HTC Hero
The HTC Hero/T-Mobile G2 (Touch) has taken the Android market by storm, it set the precedent for Google’s pioneering OS after the G1 which arrived with mixed criticism, slow response and a rubbish spec. HTC’s second attempt to win would be iPhone, Blackberry and Windows Mobile users packed a mighty punch but is not the best Android phone out there.
If we peer into the abyss of time and look at the shabby first Android phone to hit the market, the G1, how disappointed we were. It was big, slow and clunky even though the OS itself was very good, and it still is. One main thing that HTC were good at was making Windows Mobile devices and they were really good at it, I just wish they’d put more thought and consideration they put into the HD2.
So the current offering is not too great but it still boasts a 5MP camera, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and the best mobile OS by far (in my opinion). It utilises HTC Sense for the home screen as featured in their Windows Mobile phones but it is still quite jerky. It could do with a processor upgrade; it jerks a hell of a lot when looking at your programs or even navigating the six available screens. Another big annoyance is battery life which lasts a day, at best. Sure you can buy new batteries but if you have to charge it every day for 2hrs then this is far from ideal, if you use your phone all day then it will not last until when you go to bed. I bought two spares for mine because I take it on Scout camps, Ten Tors expeditions etc… and as a leader always need mobile phone access for emergencies, given the minimal battery time I also take a spare phone.
Still adding to the list of conundrums that blight this phone is the lack of upgrading, the new Google OS has been released (2.0) and we still see no update for the HTC hero or the T-Mobile G2 which is a big let-down; we still may not see the 2.1 (a decision by HTC) until June of this year. I’m really regretting going on contract with this phone and should have paid £5 extra for the HD2. Last but not least the screen is not finger-print proof but unlike the iPhone and iPod Touch the screen can be cleaned easily leaving streaks with the wipe of a shirt.
Instead of slagging this phone off let’s praise it a little (it needs some). As with all things HTC, it’s built like a rock and will probably last for millennia. Another point is that even though the battery life is lacking it will easily last 3 days on a full charge if you turn off the 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS etc… Also I got up this morning with a fully charged handset and it’s on 80% now at 0200 the next day, even with Wi-Fi on all day and the occasional text, amazing; it only seems to majorly reduce if you use GPS or text/email lots. The camera is also flawless but could benefit with a flash (as could all smartphones). I like the notification light which flashes green when you have an email, text, calendar event etc… and the scroller wheel that pulses white when you have the aforementioned as well. It has some great apps but some pretty abysmal ones too and alas the apps aren’t half as good nor as well thought out as some of the equivalent iPhone/iPod Touch apps (Evernote and Last FM, case in point).
All-in-all then not a great device and for a business device it really is rubbish but for the average personal user it’s fine, it’s cheaper and better than an iPhone and has a better OS than the Blackberry plus has a much better touch screen than any wannabe consumer smartphone made by Samsung, Nokia or Sony Ericsson (let’s be honest they don’t make proper smartphones). For the price it isn’t too bad but for a fiver more you can get the amazing HTC HD2 which runs Windows Mobile 6.5 and has flash etc… but a massive screen which makes it hard to put in your pocket.
Want more info, check out: http://www.htc.com/uk/product/hero/overview.html or https://www.t-mobile.co.uk/content/g2-touch/index.html#
If we peer into the abyss of time and look at the shabby first Android phone to hit the market, the G1, how disappointed we were. It was big, slow and clunky even though the OS itself was very good, and it still is. One main thing that HTC were good at was making Windows Mobile devices and they were really good at it, I just wish they’d put more thought and consideration they put into the HD2.
So the current offering is not too great but it still boasts a 5MP camera, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and the best mobile OS by far (in my opinion). It utilises HTC Sense for the home screen as featured in their Windows Mobile phones but it is still quite jerky. It could do with a processor upgrade; it jerks a hell of a lot when looking at your programs or even navigating the six available screens. Another big annoyance is battery life which lasts a day, at best. Sure you can buy new batteries but if you have to charge it every day for 2hrs then this is far from ideal, if you use your phone all day then it will not last until when you go to bed. I bought two spares for mine because I take it on Scout camps, Ten Tors expeditions etc… and as a leader always need mobile phone access for emergencies, given the minimal battery time I also take a spare phone.
Still adding to the list of conundrums that blight this phone is the lack of upgrading, the new Google OS has been released (2.0) and we still see no update for the HTC hero or the T-Mobile G2 which is a big let-down; we still may not see the 2.1 (a decision by HTC) until June of this year. I’m really regretting going on contract with this phone and should have paid £5 extra for the HD2. Last but not least the screen is not finger-print proof but unlike the iPhone and iPod Touch the screen can be cleaned easily leaving streaks with the wipe of a shirt.
Instead of slagging this phone off let’s praise it a little (it needs some). As with all things HTC, it’s built like a rock and will probably last for millennia. Another point is that even though the battery life is lacking it will easily last 3 days on a full charge if you turn off the 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS etc… Also I got up this morning with a fully charged handset and it’s on 80% now at 0200 the next day, even with Wi-Fi on all day and the occasional text, amazing; it only seems to majorly reduce if you use GPS or text/email lots. The camera is also flawless but could benefit with a flash (as could all smartphones). I like the notification light which flashes green when you have an email, text, calendar event etc… and the scroller wheel that pulses white when you have the aforementioned as well. It has some great apps but some pretty abysmal ones too and alas the apps aren’t half as good nor as well thought out as some of the equivalent iPhone/iPod Touch apps (Evernote and Last FM, case in point).
All-in-all then not a great device and for a business device it really is rubbish but for the average personal user it’s fine, it’s cheaper and better than an iPhone and has a better OS than the Blackberry plus has a much better touch screen than any wannabe consumer smartphone made by Samsung, Nokia or Sony Ericsson (let’s be honest they don’t make proper smartphones). For the price it isn’t too bad but for a fiver more you can get the amazing HTC HD2 which runs Windows Mobile 6.5 and has flash etc… but a massive screen which makes it hard to put in your pocket.
Want more info, check out: http://www.htc.com/uk/product/hero/overview.html or https://www.t-mobile.co.uk/content/g2-touch/index.html#
