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While Orange, Three and T-Mobile UK subscribers with HTC Hero units are still recoiling from the ‘Droid update delay, Nexus One owners have something to feel good about. Google has given word that the Android 2.2 update is scheduled to go live this week. All mobile phone users with a Nexus One should get an update message on the mobile phone’s notification bar located at the top of the display.
Nicknamed “Froyo”, Android 2.2 allows Nexus One users to save apps to an SD card as well as perform app updates simultaneously.
With a bit of luck, everyone with a Nexus One will have their hands on the update before Monday. Well, unless they have rooted to unofficially install version 2.2 in advance.
No word has been given regarding any required data transfers or standard procedures to prepare the unit for an upgrade. But just to be sure, it would be a good idea to back up your important files. Also, if you do not currently have an abundant data plan, it may be a good idea to download the patch over Wi-Fi.
HTC seems to be lagging in terms of Google upgrades. First, it was the HTC Hero getting the short end of the stick from its mobile network operators. Now, reports say that HTC Sense owners will have to deal with a slight delay in getting their 2.2 update. This is HTC’s official statement on the matter:
“We are working hard with our partners to update the HTC Sense experience on Froyo and distribute it to our customers as fast as possible. We expect to release updates for several of our 2010 models including Desire, Legend and Wildfire beginning in Q3.”
Looks like ‘Droid owners will just have to wait a while longer for their updates. At least there are plenty of fresh Android apps to keep them busy for the time being.
HTC has always been known for producing mobiles that are not only packed with loads of impressive features and functions, but also excel in the looks department. The new HTC Hero definitely does not disappoint as it is another addition to the company’s growing line of highly competitive Smartphones. Here’s a look at some of the best features of the new HTC Hero.
On the Big Screen
The Hero’s 3.2-inch capacitive touch screen is definitely a thing of beauty. It has a 320 x 480-pixel resolution and is able to display up to 65K colours. Aside from having a smudge resistant cover ala iPhone 3GS, another neat addition on the HTC Hero’s LCD screen is the improved light sensor feature. This time around, HTC has perfected the auto dimming function of the screen to help save on the device’s battery.
The HTC Hero will still be running the now familiar Android OS which will be combined with HTC’s Sense UI. It has definitely been optimized for touch use and the responsiveness of the device is quite impressive. We experienced very minimal technical hanging as well.
Power in the Snapper
After sulking in the mediocrity of 3 something-Megapixel cameras, we were definitely given a treat with the HTC Hero’s 5-Megapixel snapper. Sure there are mobiles with much more powerful cameras, but the one installed in the Hero can definitely hold its own. Autofocus is obviously on board and it is capable of snapping photos at a maximum resolution of 2592 x 1944 pixels.
Although the image quality is not anywhere near the likes of dedicated camera mobile such as the Sony Ericsson Satio or the Samsung Pixon12 (both with mind-boggling 12-MP cameras), it is definitely much better than some of its closest competitors.
It’s August and that means only one thing in the mobile phone world, bargains. Whilst people are off sunning themselves, mobile phone manufacturers and retailers are busy lowering their prices in an attempt to stimulate what has always been a slightly stale month. So we decided to put together a list of handsets that we like along with the monthly price you will pay for getting them. We hope you enjoy.
1) Nokia N97 deals – Yes guys it’s the big one, Nokia’s answer to the iPhone and we can tell you for free, that it isn’t the cheapest handset on the market. £40.00 per month on either T-mobile or Vodafone will get you 800 minutes and unlimited texts or 600 minutes and unlimited texts respectively. If you can afford it, then why not go for it?
2) Nokia 5530 deals – Vodafone wins out here offering 600 minutes and unlimited texts for a mere £20.29 per month. OK it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of the N97, but for that, you do get a line rental at half the price. Just promise us that you’ll consider it… please?
3) HTC Hero deals – I deliberated for a long time as to whether to put this one in at number 3 or 4 and in the end I went with number 3, simply because the magazines are going crazy over this little beauty. £25.00 per month with 400 minutes and 3000 texts is not a bad deal either on the Orange network.
4) Samsung Jet deals – I love this phone and it was hard for me to put it below the Hero, especially considering you can get this wonderful handset for a little over £21.00 per month on (you guessed it) Orange with 400 minutes and 3000 texts.
