HTC Hero Eclair Update Will Not Improve Its Hopelessly Useless 5 Megapixel Camera
HTC in its latest Tweet has promised its Hero users that the HTC Hero will be the first HTC handset to receive the Android 2.0 Eclair update.
HTC said, “Yes, we are working on an Eclair update for the HTC Hero. Because Eclair is a significantly enhanced release, it will require some time to update Sense for this new version of the Android OS. Please be patient while we work to provide you with a tightly integrated experience like the one you are already.
As all HTC Android smartphones rely on the same CPU, it shouldn’t be long before we see other handsets getting this update too.
Android 2.0, the so-called ‘Eclair’ revision of Google’s open source mobile operating system, introduces a refreshed user interface, Bluetooth-based peer-to-peer connectivity and native Exchange support.
For those who are planning to spend more than $500 on HTC Hero unlocked version should know that this Android 2.0 update will not help its useless 5 megapixel camera. Spec wise HTC Hero boast a 5 megapixel camera but the camera is disappointing useless: shots are blurry and camera is hard to focus.
so that means…….htc magic is better in every way!
@James;
Why would that be the conclusion?
- The Magic has 3.2 mega pixel, Hero 5.0.
Because of the lack of a bigger lens and flash on both devices, the picture quality won’t be much better on the Hero, but definitely not worse.
- Hero has 750 hrs standby time, Magic only 660.
- Hero 3.5 mm audio.
- Hero has 92 MB more RAM.
- Hero will have his official 2.0 update sooner.
I haven’t had a real problem with the camera, other than it being somewhat slow to take the picture. But the pictures turn out well unless I’m in a low-light situation. It’s certainly much, much better than the camera in my last phone (HTC Touch – 2 megapixels.)
Not sure of the issue with the camera. My Hero takes very clear pics.
I have taken some nice photos on my Hero. Waiting for Eclair update like most of you I guess.
when does the update come out for the hero and when it does how would i install it
Wow, this is really good new for us. I like it very much. thanks for this huge information.
I’ve had no problems with the Heros camera.
Blurry shots are because more than likely you’re moving before its done saving or shajubg.
As for it being hard to focus , I’m presuming that you don’t have auto focus on because it takes about 3 seconds otherwise what’s so hard about waiting?
There’s also no facts that the camera will or will not be improved. If it bothers you so much download a different app off the market.
Lol in fact if you check the offical release notes for 2.0 Eclair at android/developers, you will see that indeed there HAVE been improvements to the camera software!
A little research perhaps???
I’ve had really good results with the HTC Hero camera in good flat daylight, but if contrast is high, the light is low or its in indoor lighting conditions the camera struggles to create a punchy expressive photo.
My guess is that the colour/tone processing needs improving so lets hope Eclair can offer some improvement.
Off topic, but I also hope we’ll see better accessibility to the Market which is currently not available in my home country. A smart phone with no access to the smarts … just leaves a very expensive phone. A bit like buying a car that can’t go to the filling station
Recently got the Hero and looking forward to the 1.5 to 2.0 upgrade. Worst thing about this phone is the camera, very shaky with blurry outcome. Have tried adjusting camera settings but still no better. Makes what is otherwise a great piece, not so great.
James, you somewhat stupid… and this article is some what stpid.. the camera on HTC hero is a good camera, but like other cameras without flash, it can not “freeze” the picture due to long shuter time, the reason why a flash picture is more sharp in daylight even is that with a flash you get about 1/20000 shutertime (not the time shuter is open but thats what the camra see because of the flash)
bah its idiots everywhere… learn photo theory and how a camera works b4 you start complaining!!!!
using the Camera for HTC Hero in ordenary daylight its superb
I have a Hero and its great, camera is good and anyway, if you have an issue with the camera, buy a camera? Remember its a phone, not a camera. So to recap, if you like the phone but not the camera just buy a camera…
The camera on the Hero becomes an issue in low light conditions i.e. bedroom light at night as opposed to outdoors mid-day. Atleast the Hero does a better job OVERALL than the iPhone, hence why we love HYC so much <3
@lars couldn’t Have said it better. The camera is perfect I never had a problem with it. and to the guy who is trying to compare the magic to the hero is probe a kid who is pissed that he got sucker into the huge marketing campaign that went down for the mytouch aka the htc magic
Hi All,
I’ve had my Hero since the day it came out in the UK on orange and I am well impressed.
The HTC Hero is a great phone, if not a little laggy at times which a reboot fixes coupled with task killer (no problems after this), i have rooted and updated to 1.5 and it is by far smoother than an iphone, not only does it multi task which th eiphone does not but I think it just looks better, different and better.
I kind of agree with everyones comments about the camera, coming from an LG secret and viewty (both have great camera) i know, bad phones, the camera was a little dissapointing, but in good light i can’t fault it, i admit that a flash would have been nice but hey ! It’s a phone lol, so again, i can’t complain.
Come on HTC pull your socks up and release eclair with some nice features and a silky smooth UI.
Best phone on the market.
Also the sat nav on the Hero is wicked, Copilot 8 i think, costs £22 for Uk and it’s fully voice guiding, make sure u buy a car charger as it eats the battery badly.
If you think HTC Hero take good pics, it’s because you never has tryed any Nokia camera (like my old N95).
That’s the most disgusting aspect of my new Hero… camera it’s completly useless (and frustating) unless you take it on a perfect sunny day and zero-movement pic
Dudes, c’mon !!! It focuses just perfectly. Nightly pictures are hard to capture, but hey, it’s a phone, not a camera, if you want a camera, buy yourselves one and stop complaining about Hero’s one. Also, try to adjust the ISO settings of the image capture. It’s improving the quality. In every aspect, the Hero’s cam is better than the iPhone 3G, and in my opinion better than 3GS too… at least, HTC Hero is more powerful than both those phones.
Forget the fact of the new features Eclair will give the phone, the camera takes pictures just as good as the Iphone but it seems to make all the difference to this reveiw. If you want amazing pictures here is an idea BUY A DSLR!
I own on and trust me they are great, mobile phones and smart phones are not meant for taking great pictures sure some take decent looking shots for facebook but sorry i have more important things to worry about like how the phone actually works and how the software update will improve the phone as a whole. Seems strange that so many people are still so fast to jump all over this phone and the very same ones keep very quiet abotu the Nexus one!
sighs…..
If you care about a camera that much actually buy a camera. The camera on a phone is not meant to be amazing cause its on a phone. I dont see why so many people are that interested in the camera on a phone. If your bothered that much by it go back a actual camera if you want to take good pictures. If you just want to take pictures of people drunk or messing about then a camera phone is good enough.
i had to reply to Philip and the others as i do agree with you all. What I do find so strange though is why the writer of this has not responded to any of these commments after making such a strong statement and being called out on it……shame really that they can say this and by all accounts get away with it without any action against them!
Quote “Spec wise HTC Hero boast a 5 megapixel camera but the camera is disappointing useless: shots are blurry and camera is hard to focus.”
Maybe some pills to help with the shaking?
Still Sighs
oh and sorry yes i have tried the N95 and yes it does take a very good picture, but the Nokia GUI is just terrible it has not really changed since the 3210’s apart from colour and they are still being allowed to pass of the same phones again and again with no real new feature sets.
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