Do I need a Hero?

by Vikki Chowney on 2nd March 2010

  Comment Icon21
HTC Hero

As part of my ongoing search to find a new phone, those lovely folk at 3MobileBuzz recently sent me an HTC Hero to try out…

It’s not the newest handset on the market granted, but I’ve heard good things about Android and after too many contract-based nightmares to count in the past - I’m a 3 customer so have the option of getting it on 3 with Spotify included. I’m not going to choose it just to make my life easier, but it’s definitely a consideration.

It was my first long-term touchscreen experience and it took me the full length of the trial to get used to it. In the end, I was satisfied with the fact that I could use it happily without needing tactile keys (though I tend not to use my handset to reply to long emails anyway, so maybe it wasn’t a fair test).

The fact that it was always online (due to aforementioned 3 SIM) took a few days to get used to as well. I kept reverting to a Nokia mindset and thinking that I must have run down my battery due to not disconnecting.

But that’s not the case, the battery’s pretty good and I only needed to charge it every other day.

Though I didn’t use it for too much multimedia (no videos or Qiks for instance), I did get stuck into some of the other apps. Let’s face it, the selection is pretty impressive. I gave up on the Ovi store a long time ago and have never owned an iPhone, so this was another first. It’s fast becoming the norm to have an in-built app marketplace on your handset (though Blackberry could do with pulling its socks up), and with the formation of the Wholesale Applications Community at MWC - the app explosion is only bound to get bigger. Android is well placed in this respect, though I missed some of the official publisher’s offerings that I know are so good on other phones eg: NYTimes, The Guardian etc.

However, there is something truly appealing about the ease of access to ridiculous games and services that make my life easier. Yelp’s Android offering disappointed though. I’m an avid fan, but you can’t review through it - only search.

Software-wise, the Hero was frighteningly easy to sync with my Facebook and email - though I signed out of the default Twitter app Peep pretty quickly once I discovered Seesmic, which is fantastic for extra functionality (and I’ve all but fallen in love with it).

Overall, my main niggle was the strange approach the Hero took to my contacts. Royally messing them up and duplicating most people’s details, I could just about handle. Suddenly having every single Google mail contact listed, though making it harder to find someone’s number, also OK. But showing me one of my best friend’s numbers, but not letting me actually text or phone her - that’s just ridiculous.

Then there’s the random stopping and starting. Not re-booting, just taking its sweet time to perform a task.

The hardware feels less plastic-like than its G1 and Magic counterparts, and the camera is great. Two weeks down the line, aside from the said messing up of my contacts, the Hero and I have had a good run. But do I love it enough? I don’t know yet.

I had to send it back last week and have switched over to the E72 and to be honest, I miss the Hero. I’m not even sure why - but I do. I think I might need to mess about with an iPhone 3GS before making a decision.

Though to make it even more difficult, the Google Nexus One looks pretty nice as well…

Tagged as: 3, 3Mobile, Android, Hero, HTC, review

  • http://www.thoughtsfromhell.net Michael Hell

    you really put in some quality time, finding your new device. i like this quest you’re doing!

    The Hero is a pretty nice device, i’m selling mine right now, simply because i miss a physical Keyboard. HTC’s Sense UI on Top of Android makes it really a Joy to use - so i suggest IF you go for a Nexus One, better wait for the HTC Desire. Almost identical Hardware plus Sense Goodness :)

  • munkimatt

    Glad to see you had a good experience with a handset that I rate so highly.

    The contacts issue is an annoyance and it took me some time to figure out, but I resolved by (and this isn’t much use to you now but maybe to someone having the same issue!) going to Google Contacts, moving e-mail contacts into a seperate new group, then on the handset going to People, then the third option at the bottom, Groups, then pressing the menu key and selecting Sync Groups, deselecting Sync all contacts and then leaving the newly created “E-mail Group” unselected.

    The moments the handset hands is a big problem on stock version of the handset, there has been some great work done by ROM developers to speed the handset up, the Modaco Custom ROM adds a great deal of speed with no general effect on stability or battery life.

    As part of your ongoing search, I’m sad to say that trying a 3GS will only confuse matters more! I’d never been particularly interested in the iPhone however I was given one just prior to Christmas as a work phone and it really is a superb device, amazingly well built and so speedy, I’ve been genuinely impressed with so many aspects of it.

    Best of luck with picking that next phone!!

