HTC

Nov 29 AT 7:23 PM Taylor Wimberly 34 Comments

Android 2.1 spied on HTC Hero

We first spotted Android 2.1 about a month ago and now the first screens have appeared. Surprisingly, the screens come from a HTC Hero and not the Motorola Droid. This is an overwhelmingly good sign for anyone with a first generation Android phone. The Android 2.0 release date for 1st generation phones had been in question, but it now appears to be right around the corner. If Android 2.x is coming to the HTC Hero, then it should be able to be ported to other 1st gen Android phones that feature the same Qualcomm 528 MHz processor.

[via begeek.fr]

Most Tweeted This Week

Fresh Meat: 10 new Android apps worth checking out

Chrome, Google Drive and Play Magazines all receive updates

Jennifer Lopez and Verizon announce Viva Móvil

34 Comments Join the discussion!

PhilGuest 11/29/09 7:31 PM

Thumb up Thumb down 0
Looks hot.

Reply
Mr. FryGuest 11/29/09 7:35 PM

Thumb up Thumb down 0
“then it should be able to be ported to other 1st gen Android phones that feature the same Qualcomm 528 MHz processor.”

Uh, the supposed reason 2.0 won’t come to older phones isn’t the processor (as you should know), its the ROM size. I would think out your posts a bit more in the future.

Reply
- 100 Taylor Wimberly 11/29/09 7:44 PM
  
  Thumb up Thumb down 0
  The G1 is the main phone we have concerns with when it comes to ROM size. It is limited to a 70 MB partition which is the smallest of any Android phone. Most other phones (like the MT3G) have at least 90 MB for the system partition. The CLIQ even has a 140 MB system partition.
  
  Reply
  - jasonleeGuest 11/29/09 8:35 PM
    
    Thumb up Thumb down 0
    Taylor, what is the system partition on the droid. just curious about its limits. thanks
    
    Reply
  - Mr. FryGuest 11/29/09 9:38 PM
    
    Thumb up Thumb down 0
    Very true. That’s why I don’t understand the reference to the 528MHz processor being an issue. I was under the impression that there has never been a processor issue with regards to updates (at least talked about). And if the idea is the porting can happen because this version of 2.x is being built for the 528MHz hardware, then you still run into the problem of limited ROM on similar Android hardware.
    
    Reply
    - PaulGuest 11/29/09 11:59 PM
      
      Thumb up Thumb down 0
      The reason is that we’re missing drivers for the system-on-a-chip used in those devices. That system on a chip (or, more commonly just referred to as the processor with mobile phones) is made by qualcomm. Right now, people have 2.0 running on the G1 with a hack to increase the system partition (same thing that allowed Hero firmware to run on the G1), but the media components don’t work due to messed up (missing) drivers. Since this ROM is running on Hero, it leads us to believe that Qualcomm IS, in fact, working on making new drivers, and we’ll likely see other 1st gen phones running 2.0. Hope that helps answer your question, but please refrain from automatically attacking the author if you don’t quite understand.
      
      Reply
      - Mr. FryGuest 11/30/09 4:39 AM
        
        Thumb up Thumb down 0
        Consider my statement retracted :)
      - phamousGuest 11/30/09 3:05 PM
        
        Thumb up Thumb down 0
        Yeah, natively the g1 has around 70 mb’s of system storage.
        The “hack” is a firmware update to the phone’s bootloader (secondary program loader) which repartitions the phone’s internal memory, increasing system memory by stripping the phone of it’s “update” partition used for OTA updates (your rooted phone won’t be getting OTA updates anyways, so it’s not necessary that you have it)
Chris FGuest 11/29/09 7:36 PM

Thumb up Thumb down 0
OOOH! gooood news!! I wanted the hero for christmas! :DD

Reply
smithey253Guest 11/29/09 7:39 PM

Thumb up Thumb down 0
Aww yeah I can’t wait for this.

Totally forgot about the whole update fiasco with the Hero until now. Hopefully we can have 2.1 on our Heros before the end of the year.

Reply
@jsnyngGuest 11/29/09 7:54 PM

Thumb up Thumb down 0
I’m running an AOSP 2.0 ROM right now that only clocks in at 57MB. It runs great on the MT3G and G1.

@Mr Fry – Maybe you should research what you’re talking about before criticizing.

Reply
DauffenGuest 11/29/09 8:20 PM

Thumb up Thumb down 0
There is a picture missing, and that picture makes me think that this is nothing more than a rumor

http://www.androidspin.com/home/3-latest-news/315-hero-android-21-hero-build-screenshot

the fourth pic just looks dumb!

Reply
- DTUGuest 11/30/09 1:57 AM
  
  Thumb up Thumb down 0
  To me it says that the home screen can now be rotated horizontally which is great, as atm it doesn’t support this.
  
  Reply
  - DauffenGuest 11/30/09 5:05 AM
    
    Thumb up Thumb down 0
    the bottom menu looks fake
    
    Reply
    - VanVlackGuest 12/01/09 12:55 PM
      
      Thumb up Thumb down 0
      Ya it looks messed up but this could be from the hero software being beta and not adapting to the screen rotation the right way. This happens in some applications when its not designed right to handle screen changes.
      
