UK mobile network Three has been alone in claiming it’ll update its branded HTC Desire to Android 2.3 by the end of May – a deadline now passed. It obviously hasn’t happened. The network’s excuse is that HTC wasn’t able to meet the time frame.
Here’s the mini statement delivered via Twitter:
This isn’t particularly surprising, as HTC itself has been offering “June” as the arrival date for the Android 2.3 update for the original HTC Desire for quite some time.
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Samsung’s official Galaxy Nexus case. Costs a lot. Has a glittery little logo.
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Google’s third Nexus is bigger, once again made by Samsung and features the new Android 4.0 or “Ice Cream Sandwich” version of the OS. It’s obviously going to be good. But how good?
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A slim and glamorous phone from Sony Ericsson, with the sharpest display around. It’s no powerhouse and the screen’s not the biggest out there, but we don’t mind. Because it’s cute.
LG’s first glasses-free 3D phone is a heavy, fat monster, with a clever 3D effect that works rather well. As a smartphone, though, it’s heavy and underwhelming.
A very shiny thing from Sony Ericsson, with a 3.7″ screen and Android 2.3.3 inside. But is it exciting enough to win fans in today’s spec-obsessed market? Can man live on one core alone?
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INQ’s Android phone is an interesting “boutique” piece of hardware, packed with unique interface customisations that go far beyond the headline Facebook integration. We like it a lot.
Matt S
/ May 31, 2011Disappointing
Chris
/ May 31, 2011Here we go all over again. Gonna be a race between networks. No doubt my network ‘Orange’ will be a dismal last.
Stephen
/ May 31, 2011Weird seeing as HTC always said “by the end of June”
shrinkwrapped
/ May 31, 2011I’m on Orange. I’ll be very surprised if I ever get that update.
Part of me pities the networks – with this number of different handets running different versions of Android, it must put a big strain on resources and, frankly, there can be little incentive for them to bother once we have our contracts.
But then I remember the shovelware they insist on installing and the useless customisation I have to undo, and all compassion soon wanes.
sanderosa
/ May 31, 2011surely by upgrading to 2.3 will hinder the performance of the processor and eat more and more phone memory…couple that with all the updates google, adobe, FaceBook are doing at the moment there wont be enough space left…
im waiting until my contract ends in september and gettin’ me a new phone…with more memory.
Hands0n
/ May 31, 2011@sanderosa – Gingerbread is a lighter weight OS than Froyo (which in turn was lighter than Eclair) through improvements in design and coding. It has also demonstrably better economy of battery usage. So what it is doing is prolonging the useful life of the hardware – not making it obsolete.
Not quite the same as a new phone of the latest generation, but a very worthwhile update to the Android OS for any handset that will run it.
mintvilla
/ May 31, 2011Well no, none of that is true.
Gingerbread is a heavier OS than froyo, like Froyo was a heavier OS than eclaire.
They might have better battery management than previous OS, but they are still heavier. For an example, The introduction of Froyo gave us the JIT complier, This gives the system a 5x speed improvement, but still requires a higher end processor to use it. Custom roms for older phones such as the G1, got a froyo version but they had to take out certain parts, such as the JIT complier to make it work, as otherwise it would be too sluggish.
The leak of this rom came out over 2months ago, ive had it. It adds Zero functions and there is No difference what so ever, the only difference is now it says 2.3.3 instead of 2.2 on the phone.
It is still a worthwhile update, but it honestly adds nothing except a few security features that was fixed with 2.3.3
Leeboy
/ May 31, 2011If the networks didn’t brand the firmware everyone could have it at the same time and no problems for themselves. ThreeUK didn’t brand the 2.2 update. I got it the same day as wifeys sim free desire.
vicky
/ May 31, 2011Three is one of the worst network out there. Always promise you the world and fail to deliver. Fed up with them.
Billy
/ May 31, 2011They’re not really that bad. What would you rather have a barely noticeable os update, or unlimited, all you can eat internet data?
joemmo
/ June 1, 2011Never had any probs with three personally and found the coverage and 3g speeds to be very good.
Mart
/ May 31, 2011Lets see which carrier is the first to release a version which is withdrawn hours later because it starts to brick the phone it is on.
kervin
/ June 14, 2011just give us the google android 2.3 without the useless htc sense. Very disappointing