HTC: 'most phones' launched in 2010 will get Android 2.2
By Vlad Savov 
posted May 21st 2010 4:10AM
posted May 21st 2010 4:10AM
posted May 21st 2010 4:10AM
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@godwheel
I think they were working on separating 'skins' like the sense UI, Moto Blur, Rachael and Android updates from each other so the underlying version of Andoid could be updated quicker. I remember reading that somewhere anyway.
I think part of Google's problem with Android updates is how frequently they release them compared to Apple and the perception it creates for the public. It would be a lot easier for HTC or any manufacturer to keep up with updates that were released annually, but new versions are coming out every 3 months! These updates are obviously welcomed and desired because Android, now, is a much more viable platform than its 1.5/1.6 versions, so while I agree that manufacturers need to get on it, I also think it's worth cutting them some slack.
HTC does seem to be trying though and I hope they come up with a solution to roll these things out quickly now that the expectation has been established by Google.
So much for limiting fragmentation with 2.2!
What's a bated breath?
Bottom line: 'most phones' launched in 2010 will get Android 2.2
how can they say that with a straight face and have android users just casually accept that? I've seen the argument that Apple will soon be dropping support for the 1st gen iPhone, which was released in 2007 and they anchor on that argument and today in 2010, 'most phones' launched in 2010 will get Android 2.2
WOW, I'm at a lost for words, as of now, every iDevice running iPhone OS can download 3.1.3 today internationally, regardless of the carrier.
Apple understands that when you give 3rd parties control of updates for something vital, those companies have the luxury of releasing them when they please, we will see this problem being exacerbated with mobile flash 10.1 on androids if it's bundled in the firmware.
@MattsZ
You're not comparing like for like now are you? First this is an announcement by HTC, a single company using Android. Next, 2.2 adds several completely new features. The thing with Apple iPhone updates is that what USUALLY came was just a bunch of UI tweaks and the new features were saved for NEW hardware. Pretty much what your complaining about on Android.
Yes, even a first gen 1Phone can have the latest 3.1.3...but is it the SAME 3.1.3 that is on a 3GS? Can that first gen iPhone send an MMS message? No...can it send a video message? No...can it even shoot a video? No...can it use voice control features? No....see? Saying it's the SAME OS is bull...it's the same differences between 1.6 and 2.1. Google could cheat like Apple and CALL it the same thing...change a number here or there, but it's not the same.
This summer all iPhone except the first gen will have OS 4.0...but even then the 3G will not have multitasking, the main feature that 4.0 brings. What's the point calling it 4.0 on anything below a 3GS then? Just to make 3G owners feel better?
In case you missed the boat, HTC is the manufacturer that's arguably making the best phones on the market right now for the Android platform, so HTC saying in 2010 that "most" of their phones will get updated to 2.2 is kind of a big deal, doesn't that make you wonder which phones are not slated to be updated to 2.2, considering that they are being released THIS YEAR?
@MattsZ
If you paid a low price for a budget Android phone, assume you wont get an update. No update is promised at purchase. I wasn't promised one and I wasn't expecting one. I had a Nokia before this and I had a few minor bug fixes but when new features rolled out I didn't get them...they were not on the spec sheet when I bought the phone so why should I expect them?
What a mess
When will it be out? I consider all previous versions of Android beta at best. Froyo is the first to have the basics of a functional PDA Phone OS.
I'll probably wait for at least Android 2.3 though as you still have to BUY docs to go to open word, excel, ppt docs. Google may not be aware of this yet but that is what the rest of the civilized world sends to each other. I'm not knocking open source star office and other stuff -but the fact is most of the world uses MS products and Google begrudgingly better realize that at some point.
the question is when. if the evo 4g and others don't get the update until months after it is released, that's still not acceptable.
@krosref
Actually, for most people, it will be acceptable, as long as the phone does what they wanted it to do when they bought it. In 3 months, if you ask many consumers, they won't even know there is an update announced. They will be as happy using it as the day they got it.
Would you rather wait a few months, or have to wait for a once yearly update?
@Bp3dots i'm not talking about most people. i'm talking about me. and it's not a matter of how many updates come thru in a year.
it's about pushing them out in a timely fashion. if i buy a device this week, i shouldn't have to wait 3+ months for the latest version that was released a couple weeks after my purchase. even with only an annual update schedule, i don't want to wait months after release.
the bottom line is, the update should be available to anyone with a compatible device who wants it at time of release or shortly thereafter. i wouldn't even care if they put together a fee structure for those who don't want to wait until their benevolence sees fit to grace us. that way you can spend money or time to get what you want.
I love when a new version of android comes out...
It's like watching a horse race to see which phones will be upgraded first.
