By We just told you that the Droid Eris and HTC Hero were getting the Android 2.1 update and now we’re getting confirmation, additions and a timeline from Sprint. The carrier will be upgrading both their Sprint HTC Hero and Samsung Moment to Android 2.1 and this will be happening in early second quarter – likely meaning April or May.
It doesn’t seem like either device will get the FULL Android 2.1, though. The tweet also says, “Currently working through options for upgrades w/ HTC and Samsung.”That makes me think they’re deciding what to leave in and what to take out. But a couple more months and at least you’ll have SOMETHING to be happy about.
[Via AndroidForums , Thanks John_Droid , LincKraker]
It seems like this is happening with most android phones, i wouldnt be surprized if they do it with the G1 too. I bet it’s so that all the android phones become flash ready… many other features will likley get pruned.
sprint has said many times they wont do an OTA update that is large. i believe the update options are about how they will distribute the update not what features will be in Android.
arrrrghhh! First it’s sometime in Q1, now early Q2? Stop playing games with me HTC!
no at first it was the 1st half of 2010. now its early 2nd quarter.
I agree with LincKraker, they are hopefully mulling over distribution options rather than features; let us all pray!
So i take it those rummors about 2.1 comming out feb 22 are just rummors lol???
ACK! I reeeaaallly hoped that Android 2.1 for Sprint’s HTC Hero would be coming our way no later than mid-March. Now it’s probably going to be two months later than THAT. I was putting off rooting my Hero and installing an alternate ROM b/c I thought 2.1 was right around the corner, but now I may go ahead and do the root/ROM and enjoy it in the interim. Any suggestions as to which ROM I should go with? Leaning toward Gumbo. Also, for your experienced rooters, do I need to go back to stock firmware before upgrading to Android 2.1? Thx for your input….
This is a google doing, i bet anything that by the time we get a upgrade nexus one will have 2.2 all ready installed, it is clear that google is preventing every one from getting eclair 2.1 because it is their software anyway and they want to have a leg up on every device not name nexus one….
Sounds more like they’re deciding on how to deliver it, not what to take out.
If they do take out features, here is where I hope I made a good decision on getting the Moment due to it’s faster processor instead of the Sense UI on Hero.
this kind of stuff makes me don’t want to get a htc phone anymore. they take forever to update.
sprint: OTA vs. PC-based or in-store upgrade are “still TBD upgrade options” referenced in Android 2.1 tweet (working through w/ manufacturers) (12 minutes ago from CoTweet)
Whatever features they take out, I have faith in our devs that they will put it back in with their custom 2.1 ROMs!
HTC is actually one of the best phone makers for getting out updates.. I am pleased with the early 2Q release for my HERO.. I dont think that Google is trying to really get a leg up on everyone by delaying updates either, when you have a phone that already has a custome UI it will take longer to get the update, and then its still ultimately up to the carrier..
@Moises – All upgrades of the Android OS are made available to the carriers immediately. They are not held back by Google. HTC takes longer to implement due to its custom Sense UI. More than likely Sprint is holding back the upgrade so that both the Moment and Hero get it at the same time.
@son they only take forever if you have sense. i had the g1 and now have the nexus one, and i was updated quickly.
HTC (and Sprint) made the choice to enter a smartphone market where people expect and depend on a quick upgrade cycle for the software and apps that power their lives. HTC is failing its user base by dragging its heels on these updates. They’ve put these things on a back burner. A company the size of HTC shouldn’t have any problems releasing updates in a timely manner. If it gets pushed back once, it’ll happen again. And eventually people will have forgotten about it and moved on.
i dont see how this would make anyone think that they’re discussing what they’re leaving out from 2.1… besides, sprint’s new tweet clearly states they’re dicussing upgrade uptions OTA vs PC-based
and btw, people should stop whining about how long it takes htc and sprint to upgrade. G1 got two upgrades in a year, which is 1 every 6 months if you do the math. hero came out in october, 6 months later is april, which seems to be the target release date. i think it would actually be pretty annoying if a month into buying my sprint hero i had to upgrade to 1.6 then a month later to 2.0 then two months later to 2.1… it seems that instead up just upgrading sense to be compatible with the new firmware, they’re actually adding goodies and what not.. so in my opinion holding back to release 2.1 is a good choice…
I agree with Ali. I would also like to add that I think they should not divulge information about upgrades until they are available. I get so annoyed at how people get so hung up on upgrades to their devices and make threats and accusations concerning them. Quit acting as though these companies owe you anything. They work hard to produce upgrades and make to make their customers happy. It takes a lot of work and testing to put out these upgrades. You will get them when you get them. Just chill out!!
