HTC Hero on its way to Sprint! Confirmed!

[slbailey1]

Originally Posted by orangekid

i AM talking about the diamond2, what makes you think im mistakenly referring to it? Im using the verizon diamond2 specs (which would have to be the same for sprint since it has fcc cdma approval). there are so many phones and rumors to phones coming out that it could really be anything, but what I am talking about is the sprint diamond2, in the end it doesn't really matter what it is. the Leo looks like the best phone out of all of them anyways. a 3.6" wvga with wm to me is worth $50 more than an hvga android.

dont get me wrong, android has a huge upside and from what ive seen, it is very modifiable and you can put new roms on it and all that. But currently there is no app that I want that I cannot find on wm, plus wm7 coming out to me is too awesome to put my eggs in the android basket just yet. A really good android/rosie port should hold me over.

The Verizon Diamond2 specs is the specs for Whitestone. Also Verizon is not going to release it as the Diamond2 because it is not the Diamond2; it is going to be called Imagio. Sprint is going to get the Whitestone instead of the Diamond2.

[orangekid]

Originally Posted by slbailey1

The Verizon Diamond2 specs is the specs for Whitestone. Also Verizon is not going to release it as the Diamond2 because it is not the Diamond2; it is going to be called Imagio. Sprint is going to get the Whitestone instead of the Diamond2.

semantics... It's basically an upgraded diamond so in my mind its a d2, doesnt matter what name they give it, they can call it the gettofone for all I care, the point is that I want the good resolution if im going to be looking at the thing as often as i look at my diamond, and I haven't seen anything from android that would make me want to switch. Especially when they port android/rosie to wm, it will be like having both (albeit android probly runs more smoothly on the hero than a wm port) but I can get the feel for it, and I don't know that you're going to be able to port wm to android.

[tokuzumi]

Originally Posted by orangekid

i AM talking about the diamond2, what makes you think im mistakenly referring to it? Im using the verizon diamond2 specs (which would have to be the same for sprint since it has fcc cdma approval). there are so many phones and rumors to phones coming out that it could really be anything, but what I am talking about is the sprint diamond2, in the end it doesn't really matter what it is. the Leo looks like the best phone out of all of them anyways. a 3.6" wvga with wm to me is worth $50 more than an hvga android.

dont get me wrong, android has a huge upside and from what ive seen, it is very modifiable and you can put new roms on it and all that. But currently there is no app that I want that I cannot find on wm, plus wm7 coming out to me is too awesome to put my eggs in the android basket just yet. A really good android/rosie port should hold me over.

I agree, the Whitestone and the Diamond 2 are almost identical in hardware specs, other than the screen size.

The thing that WM needs to get right is the marketplace. While there are plenty of apps out there for WM devices, they are scattered all over the place. The nice thing about Android and the iPhone (oops I said the i-word...hope it doesn't get be banned ) is the centralized app store, where all I need to do is click on the icon for the app store, and browse what I want. Click it, and it installs. I don't need to download the cab, sync my device, and side load the program on my phone (although I think you have to have the iPhone synced to iTunes in order to install apps, via cable...is this correct? If so, the iPhone/WM program load is a push.). In order for Microsoft to stop the market share loss they need 3 things:

1) Easy to use, centralized app store (we will see how the marketplace holds up)
2) Faster, more finger-friendly, and intuitive OS (WM 6.5 is taking them in the right direction, but 7 needs to be a game changer)
3) A marketing team. The iPhone is an average phone, that has a fantastic marketing division. MS needs to show everyone how easy to use WM is, and get people to say "wow...that looks cool."

Plus, for me, I've been using Windows based devices since 2006. Ipaq h5555, Treo 700wx, and now my Mogul. While I like 6.5, a lot, I'm ready for a change. Maybe WM 7 will bring me back. But Android better suck, or WM 7 better be a game changer.

I will now step down from the soap box, and let someone else have a turn.

