HTC Hero tips/tricks/tweaks

[masasmal]

hey all... didnt know where to ask this as i see there's no fixed hero thread here... and this doesn't relate to android... ( i dont think it does anyway)

anyone tried the hero "speed boost" from teknologist? i think its version 1.91?

i have 2 questions:
1: will it work on a stock standard hero with the original ROM?
2: is it worth using, i.e. is the speed boost noticable?

its found here: http://android.teknologism.org/

[kvi]

good question, im gonna check it out myself and see.

[Izak Eloff]

I'm glad you opened this thread now! We can all post our mod info from now on here...
I'm running 1.91 Kernel with MCR 3.0 (3.1 is due this week =))
About your question, you can only install a custom Kernel with a rooted phone.
MCR 3.0 came out with Kernel 1.9 standard and the problem I saw is that it took some time for the keyboard to change to landscape mode and back... After I updated it's a lot faster for the keyboard to appear and to turn.
Another thing that it's suppose to do is improve your RAM and to keep the Hero faster for longer periods. The normal kernel usually becomes a little laggy after a period of "uptime"

[masasmal]

anyone know of a way to improve the youtube picture?
its been an issue... will eclair make it better or is it a hardware issue?

[kvi]

no, youtube is pushing you a smaller mobile version of the video. different to what you see on your pc. have you noticed how quickly it buffers?

[crazy_cat]

some quick tips/tweaks after 2 days with my new hero :)

1) Default Android Home screen - Settings->Manage Applications -> TouchFlo -> Clear Defaults. Once you do this, press the home key and you will be presented with two options and voila. The default android home is comprised of three screens compared to the seven of touchflo

2) Note: using task killers apps interferes with the heros alarm function

3) Keep Mobile Network switched off to increase battery life - does however prevent automatic updates

4) From Leaf.co.za - check out the Open Market www.leaf.co.za/openmarket from your hero's browser

5) News24 app from android market is really cool. Opera Mini sucks - the new version i believe is on the horizon though

6) Facebook widget only updates if you have the whole app open

7) Use the HTC Settings Widgets for quick access to Wifi, GPS, Mobile Network, Bluetooth etc -

8) 3G WatchDog - Data Monitor app

[Izak Eloff]

My facebook app updates the entire time... Maybe you just need to set the frequency settings.
No need for task killers because Hero runs on Linux based OS and not something like Windows.

[Izak Eloff]

So which applications & games do you guys have on your phones that's really cool?

My favorites will be: NDrive, Shazam, Handcent, RingDroid, WaveSecure, Remotedroid, Where's my droid, Barcode Scanner (for QR codes), Bonsai Blast, Teeter, Labyrinth (needs more levels), Astro, Facebook!

[kvi]

zedge

[crazy_cat]

something i just realised, not sure if any other are aware of it...

when the screen is off..pressing any of the 4 keys activates the device ( it was truly a wow moment for me :)

[Izak Eloff]

something i just realised, not sure if any other are aware of it...

when the screen is off..pressing any of the 4 keys activates the device ( it was truly a wow moment for me :)

The other thing you can do is press menu to unlock the screen instead of the down drag.:D
So pressing the menu key twice will unlock the screen for instance.

[iDenTiTy]

So which applications & games do you guys have on your phones that's really cool?

My favorites will be: NDrive, Shazam, Handcent, RingDroid, WaveSecure, Remotedroid, Where's my droid, Barcode Scanner (for QR codes), Bonsai Blast, Teeter, Labyrinth (needs more levels), Astro, Facebook!

Ha!!!!!

Don't forget iMusic !!
;)

[Izak Eloff]

Ha!!!!!

Don't forget iMusic !!
;)

I got zedge... And will download iMusic next year:D
BTW, Happy new year to everyone!

[iDenTiTy]

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!!!!!!!!

[FiestaST]

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!!!!!!!!
+1 :wtf:

[iDenTiTy]

+1 :wtf:


:wtf:

[iDenTiTy]

Just a quick question..

Is there any app or skin/theme to make the keyboard a bit easier to use?
In other words, my fingers are a bit 'monkey-like', so I need slightly more room between each key.

Is it possible to make the keyboard look a bit more like the iPhone?

[DJNgoma]

Just a quick question..

Is there any app or skin/theme to make the keyboard a bit easier to use?
In other words, my fingers are a bit 'monkey-like', so I need slightly more room between each key.

Is it possible to make the keyboard look a bit more like the iPhone?

Isn't the Swype Beta compatible with the Hero?

[iDenTiTy]

Isn't the Swype Beta compatible with the Hero?

Was designed for the Droid. It's currently in development for the Hero. It's because the Droid has a larger screen - hence resolution.

[Izak Eloff]

Yesterday I switched of Background data usage and I must say that my battery is so much better now. I won't need to charge it everyday at this rate. The only function that use the background data that I'm aware of is the market. But I'll just enable it when I need something! :)

[crazy_cat]

The other thing you can do is press menu to unlock the screen instead of the down drag.:D
So pressing the menu key twice will unlock the screen for instance.

dude!!!! :D simply awesome

[crazy_cat]

To quickly add an application shortcut that is on the All programs screen to the
Home screen, press and hold an application icon. When the phone vibrates, drag
the icon on an empty area on the Home screen, and then release it.

Source: HTC Hero Manual (Damn, reading that can be useful :) )

[kvi]

izak... there is a widget for turning on background data. i have it on my home screen then at a push of a button i kill my data connection, and so wont be bothered by incoming gmails etc while i sleep hehe

[Izak Eloff]

izak... there is a widget for turning on background data. i have it on my home screen then at a push of a button i kill my data connection, and so wont be bothered by incoming gmails etc while i sleep hehe

Oh yeah?! Haven't seen it! Cool thanks.. There's a lot of cool things in the market that we simply do not know of because of the huge amount of applications. ;)

[kvi]

no no not in market, hold home screen to add new widget, go htc widget, mobile network

[Izak Eloff]

Oh I see... Got it now. Lol! But that's not background data that's the whole internet connection. Awesome! And like you said you can disable that when you sleep or have your Notebook in front of you :D

[crazy_cat]

under settings data synchonisation, theres an option to disable background data. i have not tried it thus am not sure if its only for google data

[Izak Eloff]

Yes that's what I talked about in the beginning, helped a lot with battery saving! And all the other applications updated fine (mail, peep, facebook)

[kvi]

i have tried that disable background data. and my phone STILL syncs with gmail. so i think that has more to do with sending location data to google etc

[crazy_cat]

but is there not an option to also choose the type of google services to sync? or am i misunderstanding?

[kvi]

yes you can indeed tell it to NOT sync individual services.... but damn thats getting finicky then. hence for me a simple data connection kill works perfect for me :)

[brendonhatcher]

Hi

I am looking at getting an HTC Hero and have some questions for SA users.

Do we have access to the full android market yet, including paid apps?
If not, is there a way using a rooted phone?

