The Hero seems to be basically a little upgrade of the Magic. As far as hardware, the Hero is identical to the Magic, but has a 5 MP camera and more internal RAM. The software updates to the Hero will be (and have already been) portable to the Magic, so that's not enough of a distinction, although the new Sense UI apparently runs better with the improved RAM in the Hero .
So then, what was HTC's reason for having both of these phones?
Discussion about
With the Hero, what's the point of the G2/myTouch/Magic?
My only issue with the Hero is that I've read you won't be able to get Android updates as soon as they come out. You'll have to wait for HTC to implement updates. But, I guess this is no different than waiting for a carrier to implement the updates.
That and if you're a Google branded phone there are some restrictions on the apps that it can run (e.g. Exchange support).
Actually its the opposite cafefrenzy. If you're Google branded you have to run with zero restrictions. It is likely that HTC didn't want to put their Exchange client on the Google branded phones unless someone paid them for it, or provide a full "HTC Sense" experience.
The MyTouch 3G will have full exchange support and be a "Google Experience" in the US, thanks T-Mobile :)
The MyTouch 3G will have full exchange support and be a "Google Experience" in the US, thanks T-Mobile :)
This post has been removed.
really? cuz i thought i heard that one of the main reasons companies are considering foregoing the "w/ google" label is to get exchange support.
www.engadgetmobile.com/2009/05/15/exchange-enabled...
www.engadgetmobile.com/2009/05/15/exchange-enabled...
Basically it is the Sense UI. I'm sure you could figure out a way to put it on the Magic but this phones hardware is different like you said. It depends on where this phone is released but you will probably be able to get Exchange support and such. The phones are pretty close though.
Am I the only one who would rather not have the Sense UI and would rather it was just good ol' android. I would buy one of these but I'm put off by the fact I probably can't run it without HTC's proprietary interface.
You can run good old Android on it. Settings > Applications > Manage apps > TouchFLO > Clear defaults. Press home key and choose Home and select make default. Android FTW! Choice is important
You lost me BiosPenguin. I can't see why anyone would dislike the improvements made on the OS by HTC's UI.
- Widgets over plain ol' app Icons, including weather, twitter, facebook
- Increased contacts integration (facebook & twitter, similar to the pre)
- communication continuity (various ways to look at messages from single person, similar to palm's pre)
- Improvements on navigation options
- Multi-Touch
- 7 home screens
there's plenty more. besides, as an HTC Touch, I know you can turn lots of UI features. It seems that Sense UI is highly customizable itself. You can probably get rid of a lot of the things you find unattractive and adjust your home screens accordingly. More options are better than less, I think.
- Widgets over plain ol' app Icons, including weather, twitter, facebook
- Increased contacts integration (facebook & twitter, similar to the pre)
- communication continuity (various ways to look at messages from single person, similar to palm's pre)
- Improvements on navigation options
- Multi-Touch
- 7 home screens
there's plenty more. besides, as an HTC Touch, I know you can turn lots of UI features. It seems that Sense UI is highly customizable itself. You can probably get rid of a lot of the things you find unattractive and adjust your home screens accordingly. More options are better than less, I think.
Actually if you look on the HTC site, they both have 288MB internal RAM and the same 528MHz processor. So they have the same internals. It's just a matter of preference. Also, like others have said, you have to wait for HTC to implement Android updates before you get them.
The Magic and G1 are fugly, inside and out - they are anomalies in HTC's usual great build quality (though I have only played with a dummy model), and Android was still a little rogh around the edges.
The Hero is beautiful, inside and out - new hardware (super thin, nice finish, HTC's usual great build quality), and new UI.
The point is it's pretty. Apple snobs like me OMGWANT.
The Hero is beautiful, inside and out - new hardware (super thin, nice finish, HTC's usual great build quality), and new UI.
The point is it's pretty. Apple snobs like me OMGWANT.
Altho the G1 does stretch the limits of acceptable asthetics nowadays, I wouldn't call it fugly. And the Magic is an awesome looking phone. I was just playing with one this past weekend and so I beg to differ with you on that.
