Droid mercifully gets a manual 2.1 update option

As is pleasantly often the case with Android devices, it turns out there's already a quick, easy, nearly painless way to circumvent the phased rollout of Android 2.1 to Verizon's Droids out in the field. Anyone who's already been through this will feel right at home with the process: grab the binary straight from Google (so you know it's legit, which is always nice), rename the file, transfer it to your microSD card, and reboot to the recovery mode screen. The rest is pretty self-evident, and when all is said and done, you'll have a Droid equipped with the very latest and greatest that Google has to offer. Let us know how it goes, y'hear?

[originalshua Posted Apr 1st 2010 9:48PM]

I downloaded this straight to my SD card and renamed it and moved it with Astro. Installed flawlessly. One point, Facebook now says download the Facebook app for your Hero instead of Motorola. Thought that was worthy of sharing.

[arunabhdas Posted Apr 2nd 2010 12:14AM]

Does installing 2.1 cause you to lose your installed apps?

[Gixxer188 Posted Apr 2nd 2010 11:58AM]

Yet more evidence that this manual download process is not the "official" update for the Motorola Droid, mine and others are commenting that their applications are now labeled with "Hero", as well as missing the aforementioned new features.

[Gixxer188 Posted Apr 2nd 2010 11:58AM]

@arunabhdas - No you will not lose your installed apps.

[MarineCanteen Posted Apr 8th 2010 8:59PM]

Hi. I need some advice. I really want to update my Droid Eris to 2.1 but don't understand how to do this manually. Could I get a little clearer (maybe dumber) instructions?

I also have a couple other questions:
Will this delete my contacts/pics/etc?
If so, how do I back them up?
Is this an "official" version?

Thanks for the help!