Can you give me an idea of your bandwidth use - what you use the phone for and the typical monthly bandwidth - I am finding it tricky to assess what my bandwidth costs will be.

Cheapest bandwidth method - bundles, contracts, service providers?

I am looking at buying a new, unlocked phone in the UK (about 50% of the SA price). Any good reason not to go that route?

Do the Google maps also provide voice guidance for driving?
Are the google maps details enough to compete with Garmin etc?

What is the battery life like?

Thanks
Brendon

[crazy_cat]

Hi

I am looking at getting an HTC Hero and have some questions for SA users.

Do we have access to the full android market yet, including paid apps?
If not, is there a way using a rooted phone?


not sure about this one, but a good question



Can you give me an idea of your bandwidth use - what you use the phone for and the typical monthly bandwidth - I am finding it tricky to assess what my bandwidth costs will be.


well since its a new toy i expect i will prob do over 250mb this month...typically however i estimate depending on the level of social integration, email updates and other sync services, more than 5-6mb a day would be alot.



Cheapest bandwidth method - bundles, contracts, service providers?

got my hero with a 2k payin on a vodacom talk 120s



I am looking at buying a new, unlocked phone in the UK (about 50% of the SA price). Any good reason not to go that route?


the phone will not be supported locally, and no warranties will apply



Do the Google maps also provide voice guidance for driving?

nope, not in sa afaik, however look over at xda-developers, there may a solution for us non-americans



Are the google maps details enough to compete with Garmin etc?

dont know what garmin is:D i like my mapbooks.



What is the battery life like?

new toy, so take with a pince of salt, have been charging every day, however browsing has been extensive using 3g/hsdpa

[Izak Eloff]

We don't have official access to paid applications, but we do have access via rooted phone and Market Enabler (Application)

I bought a 20MB bundle in the beginning of the month and now have 12MB left. I use all the features like e-mail, facebook, twitter, weather etc. But when I download applications/surf the web I usually switch to my Wi-Fi network rather.

If you use the browser & background data a lot a bundle of around 75mb will be realistic I would think. You can also switch all data usage off and the phone will work just like a normal phone without always on internet.

No reason not to get a phone from overseas as long as it's GSM version.

We don't use google maps for Nav, but rather NDrive which works flawless!

Battery life depends on what you do obviously, I'm getting 2 day's max atm. Others claim to get 4 day's but I haven't seen that. I usually charge daily but never let the battery run down because that's not good for the battery.

Hope it helps a bit ;)

[kvi]

might be an issue with the SA HTC suppliers LEAF with a warranty claim?

i know people who have bought cameras and ps3's outside SA and local distributors wont touch them for warranty repairs

cash price for hero is just under 5k i think now. how much uk version work out to?

[kvi]

i have a rooted hero ;) and ive been playing around with google navigation on android 2.1

its awesome but once again you are always online

[brendonhatcher]

@kvi - about R3100 for a new phone sold privately on ebay.co.uk

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

Brendon

[crazy_cat]

http://www.nimdae.com/?p=396

[MiniMacMe]

Hi there all,

I have to thank everyone, as I've found this immensely useful since unwrapping my phone yesterday.

I have a few questions though, and would appreciate any feedback:

1) Is there a way to switch off an App / Program, without going back/ back / back until you are at the home screen again?

2) I understand there is a ROM update. I'm on version 2.73.421.5 - is there a later version, without having to root your phone. I phoned Leaf - but they were very vague on this ...

I'm sure there will be plenty more questions :-)

Thank you!!
MC

[killerbyte]

the ROM update from HTC is not for phones in South Africa.

I would suggest you root your phone and load on Moadaco 3.1 which is amazingly fast.

If you need a guide I will post up the same guide that I wrote on PCFormat.

[kvi]

+1

[killerbyte]

Below is the link to a guide on how to root the phone.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=559613

Download Flashrec, you will need to google for it and DL the apk. transfer to your phones SD.

Here is the link to the recovery image I used, instead of the one that guide recommends. I have found it has the most options and functions.

http://rapidshare.com/files/320335178/recovery-RA-hero-v1.5.2.img

Once its installed do yourself a favour and use the recovery mode (Home + Power) to create three partitions on your SD card. You will need a 32mb Linux swap file, a 500MB ext2/3/4 partition and the rest is for your FAT32 partition.

I am using the MoDaCo 3.1 ROM based on Android 1.5 (its very fast)

http://www.romraid.com/paul/hero/3.1-update-hero-modacocustomrom-core-signed.zip

You WILL need to wipe the data partition on your phone.

If you open the recovery mode you can use the SD: update command to load the custom ROM and the updates. This is much easier than the adb route. You will need to save the radio and teknologist files as well as the ROM onto the root of the SD. The teknologist file is an update to the kernel. The mod ROM uses v1.8 of that kernel.

download the latest radio ROM here (this is an update ROM, use the recovery mode to install it. Home + Power = recovery mode.

drop me a PM and I will email this guide plus all the files to you. You will however still need to download the ROM of your choice. 100MB files don't work nicely with mail servers.w

Short version
Download Flashrec - http://flashrec.googlecode.com/files/flashrec-1.1.2-20090909.apk
Download recovery ROM - http://rapidshare.com/files/320335178/recovery-RA-hero-v1.5.2.img
Download ROM - personal preference but I suggest MoDaCo 3.1 (http://www.romraid.com/paul/hero/3.1-update-hero-modacocustomrom-core-signed.zip)
Download Radio ROM - http://www.romraid.com/paul/hero/update-hero-radio-63.18.55.06JU_6.35.09.26-signed.zip

Here are the links to my sources
Recovery ROM developer (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=561124)
MoDaCo ROM thread (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=552591)
XDA-developers forum for Hero Android development (http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=512)
feel free to ask for my help.


As a recommendation you should download Astro File Manager and get it to backup your applications before you flash. Modaco ROMs employ apps2SD but this doesn't always work so make sure to keep a backup of your applications on your SD card

[Kloon]

Cool app to check out is Metal Detector

[Izak Eloff]

Hi there all,

I have to thank everyone, as I've found this immensely useful since unwrapping my phone yesterday.

I have a few questions though, and would appreciate any feedback:

1) Is there a way to switch off an App / Program, without going back/ back / back until you are at the home screen again?

2) I understand there is a ROM update. I'm on version 2.73.421.5 - is there a later version, without having to root your phone. I phoned Leaf - but they were very vague on this ...

I'm sure there will be plenty more questions :-)

Thank you!!
MC

Hi there MC.
To come back to your Q's: 1) You can just push home instead of back several times. It will be the same, remember Android is a Linux based OS not WinMo. So the system will sort out all the processes itself without using battery power in the backround apps.
2) The version you have is the latest(1.5 cupcake), 2.73.421.5 is only the build number so if we talk about MoDaCo 3.1 it's still based on build number 2.73.xxx.x

Waiting for HTC to release 2.1 for is. The SDK is out today!! :D

[Nuro]

Got my Hero this morning (and my wife's). Very cool.

