Archive for 2009
After yesterdays announcements by HTC and then Orange on the availability of HTC Hero, we now see that T-Mobile have thrown their hat in the ring and will be stocking the latest Android handset starting in July. T-Mobile have decided to put their own slant on the Hero by changing it’s name to the T-Mobile G1 Touch.
We also brought a demo confirming that this Android device will at last have multi-touch screen functions – just open and close 2 fingers to zoom in and out.
The G1Touch will be free from £40 per month on Flext with £225 of credit including unlimited internet browsing and will be available from mid July from www.t-mobile.co.uk and T-Mobile stores.
So you now have three choices if you fancy getting your hands on a more mature Android device, Orange, T-Mobile or Sim Free.
I took a series of photos at the HTC Hero press event yesterday and here are some of the better ones for you to have a look at. Don’t forget you can click the images for a larger view.
HTC Hero homescreen showing the HTC Sense UI and Twitter client on the right
HTC Hero video recording modes
The user interface output on the big-screen
The HTC Hero shown along with the HTC Touch Diamond2 (rumour has is that the HERO and the Diamond2 are the same on the inside)
Posted by: Matt
At HTC’s Hero press event yesterday we were told that Orange and T-Mobile would be carrying the HTC Hero and that they expected them to launch sometime in July. Orange haven’t wasted any time and in the press release below you’ll notice that they say they Hero will be available early in July! 🙂
We hope to get hold of one soon to do a full review.
Orange today announced it will be launching the much anticipated HTC Hero, the first Android device to be ranged by Orange in the UK. Available from early July across all Orange retail channels, the HTC Hero will be available for free on select price plans and will be exclusive to Orange in ‘Graphite’ colour.
Offering a rich, intuitive browsing touch interface and premium design, the 3G+ enabled Hero features Google’s Android operating system, the world’s first ‘open-source’ operating system for mobile devices. Android allows users unrestricted access to thousands of amazing tools and applications which can be downloaded straight to the handset – helping enhance the device’s capabilities.
Created for those wanting an optimised mobile customer experience, with easy access to Google’s most popular services, the Hero also provides users with a choice of seven specially designed unique user interface options. The handset also comes with an integrated five mega-pixel, auto-focus camera featuring camcorder capability, a gravity sensor, AGPS and 512 MB of memory with space for a 16Gb MicroSD card. What’s more, the 3.2 inch HVGA display features anti-fingerprint screen coating for improved smudge resistance and a longer lasting, clearer display.
Orange is offering the HTC Hero for free to customers who take out a £39.15 per month, 24 month contract. The package includes 1200 any network call minutes, unlimited texts, as well as inclusive anytime internet browsing so users can make the most out of their mobile experience.
Francois Mahieu, Director of Devices, Orange UK said, “We’re really pleased to be launching our first Android handset in conjunction with HTC. The first of several Android devices you can expect from us this year, we believe the Hero is a great all round device which will allow consumers to get to grips with all the things they love about the internet, whilst on the move. We expect it to be extremely popular when it hits shelves this summer.”
The HTC Hero is exclusive to Orange in ‘Graphite’ and will be available from Orange shops and www.orange.co.uk/shop in early July.
Posted by: Matt
Seeing is believing so here it comes, a video demonstration of multitouch in HTC Hero. We have requested it and he complied and it works. Here you can see it:
As I’m sure you are aware by now, today saw the official launch of the new HTC Hero Android phone. Paul and I managed to snatch one of these new handsets briefly at the launch event and we’ve recorded this little video for you to enjoy.
Obviously we’ll be doing our best to get our hands on the full retail version as soon as they are available and we’ll have an unboxing video and review for you.
We’ll also be back shortly with the full press announcement video just as soon as it’s finished processing and uploaded!
Posted by: Matt
In next days we will publish here at Mobile Tech Addicts a full uncut video recording of today’s presentation plus some other videos, including explicit demonstration of multi-touch in newly announced HTC Hero. But first, let’s share some first impressions…
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Well we’re here at the HTC Hero launch event just waiting for the presentation to start. Just been told that we will be allowed to film the presentation after all so we’ll have that up online as soon as we can over the event.
We also have a selection of photos and Hero related content provided to us on a USB key so we’ll be posting that live just as soon as the embargo is lifted.
We know that we’ll have a chance to get hands on with some devices later on today so Paul and I should be able to video a little tour.
We also know that we’ll be looking at the anticipated HTC ‘ROSIE’ UI which is to be called HTC Sense.
Does this new UI look familiar to any of you? 🙂
I’m busy recording the event! 🙂
Nice Facebook integration!
Hero to have multitouch and text-zoom to have reflow.
Fingerprint resistant screen finish as well as Teflon coated body.
HTC have collaborated with Adobe to deliver a better Flash experience.
Hero to be on T-Mobile and Orange from July.
Now time to get our hands on the HTC HERO!
Posted by: Matt
LONDON – June 24, 2009 – HTC Corporation, a global designer of mobile phones, today debuted HTC Sense™, an intuitive and seamless experience that will be introduced across a portfolio of phones beginning with the new HTC Hero™. With its distinct design and powerful capabilities fully integrated with HTC Sense, Hero introduces a unique blend of form and function that takes Android to new heights.
HTC Sense is focused on putting people at the centre, by making your phone work in a more simple and natural way. This experience revolves around three fundamental principles that were designed by quietly observing and listening to how people live and communicate.
‘HTC Hero introduces a more natural way for reaching out to people and accessing your important information, not by following the status quo of today’s phones, but by following how you communicate and live your life,’ said Peter Chou, Chief Executive Officer, HTC Corporation. ”HTC Sense is a distinct experience created to make HTC phones more simple for people to use, leaving them saying, “it just makes sense.”’