  • jamesbody

    My current ‘SOP Kit’ which goes everywhere with me includes the Nokia E71 (my primary voice device - running Truphone - is as solid as a rock), an iPod Touch (principally for mail/Twitter) which runs through a H3G MiFi, and the HTC Hero - the multi-tasking Swiss Army penknife of phones that can turn its hand to just about any task.

    My only issue with the HTC Hero has been that it appeared a little deaf to 3G when new - and has slowly got worse and worse to a state where it was incapable of 3G operation. I am awaiting a rejuvenated Hero to come back from H3G later today……

    With the exception perhaps of the Nexus One - the Hero is IMHO the best executed Android handset in the mass market channel.

  • http://www.thoughtsfromhell.co.cc Michael Hell

    you really put in some quality time, finding your new device. i like this quest you're doing! The Hero is a pretty nice device, i'm selling mine right now, simply because i miss a physical Keyboard. HTC's Sense UI on Top of Android makes it really a Joy to use - so i suggest IF you go for a Nexus One, better wait for the HTC Desire. Almost identical Hardware plus Sense Goodness :)

  • http://www.thoughtsfromhell.co.cc Michael Hell

    you really put in some quality time, finding your new device. i like this quest you're doing!

    The Hero is a pretty nice device, i'm selling mine right now, simply because i miss a physical Keyboard. HTC's Sense UI on Top of Android makes it really a Joy to use - so i suggest IF you go for a Nexus One, better wait for the HTC Desire. Almost identical Hardware plus Sense Goodness :)

  • http://en-gb.facebook.com/matt.rhys.jones Matt Jones

    Glad to see you had a good experience with a handset that I rate so highly.The contacts issue is an annoyance and it took me some time to figure out, but I resolved by (and this isn't much use to you now but maybe to someone having the same issue!) going to Google Contacts, moving e-mail contacts into a seperate new group, then on the handset going to People, then the third option at the bottom, Groups, then pressing the menu key and selecting Sync Groups, deselecting Sync all contacts and then leaving the newly created “E-mail Group” unselected.The moments the handset hands is a big problem on stock version of the handset, there has been some great work done by ROM developers to speed the handset up, the Modaco Custom ROM adds a great deal of speed with no general effect on stability or battery life.As part of your ongoing search, I'm sad to say that trying a 3GS will only confuse matters more! I'd never been particularly interested in the iPhone however I was given one just prior to Christmas as a work phone and it really is a superb device, amazingly well built and so speedy, I've been genuinely impressed with so many aspects of it.Best of luck with picking that next phone!!

  • http://en-gb.facebook.com/matt.rhys.jones Matt Jones

    Glad to see you had a good experience with a handset that I rate so highly.

    The contacts issue is an annoyance and it took me some time to figure out, but I resolved by (and this isn't much use to you now but maybe to someone having the same issue!) going to Google Contacts, moving e-mail contacts into a seperate new group, then on the handset going to People, then the third option at the bottom, Groups, then pressing the menu key and selecting Sync Groups, deselecting Sync all contacts and then leaving the newly created “E-mail Group” unselected.

    The moments the handset hands is a big problem on stock version of the handset, there has been some great work done by ROM developers to speed the handset up, the Modaco Custom ROM adds a great deal of speed with no general effect on stability or battery life.

    As part of your ongoing search, I'm sad to say that trying a 3GS will only confuse matters more! I'd never been particularly interested in the iPhone however I was given one just prior to Christmas as a work phone and it really is a superb device, amazingly well built and so speedy, I've been genuinely impressed with so many aspects of it.

    Best of luck with picking that next phone!!

  • jamesbody

    My current 'SOP Kit' which goes everywhere with me includes the Nokia E71 (my primary voice device - running Truphone - is as solid as a rock), an iPod Touch (principally for mail/Twitter) which runs through a H3G MiFi, and the HTC Hero - the multi-tasking Swiss Army penknife of phones that can turn its hand to just about any task.My only issue with the HTC Hero has been that it appeared a little deaf to 3G when new - and has slowly got worse and worse to a state where it was incapable of 3G operation. I am awaiting a rejuvenated Hero to come back from H3G later today……With the exception perhaps of the Nexus One - the Hero is IMHO the best executed Android handset in the mass market channel.