[kvi]

welcome nuro.

[masasmal]

Hi there all,

I have to thank everyone, as I've found this immensely useful since unwrapping my phone yesterday.

I have a few questions though, and would appreciate any feedback:

1) Is there a way to switch off an App / Program, without going back/ back / back until you are at the home screen again?

2) I understand there is a ROM update. I'm on version 2.73.421.5 - is there a later version, without having to root your phone. I phoned Leaf - but they were very vague on this ...

I'm sure there will be plenty more questions :-)

Thank you!!
MC

1) its linux based so you dont close programs like how its done on windows. also, dont go back back back. just press the home button.

2) no htc rom update as yet. check ur original sd card. it has an htc updater on it... use that once in a while just to get updates from official HTC. next update coming is the SENSE UI + ECLAIR 2.1. i think they trying to integrate the two so hopefully a release Q1 2010.

awesome phone, but im salivating so much for a bravo... good thing i got a wife to pass the HERO onto.

[silomi]

Thanks crazy_cat for the "8) 3G WatchDog - Data Monitor app" tip.
I wish I'd had this app installed last month. I might not have recieved a Vodacom bill for more then R2.5K ! :mad:

[MiniMacMe]

You guys a re rockstars!!

I'm technically challenged, so won't attempt the rooting jsut yet - thanks for all the details though.

I saw on Giz the 2.1 SDK is out - so now just hurry up and wait :-)

My only issue was the screen-rotate. It takes quite a while. I remember reading somewher there was an update - but to fix this and improve battery life, seems like it was only US / Eaurope.

Can someone please explain to me how I access the HTC update on the SD card. I should add I'm on Windows 7, so HTC sync does not work for me.

Thansk again to all for the help!

MC

[kvi]

nice thing about android... it really is good enough not to rom.
its super fast, customizable, NEVER crashes. what more do you want

[crazy_cat]

Thanks crazy_cat for the "8) 3G WatchDog - Data Monitor app" tip.
I wish I'd had this app installed last month. I might not have recieved a Vodacom bill for more then R2.5K ! :mad:
:eek:
should i even guess what drove that bill up...is this based on out of bundle rates??

[crazy_cat]

nice thing about android... it really is good enough not to rom.
its super fast, customizable, NEVER crashes. what more do you want

i have to agree with you on this one :D

[greg_SA]

Anyone have an HTC TV-out cable to test on the Hero (it is mini-USB to composite + stereo)? I'm wondering if it might work... I read a few comments online that mean that it might work. I know that TV-out isn't listen in the specs, but AFAIK it has the same 11-pin mini-USB as some other HTC phones with TV-out. Also, I read that at the HTC Hero launch, the phones were being demo'd on a bigger screen, live, possibly via tv-out.

[Kloon]

I contacted leaf a few weeks ago regarding updates and they responded with the following: "The latest available firmware version for the HTC Hero is version 1.5. There has been no confirmation for any later firmware versions for the African region in the near future."

[Kloon]

I compiled this tutorial on how to take screenshots with your HTC Hero http://www.igeek.co.za/2010/01/13/taking-screenshots-on-your-android-phone/

[Nuro]

Ok, the only REALLY annoying thing is no navigation software for the Hero. Any suggestions?

[greg_SA]

Ok, the only REALLY annoying thing is no navigation software for the Hero. Any suggestions?

GPS Navigation? Try NDrive - its great!

If you buy the Southern Africa maps, they cost 70 euros.

[Nuro]

GPS Navigation? Try NDrive - its great!

If you buy the Southern Africa maps, they cost 70 euros.

Damn. That is close to R800 :( Not cool considering I just had to pay in on my contract to get the hero. Oh well....

[Reaper84]

Hi Guys

I am going to be getting a Hero this afternoon

How long was your first charge of the Hero?

I'm sure I will be itching to test it out so just checking what the best first charge time will be

Looking forward to owning this great phone :D

[kvi]

i dont believe in the first charge thing anymore. modern batteries dont have the issues of the older ones.

i probably charged it for 20 mins :)

[Izak Eloff]

I used mine till battery went to about 20% then charged + played till led went green then played some more :-)

[Nuro]

Played with mine while plugged into usb on laptop. When I finally needed to venture away from my phone for food/basic necessities, I let it finish charging :)

[kvi]

3.2 beta2 MoDaCo is now out :)

[Izak Eloff]

Arghh damn!! I'm gonna donate to MoDaCo as soon as I get my credit card next week.

[Nuro]

Quite happy with myself now. Ported all my contacts to my google account, now phone is perfectly in sync. Also linked up my contacts to facebook. Works really well.

[Izak Eloff]

Very nice!! You can also sync facebook birthdays with your calendar which is pretty neat.

[Reaper84]

I got my new HTC Hero yesterday, what a phone :D

Much better than the iphone and I actually like the 'slightly' brown case.

Any tips on how to reduce data costs?

I have disabled background data but which of the settings is the one I must disable to increase battery life?

I have downloaded a couple of apps already, the metal detecter is quite cool as well as the compass, I'm not sure how to get the one built into the phone

[Nuro]

Very nice!! You can also sync facebook birthdays with your calendar which is pretty neat.

I see facebook birthdays in my contact list, but they do not show on my calendar. Is it possible to sync them to my phone calendar?

[MiniMacMe]

Hi Guys,

Good news for those with un-rooted phones. Spoke to Leaf this morning and they have received the new ROM update (not 2.1) and hope to roll it out before the ned of this month.

NOT SO GOOD NEWS. I'm unable to connect my Hero to HTC Sync. I've downloaded the latest version (2.0.18) - I have Windows 7 Ultimate. Any help would be MUCH appreciated.

All the best,
MC

[Nuro]

Hi Guys,

Good news for those with un-rooted phones. Spoke to Leaf this morning and they have received the new ROM update (not 2.1) and hope to roll it out before the ned of this month.

NOT SO GOOD NEWS. I'm unable to connect my Hero to HTC Sync. I've downloaded the latest version (2.0.18) - I have Windows 7 Ultimate. Any help would be MUCH appreciated.

All the best,
MC

Regarding HTC Sync, I had the same problem with my Win 7 install. Run the installer with Vista compatibility, and it should work.

[MiniMacMe]

Thanks Nuro. Tried that as well - NADA!! Either the laptop, or the hero, or both are flying out the window soon :-)

[Izak Eloff]

I see facebook birthdays in my contact list, but they do not show on my calendar. Is it possible to sync them to my phone calendar?

