After months of waiting for official word, HTC and Verizon Wireless today confirmed to PhoneNews.com that the Droid Eris will not be updated to Android 2.2, code-named Froyo.
The Droid Eris launched the same day as the Motorola Droid, which was updated to Android 2.2. Verizon has since updated all other Droid devices to Android 2.2, leaving customers questioning if the company would also upgrade the Droid Eris. The Droid Eris’s generic counterpart, the HTC Hero, was not upgraded to Android 2.2 on Sprint and other carriers.
However, the GSM/UMTS variant of the Hero, the HTC Magic, will see an upgrade to Android 2.2. HTC and T-Mobile have confirmed that the myTouch 3G will be upgraded to Android 2.2 later this year.
T-Mobile has the highest consistency in updating their Android phones, of all carriers in the United States. The only device cut short by T-Mobile thus far has been the T-Mobile G1. Google engineers have inferred that the T-Mobile G1 could have been upgraded to Android 2.1. Sprint and Verizon have each cut short two devices (Hero and Moment on Sprint, Devour and Droid Eris on Verizon) from capable Android upgrades. Meanwhile, AT&T has only recently begun launching (neutered, hindered, anti-competitive) Android devices.
That is probably a good thing. My Droid Eris has not run reliably since the 2.1 upgrade, and its been replace once. It was a much better phone with 1.5. I’m really not happy with my HTC; should have ponied up the extra $100 for a Moto Droid.
There’s nothing technically wrong with Android 2.1 in terms of hardware compatibility. Arguably, an Android 2.2 update would have given HTC an opportunity to fix the bugs they created in the latest MR4 update.
HTC proves once again that they are unreliable for updates.
[…] Read Tags: android, counterpart, droid, handsets, hero, motorola, sprint, verizon Categories: Other HTC News. […]
HTC leaves me with a phone now that jumps screens on its on and opens web pages and apps that I haven’t used. I was told the 2.2 would fix these glitches, but I guess its to much to ask for from me, the consumer. Thanks for nothing HTC. I can’t even remove the upgrade to 2.1 that I installed, which started all my problems. You should atleast do something to rectify these problems or find new jobs!
Don’t blame htc only. The sprint version of the eris, the hero doesn’t have these problems that everyone is having with the verizon version. Verizon has their own things that they like to add to updates from htc and that is not htc’s fault. All I know is that my hero with sprint never gave me any problems. Maybe instead of blaming htc you should take a 30day trial with sprint and see if it fixes the problem. Or upgrade to the htc incredible. You can’t expect a phone with a slow processor to run an os that is made for a much faster processor.
Hey, theres always rooting. Some custom roms work better than stock.
I did aesthetically,love the form factor and the rubberized finish on the Eris, however it most likely could not process the Froyo OS 2.2 upgrade.
Would have considered the Moto Devour or the HTC ERIS, had I been on VZW.
Thank You
I have the Eris. Up until recently, I hated how slow it was and thought about selling it and getting a Droid Incredible. But I decided I might as well play w/the phone so I rooted it :D. Works so much better now. I could now ramp up the speed (from 528 MHz to 710), the same app (SetCPU) can improve battery life, I use Task Manager (I don’t think u need root for this). And once the custom FroYo ROM version (Kaos FroYo) is bug-free, I’ll install it. You can get so much more out of the phone… I don’t even know anything about programming. I just went to android forums and they tell you what to do to the T – “Universal Eris Root for Dummies”
F1, it’s pretty well proven that the Droid Eris can run Android 2.2 just fine. The hardware is nearly identical to the myTouch 3G, which is being upgraded by HTC (at the request of T-Mobile) to Android 2.2. There’s nothing in the radio or carrier hardware differences that would preclude such an upgrade.
And, if there was, HTC would probably be the first to admit it. They would love to tell people that there is some hardware reason preventing Hero and Droid Eris from being updated to Android 2.2, but there isn’t.
I knew HTC and Verizon would decide not to update this phone to 2.2. That’s why I rooted mine about 2 months ago. I’ve been running KaosFroyo for about a month now, and I love it. The phone runs faster and smoother than it ever has. HTC and Verizon try to claim that the Eris doesn’t have the power to handle 2.2. That is completely bogus. The Sprint Hero is basically the same phone and is going to get a 2.2 upgrade. If you want to keep your Eris, and 2.1 is running slowly and glitchy, as mine was, root the phone. It is very easy now and KaosFroyo is a great 2.2 rom.
