HTC Sprint Hero: the browser

I ended up spending a lot of time on the browser because you all sent me a ton of questions about it and because it was the source of my most significant Hero complaints. After a factory reset, my focus has changed. The browser is actually fine under the right (unrealistic?) settings and circumstances. Sure, I’d like better performance, but this is no longer a deal breaker in my eyes.

I did my best while shooting this to address a list of about 25-30 questions readers and viewers have sent in. In the meandering part 1, I go from the ideal browsing environment to your average-to-heavy load. In part 2, I’ll beat that thing to death. (cont.)

Part 1:



This next one should be called Browsing the Bog. Here I push the Hero to its limit and offer some final thoughts on the browser. What it comes down to is that it pretty much won me over after a factory reset, although I would like to see a bit more processing power – more for the keyboard while browsing than anything else.

Part 2:

Tags: , , , ,

Post comment as twitter logo facebook logo
Sort: Newest | Oldest

When you hold down on the home button, it doesn't show you a list of the programs that are currently running, rather it just shows you a list of programs that you've run lately. Many of the programs on Android don't actually continue running when you leave them. Only ones that are specifically designed to, like the music player, web browser, and some others. Android does a pretty good job of memory management, and will automatically close any programs that do run in the background whenever it needs more memory. To test this, open up the browser, and open several other windows within the browser. Now go back to your home screen, and run something not too resource intensive, like mail. Go back to home and push browser again. All your windows that you opened with different websites are still there. Now hit home again and start up something very resource intensive. Like a 250 page PDF file. Push home again, and press browser. Now you are restarting the browser fresh, 'cause Android needed the resources that the browser was using and closed it.

When you hold down on the home button, it doesn't show you a list of the programs that are currently running, rather it just shows you a list of programs that you've run lately. Many of the programs on Android don't actually continue running when you leave them. Only ones that are specifically designed to, like the music player, web browser, and some others. Android does a pretty good job of memory management, and will automatically close any programs that do run in the background whenever it needs more memory. To test this, open up the browser, and open several other windows within the browser. Now go back to your home screen, and run something not too resource intensive, like mail. Go back to home and push browser again. All your windows that you opened with different websites are still there. Now hit home again and start up something very resource intensive. Like a 250 page PDF file. Push home again, and press browser. Now you are restarting the browser fresh, 'cause Android needed the resources that the browser was using and closed it.

The biggest blunder by Sprint is following in Apple/AT&T footsteps with their bundled plans. So whether you use it or not the cheapest calling plan is $70. They should have just made it so you could pick your calling plan of choice/need and add a data plan to it. Also, the no tethering is a HUGE mistake. What sprint needs is the ability to differentiate themselves. Instead they are sheep following the Apple/AT&T herd. When will someone put the customers needs first and let that drive their profits????

The biggest blunder by Sprint is following in Apple/AT&T footsteps with their bundled plans. So whether you use it or not the cheapest calling plan is $70. They should have just made it so you could pick your calling plan of choice/need and add a data plan to it. Also, the no tethering is a HUGE mistake. What sprint needs is the ability to differentiate themselves. Instead they are sheep following the Apple/AT&T herd. When will someone put the customers needs first and let that drive their profits????

Thanx John. I look Forward to it!

Hey John!!! I have patiently waited for your browser review. And to say that I am impressed is an UNDERSTATEMENT. With that being said, I have been to 3 Sprint Stores in my area(Atl.) to look at Browser and Video Playback Performance. You have answered 1 of 2 ?s for me. Now The Video Playback, I pulled up Youtube on Mobile and Desktop Versions and experienced Choppy video playback at ALL 3 Sprint Stores. It is Imperative that The Video Playback and Browser Perform Well. I looked at a Touch Pro 2, Pre, and Hero side by side and noticed that the Videos were Significantly Better on the TP2 and Pre. Will a ROM update help? Or a Hard reset? And if I were to get the Hero, is a Hard-Reset Mandatory for better a browser experience? When u wrote me before, you mentioned that you would download a different browser to get a better experience does that still apply? And will that help the video playback?

