I've been with Sprint for awhile (out of contract now, so I'm supposed to get a discount...)
Is the Best Buy deal restricted to new contracts or does it include renewals? And if I got the phone via Best Buy, is it still possible to get a plan using Sprint Employee Referral or other such voodoo? #htchero
@Red_Flag:
I believe BB can't do employee referral accounts. You could always sign up with them and then change your plan- but that may be more work than it's worth. #htchero
@mawcs: Oh, bravo, Merriam-Webster. Because everyone knows that there is no such thing as fine print, exceptions, or ways to negotiate anything from corporate reps ever, and that all questions and disputes are always solved by a single screenshot of an offer, rather than contracts or paperwork of any sort. Bravo. #htchero
You asked a question, I answered. Sorry you don't like the answer; but if you felt that "negotiating" might get you the same deal, you might have said that in your original comment and save me the effort of being a smart-ass. #htchero
@Sugartits: No. I've never seen VZW offer data only. The only place I've ever seen data only offered was on the old sidekicks and that was only for deaf people. #htcdroideris
Have fun paying for the required $30 data plan. Does anyone else realize you can get an iPhone for $99 and be required to pay for a data plan? I would rather have an iPhone. Actually I would rather have an iPhone on the Verizon network. Then I would be ephing happy. #htcdroideris
@wkm001: Wait so your argument is that I can get a one year old phone with less features, less (theoretical) storage and a crappier network yet pay the same price up front and monthly?
@tande04: Oddly enough my wife loves the Droid and will be getting it. I'm sticking with my work BBerry. Just so you know I'm not an Apple fanboy. #htcdroideris
So the upgrade to 2.0 will be downloadable? I don't want to buy this phone if HTC will come out with another 2.0 phone for Verizon a month later! #htcdroideris
@Samantha Buck: It will probably be OTA, not a download, but yes, it will be an upgrade, not a new phone. Those days are gone. Now you'll actually pay for bumps in specs as it should be. #htcdroideris
@tande04: I was just gonna ask that. The review makes it sound like you're stuck with 1.5, but I was just thinking why wouldn't you be able to upgrade the OS? I just didn't want to look like I didn't know anything even though I don't, heh.
@maven2k: HTC has already announced 2.0 for the hero (and assumedly the hero variants).
It could end up being a carrier issue. Maybe sprint will get the push and VZW won't but I don't think so.
Regardless one of the benefits of android is that the whole root thing is pretty simple. Its not that hard to get any version any time you want it. #htcdroideris
@maven2k: "HTC told me they'll upgrade to 2.0 once they've worked out all the bugs between 2.0 and Sense." So, looks that there's a possibility for 2.0 on newer HTC fones. Seems that there are a couple of engineering gaps between HTC's stuff and 2.0's architecture. #htcdroideris
This is what I love about Android. Make the handset manufacturer's compete to differentiate and offer different features. Fore example, my wife would like this phone because she's not big on physical keyboards, it's sleek and attractive, and the interface is nice.
Me, I'd like the Droid for it's gi-normous screen and (slightly) faster processor. We can have basically the same functionality with the features we'd like. #htcdroideris
@OCEntertainment: I appreciate the sentiment, but I think the whole robot-death-from-above ad is awesome.
@Dabogimp: Actually I'm still holding off. Our contract isn't up until either December or February, and at the rate these phones are coming out, even the Droid would be stale by then.
I'm looking forward to something with a huge screen, a snapdragon, 2.0 (or 2.5?), multitouch, and a physical keyboard. #htcdroideris
Data is data; why charge extra just because it has a better/different OS? I had a Nokia 6555 and then an HTC FUZE. Another family member has an iPhone 3G. We're in an EDGE area. With the 6555 on $10 Family Data, I was pulling ~50-60 MB a month while the iPhone was using all of 30 MB. With my FUZE I'm pulling ~100 MB a month and still wasting $30/mo on the same, useless PDA Personal plan. #htcdroideris
@dragon: ONE: Well, I guess for these devices it makes sense. I was asking because on T-Mobile the G1/MyTouch requires an expensive data plan (well, it's $25/mo), but a "dumbphone" can get an internet plan for $10/mo, because, I'm guessing, they're assuming you'll use the internet less.