Chris, I haven’t seen any claims from HTC or Verizon that the Droid Eris can’t run Android 2.2.
In fact, they haven’t provided any justification whatsoever. It appears to be a new tactic on the part of Android device makers; stay quiet, don’t explain, hope people don’t remember.
We’re the only member of the mobile media that kept pushing to get an answer on this phone alone, and that’s a strong indicator that this new tactic is working, unfortunately.
There hasn’t been any official release from either HTC or Verizon, but I’ve seen on many forums that people have been told by both Verizon and HTC tech support that the Eris doesn’t have the hardware to handle a 2.2 upgrade. It is also the reason they claim they had to dumb down the official 2.1 release for (no speech to text, live wallpapers, etc.).
@ Christopher Price
I appreciate your detailed tech feedback on the Eris,however it also speaks volumes regarding VZW policies. Consumer signs up for a two year contract, with an early termination fee of some $375.00, and yet, he or she is not supported to get the fullest extend of the value, that to me is just simply disgraceful.
The average consumer does not have the time for forums, they sign a contract, pay a bill, and expect support as needed, the principal of customer satisfaction has simply been set aside, all in the interest of greed.
Why is there no adherence to “full disclosure”?? Are they exempt?
Would one sign a contract with a potential $375.00 loss, when it only applies to one party?
Why does the FCC let them get away with such malcontented contracts?
The industry should be forced to provide every Firmware, made available for the unit, by the manufacturer, until the end of the contract period!
In the age of “Firmware upgrades”, just like when there is “product liability”, there should be a “product enhancement” clause, this in return would benefit the manufacturer, in creating “brand loyalty”, which in this competitive age, would be priceless, it would also help, the as the result more educated consumer in separating companies such as VZW, from the T-Mobiles of the market, resulting in a more informed decision.
Thank You
We’ve long encouraged device makers to promote and commit to a guaranteed duration of firmware updates, whenever Android updates are viable for the hardware.
Apple’s unwritten policy of two years of firmware updates from the date of discontinuation, is in our opinion the gold standard.
Unfortunately, no handset manufacturer to-date has committed to this type of upgrade policy. Mainly, because 99% of consumers don’t know the difference between Android 1.6 and 2.1, let alone what the word Froyo has to do with a cell phone.
Well said. I couldn’t agree more. I bought my eris in early March and didn’t even get 6 months of sysyem updates. The phone wont even reach its one year anniversary on Verizon until November! To discontinue the sale of the phone after 6 months is one thing. To stop providing updates on a 7 month old phone is another.
Yeah, we just got an Eris at the beginning of June. We contracted two years of service from them, and we only get 3 months of service? Verizon owes us an early termination fee, for discontinuing service 3 months into are contract with no failure on our end of the contract.
I have an Eris, and am interested in upgrading to Froyo. I know nothing of Rooting or Roms.
Is there a “Manual Update to Froyo for Dummies” post or site, somewhere?
Thanks for any help!
Chuck
Sorry for the Double post, but I forgot to check the “notify box”
I have an Eris, and am interested in upgrading to Froyo. I know nothing of Rooting or Roms.
Is there a “Manual Update to Froyo for Dummies†post or site, somewhere?
Thanks for any help!
Chuck
[…] blog about other Android owners complaining about lack of updates on their phones and/or carriers. HTC Droid Eris Will Not Be Updated to Android 2.2 / Froyo | PhoneNews.com It seems that HTC is the worst for updates… but perhaps carriers that demand customizations add […]
WOW!
1. The Eris was an old phone the day Verizon launched it as it was nothing more than a re-branded Hero. If you are someone who reads forums and blogs you should have been able to figure this out as they kept referring to the Eris as the Verizon version of the Hero. If you didn’t do this then shame on you for not doing your research. If you did and bought it anyway then shame on you for buying a piece of tech tat was out of date the day it was launched.
2. You are now owed anything by the carrier other than a functional phone. Not upgrading to 2.2. in no way decreases the functionality of your phone. It still functions exactly the same way as it did when you bought it, actually better because they gave you the 2.1 upgrade which they didn’t HAVE to do.