      Reply
JasonGuest 11/29/09 8:42 PM

Thumb up Thumb down 0
How much of this is Android and how much of it is Sense?

Reply
- 100 Taylor Wimberly 11/29/09 8:43 PM
  
  Thumb up Thumb down 0
  What you are looking at is the HTC Sense UI.
  
  Reply
Ryan FGuest 11/29/09 9:15 PM

Thumb up Thumb down 0
Can’t wait for a root guide to put this on my Droid.

Reply
0 problem 11/30/09 12:05 AM

Thumb up Thumb down 0
how do u make an google account bcoz i’ve tried this could be a temporary problem or your sim card may not be provisoned for data services.please try again when you are connected.if it continues,call customer care

Reply
JonnyBGuest 11/30/09 2:47 AM

Thumb up Thumb down 0
hey felas, if you didnt notice, and again im the first one, Android 2.1 has the ability(look at the pics)to go on landscape mode on the home screens!!!
look! tilt the phone and wa la!
Android(Google), thank you:]

Reply
- MasterCKOGuest 12/21/09 5:09 PM
  
  Thumb up Thumb down 0
  VOILA. It’s spelled “VOILA.” Thank you.
  
  Reply
JonnyBGuest 11/30/09 2:49 AM

Thumb up Thumb down 0
oops heres the complete list of pics(look at the 2nd one down on the right side)
http://www.androidspin.com/component/content/article/3-latest-news/315-hero-android-21-hero-build-screenshot

Reply
- DauffenGuest 11/30/09 5:07 AM
  
  Thumb up Thumb down 0
  that pic looks made up! notice the menu inconsistency
  
  Reply
MeragoGuest 11/30/09 5:13 AM

Thumb up Thumb down 0
If this is true, it’s great news. A bit of a tactical masterstroke from HTC too, don’t just give ‘em what they want, give ‘em more than they want.

Reply
DanielGuest 11/30/09 8:06 AM

Thumb up Thumb down 0
when will it be out in Singapore??? I want it!!

Reply
NigelLHGuest 11/30/09 11:36 AM

Thumb up Thumb down 0
I’m an Android newbie pretty much. Have an HTC Hero on Orange (UK). Currently have 1.5. How do I get 1.6 let alone 2.0 or later. Is the impression I get from threads that 2.0 won’t run on the Hero correct. Thanks for any advice.

Reply
nonyaGuest 11/30/09 2:59 PM

Thumb up Thumb down 0
To all who claim these screenshots are fake you are wrong, as to the reference to the processor, the problem that devs were having is we are missing qualcomm drivers for cameera and media gallery and cpu, since the hero and the g1 are similar in hardware we are able to take these drivers and impliment them into asop. We are also working on that exact hero dump on our g1s and mt3gs, the htc confidential watermmarks have been removed.

Reply
bltGuest 11/30/09 4:22 PM

Thumb up Thumb down 0
“yah ull have hero 2.1 before the year end… no landscape rosie in tattoo. landscape rosie in 2.1″

http://twitter.com/kingklick92

Reply
Android and MeGuest 12/02/09 7:29 PM

Thumb up Thumb down 0
[...] Android phone laying around want want to play with the latest HTC Sense UI for Android 2.1? The Eclair version of Sense UI that was spotted a few days ago has been leaked and already ported to all most the HTC Android [...]

Reply
Android and MeGuest 12/08/09 1:16 PM

Thumb up Thumb down 0
[...] Android 2.0 is reported to be currently running on the handset but other rumors suggest it will come with Android 2.1 by the time it ships. Bravo is supposed to be loaded with HTC’s Sense UI which we know is being updated to 2.1. [...]

Reply
sideshowbobGuest 12/11/09 9:25 AM

Thumb up Thumb down 0
great news. but why don’t the sell a touch hd with android? or did MS pay money to “get” their top model?

Reply
EricGuest 02/08/10 4:06 PM

Thumb up Thumb down 0
Is it still usefull to think about buying a Hero with all the other phones having the snapdragon processor?

Reply
moneygramGuest 02/16/10 11:29 AM

Thumb up Thumb down 0
tried n tested.. flashed everything corectly, but Android 2.1 on HTC Hero crashes to much… wait for the real one… or look for 2.0 ! dito

Reply
DavidGuest 03/12/10 10:50 AM

Thumb up Thumb down 0
When?! I can’t see the update on the HTC uk site for my Hero and all the articles saying android 2.0 is out for htc hero are all months old!

Where do I find the update for my phone if not on the HTC website?

Reply

Android and Me

Top 10 Android games released this week

Android 4.3 and white Nexus 4 coming June 10

Google reveals Samsung Galaxy S 4 Nexus Edition

Android passes 900 million devices activated

Android 2.1 spied on HTC Hero

Most Tweeted This Week

Fresh Meat: 10 new Android apps worth checking out

Chrome, Google Drive and Play Magazines all receive updates

Jennifer Lopez and Verizon announce Viva Móvil