While the game will certainly still look best on an NVIDIA Tegra 2 certified ultra-awesome device (no, I’m not biased), the game will be out on every single kind of Android device later inside October of 2011, with only a few limitations including, well, lets just say you probably won’t want to run this game on your HTC Hero. Dual cores a plus!

You’ll have to wait about a week (or more, depending on what it’ll take to get the game running smoothly) to get this game on the Android Market, meanwhile have a look at the several different times your humble narrator has encountered this game – it’s versatile!

SlashQUOTE
Today’s item of interest in The Daily Slash is a quote from the Professor / Writer / Inventer of the Internet Tim Berners-Lee as he writes an article called “Long Live the Web” about defending the Internet against those who would limit it in a variety of ways. I suggest you read the entire thing because it’s a masterfully written statement and it concerns us all, all of us internetlings.

Why should you care? Because the Web is yours. It is a public resource on which you, your business, your community and your government depend. The Web is also vital to democracy, a communications channel that makes possible a continuous worldwide conversation. The Web is now more critical to free speech than any other medium. It brings principles established in the U.S. Constitution, the British Magna Carta and other important documents into the network age: freedom from being snooped on, filtered, censored and disconnected.

[Via Scientific American]

R3 Media Network

Android Community
Motorola Droid X, 2, & Pro with HTC Droid Incredible on Sale for 1 Penny at Amazon
POV Mobii TEGRA tablet offers more budget Tegra 2 Android
Pocket Legends MMO lands for Android devices [WHOOOA]
Schlage LiNK system gets Android app support
Droid and EVO Dominate Android Traffic
Droid Pro $99 At BestBuy [CHEEP]
Terrifying People-Face Fingers Play with Samsung Galaxy Tab in New Ad [Video] [SCARY]
Free NFL Streaming from Verizon this weekend only
Qualcomm Snapdragon Processor V3 coming
HTC Hero Maintenance Release rolling out now

SlashGear
iPhone business alone worth more than all but 10 firms tip number-crunchers
Nook Color Unboxing and Hands-on [FEATURED]
Cox “Unbelievably Fair” wireless launches: pays cash for unused minutes
Google to wipe accidental UK Street View data to escape further inquiry
Urban Ears TANTO Multicolor headphones are thankfully limited edition [BLECH]
Amazon launches Kindle ebook gifting
Sony Ericsson dismisses Windows Phone 7 and tablet rumors
World iPad with multi-mode GSM/CDMA modem tipped for 2011
Geeks get Ubuntu working on Samsung Galaxy Tab
Samsung Orion tablet gets previewed ahead of presumed 2011 debut
Astronomers discover planet originating outside our galaxy circling a dying star [FIRST]
Advent Vega “unprecedented demand” sees slate sell out in hours [Updated]
NewerTech USB 3.0 Universal Drive Adapter makes any drive an external storage solution
ARM in Google TV talks over cheaper, energy-frugal STBs
Angry Birds devs admit lightweight version in works for underpowered Android phones
Advent Vega tablet now shipping: Tegra 2 slate for £249 [Update: Sold out!]
Myspace “mashup” opens door to Facebook invasion [THE APOCALYPSE COMETH]
Verizon HTC Merge gets premature preview
iPad 2 Up, Samsung Galaxy Tab Down & Tablets Out for the Count [COLUMN]
Cut, Copy and Hate [COLUMN]
id Software Co-Founder Says iPad is More Powerful Than Wii
Palm Mansion to Feature 5-Inch Display, webOS 2.0 Coming to All Devices Soon [UPDATE: Palm's Josh Marinacci Video Speech Added] [ALL PALM DEVICES, ALL OF THEM]
White iPhone 4 on Sale in China [I SMELL TROUBLE]
Rod Whitby of webOS Internals Details Roadmap for Preware 2.0
Bungie is Looking for Beta Testers, You Could be One
NOOKcolor Demo [FEATURED]
Gorilla Glass Demo [PLUS: How Gorilla Glass Works - Chemically!] [FEATURED]
Checking Out the Samsung MD23 Three Screen LCD Monitor [FEATURED]
A Week with the HTC HD7: Xbox LIVE & Final Thoughts [FEATURED]

A Week with the HTC HD7
A Week with the HTC HD7: Hardware
A Week with the HTC HD7: Software
A Week with the HTC HD7: the Apps [Updated]
A Week with the HTC HD7: Xbox LIVE & Final Thoughts

To see more Daily Slash posts, click here: [The Daily Slash] or here: [SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up]

Both handsets are now running Android 2.1 with the Sense UI.  If you’re wanting Android 2.1 on your Hero, meanwhile, as it’s still running the original 1.5 build, an OTA update has been going out recently; make sure your phone is charged, powered on and preferably connected via WiFi and you should be offered the update.

[via Twitter]

Update: HTC has been in touch with an official statement – find it after the cut.

We’re not yet seeing any sign of this first update package being offered to our Hero (which is still running the stock Android 1.5 firmware) though some Android Community members claim to have artificially prompted its install by changing the date to one month into the future and restarting their phone.  As for the Android 2.1 package itself for the Hero, the exact release date for that is still unknown; HTC maintain that it will only arrive sometime this month.

[via Android Community]

Update: HTC official statement:

“Android Éclair update for HTC Hero will be released by the end of June. The upgrade will come in two parts, the first of which will roll out from this week and will be detected when the Hero next automatically checks for software updates. The second part of the update will follow towards the end of the month. As the second part of the upgrade will wipe all data on the handset, Hero users should ensure any important data has been backed up before proceeding with the installation. Due to the size of the update, wherever possible, we would advise using a WiFi connection for this download to avoid additional data charges.”

Last we heard – all the way back in March – HTC had been aiming for an early-April release; that came and went, and of course in the meantime Google have announced Android 2.2 Froyo.  Still, the updated OS – even if it isn’t the very latest – would be very welcome on the Hero, since it’s still currently running Android 1.5 (with HTC’s Sense customizations).

[via Android Community]

The Legend’s screen brightness was also a cause for concern, mustering 253 cd/m2 in comparison to the Hero’s 310 cd/m2.  Both the Hero and the iPod touch use a more traditional LCD panel, rather than the AMOLED technology used in the Legend and its larger sibling the HTC Desire.

Unfortunately Tweakers didn’t have a Desire to hand to include in the testing, though anecdotal reports from some owners suggest it too has patchy grayscale support.  One point where the AMOLED displays do deliver is in blacks, however, out-performing both other devices in testing.

