Help I like the hardware, but I'm afraid to be stuck with Android 1.5

[eraser]

I really wanted to get the Samsung Moment and was planning to get it on November 1st, but because the uncertainty of the feasibility of upgrading to Android 2.0 I decided to wait.

With all the hoopla about Google's new GPS navigation software for Android 2.0 I don't want to risk being left behind, who knows what else I would be missing out in the future if I am stuck with Android 1.5.

The perfect Android device for me would have a Snapdragon 1 Gz processor, run Android 2.0 (preferably stock), have a physical keyboard and would be for either T-Mobile or Sprint.

Android 2.0 and the carriers are non negotiable, everything else I may be willing to give up. I'll take Android 2.0 with a custom GUI if I have to, although I would prefer stock.

I think I read somewhere that the Sony X3/X10/Infinity will use the T-Mobile 3G bands and will run Android 2.0 with a custom GUI.

It doesn't meet all my criteria but it is the closest I can find of all the rumored or announced Android phones (the hardware is nothing to sneeze about, by the way).

If the Sony device is really for T-Mobile and is running 2.0 then it looks like this will be the one for me. Can't wait for Sony's big announcement next week.

 

[Deleted User]

Well no one can say for sure as Samsung hasn't commented yet, but it would REALLY surprise me that they wouldn't upgrade the Moment to 2.0. Android 1.5 doesn't even fully support CDMA (missing celluar AGPS for example).

 

[eraser]

Better safe than sorry. Until an update to Android 2.0 is announced I'll just sit on my hands.

At this time I'll probably go with the first phone to get Android 2.0 and a faster than 528 Mhz processor for either Sprint or T-Mobile.

The Xperia X3/X10/Rachael is looking very tempting. I hope it makes it to T-Mobile and runs 2.0.

 

[Edaze55]

I can really understand the worry there. As I consider the possibility of swapping my Hero for the Moment this weekend this looms in the back of my mind.

It would surprise me if they didnt follow suit and drop 2.0, but anythings possible

A sure fire way to lose customers would be to not upgrade the OS while the rest of the Android world sees updates.

 

[Deleted User]

Here are a couple quotes from the David Owens chat today. David is Sprint's VP of Consumer Marketing.

AdamJaworski: When will Sprint release Android 2.0 for the Hero and Moment?
David: part of the beauty of android is the ability to upgrade the os and we will work to do that quickly but it was important to be out early with both Hero and Moment. Both products are getting great reviews

AdamJaworski: Will the Android updates to 1.6 and 2.0 be over the air, or will I have to go into a store for the update?
David: Likely to be a wired update (due to size) but you will be able to do online at sprint.com.


I'm probably going to get the Moment, and I think it'll upgraded to 2.0. If not, we'll just have to find a way to root the thing and load 2.0 ourselves.

 

[Deleted User]

Here are a couple quotes from the David Owens chat today. David is Sprint's VP of Consumer Marketing.

AdamJaworski: When will Sprint release Android 2.0 for the Hero and Moment?
David: part of the beauty of android is the ability to upgrade the os and we will work to do that quickly but it was important to be out early with both Hero and Moment. Both products are getting great reviews

AdamJaworski: Will the Android updates to 1.6 and 2.0 be over the air, or will I have to go into a store for the update?
David: Likely to be a wired update (due to size) but you will be able to do online at sprint.com.


I'm probably going to get the Moment, and I think it'll upgraded to 2.0. If not, we'll just have to find a way to root the thing and load 2.0 ourselves.

Good post, thanks! He doesn't directly say it, but that implies that both phones will get 2.0 (we know the Hero will already), but they just wanted to drop them early, likely for the holidays.

 

[Edaze55]

Good post, thanks! He doesn't directly say it, but that implies that both phones will get 2.0 (we know the Hero will already), but they just wanted to drop them early, likely for the holidays.

I think the thing to consider here is that he didnt deny that the Moment would get 2.0, though it would have been better to ask about each in different questions.

And as already stated, if not, we can always hope to get rooted and update to a custom ROM. Most we lose are some apps we probably dont use anyways.

Though I might miss the free Nav app.

 

[Deleted User]

I think the thing to consider here is that he didnt deny that the Moment would get 2.0, though it would have been better to ask about each in different questions.

And as already stated, if not, we can always hope to get rooted and update to a custom ROM. Most we lose are some apps we probably dont use anyways.

Though I might miss the free Nav app.

Listen to yourself man, you've gone crazy! You'll not miss Sprint Nav because you'll get Google Nav instead.

 

[Edaze55]

Listen to yourself man, you've gone crazy! You'll not miss Sprint Nav because you'll get Google Nav instead.

HA good point. I had forgotten about the mother ship venturing into Nav.

 

[thefley]

Got the moment yesterday, only ships with the 1.5 I would wait if I were you.

 

[Edaze55]

Got the moment yesterday, only ships with the 1.5 I would wait if I were you.

Sprint has pretty much said that both the Hero and the Moment would receive the update to 2.0.

 

[mstarman]

HD2: David you did not answer question about holiday season, is there any phones coming that we dont know about for this holiday season?

