The UK Mobile Phone Blog

HTC announce their latest Android mobile phone: The HTC Hero!

June 26, 2009 at 1:46 pm by Dan | In Coming Soon Handsets, Mobile News, Mobile Phones

When HTC commit to something, they really put their heart and soul into it. Originally seen as a one operating system manufacturer with a slew of high profile and successful Windows Mobile devices, HTC are now dividing their time between WM and the hot new property that is Android. And now, HTC have declared their commitment to the fledgling Google backed OS with the announcement of the HTC Hero.

The Hero, following in the footsteps of the HTC Magic and the original Android phone, the T-Mobile G, features a full touchscreen interface. Sporting the latest version of Android, known as Cupcake, the Hero is able to dispense with a hardware QWERTY keyboard in favour of an on screen keyboard which helps to keep size and weight down. Aesthetically, the Hero is easily the best looking Android phone from HTC and arguably even more easy on the eye than the upcoming Samsung i7500.

In addition to the latest Android OS, the Hero is also the first phone to include HTC Sense, HTC’s brand new user interface. HTC Sense lets you personalise and create a phone just right for by adding widgets to your homescreen, also letting you customise the size and style, flick through multiple windows (similar to TouchFLO 3D), called scenes (which are also fully customisable), so all your favourites are at your fingertips and search for contacts, Twitter Tweets, Emails and much more. HTC Sense also brings all your contacts together in one place. When you view people in your contacts list you see the different ways to get in touch; Email, social networking updates such as Facebook and even what photos your friends have recently uploaded. With HTC Sense, the Hero hope to become a truly all in one device.

It terms of the actual specifications, the HTC Hero makes for good reading. The aforementioned touchscreen is 3.2 inches and features a host of premium extras including handwriting recognition, an accelerometer and, because the Hero uses a capacitive touchscreen, multi touch. The touchscreen is also complimented nicely by the addition of a track ball which aids in general navigation and, in particular, web browsing. The Hero will also have the distinct honour of most powerful Android camera phone thanks to the on board 5.0 Megapixel camera with autofocus and video capture.

In terms of connectivity, the HTC Hero also has pretty much every base covered featuring HSDPA and Wi-Fi for high speed web access as well as built in GPS with A-GPS support for an even quicker Satellite lock from cold start up. Finally, rounding off the Hero is the standard extras such as MP3 player, movie player and of course Bluetooth connectivity.

Will the Hero turn out to be more Jet Li or Enrique Iglesias? Well we shouldn’t have too long to wait to find out, HTC’s latest Android phone is set to launch in early to Mid July. Click here to sign up for updates on the HTC Hero and we’ll let you know as soon as the Hero is available to order.

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