If not, I think I may be speaking to Orange at 8am on the 27th asking for a new phone that day....
First off, Hi all
Second, ive been following this thread with massive interest, like you all im waiting for my orange hero to get 2.1. Doing my head in. Would anyone even stand a chance of getting a new phone? I started my latest contract with orange back in november (18 month deal) with the hero (cost me £40 the robbing ......), what would my chances be of getting a new one if this bloody update doesnt happen? I want 2.1 but i dont want to root. The wait is killing me
Not sure on your personal situation. You started with the hero so could well have just expected it to be at 1.5 hero for ever. I started with a Samsung Omnia on my contract (as I wanted TomTom Voice Guided Navigation, decent camera with flash, capabilites for e-mail with multiple accounts, and spent the £90 or whatever on TomTom.) This developed a fault, my next one did, I then got given a symbian phone. I had sat nav there, but then that couldnt handle e-mails, and cycled through 3 of these (omnia HDs) until I landed on the Hero - which doesn't do what I signed up for. The voice guided navs was hoped to be inluded with the 2.1, and I only agreed to the phone after I did some seatrching to see if 2.1 was planned (as I had seen rumours in the last). So I accepted knowing I'd have to wait a few months for Google Nav.
I refuse to pay some more money for Co-Pilot yet until this is sorted out otherwise basically.
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I'm giving Orange till the end of July - and then I'm going to root. I'm desperate for 2.1 for the added apps and everything else you get on it.
I tell you what as well - I have no intention of staying with Orange if they don't get it done for July. It takes the pee that Tmobile managed to release it - and I believe updated people on when it would happen. WHy don't Orange do the same? I still have about 18 months on my contract...but after that... bye bye Orange for not caring about those of us who are technically 'bothered'.
Not sure on your personal situation. You started with the hero so could well have just expected it to be at 1.5 hero for ever. I started with a Samsung Omnia on my contract (as I wanted TomTom Voice Guided Navigation, decent camera with flash, capabilites for e-mail with multiple accounts, and spent the £90 or whatever on TomTom.) This developed a fault, my next one did, I then got given a symbian phone. I had sat nav there, but then that couldnt handle e-mails, and cycled through 3 of these (omnia HDs) until I landed on the Hero - which doesn't do what I signed up for. The voice guided navs was hoped to be inluded with the 2.1, and I only agreed to the phone after I did some seatrching to see if 2.1 was planned (as I had seen rumours in the last). So I accepted knowing I'd have to wait a few months for Google Nav.
I refuse to pay some more money for Co-Pilot yet until this is sorted out otherwise basically.
Fair play. Im most likely just gonna have to get over it i spose. Oh well, +1 to t-mobile i think. I wont be renewing my contract(s) with Orange at all. The way they are assuming this isnt important is a complete joke. IIRC t-mobile have not once beaten Orange to an update, the tables have been turned so its time for me to jump ship as soon as May comes round i think. Ill probably end up buying myself a desire by then, either that or whatever new HTC handset has been released by then.
Orange = Fail
Quote:
Originally Posted by mattdanielc
I'm giving Orange till the end of July - and then I'm going to root. I'm desperate for 2.1 for the added apps and everything else you get on it.
I tell you what as well - I have no intention of staying with Orange if they don't get it done for July. It takes the pee that Tmobile managed to release it - and I believe updated people on when it would happen. WHy don't Orange do the same? I still have about 18 months on my contract...but after that... bye bye Orange for not caring about those of us who are technically 'bothered'.
Off topic slightly but if i was to root my phone instead of waiting for the update that might never happen, my phone is locked to Orange, would i have to unlock it first? Im gagging to have this 2.1 (or even 2.2 if possible) but Orange are becoming more and more untrustworthy so i may have to go down the custom route regrettably.
The goldcard route looks better for me but both options look a little too technical for me so guess im gonna have to wait
Its annoying purely because the Hero takes soooo long to delete a text message thread (ive got about 1300 messages, nearly 1000 from my girlfriend alone), so was hoping i could install a new ROM to delete them quicker, guess i could always just use the current ROM ?!
Its annoying purely because the Hero takes soooo long to delete a text message thread (ive got about 1300 messages, nearly 1000 from my girlfriend alone), so was hoping i could install a new ROM to delete them quicker, guess i could always just use the current ROM ?!
