Why I hate the HTC Hero, or how you can save a clown
Ok, If I see one more HTC Hero post/blog/tweet/YouTube claiming it to be the bestest, mostest wonderiffic piece of Android in the whole wide world I’m going to punch a clown.
To death.
Here’s the thing, the Hero is ugly and it’s got the same guts as the HTC Magic.
The only thing new the Hero brings to the table is simply a skinned version of Android 1.5 “Cupcake.” Meaning, that it’s still Android 1.5 but instead of it looking like Android it looks a little prettier.
Yes, it has seven home screens (openHome, aHome, etc. will do this for you on stock Android). Yes, it has a lot of proprietary widgets, but try running seven screens worth and watch what happens. Not to mention stock Android, since the release of 1.5, has widgets popping up like weeds. Yes, it has a 5megapixel camera (still hard to use) and a 3.5MM jack. Ok, so your blurred pictures are blurry at a higher resolution and you don’t have to use a dongle to listen to music. Will the wonders never cease?
The guts of the phone are still identical to the Magic/myTouch with only one small exception, the Hero boasts 288MB of RAM whereas the Magic runs with 192MB. That’s it folks, aside from a bump in the camera resolution and a headphone jack, you’re buying a squared-off Magic with a skinned UI and running it on EDGE (i.e. 2G, NOT 3G), that is, if you’re importing one to the states.
But its UI pretty and it has Flash!
It may be a pretty UI, but how useful is it? There are plenty of reports going around that the guts of the phone just can’t handle seven screens of widgets, let alone deliver a compelling Flash experience. If you can’t run seven screes of widgets what’s the point? If you can’t watch your porn play your Bejeweled what good is it to boast about Flash?
Besides, Flash 10 is coming to Android and a few other mobile platforms in the Fall and is reportedly a faster more pleasing experience than the build on Hero.
See, what people forget is that every app, from the dialer, to the phone book, to Joe’s fart Machine are all treated equallyby the Android OS. Don’t like the stock phonebook? Install a different one and default it to e primary phonebook. It’s this very flexibilty that allowed HTC to skin Android in the first place!
By it’s very design, Android is as flexible as the time it takes to do what you want with it.
Personally, until we start seeing TEGRA or Snapdragon based Android handsets I’m perfectly happy with stock Android. Could it be polished up a bit? Sure. But if I take the time I can do a lot of that polish myself by piece-mealing the exact experience I want one component at a time. Not to mention, we still have at least two more Android updates before 2009 is over, who knows what UI goodness lies hidden behind Google’s doors.
I’m not arguing that the Sense UI isn’t nice or a great contribution to Android. I think between it and Sony Ericsson’s XPERIA custom UI, Google may get around to polishing up the stock UI if for no other reason than peer pressure.
What I am arguing, however, is the physical hardware on which it runs is a) ugly (personal preference) and b) not really capable of handling the very selling points that make it so exciting – according to plenty of reviews like engadget.com’s or phonedog.com’s.
It has the exact same internals as the Magic, save the 96MB bump in RAM. Will the RAM help? Sure but it still has a 528mhz processor and 512MB of ROM. We’re not talking huge gains in performance here, not the kind to warrant the lust going around the internet over this particular Android offering.
Especially when you are looking at importing one. When (if) a native U.S. version running 3G shows up, ok maybe it’s better than the myTouch. An imported one running EDGE? No thanks.
R. John Klimut
Sounds like penis (oops, I meant phone) envy.
From everything I’ve seen so far it looks like the best phone we have seen to date … from any phone maker. The interface/software design and functionality is so superior to anything else out there it’s not funny, so I don’t know what planet you are on but it’s not this one. The iPhone interface comprises blocks of look-alike chunky square icons – it’s so boring. This interface is stylis, elegant and very sexy. A lot of thought and work has gone into this.
Also, you criticise it’s look, but for me it’ll be nice to put a phone to the side of your face that’s actually shaped more like a phone, not shaped like a flat screen that feels like a lump of cold glass. That’s the main reason I’ve given my iPhone the flick. That and Apple’s insistence on locking everything up in proprietry terms.
This is a beautiful piece of technology, almost I would say a work of art. Save up and buy one and then you won’t that problem with envy you seem to have.
