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HTC Dragging Feet On GPL Source Release For "Hero" Phone
Squiff writes to mention that despite being based on the Open Handset Alliance's Android platform and using several open source components, HTC are effectively refusing to release the source for the GPL parts of their "Hero" Phone code, saying that they are "waiting for their developers to provide it." It has been called an "object of lust," it's beating the iPhone for awards, and it seems to be the first Android phone that really is "the phone to have," to hear some people tell it. It has also just become available in the US after a June release in Europe.
Phone code, citing that they are "waiting for their developers to provide it."
Too bad that doesn't work.
"Yes your honor, I downloaded all of that music, but I emailed the artists asking how I could send them money, and are just waiting on them to license it to me properly!"
Not exactly fitting I know, but still.
Every other closed source shop has to hold off on release of their product until all licensing issues are taken care of (at least if they don't want to be taken to court.) This license is no different.
Dear Sir, I have sent a communication to our head office to have this source code released on the developer website. It will be available soon at developer.htc.com. We will work to release this as soon as possible. Best Regards, HTC Europe Customer Care
However, this isn't really good enough. Let's hope that the combined might of slashdot will be able to sort it out!
LOL. Your username is apt. Sony also do mobiles, as Sony Ericsson, who coincidentally have a contract whereby HTV make some of their phones, including the high end, but dissappointing Sony X1.
The Hero is nice and all but, like other Android phones, it doesn't have the processing power. The Acer A1 looks like it will be coming with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 1GHz processor and Android 1.6. Now if it would just be carried by someone other than T-Mobile in the states I would be happy.
Well, I did have a friend who owns a Lexus tell me, "Lexus is really the Cadillac of the automotive world". With a completely straight face (on their part, then a briefly befuddled one when I couldn't help burst out laughing).
In his defense, he did laugh along with me when he realized how silly it sounded.
I guess "HTC is the Jaguar of mobile phones" would work better.
"This post contains words, known to the State of California to cause thought. Wash brain thoroughly after reading."
Hey now what about Snow Crash?
...until one of the copyright holders (you know, the ones with standing to sue) send a C&D and threaten to file for an injunction stopping all HTC Hero sales. The source code will be ready for download about 0.2 seconds later.
Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
It's actually page 4 with the relevant posts
It's lust. You get excited by the idea of something, knowing the real thing is actually bad for you, and will be shallow and unfulfilling if you really get your hands on it.
iPhone killer?
Where have we heard that before!?!?
Where have you heard that here? I don't see anyone calling the Hero an "iPhone killer". Looks more like an "iPhone competitor".
"Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
Slashdot, despite persistent rumors to the contrary, has more than one person commenting on articles. While not scientifically established as fact, it seems likely that those separate entities could have diverging opinion on copyright.
"Say you want iphone to be killer in the first place. There's an app for that."
So I decided to RTFA on the "Object Of Lust" link. Here's the conclusion to the article:
"The Hero represents a valiant effort from HTC -- though unfortunately, the company appears to have bitten off more than its last-generation hardware can chew. If this build of Android were to be loaded atop the guts of a 3GS or Pre, the performance would likely be astounding, but fused with the two-year old architecture of previous devices, it's mostly disappointing. We're not saying this isn't the best build of Android on the market -- we think it is. What we are saying is that this build is a bit too much for a device like the Hero to handle, and that makes for an uneven, sometimes frustrating experience. Going into the review, we desperately wanted to love this phone, but given the combination of a few poor hardware choices and an OS which outclasses the device it runs on, we can only recommend that you enter at your own risk. HTC has an explosive entry in the smartphone category with what its done on the software side... now it just needs the hardware to match."
I think they may be make the Hero out to be a bit more than it really is.
I disagree.
"Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
The Samsung Moment looks promising. It's coming to Sprint on Nov. 1 and has an 800 MHz processor.