3. You are not required to keep the same phone for two years, the early upgrade option is always available if you are the primary line on a FSP of if your plan is over $49.99/mo (not counting the data plan). If you are not the primary line, a secondary line can take advantage of the primary’s upgrade/early upgrade and then the primary can wait and use the upgrade from the secondary line when available. You can also go the full retail route. I did this with the HTC Incredible and have zero regrets.
4. 95% of the people running the Hero..I mean Eris,,, don’t know the difference and probably never will.
Stop whining, they haven’t violated any FCC codes just because you are anal and want all the free upgrades you can get.
“Greed and the audacity of Corporate arrogance”
Outdated strategies or sheer greed?
There was a time not too long ago, when you would purchase an electronic product, and you, the consumer would go on and enjoy the product. With the the advent of computer chips being placed in most high end devices, the vendor has an opportunity to tweak or advance the finished hardware, via a simple software upgrade, hence firmware upgrades are somewhat becoming the norm on high end electronics, case and point Sony PS3 can be upgraded to playback 3D Blu Ray Discs.
What is so interesting is the fact that the above is several years old, and neither the Manufacturer (SONY) nor the Retailer (i.e. Best Buy) have any “contractual agreement” with the end consumer.
Maybe one could argue that SONY is providing these upgrades to it’s consumers, as a form of “Customer Service”, whereby the company as a side benefit, publicizes/advertises it’s support of their consumer and product, that is not simply a P.R. stunt, it is a deliberate strategy that a mature company finds mutually beneficial for their longterm existence,sans a “contract”.
What I find even more arrogant and darn right criminal, is that VZW is not a manufacturer of a product, but “a provider of a utility service”!
As “the largest cellular utility service provider”, it has responsibilities beyond that of any regular service provider, say “Joe’s electrician”, as a leader of an industry it has obligations to the society it is utilizing in accumulating wealth there of.
However what makes it more interesting, is the fact that other “utility service providers”, i.e D.W.P.,The Gas Company,…do not force the consumer to “sign a binding contract”, in cases were the “utility provider” does, i.e. Time Warner Cable, the cable box will get firmware upgrades, or in case of older equipment you can swap the unit for a current model.
Somehow VZW is exempt of all of the above, instead as “Tim” so kindly reminded us:
1. The Eris was an old phone the day Verizon launched it as it was nothing more than a re-branded Hero.
…. “then shame on you for not doing your research. If you did and bought it anyway then shame on you for buying a piece of tech tat was out of date the day it was launched.”
2.”Not upgrading to 2.2. in no way decreases the functionality of your phone.”
Funny, a firmware usually activates hardware that pre-installed by the Manufacturer, not VZW, hence technically, it is only activating the functions!
“they gave you the 2.1 upgrade which they didn’t HAVE to do.”
Who is “they”?
VZW surely did not “engineer the firmware”,
again VZW is only a ” Cellular utility service PROVIDER”, in that case it should “provide”, what the manufacturer deems necessary, at least until the manufacturer’s warranty expires, or ideally the last they of the “provider’s contract agreement”.
3. “You are not required to keep the same phone for two years, the early upgrade option is always available
“IF” you are the primary line on a FSP of “IF” your plan is over $49.99/mo (not counting the data plan). “IF” you are not the primary line, a secondary line can take advantage of the primary’s upgrade/early upgrade and then the primary can wait and use the upgrade from the secondary line when available”.
Who are you kidding, we are to believe that the typical VZW customer is well educated on your “IF” clauses?
“You can also go the full retail route. I did this with the HTC Incredible and have zero regrets”.
I guess you either have unlimited funds, or you don’t value your dollars.
4. 95% of the people running the Hero..I mean Eris,,, don’t know the difference and probably never will.
I bet you are shooting for 100%, this way nobody know anything!
Just in case you need further proof of their GREED, here is another example by VZW & MS, mind you the irony that ANDROID was created by GOOGLE so that people have the FREEDOM of CHOICE, VZW & MS are the oxymoron of FREEDOM & CHOICE :
Google Search coming to Samsung Fascinate with Android 2.2 update, Bing not replaceable
by Boy Genius on September 11th, 2010 at 4:29pm
“….a Verizon Wireless spokesperson has chimed in, and broke it down for everyone. Once the Fascinate is updated to Android 2.2, users will be able to download the Google Search application to get their Google searching fix directly from the device. Even with the new application though, customers will not be able to change the default search setting from Bing to Google, and the search button will always trigger a Bing search. Oh well.”
