Endless Weather Is Scott's Blog

As many of you know I have been anxiously waiting the release of the Sprint HTC Hero “Google Andriod” phone, this being the first of it’s kind to work in the US outside of T-Mobile.

I was able to aquire my new phone last Friday by talking real nice to someone at the Sprint store (they did not come out officially till Sunday) and had the weekend to play with it.  And it did take all weekend to get it set just the way I wanted it!

This is a cool phone.

I can’t say it’s BETTER than the iPhone, that would be a lie.   I loved my iPhone but I hated the network and the email integration was not there, just seemed like a afterthought on the phone.

I am happy to say the Android is living up to the hype, I have found apps that do everything my iPhone/Blackberry did if not better.   The email leaves a tad bit to be desired but works OK, I don’t understand why the GMail app will only allow 1 GMail account when on the Blackberry it will allow multiple but oh well.

The onscreen keyboard is not that hard to use being that I had gotten use to the one on the iPhone, it’s really only usable in landscape mode but that’s ok with me.    I was able to get it acting as much like my BB as I needed, no notifications of new email other than to blink the light and to make noise when I get a txt or IM.

The wifi leaves a lot to be desired, it would not join my home “B+G+N” network until I disabled the N, and then still it will not work on the second floor, we have been unable to get it to join the office network either.

Reception… My 2 spots where my Blackberry Tour was not working are working fine on the Android so the CDMA radio seems to be fine.    There has been some grumbles in the forums about the “with Google” and “Blank” backs on the phones, mine is Blank.   I show Rev.0 so hopefully this will get fixed in a software update.

Speaking of the software update, I hope Sprint don’t drag their heels on software updates like they did on the Blackberries, there is already a point upgrade for this phone that T-Mobile released day 1.   Hopefully Sprint will follow suit.

So in the end I give the HTC Hero from Sprint a BUY, with Sprint’s plans you can’t beat this thing over a iPhone.
Sprint’s Everything $69 plan for 450min can’t be touched by AT&T, and it includes real “Navigation” for free.   No not that Google maps stuff, TomTom worthy NAV with turn by turn directions and real time traffic updates.   Plus you get unlimited mobile to mobile on ANY network and the largest cellular network in the US.

This phone has a ton of potential and unlike most phones where when you buy it it’s what you have for the next 2 years I see many “upgrades” coming for this handset.

You can get the Sprint HTC Hero just about anywhere for $179 after a $100 MIR or if you prefer the Samsung Momnent will be releasing Nov 1st with a physical keyboard and more horses under the hood for the same price.