It's not the iPhone, but the HTC Hero is certainly a worthy challenger to the popular Apple smartphone. What it does is combine the expertise of HTC, one of the world's largest smartphone makers, and the Google Android operating system, which now supports more than 10,000 applications that you can download online. The HTC Hero is powered by a Qualcomm 7200A processor running at 528MHz, 512MB of ROM and 288MB of RAM. It also features a 3.2-inch touch sensitive screen, high-speed HSPA mobile data networking, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and a 5-megapixel digital camera on the back. HTC has also incorporated a couple of neat tricks into the Hero. The screen has been coated with a special anti-fingerprint layer, which will minimise smudges, while light sensors on the front of the phone now automatically detect the lighting conditions and adjusts the brightness of the display for better viewing. With Android, you also get a digital compass, as well as the G-sensor, or gravity sensor, which is similar to the iPhone's accelerometer for sensing the phone's movement. In addition to the Android operating system, the Hero also features HTC's own touch-based user interface, which allows you to customise your phone's menu and homepage. You can even programme in different sets of homepages - for example, one for the weekend with easy access to your music library, or one with multiple clocks for when you travel to different time zones. The HTC Hero sells for HK$4,498. Pros: Android operating system, fingerprint-resistant display, customisable homepages Cons: 2mm thicker than the iPhone
