Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

Here's some videos hands-on of the Sprint HTC Hero.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceCyxBUBrlM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1yg2fnmTaM

http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/...-33770450.html


Review W/ Pics.

http://gizmodo.com/5361245/sprint-he...tronger-uglier

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

man i wish this phone was out now.........

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

Looking better nd better

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

Hmm decisions decisions

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

And heres another link for it as well.

engadget.com/2009/09/17/htc-hero-for-sprint-hands-on-and-impressions/

When we first caught wind of HTC's Hero coming to Sprint, we were more than a little hopeful that the issues we experienced with the European version would be alleviated. If you'll recall, we had a bit of a love-hate affair going on with the chinny, wine-drinking iteration of the Android-powered phone due to a seeming lack of horsepower required to push HTC's totally amazing Sense UI. In the last few weeks, we've heard lots of chatter about the forthcoming Hero update and the wonders it would do for the speed of this phone... but unfortunately there's no such luck in the US, CDMA version of this device.

So, the point here is we were planning on doing a whole new review to showcase the differences between the old and new version of the Hero, but there really aren't any besides the obvious physical changes. Sprint has added some great new apps, like its visual voicemail, which works like a charm (oh by the way Coleen, you got that job -- maybe you should give them your new number too), and Sprint Navigation, though it's also muddied up the mix by including the yawn-maker NASCAR app. Of course, this phone provides a full-on 3G experience, unlike the European version (for obvious reasons), and Sprint's network seems as snappy as ever -- general web browsing was a noticeably more enjoyable experience, for instance.

Here is what we can say about the phone: the industrial design of this version versus the older model is a marked improvement, chucking that awkward chin shape for a proper bottom half, and rearranging the hard buttons so that you're not constantly getting your hands cramped up. We also have to mention the trackball, which is the most comfortable we've ever used. While the performance is still not where we think it should be, the Hero is an awesome addition to Sprint's growing line of serious contenders in the smartphone game. If that new update is all it's supposed to be (and if Sprint is expedient in bringing it to market), many of our complaints should be quelled -- and this will be the killer device we know it can be.

Update: To commenters asking for a longer review, or asking about discrepancies in our findings versus other sites -- we can only report on what we observed. In our eyes, there is nothing significantly different or improved about the Sprint version to warrant a second review. There are some very minor differences in camera quality, and obviously the network performance is better (since it's not EDGE), but a full-length review did not seem necessary (you'll note many of our contemporaries also have short-form reviews). While reports may differ (especially those stating that this phone has the updated ROM we've heard about), we're still seeing the same kind of sluggishness and slowdown we experienced with the European version. What we said in the original Hero review very much applies to the Sprint version, and we suggest you take a peek.

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

Love it.

I'm pleased that the color looks like a much darker "charcoal" than what I saw originally.

I'm definitely excited for this.

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

No physical keyboard? That sucks. I won't be getting this one....:(

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

I feel the same about the KB but its a start.

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

If you have used an iPhone,HTC Touch, or HTC Diamond than you should be used to it...I have a Touch Pro currently and I text alot..But I am sure this keyboard will work for me...Not sure yet but I know I am getting this phone..

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

You sound surprised. The phone has been out for several months (GSM), and it has been noted from the beginning about the the only keyboard being a software keyboard.

Sprint will have the Instinct Q, which will be an android phone, with a slide out qwerty.

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

I don't get it. So in the phonedog quick overview, it's said that the phone HAS the firmware update so it's really quick and snappy. On the cnet review, the phone is reported as being a bit sluggish at times (which from the reports, the new update is supposed to dramatically change those faults). And the engadget review says it does NOT have the new update. Is it possible they are all getting different phones or...? I'm confused!

Is the Sprint HTC Hero going to ship with the new update or what?

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

I sure hope it does ship with the upgrade...

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

Looks nice but I will most likely stay with Windows for awhile.
I would like to see what the feedback is for the OS regarding support, customization, etc.
I am not up on the OS.