[via Android Community]

However, it’s worth noting that installing the Sprint Hero Android 2.1 update will delete all content from the device in the process.  That means performing a backup of any data you’re unwilling to lose is essential; if you’re a PC user then you can use HTC Sync to do that.

The update apparently takes around 25 minutes to complete, and of course you won’t be able to make or receive calls while it’s in process.  Firmware 2.27.651.5 delivers various bug fixes and OS tweaks, as well as voice recognition and improved corporate email synchronization.

[via Android Community]

The Best of R3 Media

An HTC Hero with Cox Branding: We love when things get sold on eBay, or especially Craig’s List. It’s just a sneaky way to show off something we never thought would happen, in some cases. Like this one. Someone managed to sell a Cox (as in the cable company) branded CDMA HTC Hero. It looks exactly like the Sprint version, but this one had no physical branding on it. There’s plenty of branding on the software side, though, which even includes a boot screen showing the Cox label. Definitely interesting stuff, especially considering Cox wants to launch their own wireless service. Testing in progress, perhaps? [via Android Community]

Samsung Wants You to Make Apps for Bada: Yes. If you’re a developer, and you want to get on yet another platform, then maybe you should start thinking about Samsung’s Bada mobile Operating System (OS). It’s the proprietary one that became famous when the company unveiled the Samsung Wave handset, and sure, it probably won’t make you rich, but perhaps winning this developer’s contest will. You see, if you get to the second round, not only will you get a new Samsung Wave of your own, but you’ll also have a shot at winning upwards of $300,000. A lot of money for you developers out there, so if you’ve got the chops, go for it. And let us know how it goes, yeah? [via SlashPhone]

The Dredge Net

BlueAntS4 Bluetooth Speakerphone Available (soon?): There’s plenty of options out there if you’re in the market for a Bluetooth speakerphone, but this one from BlueAnt is definitely one of the more attractive approaches. Sure, it’s still just a Bluetooth speakerphone, but it has a few features worth mentioning. Like, for example, voice activated features. You can turn it on by saying, “BlueAnt speak to me.” You can also turn on the Vlingo SafeReader application by saying, “Start SafeReader.” (Tricky, right?) That feature will read you your own text messages and emails. It will go for $99 at Best Buy locations, and AT&T stores across the nation. The Vlingo app is currently compatible with BlackBerry devices, and Android-based handsets running Android 2.0 or later. [via Ubergizmo]

iSuppli Says Worldwide Shipments of Cellphones is up 13.8 Percent: Good news all around for the cell phone industry, but perhaps not so much for a few companies out there. For example, Motorola has dropped from the sixth spot to the eight spot in worldwide cellphone sales. They sold 14.7 million handsets in the first quarter of 2009, but managed to only push out 8.5 million in the same period this year. Sony Ericsson was the only other company worth mentioning that didn’t sell as many handsets. Samsung, Nokia, and LG Electronics are all at the top of the list, still. Which, incidentally, isn’t surprising at all. [via Engadget]

This LEGO Contraption Can Lay Down its Own Bridge: You read that title correctly. This LEGO creation of awesomeness is created from LEGO Technic pieces, which means it has a bunch of motorized pieces in there. And, while we aren’t putting the video here, you definitely need to check it out. The vehicle can lay down its own bridge, which takes roughly about a minute, and then move aside to let other LEGO vehicles by. It can then traverse its own bridge, before it reverses, and picks the bridge back up, which folds nicely over its back. The process is slow, but it’s still one of the coolest things to watch, considering the LEGO prowess involved. [via TechnaBob]

The Best of R3 Media

New Android Tablet Shows Off Flash and Adobe AIR: And, according to the report, it does it so well that some would consider it “flawless.” Yep, Flash running on a mobile device “flawlessly.” We’re pretty shocked too, but we’ll have to take it for what it’s worth, because we can hope beyond hope that this is true. After all, we want the best kind of video player on our handsets, mobile devices, and tablets, and if Adobe thinks they can accomplish that, then by all means. The article states that there isn’t much information to go on, other than this is a prototype, and so far, that’s about as far as it’s gone in development. There’s a video at AC, so you should check it out and see all that flawless goodness for yourself. [via Android Community]

Griffin Jumper iPad Sleeve Gets Reviewed: The market for iPad accessories is pretty huge, and of course we’re not surprised to see all sorts of variations out there. The Griffin Jumper iPad Sleeve is definitely a different take on something kind of old, and we’d be lying if we didn’t say that’s a bit refreshing. But, the case itself is a bit too tight for the iPad, which proves a bit annoying when you’re trying to put the tablet in, or remove it for usage. The sleeve itself looks great, though, and that has to count for something. [via Everything iPad]

Sprint HTC Hero Getting Android 2.1 on May 7th: Here’s another leaked image from a major reseller. This time around it’s Best Buy, and it’s talking about the major upgrade to the HTC Hero for the Sprint network. It’s a ROM upgrade, so that could only mean (if it’s “major” enough), that the device is finally getting Android 2.1. But, then again, this is just another leak in a laundry list of leaks, so try not to hold your breath for too long. [via SlashPhone]

The Drege Net

Clearwire Promises Clear-Branded Samsung and HTC Devices: Pretty interesting stuff here. Clear today, during one of their financial calls, outed the future existence of self-branded Samsung and HTC-manufactured devices, all sporting the 4G technology Clear is so known for. The devices are expected to be released by the end of 2010, so there’s definitely a few months in between now and then for the company to fine tune whatever it is they’re working on. It describes the Sammy as an Android-based 3G/4G/WiFi device, which is optimized for heavy video and video communications use. However, the HTC device doesn’t say whether or not it’s an Android-powered handset. So, maybe Windows Phone 7, then? That’s all the information that Clear provided, but we’ll definitely be keeping our eyes and ears open for more on this very tantalizing story. [via Clearwire]

A New Sub-Orbital Spaceship for the Rich: When you become rich, one of the first things you want to do is take a trip to space, right? Of course you do! After all, you’re rich and you have nothing better to do (like earn that money). So, thanks to Dassault Aviation, that dream is one more step to becoming a reality. They want to give civilians the opportunity to travel up to space, and feel what three minutes of weightlessness feels like at 62 miles above the surface of the planet. Yep, that’s right at the edge of space. Pretty fantastic, right? No word on pricing quite yet, but, hey, you should just start saving. [via DVICE]