Will my Telus Hero never move past 1.5?
On the HTC’s Twitter just now :
BTW Droid Eris, Sprint Hero, AND HTC Hero in Europe/Asia…I can now tell you that Éclair with Sense will be offered for you all. #MWC
To those bemoaning us bemoaning HTC and Sprint:
The CDMA Hero should have never been released as a market-ready product. It has numerous flaws and issues which make using it on a daily basis quite annoying, and most importantly, counterproductive. Don’t get me wrong. I think it has great potential with the right software on top, which is why it should have been given top priority given its existing state. I like my Hero and I see its potential, but it should have never been released without more polish. It feels rushed.
I myself am all for the update, but by the time they push this out they will probably have version 3 out putting us behind the rest of the phones yet again. It is bad enough they release the Sprint Hero phone with 1.5 when 1.6 came out not even a week later. I mean come on.
why do you say “It doesn’t seem like either device will get the FULL Android 2.1”? where in that twitter did it even suggest that they weren’t getting the “full” android 2.1? are you assuming they’re only getting a “partial” android? part android, part… windows? part mac? part “what”?
why would they hold back on it? that’s why they do updates… if they had held back on it until 2.1 you would say that it feel’s rushed anyway.. they need customer feed back to improve on it. i think it has its flaws but very funtional, widgets do their job, though a bit on the slow side, and its facebook/flicker integration works like a charm… they need to test it out first before porting sense to their high end phones they need to test it out first
Closing out sprint account today.going to get a droid. Tired of the sprint games. You need to tell the truth about what’s going on!
I would like to take a second to point out to all the crazy little robots on this post that, Only One Phone has 2.1 No other Upgrade has been sent to any maker for release yet! Stop the fussing! 2.1 does not exist unless you have a N1 so relax now if the update was being pushed to other phones except HTC then citizens I would recommend you get your axes and pitchforks.
If we use the logic of those who say things like “by the time they get out 2.1, version 3.0 will be out and we’ll be behind yet again”, then we should never get updates at all. I mean, it’s pointless right?
HTC and Sprint need to DELIVER on the promise of a good phone/device that functions as expected at all times, or at least a large majority of the time. If you’re one of the lucky ones who find the Hero acceptable, do a few Google searches to find all the other people having issues all the time.
At least they could be pushing out maintenance releases based on the 1.5/1.6 hybrid they’ve smashed together and squash some of these bugs.
I think I hear the whambulance coming.
Ali wrote on February 16, 2010
and btw, people should stop whining about how long it takes htc and sprint to upgrade. G1 got two upgrades in a year, which is 1 every 6 months if you do the math. hero came out in october, 6 months later is april, which seems to be the target release date. i think it would actually be pretty annoying if a month into buying my sprint hero i had to upgrade to 1.6 then a month later to 2.0 then two months later to 2.1… it seems that instead up just upgrading sense to be compatible with the new firmware, they’re actually adding goodies and what not.. so in my opinion holding back to release 2.1 is a good choice…
Your wrong google g1 receive 3 update.
In march android 1.1 it came with android l.0 google g1. Android 1.5 in late may/early june. Android 1.6 in october since google g1 got update it took them 2 1.2 month to 4 month for update. I had my google g1 in febuary i should know
Your wrong Ali google g1 receive 3 update.
In march android 1.1 it came with android l.0 google g1. Android 1.5 in late may/early june. Android 1.6 in october since google g1 got update it took them 2 1.2 month to 4 month for update. I had my google g1 in febuary i should know
that only changes things from 6 months to every 4 months.
Most people aren’t taking into account that just because google releases the software that doesn’t make it ready for a device that same day. The drivers for the cameras/bluetooth/screens/keyboards/GPS/accelerometer/and so on still need to be ported or created. Some of these are easy to port some are more difficult. I am more than happy to wait to make sure that these drivers for the hardware I use are created, tested, and fixed. This is a rather large endeavor that I would like to have done correctly. When the software does finally make it to my Moment I want it working great near bug free.
