Sprint says Android 2.0 coming to Hero and Moment first half of next year
By Chris Ziegler 
posted December 11th 2009 5:10PM
posted December 11th 2009 5:10PM
In the wake of Verizon's Droid Eris update announcement, Sprint couldn't very well rest on its laurels and let the world go by while its Android babies grow stale on version 1.5, could it? Indeed, the company has announced today (via Twitter, of all things) that it'll be bringing Android 2.0 to the table for its HTC Hero and Samsung Moment in the first half of 2010. Naturally, we wish they could tighten that up to the first quarter (or heck, this month, for that matter), but as far as we can tell, HTC isn't yet done prepping Sense for 2.0 so they're probably in a holding pattern there. As for the Moment, it's running stock 1.5 -- and we'd certainly expect it to run stock 2.0, too -- so we're not sure what the holdup is on Sammy's end, but you can bet we're looking forward to seeing the Google juice running in full AMOLED technicolor.
So Samsung Moment owners will be 'updated to the future' in six months? How far ahead will google already be at that point with their releases of flan, gelato, etc etc? I really dig the OS, but the infinite-loop of flan/gelato envy it's bound to inspire may end up being a huge turn-off for handset makers. As future iterations of android improve and add functionality, some handsets will be left in the dust with legions of spurned owners wishing their device was running the latest version. What a mess!
@AW82 It can be seen both ways, good or bad. Guaranteed updates will get more buyers on Android. But yeah, it could be more work for Carriers.
I figure the best way to go is for the carriers to officially support only up to say 2 major releases of Android, and then from there, it's up to the user (voiding warranty) if they want to root and try to keep up.
Options are good.
@qrius
I think carriers/handset makers supporting two updates then opening the root floodgates would be a good option for the capable technorati, but I fear this would be overwhelming to the average consumer. I think android is here to stay, but being an open OS that lacks the unified front of other OS's(cough, cough Rim, Apple) will definitely create confusion among the masses.
HTC also just twittered and confirmed same thing Sprint said.
But what about European Hero's!
...which means you should see it by August
According to HTC it's "early next year".
htc: "Did you know your Sprint Hero will be getting Eclair early next year? Well...now you do! Happy Friday ladies and gents :)"
Happy Friday indeed!
By the time we get 2.0 on the Hero, it's replacement will already be on the shelves.
@Dobe2049
2.1 is already in the works. It's nothing new that new updates are always out.
I find it really irritating that we (Spring Hero) users are so far behind the curve. 1.6 has been out since before the Hero was even released, yet we have to wait several months for an update? Were already missing out on apps, including google apps (ie google goggles) by not being able to update.
I'm sorry I signed up for Sprint, I should have just waited for the Droid.
@Serus
Obviously you don't look at other handsets from other carriers. Practically all Android phones are running 1.5. The Droid got 2.0 cus they released it early specifically for that device.
@ZeRoCo0L Lets see, both the G1 and MyTouch have been updated to 1.6, the Moment also on Sprint is 1.6, and then the Droid at 2.0. The 1.5 phones are the Sprint Hero, the Samsung Moment and Behold II, and uhmm..the Cliq I think? Oh, and the Eris (Hero clone) is on 1.5 as well.
Still far from "practically all" I think.
Someone has to do SOMETHING or Android is going to lose. Developers can't make software for 2 or 3 different versions of the same OS like they're having to do right now. If I was a developer, it would be a big turn-off.
The sense UI is great and all, but if it means waiting 6+ months for a software update, then bye-bye Sense and hello updated market, apps, and turn-by-turn google maps!
Edit ^ First line saying the Moment was 1.6 is obviously wrong since it's listed in the second line.
Maybe it's Google's fault for issuing 2.0 so soon after 1.6 since not a single phone shipped with 1.6 on it.
@Serus Droid will be obsolete in six months too
Well if you don't want to wait that long, you could just head over to http://www.xda-developers.com and get it RIGHT NOW. I know there are fully functional Dream and Hero ROM available, don't know about the Moment. I've been using 2.0 on my G1/Dream for about a week, and it's very spiffy.
@jbacon617 The Hero 2.0 rom is FAR FAR FAR from fully functional on the xda boards. The G1/MY3G rom is working great because the rom has all the drivers and the correct radio for the GSM phones.
Wow.. This has the makings of WinMo. Updates for some to partial or incremental updates for others etc. etc. If you want confusion here's your chance!!!
Just incase anyone is wondering the Moment has been rooted and custom kernals are just starting to be developed for it.
http://www.samsungmomentforum.com/rooting/