AT&T Refutes Claims of Staggering Dropped Calls: Earlier this afternoon, a report from ChangeWave stated that AT&T was reaching a record high of 4.5 percent of dropped calls on its network. However, this little report only covered about a couple thousand people, over a short amount of time. According to AT&T, who is basing their refuted claims on another report filed by a third-party analyst group called GWS, they are in a dead-heat race with the leader of fewest dropped called (believed to be Verizon Wireless), and that this claim of 4.5 percent is hogwash. The GWS study is definitely more tangible and believable, if only for the reason that it covered “millions” of people, and not just thousands. So, what do you think? [via Electronista]

The Best of R3

Dell Introduces the Thunder, Flash, and Smoke: We’re going out on a limb here and saying that Dell obviously wants to make sure that they’re a presence in the smartphone market again. And, if they release even one of these Android-based devices, we’ll firmly admit that they’ve made it. The Dell Thunder is an Android 2.1-based handset, with a 4.1-inch WVGA OLED screen. It has an 8MP camera on the back, and it features Dell’s “Stage” User Interface, which looks eerily like HTC’s Sense UI. It’s going to be hitting AT&T later this year, and there’s even going to be an LTE model in the fourth quarter 2011. The Flash is a ridiculous piece of architecture, with Dell aiming to mold it out of a slice of curved glass. Yeah, sounds expensive, right? It will feature a 3.5-inch WVGA LCD screen, a 5MP camera, WiFi, TV-out, Bluetooth 3.0, and a Qualcomm MSM7230 processor running at 800MHz. And finally the Dell Smoke, which is like a Palm Pixi but that got beat with a sexy stick. Featuring a beautiful full QWERTY keyboard, with a 2.8-inch QVGA display. It’s also featuring Android’s Froyo version, which already makes it a highly anticipated device. The trouble is, the Smoke won’t launch until the second quarter of 2011. [Thunder via Android Community; Flash via Android Community; Smoke via Android Community]

100 iPads Ordered for California Hospital: The iPad is a perfect fit for the medical industry, and Nick Volosin thinks so, too. He’s the Director of Technical Services for the Kaweah Delta Health Care District, and after he managed to get there iPads over to his hospital to test out, they’ve now put in an order for an additional 100 tablets for their staff. Utilizing the Citrix Receiver, they can take full control of a virtual PC to watch over patient statistics, read X-rays, and look over EKG results while on the go. [via Everything iPad]

HTC Hero Won’t be Seeing 2.1 Until June: Bad day for the owners of the original HTC Hero. According to an email correspondence, it doesn’t look like the Hero is going to be seeing any kind of major update until June. They will be getting an update to prepare their handsets by some time in June, and then a short time later, the full Eclair update will be delivered to their devices. A long way from February or March, if you ask us, and considering the HTC Desire is already out and about, we can’t see why customers are still waiting. [via SlashPhone]

The Dredge Net

Android Lives on the iPhone: It’s about time, right? According to a recent posted video, the notorious iPhone hacker planetbeing has successfully booted the Google mobile Operating System, Android, onto a fully functional iPhone. And, everything works. You can watch in the video as he tries several different features, such as a Skype call. Planetbeing even says that Flash could be supported. As of right now he is able to actually dual-boot, and choose which mobile Operating System he wants to load. It’s good to have choices, right? [via Quick Pwn]

Even Washers of the Future Are Awesome: We’d have to say that perhaps “thinner isn’t better” when it comes to washing machines, as the idea is to get as much done in a single load as possible, but we can’t argue a sexy piece of technology when we see one. For example, this Electrolux washing machine is just about ridiculous, and we can’t stop staring at the beautiful illuminated ring of light. It changes color depending on what cycle your wash is in, so you’ll always know, just by a quick glance, what stage your clothes are currently being washed. A great idea, especially considering there’s a wall-mounted model, as well as one that fits into the cabinets. Great ideas that we hope to see come to fruition soon. [via DVICE]

Microsoft Planning a Live TV Channel for Xbox 360: As video game consoles go, there’s definitely several different features for each of them. And, while Sony has already tried their hand at original video content, it seems that Microsoft wants to test out the action, too. According to a recent report, it seems that Microsoft is in current talks with former President of News Corp., Peter Chernin, to create a dedicated TV Channel for the Xbox 360 LIVE network. The channel would be jointly owned, and would not only have new, original content, but also air reruns of old shows, so that there is always something playing. Customers would have to pay an additional one, or two dollars a month to access the channel, though. [via TG Daily]

The Best of R3 Media

Leaked Internal Sprint Image Says Android 2.1 Coming in May: The wait for Android 2.1 has been long and arduous for pretty much anyone who doesn’t have it, and we can understand that. Especially when leaks and rumors are popping up everywhere. This time around, it seems that an internal screenshot from Sprint points to an early May release for the Sprint HTC Hero and Samsung Moment. Early may probably means some time in the first two weeks of May, so that’s not too far to wait. Besides, what’s another month, right? [via Android Community]

Steve Jobs Asks Potential Customer if They’re Nuts: You read that right. Just before the launch of the iPad, Steve Jobs started answering query emails about the tablet, along with a few other key pieces of intel. This time around, an international customer by the name of Paul Shadwell was upset that the iPad was delayed, and thought that he had been lied to by the Cupertino-based company. So, he emailed Jobs and told him off. Steve jobs replied, and asked the man if he was nuts, and then kindly added that his company was doing the best they could. We have to admit: we like Steve Jobs’ PR style. [via Everything iPad]

Samsung T959 Has Samsung Galaxy S Features: The Bluetooth SIG process is another way that we can find out which phones are coming out in the coming months. It isn’t an exact science, but it’s a good step in the right direction. With a recent document being unearthed in the digital databanks, the Samsung SGH-T959 showed up, and rose some eyebrows. Most importantly, it’s got features like Android 2.1, TouchWiz 3.0, and a 4-inch AMOLED display. Sound familiar? That’s the Samsung Galaxy’s S base features (except that the Galaxy S has a Super AMOLED, too). The general consensus is that the device is heading to T-Mobile USA, and that makes us think the Galaxy S could be seeing many more wireless carriers. [via SlashPhone]

