All of those HTC Hero owners that have been enjoying the Android 2.1 firmware update for months now should spare a thought for those on the Telus network, who have only just now been given the upgrade. New features include Flash support 4.0, Google Maps Navigation, Voice-dialler, Multi-Touch navigation, People Group Widgets.

Via Mobile Syrup.

It’s taken a while, but Three UK finally started to roll out the Android 2.1 update to HTC Hero owners from last night. The update is all in one package as previously promised. If you can’t see it yet, just use the old age trick of setting your phone clock a few months into the future and you should get the update pop-up.

Three has just released a statement saying that it expects Google to approve the Android 2.1 release for HTC Hero handsets in the next two weeks. This may help to placate the angry HTC Hero owners on 3, some of whom have set up a facebook page demanding the release. The short statement from Three is attached below.

Three has now tested and approved the 2.1 update for HTC Hero and it has been submitted to Google to get the final go-ahead. We’re hoping that they can approve it within the next 2 weeks and then we can start updating Three customers with HTC Hero’s.

Two down, one to go. Both T-Mobile and Orange have received the Android 2.1 update for the HTC Hero handsets, however Three users are still waiting. They were targeting a “Mid to late July” timeframe however the company has now confirmed that it has been delayed.

Brendan Arndt from Three said that the software has been submitted to Google to get the “final go-ahead” and that “we’re not clear on the timescales for this yet.” He blamed the fact that Three operates within a smaller team than some of their bigger rivals and a number of recent high profile launches including the iPhone 4 and Samsung Galaxy S has stretched the team.

To be fair he apologised and said that “2.1 Hero update hasn’t gone through testing and approvals as quickly or as smoothly as we’d have wanted.” We also now know that the update will be over-the-air (OTA) and will land in a single package as opposed to the previous updates that came with a preparatory update before the full Android 2.1 download. There’s still no timeline for release but Arndt promised to reveal further information as soon as he has it. Fingers crossed it at least lands in August…

Brendan Arndt (Three) comment in full:

Thanks for all your patience regarding the 2.1 update for HTC Hero. We have now tested and approved the software and this has been submitted to Google to get the final go-ahead. We’re hoping that they can push this through as quickly as possible, but we’re not clear on the timescales for this yet.

Really sorry for the delay on this update. We’ve been working really hard to approve and launch lots of handsets and updates this month including iPhone 4 and Samsung Galaxy S, and the 2.1 update for Hero has had to queue up alongside these other big launches, particularly the Galaxy S which took a number of versions of software to get right. We’re a smaller network than some of our competitors, and while that has its advantages it also means that our testing team doesn’t have limitless resources. We’ve done our best to manage priorities, but the 2.1 Hero update hasn’t gone through testing and approvals as quickly or as smoothly as we’d have wanted – HTC did have to supply us with a couple of versions until we were satisfied it was bug free. We really wanted to get this to you for the end of July, but we’ve missed our deadline – I’m really sorry I can’t bring you better news on a Friday afternoon but at least you’re now in full possession of the facts.

As soon as we know more from Google on their timescales we’ll let you know.

Moderator comment:

The 2.1 update for Hero contains a lot of new functionality. Most Heroes on our network are currently on 1.6, so this is a big version change. Our testing process is not about adding in Planet 3, but we need to check that any changes don’t break the functionality we have already built for the phone, like Skype, Windows Live Messenger and My3. We also need to test that it works seamlessly with our network settings, and that the technical changes don’t impact the way you can send MMS or roam onto 2G for voice, text or data for example. The reason we want to do a thorough job on this is because of the big version change – 2.1 to 2.2 for example would be a much simpler process – plus we’ve had to prioritise this testing along with all of the other updates and launches we’ve currently got on the roadmap. We promise that we are going as quickly as we can, and we’ll get the update to you as soon as possible.

To answer a couple of the other questions that have been asked, the update will come as one package and will be delivered OTA. You’ll get a notification in your top notification bar when it’s ready.

Okay, the official HTC statement from yesterday suggested that Orange users will see the Android 2.1 update from next week. However, it seems they’ve got over all of there QA issues and the final Android 2.1 update is rolling out as we speak. Check your phone for the update now.

Thanks Stu!

Orange has given official word that the Android 2.1 HTC Hero update will be landing for its customers from the beginning of next week. The company apologised for the delay and said that testing had taken longer than anticipated. We started to see the preparatory update hit Orange phones yesterday. See the official statement from Orange below:

“We apologise for the delay in Orange Hero customers receiving their Éclair update. Testing the update across European markets took longer than anticipated. However, we hope to receive final approval by the end of the week and Orange handsets should start updating from next week.”

Update: A point of clarification. As pointed out in the comments, this statement is from HTC and not Orange. Either way, the Android 2.1 update should be hitting Orange HTC Hero handsets next week.

Android 2.1 may finally be hitting Orange HTC Hero users very soon as the preliminary update is rolling out to all handsets as we speak. This follows many angry Orange customers complaining about how long this update has taken.

This preliminary update basically gets the Hero ready to receive the full Android 2.1 firmware. We don’t know when the latter part of the update will come through, however sit tight, it can’t be too long now.

Orange UK owners of the HTC Hero have set up a group on Facebook to highlight their frustration in still not having received the Android 2.1 update. T-Mobile pushed their update over a week ago. As of writing, 596 members have joined the group and a number of letters have been written to Orange’s CEO to highlight their concern.

The group is called “Orange UK – Give HTC Hero owners the 2.1 Update – NOW“. The group’s founder, Geoffrey Mansfield, says that Orange UK Customer Service department will not give any definitive answers to questions posed by numerous customers on various android forums. “Please use this group to register your disapproval, and I will forward the group link to Orange UK, for consideration,” he goes on to say. Have you been affected? If so, you may as well join the group and add your voice. Whether Orange will bring the update any quicker is another story.

A couple of weeks after the GSM HTC Hero received the Android 2.1 update, it looks like those with branded phones are finally starting to see the update coming through. T-Mobile is pushing the update as we speak, so if you’re on the network check your phone right now!

The first details of Android’s next major revamp, codenamed Gingerbread, has reportedly been leaked by Eldar Murtazin of Mobile-Review.com fame. He revealed some juicy details in a Russian podcast. None of this can be verified as we don’t speak Russian, so we’ll have to trust unwiredview on this one!

They say that Android Gingerbread will be targeted at high-end devices and will therefore have a number of minimum specs. This includes a 1GHZ CPU, 512MB or RAM and a display larger than 3.5-inches. Interestingly, a new 1280×760 pixel resolution will also be supported for devices larger than 4-inches. It will also come with a completely revamped user interface. The arrival of Gingerbread should also mean the end of customised UI skins like HTC Sense. Apparently, Gingerbread will launch in mid-October and the first handsets shipping with the new OS will appear in November/December. Just in time to retire the HTC Hero…