Download Handcent SMS, works on 1.5 and can delete entire threads as one action
I remember in the 90`s when David Icke was laughed out of Britain for suggesting "in the future all the small companies will be swallowed up by bigger companies until a small group of Super Companies rule the world" or words to that affect.
Now look.. all the phone companies are merging into 2 or 3.. nearly every car company in the world is owned by GM, Ford, VW and some indians. You can`t even buy a bar of chocolate thats not owned by a firm that also owns every soft cheese and pot noodle company. I`ve just used some HP Brown Sauce with a picture of Big Ben on the front and apparentley it`s owned by `Danone`. In Fact I think Nestle own the company that made my T Bag.
Come back Mr Icke and take your apololgies from Terry Wogan.
Download Handcent SMS, works on 1.5 and can delete entire threads as one action
Thanks but ive tried that before, you can delete threads in one go using the phones own software it just doesnt do it quick enough, if a thread has any more than a hundred texts in it then it takes pretty much all bloody night. I know a solution could be 'dont have more than a hundred texts' but that shouldnt have to be the case. Really annoying.
Si
Last edited by chocky; July 20th, 2010 at 12:49 PM.
AHave any of you reached the pinnacles of 1.6 ahead of this rumoured 2.1?
Android 1.6 was never released for the Hero. so no.
@chocky: there's an app in the Market specifically written to delete large numbers of SMS. Trouble is, I can't remember the name of it.... there's a long thread in here about problems deleting SMS and I know it's recommended in that.
@ALL: can you please restrict your posts to matters relating directly to the carrier update? Once people start discussing rooting/unbranding/third-party ROMs etc it just causes confusion for anyone new coming here looking for info.
After all this waiting I've just realised that it's all to no end, as the web app I'm writing, and am relying on the update for my phone ASAP needs the browser to upload files, but on android OS default browser, this critical feature has been knobbled and hasn't been implemented until Android Froyo 2.2.
Looks like I need to follow the yellow gold brick road. Orange Rich, you mentioned that you'd installed froyo on Hero - any guides or tips?
P.S Opera Mini just isn't a decent enough option just yet.
Apologies for going off topic, I'll give it a go, thanks for the heads up.
I've tried Steel (default browsers variant), Dolphin (main browser - again default browser variant). I'm right in thinking this is more related to firefox?
Skyfire is based on the default browser variant - cheers anyway
Last edited by mattyb; July 21st, 2010 at 04:55 AM.
Reason: added info
SORRY FOR STAYING OFF TOPIC! Mods please feel free to delete after a short while to give him chance to see this message
I am pinning my hopes on next monday now for the update, if it doesn't come I think I will convince a friend to Root his, then copy him if it works! lol
Quote:
Originally Posted by chocky
Thanks but ive tried that before, you can delete threads in one go using the phones own software it just doesnt do it quick enough, if a thread has any more than a hundred texts in it then it takes pretty much all bloody night. I know a solution could be 'dont have more than a hundred texts' but that shouldnt have to be the case. Really annoying.
Si
How odd.... Using Handcent myself and often have 1000+ messages from my wife (we both have unlimited text)
Open conversation, select 'more' then 'delete thread'
They go within seconds for me, and app is up and running again straight away!
Last edited by dogrobber; July 21st, 2010 at 06:10 AM.
Reason: OFF TOPIC
LATEST FROM HTC... recieved today at 11.41 in response to my request for information
(xxx's are my personal information removed)
Dear xxxxxxx,
All i know is that we were planning for the middle of this month, but we have not yet had any firther contact from Orange to my knowledge. At present, we are still just waiting for Orange to get back to us. We are receiving many requests for the same info, so we are pushing back to Orange's test department to give us an answer one way or the other....
To send a reply to this message or let me know I have successfully answered your question log in to our ContactUs site using your email address and your ticket number xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
Sincerely,
Pete
HTC
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Captain Stu, I concur! HTC have been nothing but helpful with me, the problem seems to lie with Orange. I say problem, but I would rather they get it out right than get it out quick. It would just be nice to receive the same level of openness and correspondence from them that I do from HTC.
