Android 2.1 Breathes New Life Into Your Android

By on March 12, 2010 in Android

Android 2.1 on my CDMA Hero

After only a few days of using Android 2.1 on my Sprint CDMA Hero, I have to say, Android 2.1 is like a whole new experience on my phone.  If you are worried that you need to update to the latest hardware to fully enjoy Android, you are mistaken.  Yes, there are a few areas you will never be able to have the same experience as a some of the latest Android hardware, such as screen size and resolution, but as far as speed and features, look for the Android 2.1 update to bring your older Android new life and speed. 

I have been using a custom ROM for my CDMA Hero for the last few days.  The ROM was originally for other phones, Droid Eris and HTC Legend and by combining code from different sources, a fully working Android 2.1 with Sense UI for the CDMA Hero was born.  I have to say that it is much faster than Android 1.5 and everything feels refined and responsive.  Before updating, my Hero felt fine.  It worked ok and provided me a great smart phone, but after going to 2.1 I figured out what I was missing.  It’s fast enough now I don’t have to do that, “Here let me show you my Android…here wait…*tap*..*slide*…wait…there we go.”  I found often I’d tap or slide or move and things would be just a bit laggy.  With 2.1 I don’t notice any lag.  It has all the nice extra features as well, such as the pinch-to-see all 7 home screens feature, multitouch maps, navigation, 3D Gallery Browser etc.  Also, I’m able to get all the latest apps available such as Google Goggles and Gesture Search.  It’s almost like a completely new phone to me and I can’t be happier.  So, if you can’t replace your Android for a while, rest assured the 2.1 update will certainly big a smile back to your face.

Remember, not sure all current Android phones will get Android 2.1, see our article on that.  But, if for those phones who are left in the dark, there are always custom ROMs available.

For those wondering, I am running version 0.9999 of Damagecontrol, which is now at version 1.0.  I will update to 1.0 soon.  XDA Forum for CDMA Hero

UPDATE: I have updated my version to 1.0 and everything is great.  Also, someone commented asking about battery life, in case you don’t want to read comments and my reply, battery life is noticeably better.  I’m not talking huge, but enough I notice and appreciate it.  Without actually running real comparison testing, I’d guess 10% at least.

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  • cet98

    have you noticed any difference in the battery life with the 2.1 upgrade???

  • cet98

    have you noticed any difference in the battery life with the 2.1 upgrade???

  • http://www.thesearethedroids.com Benjamin

    Yes, battery life for me is better. Not a huge increase, but enough that I can actually notice and appreciate the increase.

  • http://www.thesearethedroids.com Benjamin

    Yes, battery life for me is better. Not a huge increase, but enough that I can actually notice and appreciate the increase.

  • Steven

    Fresh has released new radio images for the 2.1 releases. You can get them at geekfor.me. Careful though, these really can brick your phone if they go wrong. They are just as simple to install, but there is more risk than any other root deal. They greatly improve battery, so I took the plunge and had no problems. I’m running Damage Control too and love it.

  • Steven

    Fresh has released new radio images for the 2.1 releases. You can get them at geekfor.me. Careful though, these really can brick your phone if they go wrong. They are just as simple to install, but there is more risk than any other root deal. They greatly improve battery, so I took the plunge and had no problems. I’m running Damage Control too and love it.

  • Jackson Reilly

    It must be great! Is it pretty zippy?

  • Jackson Reilly

    It must be great! Is it pretty zippy?

  • Towers

    I want to wait for the official update, but apparently it might even be delayed until April now. I am considering flashing my phone but I’ve never done it before and I’m afraid of bricking it, losing all my data etc.

    Hopefully HTC and Orange can get the 2.1 update in March like they promised and I won’t have to attempt this. The sluggishness of the Hero is really starting to annoy me now.

  • Towers

    I want to wait for the official update, but apparently it might even be delayed until April now. I am considering flashing my phone but I’ve never done it before and I’m afraid of bricking it, losing all my data etc.