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

you really cant save stuff to the SD card? thats just not smart....

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

I am considering it but I thought I read it requires a simply everything plan...I don't want to buy it unless i can keep my plan.

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

I would use a paper cup and string before switching from my plan :)

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

Android is open source, so the customization is limitless. It is a quickly growing smartphone os. Thousands of apps, which are growing all the time.

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

Can't wait for this phone to come out.

As far as saving apps to the SD card... I really don't think it's THAT big of a deal. Slightly annoying, yes. Unless you want to install 100 apps I don't think that will be a problem.

I'm taking the leap from Windows (and always having a hard kb) and I've never been more excited for a phone to come out (the Touch Pro being a close 2nd). I really do love hacking my phone to bits, but at times I find myself extremely jealous of the people with phones like this with the rich interface, easy access to thousands of apps, etc. Windows really needs to step up their game in the next year or they may just lose me forever.

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

I totally agree with u...I haven't been this excited since I got my Touch Pro...I am always known for having the latest and greatest phones..LoL..I was going to get the Touch Pro 2 but the price tag is eghhh...The Hero is at a nice price and also it is something new for me....Saving apps to the SD Card I think saves u some memory for the phone...Android is definitely the next wave in OS...

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

Oh yeah, I totally agree with the SD card thing. If what one or two of the reviews says it true, and it doesn't have the upgrade yet, then maybe that feature is coming with the new update.

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

Well I don't think its a feature to save apps to the sd...I think u have to root ur phone or sumthing...Not sure...How many more days till it comes out now..Hahaha

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

Do the programs for Windows work on Android or do they have to be Android specific?
Can I do registry Tweaks or are they not necessary?
Is Android faster and isn't it still in its infancy and Windows is much more perfected at this point in time.
Sorry for all the questions but I am still not secure in making the switch until I know what the Current advantages are with Android vs. Windows.

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

I wouldn't really call Windows Mobile perfected...

I'm jumping the ship just for the sake of trying out something new. I am starting to hate smartphones and I'm hoping that the Hero can help solve some of the sluggishness of it.

Send a text message
click message in TF3D... wait for it to load
Click Menu -> Reply
Slide out Qwerty
Wait...

Wait some more...
Mess with it a bit to get it to position from portrait to landscape correctly.
Type with screen lag.
Hit send

Hit send again

Watch the button smile at me in it's highlighted glory
See the circly processing image of glee
Close qwerty
Do happy dance.



Hopefully its better.... and yes, I know... I am a noob.

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

Well, I didn't really sat it was "Perfected," as you can see here >
"Is Android faster and isn't it still in its infancy and Windows is much more perfected at this point in time."

Meaning Windows is further along because it has been out much longer than Android which may have to go thru alot of trials and tribulations, such as Windows first did........and still is :)

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

Windows Mobile cabs can not be installed on an Android device, unless you are running some type of WM emulator, assuming one exists. For what I use on a regular basis, the only program I haven't been able to really find is an official Facebook app, and I rarely use Facebook, so it's not really that much of an issue.

I'm not sure how linux based stuff works. There is a registry, but I think it's more like having access to the "/root", as it's called. I may be messing up my terminology, so to the hardcore linux guys, please forgive me :)

I think the android OS is a little more efficient, and in some cases, a bit more intuitive. I like the fact about the notification bar at the top, so if you get a text message, your phone isn't taken over, and you have to stop what you are doing, and wait for the message to come through, as you do with WM. Android, to me, took WM, and WebOS, and combined the two, especially with the Hero, and it's Sense UI, which makes an easier transition from a WM device, to Android.

I've never used an android device, so you'd be better off finding some Android-specific forums, to learn more about how things work. The Hero has been out for a few months, so there are plenty of topics about tweaks, issues, benefits, etc.

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

Confirmed through Sprint e-chat today that a Simply Everything Plan will be required...I do not like that! I have a sweet plan and will not give it up.