COME ON DROID.... GO DROID... DADDY NEEDS WIFI TETHERING AND A 5X PERFORMANCE INCREASE!
I think it's "baited" breath.
Android FTW
Dear HTC,
Please make a GSM phone, thank you f****ers.
Here we go again...
This will only become more and more of a problem.
There's too much complaining. HTC is not obligated to update your phones according to the android schedule. They are doing you guys a favor by spending resources to update phones they've already sold. I'd rather see them put resources into making even better phones.
@Narutogrey No we are doing them a favor by buying their phones in the first place.
Isn't the wildfire running similar CPU/RAM specs to some of the older Android phones? And isn't Froyo supposed to be a very highly optimised version of Android anyway, allowing it to do more with less resources?
If you want the latest and greatest, buy a new phone or root your current one. Why is this a problem?
100k people a day buying android devices, how many care about 1.6, 2.1. 2.2? Not very many.
If you actually know what 2.2 is and want it, you can probably figure out how to root your current phone.
Don't want to? Wait at least a year before complaining about an update.
Maybe donate to the guys making the ROMs? And ask nicely?
I love how everyone drools over all the new android phones released every 5 minutes, yet spits in HTC/Google faces when the phone they bought yesterday doesn't have the upgrades of tomorrow.
Google is spoiling us with the fast advancement.
Be kind to those that give you tasty treats.
I feel sorry for those who bought a HD2 hoping for WP7.
As soon as someone has a perfect EVO/GSM mishmash ROM for the HD2 im totally getting one off some idiot on craigslist for cheap, and staying off contract TMO. $62 for 500/UnTXT/UnData, Fab.
I feel that the folks at Engadget all suffer from an acute form of First-Adopter-ism.
I mean really? Will you actually have a taste for Gingerbread by then? If so, you may want to seek therapy for your addiction.
Imagine if T-mobile said:
G1 owners: anyone with less than 12 months left on contact, you can upgrade to a Nexus One now!
Oh shut up HTC. You don't even care releasing the UMTS Legend/Desire in the US, and all your CDMA phones are tied to the carriers. All I see is just the unlocked Nexus One getting 2.2.
Some of the older phones won't be able to handle the new softwares, that''s what they're saying,
Look, people buy a phone and the shelf life it's usually a year, nowadays six months, we just have to get use to it.
Welcome to the world of the Motorola Cliq owner. lol. Oh well. Still enjoying the phone!
HTC BUILDS the N1.... They already have the N1 with 2.2... HTC obviously already has 2.2... With that said, when I get my Evo, I will FLIP the F*CK out if ANY other phone outside of HTC's phones(especially the Moto Doid) get the update BEFORE the HTC phones.... THEY ALREADY HAVE 2.2!!! How the hell could the Moto Droid get 2.2 BEFORE HTC when they ALREADY have 2.2 in their hands and just have to put sense in it?? I will seriously be pissed off.... I already am because I know that's EXACTLY what's going to happen..
@JerzyIroc The hardware is by HTC, the rest was done by Google itself. So Google has complete control over when the Nexus One gets 2.2 (which apparently started now). the Motorola Droid is a full stock experience, so of course it'd be next in line. It'll take a little longer with the Droid though because of Motorola and Verizon.
HTC has to make it work on it to work with Sense UI and get it through the carriers to send out OTA, which the tend to take their time with or they can't handle it (Sprint)
There's no technical reason why Froyo couldn't be ported to all android phones released so far, including the G1:
- the improved dalvik jvm makes it possible for it to run on slower CPUs
- the 2.6.32 kernel requires ~150MB less ram
- with the ability to move programs to SD card, how much internal storage space is left after the OS upgrade doesn't matter anymore
In short, FroYo is a smaller, leaner OS than all its predecessors, including Cupcake and Donut. HTC and Google have a wonderful opportunity here to push 2.2 on all phones (and not just those released in 2010), completely erasing the android fragmentation argument. It probably won't happen, though.
I think Google or HTC should give the option to upgrade with sense or be plan android. The desire or incredible or evo or legend is so similar to the nexus would be easy to get the upgrade ready. Things like this would bra good gesture and help stem fragmentation. On the plus HTC least they have already upgraded to 2.1 MOTO is really bad.
Will the new HTC EVO be updatable to 2.2?
Googlr needs to cooperate with HTC and other phone makers to give them time to update their UI stuff like Sense for HTC and MotoBLUR for Motorola. Otherwise, it's follow the leader and there is a lag between leader and cloest follower. My G1, granted an old phone, is officially stuck on 1.6. Somehow my friend's first gen iPhone is running the wrest iPhone firmware yet he bought it one year before the G1 was even introduced.