I'm feeling a bit poor, but if I weren't I'd consider dumping my G1 and forking over $550 for an unlocked Hero. The major draw: a freaking headphone jack.
Celebrate failure, and then learn from it - Nolan Bushnell
I am incredibly annoyed at people that RTFA and then post entire paragraphs in hope they get modded "Informative".
IT IS AN ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOR
for many reasons: ,but so many trick us into readng taboo content that it get very very disciminatory against thos of us with moral values.
1. not RTFAing is not lazyness, it's a principle. The parent did put a disclaimer
2. it may spawn an utterly informed thread, a situation to be avoided at all costs.
3. in the same way it may bring to an end a highly speculative thread - that is the very essence of slashdot - just because it does not agree with the so-called "facts".
4. the points 2 and 3 may affect other threads due to people inadvertently read the quote and reproducing it in other posts.
On the other hand we appreciate and encourage your karma-whoring attempt, you will receive your mod points soon :)
I would be inclined to disagree. I know this is all anecdotal but I own an HTC Vogue (aka HTC Touch.) The hardware is terrific but the software (WM) leaves a lot to be desired. A few months back I was standing on the balcony of my second story apartment when my phone rang. I pulled the phone from my pocket, but it bumped in to the rail on the way out. The phone fell at least 20 feet and landed on the concrete sidewalk below. I went downstairs expecting the phone to be shattered in pieces. I was not disappointed. The battery and the phone were laying a few feet apart, the back cover was about 5 feet away and the stylus was hanging out of the main body of the phone. I put the battery back in, replaced the back cover, pressed the power button and to my amazement the phone turned on. Everything, including the touchscreen, continue to work to this day as if nothing had ever happened. The only other phone I have seen that can take that kind of abuse are the old Nokia's that we all fondly remember.
"Frequently wrong, never in doubt."
I'm posting this as a third party, but I was the one that recommended my friend check out the Hero, so I'm relaying the findings.
As you know, many AT&T users in major metros are having some pretty severe service issues - my friend is one of that group. As a gadget geek like many here, he left Verizon shortly after the iPhone was released since there was no light at the tunnel of disappointing handset releases with Verizon. He had been a happy iPhone user up until shortly after the 3GS launch. Prior to that, he'd had a few issues, but nothing like he's been experiencing as of late.
He tried a Pre for a week on Sprint and was impressed with the quality of service and the OS. WebOS is a really nice OS, but still young and lacking many apps (I have no doubt that this will improve.) The killer for him was battery life.
Today, he walked into the Sprint store, and after almost an hour of test driving the latched-down phone, bought one. Almost an hour later, he called and said he was taking it back. Surprised, I asked why. He said that once outside in direct sunlight, the phone was almost unusable since you could hardly see the screen, even at 100% brightness.
Gripe #2: OS lag. Not as noticeable when swiping through screens and launching apps/browsing, but once you use the dialer it becomes apparent. He said that using the dialer was so bad, that he input several digits twice because he had thought they didn't register. I'm not sure if this phone was running cupcake or donut, but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt and assume it was cupcake (there are supposedly speed improvements in donut.)
Gripe #3: No proximity sensor or other mechanism for disabling the touchscreen while on a call. How can a company make a touchscreen phone and not include some kind of provision for this?! While on a call, he accidentally ended it with an accidental touch of his cheek. After ~30 seconds, the screen is shut off (and hopefully there's a way to do it manually). Still an inconvenience.
This was especially disappointing for me because I think Android is shaping up to be a very nice OS, but it's still waiting for the right hardware.
FTA: Going into the review, we desperately wanted to love this phone, but given the combination of a few poor hardware choices and an OS which outclasses the device it runs on, we can only recommend that you enter at your own risk.
That sounds completely different then my definition of lust.
They went into the review drunk on a Friday night. They sent the phone back to the manufacturer in a cab around 4 AM, and they wrote their findings when they woke up on Saturday afternoon. Haven't we all been there?
-1 Uncomfortable Truth