A few questions about The Hero on Sprint

[hunt577]

Hello everyone! New to the forum here. I am planning on getting the HTC Hero with Sprint when it is released on Sunday.

1. I was wondering if I will be able to use it to tether to my laptop and use sprint's 3G connection through my device to get online on my laptop when there are no wifi spots available. I may not use this feature since it seems the hero is a mini computer within itself and I can almost anything on it that I can on a computer.

2. Is it true the Hero supports flash video? Most devices allow youtube and I know Hero will, but will it also be able to play any other online video as well as youtube videos?

3. Will the Hero support video conferencing through a medium such as Skype? It is able to record moving video so I wasn't sure if the built in camera could be used like a web cam on skype to video conference, or with other video conferencing services available through the android market.

4. Is this the best android device being released at this time? It seems to be a lot better than the Mytouch 3G. It's also being compared next to the Palm Pre (not an android device) and most people say the Hero is much better because Pre doesn't have an OS that is very open source. The main reason I am getting this device is because it has the android OS which is known for being very open source and there are so many applications you can get and many more to come.

Thanks for your time reading.

 

[ChrisPlague]

Hello everyone! New to the forum here. I am planning on getting the HTC Hero with Sprint when it is released on Sunday.

1. I was wondering if I will be able to use it to tether to my laptop and use sprint's 3G connection through my device to get online on my laptop when there are no wifi spots available. I may not use this feature since it seems the hero is a mini computer within itself and I can almost anything on it that I can on a computer.

2. Is it true the Hero supports flash video? Most devices allow youtube and I know Hero will, but will it also be able to play any other online video as well as youtube videos?

3. Will the Hero support video conferencing through a medium such as Skype? It is able to record moving video so I wasn't sure if the built in camera could be used like a web cam on skype to video conference, or with other video conferencing services available through the android market.

4. Is this the best android device being released at this time? It seems to be a lot better than the Mytouch 3G. It's also being compared next to the Palm Pre (not an android device) and most people say the Hero is much better because Pre doesn't have an OS that is very open source. The main reason I am getting this device is because it has the android OS which is known for being very open source and there are so many applications you can get and many more to come.

Thanks for your time reading.

1. as far as sprint is concerned you can not use phone as a modem but people found the manual online and it said it did it so im nto sure.

2. yes it supports flash

3. i dont have an answer for this hopefully someone who does know can chime in

4. yes i believe it is the best the android device to be launched at this time, with the sense ui and HTC making the phone you cant go wrong

 

[TattierPub]

I can't answer all your questions. Some of them like tethering are up in the air.

The flash capability is actually Flash Lite.

Here's a great 3 part review you might want to check out. He covers the flash question.

Blog Archive Leakdroid Phone Review Series – Sprint HTC Hero (w/ Videos)

 

[TattierPub]

Looks like full flash will be coming from Adobe sometime in 2010 for all OS's but iPhone.

The awesomest Adobe Flash ever ? for everyone but iPhone - PhoneDog Cell Phone News & Articles

 

[ChrisPlague]

Looks like full flash will be coming from Adobe sometime in 2010 for all OS's but iPhone.

The awesomest Adobe Flash ever ? for everyone but iPhone - PhoneDog Cell Phone News & Articles

ohhh very nice find that makes me happy !!!!!!!! i cant wait

 

[hunt577]

Thanks for the responses guys. I watched the video review that you sent me...what an amazing device! It will do just about everything. Did anyone else hear the rumor floating around that you can get the Hero for $329 and escape the 2 year contract with Sprint? Sounds like a good deal, but a bit too good to be true. Sprint won't say anything about the phone right now when I call them, I guess they are waiting until Sunday when its released.

 

[ChrisPlague]

Thanks for the responses guys. I watched the video review that you sent me...what an amazing device! It will do just about everything. Did anyone else hear the rumor floating around that you can get the Hero for $329 and escape the 2 year contract with Sprint? Sounds like a good deal, but a bit too good to be true. Sprint won't say anything about the phone right now when I call them, I guess they are waiting until Sunday when its released.

the only way to escape the 2 year contract is to pay full retail and if you do the math correctly its not 329

 

[hunt577]

the only way to escape the 2 year contract is to pay full retail and if you do the math correctly its not 329

According to this site, it will be $329 with no contract -

Sprint’s Hero Pricing Announced, $329 Off-Contract | Android Phone Fans

They could be completely wrong, but I'm just sharing whats being reported.

 

[ChrisPlague]

According to this site, it will be $329 with no contract -

Sprint

 

[TattierPub]

People are thinking and stating that $429 minus the $100 MIR comes out to $329.

Their mistake is believing/thinking they'll get $100 MIR, in order to get the $100 MIR you'd have to sign a 2 year contract. At least that's the way it's worked with all their other phones.

If you look at any phone on the Sprint site the MIR amount is blue text, as is the term eligible upgrade.

Off contract price should/will be $429

 

[ChrisPlague]

Yes that is exactly what I was tryin to say is that you do not get the mail in rebate if you're buying it at full retail price.

The price

 

[TattierPub]

Man, I should go to work for Sprint I know more than some of their reps.

 

[TattierPub]

In case you missed this.

