Its unfortunate but as mentioned earlier, entirely predictable.
As also already mentioned it is Microsoft's, and in some instances the Carrier's code and as such they do have the right to control its distribution.
Rant Mode On:
What I feel is criminal is the lack of support we as consumers have come to accept, and even expect. They (Carriers, Microsoft, and the OEM's) have this cycle down where they introduce product and push it hard and heavy for 3-6 months, then shut-off the support rapidly and EOL it within a year.
$600.00 dollars for a product that goes EOL in less than a year is not a great bargain in my view. Yes, I paid full retail (I have a great plan I don't want to change). I looked at the device long and hard and decided to invest my time and effort into making it a workable tool rather than just a broken toy. For the most part it has been a good experience, but no one in their right mind could say that the operation of this device was ever
fully right and did what was promised (real hi fidelity A2DP anyone
?) completely (If it had I would not be out here scrounging for OS upgrades, would I?).
So although I understand Microsoft enforcing their intellectual property rights (and I agree probably at the Carrier's urging), I also feel as a consumer that they and Sprint (in my case) have not met their agreement with me as a consumer of their expensive and complicated device.
I would say these Carriers and to a lesser extent Microsoft had better tread very carefully, or they may fall victim to a backlash of increased competition, law suits, government regulation, and in the worst case a wholesale breakdown of their business channel to piracy. Ask the media mavens how that feels Sprint.
To UTR Starcom:
Thank you for trying to get these lazy greedy bastids off their arses, keep up the good work, it hasn't gone without notice to some of us.
Rant Mode Off:
Now where are the addresses to thhose private FTPs, DC Hubs, or Torrent trackers..I know I left them here somewhere.
Omni out!
Edit Add: Another thing for the powers-at-be to think about. I bought my PPC when I my research and discovered there was a strong community of people in the wild working on these devices and trying to make them better and fix the problems. I know of at least ten other people who also waited until they did their research and saw the community support before getting the bug to finally buy. Without the interesting upgrades and breakthrus from time to time these communitys soon grow stale and die.