    Hopefully HTC and Orange can get the 2.1 update in March like they promised and I won’t have to attempt this. The sluggishness of the Hero is really starting to annoy me now.

  • Danny Owen

    Updated over the weekend, first time flashing my android, expected to be at least a few hours, took 15 minutes.

    Browser speed is greatly improved, I think the wifi is better, wifi tether will be useful, bluetooth is actually useable now :)

    Happy with result

  • Danny Owen

    Updated over the weekend, first time flashing my android, expected to be at least a few hours, took 15 minutes.

    Browser speed is greatly improved, I think the wifi is better, wifi tether will be useful, bluetooth is actually useable now :)

    Happy with result

  • http://www.thesearethedroids.com Benjamin

    @Steven – Yes I flashed the newest radio as well, but like you write, it’s probably the riskiest thing to do. However, I cannot say if it improved battery or signal as they seem to be about equal as before the radio update.

    @Everyone – I have been really digging v 1.0 of DamageControl Android 2.1 All weekend my phone has been rock solid, fast and battery life feels great. I agree that the browser speed is much improved, I used to be a huge fan of Dolphin Browser, but have since moved back to the default browser.

  • http://www.thesearethedroids.com Benjamin

    @Steven – Yes I flashed the newest radio as well, but like you write, it’s probably the riskiest thing to do. However, I cannot say if it improved battery or signal as they seem to be about equal as before the radio update.

    @Everyone – I have been really digging v 1.0 of DamageControl Android 2.1 All weekend my phone has been rock solid, fast and battery life feels great. I agree that the browser speed is much improved, I used to be a huge fan of Dolphin Browser, but have since moved back to the default browser.

  • ben

    Man, this sucks. I wish I had stayed on the hero now. I was near the end of my 30 day trial a couple of months ago and decided I wasn’t comfortable with the possibility of the hero not getting noticeably better (yeah, I was rooted running gumbo I think, but wasn’t quite what I wanted, and the vanilla 1.6′s weren’t working… One of the unlucky ones with an sms problem). So I went to the Palm Pixi. Which actually is quite good. Love the keyboard (typing on it now actually). But my wife has the Hero still and I’m staring to wish I had stuck around.

  • ben

    Man, this sucks. I wish I had stayed on the hero now. I was near the end of my 30 day trial a couple of months ago and decided I wasn’t comfortable with the possibility of the hero not getting noticeably better (yeah, I was rooted running gumbo I think, but wasn’t quite what I wanted, and the vanilla 1.6′s weren’t working… One of the unlucky ones with an sms problem). So I went to the Palm Pixi. Which actually is quite good. Love the keyboard (typing on it now actually). But my wife has the Hero still and I’m staring to wish I had stuck around.

  • ben

    Man, this sucks. I wish I had stayed on the hero now. I was near the end of my 30 day trial a couple of months ago and decided I wasn’t comfortable with the possibility of the hero not getting noticeably better (yeah, I was rooted running gumbo I think, but wasn’t quite what I wanted, and the vanilla 1.6′s weren’t working… One of the unlucky ones with an sms problem). So I went to the Palm Pixi. Which actually is quite good. Love the keyboard (typing on it now actually). But my wife has the Hero still and I’m staring to wish I had stuck around. Also there is the whole problem that Palms days seem to be getting dimmer and dimmer.

  • ben

    Man, this sucks. I wish I had stayed on the hero now. I was near the end of my 30 day trial a couple of months ago and decided I wasn’t comfortable with the possibility of the hero not getting noticeably better (yeah, I was rooted running gumbo I think, but wasn’t quite what I wanted, and the vanilla 1.6′s weren’t working… One of the unlucky ones with an sms problem). So I went to the Palm Pixi. Which actually is quite good. Love the keyboard (typing on it now actually). But my wife has the Hero still and I’m staring to wish I had stuck around. Also there is the whole problem that Palms days seem to be getting dimmer and dimmer.