update to some google apps like Goggles and Maps 4.1

Everything else seems to be tweaks under the bonnet so while it will probably run smoother and faster there's nothing much to see.

So 2.1 will be nice and a no brainer to update to but it won't significantly change your experience IMHO

Quote from: smilodon;306996So 2.1 will be nice and a no brainer to update to but it won't significantly change your experience IMHO

I do not have any critical problems with Android 1.5. It is a great tool in my day-to-day life and I still enjoy it very much. Some of the main things that makes me really looking forward to 2.1 are:

• Improved Android Market
• New version of Google Maps (with turn-by-turn navigation as the most interesting part)
• Voice control
• Better search functionality
• Hopefully a faster and smoother Hero

It's not that any of these are extremely revolutionary new features. My main problem - what makes the "urge" to get the update so big - is not necessarily the new features themselves, but rather HTC's lack of communication with its customers. I would almost be satisfied with a crappy explanation, as long as some kind of explanation was given.

Yep HTC really have upset a lot of users of their Android phones. I'm not sure they have caught up with the idea that we've entered a new world of consumer power. Even non techy Android users realise that their OS is in a constant state of upgrade and improvement. As long as their hardware can run it they expect to have access to the newest version. There's one iPhone and Apple release their updates to everyone at the same time (Maybe owners of the original iPhone will be out of luck when v4 arrives) so everyone is happy. But there are lots of Android phones and HTC should realise that Hero owners aren't going to be happy when they see owners of Nexus Ones and Legends getting 2.1 while they hear nothing,

No one is getting excited with anticipation about the update. We're getting frustrated. HTC should recognise the difference.

Quote from: Bob;307026I do not have any critical problems with Android 1.5. It is a great tool in my day-to-day life and I still enjoy it very much. Some of the main things that makes me really looking forward to 2.1 are:

• Improved Android Market
• New version of Google Maps (with turn-by-turn navigation as the most interesting part)
• Voice control
• Better search functionality
• Hopefully a faster and smoother Hero

Besides those listed in the first post in the thread, I look forward to being able to run the new google earth app (android 2.0+), heck that runs on the iphone.

From the list, the faster version of the HTC-keyboard would be really nice... (been messing about with that a bit) and the faster flash lite player is much needed. Or, being prepared for the official DropBox app (most likely android 1.6+).

Seeing as the next flash apparently won't make it to the Hero and having spent a little time with the new HTC Desire/N1, I am tempted to upgrade and just forget all this... Then perhaps my DivX-movies would also run a bit more smooth than 10-20fps I think...

You will enjoy MCR Bob, but btw if you use Locale you could end up having Wifi-problems when that is running, which requires a reboot to sort it out - and it can drain your battery quite a bit (not a bug in Locale, but the ROMs, or so it is said). Also, the never versions of MCR (3.x vs. 2.x) use a lot more battery in my experience. I have set up Locale for some aggressive savings when I know I am not near the phone, which helps quite a bit though... UNLESS Locale decides to **** up the Wifi...

I almost went with Locale (I used the free version before it went paid). However the wifi issues were a concern and I really only used it to turn the volume off at night.

Currently I use FoxyRing (http://levelupstudio.fr/foxyring). It's a lot more limited that Locale but it's free and works on the MCR.

Limitations include

You cannot set up different times for different actions. It has one sleep mode that work seven days a week i.e. you cannot have one sleep setting for a week day and one for weekends.

You can turn off bluetooth and or wifi but in order to stop syncing FoxyRing puts the phone into Airplane mode which also stops voice calls.

Quote from: smilodon;307060I almost went with Locale (I used the free version before it went paid). However the wifi issues were a concern and I really only used it to turn the volume off at night.

Currently I use FoxyRing (http://levelupstudio.fr/foxyring). It's a lot more limited that Locale but it's free and works on the MCR.

Limitations include

You cannot set up different times for different actions. It has one sleep mode that work seven days a week i.e. you cannot have one sleep setting for a week day and one for weekends.

You can turn off bluetooth and or wifi but in order to stop syncing FoxyRing puts the phone into Airplane mode which also stops voice calls.

I have already tried that, but thanks :) I have also tried a couple of others but Locale is the definite solution for me. Disabling all kinds of things at night (sync/wifi/data/screen light timing/keyboard light etc but allows calls) because I read books on the phone at night and once in a while fall asleep on the phone :blush: and muting+enabling vibration on my phone when I approach work + log what time I arrived at work (and what time I left) saves me a lot of trouble :)

We''l the earliest date (that hasn't been proved totally false) for a UK 2.1 update is this Friday (2nd April). I wonder what the chances are of it being with us by the weekend????