Though I'm on an iPhone with the 5.99 plan :D And I also have the TM506 to tether 3G data with...for 5.99/mo...
The video was good enough for me to taste the salt water. Nice report, good details. This is why they keep Blam around. ;) #goproherohdwidecamerareview
Sorry HTC, but after gazing my eyes upon the Moto Droid; I'm going to wait to see whats next in the pipeline...plus I have Sprint. :( #android20onhtchero
@Neimo:
Negative.
I'll probably rue making this statement but I work for Sprint, and I currently have a Pre. I love my Pre, and Sprint is the tits, especially the plans. I'm just open minded enough to realize hotness. #android20onhtchero
This sounds wonderful to me, I really can't wait for Sense UI + Eclair to come to my phone.
Anyway, I am also getting a bit annoyed by the general tone with the Hero. I can't speak for the GSM version, but the Sprint (CDMA) version is very polished as it is. Personally, I think the Sprint version looks a bit better, with the exception to the button area. If you look at the back and top of the phone, you'll probably agree.
Far as I can tell, there is no lag in the UI, it does take a second to switch from portrait to landscape. It can tend to bog down if I am running too many applications in the back, but taskkiller eliminates that problem. Website zoom is very smooth (as opposed to one review video I watched). The ability to continuously type on the virtual keyboard is unmatched by almost anything. I miss the keys A LOT, but 95%, it knows what I want, and it's seamless, you just keep typing.
If you ask anyone who has the Hero, or even a few fans of HTC, they'll tell you this phone is the one to get for 2009, and probably most of 2010. #android20onhtchero
@Ninety-9: Presumably sometime next year HTC will come out with a Super Hero using a Cortex-A8 and most people won't bother with the original. So with respect to your prediction the question is will it come out before July? #android20onhtchero
@Ninety-9: The software update a while back fixed most of the lag. I was running the original Hero ROM on my HTC Magic -- it lagged like shit. I re-flashed my Magic with the updated, faster Hero ROM and its very fast (but obviously still no where near the iPhone's speed).
Typing is great, though, except for in the web browser, where it's practically unusable due to the lag. I can type very fast on my Magic, and even though the iPhone allows me to physically type faster due to the better responsiveness, overall the Magic wins because of its superior spell-check. #android20onhtchero
I still don't understand as to why Gizmodo keeps harping on the "tragically flawed" aspect as the firmware update that's now standard issue on the phone virtually eliminated all the sluggishness they complained about. Seemingly every other gadget site out there have acknowledge the speedier update yet Giz seems either oblvious to it or unwilling to mention it. #android20onhtchero
@TheScantronman: Here is the simple breakdown for you: We hates Android, my iPrecious, we hates it forever! Oh wait.. Android 2.0 has a lot of nice features... uhhh Uhhh UHHH GIZ HATES FILTHY ANDROIDSES! Niiiice iPhone, my iPrecious... iPrecious... #android20onhtchero
We're still not 100% sure what android 2.0 really looks though if I'm not mistaken.
We've got a Moto version of it but I've seen nothing to indicate that is how the regular 2.0 build is going to look. I'm sure that sense will look just fine on top of it and all features will be preserved.