Hi, Art. those are some tough questions. As for the factory reset, that helped my situation which was likely unique. I doubt most new Heroes need that out of the box. Mine is a review unit that's been passed around, after all. As for the browser replacement, the reset fixed my concerns. Other browsers are about the same. I'll try to get a YouTube demo up before too long for you. I don't know what to say about the comparisons you made. Each phone will have pros and cons, and only you can decide what the priorities are. But I hope my videos help a bit.

Well given the fact that you had 6 apps running in the background I think the browser did pretty good. Sure its not perfect but compared to the iPhone which only lets you listen to music while browsing the web,the hero did amazing. Lets see the iPhone try running 6 apps at the same time lolol =P Lets not forget the iPhone has had plenty of time to mature, meaning improve itself, and the android is basically still in its infancy. I mean this is the third phone running android and it took over a year, also this is the first time someone put a different UI over android. I'm an iPhone owner and I can see that the iPhone OS is getting served. With all theses new phones coming soon using android, apple is going to have some very stiff competiton next year.

I agree that the HTC browser isn't the best. I do like the fullscreen mode. I still can't believe that the stock browsers (HTC's and vanillandroid) won't sync with Google Bookmarks. Dolphin Browser does allow this. Dolphin is also 1.6 compliant (not that it matters to Hero users (yet)). The NY Times is always the 'standard' for web surfing speeds.

Thanx John. I look Forward to it!

Hey John!!! I have patiently waited for your browser review. And to say that I am impressed is an UNDERSTATEMENT. With that being said, I have been to 3 Sprint Stores in my area(Atl.) to look at Browser and Video Playback Performance. You have answered 1 of 2 ?s for me. Now The Video Playback, I pulled up Youtube on Mobile and Desktop Versions and experienced Choppy video playback at ALL 3 Sprint Stores. It is Imperative that The Video Playback and Browser Perform Well. I looked at a Touch Pro 2, Pre, and Hero side by side and noticed that the Videos were Significantly Better on the TP2 and Pre. Will a ROM update help? Or a Hard reset? And if I were to get the Hero, is a Hard-Reset Mandatory for better a browser experience? When u wrote me before, you mentioned that you would download a different browser to get a better experience does that still apply? And will that help the video playback?

Hi, Art. those are some tough questions. As for the factory reset, that helped my situation which was likely unique. I doubt most new Heroes need that out of the box. Mine is a review unit that's been passed around, after all. As for the browser replacement, the reset fixed my concerns. Other browsers are about the same. I'll try to get a YouTube demo up before too long for you. I don't know what to say about the comparisons you made. Each phone will have pros and cons, and only you can decide what the priorities are. But I hope my videos help a bit.

Unfortunately I can't view the vids right noe thanks to me being on my pre but I definitely can't wait to watch these when I get near a computer.

Well given the fact that you had 6 apps running in the background I think the browser did pretty good. Sure its not perfect but compared to the iPhone which only lets you listen to music while browsing the web,the hero did amazing. Lets see the iPhone try running 6 apps at the same time lolol =P Lets not forget the iPhone has had plenty of time to mature, meaning improve itself, and the android is basically still in its infancy. I mean this is the third phone running android and it took over a year, also this is the first time someone put a different UI over android. I'm an iPhone owner and I can see that the iPhone OS is getting served. With all theses new phones coming soon using android, apple is going to have some very stiff competiton next year.

I agree that the HTC browser isn't the best. I do like the fullscreen mode. I still can't believe that the stock browsers (HTC's and vanillandroid) won't sync with Google Bookmarks. Dolphin Browser does allow this. Dolphin is also 1.6 compliant (not that it matters to Hero users (yet)). The NY Times is always the 'standard' for web surfing speeds.

Unfortunately I can't view the vids right noe thanks to me being on my pre but I definitely can't wait to watch these when I get near a computer.