HTC announces Android 2.1 upgrade for Hero users
Summary: The popular smartphone will finally get an upgrade to the 'Eclair' version of Android, after repeated, unexplained delays in the update's development
The HTC Hero Android smartphone will finally get an upgrade to version 2.1 of Google mobile operating system by the end of this month, after multiple delays.
HTC said on Wednesday that the upgrade to Android 'Eclair' would come in two parts. The first will be rolled out from this week and will be automatically detected by the handset's update checks. The second, which "will follow towards the end of the month", will wipe all data on the phone and therefore necessitate a user data backup, HTC said.
The manufacturer has updated its Sense user interface to incorporate Android 2.1, which introduced features such as multitouch-enabled Google Maps. Until the update is deployed, Hero users are still using Android 1.5 — code-named Cupcake — which does not include even the revamped Android Market that came out with version 1.6 (Donut) and has been available for some time for users of the first Android phone, the G1.
The Hero upgrade to Android 2.1 was first scheduled for March, then late April. HTC has offered no explanation for the repeated delay, other than saying the update took longer than anticipated to develop.
People with operator-branded models of the Hero will have to wait for those operators to deploy their own customised versions of the firmware update. T-Mobile told ZDNet UK on Wednesday that the timing of its Android 2.1 release "should be similar to that of HTC". Orange did not respond to a request for its timing.
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Talkback
On the subject of Orange (UK), I did actually get a response soon after our story went up - they say the update will be released "in the coming weeks", which I hope can be taken to mean "a few weeks"...
is there any news on the firmware for three mobile?
any news will be good news :)
A friendly bloke on the other end said there is "no set date for 2.1" but will be 'coming soon'
So us Three users will get it (which is the ONLY positive)
But my patience is running out, and has been for about 6 months now
Three want to test their products (ie the planet three app etc) so they are taking their time over it
My prediction: Good christmas present they'll give us
But who knows, HTC might stick to their word too (for once) and release it for all before end of June
Operator 3 said that it is testing the new build and its network-wide rollout should take place in July. Orange said that the update is "coming soon", while T-Mobile said that it is "looking into the matter", but could not provide a schedule.
Looks like we still all have a very long wait
have tried to speak the the people in my local orange shop but keep getting the same answer "soon"