@tande04: I'm pretty sure that motorola said this is your basic "google experience" android phone.. I interpret that as run of the mill android 2.0 #android20onhtchero
@Sir Gibler: I just took that to mean they didn't re-purpose it like they did with blur. I never got the impression that it wasn't still skinned. Could be wrong. #android20onhtchero
@tande04: we know how it looks, they officially released the 2.0SDK (Which includes the 2.0 emulator, which you can play with on your pc). #android20onhtchero
11/17/09
Is the Best Buy deal restricted to new contracts or does it include renewals? And if I got the phone via Best Buy, is it still possible to get a plan using Sprint Employee Referral or other such voodoo? #htchero
11/17/09
I believe BB can't do employee referral accounts. You could always sign up with them and then change your plan- but that may be more work than it's worth. #htchero
11/17/09
I'm not certain, but I think "new" means "new." #htchero
11/17/09
11/18/09
You asked a question, I answered. Sorry you don't like the answer; but if you felt that "negotiating" might get you the same deal, you might have said that in your original comment and save me the effort of being a smart-ass. #htchero
11/05/09
Because google voice is on Android no? #htcdroideris
11/05/09
11/05/09
11/05/09
11/05/09
11/05/09
Awesome. #htcdroideris
11/05/09
11/05/09
11/07/09
11/05/09
11/05/09
11/05/09
11/05/09
It could end up being a carrier issue. Maybe sprint will get the push and VZW won't but I don't think so.
Regardless one of the benefits of android is that the whole root thing is pretty simple. Its not that hard to get any version any time you want it. #htcdroideris
11/05/09
11/05/09
11/05/09
11/05/09
Me, I'd like the Droid for it's gi-normous screen and (slightly) faster processor. We can have basically the same functionality with the features we'd like. #htcdroideris
11/05/09
11/05/09
@Dabogimp: Actually I'm still holding off. Our contract isn't up until either December or February, and at the rate these phones are coming out, even the Droid would be stale by then.
I'm looking forward to something with a huge screen, a snapdragon, 2.0 (or 2.5?), multitouch, and a physical keyboard. #htcdroideris
11/05/09
After paying $100/mo for service, why would you not pay an extra Benji up front and get the Droid?
Too many devices leads to failure imo! (this is moot if the plans are different - those monthly savings are what really adds up!) #htcdroideris
11/05/09
Data is data; why charge extra just because it has a better/different OS? I had a Nokia 6555 and then an HTC FUZE. Another family member has an iPhone 3G. We're in an EDGE area. With the 6555 on $10 Family Data, I was pulling ~50-60 MB a month while the iPhone was using all of 30 MB. With my FUZE I'm pulling ~100 MB a month and still wasting $30/mo on the same, useless PDA Personal plan. #htcdroideris
11/05/09
Though I'm on an iPhone with the 5.99 plan :D And I also have the TM506 to tether 3G data with...for 5.99/mo...
It almost seems wrong. #htcdroideris
11/05/09
11/04/09
11/05/09
11/05/09
11/04/09
10/28/09
10/28/09
10/28/09
Negative.
I'll probably rue making this statement but I work for Sprint, and I currently have a Pre. I love my Pre, and Sprint is the tits, especially the plans. I'm just open minded enough to realize hotness. #android20onhtchero
10/28/09
ps
the Sprint NFL app sucks balls. #android20onhtchero
10/28/09
Anyway, I am also getting a bit annoyed by the general tone with the Hero. I can't speak for the GSM version, but the Sprint (CDMA) version is very polished as it is. Personally, I think the Sprint version looks a bit better, with the exception to the button area. If you look at the back and top of the phone, you'll probably agree.
Far as I can tell, there is no lag in the UI, it does take a second to switch from portrait to landscape. It can tend to bog down if I am running too many applications in the back, but taskkiller eliminates that problem. Website zoom is very smooth (as opposed to one review video I watched). The ability to continuously type on the virtual keyboard is unmatched by almost anything. I miss the keys A LOT, but 95%, it knows what I want, and it's seamless, you just keep typing.
If you ask anyone who has the Hero, or even a few fans of HTC, they'll tell you this phone is the one to get for 2009, and probably most of 2010. #android20onhtchero
10/28/09
10/29/09
Typing is great, though, except for in the web browser, where it's practically unusable due to the lag. I can type very fast on my Magic, and even though the iPhone allows me to physically type faster due to the better responsiveness, overall the Magic wins because of its superior spell-check. #android20onhtchero
10/28/09
10/28/09
10/28/09
We've got a Moto version of it but I've seen nothing to indicate that is how the regular 2.0 build is going to look. I'm sure that sense will look just fine on top of it and all features will be preserved.
10/28/09
10/28/09
10/28/09
10/28/09
10/28/09