[notrock]

I'm sure WM7 will be a game changer. But when and at what cost? Even if we see a WM7 phone in 2010, we are looking at 2011-12 until we see a good selection of native apps for it. By this time Android and WebOs are going to be well in the lead. Also I'm sure it will be expensive hardware. I love WM, but every time I get a new device it feels just like the last one. Sure better CPU better camera. But still feels the same. I am ready for something completely new. I want to explore, 'Let my hair down' I want to play with an OS that was made a few years ago, rather then a decade ago. I use all of google's products and would like them at my finger tips with no workarounds and a WebKit browser.

[tokuzumi]

Originally Posted by notrock

I'm sure WM7 will be a game changer. But when and at what cost? Even if we see a WM7 phone in 2010, we are looking at 2011-12 until we see a good selection of native apps for it. By this time Android and WebOs are going to be well in the lead. Also I'm sure it will be expensive hardware. I love WM, but every time I get a new device it feels just like the last one. Sure better CPU better camera. But still feels the same. I am ready for something completely new. I want to explore, 'Let my hair down' I want to play with an OS that was made a few years ago, rather then a decade ago. I use all of google's products and would like them at my finger tips with no workarounds and a WebKit browser.

Amen, brother. Amen. I agree with you 100%. I'm going to Android, until WM can prove itself again.

[orangekid]

Originally Posted by notrock

I'm sure WM7 will be a game changer. But when and at what cost? Even if we see a WM7 phone in 2010, we are looking at 2011-12 until we see a good selection of native apps for it. By this time Android and WebOs are going to be well in the lead. Also I'm sure it will be expensive hardware. I love WM, but every time I get a new device it feels just like the last one. Sure better CPU better camera. But still feels the same. I am ready for something completely new. I want to explore, 'Let my hair down' I want to play with an OS that was made a few years ago, rather then a decade ago. I use all of google's products and would like them at my finger tips with no workarounds and a WebKit browser.

That's a good point actually, and Ideally I'd like to have a d2 AND a hero, or always have the lateset wm and android phones to play with, webos doesnt really interest me much at all, but I do want to get into android, I just with the hero had decent resolution, although it seems a lot better than the "my touch"

If I can get one on the cheap ill make the most of it that's for sure, but to be honet im still having fun with my diamond.

[diplomat2387]

Originally Posted by Geniuz650

Yes, they will still allow $75 off because it's still an upgrade.

Yeah but its $75 off their $599 price tag...Its crazy..I might just get my refund from this gift card and order through Sprint...

[clo821]

Just to keep the conversation going in reference to what plans are eligible for the Hero.
I have a SERO plan and asked if customers with the plan can upgrade to the Hero. Here's the response:


Thank you for taking the time to write to Dan@sprint.com in reference to
the upcoming release of the HTC Hero. There is quite a bit of excitement
stirring about the new HTC Hero and we are anticipating it to be a big
hit with our customers. With the most current information available at
this time; there have no official releases of any specific plan
requirements. I do apologize that there is no further information
available preceding the upcoming launch. My contact number is
757-223-3305 and I can be reached Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to
6:00 PM EST.

Sincerely,
Jeffrey H.
Sprint
757.223.3305

[Biggzz]

Originally Posted by clo821

Just to keep the conversation going in reference to what plans are eligible for the Hero.
I have a SERO plan and asked if customers with the plan can upgrade to the Hero. Here's the response:


Thank you for taking the time to write to Dan@sprint.com in reference to
the upcoming release of the HTC Hero. There is quite a bit of excitement
stirring about the new HTC Hero and we are anticipating it to be a big
hit with our customers. With the most current information available at
this time; there have no official releases of any specific plan
requirements. I do apologize that there is no further information
available preceding the upcoming launch. My contact number is
757-223-3305 and I can be reached Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to
6:00 PM EST.

Sincerely,
Jeffrey H.
Sprint
757.223.3305

I was in a local Sprint store and the Tech. said he has training yesterday on the Hero and he said all that is required is a data plan. I asked him if that means EP and he said, No, just a data plan". I hope he is right!

[notrock]

I have a terrible feeling about this whole Best Buy thing. I wonder in a worst case scenario, if I could just open a new line. Get it for the right price, then cancel and have sprint sort it out. Oh and WTF $599 ? It's 2009 why do we still have these outrageous price points without contracts. $599 would get you a decent laptop.