No John, I have to disagree. It’s a piece of junk. I work for HTC here in Taiwan, and we’re obcessed with creating an “iPhone killer.” Such a thing doesn’t exist. It’s a piece of crap. I don’t know what planet YOU’RE from…
hey charles,hwo you be talking shit about htc when you work for them dumb ass? theyre the ones that put food on the table for ur talking shit ass 2 eat and for ur family 2 eat 2
But you just made the same point as all of the reviews. Even if it is only slightly better, it IS better. The fact that I wouldn’t have to buy several programs to get a better keyboard, seven homescreens, and whatever other little tweaks is also a selling point. Plus the Sense UI can be turned off if you think it will hurt performance. Personally I hate the way the myTouch3g looks, so any redesign of the hardware is welcome. Also the Hero is rumored to be going to Sprint…a CDMA provider. If that proves to be true than more than likely by the time the Hero ships in the U.S. it will be running Donut (for its CDMA drivers).
If you have to turn OFF Sense UI to get decent performance, what then is the point of having Sense UI? You’ve just negated every selling point about the phone and now you really do have a squared-off Magic.
I’m not arguing that the Sense UI isn’t nice or a great contribution to Android. I think between it and the XPERIA’s custom UI Google may get around to polishing up the stock UI if for no other reason than peer pressure.
What I am arguing, however, is the physical hardware on which it runs is a) ugly (personal preference) and b) not really capable of handling the very selling points that make it so exciting – according to plenty of reviews like engadget.com’s or phonedog.com’s.
It has the exact same internals as the Magic, save the 96MB bump in RAM. Will the RAM help? Sure but it still has a 528mhz processor and 512MB of ROM. We’re not talking huge gains in performance here, not the kind to warant the luts going around the internet over this particular Android offering.
Especially when you are looking at importing one. When (if) a native U.S. version running 3G shows up, ok maybe it’s better than the myTouch. An imported one running EDGE? No thanks.
Honestly? I’m still really looking forward to this device-I know all about the bad reviews (for a particularly scathing one regarding the lag time that the Sense UI apparently causes, check out Gizmodo’s), but it’s still probably the best non-iPhone out there (imho, of course-I’m sure that there are some good WinMo phones out there, but I’ll never use them, and the Pre looks a’ight, but I don’t find it that appealing…plus I hear about build quality issues with it, and that’s unacceptable if I’m spending hundreds of dollars on a phone). That all being said, I totally agree with you-I’m waiting for this to show up on Sprint or AT&T (not coming out for T-Mobile-at least not according to their execs.). This is an awesome phone, but I’m not paying $600 for an import that can only run EDGE.
Yeah I agree that it is not worth importing (and limiting it to edge). I personally am excited about the Hero because my employer gives me free Sprint cell service and being that Sprint is CDMA I’m not even able to buy an unlocked android phone at this point (So I’m hoping the rumors of it going to Sprint are true). I just dont quite understand the point of writing a blog post on why you think the Hero sucks if the only thing that is negative is that you dont like the look because turning off the UI kills the lag (and admittingly one of its selling points). As far as the hype on the internet I feel it is slightly justified because T-mobile has said they aren’t going to offer it in the US. So if it comes here its going to a different carrier, something I think people are excited to hear about. Now I agree it is basically even with myTouch3G, but people hyped this since it was the first time a manufacturer tried a complete re-skin of android.
I purchased the “HTC Hero” last week from Sprint…. Excited I only got to the parking lot and configured bluetooth, email, etc (took about 30 minutes).
I’m a business user with heavy email and phone usage (have been using a Blackberry for the last 6 years).
I spent the evening customizing the phone which is really cool though I noticed the Hero to be sluggish and unresponsive at times especially when trying to use the PHONE! how can this be? The phone was very hard to use or even get at contacts! I mis-dialed several of my contacts, then sat the phone down and it called my wife 2 minutes later?!? WTF!
I used the phone for exactly 2 hours and 13 minutes within a 4 hour period (after a full charge) and the phone stated the battery was near death!
The camera may be 5meg though it’s sluggish, the pictures in regular light are ok. The apps are definately cool!
Here’s a test:
Try to make a phone call by selecting a contact and call that person in under 15 seconds…. you can’t if you have 500 contacts like I do! too many buttons to select!