Here's a demo of the new flash 10.1 working on an unreleased Android phone. Based on the size I'm going to guess Instinct Q

Adobe Labs - Adobe Flash Player 10.1

 

[antiseven]

I just got off the phone with Sprint.. What it came down to was in order to get the hero you have to get one of their "simply" plans. That's all fine and good until they tell me that you have to get a "Talk" plan and a data plan separately in order to use phone as modem and then pay the extra 15 bucks a month.

All in all after 40 minutes on the phone it came down to if you want to tether you have to call them and have them work their magic in order to make the plan work otherwise you have to get one of the "Simply" plans and not use tethering.

Kind of reminds me of ATT when the iphone came out.

Oh.. and they said you can get it on the 8th not the 11th.. =)

 

[Edaze55]

I just got off the phone with Sprint.. What it came down to was in order to get the hero you have to get one of their "simply" plans. That's all fine and good until they tell me that you have to get a "Talk" plan and a data plan separately in order to use phone as modem and then pay the extra 15 bucks a month.

All in all after 40 minutes on the phone it came down to if you want to tether you have to call them and have them work their magic in order to make the plan work otherwise you have to get one of the "Simply" plans and not use tethering.

Kind of reminds me of ATT when the iphone came out.

Oh.. and they said you can get it on the 8th not the 11th.. =)

Good luck getting that on the 8th. Come back Thursday and let us know how that worked out for ya.

I also find it rather suspect that you say you need a Simply plan(which I assume means an everything plan) , but then say you need talk and data seperately. The only everything plan that doesnt have data is Everything Messaging.

Simply everything - 99.99 has unlimited talk, text and data
Everything Data
450 Mins - 69.99 450 minutes, unlimited text and data
900 Mins - 89.99 900 minutes, unlimited text and data
Everything Messaging
450 Mins - 49.99 450 minutes, unlimited text
900 Mins - 69.99 900 minutes, unlimited text
Regular Talk plans
450 Mins - 39.99 459 minutes
900 Mins - 59.99 900 minutes

Now there are data packs for the last package, but at 15 & 25 bucks you might as well go with the Everything Data. Texting pack is 300 texts for 5 bucks. Its also worth mentioning that the only phones you could add to the regular talk plan were pretty standard phones with the Reclaim, Lotus, M330, Clutch and Exclaim being the "high end" phones.

 

[ChrisPlague]

I just got off the phone with Sprint.. What it came down to was in order to get the hero you have to get one of their "simply" plans. That's all fine and good until they tell me that you have to get a "Talk" plan and a data plan separately in order to use phone as modem and then pay the extra 15 bucks a month.

All in all after 40 minutes on the phone it came down to if you want to tether you have to call them and have them work their magic in order to make the plan work otherwise you have to get one of the "Simply" plans and not use tethering.

Kind of reminds me of ATT when the iphone came out.

Oh.. and they said you can get it on the 8th not the 11th.. =)

ugh this post has all kinds of wrong in it..

ive tried to explain everything over and over again....

and NO YOU CAN NOT get it on the 8th

sorry if this came off as negative it really isnt meant to be

 

[Edaze55]

ugh this post has all kinds of wrong in it..

ive tried to explain everything over and over again....

and NO YOU CAN NOT get it on the 8th

sorry if this came off as negative it really isnt meant to be

You and me both Chris... I feel your pain.

 

[ShiftNo]

I, too, am wondering about tethering on the Hero. The user's guide seems to make it pretty clear that tethering IS possible.

I just read Crunchgear's review of the Sprint Hero, though, and they said:

A certain subset of users will also notice that the traditional rooting and tethering systems are disabled on this phone.

Link: Review: HTC Hero from Sprint

I wonder which is correct? Any other thoughts?

 

[Edaze55]

I, too, am wondering about tethering on the Hero. The user's guide seems to make it pretty clear that tethering IS possible.

I just read Crunchgear's review of the Sprint Hero, though, and they said:

Link: Review: HTC Hero from Sprint

I wonder which is correct? Any other thoughts?

So much for the Open Handset Alliance.

That said, this is the first CDMA phone out, so its easy to assume that some things changed, and could be just a matter of time before someone figures out how to root it, but then again, I thought they had made rooting a bit more difficult with one of the last updates.

Tethering disabled does not surprise me one bit.

 

[antiseven]

ugh this post has all kinds of wrong in it..

ive tried to explain everything over and over again....

and NO YOU CAN NOT get it on the 8th

sorry if this came off as negative it really isnt meant to be

Not sayin you're wrong and it really makes no difference to me. I'm under contract til Dec. Just passin along what the reps said. Wouldn't physically have it on the 8th but will be able to order. I called em back just now to make sure I heard them right and they said yes, call back in the morning to order. They don't speak great english but that was pretty clear.. Of course they then proceeded to try and sell me a Pre...

 

[jdog]

ugh this post has all kinds of wrong in it..

ive tried to explain everything over and over again....

and NO YOU CAN NOT get it on the 8th

sorry if this came off as negative it really isnt meant to be

I don't know about the 8th but the 9th is confirmed: Hey Best Buy Reward Zone Members! Get Your HTC Hero on Friday | AndroidGuys

 

[big99gt]

Pdanet tethers a Sprint Hero just fine, I use it on 64 bit and 32 bit Vista, easy setup and it works great. I don't think they support Mac though.