No doubt, the Hero bests them all in appearance, but lets give credit where credit is due :)
No doubt, the Hero bests them all in appearance, but lets give credit where credit is due :)
You say the hero is beautiful inside and out but it the exact same build as the G1??? The have the same Chin which has saved my phone from a cracked screen god only knows how many times, and the hardware in the Hero is only slightly improved. In my opinion the Hero is the fugly one because it doesn't have a hardware keyboard which is what i need. I do a lot of typing on the phone and all virtual keyboards are a pain when compared to a physical keyboard.
@deinfinityx
Uh, no.
Not the "same build", but nice try.
And that keyboard on the G1 is ultra-hard to use.
Not having a hardware keyboard does not make it ugly. :P I have more speed typing on my virtual keyboard on my iPod touch than I have on a real keyboard on my brother's HTC 5800.
Believe me when I say: you get used to virtual keyboards. In some cases they can be better than hardware keyboards. In most cases they are equal. However, I do realize that some people need a hardware keyboard to type. I'm not one of those people, and quite frankly I don't get you people. xP
@PhonePersonalit
Hey, didn't I say I'm an apple snob? xD
I am really picky when it comes to aesthetics and design.
Uh, no.
Not the "same build", but nice try.
And that keyboard on the G1 is ultra-hard to use.
Not having a hardware keyboard does not make it ugly. :P I have more speed typing on my virtual keyboard on my iPod touch than I have on a real keyboard on my brother's HTC 5800.
Believe me when I say: you get used to virtual keyboards. In some cases they can be better than hardware keyboards. In most cases they are equal. However, I do realize that some people need a hardware keyboard to type. I'm not one of those people, and quite frankly I don't get you people. xP
@PhonePersonalit
Hey, didn't I say I'm an apple snob? xD
I am really picky when it comes to aesthetics and design.
I have to agree here. This is a better looking phone. The G1 wasn't hideous but it was big and I don't like the keyboard or how you have to reach over the top of the chin to use it. And for me, the less mechanical parts the better besides buttons. I like the angular lines of this and the fact that it has a few hardware buttons better than say the iPhone with its limited buttons.
definatley Sense UI is the main reason. It rocks. For me its the little knob at the bottom of the screen that easily lets you switch between all 7 screen easily. This is a big deal (if you have an iPhone you know what im talking about).
Other differentiating things are oleohobic screen and the teflon casing which might be pretty slick. Oleophobic will be nice for the first few months but will suck as it fades away.
Other differentiating things are oleohobic screen and the teflon casing which might be pretty slick. Oleophobic will be nice for the first few months but will suck as it fades away.
Engadget make MyTouch & Hero Play Fight. Guess who wins, hands down?
www.engadgetmobile.com/2009/07/08/htc-hero-vs-t-mo...
www.engadgetmobile.com/2009/07/08/htc-hero-vs-t-mo...
The Hero isn't running a different OS its a user Interface aka a home prelacment app with custom libraries that it runs off of. On XDA they have a Rom that runs Hero without the rosie.apk(Sense UI) which speeds up the ROM significantly. If and when devs can start building their own libraries they will be able to make apps like the Sense UI without much problem. I am not against the Hero i do like it for its upped hardware but i am not a fan of the Sense UI yet. The "Rachel" phone UI is truly amazing in comparison to the Sense UI
I thought about getting the MyTouch , but now I'll wait until the Samsung Galaxy comes out on T-Mo (hopefully soon). I can't stand the fugly HTC chin, and I've had bad experiences with trackballs getting lint stuck on my Blackberries. Sense UI will be hacked sooner or later and flashed over to any phone running Android.
And now, it seems that Sense UI will be a free upgrade in some areas for non-Google Magic devices, narrowing the gap between the two devices even more. Google-branded Magics are not included in this offer.
www.engadget.com/2009/08/16/htc-to-offer-sense-upg...
www.engadget.com/2009/08/16/htc-to-offer-sense-upg...
Except the Mytouch and G1, because they are google branded, but rooting fixes that if you really want it.
I upgraded to the my Touch from the G1 because I really like the Android OS, but got tired of the sort of clunky G1. The My Touch is a great phone and hopefully will get all the upgrades they all get. Seems to me the Hero Sense stuff is not that desirable, but it is a personal thing. I really like the way the My Touch works. The T-Mobile 3G here in Chicago is pretty darn fast because very few people are on it, but that may change over time.
follow this discussion
share:
Products mentioned
15 users following this discussion, including:
This discussion has been viewed 270 times.
Last activity .