HTC Android updates

[stu1wyatt]

Hi All,

So recently I decided to make the jump to Android from my 3GS, as I have stated on other post I do like the phone however there is one major things that's making think I may go back to the iPhone.


Updates!

I invested £400 sim free on my desire, I'm starting to get really concerned from looking on various sites and reading articles about the inability of HTC to update Android.

Anyone that owns a HTC hero will know what I'm talking about here, I have recently been reading the articles about the desire, saying 23rd of the months , 2weeks. Now HTC are saying they are INVESTIGATING the possibility of Froyo on the desire. I'm concerned that I may end up waiting 6 months plus for this update, until it's here my device functionality is effectively crippled.

Official Android 2.2 Discussion - Page 8 - Android Forums

What to other HTC owners think? please don't turn this into an iPhone bashing thread, both platforms are great and have their pro's and con's

This has me worried given the way they have treated HERO owners.

Lots of people may say so what , you should be happy with what you have. I would like to install lots of Apps, something I'm not able to do given the laughable amount of internal memory, once and IF I get Froyo I will be happy Everytime I want a new app I need to delete another app, something that is really starting to tick me off.

Why HTC gave it such a small amount of internal memory is beyond me.

I have a 32gb Memory card turning up to replace my 16gb but what's the point, think I will send it back.

I know HTC want to make money by bringing out new phones but this phone is absolutely top notch so I would expect it to have 2.2. then maybe 3.0 afterwards.

I know Apple 3g owners got a bit annoyed about iOS4 but at least they have it with some features and their model is two years old, mine is 3 months!!!!


I believe this is the issue that will stop Android from being great.

There is a side of me thinking I should just chop it while it still has significant value, the other side saying I should keep it because just maybe it could be great

 

[Singh400]

Meh, the Desire will almost defintely get the 2.2 update, question is WHEN.

 

[JMWS]

I thought you could run apps from the memory card using Froyo? If I'm right, surely it doesn't matter what size the internal memory is.

Singh400 is right though, the Desire will get the update .... just a question on when........

 

[stu1wyatt]

Hi,

You can with Froyo, the point of the post is the concern about HTC and their updating process and the fact we have a killer bit of hardware that is crippled until the manufacturer seem's fit to update.

View any thread from the HTC hero and you will see what I mean with regards to HTC's updating process i.e. it could be 1 year down the line.

 

[neil.atkins]

I came to the Desire from an iPhone 3G and all I can say it that I can't see myself ever going back to Apple and their restrictive ways.

My advice, root it and put a decent ROM with a2sd+ on it (For example the PAYS one from xda developers). It's a REALLY simple process and once you do it you can install whatever apps you like from the marketplace to make the most of your 32GB card. If you are worried about warranty, it can easily be un-rooted (see Modaco.com)

I can't fault the phone now, speed, ability for full customisation, avi playback etc.......It's great

As for Froyo, with a2sd+ the need isn't so urgent for me now. HTC can take a few months to get it sorted and it won't worry me...

 

[Rizvan]

All good things come to those who wait.

iOS4 is so bland looking, Apple are indeed too restrictive.

In my opinion 2.2 Froyo is as good as if not better than iOS4 and Gingerbread will really give Apple something to think about.

Open-source will rule.... just a matter of time, Google will keep going.....

Riz

 

[everett_psycho]

yes, i'm annoyed at the length of time HTC are taking to sort out 2.1 on the hero but they are almost there at last. they have worked closely with google though and i believe the newer android systems are easier for manufacturers to tinker with so updates should roll out faster

 

[readymix]

After numerious emails to HTC to find out when or IF my sim free Hero will get an update i give up no more HTC devices for me they are a waste of space with nonecommittal replies.

 

[Messiah]

and how long have 3G and 3GS owners waited for an update. Being a little unfair I think. Firstly, there were never any guarantees that the Desire, or any other handset, would get 2.2 and secondly, it's not like it's been that long.

Patience is a virtue

 

[readymix]

Trouble is I dont have an iphone and couldnt care less how long it took to get the upgrade for it, I have an HTC HERO and all i want from HTC is a yes or no if it will get the update you would think that was simple enough but not for HTC,if its no then it can be moved on.

 

[Messiah]

Trouble is I dont have an iphone and couldnt care less how long it took to get the upgrade for it, I have an HTC HERO and all i want from HTC is a yes or no if it will get the update you would think that was simple enough but not for HTC,if its no then it can be moved on.

My post above was not directed at you. It was in response to the OP.

 

[stu1wyatt]

If that's the case, it defeats the point of Android and it will continue on being massively fragmented.

I don't fancy buying another phone everytime google release an update that gives us functionality we should have had in the first place i.e. install to SD cards.

At least on the iPhone you get around two years worth of software out of the device which is fair in my book.

 

[[email protected]]

Problem is you seem to be expecting everything as soon as its available, and thats simply not going to happen. the 2.2 release is only just rolling out to nexus, so expecting desire update right now is never gonna happen.

patience is a virtue

 

[Messiah]

If that's the case, it defeats the point of Android and it will continue on being massively fragmented.

I don't fancy buying another phone everytime google release an update that gives us functionality we should have had in the first place i.e. install to SD cards.

At least on the iPhone you get around two years worth of software out of the device which is fair in my book.

Why do you say you will need to buy another phone? No decision has been given with regard to Froyo coming to Desire one way or the other so you seem to be jumping the gun a little bit. Yes, iPhone users may get 2 years out of their software before a major update but only because Apple do not release such frequent software revisions.