Nuro, enable/install Birthday exporter application in facebook. Then download your iCal file. Go to google calender import the iCal file and then sync google calender with phone calender. Done!:D

[Izak Eloff]

Thanks Nuro. Tried that as well - NADA!! Either the laptop, or the hero, or both are flying out the window soon :-)

This is what I did and it worked on my Ultimate 64bit

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/08/24/workaround-for-htc-hero-sync-problem-in-windows-7/

[Nuro]

Nuro, enable/install Birthday exporter application in facebook. Then download your iCal file. Go to google calender import the iCal file and then sync google calender with phone calender. Done!:D

Sweet, will give it a go. I just installed google calendar sync on my laptop, now my outlook calendar shows up in google calendar, and therefore my phone calendar. The idea was I can now sync to my outlook cal without even being near my laptop. (Outlook used for work, but all my personal appointments sit in google cal).

I love this phone.

[MiniMacMe]

Got my Sync to work - was a driver issue, read the ADB Dream instead of 'my htc' driver.

** The Tech guy at Leaf informed me the Support Agent made a mistake - when referrring to the update, she was talking about the HTC Sync - and NOT a ROM update - you know the one that's been out for a about a month in the States.

VERY disapointing

[Izak Eloff]

This looks promising for those that haven't seen it on twitter
http://www.androidguys.com/2010/01/13/europes-htc-hero-to-get-android-2-1-mid-february/

[Reaper84]

Hi guys

What sort of covers/pouches are you using for your Hero's?

I have done some browsing and the flexishield looks like a great cover just we cannot get it in SA.

Has anybody ordered through Take2's import service?

I see they have quite a few covers/pouches there

[PaddyTM]

Hey guys, a quick thank you to everyone in the thread, just rooted my Hero and put on the Modaco ROM, working nicely ;).

Two quick questions:

1) I'm having a lot of trouble finding screen protectors and covers for the phone; has anyone managed to find anything in JHB?

2) How essential is it to upgrade the Radio ROM? As i understand it, that's where the possible danger of bricking the phone lies?

[Reaper84]

I contacted Lab88 and they say Leaf are bringing in the official Hero covers/pouch soon so I am sure they will be the best for the phone

Here is a link to them from Take2's website, hopefully Lab88 sell them for less

http://more.take2.co.za/moreuk-genuine-htc-hero-po-s491-carry-case-pouch-black-b002uoz7q6.html

Any other ideas, maybe the normal iPhone pouches will work

[iDenTiTy]

App alert! App Alert !! Awesomeness !!

Docs to Go. View Word, Excel etc.
Paid version allows editing Word, Exel, Powerpoint and PDF !!!

:D

Try it. It really is awesome!

[Kloon]

Some nice covers/skins available at http://www.gelaskins.com/catalog.php?DeviceID=78&CategoryID=56 you can even use your own design.

[Trix]

App alert! App Alert !! Awesomeness !!

Docs to Go. View Word, Excel etc.
Paid version allows editing Word, Exel, Powerpoint and PDF !!!

:D

Try it. It really is awesome!


I thought Hero and Magic on vodacom at least come with a document viewer, is this not the case?

[Nuro]

I have quickoffice on my hero. No idea what capability it has, I have not used it yet.

[iDenTiTy]

I have quickoffice on my hero. No idea what capability it has, I have not used it yet.


I thought Hero and Magic on vodacom at least come with a document viewer, is this not the case?

It only has the ability to VIEW. Not Create/Edit.

So this app really is a godsend.

:)

[Nuro]

Has anyone done some battery tests by using only 2G networks? I have seen the setting, and considering most of my usage during the day is mail and chat, 2G (gprs) is fast enough for me. But does it really make a difference? I have switched to 2G, and will see how it goes.

[kvi]

yes it does. a big difference.

but then i thought, i have this phone designed to run on hsdpa networks at insane speeds, always connected, rock solid, fast, friggen reliable. its a COMPUTER !!!
why not charge it every night as i sleep?

[Nuro]

Valid point. I'll try and see what works best for me. I work in a high rise in joburg CBD, and for some reason the HSDPA signal here is very erratic (even on my 3G modem), so I constantly jump between hsdpa and gprs. I think this kills my battery.

[kvi]

CALLING IZAK !!!!!!

hey izak, i see you on the MoDaCo forums, (Pikkie86)
Did you try any of those eclair black themes?

i want to try it but want to hear if someone else had success and they are happy

[Izak Eloff]

Haha, hey kvi. Yes I'm currently using 1.4 theme and I like it a lot it's not massive changes though. Waiting for the new black one. You should def try it.

[kvi]

aha will do. is it pretty easy to do?

[Izak Eloff]

aha will do. is it pretty easy to do?

Ya it's easy, it takes a while to install but there's nothing difficult to it. Just get metamorph + AndExplorer and then browse for the file/theme on your SD

[Izak Eloff]

I just baked my 3.2 beta 3 ROM... Can't wait to see how it performs. Apparently it's sweet!!

[Nuro]

Ok, so we know that usb charging is slower than AC charging. Apparently USB devices negotiate how much power they can draw from the host.

So I tried one of those split usb cables you get with portable 2.5" hard drives. I plugged it into my phone, and then connected the power usb point and not the data point to my laptop. Now my Hero said it's charging from AC, and charging speed was a lot better (I use vizBattery to see stats). I only do this when my laptop is connected to AC. I normally only have a usb mouse connected to my laptop, so I'm not too worried about the power draw.

EDIT: When I have time, I'll try and measure real time differences.

[kvi]

I just baked my 3.2 beta 3 ROM... Can't wait to see how it performs. Apparently it's sweet!!

you are going to love it :)

[Izak Eloff]

Dude it's amazing!! Even my battery lasts longer, must be the new kernel. And it stays fast for longer periods..

[kvi]

i thought i was dreaming too... batt life is definately better

[iDenTiTy]

Ok, so we know that usb charging is slower than AC charging. Apparently USB devices negotiate how much power they can draw from the host.

So I tried one of those split usb cables you get with portable 2.5" hard drives. I plugged it into my phone, and then connected the power usb point and not the data point to my laptop. Now my Hero said it's charging from AC, and charging speed was a lot better (I use vizBattery to see stats). I only do this when my laptop is connected to AC. I normally only have a usb mouse connected to my laptop, so I'm not too worried about the power draw.

EDIT: When I have time, I'll try and measure real time differences.

The AC charger is specced for 3V. USB is (I think) 1.5V.
That could be why USB is slower.

[Nuro]

The AC charger is specced for 3V. USB is (I think) 1.5V.
That could be why USB is slower.

The AC charger is delivering 5V at 1A max.
USB ports are also 5V, but typically deliver less amps (as far as I know it is supposed to be below 500mA per port). I think the hero negotiates for a lower current than 500mA, but plugging in a power only cable will basically max out the port.

[Izak Eloff]

MCR 3.2 b5 out ;)

[Nuro]

So Izak or kvi, anyone willing to give us a bit of a short article on MCR/teknologist kernel? :)

How do they fit together?
What are the benefits?
What guide can one follow to get it up and running?
Any pitfalls?
Does Sense still work when you mod?
Will I lose my data/settings when I mod?

