PHOTO
The skin used on the Hero is called HTC Sense. The user interface looks similar to the TouchFlo 3D skin that HTC uses on its touchscreen Windows Mobile handsets.
Apart from adding a new graphical sheen to the underlying Google-derived software, Sense also includes federated search capabilities. For example, people can use one search string to scour Microsoft Exchange emails, Gmail and many other types of webmail account.
Searching for a contact will bring up their contact details and their Facebook status updates and photos. In addition, a single search can be made across photos on the phone, on Facebook and on Flickr.
The handset's search button can be used natively in maps, appointments, people, Twitter and, of course, Google search.
Talkback
Any idea whether unlocked versions of the Hero will be available and at what sort of price?
Given that operator exclusivity has gone out the window with this handset - plus the fact that it's an own-brand HTC job - I think unlocked versions will be available.
Unsure of the SIM-free price right now, though.