Sooo, we have phones currently running Android 2.1. Sprint decided to skip 1.6 and 2.0 to give us a lead on 2.1… Now instead we’re going to have to wait until April or May. By that time I guarantee the “new” phones will be pushed with 2.2. Way to keep ahead of the game there Sprint. I’m very close to switching to Verizon, at least I’d get a phone that is current with the technology. Or I’ll just flash my phone myself to 2.1 on a leaked ROM and void my warranty. Way to go Sprint. Sprint has been full of fail since about 3 years ago. Now I see why everyone I talk to is always bashing me when I tell them I actually “like my Sprint service”. Unless there’s a financial gain in it for Sprint (which there isn’t to update these phones), they don’t seem to give a damn about people on the “older” versions of Android. The software is already out there functional for the Hero. How about Sprint get their heads out of their asses and actually talk to some developers that work on open-source software and maybe they could actually get some software on their phones before it’s a year old.
Wow, so many people complaining. Have any of you taken into consideration all the testing that needs to be done? I’d rather they be sure about what they’re putting out. If they just pushed it before they knew it was ready, you’d just be bashing them for all the bugs. Firstly, google has to make 2.1 ready, then htc has to make the sense UI ready, then sprint has to make sure they’re apps are ready. I use my NFL mobile live all the time, and I’d rather it work then not. Same for sprint TV and telenav. If I had to wait a few months to get something that has been tested and is known to work, then I have to wait. Coming from having the instict, where every update seemed to break something else, patience is a virtue.
i just took my moment in to sprint and there updating it to 2.1 now.
As far as I’ve been able to get from scouring the sprint forums and the like, HTC already finished the updating process. 2.1 is ready to release, sprint just wanted to test everything to make sure they approved of it, for whatever reason. and they tweeted later about how they would be distributing it, whether pc or in store (GOD HELP ME IF IT IS IN STORE, because just to get my phone looked at takes an hour, I don’t have an entire day to devote to my phone getting updated) or OTA, which just won’t happen. Anyway, I’m hoping early Q2 is actually early, and not some end of the quarter bs. that would suck.
Well I kind of disagree with everybody. I think that sprint,samsumg and htc are all interested in getting these updates out in a timely manner. More than likely sprint will get another couple more android devices this spring that will be running 2.1 and htc and samsung will want their devices to be updated by then to make their phones still relevant. But I think that they know the timeframe that the new devices are slated for release and can drag their feet intil then.
@badmonkey how are you able to take it in and get the update when they havent released how they are going to releast the update. I an with Josh and hoping that they dont make us take it to the store to be updated…that will be a mess….just trying to get a small issue taken care of at a sprint store is almost brain surgery….come on sprint
FUCK this shit I’m getting an iPhone. at least with an iPhone I know when they are going to release so all of this hype and anticipation can go out the window. coming June I know the iPhone gets an update, so fuck all of this crap and worries and anticipation of a god damn android update. iPhone here I come…
Forget the hero and get the moment!!!!!!, there is a flash upgrade for current moment users through sprint which solves the battery issue’s, and now it is lightning fast on cupcake 1.5. with the moments faster processor it is going to be fricken awesome on android 2.1, forget the hero with it’s sense UI, it’s no more than a gimmick!!!!!!
My fun was always pretty cool with some frustrations, but after the flash upgrade this thing is awesome.
I wonder how we will know when the update is availiable.
Wow…there are quite a few idiots out there. Talking about leaving their carrier because of a software update for their phones. How about you idiots get a life and then when it comes out, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
As I understand it, the Moment does not have a real magnetometer (digital compass). Without that, it make the few augmented reality apps out there not able to work. The moment ‘fakes’ a compass using GPS and accelerometers. I like my Google Stars. Also, my understanding of the issues with the Sprint Hero is that it’s CDMA. At the time they started developemt with android 1.5, Android only supported GSM. HTC put a lot of effort in their software and sense to make it work with a CDMA phone. So, now that 2.1 is out and has native CDMA support, they have a lot of work to do on Sense to make it work.
I’m getting pretty pissed off with this. Since I got my HTC Hero, I’ve been holding off on rooting it because the official upgrade appeared to be so close. Every few weeks I check online to find NOTHING on the HTC site and NOTHING on my provider’s site. All we have are rumours. When 2.1 comes out, will I actually be able to use 3G without going “Out Of Service” every 10 minutes? NOPE! Apparently not! This isn’t a phone, it’s a f*cking bad joke. This hardware and OS have such amazing potential, but are being marred by woeful product management. HTC are more interested in selling their new phones than supporting their old ones. These products are becoming disposable too quickly…