It all sounds very cool. I have been working with linux for years, but I'm a n00b at the whole Hero/Android thing. Although I have installed ConnectBot on my phone, and have been poking around on the command line. A lot of the linux commands run just fine :-)

[iDenTiTy]

The AC charger is delivering 5V at 1A max.
USB ports are also 5V, but typically deliver less amps (as far as I know it is supposed to be below 500mA per port). I think the hero negotiates for a lower current than 500mA, but plugging in a power only cable will basically max out the port.

So it's kinda like overclocking the charging.
:D

[Nuro]

So it's kinda like overclocking the charging.
:D

Just hope I'm not toasting something. :erm:

[Izak Eloff]

Below is the link to a guide on how to root the phone.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=559613

Download Flashrec, you will need to google for it and DL the apk. transfer to your phones SD.

Here is the link to the recovery image I used, instead of the one that guide recommends. I have found it has the most options and functions.

http://rapidshare.com/files/320335178/recovery-RA-hero-v1.5.2.img

Once its installed do yourself a favour and use the recovery mode (Home + Power) to create three partitions on your SD card. You will need a 32mb Linux swap file, a 500MB ext2/3/4 partition and the rest is for your FAT32 partition.

I am using the MoDaCo 3.1 ROM based on Android 1.5 (its very fast)

http://www.romraid.com/paul/hero/3.1-update-hero-modacocustomrom-core-signed.zip

You WILL need to wipe the data partition on your phone.

If you open the recovery mode you can use the SD: update command to load the custom ROM and the updates. This is much easier than the adb route. You will need to save the radio and teknologist files as well as the ROM onto the root of the SD. The teknologist file is an update to the kernel. The mod ROM uses v1.8 of that kernel.

download the latest radio ROM here (this is an update ROM, use the recovery mode to install it. Home + Power = recovery mode.

drop me a PM and I will email this guide plus all the files to you. You will however still need to download the ROM of your choice. 100MB files don't work nicely with mail servers.w

Short version
Download Flashrec - http://flashrec.googlecode.com/files/flashrec-1.1.2-20090909.apk
Download recovery ROM - http://rapidshare.com/files/320335178/recovery-RA-hero-v1.5.2.img
Download ROM - personal preference but I suggest MoDaCo 3.1 (http://www.romraid.com/paul/hero/3.1-update-hero-modacocustomrom-core-signed.zip)
Download Radio ROM - http://www.romraid.com/paul/hero/update-hero-radio-63.18.55.06JU_6.35.09.26-signed.zip

Here are the links to my sources
Recovery ROM developer (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=561124)
MoDaCo ROM thread (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=552591)
XDA-developers forum for Hero Android development (http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=512)
feel free to ask for my help.


As a recommendation you should download Astro File Manager and get it to backup your applications before you flash. Modaco ROMs employ apps2SD but this doesn't always work so make sure to keep a backup of your applications on your SD card
You need to load recovery image by doing the steps in this link http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=559613

Something about the custom kernel. http://android.teknologism.org/
Read the part of the compcache theory

Sense UI is still there and everything looks the same. Benefits for me is the fact that we can get access to full market, faster, wi-fi tethering, Wavesecure is loaded on the rom(safer), Nandroid backups, Access to radio updates. With MCR 3.2 the battery seems to last longer for me. Paul will probably get hold of Android 2.1 and release before HTC.

The only thing that's risky is updating the radio, but if you leave the phone and never interrupt the process you will be okay.

You can backup your settings and programs with titanium backup/ASTRO I think. Link Contacts to Google contacts then sync again after the install.

It's recommended that you wipe your phone before you install the custom MoDaCo ROM, will be faster and you'll have a clean install.

[kvi]

wow that truly seems the difficult way. remember izak when you wanted me to do the goldcard creating thing.... where as in fact all i did to root and recover was follow modaco method.... BECAUSE all the SA hero's have the 2.73 um thingy whats it called lol

[Izak Eloff]

wow that truly seems the difficult way. remember izak when you wanted me to do the goldcard creating thing.... where as in fact all i did to root and recover was follow modaco method.... BECAUSE all the SA hero's have the 2.73 um thingy whats it called lol

Mmm but that's the link that you posted when you rooted... Only install the recovery then do a nandroid. Load MCR. Isn't that what you did?

[Nuro]

I see flashing the radio is recommended. Is this also done the same as flashing a custom rom?

EDIT: I have loaded the custom recovery image now, and have done a nandroid backup.

[Izak Eloff]

Sweet!! Yes you just copy the Zip file to your sd. Then run update from Recovery. DO NOT INTERRUPT THIS PROCESS!!

[Nuro]

Cool. I will do a radio update first, then do modaco 3.1 (I'm not a premium member yet).

[Izak Eloff]

:cool: another rooted Hero!! Awesome.. you really need to get 3.2 asap it's very good!

[PaddyTM]

This is the method I used:

http://theunlockr.com/2009/08/27/how-to-root-your-htc-hero-in-one-click/

and it was easy as pie.

[Nuro]

Done. Yay...
Wifi Tethering and openvpn here I come.

EDIT: Thanks for the help guys.

[kvi]

beta 5 is out guys :)

[Izak Eloff]

MCR 3.2 b5 out ;)

:p hehe thanks for reminding me again :D

[kvi]

ah missed that one. well now we all REALLY know.

[Izak Eloff]

I wonder if Beta 5 will be the official release at the end? Kvi are you running your Hero with Compcache?

[kvi]

nope. what does that even mean anyways ;)

[Izak Eloff]

Haha, okay then you'll probably have it enabled by default. Basically it's the memory manager from teknologist, it compresses some of the ram, and apparently this will increase the total available memory. But some people complain that it's making the rom laggy if you have load of applications. There's a discussion about it on the Modaco forum. "Compcache yay or nay" or something like that.

[kvi]

ah..

well i didnt build it into the rom with modaco's kitchen, so i dont think i have it

[qc_fs]

Hi Guys,

I got my Hero about a week ago and so far I only have one issue with the phone, the last 3 days while making or receiving calls on I cant hear the other party, they can hear me fine.On some calls it works fine with no issues. My question is is this hardware or software related? The phone is not rooted. Other than that this is the best phone I have ever owned.

Q

[Izak Eloff]

Hi Guys,

I got my Hero about a week ago and so far I only have one issue with the phone, the last 3 days while making or receiving calls on I cant hear the other party, they can hear me fine.On some calls it works fine with no issues. My question is is this hardware or software related? The phone is not rooted. Other than that this is the best phone I have ever owned.

Q

Sounds more like a network issue.. I've never had this problem but if you say that it's inconsistent it sounds like you have network issue's. Making calls is one of the Hero's specialty's :p

[qc_fs]

We tested the network with a second phone(Samsung Jet) at the same time yesterday , and while I had the issue the samsung worked fine(we both are on the same blue network). I just factory defaulted the phone and it seems to be working fine, will see what happens.

