Sprint/HTC FAILS with Android

[dfitzpatrick]

We've all been desperately waiting for the update to 2.x ever since we received this phone. The whole concept of the Android OS is the rapid updates that the actual os receives to take advantage of.

However, the issue we have is two fold. We have a carrier thats unwilling to bend to this model, and we have a proprietary software overlay (sense ui) that can not/will not be updated on a timely manner. The companies need to realize that Android is far different than Windows Mobile. Android is a sandbox, and needs to be approached differently when realizing the wants and needs of the consumers.

And now Sprint is rumored to get the "Hero2"...

I can't say that I'm surprised, but its clear that the main marketing standpoints for this device will be faster processor + Android 2.x. I very much doubt Sprint has any intention (even if HTC does) of allowing 2.x to roll out before the launch of the Hero2, if ever. Their business model is clearly lined to sell a 2nd generation of the Hero. The nice new processor will be cool, but really-- we aren't given too much of a choice about it. You want 2.x? You want all the new Apps being developed for Android? Well, you have to "upgrade."

I think Sprint tried to look up the word "upgrade" on the internet and landed on a wikipedia page for Microsoft.... /sigh

[Sporkman]

sorry but all i see is WAHHH WAHHH i have to wait longer for 2.1 . ive been with sprint for about 10 years they have all ways been the last to release updates . imho if you can't deal with it move on . go to Verizon or at&t .

[jbearamus]

I thought the whole concept of the OS was open source, meaning anyone can do anything they want to do with it, including putting a "proprietary overlay" on it that puts stock Android to shame.
And the carrier isn't necessarily the problem. I don't recall reading anything anywhere that all devices would be guaranteed to receive every update to Android, look at the G1 and myTouch, I think the last official update they've received was 1.6 and I'm sure there are no plans to officially upgrade them, because the carriers and manufacturers don't have to do anything they don't want or don't feel like doing, when it comes down to it, any Android phone is just another phone that the manufacturers are only going to support for so long and they're not required to support forever
And so what if they want to sell another phone. You can't expect a company to sell you a product and support it with updates forever, they would go out of business. Now as for your "faster processor" on the Legend (Hero2)its only 72Mhz faster so find something else to focus on and besides Sprint and HTC have stated the 2.1 update will be out March/April and to quote myself from another thread, launch dates announced at MWC are not applicable to the United States, globally, the manufacturers do whatever they want, in the US they do what the carriers want. So yes, Sprint is probably going to have a Hero2 but its not going to be until this fall, just like everything else announced at MWC for the last who knows how many years, the oldest thing I remember is when HTC originally announced the Apache/PPC6700 4 years ago, the Touch Pro, Touch Pro2, and Hero have all followed the same model
So stop whining, grow up, and be patient

[takmsdsm]

Originally Posted by dfitzpatrick

We've all been desperately waiting for the update to 2.x ever since we received this phone. The whole concept of the Android OS is the rapid updates that the actual os receives to take advantage of.

However, the issue we have is two fold. We have a carrier thats unwilling to bend to this model, and we have a proprietary software overlay (sense ui) that can not/will not be updated on a timely manner. The companies need to realize that Android is far different than Windows Mobile. Android is a sandbox, and needs to be approached differently when realizing the wants and needs of the consumers.

And now Sprint is rumored to get the "Hero2"...

I can't say that I'm surprised, but its clear that the main marketing standpoints for this device will be faster processor + Android 2.x. I very much doubt Sprint has any intention (even if HTC does) of allowing 2.x to roll out before the launch of the Hero2, if ever. Their business model is clearly lined to sell a 2nd generation of the Hero. The nice new processor will be cool, but really-- we aren't given too much of a choice about it. You want 2.x? You want all the new Apps being developed for Android? Well, you have to "upgrade."

I think Sprint tried to look up the word "upgrade" on the internet and landed on a wikipedia page for Microsoft.... /sigh

Sprint has confirmed we are getting it. Why be all "RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE" over another 2 month wait? Sprint getting this update has been WAY faster then any PalmOS or Windows Mobile update they have ever done.