The Dredge Net

Shrimp Could Repair Spinal Injuries; Glass Heals Bones: A brand new report from the Journal of Experimental Biology details how the chitosan found in shrimp shells can be utilized to repair nerve damage. This discover has worked so far in guinea pigs, with the chitosan compound actually healing the tissue instead of breaking it down, as previous tests with other compounds have done in the past, thanks to the toxins which are formed from it breaking down. And then, in a separate report, other scientists have found that a glass matrix can be used to help regenerate bone. The bone will heal itself over time, and then the glass will break down on its own. [via CrunchGear]

Chariot Skates Make Rollerblades Look Ridiculous: Mostly because these things are just about amazing, in how awesome they are. We want a pair right now, and we mean that in all honesty. And, according to the developer, Michael Jenkins, they are more comfortable, keep momentum longer, and can even be used in rough terrain better than traditional skates or rollerblades. But, it’s not all roses. Unfortunately, the Chariot Skates are too expensive: about $10,900 too expensive. They’re set to be released in August, though, so if you’re interested in being the only person in Venice Beach with a pair, start pinching your pennies. [via DVICE]

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 Will Get Multitouch: If you’ll recall, the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 wasn’t supposed to get multitouch functionality. In fact, an SE spokesperson actually confirmed that it wasn’t just a software thing, but that the hardware of the capacitive touchscreen didn’t support the option at all. Well, apparently you can forget all that, because a latest news bit says that not only is the X10 getting Android 2.1 in September, but it’s also getting multitouch. Consider us confused. The big question is: does anyone in the United States care? [via Cellphone-Reviews]

Apple Being Sued for Triggered Moisture Sensors: If you’ve owned a cell phone, basically ever, then you probably know that there’s a small sensor underneath the battery area that will react if you get it wet. It turns pink, in fact. The trouble with these things, is that cold weather, along with moisture, can trigger this sensor if it’s in the atmosphere long enough. Nevertheless, phone manufacturers have turned down warranty exchanges all over the place due to those triggered moisture sensors, because water, obviously, isn’t good for your phone. Apple, now, is being sued because Charlene Gallion “and others similarly situated” believes that this is wrong, due to the language in Apple’s warranty policy. It’s definitely interesting, and we’ll have to wait and see who comes out on top. Place your bets now, folks. [via Apple Insider]

The Best of R3 Media

HTC Hero Gets Android 2.1 Leaked: So, people aren’t patient. We get that. Then again, when companies like HTC are slow to push out updates, the patience is hard to come by. And, despite the fact the latest rumor of Android 2.1 going the official route is April 9th, why should you wait any longer? A brand new leak for the HTC Hero has hit the Interwebs, but this is isn’t like all the other ones. This is a test ROM, officially from Sprint, for their branded Hero. It’s already rooted, and it’s not for the faint of heart. Don’t even try this unless you know what you’re doing. It’s not worth bricking your phone. [via Android Community]

The iPad Runs Quake at 70fps. ‘Nough Said: Quake is one of those ports that seems to be making the rounds quite well. In fact, we might even consider it the right of passage for some of the best portable gaming devices on the market. So, seeing it on the iPad isn’t that alien to us. Sure enough, it took a strong-willed developer less than 24 hours with his very own iPad to compile the game onto the tablet, and run it at a beautiful 70fps thanks to that A4 processor and PowerVR SGX GPU. There’s no control scheme right now, and he hasn’t made it public yet. But hey, at least you know it exists. [via Everything iPad]

AT&T Wants You to “Rethink Possible”: AT&T doesn’t have the best reputation on the block. In fact, it might be one of the least liked carriers out there. Or, perhaps the dissenter’s voices are just the loudest. Whatever the case, AT&T is hearing it, because they’re changing their ways. Starting to change their ways, anyway. They’re moving away from a monster wireless carrier, and trying to make people see them as a progressive lifestyle change. Interesting, to say the least. The change will take several months, and we’re wondering how this is going to go over with the customers. [via SlashPhone]

The Dredge Net

The Halo Movie Still Exists: If you’re a gamer, and if you’ve played any games within the Halo franchise, then you’ve probably heard (at least once) that there was a movie being passed around the high executives in Hollywood for quite some time. In fact, a few high ranking names were even tagged to direct and produce the film (who subsequently went to produce and direct another alien-based flick, District 9), but it all went down the drain when no one could agree on money. In fact, Microsoft even said the project was dead entirely. But, Frank O’Connor of the Redmond-based company and of Bungie Studios fame says the project is, in fact, still alive. They’re just biding their time, waiting for the perfect moment to launch it to the world. Consider our patience waning. [via Tom's Guide]

LED Chinese Chess Board of the Future Makes You Want to Learn How to Play: Playing board games is probably on the way out, especially considering tablets seem to be making it a lot easier, and more convenient, to play all of them. But, that’s not stopping other people from creating new ways to play chess. Take this LED Chinese chess game, for example. Based on a silica gel chessboard, you can roll it up for easy access when you’re travelling. You can push LED lights down, and they will activate based on the side that you’re sitting. There’s even a computer on board, just in case you can’t get someone to play with you futuristic Chinese chess set. [via Yanko Design]

England Isn’t Participating in Any 3D World Cup Matches: So, 3D is a huge part of the technology industry lately. And it’s probably not going anywhere any time soon. The World Cup is one of, if not the biggest sports events on the entire planet, and so FIFA (and everyone else even remotely tied to the football experience) is trying to make 3D games a possibility. They’ve made it happen before, and they’ve even got a huge list of matches that will be played in 3D. England isn’t included in any of the matches, though. Which is a huge crying shame, to be honest. [via CNET UK]

Litter Box Isn’t Much of a Box: If you’re a fan of cats, then you know that you don’t just get a cute, fluffy animal. You also get a smelly, large box to hold all the stuff they don’t want in their bodies anymore. Hey, it’s a part owning a cat. But, scooping is a hassle, especially when you have to sit over the box and smell all those fumes while you scoop the clustered mess. So, get ready to smack down $97 for this fancy litter box, where an air purifier will help you get rid of those terrible scents. Well worth the money, right? [via DVICE]

The Best of R3 Media:

Has the LG Aloha (Finally) Been Photographed? The LG Aloha is supposedly LG’s first high-end Android-based device. It’s got a 1GHz Snapdragon processor under the hood, Android 2.1, and a 3.5-inch AMOLED display. LG’s also got a fancy for the slide-out physical QWERTY keyboards, and they’ve included that in the package as well. The only trouble is, the images captured of this device match a model number LU2300, and the Aloha’s is supposedly C710. There’s some confusion abound, but we’ll hopefully get some straight answers soon. Either way, LG definitely needs a high end device rocking Google’s little green ‘droid. [via Android Community]