I'm just struggling to understand why you bought a phone with Android 2.1, with no knowledge of whether or if it will ever get 2.2, and as soon as 2.2 is released (but no announcement as to it's availability for certain handsets) you start saying that the handset you were quite happy to pay good money for is crippled and basically useless and that you are going to have to buy another phone

Is it because you have identified a usability issue for yourself, you have seen a fix that is not yet available so a few toys are being thrown out of the pram

How is this any different to people who bought 2G iPhones only to find they had no MMS capability, or 3G users who found they had no Copy and Paste. Similar concerns (albeit on different platforms) but I'm sure many of those were happy to wait until that functionality was provided.

I am not being argumentative here but if you re-read your posts I think you will see that you appear to be being a little impatient and unreasonable toward a new OS, pretty much in it's infancy (in market share terms) but at the same time quite unbelievably mature for its age.

 

[stu1wyatt]

I'm not throwing toys out of the pram just want Froyo NOW NOW NOW NOW ;o)) ,

I'm merely trying to state my concerns that i have a really powerful great phone that is hindered by the Manufacturer strategy, which I believe will ultimately hold the platform back.

Androids a great platform but they need to get 2.2 on as many devices as they can if they want it to compete with the Apple app store.

Before I purchased my phone I heard about the fix for Apps to SD coming , I wasn't aware then off the issue with Manufactures holding back otherwise capable platform, I obviously understand the business logic behind this to sell you the latest and greatest but this may also backfire.

The point I make about needing another phone is due to the functionality i.e. apps to SD, if HTC decide not to upgrade we cannot legitamtely get this function. You install a couple of sat nav programs, googlemaps and a few utilities and you will see that the Desire's internal memory doesn't get you far.

I have a 32gb SD card I use for music and other bits but I want to be able to utilise this memory.

Once they provide 2.2. I'm happy ;o)) The point of the thread is also to get thoughts and views from other HTC owners that want to discuss.

As the Hero owner stated, he would simply like to know yes or no, if they are going to release it in 3 months I will be happy, if not I will sell it and get a phone capable of running 2.2.

Apparently the new Droid X is coming to the UK and they have confirmed a date of August for 2.2 ;o)) looks like a great phone.

 

[Deleted member 27989]

I totally agree with this and find it all so confusing...And not just HTC, but why did Sony launch the X10 with 1.6...This will/is so difficult to understand for consumers and no two Android phones are the same, so what's the point keeping them on the same banner...

I so want to go there, but issues like these and also the totally inconsistent user interface are holding me back...

 

[jameson_uk]

I totally agree with this and find it all so confusing...And not just HTC, but why did Sony launch the X10 with 1.6...This will/is so difficult to understand for consumers and no two Android phones are the same, so what's the point keeping them on the same banner...

I think people make too much of this.... If you buy a TV you never expect to update it (although sometimes you can if you start hacking around in service menus).

The important thing (which Google seem incapable of promoting) is the stability of the OS and things like being able to take apps from one device to another etc.

Yes Froyo will provide some good stuff but at the end of day we only moan about it because we know it is possible and we know the differences. Joe Public will probably not know they have an Android phone let alone that there is an update to that OS due

I so want to go there, but issues like these and also the totally inconsistent user interface are holding me back...

I think you will always have different Android interfaces but I think that is a plus point. Sony for example can create a small screen phone where as HTC can create one with a massive touch screen. Even if all phones were on 2.2 you would still have different interfaces as HTC would have their UI and other manufacturers will have theirs. The key is a reliable underlying operating system. Look at the netbook market, some are still selling them with XP and others with Windows 7. Often the old but stable XP is sufficient but users have the choice.

Again look at Linux (on which Android is based anyway) and there are many flavours with different interfaces and this differentiates distros but in a good way. I have a dev/play machine which runs Debian and does not look great but I have Ubuntu as a dual boot on my desktop which looks a lot nicer. Choice is good

 

[Deleted member 27989]

I don't think you can compare it with a TV...Then again you can, one TV we have in the bedroom can record, the user interface can really do with an update as there are a number of elements in it that just doesn't work well...

My old Nokia e65 was so buggy I did not enjoy using it, sure it worked but not great, N95 got the updates but the e65 didn't.....

Updates are very very important for smartphones. Take a look at 2.1 which gives html5 support over 1.6, if I didn't do a bit of background investigation regarding the X10 for example or even HTC Tattoo which only come in 1.6 which is nearly a year old, 2.1 was introduced a month later, yet still no upgrade. That is just taking the Mick with your customers to effectively today still sell obsolete equipment...

I don't think the different interfaces is a plus point, it is flipping confusing, exactly the reason why Linux with its 1001 flavours still hasn't broken through...It should have stable, fast, cheap but it hasn't...Even Market Place has apps for different resolutions, heck I used to know that stuff but are not interested any more knowing what 3 or 4 letter acronym is the size of my screen so I can pick the right app...

 

[[email protected]]

obsolete !!!!

Are those phones no longer working anymore? do they self destruct?

People are expecting far too much, buy the phone knowing what it does NOW, if it get an upgrade great but why do you believe that all phones should be upgraded.

 

[Deleted member 27989]

Because a smart phone is not like the old embedded devices. They have a lot more functions which introduces lesser quality controls and thus have lots of defects.

Take the email on htc legend for example you can scale it to fit the window. Have to scroll like made if you have anything other than text. Nor does it goes into landscape when you tilt the phone. Yet other apps do.

If not for new functionality it is for defects and very importantly security vulnerabilities.