Official GSM Hero 2.1 Thread

[Tydirium]

Here's something to kill the hopes of us orange users. Here's a comment taken from the HTC hero update news article over at coolsmartphones.

"I've just spoke to a very nice guy at HTC (an
orange hero owner!!!) who said Orange are
saying nothing at all as to when the update will
be released and even if it will be in two parts or
one.
One things he did do is take my phone details
and logged it on the system as a system query
and said if the trend increases with regards to
requests from Orange Hero Users then the
bosses at HTC will delve further into the debate.
Worth a try?
The HTC support number for UK is
+44-845-890-0079"

 

[ticho]

According to this XDA forum thread, Orange UK plans to roll it out in beginning of July.

 

[Slug]

"I've just spoke to a very nice guy at HTC (an
orange hero owner!!!) who said Orange are saying nothing at all as to when the update will be released and even if it will be in two parts or
one.

Seeing as Orange France obviously plan the update, as evidenced by the document in this thread posted a few days ago, it would be mighty strange for Orange UK not to follow suit. Especially as (apart from localisation) the build will be already complete.

As mentioned previously, Orange CS knew nothing about the 2.73.xx.xx update until it hit HTC's update server and HTC had been insisting all along that release was Orange's responsibility. IOW the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing!

 

[JohnHwessel]

I think those of us with branded handsets (3, Orange etc) should email their providers to make them aware that there are people out here wanting information. If they get enough emails coming in the message might filter through to someone intelligent in the organisation - one can always dream.

 

[Dave.L]

Given up waiting, rooting seems like a much more fun option!

 

[mrdagz]

Hang in there Orange and tmob users the update is well worth it, the browser is a lot quicker, as is the refresh of the mail app.

You do not lose your installed apps or settings and after the initial boot which takes ages the phone works better.

Much better than the custom roms and well worth the wait.

 

[ticho]

Oh, yes! As I just figured out, the HTC Weather app finally has a setting for update frequency. I seem to find more and more little good things about 2.1 every hour or so.

 

[alinver]

There was a thread last week about Orange & 2.1. From memory it is due to be released to us Orange customers around the last week in July.

This came from an Orange employee so it looks like we'll be waiting a few more weeks, and when you've been hanging on for months a few more weeks won't make much difference.

A question for those with 2.1.

Is the keyboard layout any different, and if not is it easier to type at all?


Cheers Al

 

[Dave.L]

Hang in there Orange and tmob users the update is well worth it, the browser is a lot quicker, as is the refresh of the mail app.

You do not lose your installed apps or settings and after the initial boot which takes ages the phone works better.

Much better than the custom roms and well worth the wait.

How do you know its better than the custom roms? Have you tried them? And just so you know you stopped me pressing the wipe button...for now!

 

[mpw]

Com on it is just not 1 or 2 days delay- who knows how long it is going to be. I am fed up of poor communication and customer services provided by Orange on the whole.

Take a look through this thread though, do you here anything better from t-mobile/3/vodaphone/etc.?

I take your point about not buying a subsidized handset again, I never have, preferring to retain my freedom to move networks when I want, and not have to wait for these updates... little did I suspect HTC would be so dire also!

 

[mpw]

...Is the keyboard layout any different, and if not is it easier to type at all?...

Not that I've noticed. Although I've downloaded 'swype' now, which I can recommend for improved typing over the standard keyboard.

 

[Diamond-Geezer]

Anyone know if updating to 2.1 you lose the ability to root your phone? I have rooted my Orange branded Hero yet, but if the 2.1 update is still laggy I want to root to a Modaco ROM or something similar.

Come on Orange get your fingers out of your arse!!

 

[alinver]

I found the original Orange/2.1 thread. Thanks again to messyhead for the info.

http://androidforums.com/htc-hero/107856-orange-uk-2-1-update-expected-mid-end-july.html

Cheers mtw. I was hoping for a better keyboard but I'll live with it, could never get the hang of swype.

Al

 

[verygoodyear]

The saga continues...

Just phoned Orange and they had no clue what it even was. When I said "2.1 upgrade", she assumed I meant a phone upgrade... sigh.

After her going off to talk to someone, she said that 2.1 is out and for me to "go to the Android website and download it", when I asked for a URL, she replied "I don't know." She then, strangely, gave me a month of Sky TV on my phone for free (how do I even access that?) and tried to sell me insurance for the next 5 mins.

I then phoned HTC and the guy laughed when I told him about Orange. He said "Orange are bloody useless" and "don't have a clue". He seemed knowledgeable about the update, and said that they've sent the ROM to Orange who will now "add their software". He said to just sit tight and wait for Orange, but had no idea when that would be.

He then said that this was the 24th call today about the Hero update. (I assume that's everyone on here!)

So no progress, but a mildly amusing story of customers having more knowledge than the CS reps.

 

[Dave.L]

So long suckers! I've done it, and it feels good!

 

[shadow90]

If I debrand the Hero, would I get the OTA updates?

 

[mpw]

just noticed the new firmware version listed on my phone;

"2.1 - update1"

Just so I don't get confused with all the other updates I guess ....or does this mean 2.2 is 'coming soon'?!?
***CAUTION: Beware the Chasm of Sar***

 

[daznsaz]

do you have to set the time forwards to get the update, have a unbranded phone on 3. when i check for updates it says phone is upto date??

 

[MattW]

Got 2.1
(Unbranded, contract free generic Hero)
Apart from some nerve inducing hangs during install, all went smoothly. Good that it didn't wipe the phone - I was expecting to have to find and reinstall all my apps and data etc - nice one HTC.

Keep finding neat new features - I can't see me getting much work done today

 

[elou75]

Hi All,

Just wondering where blue tooth works properly with the eclaire update??

Emma Orange branded (DOH)

 

[stryder]

Just installed 2.1
Anyone else had problems setting multiple accounts? It doesn't let me add anothet gmail account....

 

[tcblues]

Yes it's amazing... finally we have 2.1 but without voice input, that's just stupid.

Yes I am new, but I've read this thread for months and finally we're starting to get what we all long for (sorry orange users). But one thing I was looking forward to trying out is the speech to text feature. I don't mean the voice search feature that can be downloaded from the marketplace, I mean the one that allows me to dictate a message to send as a text or email or similar. Am I being completely blind? In the mean time I'm back to using Swype having seen the feature missing from the stock keyboard.

 

[tcblues]

Please if anybody find the way to enable search by voice... post it

 

[MattW]

Hi All,

Just wondering where blue tooth works properly with the eclaire update??

Emma Orange branded (DOH)

Not fully checked it out but at first glance it certainly seems to do more than it did with bluetooth - for eg, I just sent a pic to my PC over bluetooth

 

[Xyro]

@ Dave.L, mrdagz. But the beauty of custom ROMs is that you can install anything you want, including completely stock updates/stock updates but rooted and so on.

@shadow90. Apparently you can yes, but bear in mind debranding the hero isn't a simple process and voids your warranty and such. You practically have to root the phone you see.

@daznsaz. Setting it 2 weeks into the future will make it check for the first update. Once you have that there's an option in the settings to have it check for the next part.