Gingerbread (aka Android 2.3) on Evo!

[Doomstang]

Sprint's website is showing the Evo 4G with a "Now with Android 2.3" label by it. Looks like the question has changed from "if" to "when".

Yep just read that!

Sprint now touting EVO 4G 'with Android 2.3' | Android Central

 

[ocnbrze]

interesting indeed.

 

[bupolo]

So, I'm assuming that they feel good enough about 2.3 to release it on a clean phone, but perhaps performing an update is still causing delays?

Otherwise it'd seem odd to not roll it out today?

 

[Chopper Joe]

Visiting Sprint's site to see if there was any info on EVO 3D and/or View and saw that new EVO 4Gs are shipping "now with Android 2.3" (http://shop.sprint.com/mysprint/shop/phone_wall.jsp?INTNAV=ATG:HE:Phones) though not listed on the spec page for the EVO.

Wonder when the rest of us will get it.

 

[drexappeal]

Hahaha...After I saw that, first thing I did was go to Settings>System Updates>HTC Software Update

BUT, nothing yet...LOL. That said, if they're shipping or advertising EVO's with Gingerbread already, I'd imagine we'll be seeing the updates fairly soon, especially with the rumored 6/4 release of the 3dEVO.

 

[BenChase7]

Wonder if they'll throw in some new Sense goodies with it. Either way, this is awesome.

 

[JunBringer]

I see this as a really good move by Htc and Sprint. Release it on the new phones so they get the press and firsties, but not the upgrades so people will still buy the 3D. Good business "Sense."

ZING!

 

[Drew5150]

I would say shortly after the 3d is released. so hopefully by the end of june, july at the latest.

 

[EVOeli]

Sprint HTC EVO 4G now shipping with Gingerbread? -- Engadget

 

[EVOeli]

it was a typo, check the online store now, they fixed it...

 

[wodin]

Engadget:

Update: We received word from Sprint that the inclusion of Gingerbread was an unfortunate mistake, and that it plans to upgrade the EVO 4G as soon as it can.

 

[EVOeli]

as soon as they can? that should've been like 2 months ago..

 

[gordon1hd1]

Engadget:

Update: We received word from Sprint that the inclusion of Gingerbread was an unfortunate mistake, and that it plans to upgrade the EVO 4G as soon as it can.

So we back where we started: We know there is an update coming, just don't know when...

 

[BenChase7]

I expect it just after the EVO 3D is released.

 

[alextop30]

I really am not understanding what you are hoping for. For the phones that are releasing with 2.3 we have already know that this will happen for example the Nexus S 4G was originally designed with 2.3 and that is how it will come out. I do not understand why 2.3 is being bottlenecked especially for the Evo when it is still one of the most powerful and best phone on the market still.

 

[Ashunte]

From a business stand point I kind of understand why they're holding it back, however it sucks and makes me want to not upgrade to the 3D.

 

[EarlyMon]

I think a little perspective is in order. No one's been getting Gingerbread outside of the Nexus until recently, and this was leaked for the DX, then out for the DHD and Desire Z - and that was very recently.

If everyone were getting GB and we were at the back of the bus that would be one thing - NO ONE's been getting it. And while people with cm7 and Nexii have been way happy, looking at the rolling defect list from 2.3 to 2.3.3 - and then the latest slam against 2.3.3 security - I can see why the makers might be holding back for risk mitigation.

Now that we're down to the short strokes, they may or may not update us before the 3vo comes out - and the story we'll have to wait was often repeated, but never verified publicly so far as I recall.

Not trying to apologize for Sprint or HTC, just saying, perspective is required.

Besides - cm7 has been out for the root-adventurous for some time.

 

[cyaiphone]

EVO WILL get gingerbread probably sometime around summer. Maybe even right around the launch of the EVO 3D. I'm not sure it will come with sense 3.0 though.

 

[drexappeal]

H

From a business stand point I kind of understand why they're holding it back, however it sucks and makes me want to not upgrade to the 3D.

From a business standpoint, that's exactly why I thought the "mistake" was a calculated one if it was really a mistake. Reason being, what better way to unload the remainder of the evo4g inventory, than to have it ship with the newest version of android? You have that with a likely drop in price...Sprint can easily gain new customers without worreying about how sales will be with the evo 3d.

Just look at what att did with the iphone 3gs and price drop. My estimation is that Sprint has high hopes for the 3d sales, but isn't going to ignore the remaining sales they can make with the evo 4g.