Just spoke to a very helpful lady at Orange who is going to find the external email address for the software testing team and pass it on to me. I will let you know any responses I get (but not the address- I'd rather they pass the information on through me than clog their inbox with hundreds of similar requests!)
the problem seems to lie with Orange. I say problem, but I would rather they get it out right than get it out quick. It would just be nice to receive the same level of openness and correspondence from them that I do from HTC.
Exactly the problem. If Orange just came out and told us what they are doing - officially like on their website - then we could stop moaning and just be reassured that something is happening - and hopefully when...
But nope... everyone seems to get conflicting information with no real firm answer.
Reading between the lines, Orange appear to be really struggling with this update.
First it was promised in the next few days, then at some point in July, then it was 'still in testing', and finally it may not be released at all.
All signs point to some serious issues discovered during testing, which given the apparent success of the update on other networks, must be to do with the Orange branding.
With all the concerns at the start of July that T-Mobile was going to stuggle with this update, it turns out that they, and everyone else have managed to push it out before Orange. If I was the product manager within Orange for HTC, I would be pretty embarrassed by this.
But it seems that the higher management don't really seem to care. The frustration by customer services is evident in peoples' calls. In the e-mail from Andy posted below, I very much doubt he would have been authorised to say that the update may never be released (the fact is that he didn't need to say that), and he may be trying to rile people into lobbying Orange even more.
Luckily I only got a 12 month contract extension, which is up in a few months time.
Just an idea..... If Orange and Tmobile have merged to form 'Everything, Everywhere' and Tmobile have a working version of 2.1 then why cant they push that update to Orange customers?
okay, so we'd have orange decals on the hardware and Tmobile logo's on the software..... but surely they are the same company now - so who cares!?
They are still 2 brands under the same parent company, so I do not think it is that simple
Again though, I am sure we will find out more on the 26th as to Orange releasing or not, as this is the date I believe it to be coming out, as this is what I have been told
The futures not bright, the futures not with Orange!
Hi everyone, just stumbled across this site whilst searching for info about the illusive 2.1 Android update. I too have an Orange branded Hero with numerous faults/issues. They have reached a point where the handset is now unusable. Orange say call HTC, HTC say call Orange. I'm then promised that the 2.1 Android update from HTC will fix all the issues (which they say are down to the software). Then HTC inform me as the handset is not a generic one and it's branded by Orange I will not be getting the full HTC Hero generic Android 2.1 update.
HTC today told me if I'm lucky and Orange manage to customise the 2.1 update and they can actually find a way of getting it to work then chances are all my faults will still exist due to Orange tinkering and removing certain parts of the update. The HTC adviser then told me that Orange have tried numerous times and failed to get the update Orange branded and tweaked to work the way they want it to without any joy and I should forget about getting this update anytime soon if atall.
After speaking to someone in the Orange Chief Execs Office they said they couldn't confirm what HTC are saying, but they also would be wrong to deny it. He even recommended that I buy a non Orange branded handset due to software clashes that Orange seem to encounter with many manufacturer updates!
I hope what HTC have told me turns out to be wrong but after all the promised and estimated dates from Orange which have proved fruitless and some of the negative Orange responses on here you have to wonder will it happen?
Last edited by Taffy; July 21st, 2010 at 08:41 AM.
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Hi everyone, just stumbled across this site whilst searching for info about the illusive 2.1 Android update. I too have an Orange branded Hero with numerous faults/issues. They have reached a point where the handset is now unusable. Orange say call HTC, HTC say call Orange. I'm then promised that the 2.1 Android update from HTC will fix all the issues (which they say are down to the software). Then HTC inform me as the handset is not a generic one and it's branded by Orange I will not be getting the full HTC Hero generic Android 2.1 update.
HTC today told me if I'm lucky and Orange manage to customise the 2.1 update and they can actually find a way of getting it to work then chances are all my faults will still exist due to Orange tinkering and removing certain parts of the update. The HTC adviser then told me that Orange have tried numerous times and failed to get the update Orange branded and tweaked to work the way they want it to without any joy and I should forget about getting this update anytime soon if atall.
After speaking to someone in the Orange Chief Execs Office they said they couldn't confirm what HTC are saying, but they also would be wrong to deny it. He even recommended that I buy a non Orange branded handset due to software clashes that Orange seem to encounter with many manufacturer updates!