HTC Hero (Finally) Getting Android 2.1: It seems that with some (maybe most?) of the best Android devices out there, waiting for the update is half the battle. In the case of the HTC Hero, and all of its variations around the globe, faithful owners of the flagship HTC Sense device have been patiently sitting on Android 1.5 since its debut last July. HTC has been pretty tight-lipped over the last few months, but since last December, there’s been plenty of rumors. Now though, it seems that a lucky HTC Club member received an email directly from HTC, saying that roll-outs of the upgraded mobile Operating System will begin April 19th, and then fan out across the world in a progressive way. Good news for Hero owners, that’s for sure. [via SlashPhone]

iPhone the Choice of Owners On the Move: It looks like Apple knew what they were doing when they sent out the iPad on a Saturday. From a recent report, which was taken over the launch weekend and extended into Monday, it seems that people loved to browse the web on their new Apple tablets, but as soon as the work week started up, they left them at home, and took to their fall-back: the iPhone. The door swings both ways on this one: for most, it makes perfect sense to leave the iPad at home, and bring the iPhone with you to work, or whatever it is you’re doing during the day. After all, it’s thin and light, but not able to fit in your pocket. On the other side of the door, you have Steve Jobs who wants you to take it everywhere. Maybe that will all change when the 3G model hits customer’s hands, eh? [via Everything iPad]

The Dredge Net:

Seats 3D Wants You to Look at Your Seats Before You Get There: If you’re a major fan of the MLB, then this service probably won’t do much for you. After all, you’ve probably been to your local stadium a few times, and even have your favorite section. But, for the rest of the people out there, or if you’re visiting a new venue, then this might be just what you’ve always wanted. Even if you didn’t know it. A new site, Seats 3D, wants to make it possible for you to find your seat’s position in a 3D, rotating image. That way, you can see the field from your seat, well before you get into that seat. The only trouble is that only 9 stadiums are compatible with the service right now, but it sounds like they’re planning to add more soon. [via DVICE]

Jacket Made With a Pocket That Carries Your iPad: Sure, there’s plenty of accessories out there that can carry your iPad. Most of them are made specifically for that job. But, what if you’re not a fan of an extra thing to carry, or hang on your shoulder? Then this travel vest, made by Scottevest, which has an in-line pocket perfectly sized for your shiny, new Apple tablet is perfect for you. It will be available July 1st, and will only cost your $100. That’s a steal, right? [via Engadget]

The Land Glider From Nissan Looks Ridiculously Awesome: We’re not going to say that we’d want one of these things (…), but we have to admit, it does look like someone stepped into the future and brought it back with them. The vehicle is pictured above, and as you can see, it’s leaning, and we think that’s just about fantastic. Nissan is designing the electric motor-powered vehicle for people who just want to get across town, and, well, don’t want to walk. It’s got a top speed of 62 miles per hour, but we can guarantee you’re not going to go that fast. Nissan is also touting that the car (or whatever you want to call it) also has zero emissions, too. [via CrunchGear]

Palm Drops Modernista From Developing New Ads: There’s no denying that the early advertisements for the Palm Pre were completely out of this world. Watching as several hundred orange-robed individuals did some strange movements, and some even creepier lady talking about what your phone could do just wasn’t good product placement. Truth be told, it was down-right frightening. Sure, the Palm Pixi commercial was better, and the very latest Palm Pre Plus (for Verizon Wireless) commercial wasn’t that bad at all. But, those early promos were just too much to handle. And, while the advertisement agency said early on that people knew the Palm existed because of the strange commercials, it didn’t do much for the whole buying of the devices. [via Everything Pre]

That will be followed by the T-Mobile UK/Germany and Orange UK/Spain handsets on April 16th, with other carrier-branded versions following later through the month and into May 2010.  Notably absent is any mention of US devices.  Of course, this could all be faked; we’ve got a request in for the latest information from HTC themselves, and will update with what we hear back.

HTC EU (Nordic/Greek/RUS/UKR/SA) 2010/4/2

TMO – UK TMO 2010/4/16

UK/ES Orange 2010/4/16

TMO – DE TMO 2010/4/16

SFR signature Orange 2010/4/22

ZA(Vodacom) HTC 2010/4/22

H3G UK H3G 2010/4/22

HTC BE HTC 2010/5/4

HTC TUR HTC 2010/5/4

TMO – PL TMO 2010/5/10

TMO – HU TMO 2010/5/10

TMO – MK TMO 2010/5/10

[via Android Community]

It’s hard to argue with the aesthetics. HTC have taken a solid block of aluminum and carved out a soft-touch, MacBook Pro-like shell; into that they’ve squeezed a 3.2-inch HVGA AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display, dualband HSPA, quadband GSM, WiFi and Bluetooth, along with GPS, a digital compass and accelerometer. Like the Hero before it, the Legend supports multitouch gestures, but hardware controls have been pared down a little: the function keys are a minimal strip underneath the display, and the trackball has been replaced with an arguably more reliable optical joystick.

HTC Legend hands-on:

Inside, though, there’s not the significant chipset update many hoped for (especially bearing in mind that HTC have used Qualcomm’s 1GHz Snapdragon in the Desire); the Hero used Qualcomm’s 528MHz MSM7200A, while the Legend gets a slight speed boost in the shape of the 600MHz MSM7227. In a mobile device it’s true that every little helps, but in terms of what rivals are offering it does push the Legend more into the mid-range rather than the flagship position the Hero once occupied. We’ll have to wait until the first review units with production software arrive to see if 600MHz is enough for Android 2.1 and the newest Sense build; our hands-on time at MWC 2010 seemed to suggest it was all reasonably slick, but that’s a long way away from daily use when loaded up with apps.

Of course, we’ve also seen the inherent drawback involved when you start to modify your core platform. HTC Sense, though receiving of excellent reviews – and, arguably, doing more to drive Google’s own Android UI development than anyone else – has left the company on the back foot when it comes to rolling out OS updates to those devices equipped with it. Other company’s Android phones may be less compelling than HTC’s, but users have grown to be cautious of devices with the potential for long upgrade delays.