Remember, the main goal for their overall sales is more in the accounts sold, not units.

 

[ardchoille]

Sprint makes money selling phones. Sprint got your money when you bought the Evo 4G. Sprint must continue to release new phones with features that the older phones don't have, otherwise nobody would have an incentive to upgrade and Sprint wouldn't make as much money.

Will Sprint release gingerbread with Sense 3.0 for the Evo 4G? I don't know. I can only say that it would result in more sales if Sprint didn't release Gingerbread with Sense 3.0 for the Evo 4G and instead released Gingerbread with Sense 3.0 for the Evo 3D.

Will the Evo 4G get Gingerbread? I don't know. I can imagine that, if the Evo 4G did get Gingerbread, it would be sometime after the Evo 3D is released to give customers an incentive to upgrade to the Evo 3D.

Just my $0.02

 

[Slug]

It's so great that this forum has corporate insiders like 'archercc' to be able to come on and give us definitive and absolute statements like this.

Your sarcasm is both offensive and unwarranted. HTC has previously stated that Sense 3.0 will only come with its "new" handsets. The clear inference of this statement is that the UI on existing handsets will not be updated. Handsets will receive an OS update to 2.3.x but Sense will remain at v2.0.

 

[jackgibbs]

Your sarcasm is both offensive and unwarranted. HTC has previously stated that Sense 3.0 will only come with its "new" handsets. The clear inference of this statement is that the UI on existing handsets will not be updated. Handsets will receive an OS update to 2.3.x but Sense will remain at v2.0.

except that the evo is running sense 1.0, so if we get 2.0 or better yet some type of 2.0/3,0 hybrid that would be a pretty big update

 

[MikeJwF]

If EVO ever does get the 2.3 OTA update, is there chance that a locked bootloader could come with it? Kinda like what happened with the HTC Wildfire?

 

[drexappeal]

Sprint makes money selling phones. Sprint got your money when you bought the Evo 4G. Sprint must continue to release new phones with features that the older phones don't have, otherwise nobody would have an incentive to upgrade and Sprint wouldn't make as much money.

Will Sprint release gingerbread with Sense 3.0 for the Evo 4G? I don't know. I can only say that it would result in more sales if Sprint didn't release Gingerbread with Sense 3.0 for the Evo 4G and instead released Gingerbread with Sense 3.0 for the Evo 3D.

Will the Evo 4G get Gingerbread? I don't know. I can imagine that, if the Evo 4G did get Gingerbread, it would be sometime after the Evo 3D is released to give customers an incentive to upgrade to the Evo 3D.

Just my $0.02

Hm, let's see what's more important to Sprint. Lowest payment for a plan $69.99+$10 data fee (minimum fees)+surcharges and taxes comes out to around $90 per month X 24 months (e.g. 2 year commitment) = ~$2,160. 1 phone = $199+ tax for however long the customer decides to keep it. In my estimation, I'd much rather be focused on the $2,160, rather than the $199+tax.

That said, let's not get it completely twisted. I'm not saying that new phones aren't important in order to garner those 2 year committed new accounts, but the devices are just a means to an end really. Ultimately, Sprint's money earner is when they have people locked in for 2 years on an account.

If we're just looking at it from a business perspective, holding back the EVO 3D doesn't necessarily stray them from "losing" business because those that want to "upgrade" to the EVO 3D will do that. If you ask Sprint if they'd prefer signing on new accounts committed to 2 years of monthly payments under current EVO 4G's vs. the profits they'd receive from upgrades, I can't see ANY logic in them preferring the upgrades. There's absolutely NO reason for them to let the remaining EVO 4G just die and collect dust. Good business sense means that they're going to do everything they can to get "new" accounts signed on with the existing EVO 4G before they even worry about sales on the "new" handset (EVO 3D).

 

[novox77]

If EVO ever does get the 2.3 OTA update, is there chance that a locked bootloader could come with it? Kinda like what happened with the HTC Wildfire?

If you're fully rooted already, your bootloader is unlocked. And you can flash the rooted stock ROM (basically the OTA packaged with superuser). That way you get the update while retaining root privs. Bootloader isn't touched in the process.

If you're not rooted, your bootloader is locked. Flashing the OTA gets you the new version, but really has nothing to do with the bootloader. Update: an OTA can update the firmware of the bootloader. But it's unlikely that an OTA bootloader update would unlock it.

Bottom line: OS updates have nothing to do with the bootloader. Whether you have a locked or unlocked bootloader depends on whether you are fully rooted or not.