iPhone 4 vs Hero

[mgillespie]

As much as I love the Hero and Desire, I would get the iPhone 4 TBH. HTC really let me down in terms of updates and the iPhone seems to have better features.

iPhone is a letdown.

iPhone 3GS gets spanked by HTC Hero
iPhone 4 gets spanked by HTC Desire.

 

[Nodders]

Lol, this is what jobs is very good at, making people think his devices are superior with no reasoning behind it. I bet my argument as to why the desire is better will beat any argument you can put forward attempting to explain why the iphone 4 is better!

The core of his argument though is that HTC really dropped the ball with the Hero update - and he has a point here, whether it be Apple or whoever in the wings (or in this case on the main stage). If HTC/Google want to increase the market share they can't let that happen again. Trouble is - bet it does.

 

[mgillespie]

The core of his argument though is that HTC really dropped the ball with the Hero update - and he has a point here, whether it be Apple or whoever in the wings (or in this case on the main stage). If HTC/Google want to increase the market share they can't let that happen again. Trouble is - bet it does.

OK, i'll bite.

Please tell me how EXACTLY HTC dropped the ball over the Hero update? It's already been delivered in some regions and immenent in others.

I also seem to recall Apple saying OS4 won't run on some iPhone models EVER...

So lets cut the crap...

 

[Nodders]

I'm a bit confused as to why you have to ask - look in any of the 2.1 threads and it becomes pretty apparent and these arguments have been well rehearsed (on both sides) over 100 of posts in this very forum. It wasn't supposed to be trolling ("i'll bite"?) just a fairly common point of view amongst (ex in my case) Hero owners.

But just in case... by horrific communications. They skipped the 1.6 update to wait until 2.x, but then, after confirming the 2.1 release they spent a few months until they confirmed when it was to be released. Rumour after rumour hit the internet, some apparently from HTC's own customer service. HTC could have done what any normal company usually does and say "you will have 2.1 by x".

They did eventually, but way too late to make it look as though they had the faintest idea what they were doing. Some say that HTC are under no compulsion to release 2.1 for the Hero, and arguably they have a point (although if they don't that makes HTC Android phones not very attractive - back to the thread), however they did say it would be coming, they didn't say when until too late.

A really basic error from HTC and one that has a whole load of people (whether you like it or not) thinking carefully about their next HTC phone rather than it being an automatic decision. I eventually decided to give them one more chance and got a Desire - but if we see the same mess again then that's me done. I'm not unusual in this view.

 

[mgillespie]

I'm a bit confused as to why you have to ask - look in any of the 2.1 threads and it becomes pretty apparent and these arguments have been well rehearsed (on both sides) over 100 of posts in this very forum. It wasn't supposed to be trolling ("i'll bite"?) just a fairly common point of view amongst (ex in my case) Hero owners.

But just in case... by horrific communications. They skipped the 1.6 update to wait until 2.x, but then, after confirming the 2.1 release they spent a few months until they confirmed when it was to be released. Rumour after rumour hit the internet, some apparently from HTC's own customer service. HTC could have done what any normal company usually does and say "you will have 2.1 by x".

They did eventually, but way too late to make it look as though they had the faintest idea what they were doing. Some say that HTC are under no compulsion to release 2.1 for the Hero, and arguably they have a point (although if they don't that makes HTC Android phones not very attractive - back to the thread), however they did say it would be coming, they didn't say when until too late.

A really basic error from HTC and one that has a whole load of people (whether you like it or not) thinking carefully about their next HTC phone rather than it being an automatic decision. I eventually decided to give them one more chance and got a Desire - but if we see the same mess again then that's me done. I'm not unusual in this view.

So would you prefer it when it's ready and WORKING. or early and BROKEN. The latter seems to be the way many people want things these days (Xbox....)

 

[Champmoney]

Sorry i didn't read all your comments but the new HTC EVO 4G might also be compareable. It has the Sence UI. Just a thought.

 

[Nodders]

So would you prefer it when it's ready and WORKING. or early and BROKEN. The latter seems to be the way many people want things these days (Xbox....)

Erm no - that is nothing to do with my point at all. I would prefer it if HTC had the professionalism to state when they were getting promised updates out. Yes that means out and working, please explain how that means how HTC can't give a date. Virtually every other company manages it why not HTC?

 

[Jaffa]

Erm no - that is nothing to do with my point at all. I would prefer it if HTC had the professionalism to state when they were getting promised updates out. Yes that means out and working, please explain how that means how HTC can't give a date. Virtually every other company manages it why not HTC?

Theres nothing like an arguement without data, links showing other Smartphone providers, giving specific dates for software releases and sticking to them would strengthen your arguement.....

*Sits back and waits*

 

[mgillespie]

Virtually every other company manages it why not HTC?

Errm, no they don't Most don't release updates, and those that do don't annouce them until they are in final phases of testing, and hence can relabably predict an accurate date.

People seem to be happy to crucify HTC here, simply because they mentioned that they were updating the Hero to 2.1 and were foolish enough to suggest a date. You can be sure they won't make that mistake again, and stay TOTALLY tight lipped about any future plans...

 

[rizzla]

remember the iphone gets 1 update a year, since i got my hero there has been 1.6,2.0,2.1 and now 2.2 that's four updates in a year. Also remember android came in late in the game, the iphone and Winmo has a few years head start so all the quick update were to get android up to a competitive level. Its now surpassed that and can clearly stand on its own.

New Iphone updates like multi-tasking and folders are already available on android, it seems like they are the ones catching up now not the other way round.

 

[Member31648]

remember the iphone gets 1 update a year, since i got my hero there has been 1.6,2.0,2.1 and now 2.2 that's four updates in a year. Also remember android came in late in the game, the iphone and Winmo has a few years head start so all the quick update were to get android up to a competitive level. Its now surpassed that and can clearly stand on its own.

New Iphone updates like multi-tasking and folders are already available on android, it seems like they are the ones catching up now not the other way round.

But that's kind of the point. Android has such potential, but it's being hindered by the manufacturers. Although the iPhone releases one update a year, every single generation of their iPhones have been able to upgrade up to iOS4.

Hero has seen none of these upgrades.

For me, the reason I upgraded to the hero from a WinMo was I thought it being Google/Android - a free product, I would be expecting quicker updates, and in fact I got no updates. I was also planning on running the upcoming Android version of the Epocrates program which was advertised to work on the Hero initially. Then when it was finally released, it had a minimum requirement of Android 1.6.

So in fact, Android and in particular HTC has let me down in multiple ways.
You may say HTC has no obligation to provide updates - and while technically true, there IS a different expectation with smartphones - that's why it's not a dumb phone. What's worse is occasionally functions break when developers upgrade their software with expectations that people will be running the new OS. (eg. Layars)

Anyhoo, I don't think I will purchase an HTC product again.