I hope what HTC have told me turns out to be wrong but after all the promised and estimated dates from Orange which have proved fruitless and some of the negative Orange responses on here you have to wonder will it happen?
I recall a website from many years ago that would be ideal for 'us' at the moment. It used to be called www.hateorange.co.uk, but unfortunately it's been taken down.
However, the site content still exists here: Home page
If only we could revive this... what would it be like?
This afternoon's response from their Twitter guy (who I found on the OFFICIAL ORANGE website)
conorfromorange
@Douglas_Clark Hi Douglas, as I've previously said the 2.1 update is on it's way, and will be with you very soon. Thanks for bearing with us.
Just been on the phone to Orange tech dept. They said the 2.1 update is currently in testing, the lady confirmed this by putting me on hold and asking her colleague..apparently alot of people have already rang them about this and she said say that it should be released by the end of July, but if not then definately by mid August.
I also asked whether unlocking the phone would void my warranty and was glad to hear that it would not void my warranty and also it would not void my warranty if i tried to install any official HTC firmware to the phone after i had unlocked it. The lady did say that it might cause problems with the orange software, however it still would not void my warranty.
I dont know if there is a way to apply the official update once unlocked as im a total noob in this field so if anyones knows that would be a great help. Thanks.
Device(s): HTC Hero on Orange. Firmware 1.5,
Samsung Galaxy S2
Thanks: 14
Thanked 13 Times in 10 Posts
New Group on Facebook
All,
I have made several posts regarding Orange UK's lack of information re 2.1
Therefore, I have decided to take the fight to Orange, and have created a group on facebook.
Please use the link below to register your disapproval of Orange, and I will forward the group link to Orange, if the group proves popular.
Just been on the phone to Orange tech dept. They said the 2.1 update is currently in testing, the lady confirmed this by putting me on hold and asking her colleague..apparently alot of people have already rang them about this and she said say that it should be released by the end of July, but if not then definately by mid August.
I also asked whether unlocking the phone would void my warranty and was glad to hear that it would not void my warranty and also it would not void my warranty if i tried to install any official HTC firmware to the phone after i had unlocked it. The lady did say that it might cause problems with the orange software, however it still would not void my warranty.
I dont know if there is a way to apply the official update once unlocked as im a total noob in this field so if anyones knows that would be a great help. Thanks.
I wouldn't pay too much attention to what Orange have told you about the phone warranty. The Orange branded HTC Hero mobile phone comes with a manufacturers warranty - HTC. If you have the Orange phone insurance then it may be a different story. Just think of the scenario if you had problems with your hero after rooting it and it was still under warranty, you contact orange, they say warranties nothing to do with us get in touch with HTC. Your then bounced back and fore from one company to another. Sounds like the situation we're currently in with the 2.1 update?
Orange could give the Brothers Grimm a run for there money with some of the fairy tales they come up with.
Last edited by Taffy; July 21st, 2010 at 03:02 PM.
I've asked before, now I'm asking again more firmly....
Post only in reference to the official Orange 2.1 update.
Generic 2.1 update questions? See here.
Want to try debranding and going with a generic ROM? See here.
Want to try a third-party ROM? Check the All Things Root sub-forum.
We've gone to a bit of bother reorganising the various update threads into something approaching logical order to assist people locate pertinent info, so help us out, please.
The Following User Says Thank You to Slug For This Useful Post:
All,
I have made several posts regarding Orange UK's lack of information re 2.1
Therefore, I have decided to take the fight to Orange, and have created a group on facebook.
Please use the link below to register your disapproval of Orange, and I will forward the group link to Orange, if the group proves popular.
I don`t get the mentality of Orange killing their phones with Branding anyway. As the only person that can see the branding on the phone is the user, and the user knows that they`re on Orange already.. so what`s the point.
It`s like Radio stations constantly saying you`re listening to Key 103..blah blah blah. I know i`m listening to Key 103 cos I tuned the Bloody Radio to 103.
I've joined up but I fear it's a pointless exercise, Orange couldn't give a stuff about their customers, they are interested in one thing and one thing only, selling phones. Customer service and worst still customer happiness comes way down their list of priorities.
I have this nagging doubt in the back of my mind that Orange cannot get 2.1 to work with their unnecessary branding and we'll all be stuck with 1.5.
