HTC has apologised for the delay in getting Android 2.1 on to the Orange-flavoured HTC Hero. Heroes on the Orange network will finally get their update next week, over a month after other Hero owners.
Orange has quoted an HTC spokesperson, who says: "We apologise for the delay in Orange Hero customers receiving their Eclair [Google's codename for 2.1] update. Testing the update across European markets took longer than anticipated. However, we hope to receive final approval by the end of the week and Orange handsets should start updating from next week."
So that's okay then. Android 2.1 includes interactive wallpapers, a new app launcher and Exchange support for checking your Outlook mail on the go. Android 2.2 is due on several other HTC handsets, while Android 3.0 is in the pipeline for selected high-end mobiles.
Are you an Orange Hero? Let us know which feature of Éclair you're most looking forward to. And don't forget to back up your phone, as the second part of the two-part update may wipe your phone -- Heroes on other networks have kept contacts and apps during the process, but it's a good idea to backup just in case.
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Comments 5
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nellimcnell 28 July, 2010 14:48
Does this make the Hero a worth while option? I am currently with Orange and I'm due an upgrade next month and I am not sure my budget will stretch to the higher end of the Android scale, but am desperate to join the little green robot army!
Kev_D 28 July, 2010 14:48
When will the carriers take note, and stop using custom (usually branded) ROMs? If the phone you got had the stock ROM from the manufacturer, you'd only need one ROM for a market. Rather than the generic one, a T-Mobile one, an Orange one, and a 3 one. They don't add any value or anything useful, so why bother?
Kev_D 28 July, 2010 14:50
@nellimcnell the Hero is a bit old now. You might be better off looking at the Wildfire instead. That'll probably get upgraded to Android 2.2 (FroYo) later this year, whereas the Hero almost certainly will never see Android 2.2 (officially).
nellimcnell 28 July, 2010 15:45
Thanks, I shall see what they can offer me!
vkvedam 28 July, 2010 18:27
Well this is for htc Hero owners who are still waiting for the update. Do the first bit manually by downloading it from htc site. Change the system clock to somewhere in next year. Restart the phone and you'll get a popup straight away. Thats it, you'll be upgraded Android 2.1. You won't lose any settings for Android update but you'll lose everything for the first bit. Just in case, have a backup.