Ironically, then, it may be HTC’s own software update schedule that presents the biggest challenge to the Legend. At roughly the same time the new smartphone goes on sale, HTC Hero owners should receive the long-awaited Android 2.1 firmware complete with much of the latest Sense functionality. HTC haven’t exactly defined which Sense attributes will be present and which will be missing on the Hero – all they’ve told us is that Hero owners shouldn’t expect to get all of the new tweaks seen on the Legend – but with the devices so similarly specified once you get past the unibody style, it may be enough of a compromise to leave users content with their older phones.

It’s tough to create a compelling, well-received smartphone that balances a generally-available OS with distinctive, home-grown customizations. It’s perhaps equally tough to then create a follow-up that manages to be sufficiently reminiscent of its successful predecessor, but suitably distinct in its own right to encourage upgrades.

Tempted by the HTC Legend? Planning to upgrade your HTC Hero to the new unibody phone? Or is the promise of Android 2.1 and a Sense update enough? Let me know in the comments.

The actual feature set will, HTC say, vary depending on carrier-specific device and sales region. One of the noticeable features of the new Sense is Friend Stream, which pulls out Facebook, Twitter and Flickr updates from all contacts into a single list; unfortunately it will also be one of the features availability of which will vary.

The Android 2.1 HTC Hero update will be released in Europe and Asia in the February to March 2010 timescale; we’re expecting it to be a downloadable update rather than an OTA one. HTC have also confirmed that the Magic won’t be getting an Android 2.1 update, at least not officially.

The new view is seemingly triggered by a pinch gesture – as if zooming out – which calls up seven thumbnails.  Each thumbnail looks to represent a different homescreen panel, which you can then tap to access; it seems to work like Exposé on Mac OS X.

Video demo after the cut

What we don’t know as yet is whether this is an official ROM or whether some clever Android developer has whipped up the functionality themselves.  Either way, we’re excited by seeing it running on the Hero, a phone we’ve been waiting for an update to for some time.

[We've had some trouble playing the original video in different locations; happily someone has uploaded it to YouTube]

[via Android Community]

Update: Picture looks to have come from @Xmoo on Twitter; thanks @ardoudwokke for the heads-up

According to the tipster, the Legend’s display is particularly good, and the optical mouse works well.  However beyond that the phone is very similar to what’s on offer in the Hero, though the slightly faster Qualcomm MSM 7227 600MHz processor does supposedly make video capture and graphics performance more swift.

Also mentioned was a March 2010 release for Android 2.1 for the Hero, seemingly confirmation of a timescale we’ve heard before.  We wouldn’t be surprised to see the HTC Legend make its official debut at Mobile World Congress 2010 next week.

[Thanks Dion!]

Hi all,

Sorry for the delay in response here. I had posted on another thread announcing the launch of version 2.0, so when I heard that this may be being skipped to go straight to 2.1, I went to do a little more investigating.

We’ve been in contact with HTC and they have said that version 2.0 will be available in and around March of this year. HTC sense UI will be tightly integrated with Android 2.0, as with other versions of the software. Because of this new versions of the software take a while to develop. As for 2.1 this would also need to be developed and there is no update on this.

Sorry if there was any confusion here and if I hear any more on this I’ll make sure to let you all know.

Hope this helps

Glynn
Meteor talk to us

According to the Meteor employee, the delay is because of the work involved with making HTC Sense compatible with the newer versions of Android.  As for the Android 2.1 update we heard about, that’s apparently even further away down the pipeline.

[via Android Community]

There’s some discussion that the H3G reference is to carrier 3 UK’s version of the Android smartphone, and indeed the version number of this new ROM is very similar to the previous so-called generic update for unlocked Heroes, released all the way back in September 2009.  It could be that the software merely addresses the same speed and stability which that first incremental update tweaked.  Disappointing, given HTC’s promise to deliver Android 2.x for the Hero at some point in 2010.  We’re checking in with HTC about it, but given it’s outside of office hours in the UK we may have to wait until next week to hear conclusively.

Update: HTC’s PR team have told us that yes, this is simply an update for Hero handsets bought from 3 UK.  Still no significant Android version upgrade, sadly.

[via Android Community]

That certainly confirms earlier speculation that HTC were planning on skipping Android 2.0 and working on porting HTC Sense to Android 2.1 instead.  The newest version of Android – which incidentally is the version to be found on the Google Nexus One – is believed to be arriving roughly at the end of the year; HTC have previously said that the Hero update will drop “early next year“.

Their Twitter account has said that the HTC Hero update to Android 2.0 for the Sprint version of the smartphone will come “early next year”.  Last we heard there was speculation that HTC were bypassing Android 2.0 for the Hero altogether, and jumping straight to Android 2.1.  Meanwhile the Verizon Android 2.0 for the HTC DROID Eris (aka the Hero in a different suit) is tipped to arrive January 22nd.

[via Android Community]

The handsets are priced at $585.50 and $579.50 for the white and black versions respectively, and you get the usual WiFi, 3.2-inch HVGA capacitive touchscreen with multitouch browser support, 5-megapixel camera, Android 1.5 and HTC Sense.  HTC have promised an update for the Hero bringing it up to date with the latest version of Android (along with Sense), tipped to arrive at the end of the year with Android 2.1 compatibility, but so far there’s no official timescale.

While Negri’s source for the devices isn’t made clear, it’s entirely possible that the Hero handsets are from Canada.  The Hero is available on Telus in Canada, with the same 850/1900 3G bands as used by AT&T.

[via PhoneDog]

There’s also no WiFi support, which could be a deal-breaker for many.  Fixes are apparently incoming – the sync problem has already been solved, it’s just not been rolled into a new ROM yet – and given the software has only been out for a matter of hours it’s very much early days.

HTC are tipped to be preparing this update – officially, of course – for a release around the end of 2009, bypassing Android 2.0 altogether.  More screenshots here; now is anyone brave enough to try this out themselves?

[via Twitter]

The images show the Hero running firmware 2.1 together with a new sync control dialog that allows users to switch between manual, WiFi-only or 3G/WiFi synchronization.  There’s also a new control bar added to the homescreen, with shortcuts to different wireless connections; it’s unclear if this replaces the individual toggle switches found in HTC Sense on the Hero and HTC Tattoo currently.

Interestingly, the homescreen is shown in both portrait and – slightly janky – landscape orientation, which has led some to suggest that another landscape-slider Android device from HTC is in the works.  Alternatively they could merely have added accelerometer-controlled landscape viewing.  Android 2.1 is tipped to arrive before the end of 2009.

