Android 2.1 Finally Makes It To Droid 132
MrSmith0011000100110 writes "The lovely people over at AndroidCentral have broken the announcement that Android 2.1 is finally coming to the Motorola Droid, with actual proof on Verizon's Droid support page (PDF). I don't know about my Droid brethren, but I'm pretty excited to see the new series of Android ROMs for the Droid phone that are based on a stock Android 2.1. As most of us know, the existing 2.1 ROMs can be buggy as hell and either running vanilla 2.1 or a custom ROM; but this phone is still a tinkerer's best friend."
Re:what is this "ROM" of which you speak? (Score:3, Interesting)
This is what happens when you bring linux to the masses. A perversion of terminology. Just one of the reasons I am not a linux evangelist.
Too bad it won't work in Canada (Score:3, Interesting)
Unless you're with CDMA Telus or WIND which only exists in two cities. Otherwise, all the other networks are AT&T compatible which means no Droid, Nexus One, or N900 for me, the three phones I want to replace my iPhone with.
Super. (Score:5, Interesting)
I'm glad to see this. I'm a current iPhone user, but I'm considering moving to an Android phone. One of the things that has kept me from taking the plunge is the perception that the Android market is fragmented and manufacturers aren't bothering to update their existing models with the most advanced version of the OS available. I don't know if that's a reality, but that's my perception.
So what worries me is that I'll buy a Droid (or whichever model) and some feature will be buggy. The problem will be fixed in an OS update, but that update won't ever make it to my phone. Or some great new application will be released, but it won't work on my phone because I can't upgrade the OS.
I'm not a big fan of Apple's tight control over application distribution, but at least they're keeping things pretty compatible and offering free upgrades to their newest OS version. If Motorola can show that they'll keep these things up to date, maybe I'll make the switch.
Re:I am quite happy! (Score:3, Interesting)
Has anyone noticed how bad it is, that you have something that is supposed do be an open source Linux-based phone, and you don’t even have root access right out of the factory? Even worse, not only do you have to root it with a hack, but you are also supposed to feel bad about it when returning it for broken hardware (which has nothing to do with modded software)?
I have indeed noticed something at least a bit...off about Android phones, but that something could easily be something I'm missing. Before I explain my situation, perhaps someone with more experience can enlighten me: what's the deal with carrier released Android ROMs? More specifically, is this news only to Droid users who haven't rooted their phone, or are Android phone owners really not able to upgrade their OS version without a carrier release?
I've wanted an Android phone since the G1 was announced, more or less, but never could justify committing to the total cost of ownership (I get by with spending $10/mo on voice and ~$5/mo for 400 or so texts). Less than 6 months ago, I won a Samsung Behold 2 in an online giveaway (to my amazement). It's not the Android phone I would have picked by far, but it has enough of the hardware features one needs to use all the neat apps (touch, tilt, compass, gps, a rather nice camera, etc). Already being a T-Mobile customer, I put my existing sim card into the new phone, turned off all the wireless data conduits, and only use "network access" via WIFI (home, work, friends' places). I miss out on key things like maps and Internet outside where they can be most needed, but it works out well enough compared to the alternative of not having an Android phone at all.
As many will know, the Behold 2 shipped with Android 1.5 or 1.6. I have looked into rooting it but haven't put any serious effort into it yet, primarily because I haven't come across information on upgrading the OS version. I understand the advantage to getting a ROM from a carrier (e.g. I'd really like my camera software to keep working properly), but I expected to go to http://www.android.com/ [android.com] and find a "Download Android 2.1 Now" link, with general documentation about how one goes about installing Android on their supported device.
All I find is the release notes and the SDK, which I've downloaded and used before with an emulator. If that's a path to upgrading my phone, I missed it (not having a phone at the time). If I have to root my phone before I can install / upgrade on that level, fine, just point me to a tangible Android 2.1 download I can use on my phone once I've rooted it. Since 2.1 is a big upgrade over 1.5/1.6, I'm not exactly going to be spending any money in the Android marketplace, since I don't know which weak points I want to replace are improved in the OS upgrade.
Re:Too bad it won't work in Canada (Score:1, Interesting)
It should be observed that they'd best not do that- it's not going to be in keeping with their rights obligations with respects to the Linux kernel that Android's based upon.
Seriously, I'd have thought that Motorola would have figured this one out, after pretty much everyone watched what'd happened with Verizon and Actiontec over breaking the GPL licensing like this. This would be a bigger and nastier breach than the Actiontec one- and Actiontec and Verizon CAVED once it got to an actual lawsuit.
FREE BOOTLOADER FOR MILESTONES!! (Score:1, Interesting)
Hello.
Did you know Milestone (European/Canadian/Latinamerican) brother of the Droid has a signed bootloader?
You cannot run customized firmware/kernels on the Milestone like you do on the Droid. And this is just the beginning as more locked phones are coming.
Spread the voice. Don't buy Motorola Android phones. Even Motorola itself tells you to buy HTC:
http://community.developer.motorola.com/t5/MOTODEV-Blog/Custom-ROMs-and-Motorola-s-Android-Handsets/ba-p/4224
Thanks for reading