Video after the break
HTC Sense™ DEBUTS on new HTC hero™
HTC Hero is the world’s first Android-based phone with a
customized user interface
HTC Sense to be integrated across a portfolio of
phones beginning with HTC Hero
LONDON – June 24, 2009 – HTC Corporation, a global designer of mobile phones, today debuted HTC Sense™, an intuitive and seamless experience that will be introduced across a portfolio of phones beginning with the new HTC Hero™. With its distinct design and powerful capabilities fully integrated with HTC Sense, Hero introduces a unique blend of form and function that takes Android to new heights.
HTC Sense is focused on putting people at the centre, by making your phone work in a more simple and natural way. This experience revolves around three fundamental principles that were designed by quietly observing and listening to how people live and communicate.
‘HTC Hero introduces a more natural way for reaching out to people and accessing your important information, not by following the status quo of today’s phones, but by following how you communicate and live your life,’ said Peter Chou, Chief Executive Officer, HTC Corporation. ”HTC Sense is a distinct experience created to make HTC phones more simple for people to use, leaving them saying, “it just makes sense.”’
HTC Hero
HTC Hero continues HTC’s leadership in cutting-edge design that focuses on introducing a variety of distinct devices to represent your own individuality. Boasting bevelled edges and an angled bottom, the HTC Hero is contoured to fit comfortably in your hand and against your face while you’re on a call. The HTC Hero is built to last, beginning with an anti-fingerprint screen coating for improved smudge-resistance and a longer-lasting, clearer display. The white HTC Hero includes an industry-first, Teflon coating, resulting in an improved, durable white surface that is soft to the touch.
With its 3.2-inch HVGA display, the HTC Hero is optimized for Web, multimedia and other content, while maintaining a small size and weight that fits comfortably in your hand. It also boasts a broad variety of hardware features including AGPS, digital compass, gravity-sensor, 3.5mm stereo headset jack, a five mega-pixel autofocus camera and expandable MicroSD memory. HTC Hero also includes a dedicated Search button that goes beyond basic search, providing you with a more natural, contextual search experience that enables you to search through Twitter, locate people in your contact list, find emails in your inbox or search in any other area in Hero.
HTC Sense
Built on a culture of innovation and a passion to enhance people’s lives, HTC shapes the mobile experience around the individual. Debuting on the HTC Hero and available on all new HTC devices moving forward, Sense delivers on three basic principles: Make it Mine, Stay Close and Discover the Unexpected.
Make It Mine
Make It Mine is about feeling your HTC phone was created for and by you. To do this, HTC encourages you to dictate and organize how you want to access the people and content in your life in a way that fits best for you. For some, this means adding glance-view widgets that push content like twitter feeds, weather and other content to the surface while others may want quick access to business-focused information like email, calendar and world-times. HTC is also introducing a new profile feature called ‘Scenes’ that enables you to create different customized content profiles around specific functions or times in your life.
Stay Close
Today, staying in touch with the people in your life means managing a variety of communication channels and applications ranging from phone calls, emails, texts, photos, status updates and more. HTC Sense takes a different approach by integrating these communication channels and applications into one single view, enabling you to stay closer to your important people. With HTC Sense, friends’ Facebook status updates and photos, along with their Flickr photos are included alongside their text messages, emails and call history in a single view.
Discover the Unexpected
Many of the most memorable moments in your life are experienced, not explained. HTC Sense is focused on providing a variety of these simple yet innovative experiences on your HTC phone that will sometimes bring you moments of joy and delight. It can be something as basic as turning the phone over to silence a ring or as simple as improving the smart dialler for making calls quicker. HTC Sense also includes ‘Perspectives’, a new way for viewing your content such as email, photos, Twitter, music and more in different ways.
Availability
The HTC Hero will be available to people across Europe in July and in Asia later in the summer. A distinct North American version will be available later in 2009.
Posted by: Matt
[ Post Tags: HTC launch event, HTC, HTC Hero, Android, tracyandmatt.co.uk ]
Specifications
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Processor
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Qualcomm® MSM7200A™, 528 MHz |
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Platform
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Android™ |
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Memory
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ROM: 512 MB RAM: 288 MB |
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Dimensions (LxWxT)
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112 x 56.2 x 14.35 mm (4.41 x 2.21 x 0.57 inches) |
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Weight
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135 grams (4.76 ounces) with battery |
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Display
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3.2-inch TFT-LCD touch-sensitive screen with 320×480 HVGA resolution |
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Network
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HSPA/WCDMA: – 900/2100 MHz Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE: – 850/900/1800/1900 MHz (Band frequency and data speed are operator dependent.) |
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Device Control
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Trackball with Enter button |
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GPS
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Internal GPS antenna |
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Connectivity
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Bluetooth® 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate and A2DP for wireless Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 b/g 3.5 mm audio jack |
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Camera
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5.0 megapixel color camera with auto focus |
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Audio supported formats
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MP3, AAC(AAC, AAC+, AAC-LC), AMR-NB, WAV, |
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Video supported formats
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MPEG-4, H.263, H.264 and Windows Media® Video 9 |
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Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery Capacity: 1350 mAh Talk time: – Up to 420 minutes for WCDMA – Up to 470 minutes for GSM Standby time: – Up to 750 hours for WCDMA – Up to 440 hours for GSM (The above are subject to network and phone usage.) |
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Expansion Slot
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microSD™ memory card (SD 2.0 compatible) |
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AC Adapter
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Voltage range/frequency: 100 ~ 240V AC, 50/60 Hz DC output: 5V and 1A |
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Special Features
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G-sensor Digital Compass |
Posted by: Matt
[ Post Tags: HTC launch event, HTC, HTC Hero, Android, tracyandmatt.co.uk ]
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