[via HDblog.it]

If you have wanted to get yourself a shiny new Android handset this is the time to buy. Best Buy Mobile has announced that both the HTC Hero and the Samsung Moment Android devices are available at $99 each. The normal price for the devices is $179.

The typical mail-in rebates are offered instantly at Best Buy and the special offers run through December. The deals do require new 2-year activation. This is a great time to grab up the Hero, which is going to get an Android 2.0 update as we reported before.

There’s also a microSD slot – Verizon are popping in an 8GB card as standard – and both GPS and a digital compass.  The browser gets Flash Lite for in-page video streaming and there’s all the usual Gmail, Google Maps and other standard Android applications.  No Google Maps Navigation, however, as the DROID Eris – unlike the Motorola DROID – doesn’t come with Android 2.0.

As we’ve already heard, it’s the pricing that makes the HTC DROID Eris something of a bargain.  Verizon have priced at it at $99.99 (after a $100 mail-in rebate) and presuming a new, two-year agreement.

Press Release:

BRING AN ANDROID HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS WITH DROID ERIS BY HTC, EXCLUSIVELY FROM VERIZON WIRELESS

DROID ERIS by HTC Debuts with Verizon Wireless with HTC Sense Experience and an Ultra-Attractive $99.99 Price

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and BELLEVUE, Wash. – Beginning Nov. 6, DROID ERIS™ by HTC will invade Verizon Wireless Communications Stores across the United States, bringing the power of the Android™ platform and the Verizon Wireless network together. DROID ERIS by HTC combines the popular Android platform with HTC Sense™, a user experience from HTC that makes it easy for customers to stay close to one another and create an individualized mobile experience tailored specifically to their needs.
DROID ERIS by HTC offers customers the opportunity to customize a seven-panel wide home screen with a wide variety of widgets designed to bring the most important information to the surface. DROID ERIS by HTC also includes the innovative “Scenes” feature, which allows customers to create multiple home screens, each with different widgets and shortcuts, to transform DROID ERIS by HTC from a “work” phone to a “play” phone with just a touch of a finger.
DROID ERIS by HTC also organizes interactions by person, which makes it possible to access text messages, e-mails, phone calls and even Flickr streams and Facebook updates from a single contact card.
The unique HTC Sense experience found on DROID ERIS by HTC is supported by an array of the latest mobile features, including:
• 3.2 inch capacitive touch screen and trackball interface
• 5.0 megapixel auto focus camera
• Expandable memory with pre-installed 8 GB microSD™ card (up to 16 GB supported)
• Supports USB mass storage
• Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi and 3.5 mm headset connectivity
• Integrated GPS and a digital compass with a sensor that enables the phone to know what direction it is facing
• Smart dialer for simplified dialing by name, number or initials
• Full HTML browser with Flash Lite capabilities
• Seamless compatibility with Google services like Google Maps, Gmail, Google Search and more

DROID ERIS by HTC will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com on Friday, Nov. 6, for $99.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement on a voice plan with an e-mail feature or e-mail plan. Customers will receive the mail-in rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.
For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

“Overall” their source explains, the DROID Eris feels “the same as the Sprint Hero but for some reason it seems faster, slightly thinner and taller.”  Under HTC Sense there’s Android 1.5, but there’s no reason not to assume that HTC’s upcoming Android 2.0 upgrade for the Hero won’t find a place on the Eris too.

The expectation is that the Verizon DROID Eris by HTC will arrive on November 6th alongside the Verizon DROID by Motorola.  Pricing is believed to be $99.99 following the usual rebates and assuming a new, two-year agreement, making it a bargain compared to what Sprint are charging for the HTC Hero.

Meanwhile phoneArena’s sources have provided them with some new images of the DROID Eris, which confirm the 5-megapixel camera and WiFi.  There’s no flash, but the camera does have autofocus; previous rumors have tipped the handset for a launch on November 6th, alongside the Motorola DROID.

In case you haven’t noticed, the Eris specs line up perfectly with what’s on offer with the HTC Hero, the company’s current wunderfone.  That handset is selling for $180 on Sprint right now (again, with agreement), making it something of a bargain on Verizon.

“Yes, we are working on an Eclair update for the HTC Hero. Because Eclair is a significantly enhanced release, it will require some time to update Sense for this new version of the Android OS. Please be patient while we work to provide you with a tightly integrated experience like the one you are already enjoying on your Hero.” HTC statement

The update will be available for both the original European GSM version of the Hero, and CDMA versions; that includes the Sprint Hero, but also various smaller regional operator versions.  However distribution of the update for carrier-branded versions of the handset will require negotiation between HTC and those carriers, so it might not be released as early as software for the unlocked GSM model.

Android 2.0 brings with it native Exchange support, together with the new beta of Google Maps Navigation.  This app, announced yesterday and already found on the Verizon DROID by Motorola, promises turn-by-turn directions, POI and voice-control.

Unfortunately that’s a side-effect of “with Google” branding, meaning that both the myTouch 3G and the Vodafone Magic are unlikely to be eligible for the update.  It’s also unclear whether the original T-Mobile G1 (aka the HTC Dream) will be eligible for a Sense update.

HTC Sense not only tweaks the Android UI, increasing desktop panes from three to seven and adding various interactive widgets, but introduces social networking integration into the smartphone’s contacts app.  Full details in our HTC Hero review.

[via Unwired View]

Since the Hero’s launch, Android developers have been pestering HTC for full access to its code. The release will likely mean we’ll see some of the more popular custom ROMs – which have in the past tweaked the GUI, brought elements of another manufacturers customization (such as MOTOBLUR) to rival devices, and increased stability faster than manufacturers themselves have been able to – showing up optimized for the Hero now.

While Tong is not suggesting that there will be shortages, the expectation is that the tight production won’t be alleviated until November at the earliest.  Meanwhile HTC are predicting continued strong sales of the Hero through Q1 2010, which might suggest that the tipped HTC Dragon – a Snapdragon-based Android version of the HTC HD2 – may not be expected on the market as soon as we’ve hoped.

Update: 3 UK have put up a pre-registration page for the deal, though there’s no specific availability date.  The Hero will come with a voucher for 24 months Spotify Premium subscription; that does mean that after two years your monthly plan will stay the same price but you’ll no longer get inclusive streaming music.