5) Blackberry Curve 8520 deals – No list would be complete without adding a Blackberry to the equation. It has to go in at number 5 simply because not everyone wants to send emails on holiday whilst sipping a long Island iced tea in the Bahamas, but with a deal on O2 offering £170 automatic cashback on a £35.00 per month tariff, I might justtake my emails everywhere I go.
6) Nokia N86 deals – The gamers delight, the Nokia N86 is packed with fun, hell it screams fun, perhaps that’s taking it a little too far, but it is an excellent little phone and for £30.00 per month you can get 600 minutes and unlimited texts on Vodafone. With that you can call and text all your mates to let them know your high scores.
7) Sony Ericsson W995 deals – I feel sorry putting the W995 in seventh place, partly because it is a truly amazing phone. What’s more you can get it for just over £21.00 per month. The thing is you will get it and in 3 months time you will want the Satio or the Aino and then you will blame me for putting it on the list and I just couldn’t handle the guilt. HTC Diamond 2 deals – In at number 8 simply because it is a huge improvement over the original diamond and you can get it for below £30.00 per month on O2. If it’s a Smartphone you’re looking for, this one should be on the shortlist.
Any others we should have included? Get commenting and we will shout them out to the world.
Ahh, Teflon, is there anything you can’t do. Well, yes, now we think about it. You probably can’t / shouldn’t be used as, say, plant food, because you are inedible. But aside from all the things you can’t do, there are an increasing number of things you can. First non-stick pans, today mobile phone coatings, tomorrow the world. Or the inedible parts of the world, at least. But let’s focus on what’s happening today (or in the very near future), because Teflon is making its debut appearance on mobile phone in the (weird) shape of the HTC Hero. Hurrah, we say. Because, as we’re sure like most of you, our pockets are always full of any combination of the following: crushed crisps, salt, buttons, chewing we didn’t throw on the ground because that policeman was watching, half a twix, a rail ticket for a place we’ve never heard of, what might be salsa, a moist towelette from KFC (no longer moist), some keys, some more keys, what used to be a key but now we use for picking our nose as we can’t remember what it opens, etc. and so on.
So the fact that the HTC Hero is now coated not only in Teflon on all it’s physical case covering bits, but also has a fingerprint-resistant screen coating, probably much like the [wait while we dig into our pockets for the piece of paper we scribble this on while researching the iPhone 3G S] oleophobic coating found on the iPhone 3G S. Fantastic, we think, as we scratch our slightly greasy beard, wondering if it really is okay to shampoo your beard as that guy in the pub was insisting the other day. And not only that but the screen on this thing is a capacitive jobbie, meaning that – and you’ll like this – it pushes back at your fingers as you type. Magic. Oh, and there’s a whole bunch of other, less grime-related features that you can read about in this official product overview, or in this HTC Hero review. How this guy didn’t manage to get as excited as us about this Teflon news we’ll never know:
While Orange, Three and T-Mobile UK subscribers with HTC Hero units are still recoiling from the ‘Droid update delay, Nexus One owners have something to feel good about. Google has given word that the Android 2.2 update is scheduled to go live this week. All mobile phone users with a Nexus One should get an update message on the mobile phone’s notification bar located at the top of the display.
HTC seems to be lagging in terms of Google upgrades. First, it was the HTC Hero getting the short end of the stick from its mobile network operators. Now, reports say that HTC Sense owners will have to deal with a slight delay in getting their 2.2 update. This is HTC’s official statement on the matter:
HTC has always been known for producing mobiles that are not only packed with loads of impressive features and functions, but also excel in the looks department. The new 
It’s August and that means only one thing in the mobile phone world, bargains. Whilst people are off sunning themselves, mobile phone manufacturers and retailers are busy lowering their prices in an attempt to stimulate what has always been a slightly stale month. So we decided to put together a list of handsets that we like along with the monthly price you will pay for getting them. We hope you enjoy.
Ahh, Teflon, is there anything you can’t do. Well, yes, now we think about it. You probably can’t / shouldn’t be used as, say, plant food, because you are inedible. But aside from all the things you can’t do, there are an increasing number of things you can. First non-stick pans, today mobile phone coatings, tomorrow the world. Or the inedible parts of the world, at least. But let’s focus on what’s happening today (or in the very near future), because Teflon is making its debut appearance on mobile phone in the (weird) shape of the 