The INQUIRER - we make the agenda that breaks the agenda
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Android 2.1 arrives in force
MOBILE MANUFACTURERS are finally getting their Android devices into line by bringing out version 2.1 of the operating system to some of their most popular devices.
Motorola announced that starting from Thursday Droid owners in the US will be receiving updates over-the-air. The Droid smartphone is currently the best selling Android device with figures showing that it has managed to reach one million units sold sooner than Apple's Iphone. The update will be issued in batches of 250,000 but impatient owners should be able to apply the update manually too.
Over here in the UK the Droid handset carries the Milestone moniker, but we can confirm that the update doesn't work on this side of the Atlantic yet. Motorola told us that a similar update will be available here "in the next few weeks".
Motorola isn't the only firm to get its finger out and bring the latest release of the Android mobile operating system to punters. Samsung also announced that its Galaxy Portal device will soon receive the bump up and even HTC's value Android-based smartphone proposition the Tattoo is set to get Eclair.
Until now, Google's Nexus One was the only device to sport the latest version of the Android OS. The capability for punters to upgrade to new versions of the operating system is seen to be crucial in promoting it against Apple's Iphone.
Thanks to Google's botched handling of the Nexus One launch with numerous availability, legal, and not to mention connectivity problems, other devices are looking set to overtake the Nexus One. These updates will only serve to cement the position of Google's Nexus One as a technology showcase, with its only remaining party piece, Android 2.1 becoming available sooner on numerous other devices.
For Android users the unification of the operating system version is vital. It should allow for a higher featured baseline, not only in access to hardware features but also in the applications on the market.
These updates can't come soon enough and one can only hope that the manufacturers will realise that standardising the Android OS software version across devices will help everyone, including not least them. µ
Tags: Google
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ROgers magics are getting the 2.1 upgrade in mid 2010. Rogers already announced it in January..
Rogers also just started offering another Android phone this month. The Samsung Galaxy, runs Android OS ver (you guessed it) 1.5.
(P.S. Rogers is the same company that charges data at 3 cents/kb. No, not kB. Look for it under "Hidden Disclaimer".)
Maurice, the article is about UPDATING existing phones to Android 2.1, and while the new Google Phone will work on Rogers in Canada, you cannot update Rogers Android phones. In fact Rogers is explicitly blocking users from updating HTC Magic+ and Dream/LG Eve phones (the only Android phones available from Rogers). The company has also forced users who rooted their phones to downgrade to 1.5 if they want to keep data (under the guise of an "update" that also blocks root access). Buy an (obsolete) Android phone from Rogers on a 3 yr term and you get version 1.5 with NO upgrade path.
http://androidforums.com/rogers/10647-rogers-dream-1-6-update.html
Can the current Milestone from Moto handle Eclair? And how many Android updates can it take? Hope that the Milestone will get a version 2.0, to upgrade its RAM, CPU(s) and GPU(s).
:)
Reading all this drama about Android versions and a f..... u. new Teletubbies Windows Phone 7 OS it think it might be a good idea for me to stay away from both.
I will wait for MeGoo and the corresponding Nokia phone.
If that still is a fail I then .... I hardly dare to say it ... go for the new Apple iPhone even I planned to stay away from Apple.
Actually available now for Canada, and versions for both the GSM 1900 of Rogers, Telus and Bell, AND teh 1700 band of Wind Mobile.
Come and get your G'Lovin here:
http://www.google.com/phone
...where Rogers thinks 1.5 is the bees knees.
It seems the HTC tattoo will not get the update for Android 2.x
http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/htc-changes-mind-over-tattoo-no-clair-upgrade-677327