- December 1, 2009 12:45 pm
So you’ve been lusting over Sense UI playing nice with the upcoming Android 2.1 update these last couple of days. Pictures are indeed worth a thousand words yet somehow, we are left wanting more. Understandable. And so you shall receive. HTC Hero owners who are starting to twitch due to the now ancient Android 1.5 build they’re currently running can — if they have the hacking chops — download a freshly leaked Android 2.1 ROM, complete with Sense UI wrapped all around. I could go on but you just want your hands on that ROM…and now! Am I right? Go ahead:
Engadget > XDA Forums
{Image Source
- November 13, 2009 6:43 am
If you’re in the Market for an Android device, you’ve got quite the selection this holiday season. But if you’re a bleeding edge nerd who wants the top of the line, you really only have a couple choices. Sprint’s HTC Hero or Samsung Moment and Verizon’s Droid Eris or DROID Droid are really the top models for the time being. But another option is coming quick in the form of the Samsung Behold II. This new device from Samsung will be the first Android device to feature Samsung’s “TouchWiz” custom interface that among other things, allows nifty page flip actions resembling a spinning cube. The device had been rumored for quite some time at the $199 price point. Unfortunately Cnet has confirmed that it will be in fact a $229 price tag.
Now looking at the Android field right now, we have the DROID Droid, Sprint Hero, and Samsung Moment. In my mind, those are the three top of the line Android phones you can get. Besides the amazing AMOLED display on the Behold II, it’s a rather standard affair complete with outdated Android 1.5. Does it really compete with the other contenders mentioned above? Also a sticking point is the TouchWiz interface. I know this is purely subjective, but the Samsung notification bar mod looks terrible. It looks the same as every other low-end phone Samsung puts out. The flipping cube effect is a novel idea and does have me slightly envious. However according to Cnet’s review, such effects cause Android to run slower than “un-Touched” versions. And, Android can already be laggy at times in it’s native form. Adding more wait to the mix….?
With that in mind, do you really feel the $229 price tag is justified or is T-Mo reaching too high? Personally now that Android 2.0 is out (at least for one exclusive carrier), there’s no reason the latest devices shouldn’t ship with at least Android 1.6. The substandard software and only so-so nature of the UI seem like they’d more appropriately fit in around $159. Heck, Verizon’s DROID Eris is a much better phone and while it even packs 1.5 by default is much nicer and smoother running. Did T-Mobile drop the ball regarding pricing on this one?
What would you do?
Android Central
HTC’s current lack or recognition for Android 1.6 (Donut) has left many HTC users feeling hurt and unloved. Even though Cupcake/1.6 doesn’t bring anything that earth shattering, Android people love their updates. Almost as much as CrackBerry users. So it is understandable that a lack of 1.6 love could cause some problems. Take comfort in knowing that it is for the greater good….
An email between a slightly disgruntled HTC Hero user and an HTC European CSR:
Dear HTC customer,
Thank you for contacting our Customer Support Center. We are dedicated to providing you with the best quality service and answering all of your questions and concerns.
The Hero will not be receiving the Android 1.6 upgrade, it will however get the 2.0 one. Do note however that we do not have a confirmed release date for this upgrade, all I can recommend at the moment is that you keep yourself updated by visiting our website regularly as the latest information will be available to view from there.
Best regards,
HTC customer support team
HTC Corp. Global Service Division
I think I could stomach missing out on some minor updates for the bigger, badder 2.0 perfection that is Android 2.0/Eclair. Don’t you? For now, file this neat carefully handled tidbit into the “rumor” file as HTC has yet to confirm such an announcement. Awaiting a response from HTC themselves. Though I’m not expect too much at this point. An answer confirming this rumor would make for a pleasant surprise…
Unwired
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HTC Magic owners lusting after the eye candy and graphical supremacy that is the Sense UI can now make use of an updated Magic ROM via HTC’s support site. Besides including the Sense UI, this updated ROM, version ” 3.03.715.4″, comes complete with Android 1.5 Cupcake. Not quite as exciting as 1.6 (Donut), though better than nothing at least.
Talk of HTC Magic’s getting the Sense UI have been discussed before as has the lack of T-Mobile/Google branded MyTouch 3G’s from receiving this same update due to licensing issues. Anyone care to risk their unit to see if they can manage to squeeze it in?
- Upgrade instructions here **You will need to have valid serial numbers in order to download the update from the support site. Maybe that’s how they’ll lock out MyTouch 3G/Google branded device users…
Slashphone > mobile01
While there have been several leaks and false alarms along the way, the 1.5 “Cupcake” update for Android has finally been confirmed for May 11th (US), and right now for you lucky UK users. While it is way past due, some users will have quite a bit more of waiting to do as Google has stated that the rollout will be just that…a roll out. What that means is that not everyone will get the update at once. Instead, T-Mobile and Google will start pushing cupcake updates on May 11th for all U.S. users and have until the end of May to get all of said users up to date and fully cupcake-ized. Major bummer for the people that end up not getting the update pushed to their phone until May 30th, I know, but you wouldn’t want T-Mobile’s network to completely self destruct with all of the G1/Android update traffic now would you? Patience is a virtue that techies don’t posses Google/TMO. Let’s get this thing moving a little faster shall we.
[Official from TMO]
Source: BG, Image Source
As the title states, G1 users on T-Mobile have been reporting certain new goodies appearing on their G1′s. Goodies such as onscreen keyboards, video recording capabilities as well as a whole host of other features. G1 users, tell is it is so!
Source: Gizmodo, Image Source