[Izak Eloff]

We tested the network with a second phone(Samsung Jet) at the same time yesterday , and while I had the issue the samsung worked fine(we both are on the same blue network). I just factory defaulted the phone and it seems to be working fine, will see what happens.

If you still have problems upgrade your Radio with a newer version.

[qc_fs]

So as I was playing with the phone to test it started doing it again, but for once i switched on the speaker phone just to test and it worked fine, so i take it is the internal speaker that is stuffed :-( . Thanks Izak for the suggestions.

[Izak Eloff]

Definitely get a replacement ASAP!

For all the rooters this looks very promising http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=622468

2.1 with sense ;)

[kvi]

downloading that villian, seems as if all the things that are wrong with it i dont use anyway and everything else is fast and stable. lets give it a bash

[crazy_cat]

Definitely get a replacement ASAP!

For all the rooters this looks very promising http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=622468

2.1 with sense ;)

btw - no exchange support from i read briefly....

[kvi]

dont need exchange.

first boot happening now..... ooooh nexus boot screen

[kvi]

ok first impression. (considering only being running this for 2 mins hehe)

faster than any other 2.1 builds ive tried. spose thats coz this is from the official 2.1 release.
and this is the new sense if im understanding correctly.

just recieved first sms, and first gmail mail came thru fine. so far so good.

[greg_SA]

Hi,

To use the HTC Hero as a modem (tethering), you have to go to settings, wireless controls, mobile network sharing.

Does anyone know if there is a widget available to enable this?

Otherwise, if is possible to initiate this action from the PC side? Say an icon on the PC that you can click to enable the network sharing?

Thanks,
Greg

[qc_fs]

Took my phone to vodacare today.. so now the long wait begins :-(

[PaddyTM]

downloading that villian, seems as if all the things that are wrong with it i dont use anyway and everything else is fast and stable. lets give it a bash

How is it after a day of running?

[kvi]

definatly going to be hanging with villain for a while.... only probs im having are.

occasionally get an error "process.maps dot something needs to force quit" , i think it has got something to do with google location services. going to try tell it not to send home. then maybe will be fine

a couple of apps or pages sit for a second before opening.... but not too hectic.

strangely enough typing on the keypad seems even quicker and more responsive than modaco roms hehe

[kvi]

and new villain 1.2 is being uploaded right now, so that will have even more tweaks etc in it.

2.1 is SWEEEEEEET.

[meezy]

and new villain 1.2 is being uploaded right now, so that will have even more tweaks etc in it.

2.1 is SWEEEEEEET.

Hey kvi,

how did it go, have you updated yet?

[kvi]

no its still not uploaded... Paul "rom creator" had wireless issues last night and his upload kept bombing, and it seems he is driving to Devon at the moment so looks like we only see it later.

[meezy]

Ok cool, I am looking forward to porting my hero, I rooted my phone last night and I am trying to do a nandroid backup before flashing. Have you got any pointers for me on how to perform these tasks and maybe a link to the latest recovery.img?

[Izak Eloff]

Ok cool, I am looking forward to porting my hero, I rooted my phone last night and I am trying to do a nandroid backup before flashing. Have you got any pointers for me on how to perform these tasks and maybe a link to the latest recovery.img?

Just hold home and power when phone is off. Go to backup/restore < nandroid backup.
Look at the previous posts about rooting, everything will be there I promise you.
Please search before posting.. next week there will be a new Hero user asking.. "How do I root my phone?"
Lol

@Kvi I think I might give the 2.1 ROM a bash, but I still love 3.2 b5!! Haha..

[iDenTiTy]

Just hold home and power when phone is off. Go to backup/restore < nandroid backup.
Look at the previous posts about rooting, everything will be there I promise you.
Please search before posting.. next week there will be a new Hero user asking.. "How do I root my phone?"
Lol

@Kvi I think I might give the 2.1 ROM a bash, but I still love 3.2 b5!! Haha..

Where do you get your 2.1 from?
I know it's a custom job, but am dying to try it.
:)

[Izak Eloff]

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=622468

[kvi]

yea dont expect an entirely perfect experience.... but its getting there

[kvi]

hooray villian 1.2 (android 2.1) is uploaded. downloading now

[kvi]

1.2 CHANGELOG:

- Several Sense UI based bugs fixed
- FIXED EXCHANGE! Please test, as it's working for me on a test account that a forum member provided me with!
- Fixed a lot of FCs.
- Removed several of the third party apps people wanted removed.
- Added HTC Music Player & Widget
- Added HTC Twitter & Widget (Working!)
- Added HTC Calendar & Widget (Working!)
- Swapped Android Facebook Sync for HTC Facebook Sync (Apparently MORE stable, but you’ll need to test this. Any issues, and I’ll revert to Android Facebook sync)
- Added Stock Android Dialler & Contacts (Several people PMd me to request - you have the option of either now)
- Youtube working correctly now.

[Izak Eloff]

I loaded villain 1.2 last night, but I'm back on MCR 3.2! I really like the look of the 2.1 especially the last use apps in the pull down screen and settings looks better. The thing I missed was the contacts that I can link to Facebook but I may have looked it over. Can't wait for official ROM in the hands of Paul, it's going to be amazing!

[kvi]

um ..... my contacts are linked to facebook???

[kvi]

heading back to modaco :)

[Nuro]

Can anyone post the original htc recovery image? I want to revert the phone back to factory state. My phone is getting random lock ups, especially when working with USB. I might take it to leaf to have it checked out.

EDIT: I Already did a nandroid restore.

[Vetseun]

Has anybody managed to find a pouch/cover for the Hero? I'm in CT and I've looked everywhere, but I can't find anything...

I dropped my phone over the weekend and a tiny piece of the glass broke in the top right corner of the phone, so I really need to get a cover for the phone or else its days are numbered...

[brendonhatcher]

@Vetseun - I am buying one on ebay. There is a lot of choice. Go to the P&P tab on each listing to see if they will ship to SA.

Brendon

[Yarik11]

Hey guys, thinking of getting a Hero.

Read some reviews and have a few questions relating to your personal experiences:

The two things that worried me from the reviews is that the performance is often sluggish and that the letters on the virtual keyboard that are close to the edge sometimes don't register.

What are your experiences with it?

[greg_SA]

Hey guys, thinking of getting a Hero.

Read some reviews and have a few questions relating to your personal experiences:

The two things that worried me from the reviews is that the performance is often sluggish and that the letters on the virtual keyboard that are close to the edge sometimes don't register.

What are your experiences with it?

The Hero is a great phone... it is definitely not sluggish - that was a problem ages ago with the first firmware. All the phones that you'll get now have the updated firmware which is great and very responsive. I have noticed once or twice that a letter on the edge of the virtual keyboard seems less sensitive (normally the letter "P", but it isn't a problem at all) - you can also calibrate the virtual keyboard which will probably help.