[tokuzumi]

1) Like others have said, Sprint has confirmed the Hero will get 2.1 in Q2 this year.
2) No android phone on the market today has received a carrier sanctioned upgrade to 2.1. Droid? Nope. Droid Eris? Nope. G1? Nope. MyTouch3G? Nope. (On a side note; if we had 1.6, we wouldn't feel quite as "left behind")
3) There is 1 phone currently available for purchase today with 2.1. The Nexus One. I bet Google wanted to have some exclusivity with this OS, before allowing the carriers to upgrade their phones.

[dfitzpatrick]

After reading the first couple of responses, I looked back at my words and I came to the same conclusion-- it was straight whining. That, itself, was my fault because I failed to illustrate my argument clearly and open it up for discussion. For that, I apologize.

However, the argument I am bringing forth is that of the Android OS's purpose. It is designed to be open source as jbearamus pointed out. My whole issue is that cell phone companies are not adopting to the trending ways of the market. They are taking an open source principle, and adopting closed-source solutions to it. Don't get me wrong, I like HTC Sense UI and an update depending on its upgrade being held back I don't mind (because I can just choose not use use Sense). I am waiting patiently for the update-- I have not rooted the phone etc... but now with the supposed news of a Hero2, it shows the direction that the carrier is going. They are holding back updates, or not expediting them for pushing different product lines.

Cell phone companies need to better adopt these OTA updates and make them part of their business model. That, or come up with a open system that allows the user to update as they please. If Android is to truly expand and get better and better, we need to have hardware be the limiting factor on phones-- not carrier decisions.

What are your thoughts?

[tokuzumi]

*Disclaimer: This post progresses like a Tarantino film. Read at your own risk.

It would be nicer if android updates were like the updates in the Palm Pre. Palm was releasing fixes all the time for the Pre. Although that's likely to slow with the phone going to multiple carriers, and having different setups for each carrier (both GSM and CDMA).

I just don't see the point of Sprint getting the Hero2. Yes, the body is nicer, with its all aluminum exterior, but everything else is the same, save for the processor. Which could bode well for our hero, as any updates for the hero2 can be applied to the hero (or at least this site and xda will make sure that happens). I'd rather see Sprint get more android phones with 3.5"+ screens, and a snapdragon processor, or two.

I just had a bad thought. I hope the A9292 isn't the Hero2. I'll be sorely disappointed.....

[jbearamus]

Originally Posted by dfitzpatrick

After reading the first couple of responses, I looked back at my words and I came to the same conclusion-- it was straight whining. That, itself, was my fault because I failed to illustrate my argument clearly and open it up for discussion. For that, I apologize.

However, the argument I am bringing forth is that of the Android OS's purpose. It is designed to be open source as jbearamus pointed out. My whole issue is that cell phone companies are not adopting to the trending ways of the market. They are taking an open source principle, and adopting closed-source solutions to it. Don't get me wrong, I like HTC Sense UI and an update depending on its upgrade being held back I don't mind (because I can just choose not use use Sense). I am waiting patiently for the update-- I have not rooted the phone etc... but now with the supposed news of a Hero2, it shows the direction that the carrier is going. They are holding back updates, or not expediting them for pushing different product lines.

Cell phone companies need to better adopt these OTA updates and make them part of their business model. That, or come up with a open system that allows the user to update as they please. If Android is to truly expand and get better and better, we need to have hardware be the limiting factor on phones-- not carrier decisions.

What are your thoughts?

fair enough, hardware should be the limit, not bureaucrats but at the same time, how long does it take to build an interface like Sense? Now, you've mentioned the quick evolution of the operating system but do you think HTC is capable of putting Sense on every iteration of Android, especially if major parts of the underlying operating system have changed. So yes, HTC has to pick and choose which builds of Android to use so that results in delays, but at least they picked a build that is pretty up to date, remember when we all thought the update would be for 1.6 and after all this time it turns out that what we've actually been waiting on is 2.1 and like toku stated its not like there are any other phones on the market running 2.1 save the N1
and if you don't mind my asking, what trending ways are you referring to? Regular OTA updates only exist on two platforms and the third update system that isn't OTA, iPhone, that had always received updates fell victim to Apple's accounting rules and it is not receiving updates anymore unless you pay, and even then updates for Android are slowing, and updates for WebOS have slowed dramatically, and as I mentioned I don't remember Google or Palm saying every possible update for their operating system would be made available for all devices running that operating system, just as the G1 and myTouch have been left behind I'm sure its only a matter of time before the Pre and Pixi are left behind