Slim or none?

The current most "realistic" rumour seems to be the 16th of April. However, I wrote kind of a harsh mail to HTC support yesterday, and this is the answer I got from them:

QuoteDear Mr ...

Some of the phones in our Android line up including your Hero are  due to receive an upgrade, and it is scheduled to be released starting  at the end of April. Your phone should be upgraded Over-The-Air. You can  expect a pop-up message on your phone when connected to the internet  once it is ready. When the upgrade is ready, we will notify you via our  website and on various social media networks including Twitter and Face  book.

Best regards,

...

HTC

If he says "the end of April" just because he ain't allowed (or don't dare to) promise a date, or that really means the end of April and not the 16th is not good to tell. However, this ought to mean that we have the 2.1 update within out sight at least :)

Quote from: Bob;307783The current most "realistic" rumour seems to be the 16th of April. However, I wrote kind of a harsh mail to HTC support yesterday, and this is the answer I got from them:
If he says "the end of April" just because he ain't allowed (or don't dare to) promise a date, or that really means the end of April and not the 16th is not good to tell. However, this ought to mean that we have the 2.1 update within out sight at least :)

Tbh that is the most solid response from HTC I have seen so far, nicely done mate. Now at least HTC themselves formally says ultimo april... but considering how 2.1 has been pushed so far, and considering that HTC has said Nordic countries and other are the next in line, it does look good... ooh, those hopes...

Wiki page has been updated....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTC_Hero

QuoteOperating system: Android 1.5 and HTC Sense [Android 2.1 with Sense from 16th April]

http://phandroid.com/2010/04/15/get-your-htc-hero-updated-to-2-1-at-the-end-of-april/

End of April..... promise. Maybe in time for the LAN? Who knows.

Quote from: smilodon;308212http://phandroid.com/2010/04/15/get-your-htc-hero-updated-to-2-1-at-the-end-of-april/

End of April..... promise. Maybe in time for the LAN? Who knows.

The quote from that link seems to be exactly the same as the reply I got in the mail mentioned in [post=307783]this post above[/post]:

Quoteââ,¬Å"Some of the phones in our Android line up including your  Hero are due to receive an upgrade, and it is scheduled to be released  starting at the end of April. Your phone should be upgraded  Over-The-Air. You can expect a pop-up message on your phone when  connected to the internet once it is ready. When the upgrade is ready,  we will notify you via our website and on various social media networks  including Twitter and Face bookââ,¬Â

So, conclusion: they aren't very creative in the answers they give, but at least they are consistent, and that must at least be a good sign :rolleyes:

Quote from: Bob;308215The quote from that link seems to be exactly the same as the reply I got in the mail mentioned in [post=307783]this post above[/post]:
So, conclusion: they aren't very creative in the answers they give, but at least they are consistent, and that must at least be a good sign :rolleyes:

I read that as well. At least, as you say, consistent. I was hoping for that April 16th though. What can be the problem? 2.1 has been made for other phones and also HTC-ones. I reckon they have just down-prioritised it so much, with new phones needing various upgrades more urgently... :sideways: Despite the fact that Heros in rather large numbers are out there!

Quote from: delanvital;308228What can be the problem? 2.1 has been made for other phones and also HTC-ones.

From another point of view, I guess we should be glad we're not buying a Sony Ericsson Xperia X10. Initially something that seems like a brilliant phone (I've always used (Sony) Ericsson before my Hero) with lots of power and everything - but it ships with Android 1.6 :blink: Go figure...

Quote from: smilodon;308212http://phandroid.com/2010/04/15/get-your-htc-hero-updated-to-2-1-at-the-end-of-april/

End of April..... promise. Maybe in time for the LAN? Who knows.

Make that June (http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/21/htc-hero-wont-see-upgrade-to-android-2-1-until-june-at-least-i/) :ranting2:

Wow, why bother making announcements if you can't even remotely stick to them. When I bought the hero I wasn't expecting v2.1 goodness, but when they announce it with a solid sounding release date you start to hope.
It's a bit of a joke. They know how to build phones, but haven't got a clue about PR (Which is probably why for years they were selling the phones for other companies to brand as their own).

Quote from: T-Bag;308601Wow, why bother making announcements if you can't even remotely stick to them. When I bought the hero I wasn't expecting v2.1 goodness, but when they announce it with a solid sounding release date you start to hope.
It's a bit of a joke. They know how to build phones, but haven't got a clue about PR (Which is probably why for years they were selling the phones for other companies to brand as their own).

