HTC Hero Revisited
There is no doubt that the new HTC Hero has a jaw line that Superman would be proud of. But aside from its rugged good-looks, the Hero has caused quite a stir thanks to its innovative Sense Interface and the power of the Android operating system which it utilises. Unlike some of HTCs other smartphones which use Windows Mobile, Android suffers from few of the issues which somewhat spoil the experience. It is a very adaptable platform which is blessed with a brand new, highly customisable interface, consisting of multiple home screens and more widgets than you can poke a finger at.
The best aspect of the HTC’s Android operating system is that it has quickly integrated itself into the already thriving Android user community. The Android community is packed with programmers, software developers and average users who want to get that little bit more out of their Android handset. The HTC Hero will be a welcome addition to the growing roster of Android phones and is particularly popular in the community at the moment because it uses the latest 1.5 version of the software, codenamed ‘Cupcake’. Along with the new Sense interface, the HTC Hero allows for user exploitation of the open source mobile platform, which should result in some excellent, free applications and capabilities becoming available in the coming months.
All of the applications which are compatible with the HTC Hero can be found in the Android Market, which is accessible from the home screen via a shortcut. Obviously there are some professionally produced apps which you will have to pay for in order to use, but there are also plenty of free applications which are yours for the taking. These are sometimes developed as part of a marketing campaign, but more often than not have been produced by an industrious individual or group working in their own time and for their own enjoyment. It is incredibly easy to sign up and publish your own Android apps on the marketplace. As a consequence not all of the apps are going to be quite up to scratch in terms of usability or usefulness. However, you can always check out what other users think. There are plenty of blogs dedicated to finding some of the most useful Android applications which you should consider downloading for use on your HTC Hero. Some are aimed at improving your productivity, whilst others have a less serious aim. However, they all go to show that Apple does not have the monopoly on ingenious applications from eager amateurs.
A popular and useful free HTC Hero app is simply called ‘Sticky’. This is a nice little widget that essentially acts as a virtual post-it note which you can place anywhere on one of your home screens. You can use it to remind yourself of something without setting an alarm and you can also hide the notes whenever you like, so it will never get in the way of the many other widgets and apps. Another useful application which is also a very simple one is the No Signal Alert app. It lets you know when you have no reception on your HTC Hero, which will be useful if you are waiting on a call from someone and need to make yourself available.
The Android community is useful for HTC Hero owners for more than just software. The community is also useful if you are looking for accessories to improve your Hero, whether it is in order to protect it from the trials and tribulations of daily use, or to take advantage of its various connectivity options. Obviously professional reviews of accessories are great, but they tend to reflect only partly the real-world performance of an item. For that you need to check out the opinions of the vociferous community. There will always be someone who has bought and used an accessory before you and various rating systems and personal experiences are often a great help to the decision making process. This is particularly true when you are looking for a decent Bluetooth headset. There are so many on the market it can be virtually impossible to decide quickly. But with the help of user reviews you will rarely be far from the truth.
There is exciting news on the horizon for owners of the HTC Hero. HTC has only recently announced to the community that the Hero will be getting the much-hyped ‘Éclair’ update of the Android software. However, they are asking owners to be patient. The new version of Android, which will be 2.0, is a very significant milestone in the history of the platform. It represents the first ‘proper’ upgrade and will mean a complete overhaul of all aspects of the HTC Hero’s operation. That means elements such as the Sense interface will need to be modified in order to take full advantage of the new software.
One of the best things about HTC as a manufacturer is that it looks after its customers and likes to nurture the community that builds up around its technology. This is because its is a relatively small firm that needs to establish itself and earn loyal supporters through good products as well as support. HTC often announces news and updates to the community and provides samples of their new phones to leading community members in order to publicise the improvements that they may offer. As such if you become the owner of a HTC Hero handset, you will can be assured of the continued relevance of your handset until the next upgrade becomes available to you.