I've read and and reread about rooting, and frankly it's beyond my skills, maybe I'm reading it wrong or I'm just not good enough to understand it. I don't think I'll be alone.
One thing this has taught me is never to sign up with Orange again and I will never recommend them to friends and family.
Has anyone heard the latest situation from Orange? has been quiet from Richard - Hopefully he is on some kind of well deserved Holiday. I'm going to try and get in contact with orange again today to see if there is an update - but if anyone else already has, i'd sooner not phone as that is another person they have to tell the same thing too.
I tried the gold card over a month ago (possibly some of you followed my instructions on my blog as I got a lot of hits that week: cpearson.me.uk), it failed due to the Sim lock error, probably making me one of the first to get it. Still waiting now as are most of you.
The 26th can't come soon enough. What I will say though, when my contract is up (24 monther ) I'm done with android. As an early adopter I feel utterly messed about by the lack of official support from google, HTC and Orange. Not just with the upgrade but when I had issues with Gmail app etc.
Apple has never let me down with other items (Macbook, iPod) and support has been excellent so I am going to get my next phone from them also (which looks like it will be iPhone 5 )
I've read and and reread about rooting, and frankly it's beyond my skills, maybe I'm reading it wrong or I'm just not good enough to understand it. I don't think I'll be alone.
Al
Completely agree - I'm too scared to risk it incase I bu**er my phone up. I'm technically minded but even so the instructions sound over my head.
I'm giving Orange till the end of the month but then I will pluck up the courage. And again I agree - I'm not sticking with Orange at the end of my contract if they couldn't give 2 shi*s about me then I'm not showing them any loyalty in return.
Obviously as themaninthesuitcase suggests, this raises some very major questions about Android going forwards if support is not provided. Where does the problem lie though? Is it Google not properly controlling their OS, and mandating that OS upgrades need to be made available and supported by phone manufacturers and networks? Is it the phone manufacturer or network for not properly factoring in support for their legacy phones? Is it the network for simply not communicating and being resourced or capable of (or wanting to!) updating phones? These are fundamental questions that will dictate the success of Android in comparison to iOS. As much as I hate Apple, they do properly support and integrate their systems! They do have the advantage of creating and controlling the hardware though...
What actually IS the Orange branding on a Hero? I assume it goes a lot further than just an orange spash screen and the odd logo here and there? I hear talk of radio being affected, and by that I mean the ability for the phone to transmit / receive calls, signal, etc? Thats a fairly fundamental thing for a phone, so obviously Orange have to get it right, and calling it a "branding" issue is misleading. However why have no other carriers had problems with this? Why is Orange different?
That's exactly my point, the support has been poor, and from what I can see different manufacturers have more or less been the same. It's a Android phone thing not an HTC/carrier/Google thing, some phone get support (nexus, some motos) some don't (Samsungs). And even those that do get support, some get upgrades but no help (nexus) some get help but no upgrades. The whole thing is a massive mess.
Apple are always open x phone will get x upgrade on x date. Fetures x y and z won't work on x phones due to reason x. Ok they are "less open", but imo there are some HUGE plusses to the way they work (spam apps for example) that more or less offset the cons. The antenna issue is a big lame, but that's Apple for you, they have always been like that, expect gen 2 phones to come with clear coat on the metal or similar.
Just out of curiousity, what would happen if you downloaded the 2.1 android update from the acer smartphone download section and tried installing it onto your orange branded hero? The acer site isn't like HTC where you need to input your serial number, just click on download and it starts downloading. If I'm breaking the site rules I apologise.
Click on Smart Handheld, Liquid, Liquid, then the 2.1 ROM update can be downloaded.
Was searching last night for any updates from Orange and HTC but to no avail. Rang HTC this morning, got through to a UK call centre again and was told exactly the same thing as last time. Todays guy said the 2.1 Orange Android update is like the Titanic, its not gonna arrive. Well not until those icebergs have melted.
Last edited by Taffy; July 22nd, 2010 at 08:55 AM.
For tech lovers dreaming of a magical phone, HTC's 3rd Android Phone - the HTC Hero - seems poised to rescue the masses from mobile phone boredom. The design is a more sleek, sexy version of the HTC Dream and HTC Magic and both hardware and sof... Read More
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