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HTC said it wasn’t coming. Then they said it was. And now, due to complications, it might take a long time or the upgrade might not be as beneficial as some might hope. I’m talking about the upgrade to Android 2.3 on the HTC Desire, of course. Telstra was one carrier set to deliver the modified Sense upgrade that would allow users to install only what they needed from the Android market, but it appears they will elect not to deal with space limitations and will just get rid of HTC Sense altogether for their upgrade.
Said plans were spotted on the company’s support page for the Desire. It’ll be extremely interesting to see how this plays out. Are they breaking an agreement with HTC or has that since expired? Will users accept Gingerbread for the loss of Sense? I’m sure more than a few of those Aussies on Telstra wouldn’t be keen to losing Sense – some might have bought the phone because of Sense in the first place.
On the other hand, don’t take my skepticism for a lack of excitement – something like this sounds great to me and you. But only time will tell if it’s as easy as Telstra’s hoping it to be. [via Android Police]
“will just get rid of HTC Sense altogether for their upgrade”
Music to my ears
While i personally love sense i think users should be given the option. Keep sense or get Gingerbread… I think HTC is scared to see how many people will actually dropp sense to get GB…
*Most* people who have these type of devices don’t know what the hell Gingerbread is, let alone know enough about the overall Android ecology to make an educated decision. All they know is that it is different than what they have now and that scares them.
I don’t know why this would make them scared. HTC sells hardware. They don’t make any less money if someone chooses not to use Sense on the phone they already bought. In fact, if Sense/MotoBlur/whatever were optional on phones, the manufacturers might sell MORE phones because they can also address the market that prefers vanilla android.
If there is some technical barrier to offering people the choice, that’s one thing. If it’s just the handset manufacturers and/or carriers being obstinate… that needs to be fixed.
They could make it so you can download it from the market somehow. That way they’d actually have to make people like it instead of forcing it upon them, and if they do like it, you’d see people using HTC Sense on Samsung Galaxy S2 or on Droid 3, etc.
the whole reason for skinning is so people know that theyre using an htc phone, or a samsung phone, or a motorola phone, etc. theyre trying to differentiate themselves.
I didnt know carriers could do this.
Very interesting. I think the carriers in the US can learn alot from this.
Carriers are now our best allies against skins. Who knew?!
I love my Sense but the fragmentation is out of control. Give me Ice Cream Sandwich!
*faceplam* baka
You think ICS would fit in the Desire, if it ever happens it might be a toned down version.
I don’t believe that man, and he’s not an idiot! Lol
Just shows that U.S carriers are the problem for Android. But, HEY! AMERICANS AREN’T EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD OF ANDROID! :D surprise.
Maybe not, but I don’t know why there has been this massive anti-us hate lately.
We all wish we could have unbranded phones and fair cell phone service like you guys but you don’t have to rub it in our faces.
This is the best thing about Google…CHOICE…set it out there and let the people decide how do they want to move forward!
I’m an Australian with a Telstra Desire. The stock Telstra rom has a heap of useless apps built into it, mainly links to pointless websites. I’ve rooted my phone and have a custom Desire rom with Sense and Gingerbread. The Telstra roms simply have too much clutter.
It has been demonstrated via custom roms that 2.3 Gingerbread can easily run on the Desire. If Sense has to go to do it I will take the update to 2.3 as a preferential option any day. I can run most apps from the SD card.