Sprint's HTC Hero and Samsung Moment Getting Android 2.1 Upgrades Soon

Sprint announced that its first two Android-based smartphones, the HTC Hero and Samsung Moment, are going to get upgraded to the newest version of Google's operating system, Android OS 2.1, in the next month.

A spokesperson for Sprint confirmed to Brighthand that the upgrades for both models are scheduled for "early Q2," which likely means before mid-May.

New in Android OS 2.1
The latest version of Google's mobile OS sports many new features, including much greater support for speech-to-text, allowing users to enter text into an application with only their voice.

In addition, "pinch-to-zoom" multi-touch has been added to the web browser, photo viewer and maps applications, and OS 2.1 offers enhanced weather and news widgets.

Samsung Moment vs. HTC Hero
Last fall, Sprint debuted two smartphones with Google's Android OS. While they have a lot in common, there's also significant differences.

Both have 3.2-inch HVGA touchscreens, but the Hero has a tablet shape, while the Moment has a sliding QWERTY keyboard. The Samsung model's is an AMOLED  display, while HTC's is more conventional.

The Moment uses Google's standard user interface. The Hero, on the other hand, has HTC's Sense UI, which enhances the standard one with additional features.

Both smartphones are equipped with Sprint's 3G mobile broadband service, Wi-Fi and Stereo Bluetooth, GPS receivers, microSD memory card slots and 3.5 mm headphone jacks.

The HTC Hero has a 5 megapixel camera, while the Samsung Moment has a 3.2 megapixel one.

As Android-based models, the phones will have a highly-functional web browser, and include tie-ins to a number of Google's online services, like Gmail, Calendar and Google Maps. The OS is also bundled with an MP3 and video player.

Both the devices can synchronize with a Microsoft Exchange server for business-related email, calendar and contact.

In addition, there is a rapidly growing collection of third-party software available for this Android, including games, widgets and productivity apps.

Source: Sprint