This is not the Android you're looking for

I just couldn't resist.
Again... ;)

Surviving Bangkok, one app at a time

So I've always been an Android fan & I have to say that without it, I wouldn't have survived this long in Bangkok. In fact, I probably would've stumbled into a scenario straight out of The Hangover 2...
Google Maps has been invaluable in getting around & figuring out which buses & trains to catch.
Then there's the Learn Thai application that I use a lot because, not only does it have lots of useful phrases & translations, but it can literally speak for you - at the touch of a button a male or female voice will say the appropriate phrase for you! It's really great for giving directions to taxi drivers & telling them to switch the meter on so that they don't rip you off. :-P
Then there's Foursquare, which has helped me discover a couple of new places, Google Translate - which has been useful AND amusing (1 word in Thai can have 3 different pronunciations & meanings), & then there's the barrage of free applications that will guide you around the city & translate words for you.
Basically I wouldn't adventure outside the hotel without these apps, because I abhor looking like a stupid tourist with a giant well-crumpled map that is often upside-down...

Take a number & wait in the queue

So we have Google SA, our very own local branch of the giant corporation; which currently consists of less than 10 people sitting in a little office in Dimen$ion Data's sprawl in Bryanston.
They've been around for a little while now, promising a lot in the local media & going through staff like paper cups at the water dispenser.
According to the 'Country Manager' Stephen Newton (appointed last year), South Africans are in for an exciting Google-filled year.
Once again, there's a lot of promises being thrown out there, but if you're an HTC owner - you'll have to wait a little longer.
The HTC Hero was locally released in the 4th quarter of last year, running that nifty little OS that's set to take over the world: Google's Android.
Of course, the phone was shipped with version 1.5 and there's been a few updates & versions since then. There's also a few bugs/problems with the phone, that the latest version fixes rather nicely.
The annoying news is that there's no definite solution for Hero owners locally.
HTC's official response is:

Google Global has not given Google SA the authority to release ROM 2.0 or higher. And we cannot confirm if the software will be released or not. We need to wait for the Google SA updates.

The unofficial verdict from the local distributors of HTC products is that Google want to do the update as a network download available to local owners - over 100mb for people to download over their 'reliable' network...
Of course, they're trying to convince Google to allow walk-in upgrades (whether this is at one of their support centers, or the service provider's stores, is unclear). The issue should apparently be resolved by the end of February.
Great.
So I buy an Android-enabled device, with the hope that my life will be blessed by the simplicity & genius of the software, only to get bugged down by the politics of 3rd world technology issues.
Long live Google SA & their promises of "a better, more innovative web".
-cough cough-
Just wait for the new Motorola Droid people - you can upgrade to the latest version through the device.