It is mid-2009, and the ‘Hero’ has arrived to prove that Android isn’t just a geeky experiment, it’s a genuine contender for the smartphone throne. Following the clunky G1 and the slightly anonymous Magic, the HTC Hero is the first Android device to feature ‘HTC Sense,’ a technical and aesthetic overlay that makes the raw Google OS look like a work of art. In the UK, it’s the darling of the tech press, famous for its ‘teflon’ coating and that iconic 15-degree ‘chin’ at the bottom of the device. This isn’t just a weird design choice; it’s an ergonomic masterclass that keeps the microphone closer to your mouth and protects the 3.2-inch screen when you place the phone face-down on a bar.
Technically, the Hero is a beast of customisation. The ‘Sense’ UI introduces seven customisable home screens and ‘Scenes’, allowing you to switch between a ‘Work’ layout with your calendar and email, and a ‘Weekend’ layout with your music player and Facebook. The screen is a 320 x 480 capacitive display with multi-touch support (finally!), and it’s one of the first Android phones to feature a 3.5mm headphone jack and a 5-megapixel autofocus camera. It’s powered by a 528 MHz Qualcomm processor, which handles the complex widgets and social media ‘stream’ with impressive fluidity, though you might notice the odd stutter when the weather widget tries to render 3D raindrops over your icons.
Connectivity is top-tier: 7.2 Mbps HSDPA, Wi-Fi, GPS, and a digital compass. One of the best technical flourishes is the ‘Smart Dial’, you just start typing a name on the keypad and the phone instantly finds the contact, a feature so useful it makes the iPhone’s contact list feel like a relic. However, the battery life is the standard 2009 tragedy; with the ‘always-connected’ social widgets constantly pinging the towers, the 1350 mAh battery is lucky to make it through a full day of heavy browsing. The Hero is the first Android phone with a soul, it’s a technical powerhouse that feels personal, human, and remarkably clever. It is the definitive ‘alternative’ choice for the discerning UK professional.