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Help: Is the HTC Hero Android-forward-compatible?

I got this in from regular reader — and bona-fide mobile genius (he should have the T-Shirt) — Jonathan Mulholland. He posted it on his posterous too.

Have a read:

I love the HTC Hero, pretty much everything about the device looks fantastic. I just have one nagging doubt hopefully someone can answer for me – will the Hero be forward compatible with future versions of Android?

This sounds like a trivial point, especially when HTC have really taken the Android platform to another level with the Sense UI, but what will happen when future builds of Android make Latitude even more useful or add Google Voice as a component part of the OS?

It looks to me that HTC Sense is more than just a UI layer – some major Android components have been swapped out (the keyboard and phone dialler are custom created by HTC for example). I guess this would mean that as future updates to the Android OS or major device applications are released Hero owners would have to wait for an updated HTC build version before upgrading. This would be a shame because it looks like Google are starting to make it easier for owners to upgrade their devices by making updates available though the Android Marketplace.

Any thoughts?

Jonathan

My initial thought is that yes… it will be. I suspect it should be possible to upgrade it. It should be. But I don’t know for sure. Does anyone have a perspective for Jonathan.

19 COMMENTS

  1. almost all of the stock handsets have been carrier updated. since this is heavily then its wait and see from htc. and you know they can take a while. i guess if the handset sells well then they will support it with an early update if not. its wait and see. and wait and wait and wait… on the otherhand xda-developers forum have hacked android to run on just about everything but a toaster from jiffy lube.

  2. I thought that would probably be the case, it's not the end of the world but as I said it was great to see Google rolling out the recent Maps update via the Android Store. Device updates have always been such a notoriously user unfriendly experience – anything that can be done to make it an easier process (like the iPhone updates) for the user would be a good thing.

    I imagine Orange, T-Mobile + which ever other networks that sell the Hero worldwide will push out OTA updates in their own sweet time, with a ROM available for download from HTC's website. Might be something worth bearing in mind if your a Google fanatic thinking of buying the Hero (like me!). It could mean a bit of a wait to upgrade the device if Google add anything really cool to the Android base platform.

  3. Actually, the answer is initially no. HTC would like to build there Sense UI on Android 2.0, so it won't be the first device to get an upgrade. It depends on how succesful the Hero will be I guess; it should take some time for developers to build Sense on the Hero-screen resolution for Android 2.0

  4. Sounds like good news. I was initially very enthusiastic about the Diamond 2, but with this new release, I am thinking that Hero is the way forward; the fact that it will be forward compatible is reassuring!

    I just hope that Orange don't put too much of their own things and spoil the interface. It's due out in July (early) on the £40.00 contract for 24 months, but the phone is free and unlimited internet browsing is thrown in. Still too steep and too long for my liking so I might just wait a few months.

  5. HTC have already said that they are working on Android 2.0 for their next devices and no doubt would offer the same for the Hero.

    As for Sense UI being a major change to Android, that actually ISN'T the case. The entire Android architecture is about making everything it can an extended app including the home screen, dialer, keyboard etc. These aren't built into the core of the Android OS.

    You can see this with the HTC Hero by killing the TouchFLO service in the Applications list and making it as no longer the default Home application. When you click the home button you'll have choice of TouchFLO or the original Android home screen.

    I think the way people see SenseUI as a major overhaul of stock Android is a testament to the incredible customisation that Android offers without the need of hacking it to bits.

  6. “HTC have already said that they are working on Android 2.0 for their next devices and no doubt would offer the same for the Hero.”

    – Can you back this up with a source? I'd like to know for sure that HTC is planning to support forward compatibility on all their android-based products.

  7. HTC Android updates aren't OTA (over the air). They are performed over USB using a propitiatory application that aids in problem solving the roll back (in a rare case it is needed).

    Last update shows exactly how it will work. It's simple and easy (though couldn't be done on Windows 7 which was a pain).

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