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Official GSM Hero 2.1 Thread

There is one thing that I'm intrigued to know (from a UK perspective).

Almost always, the 'sim free' devices get firmware updates first and the network specific phones follow on.

So surely if there's no firm info/date on the update for sim free Hero phones, there is no chance that those on Orange for example will have a clue when an update will emerge?

I only say this as I have a sim free handset and have a nasty feeling that the 2.1 update isn't really on anyone's priority list for an update.

Hopefully I'm wrong, but the last update followed on quite randomly depending on which network you're on.
 
So surely if there's no firm info/date on the update for sim free Hero phones, there is no chance that those on Orange for example will have a clue when an update will emerge?

I suppose people are hoping that HTC have told companies like orange how things are going with the update and when to expect it; they might be a bit less vague with their dates than when talking to the general public.
 
If I have ever knew all of these infos, I would never buy HTC Hero for sure ! :mad:

I think the same when I bought my Hero...but I really liked the device itself...and the story with Android should be different from Windows Mobile...but all the Sense thing and stuff is slowing the hole idea of the update...and making it useless...

Froyo is almost out and HTC didn't release Eclair yet...

use unofficial ROMs my friends or get a Nexus...:)
 
Email HTC today,and got this reply. make of it what you will

Dear vic,
Some of the phones in our Android line up including your Hero are due to receive an upgrade, and it is scheduled to be released starting in June. Your phone should be upgraded Over-The-Air. You can expect a pop-up message on your phone when connected to the internet once it is ready. When the upgrade is ready, we will notify you via our website and on various social media networks including Twitter and Face book. The statement above still stands and to add to this we can confirm we haven't had any internal communication so far the released has been pushed back by our headquarters so we would suggest to be more patient. At the moment we have not got any specific date to provide.
Best regards,
OlivierM
HTC
 
Maybe I misread then. The article talked about a "major release" following last September, the only ROM updates they have issued via their website are maintenance releases.



Perhaps I'm splitting hairs.

As I recall, the Hero had some SERIOUS performance issues that were fixed in the september update..

.. but I might be mistaken.

I don't think "major release" equals "Android 2.1". Most regular users don't care much for version numbers. They want visible or measurable improvements.

That aside I too wonder how much longer HTC will keep us waiting. early June is like.. NOW.. still no update. As I have stated earlier, I think hardware that hasn't received updated for more than six months should be considered abandoned by the manufacturer.

So.. HTC: Please prove me wrong.. I dare you :D
 
I suppose people are hoping that HTC have told companies like orange how things are going with the update and when to expect it; they might be a bit less vague with their dates than when talking to the general public.

Good point. I wonder how many Orange customers have contacted Orange rather than HTC to get any information...
 
Been in email contact with HTC and I got this:

"We have no specific dates regarding this or other issues with the Hero but an update to Android 2.1 is nscheduled for June and should resolve a lot of issue as well as adding functionality. Best regards, Bjorn D HTC"

Apparently still scheduled for June. Which is now!! With any luck it should be soon :)

[Pic 1] [Pic 2]
 
Theres alot of posts on this forum regarding emails from somebody at HTC and they all give conflicting replies to when the update is actually going to be available. I wonder sometimes if there is anybody in the HTC office.
I've got this vision in my head of a cleaner sitting at a desk on her teabreak *** at the corner of her mouth, tea in hand, shes reading these emails that we're sending and replying with any old bulls**t that comes into her head
 
Hopefully it shouldn't be too long now. Running VillainROM 6.2.1 atm but I hope the official ROM is faster as VROM isn't exactly 100% stable. (although it's damn close fair play to them!)
 
Just like I said...maybe HTC is planning to update the Hero...but sure being late as it is now...it's somehow getting useless...I think Google should find a way to spread the updates more fast...
 
One thing I'm intrigued by is this initial 'over the air' update.

How on earth can HTC contact all Hero Phones to perform this if it's not a process started at the user end?

Certainly for anyone who's got a sim-free device, HTC surely won't know which phone is on which network (even though this is possible to establish but HTC won't be privvy to such information).

Just wondering as I've always had to manually check for updates previously on other phones.

:confused:
 
They know which update a phone needs by it's serial number. So for instance I can't download the unbranded firmware from HTC's website because I have a T-Mobile serial number.

Then I guess as soon as you connect to the internet the phone will call back to HTC and get told about the update.
 
I'm happy with that bit (authenticating the phone etc).

It's the HTC statement that there will be an initial 'over the air' update which seems to be initiated by HTC.

How can they initiate it if they don't know how to contact a device?

This was a response from HTC:

"Your phone should be upgraded Over-The-Air. You can expect a pop-up message on your phone when connected to the internet once it is ready. When the upgrade is ready, we will notify you via our website and on various social media networks including Twitter and Face book."

The bit in bold was what intrigued me. Unless the Hero goes checking for updates every time it's online, I didn't understand how a message could just 'pop-up' informing of an update.

Anyway....

This more recent one seems to suggest it's a more normal approach (via HTC website etc).

Statement from HTC via Pocket Lint: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/32689/htc-delays-hero-update-to-june

"HTC will be providing a free update to
 
It's not that unusual is it? That's how push email works too; the server tells the email client when it has an email rather than the client checking every X mintues.
 
As long as HTC know they have to contact my device then no, not unusual at all.

But unless I've forgotten about something, HTC don't have my device details or my contact details so there's a missing link somewhere I think.

I'm wondering how our American Sprint Hero cousins got their update. Although as they're on a specific network it's not really the same as Sprint would have known details such as phone number.

Thanks Xyro. Nice to have another perspective on what is a puzzle to me!
 
My first post here (even before an intro!) after being a lurker and picking up loads of info on rooting my Hero.

I have a question which is sort of related to the 'how will HTC know which phones to update' question. I'm currently running SenseHero 2.1 B3 but I'm probably going to go with the stock ROM when (if) it finally arrives. If I already have 2.1 how will it know that I need an update? Will I miss it? Will both the 'preparatory' and the actual 2.1 updates be available as downloads?

One last thing. If I need to go back to the stock 1.5 ROM should I just run the latest RUU for my network (3UK)?

Thanks!
 
Yea i wonder the same thing. I have an unlocked asian hero. At&t doesnt have a clue what phone im using and there no way im going to tell them since their just going to add some stupid data plan onto it. I cant imagine how HTC would know know to push the update to my phone, nevertheless im not going to update to the official anyway, id rather wait and be able to root
 
I have a question which is sort of related to the 'how will HTC know which phones to update' question. I'm currently running SenseHero 2.1 B3 but I'm probably going to go with the stock ROM when (if) it finally arrives. If I already have 2.1 how will it know that I need an update? Will I miss it? Will both the 'preparatory' and the actual 2.1 updates be available as downloads?

One last thing. If I need to go back to the stock 1.5 ROM should I just run the latest RUU for my network (3UK)?

Thanks!

Using a custom ROM will stop your phone being able to recieve OTA updates I believe. You should be able to get it from the HTC website though.

And yeah, the stock RUU should work.

Welcome to the forum!

MR_COATES said:
As long as HTC know they have to contact my device then no, not unusual at all.

But unless I've forgotten about something, HTC don't have my device details or my contact details so there's a missing link somewhere I think.

That's true, there must be some data being sent from the phone so HTC know it exists and what firmware it's on. (Even push email still involves your phone sending login details to google).

I tried googling on how this kinda stuff works but couldn't find anything =/
 
I'm quite happy to wait for the ROM to appear on the HTC site.

Well, I say happy but you know what I mean!
 
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