The contract also includes 750 minutes of voice calls, while SMS, Skype-to-Skype calls and – most importantly, perhaps – data are all unlimited.  It’s a good thing, too, as the Spotify app certainly has the potential to hammer 3′s data network; while users of the mobile app (which is also available to non-3 subscribers with Android or iPhone devices; an S60 version is promised) can choose to store a local copy of playlists, much of their music consumption is streamed over the 3G network.

It’s also only the first step for 3 and Spotify.  ”As a first step, we’ve built this service into an attractive, well-priced package with the HTC Hero,” Charles Blanchard, director of products and services at 3 revealed, ”over time, our deal with Spotify will extend across a range of our products, including Mobile Broadband.”

You’ll also need to stump up for a data plan alongside a regular voice plan, unless you go for one of Sprint’s “Everything” packages which include data. The phone is also available without a contract, though you’re looking at a heady $479.99 if that option takes your fancy.

Either way, your money gets you EVDO Rev.A, WiFi b/g and Bluetooth connectivity, together with a 5-megapixel autofocus camera, Exchange email support and, of course, the HTC Sense UI. If you’re still on the fence, check out our demo video of the HTC Sense widgets below.

The key differences between the original Hero and the Sprint version are its casing, its battery and its connectivity. Where the GSM Hero has a distinctive, angular body and a protruding “chin” section with the front-panel physical controls, Sprint obviously decided that was too unusual for their customers. Instead, the Sprint Hero resembles a standard candybar smartphone, with a curved casing and flat keys clustered around a larger trackball than on the original device. Unfortunately it means that one of the GSM Hero’s nifty design side-effects – that the screen, buttons and trackball are lifted off the desk when you place the phone face-down – isn’t shared by the CDMA model.

Still, it fits in the hand well and it keeps the excellent 3.2-inch HVGA capacitive touchscreen with multitouch support. A brief glance around shows how polarizing the original Hero’s design proved, so we imagine there will be plenty of people happy to see the more sober chassis of the Sprint model.

As for software, we’d recommend reading our original HTC Hero review first, as we won’t be retreading old ground. HTC Sense, the latest evolution of the company’s UI ethos, is the same on the Sprint version as we saw – and loved – on the GSM model, so everything we said in the first review holds true here. Performance of the original Hero was criticised and prompted a recent firmware update from HTC which addressed much of the issues; it seems the Sprint version has updated firmware as standard, as it runs quicker than the GSM model initially did. However, we’ve noticed occasional lags and freezes that weren’t present in the GSM version, so we can’t say that the Sprint Hero is as slick as the iPhone 3GS (which has a faster CPU).

The Sprint Hero’s battery is larger than the GSM model, a 1,500mAh pack compared to 1,350mAh. With heavy use, though, we were still recharging it each night – that’s with both EVDO Rev.A and WiFi active, push email turned on and frequent browsing, Google Maps use and general playing. Scaled down to more casual use, and the Hero lasted two days. That’s pretty much par for the course for a modern smartphone, we’ve found. While HTC use their own, proprietary ExtUSB port on the Hero – which bundles USB and audio together – you can also plug in a standard mini-USB for charging and syncing.

Another change – and a welcome one – is Visual Voicemail, which Sprint adds on together with their Sprint Navigation app. The latter requires a subscription beyond the trial period, but the former works as long as you have a contract with them, and does make navigating messages more straightforward. Unfortunately Sprint’s NASCAR app is another preload, something we’d prefer they made optional. Still, it works speedily over the EVDO Rev.A network, as does the Hero’s browser (which supports multitouch gestures and Flash video) and Google Maps (which still doesn’t support multitouch, but does have Street View).

Back when we reviewed the GSM Hero we described it as the best Android device to-date. Since then, Motorola have shown their hand – in the shape of the Motorola CLIQ with MOTOBLUR – and, until we have a chance to test out their device, we’ll temper our praise and say that the Hero is the best non-QWERTY Android smartphone right now. The physical changes to the Sprint CDMA version are a matter of aesthetic preference – we’d rather the distinctive, angular casing, but we know others disagree – and while the software may not be perfect, HTC’s relatively swift firmware release in Europe has shown that they’re still keen to tweak the best from their current range. That, with the solid showing of Sprint’s EVDO Rev.A networking and the UI improvements of HTC Sense, are enough to convince us that if you’re in the market for a US Android device right now, the Hero is the one to have.

While English-language versions of the new firmware had been available for a week already, users of Orange (and T-Mobile UK) branded devices were unable to install them.  According to T-Mobile, who also offer the Hero in the UK, their update is imminent.

[Thanks everyone who sent this in]

According to HTC, the update will take around ten minutes to install and wipe your Hero clean in the process.  That includes any carrier changes that may be present, so if you bought your Hero from Orange, T-Mobile or another carrier and they made some tweaks to the ROM then this generic one will lose them.  Frustratingly for Linux/Mac users, you’ll need a Windows PC to install the update.

According to the forum, the updates aren’t tampered with, fettled or tweaked in any way; they’re just the way HTC intended.  That means you won’t get any of the fan features often cooked into Hero third-party ROMs – we’ve seen wireless tethering and other additions before now – but you also have the reassurance of legitimately blaming HTC if things go wrong.

We’re expecting to see the UK update appear soon – HTC themselves have told us its imminent, they just couldn’t say exactly how imminent – but as far as we can tell these English language ROMs offer exactly the same functionality.  If you’re ready for a slicker Hero and touch-focus in the smartphone’s camera, then head on over.

[via Gizmodo]

Update: There’s talk from a Swedish forum that HTC support in that country are advising not to use this update, warning that it “misses an important piece in the ROM”. The “real” one is said to be coming tomorrow, though other users are claiming to have installed it with no problems; might be worth waiting to see what arrives over the weekend. [Thanks John!]

Update 2: We’ve spoken to HTC and they assure us that there’s no problem with the ROM on the Swedish site.

Some users and reviewers of the Hero, while impressed by the work HTC did on further widgetizing the Android UI and introducing greater levels of social networking integration, have criticized it for its tardy performance.  HTC’s update promises to address that, and based on leaked builds we’ve seen in action it looks as though that could be the case.

The new ROM available from HTC’s Nordic site is for devices acquired directly from HTC themselves; it’s unclear what would happen on a non-Nordic handset or, indeed, on one supplied by a carrier.  However we can only assume that further versions are imminent, so keep watching your local HTC support site.

[via CoolSmartPhone]