  • jamesbody

    My current 'SOP Kit' which goes everywhere with me includes the Nokia E71 (my primary voice device - running Truphone - is as solid as a rock), an iPod Touch (principally for mail/Twitter) which runs through a H3G MiFi, and the HTC Hero - the multi-tasking Swiss Army penknife of phones that can turn its hand to just about any task.

    My only issue with the HTC Hero has been that it appeared a little deaf to 3G when new - and has slowly got worse and worse to a state where it was incapable of 3G operation. I am awaiting a rejuvenated Hero to come back from H3G later today……

    With the exception perhaps of the Nexus One - the Hero is IMHO the best executed Android handset in the mass market channel.

  • http://www.rickycadden.com Ricky Cadden

    I’ve been using an HTC Eris, which is apparently Verizon’s version of the Hero, and honestly, am appalled. I was looking at Android, hoping to get away from the lagginess that comes in some of the Symbian devices, but my HTC Eris puts Symbian to shame. I frequently miss phone calls and photo opportunities because the phone simply can’t keep up.

    It’s abysmal when trying to get things done quickly, such as input text, too. Sometimes, the software thinks I’ve long-pressed a button, giving me the number or symbol instead of the letter, which is downright lame.

  • http://www.adonisdemon.com Abul

    I would think it could be down to Verizon or the Eris. I experienced nothing of the sort with the Hero. The issue is here that handsets these days all get their treatment on the operator tables before being shipped out, which means users can’t really give a view using the same handsets unless they are bought SIM free and unbranded.

  • http://www.adonisdemon.com Abul

    Personally I had my doubts initially when playing with the Hero, but was pretty much kicked in the balls and told to pay attention. ONCE I got my biased approach out of the way, it just slowly became an extension of my hand.

    The Hero confirmed to me that Symbian really was dead, for now. The HTC Desire will in my opinion be one of the handsets to look out for this year, the 4th gen iPhone the other. Whatever happens, it’s going to be a really good year for great handsets.

  • http://www.rickycadden.com Ricky Cadden

    I've been using an HTC Eris, which is apparently Verizon's version of the Hero, and honestly, am appalled. I was looking at Android, hoping to get away from the lagginess that comes in some of the Symbian devices, but my HTC Eris puts Symbian to shame. I frequently miss phone calls and photo opportunities because the phone simply can't keep up. It's abysmal when trying to get things done quickly, such as input text, too. Sometimes, the software thinks I've long-pressed a button, giving me the number or symbol instead of the letter, which is downright lame.

  • http://www.rickycadden.com Ricky Cadden

    I've been using an HTC Eris, which is apparently Verizon's version of the Hero, and honestly, am appalled. I was looking at Android, hoping to get away from the lagginess that comes in some of the Symbian devices, but my HTC Eris puts Symbian to shame. I frequently miss phone calls and photo opportunities because the phone simply can't keep up.

    It's abysmal when trying to get things done quickly, such as input text, too. Sometimes, the software thinks I've long-pressed a button, giving me the number or symbol instead of the letter, which is downright lame.

  • http://www.adonisdemon.com Abul

    I would think it could be down to Verizon or the Eris. I experienced nothing of the sort with the Hero. The issue is here that handsets these days all get their treatment on the operator tables before being shipped out, which means users can't really give a view using the same handsets unless they are bought SIM free and unbranded.

  • http://www.adonisdemon.com Abul

    I would think it could be down to Verizon or the Eris. I experienced nothing of the sort with the Hero. The issue is here that handsets these days all get their treatment on the operator tables before being shipped out, which means users can't really give a view using the same handsets unless they are bought SIM free and unbranded.

  • http://www.adonisdemon.com Abul

    Personally I had my doubts initially when playing with the Hero, but was pretty much kicked in the balls and told to pay attention. ONCE I got my biased approach out of the way, it just slowly became an extension of my hand.The Hero confirmed to me that Symbian really was dead, for now. The HTC Desire will in my opinion be one of the handsets to look out for this year, the 4th gen iPhone the other. Whatever happens, it's going to be a really good year for great handsets.

  • http://www.adonisdemon.com Abul

    Personally I had my doubts initially when playing with the Hero, but was pretty much kicked in the balls and told to pay attention. ONCE I got my biased approach out of the way, it just slowly became an extension of my hand.

    The Hero confirmed to me that Symbian really was dead, for now. The HTC Desire will in my opinion be one of the handsets to look out for this year, the 4th gen iPhone the other. Whatever happens, it's going to be a really good year for great handsets.

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