Sprint's HTC Hero Could Be a Chin-less Wonder

UPDATE: This article has been fully confirmed. For more information, read this article: HTC Hero Will Be Released by Sprint on October 11

The evidence that Sprint is going to release the Android-based HTC Hero is almost overwhelming, but a new report says the version this wireless carrier is going to offer will lack the prominent "chin" that concerns many potential buyers in the U.S.

The version of the Hero that debuted in Europe earlier this year has a tablet shape, but the area below the screen with the trackball and buttons juts out sharply. Basically, it has a chin that would make Jay Leno proud.

However, the Asian-based site 8080.net claims to have pictures of Sprint's version of this smartphone, and these show this model has been completely redesigned.

An Overview of the HTC Hero
The Hero has a 3.2-inch HVGA display, and while HTC's previous models running Android have used Google's default user interface, this device marked the debut of a UI that's been dubbed HTC Sense.

That didn't effect the suite of applications that comes with Android, many of which have strong ties to Google's services, like Gmail and Google maps.

Other features of this smartphone include a-GPS, digital compass, gravity-sensor, 3.5 mm stereo headset jack, a 5 megapixel auto-focus camera, and a microSD memory card slot.

In addition to EV-DO, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are also considered likely on Sprint's version.

Coming this Fall?
While Sprint has yet to make an official announcement of its plans to offer this Android-based model, there have been many leaks. For example, HTC's support website recently contained a reference to "HTC Hero (Sprint)".

In addition, the FCC recently approved a CDMA version of this model with EV-DO. The FCC didn't specify which wireless carrier this is for, though. 

According to an earlier unconfirmed report, Sprint's launch of the HTC Hero is scheduled for October 11, the same day this carrier is rumored to be planning on releasing a second Android-based device, the Samsung InstinctQ.

Source: 8080.net via Engadget