The HTC Hero has been with us for around a year now, and still has a loyal following amongst HTC fans, with its early implementation of the Sense UI and decent spec for an Android device of its time making it the phone to have back then. And even now, the Hero still ranks as one of the top devices on the market, but one thing that has been holding it back is the fact that the Hero, or G2 as T-Mobile prefer to call it, still runs on Android OS 1.5
This means that some of the newer updates for Google applications and apps from the Android Market are incompatible with the Hero, which quickly led to user frustration, and a long patient wait as deadline after deadline for the promised update to a later Android OS version came and went.
Thankfully, the long wait is at an end, and user's patience is being rewarded, as today T-Mobile have confirmed that the OTA (Over The Air) software Update for the Hero/G2 is finally available, and is being rolled out to all device owners over the next few days. If you have a G2 on the T-Mobile network, go into the settings menu and prompt the device to check for a software update, and Android 2.1 will start to download.
One thing to check before installing the update is that you have got a backup of everything stored on the phone, as the software update will wipe everything, including SMS, Contacts and Apps. If you are a HTC Hero owner, and you have downloaded the update, drop a comment in the comments box on your impressions of the new software version on your phone.
7:15 pm
I just received the update today and it is a fantastic experience.
9:16 pm
Got the update just now, but only the first part. Can see quite a big difference already in screen layout, touch, pinch, home screen cascade effect and great gps system!
Tried changing date forward to get second update. Didn't work. Will try to download from HTC website, about time we received update after months of teasing.
11:19 am
Hi, I received the update notification. Asked me if i want to download at that moment or later. I was at the beach, so i choose later. What can i do to appear the download notification again? If that is possible.
1:43 pm
Any idea on when Orange might pull their finger out and give their customers the update. Orange customer service say they have no idea when it might happen.
4:26 pm
I still haven't received 2.1, I've spoken to HTC and T-Mobile and no one knows when or whether I'll receive it. I've tried every thing i.e. reflash, hard reset but nothing.
Anyone have any advice or know when the cut off date for the update is?
6:58 pm
João - In the settings menu you can manually check for the latest software version, this should then prompt your handset to download the update. Otherwise it will come again automatically, I think the default checking period is every two weeks.
shane - You shouldn't need to do a hard reset to download the update, just prompting the handset to check for the latest software version should initiate the latest version to download and install. For assistance, HTC have helpline details listed here: http://www.htc.com/www/CA_Hotline.aspx Hope that helps.
10:39 pm
When I asked Orange when the update would come out they didn't know. Not impressed at all. The whole idea of having one of these phones is to keep up with the modern technology. When my contract is up time to leave Orange. Also time to go to iPhone (it will be fixed for Lefties like me by then) which controls its own updates.
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9:49 pm
how do I get the my G2 to check for updates? I am in Security - Firmware Download and I have 'Prompt before downlaod' checked, am i in the right place? and does 2.1 allow bluetooth file transfer?