Email response is very hard too and HTML links did not always show up within the message!
***RETURNED MY HERO IN LESS THAN 36 HOURS *** If you’re a heavy phone and/or email user — you will be disappointed! I give this phone a “5″ for looks and “2″ useability.
I have the HTC HERO and since the day I got it I have been looking into ways of making it look less like a windows mobile phone, and more like android I can say I hate sence UI there is no need for it and I wish there was a way to remove it.
I Also Hate My HTC Hero!
I was a Blackberry user – until I dropped it in the water and killed it. The trackball drove me insane anyhow – so I figured I’d upgrade to the latest new toy – what a HUGE mistake.
I admit – The HTC Hero is really nice to look at – but that’s it.
It’s slower than stink, hangs up on callers, answers incoming calls by itself even when you are already in a call, and more annoyances than I can think of.
Lucky me – I am with those idiots at Telus – and stupid me signed up with them for another 3 years after receiving this junk phone. Now – seeing it’s been more than 30 days since I bought this Hero Junk – they won’t even replace it with another type of phone – as in a simple phone that actually receives and properly takes calls.
My only option is – putting it on Craigslist and trading it for something else. Look for my ad soon
I am curious – This phone is about as stable as Windows – did Bill Gates have a finger in it’s development? If yes – Figures!
I got my HTC magic now for almost 3 month , to me its an amazing phone , cant compare it with that crappy Iphone , Most android users will agree with that , Android as an OS is Amazing and superior it’s got so much potential , the only thing that is KILLING me is I am sooo much missing having a QWERTY , i just hate the on screen keyboard , its kinda slowing me down ( making mistakes )
I wanted to believe that it was awesome and am trying to get used to it (it has been 4 months now) but as I am sitting here and cannot make a F-ing phone call. I am irritated. The actual Phone app blows. What else is annoying? I have to use some janky 3rd party app to close my apps? wtf? I have to periodically wake up my phone to turn off apps that have turned themselves on to save battery. yes I can also turn off the mobile network and that saves battery too but COME ON!
I heard rumors another update was coming- Sprint told me over a month ago that it would be out in a couple weeks.. it isn’t
and Flash? Flash doesn’t exist. I still get lots of websites that come up with the little blue “f” and a red “!” thats not flash.
I do like it- but there are many issues, I heard some complaints about the keyboard (i have an iPod touch and its keyboard is fantastic) I agree that it isn’t that great. But if you turn off the vibrate it gets less confused and works faster. Also I tweaked the predictive text settings which helped.
Anyways- that is my rant for now- just pissed off that I had to restart it because it wouldn’t make a call…
I have the Sprint Hero and it is terrible. Slow and quirky. Sprint released a broken product. Shame on them. Other than price I have NO IDEA why people don’t just buy an iphone, it is by far the best phone in the world right now. And, no, I do not work for Apple or At&T. I actually hate Apple computers and Apple as a company, but having used an iphone for a month, I have to admit, it was well made and a pleasure to use. You have to give credit where it’s due, no matter how painful. Bying a Hero or a Palm or any Droid phone that I have seen right now, instead of an iphone is like punching yourself in the genitals repeatedly. Painful and unnessecary. It is akin to driving a Ford Pinto when you can get a brand new Nissan for a little more.
The UI lag is EXCRUCIATING. If you like being mad and always “this close” to throwing stuff as hard as possible at the sidewalk, get the Hero. I never have a good experience using this phone. The battery lasts about 1/2 a day when using it as a PHONE. Hello!!
Worst. Phone. Ever.
i feel the same way!!
im calling TELUS today and if they dont give me a better phone without having to pay outright im switching companies and getting a blackberry, 5 minutes into my outgoing phone calls the hero hangs up, it takes forever to “drag down to answer” phone calls and when i try to click on the text message at the top of the screen, it opens the bottom one and takes over a minute to open, go back and choose the correct one. This phones only 4 months old and its fucking garbage
this phone is sooo sloowwwww. it lags when i attempt to dial people, and i call the wrong person. it lags when i attempt to send text messages, making my messages. this supposed firmware update has been lingering around for months.. and… it is still not here!!! i paid $200 for this POS phone and i am pissed off… EVO anyone?