Motorola publishes schedule of Android upgrades for its handsets, steers clear of specifics

Remember last week, when Motorola said it was releasing an Android 2.1 update for the Droid, but then totally didn't? Moto tried to "explain" the situation in forums, but didn't really, edited its long-erroneous Facebook post retroactively, and ended up breaking a lot of hearts. Well, now Motorola has a new "Software Upgrade News" chart detailing planned upgrades for its Android devices. While this is certainly helpful going forward, the lack of clarification on the Droid update doesn't exactly solve the confusion that got them into this mess: Motorola is merely saying that the OTA upgrade will roll out "soon." As previously promised, we're also going to be getting a Cliq update to 2.1 eventually as well, which is now being pegged for Q2. Sadly, upgrades for non-US handsets are decidedly less expedient -- or not even assured -- but at least we've got something.

[Thanks, Glenn]

[Bobbo Posted Feb 15th 2010 5:00PM]

A release date for Engadget app for android is equally as obtuse.

[stabbytheicepic Posted Feb 15th 2010 5:09PM]

@Bobbo Why do you even need an app, android browser runs the full site just fine. Bookmark it, and make a web app link on desktop.

[gmac Posted Feb 15th 2010 5:11PM]

/agree, so I guess "soon" means before the end of Q1?

[xFenixKnightx Posted Feb 15th 2010 5:35PM]

@stabbytheicepic
The fact that they have iphone, bb and webos apps and not android clearly shows they dont give ratsass about us. Those apps were all out fairly quickly and nothing yet for android. Bigtime lame.

[aubreyq Posted Feb 15th 2010 6:03PM]

@xFenixKnightx: There's no Symbian Engadget app either, but I'm not complaining ;-)

[Terrillos Art Posted Feb 15th 2010 8:55PM]

@Bobbo
The app will come soon i am sure, but really what version should they launch it? 1.6, 2.0, or 2.1. In the end some Fans will lose out

[Agentbolt Posted Feb 15th 2010 11:24PM]

Agreed. Kinda silly for you guys to passively-agressively jibe Motorola for not giving any answers when you haven't given us ANY clues as to what the holdup is with an Engadget Android App.

I'm not saying you guys are lame for not having it out yet, obviously I have no idea what goes into coding for a specific platform so there could be any number of technological barriers to putting it out. But why make fun of companies for being obtuse and weirdly silent about something that on the surface seems really simple, when ya'll are doing the exact same thing?

[Bobbo Posted Feb 16th 2010 3:57AM]

@Terrillos Art
This is simply incorrect that one needs to develop for a particular version of the Android platform. When a new version of Android comes out, the overwhelming majority of apps work just fine with no problems. Those that don't usually get fixed really quickly by developers. Remember devs are on the marketplace to make money. Once they get a few bad ratings and feedback saying there's something not working or compatible with their app, they quickly fix the app and users are notified of an update.

It's that easy. The most recent Engadget Blog totally insinuated the very same false information you just did as well.

Just like an application for Windows XP will still run on Windows Vista and Windows 7, most applications on Android will run on all platforms just fine.

Anyone that tells you different doesn't know what they are talking about, and that includes Engadget editors.

[OsoOto Posted Feb 15th 2010 5:01PM]

That Windows Phone 7 Series has me seriously regretting the Droid.. *whimper*

[Dking7 Posted Feb 15th 2010 5:05PM]

@OsoOto don't worry, it would be out when your droid will be dead......

[stabbytheicepic Posted Feb 15th 2010 5:07PM]

@OsoOto why?

[stabbytheicepic Posted Feb 15th 2010 5:08PM]

@OsoOto Seriously, by the time you can buy a windows 7 series super mobile phone, the droid will have android 3.0, and bing will be even worse.

BING!

[jhed84 Posted Feb 15th 2010 5:08PM]

@OsoOto Considering you have 8 months, at the very least, before any of the 7 phones come out, you have plenty of time to enjoy the DROID. Besides, even if you have to wait a year after that, it will give the platform some time to shake its bugs loose. The DROID is still the best phone out there (for now) in my opinion.

[treats Posted Feb 15th 2010 5:09PM]

@OsoOto

Why? The DROID is a great phone and Windows 7 Mobile isn't out for like 8-9 months, and we still haven't seen any real hardware.

Google is watching, and Android isn't even remotely stagnant on being updated.

[Andir Posted Feb 15th 2010 5:17PM]

@treats It's called trolling... try not to feed them.

[xFenixKnightx Posted Feb 15th 2010 5:38PM]

@OsoOto

Whaaaa???? O_o

IMO that winmo7 UI is going to look outdated quick.

[brad51 Posted Feb 15th 2010 5:07PM]

And how about Milestone NAM? (Canada)

[MJ Posted Feb 15th 2010 5:10PM]

soon = 1-3years? nice an vague, u would think they could at least say which quarter of which year/decade it will happen in...

[jpm Posted Feb 15th 2010 5:11PM]

I don;t see how the DEXT in Europe is still being evaluated for 2.1 unlike everywhere else in the world. Seems a bit stupid. Come on Motorola get it sorted and get it launched

[durangojim Posted Feb 15th 2010 5:14PM]

Also, hate to say it, but it doesn't say anything about 2.1 coming to the Droid. We're all assuming it will in the upgrade, but you know what happens when you assume...

[farside521 Posted Feb 15th 2010 5:15PM]

Motorola you advertised this phone to be the latest and greatest because droid does . This phone should have had the update on day 1 or at month 1 !

[gmac Posted Feb 15th 2010 5:15PM]

Really harping on series 7 because its a fresh mobile OS? Android isn't going anywhere. /lawl

[constantlyafk Posted Feb 15th 2010 5:29PM]

Still, I'd love to see An unlocked boot-loader for the milestone (EU droid) with the 2.1 update : D

[Keith Becker Posted Feb 15th 2010 6:30PM]

Droid 2.1 update is expected to roll out "soon."

In other news, the Pope declared the Rapture is coming "shortly."

[jamo Posted Feb 15th 2010 9:26PM]

Timeline for Sholes 2.05...just now. Multi-touch, overclocking, 2.1 gallery :)

[Mpowell103 Posted Feb 15th 2010 11:27PM]

Anyone know when the htc droid eris is getting the update??

[palomosan Posted Feb 15th 2010 11:29PM]

When is it soon, I'm about to root the Droid, moto hurry up.

[Jstyle Posted Feb 15th 2010 11:52PM]

The motorola site is no more. Looks like they may have spoke too soon again.

[Captain Caveman Posted Feb 16th 2010 10:04AM]

Whatever. I decided to root my Droid and I've not looked back since. At this point 2.1 would be a downgrade for me...