David: Pixi and Moment coming. Couple others up our sleeve. Check back often.

/twitch

HTC Nagafen!

 

[dbpaddler]

actually, it was as vague as possible. Saying 1.6 and 2.0 and being extremely wishy washy with the question just made it easy to give his own wishy washy answer. HTC confirmed 2.0 to the Hero. It would be nice to have some sort of confirmation of 2.0 coming to the moment. When it's already slated to be coming out and Verizon will have a phone soon with it on, it's ridiculous to not have confirmation of an update and an approximate date. 1.5 was outdated before both phones came out. At least HTC has an excuse because the gsm Hero was 1.5 and there's a lot of effort to incorporate Sense into the OS. Samsung doesn't have problem with no TouchWiz, they were later to the game, and they're late on announcing the OS upgrade. I've got 12-15 phones to buy in the next couple weeks, and I kinda need an answer. Hunches and assumptions don't do the trick. Having to root a bunch of business phones for non-techy people doesn't work either.

Sprint has pretty much said that both the Hero and the Moment would receive the update to 2.0.

 

[thefley]

Sprint has pretty much said that both the Hero and the Moment would receive the update to 2.0.

That is the news I have been looking for!, I have both phones and was crossing my fingers and in hopes that they would take the upgrade to 2.0

 

[Edaze55]

Maybe this will make you all feel better. This is a snippet from the Webchat that David Owens recently had.

Im assuming that the phrase "we will work to do that quickly" in reference to upgrading to 2.0 is the wishy washy answer you were referring to?

AdamJaworski: When will Sprint release Android 2.0 for the Hero and Moment?
David: part of the beauty of android is the ability to upgrade the os and we will work to do that quickly but it was important to be out early with both Hero and Moment. Both products are getting great reviews

Taken from here

 

[dbpaddler]

yes. wishy washy. He doesn't answer the 2.0 question. He answers his own statement of being highly upgradeable and how they are looking to do that quickly. I have over 10 phones to buy for work so it'd be nice to before moving forward that they are definitely getting upgraded to 2.0. I've got the Hero now and won't switch to the Moment unless I know it's guaranteed to get 2.0, and my 30 days will be approaching before I know it. Not being an HTC phone, going the root/custom rom route might take a bit longer as well, and I can't expect the non tech savvy in the group to go through all that. It's going to be hard enough to get them away from palm and up and running with Exchange. Heck, I wish I was still with Palm since the PIM is light years ahead of Google's, but the OS is dead unfortunately and the need to move on is there. Just a shame Google didn't take a look at Palm's successful PIM or even Outlook to get theirs going. Their extremely slow and incremental upgrades are just brutal. Sorry...on a bit of a tear after posting in the Outlook thread.

 

[Adrift]

/twitch

HTC Nagafen!

Lol nice Everquest reference there

 

[dkjones96]

Since the Moment uses such a stock build of Android there is very little modification to mess with for upgrades. No fancy UIs or anything to port over. I see no reason to think they won't get the upgrades.

Heck, maybe they'll give us a fancy UI and just didn't include it right now so they could get it out to market earlier with every intention of just giving an upgrade later that they decided to work on instead of the current software.

 

[Edaze55]

Since the Moment uses such a stock build of Android there is very little modification to mess with for upgrades. No fancy UIs or anything to port over. I see no reason to think they won't get the upgrades.

Heck, maybe they'll give us a fancy UI and just didn't include it right now so they could get it out to market earlier with every intention of just giving an upgrade later that they decided to work on instead of the current software.

I really doubt that Samsung or Sprint will bother with a fancy UI. Not that its needed. As there are plenty you can get off market.

Ive already got my Moment looking about as close to Sense as I could possibly get, minus some of the widgets of course.

I am going to miss the facebook integration. At least until 2.0 rolls around.

 

[quentinfisher]

Lot of sources are saying Samsung is going to 1.6 with the Moment in 2010 instead of 2.0, not sure why but I guess we'll see.

 

[Blubble]

I really doubt that Samsung or Sprint will bother with a fancy UI. Not that its needed. As there are plenty you can get off market.

Ive already got my Moment looking about as close to Sense as I could possibly get, minus some of the widgets of course.

I am going to miss the facebook integration. At least until 2.0 rolls around.

Edaze55,

Would you recommend some mods or apps that you used to get your Moment "close to Sense"?

Thanks,
B

 

[flyjbaker]

Lot of sources are saying Samsung is going to 1.6 with the Moment in 2010 instead of 2.0, not sure why but I guess we'll see.

I think you might have misunderstood that "source". They said the phones would SHIP(ie out of the box) with 1.6 in 2010. That isn't to say that the phone would not be updated sooner than that.....at least that is how I understood it.

 

[quentinfisher]

Well Samsung's already confirmed it won't have 2.0 till Q2 2010, so I believe they will be updating to 1.6 pretty early next year to keep the owners happy.

 

[Deleted User]

Well Samsung's already confirmed it won't have 2.0 till Q2 2010, so I believe they will be updating to 1.6 pretty early next year to keep the owners happy.

When/where?

 

[dbpaddler]

If people can't post links or docs of their claims, the info doesn't really have any creditability.