[Yarik11]

The Hero is a great phone... it is definitely not sluggish - that was a problem ages ago with the first firmware. All the phones that you'll get now have the updated firmware which is great and very responsive. I have noticed once or twice that a letter on the edge of the virtual keyboard seems less sensitive (normally the letter "P", but it isn't a problem at all) - you can also calibrate the virtual keyboard which will probably help.

Thans for the info Greg :)

Definitely puts my mind at ease. Will hopefully get it next month.

Any other positive things you can tell me about the Hero? The reviews that I read (engadget, gsm arena, cnet) seem a bit outdated since they all talked about the slugishness

[greg_SA]

I don't really know what to say - the phone just does everything very well... The home screen is great, and totally customizable with widgets.

[VonPickle]

Just ordered my Hero from Lab88, should arrive on Monday....Cannot wait!

Had to say farewell to my Omnia, it's now sitting at the bottom of Durban Harbour, curse my slippery fingers.

[kvi]

hey von pickle... have you recieved your hero yet?

[kvi]

for those interested... Ndrive now has a 7 day trial so you can decide whether you want to buy or not. i recommend you be connected to wifi for the download, quite a large mobile download

its available on the market

[MiniMacMe]

Hi Guys,

Can I ask you, the guys that have not rooted their phones, what build no. you have? I'm on 2.73.421.5

I understand that there was an update in Sept. / Oct. in Europe that improved battery life & also added functionality to the camera - after several communications with Leaf I still do not have an answer whether the current build is the latest, i.e. we do NOT have the camera functionality they referred to in the European update.

Any and all help will be much appreciated.

Thanks,
MC

[VonPickle]

Just got the little guy today, what a great phone so far, will give a decent report back tomorrow.

[DJNgoma]

for those interested... Ndrive now has a 7 day trial so you can decide whether you want to buy or not. i recommend you be connected to wifi for the download, quite a large mobile download

its available on the market

That is some great news, no need to pirate before purchase.

[CeaserX]

I have had my Hero for three days now and i'm loving it. Just need to figure out how to display my upcoming appointments and meetings for the day or even the next day. This is my exchange calendar and not google.

[KaLza]

Hey guys

I got this phone at the start of the week, I think it is really amazing. I seem to be struggling to some of the more basic things though. First of all is there a simple way of turning it to silent? As with other phones a simple button press would suffice. Secondly, is there a simple way of syncing my contacts with facebook? Or do I have to go through them 1 by 1.

Downloaded 3G Watchdog which works amazingly well. Going to start grabbing some other free apps today. Also battling to find a cover for this phone, see most people are having this problem. A screen protector will have to do for now.

Thanks in advance

KaL

[atomcrusher]

what build no. you have? I'm on 2.73.421.5

I got my Hero a couple of weeks ago .. same build no. as yours.

[Nuro]

2.73.1104.4 for me

[Nuro]

Hey guys

I got this phone at the start of the week, I think it is really amazing. I seem to be struggling to some of the more basic things though. First of all is there a simple way of turning it to silent? As with other phones a simple button press would suffice. Secondly, is there a simple way of syncing my contacts with facebook? Or do I have to go through them 1 by 1.

Downloaded 3G Watchdog which works amazingly well. Going to start grabbing some other free apps today. Also battling to find a cover for this phone, see most people are having this problem. A screen protector will have to do for now.

Thanks in advance

KaL

Just hold your power button for 2 seconds. A menu will pop up allowing you to switch to silent mode.

[kvi]

or just hit the volume button down a couple times

[VonPickle]

Absolutely loving this phone right now, by comparison my Omnia was made entirely out of plastic and disappointment. Fast, responsive and sexy. What more could you want :)

Just need to find some decent mapping software, NDrive is way too expensive.

[MiniMacMe]

2.73.1104.4 for me

Thanks Guys! NURO - when did you get your phone? Do you have the ability to manually focus on your camera?

[Nuro]

Thanks Guys! NURO - when did you get your phone? Do you have the ability to manually focus on your camera?

I can tap the screen to tell it where to focus if that is wat you mean. Got my phone middle January.

[kvi]

im bored !

im going to flash villian again and see what improvements he has made.

[MiniMacMe]

I can tap the screen to tell it where to focus if that is wat you mean. Got my phone middle January.

Thanks again Nuro. I got mine beginning Jan. through MTN and do NOT have the functionality. Very strange. You got yours in SA right? Apologies for all the questions ;-)

[Nuro]

Thanks again Nuro. I got mine beginning Jan. through MTN and do NOT have the functionality. Very strange. You got yours in SA right? Apologies for all the questions ;-)

Yup, ordinary vodacom upgrade. It even has the crappy voda backgrounds etc...

[rodga]

hey guys
quick question from an SE x1 user...
how does rooting your phone affect the htc warranty?? anyone had any problems with warranty claims being rejected because of rooting?

[CuSo]

hey guys
quick question from an SE x1 user...
how does rooting your phone affect the htc warranty?? anyone had any problems with warranty claims being rejected because of rooting?

+1

Also, how do custom ROMS affect the warranty?

On an application note, check out SlideIt Keyboard. Much quicker and easier to use than the standard one.

[kvi]

yes warranty is affected if you root. HOWEVER if you do it properly you can get your phone back to original state before sending in.

[NoamMAn]

+1

On an application note, check out SlideIt Keyboard. Much quicker and easier to use than the standard one.

I found that SlideIT keyboard works on Windows Mobile, Symbian and Android and you can download a free demo on OVI and the Market.

http://mobiletextinput.com/Download.php

[DJNgoma]

I'm suprised there hasn't been any talk of the expected official Android 2.1 update for the Hero in Q2 of this year.

[alt146]

Engadget has leaked pics of a Droid Eris (essentially a Hero) running early builds, but it's a bit too soon to be speculating on what it will be like. Hope the Hero (and therefore the Magic) can handle it memory and processor wise.

[kvi]

Q2 release? i doubt that. from what i hear, we should have 2.1 within a couple weeks. now that its officially launched.

[DJNgoma]

Q2 release? i doubt that. from what i hear, we should have 2.1 within a couple weeks. now that its officially launched.

Couple of weeks would be mean it would fall in the Q2 of this year lol.

[peterscot]

Hi all.
Guys i bought new htc last week and i need some good looking hero skin on it, So could anyone here please suggest me some websites providing htc hero skins?

htc hero skin (http://decalskin.com/)

[PaddyTM]

BUMP!!!

Thought I'd try and bring life back into this thread with Hero specific issues:

ROMs- what good new ROMs are there? Bad ROMS? Currently trying Villain 3.4 which seems pretty decent, but not without issues.

Accessories- have any been found yet for the Hero?