[relux]

Originally Posted by dfitzpatrick

We've all been desperately waiting for the update to 2.x ever since we received this phone. The whole concept of the Android OS is the rapid updates that the actual os receives to take advantage of.

However, the issue we have is two fold. We have a carrier thats unwilling to bend to this model, and we have a proprietary software overlay (sense ui) that can not/will not be updated on a timely manner. The companies need to realize that Android is far different than Windows Mobile. Android is a sandbox, and needs to be approached differently when realizing the wants and needs of the consumers.

And now Sprint is rumored to get the "Hero2"...

I can't say that I'm surprised, but its clear that the main marketing standpoints for this device will be faster processor + Android 2.x. I very much doubt Sprint has any intention (even if HTC does) of allowing 2.x to roll out before the launch of the Hero2, if ever. Their business model is clearly lined to sell a 2nd generation of the Hero. The nice new processor will be cool, but really-- we aren't given too much of a choice about it. You want 2.x? You want all the new Apps being developed for Android? Well, you have to "upgrade."

I think Sprint tried to look up the word "upgrade" on the internet and landed on a wikipedia page for Microsoft.... /sigh

Android 2.1 was not out when the hero was released.

You are more than welcome to play in the sandbox yourself if you can't wait for what has been an incredibly quick upgrade cycle by both sprint and HTC. In regards to their past upgrades(or non upgrades) of previous devices.

Androud source: http://source.android.com/download

Hero Kernel source: http://developer.htc.com/

[hoopsdavis]

Originally Posted by dfitzpatrick

We've all been desperately waiting for the update to 2.x ever since we received this phone. The whole concept of the Android OS is the rapid updates that the actual os receives to take advantage of.

However, the issue we have is two fold. We have a carrier thats unwilling to bend to this model, and we have a proprietary software overlay (sense ui) that can not/will not be updated on a timely manner. The companies need to realize that Android is far different than Windows Mobile. Android is a sandbox, and needs to be approached differently when realizing the wants and needs of the consumers.

And now Sprint is rumored to get the "Hero2"...

I can't say that I'm surprised, but its clear that the main marketing standpoints for this device will be faster processor + Android 2.x. I very much doubt Sprint has any intention (even if HTC does) of allowing 2.x to roll out before the launch of the Hero2, if ever. Their business model is clearly lined to sell a 2nd generation of the Hero. The nice new processor will be cool, but really-- we aren't given too much of a choice about it. You want 2.x? You want all the new Apps being developed for Android? Well, you have to "upgrade."

I think Sprint tried to look up the word "upgrade" on the internet and landed on a wikipedia page for Microsoft.... /sigh

dfitzpatrick I've said it before and I'll say it again, once sprint release a phone to consumers and they've reached their target amount of sales, that phone goes on the back burner, they'll give you the update and support it but its no longer a focus point, this happens quickly. They'll release the Hero 2.0 to replace this, so why are they concerned about 2.1 for the Hero. Many people were excited about the Touch Pro, once the Touch Pro 2 was released, there was no talk of it because the Hero was released during the same time and Sprint saw everyone moving towards Android. Now that the Hero 2.0 will be release from Sprint, they'll focus the marketing towards that because they know we want the New hottest gadget, and many of us will move to that phone. Sprint isn't very loyal, you take a look at what they did with Nextel customers, they purchased Nextel to get rid of the competition and never release any phones of interest with nextel's push to talk, they burried Nextel, the customers you continued to hear about Sprint losing were the left over Nextel customers. don't expect Sprint to go out of their way to keep you as a customer, once they have you, they could careless.