Dammit. Makes me so mad I might skip future HTC phones. Just the thought of ending up with ANOTHER htc phone, which is outdated 6 months after purchase. ****ing assholomios.

While most of the 'dates' offered have been wild speculation and gossip, I've seen official responses from HTC that said End of May was a confirmed date for the Hero to be updated. If they at least said "due to some technical issues we need a bit more time to make 2.1 perfect for our customers" then that would be something.

Makes me wanna cry :crying:

I'm gonna fire away an angry e-mail to that support tit that answered my previous question and promised that it would start to roll at the end of April :rant:

Quote from: Bob;308620Makes me wanna cry :crying:

I'm gonna fire away an angry e-mail to that support tit that answered my previous question and promised that it would start to roll at the end of April :rant:

Include me in that mail and sign on my behalf as well...

Quote from: Bob;308620I'm gonna fire away an angry e-mail to that support tit that answered my previous question and promised that it would start to roll at the end of April :rant:

Well, I did a couple of days ago, and here is the answer I got just now:

QuoteDear Mr ...,

we are sorry you feel this way. However we would like to say that if an  upgrade is postponed this is because we want to make sure the upgrade is  released with as many bug correction are avoided when it is release.   we hope you understand this is to your benefit and avoid as many  problems with the device as possible.   Again we would like to apologies for this.   Best

regards, ...
HTC

Translated into normal language, this simply means that they haven't been arsed enough to put sufficient resources into getting the Hero up to 2.1 - in other words, they don't really care that much about the Hero owners...

I'll probably fire away another angry e-mail at that support guy, but not right now. 2 in the night isn't the best time to write angry e-mails :flirty:

Indeed, he has no excuse. Lack of commitment.

Seems they are very sorry.

HERE - Tech Radar (http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/htc-apologises-for-android-2-1-hero-delay-685681)

Quote from: smilodon;308962Seems they are very sorry.

HERE - Tech Radar (http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/htc-apologises-for-android-2-1-hero-delay-685681)

As written in the comments - I'd like to see the official link to that...

Quote from: smilodon;308962Seems they are very sorry.

HERE - Tech Radar (http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/htc-apologises-for-android-2-1-hero-delay-685681)

Saw their "excuse" earlier today as well. Not impressed :eyebrow:

What I still cant get though, is how surprisingly crappy they are when it comes to customer communication. I couldn't e.g. find any referenced sources in the Tech Radar article, so where do they get it from - did HTC simply call them (or vice versa)? Or is there some official HTC blog somewhere, a press center that is of some use or anything?

Quote from: Bob;308981Saw their "excuse" earlier today as well. Not impressed :eyebrow:

What I still cant get though, is how surprisingly crappy they are when it comes to customer communication. I couldn't e.g. find any referenced sources in the Tech Radar article, so where do they get it from - did HTC simply call them (or vice versa)? Or is there some official HTC blog somewhere, a press center that is of some use or anything?

I have been following them on twitter since I got the Hero. At that time, they tweeted 5-6 times a week with relevant phone info. Then it just died out...

At last 2.1 arrives on the Hero. Seems they're giving away a new phone with each update.

http://i.engadget.com/2010/05/17/htc-wildfire-hands-on/

The pre 2.1 update is here (http://www.htcheroblog.com/2010/06/15/euro-htc-hero-android-2-1-release-imminent-smaller-ota-update-released/#comments).

I had to change my phone's date to Aug 2011 before it kicked in.

Waiting for the cracked as normal....

Quote from: OldBloke;312269The pre 2.1 update is here (http://www.htcheroblog.com/2010/06/15/euro-htc-hero-android-2-1-release-imminent-smaller-ota-update-released/#comments).

I had to change my phone's date to Aug 2011 before it kicked in.

Now I've had more time to play I've realised that the update downloaded but didn't install. Looks like rooted Heros reject the update.

Quote from: OldBloke;312287Now I've had more time to play I've realised that the update downloaded but didn't install. Looks like rooted Heros reject the update.

I decided to go back to the HTC stock ROM as, apart from the techie fun side, I never got much out of the custom ROMs.

So the 1st part update was immediately flagged up and installed without a hitch.

The 2nd part (full 2.1) installed at 17:30 tonight and, again, the install was quick and totally painless. I was pleasantly surprised to note that the update was totally non-destructive and all my apps and messages etc. were still intact.

First impressions are excellent - the test will be the battery life - something that caused issues on the custom jobbies.