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

I tell ya, if Sprint doesn't quit this BS, they will lose more money from the customers that leave, then they will make from the customers that are forced to switch to an EP, I mean choose to switch to an EP :(
Sprint still has yet to give a valid reason why customers with Unlimited Data have to switch to an EP in order to activate one of these Elite Devices :(
I know there are people that say Sprint can do whatever they want to. That's fine.
So let Sprint come out and say that "We know that many of you already have plans with Unlimited Data, but we want you to switch to an EP and pay hundreds or in some cases, thousands of dollars more in order to activate some devices because we want to wean customers off some of their plans that really don't make as much money for Sprint as the EP's do."

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

OMG, no external antenna.... count me out

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

That's not true. They all say that. They still aren't 100% sure what Plans will be available for the Hero. They will all tell you that, and that all Smartphone's need an Everything Plan which is not true. If Sprint decides to do this, it's a really dum move losing customers buying this device. They think requiring an Everything Data Plan will actually do them any good, its actually the complete opposite. Sprint needs to start being more flexible before they start losing more customers.

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

Has anybody heard that you can not Root this device like other Android phones..?...Thats going to suck bad..

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

Looks like me and WinMo will be together for awhile.

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

I 100% agree with you. I already have unlimited data and texting, why do i need a simply everything plan?!? I already have everything and pay much less! :mrgreen:

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

I agree with everybody..They should let people keep their plans...I just switched my plan from Free Incoming w/ 300 minutes and Pro Data Pack to Simply Data Everything w/ 450 minutes...I only made the switch because it is cheaper for me and plus I wasn't using all the minutes from the previous plan...Now I am compatible when I get the HTC Hero...They said I wasn't on my previous plan..

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

your dead wrong, go to xda, yes you can root it and there are custom roms already out for it.

the sprint version will be no different than the current one thats out in the uk right now, only a design change.

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

The Plans for the HTC Hero have not been announced yet. More 100% definite answers will be closer to launch. I don't know what Sprint is thinking, requiring one type of plan is just going to make them lose customers.

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

I hope you guys are right on the EP but I am just repeated what i was told. I personally like my plan a whole lot and already have everything I want.

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

There was a screenshot posted on this site a few weeks back, showing the rebate sheet, and the only phones requiring an EP were the Pre and the Instinct models. The hero was listed just under/above the TP2. Literature has stated an unlimited data plan was required for this phone, which is not the same an everything plan.

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

Yeah, most reps will tell you that it requires an Everything Plan since it's a smartphone but Plans have not been announced yet for this phone.

Here are those PDF's of the rebate:

EPRP

http://www.nextel.com/assets/pdfs/en...mir_103109.pdf

MIR

http://www.nextel.com/assets/pdfs/en...mir_103109.pdf


ALSO, look at the news release from the Instinct/ Palm Pre and compare to what it says for the HTC Hero. Notice that both Instinct and Palm Pre both have the word Everything in there as for the HTC Hero it doesn't.

Instinct:

http://newsreleases.sprint.com/phoen...oom&ID=1124417



Palm Pre:

http://newsreleases.sprint.com/phoen...oom&ID=1289761



HTC Hero:

http://newsreleases.sprint.com/phoen...oom&ID=1327394

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

i totally agree with you. i have been with sprint for 15 years now and might be leaving. i have had a sweet plan for so many years and now they want
me to change my plan if i want to get certain phones. they are trying to get me to take plans like im a new customer and i wont give in to them. there is no reason for me to double my bill that i have now. if they try doing it for this phone also, then it will be time to go.

Re: Sprint HTC Hero Hands-On First Look Video & Review.
 

And where exactly do you plan on going?? I don't think any other carrier can even come close to matching Sprint's plans. I know you probably just want to leave Sprint out of principle, but from a purely fiscal point of view you should stay with Sprint even if they are "doubling" the price for your plan. Cause if you leave sprint you might just be close to tripling your current plan... do the math.