[Trix]

I got my Hero on the weekend and I'm enjoying the fluidity of the UI. I dont' want to risk voiding warranty so not rooting phone yet. Just wanted to know if there are any negatives with installing the ROM build on the LEAF website 2.73.405.5. I currently have 2.73.1104.4 and I'm not sure if this is newer than 405.5

[kvi]

looks like you have latest until they release 2.1 rom soon.

[atomcrusher]

I currently have 2.73.1104.4 and I'm not sure if this is newer than 405.5

I've had the Hero for two months now ... build number is 2.73.421.5 ... it is on MTN

[Nuro]

Here's hoping we get Android 2.1 soon:
http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/26/htc-hero-update-to-android-2-1-on-april-26th-in-home-country-of

[MiniMacMe]

I came across this article today, thought you guys might find it interesting:

http://www.htcsource.com/2010/06/2946/

I have mailed Leaf, and am currently awaiting their response

[mk1]

Let us know if you get a reply from Leaf

[Pooky]

Hey can we update the radio's with the one's on the XDA Developers site?

[Nuro]

Hey can we update the radio's with the one's on the XDA Developers site?

You mean 63.28.55.06OU_6.35.15.01?
I flashed it, and it is working 100%.

[Pooky]

You mean 63.28.55.06OU_6.35.15.01?
I flashed it, and it is working 100%.

I was talking about 63.18.55.06JU_6.35.09.26

That's the one recommended on XDA-Developers.

[Nuro]

I was talking about 63.18.55.06JU_6.35.09.26

That's the one recommended on XDA-Developers.

That one works too. I used it before I updated to 63.28.55.06OU_6.35.15.01. The new one is shipped with the2.1 update.

[MiniMacMe]

"The rom upgrade normally takes 2 - 3 weeks after the Global release as ICASA has more stringent regulations.
We have not heard anything yet regarding the release but are expecting some news soon."

From Leaf Support. I suspect we will have some news, good hopefully, very soon


Another question. Has anyone here had issues with the touchscreen, the bottom section of my screen (All Programs / Phone / Add) buttons are VERY temperamental, not responding 80% of the time. Same for the Space Bar, and Full Stop when in keyboard mode.

Any feedback would be much appreciated

[greg_SA]

My touch screen works great - make sure you aren't touching the screen with the edge of your finger, thinking you are touching with the middle...if that makes sense :)

[mk1]

Mini, try calibrate screen:

http://androidforums.com/htc-hero/24346-frustrated-using-screen-keyboard-calibrate-calibrate-calibrate.html

[Gardner]

Hello there

This may sound weird, but I live in Poland, Europe and I got HTC Hero as a gift from abroad. The point is this phone is clearly South African one (100% sure of it, I contacted HTC and they confirmed that), which doesn't mean it doesn't work with local networks, it's opposite, works great with with them including HSDPA, but now I have the problem called Android 2.1 update for Hero. The european update is rolling out right now (at least first part of it), still it's not supported by the phone I have. Then there's a question does anyone of you know when will 2.1 or at least first part of update show up for SA Hero? HTC website for "Middle East and Africa" doesn't even include HTC Hero as available phone.

Build number: 2.73.421.5

Thanks for help.

PS: I noticed the stock ROM I have now with the biuld number written above can be so easily rooted thanks to InstantRoot app, tested it and worked (just to let you know if someone is afraid of messing the phone like installing custom recovery and stuff).

[Nuro]

2.1 started rolling out for Europe. So it looks like this (http://mybroadband.co.za/news/cellular/13331-HTCs-Android-update-plans-for.html) article was correct in saying next week for us.

[iDenTiTy]

Does anyone have the stock standard original HTC Hero rom?
I'm reffering to the 2.73.421.5 build.

My Hero is running Villian 10.3.2 - nicely.
However, I would like the original so I can upgrade to the proper 2.1
XDA-Developers don't have the SA version..
My original version is shot. That is, it is corrupt and I cant flash it back.

Any help is welcome.

[iDenTiTy]

I have found a stock standard 2.1 English rom.
Installed as a .zip, and works perfectly.

Finally! I can send/receive music with Bluetooth. Woohoo!
I did lose my Root ability.. :(

Oh, and FriendStream is not on. :(
Speed is also noticeably quicker.

[DeonH]

Hi there and thank you so long for your help.

I have a HTC Touch Pro II.
Windows Mobile 6.5
ROM: 1.87.421.0

I also use MS Exchange to download mail from our mail server to my phone.

Will I be able to install Android on my telephone?

I know there will be people who say Android is rubbish because it is not Windows. But, I have only read excellent things about Android here.

Is it like brain surgery to get Android on my phone.

Thanx again.
Deon

[crazy_cat]

Hi there and thank you so long for your help.

I have a HTC Touch Pro II.
Windows Mobile 6.5
ROM: 1.87.421.0

I also use MS Exchange to download mail from our mail server to my phone.

Will I be able to install Android on my telephone?

I know there will be people who say Android is rubbish because it is not Windows. But, I have only read excellent things about Android here.

Is it like brain surgery to get Android on my phone.

Thanx again.
Deon

I setup exchange faster on Android than on WinMo!!

Head over to forum.xda-developers.com to see if there is a port available for your telephone.

[MiniMacMe]

Hi All,

Just wanted to let you know that I got a call from a very kind employee at Leaf to inform me that they've sent the update to Vodacom / MTN for approval - and that they are confident an O.T.A update will be rolled out in about a week's time.

[Trix]

Hey MiniMacMe

Thanks for the update. Another week, another explanation as to why its not out yet. I'll be really surprised of vodacom/mtn don't delay it by another week or more. I've survived the pressure of not rooting so long now, I guess a few weeks won't make much difference.

[Nuro]

IBIWISI. I'm tired of HTC/Leaf. I have been running 2.2 for just over a week now on my rooted hero.

[Izak Eloff]

Hi there all the Hero users/maybe ex-users.

There's been so little activity on this thread from myself and everyone else so I thought It's time for an update.

Do you still use you Hero? If not what replaced your awesome handset?
What Rom are you currently using?
Any nice discoveries made regarding ROM's, Apps etc..

I'm running VillianRom 12.0.0 Final at the moment and I'm very very happy with this ROM. Best 2.1 rom I've used. I'll probably stick with my Hero until next december, never looked back since I purchased it.

Android FTW.

[Nuro]

Still using my hero. Running froydvillain 1.7.2. I will also only upgrade next December. Best phone I have ever had :)

[Izak Eloff]

Still using my hero. Running froydvillain 1.7.2. I will also only upgrade next December. Best phone I have ever had :)

Nice, I see the froydvillian 1.7.2. is a 2.2 based Rom. I've never seen it before, Maybe I should give it a go..
How's the speed and bugs or FC?

[Nuro]

No FC, speed is significantly better than 2.1, but only for some things (e.g. games are not much faster, but my overall phone response is good. JIT makes a big difference). Of course it is stock android, so you loose Sense, but that does not bother me much. Give it a go!