Launched in the European markets early this month, the HTC Hero comes out as the third mobile handset model from HTC that runs on the Android operating system. It is undoubtedly the finest Android device to be released by the company and is expected to further enhance the viability of the Android as a full-featured mobile operating system for smartphones of the 21st century.
The phone is strikingly slim for its class and has a real chance of giving the iPhone a run for the money. Announced only last month at media event in London, the HTC Hero has the following features:
Built on a powerful computing engine that runs at 528MHz using the Android operating system – the Qualcomm’s MSM7200A processor With 512MB/288MB ROM/RAM Displays at 320 x 480 resolution using a 3.2-inch TFT-LCD capacitive touch screen Provides Quad-Band GSM and 900/2100MHz HSPA Uses trackball Includes internal Global Positioning System Provides support for Bluetooth version 2.0 with A2DP and EDR functionality Runs 802.11b/g WiFi. Offers a high-end 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus Has external memory expansion slot support for industry standard microSD Has G-sensor Provides industry-standard 3.5mm audio jack for use with high-end earphones
The Hero may look just like any high end mobile phone out there, with a large 3.2-inch TFT LCD display typical of virtually all touch screen smartphone handsets. Its phone features and specifications can be found elsewhere, hardly giving it an edge over other mobile phones in its class. But its operating system, launched only in the last 2 years, promises to bring mobile smartphone computing features to the next higher level of interactivity and power.
One thing that stands out, something reminiscent of the iPhone hype when it first came out is the rather suave HTC user interface – considered one of the best among smartphones. It capitalizes on the many features of the Android operating system allowing HTC to offer special functions no other smartphone can deliver.
The HTC Hero will immediately follow its European launch with those in Asia and in the US during the last quarter of the year. It is expected to be offered in various color styles that include turquoise, red, gold, white, yellow and back and will include the promised ability to further customize the Android UI called ‘Rosie’ The Hero will be the first mobile phone to offer HTC Sense – unintuitive widget-based feature that allows personalization and navigation of the mobile phone like no other.
Tags: 5 megapixel camera, a2dp, edr, european markets, expansion slot, external memory, global positioning system, hspa, inch tft, iphone, memory expansion, microsd, phone features, powerful computing, special functions