Reference Link:
http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2010/09/11/google-search-coming-to-samsung-fascinate-with-android-2-2-update-bing-not-replaceable/
Thank You
I apologize for my errors, the above was a reactionary post to “Tim’s posting” and found it to offensive, and I just did not have the additional time to re-read the post, as needed.
Thank You for your kind understanding!
I’m sorry you found my post to be so offensive but that does not change the fact that Verizon and HTC do not owe you a thing. You bought a phone and the phone continues to work on their network. Going from Doughnut to Ecclair (to Froyo) changes nothing about how the phone works on the network other than you don’t get the wifi tethering which Verizon charges for anyway. Yes it means you can’t use certain apps, but that does not have anything to do with the basic functioning of the phone. The ONLY time they owe you a software upgrade is if they had done something on their network that kept the phone from working and then they need to upgrade or replace the phone to work with those changes. All other upgrades are a free bonus and you should be thankful you got 2.1, not mad you didn’t get 2.2.
The “:they” I was referring to ware HTC and Verizon. HTC creates the update from the Google source code then they and Verizon test it out and when Verizon approves an upgrade they work together to push it to users. Verizon may not be the manufacturer of the phone but HTC created the phone to Verizon’s specifications. As I said it is a modified Hero. The Hero was originally created as a GSM phone and released on multiple carriers overseas last summer. Then HTC and Sprint got together and made a CDMA version that was released on Spring last fall. Then HTC got with Verizon and further modified the design and re branded it Droid Eris (the case design changed but the innards of the device were relatively unchanged). HTC may have made the phone but both companies share responsibility for supporting it and since Verizon are the point people for customer service their opinion matters more. I’m not sure why this is such a hard concept to grasp.
The typical Verizon customer does not need to be educated about the ins and outs of upgrades, only the people like you and I who want to upgrade their handsets regularly. The rest of them just need to log into My Verizon or ask what their upgrade date is at the store.
Tim, you are correct that HTC and Verizon are under no obligation to provide Android 2.2. However, we’re under no obligation to purchase another phone from HTC and/or Verizon. Vote with your wallets people, we posted the carrier comparisons in the original article for a reason.
Apple gives customers two years of feature-laden updates from the day the phone is discontinued. Not from the day the phone is launched, but from the day they stop selling the phone. That’s quality customer care, and that’s a major reason why Apple is dominating right now.
@ Tim
“the fact that Verizon and HTC do not owe you a thing”.
Once they accept your payment, they “owe” you service till the end of your contract,however, your defination of service is vastly different, my point is about the Ethics and “doing the right thing”, which in turn goes a long way with the consumer and their decision making process, thereby it directly targets the (VZW) bottomline.
I neither own stocks in SONY/GOOGLE/VWZ/HTC/APPLE or even any ANDROID device from HTC/VZW or anyone else, I am an advocate of consumer rights, my position is to shed light on any policy that blatenly disregards consumers, ultimately, as Christopher Price stated, people vote with their wallets, that is the true remaining freedom of choice.
I believe in trust, decency and full disclosure in any sales transaction, is this idealistic, certainely, but at the end of the day, everyone feels better, when they make an educated decision and choice.
It is all about giving the consumer the correct information, with no hidden agenda and deception in play, so that everyone is on an equal level playground.
For the record:
In 1997,I discontinued using landline and have been exclusively on the wireless network, utilizing AirTouch/Vodaphone/VZW/T-Mobile and currently on SPRINT (Palm PRO 850/M.S. 6.1.)
Thank You
@F1
The only thing they OWE you is ti keep your phone service will work the way it did when you bought it. Not having Froyo does not diminish anything at all as the phone still works the way it did when you got it in the store and during your 30 day return period, Any updates and enhancements that add more are a PRIVILEGE, NOT A RIGHT.
What does trust have to do with anything here. Verizon/HTC have not gone out and crippled your ability to use features of the phone. As I said it still works the same way it did when you got it.
By all means vote with your dollars and go to T-Mobile and buy a similar device and see that your phone never gets upgraded either and launches with an OS that is just as old only now it is 9 months later so that OS is a full year old, or go to AT&T which cripples your ability to load apps not in the market (No Swype keyboard for you!) or replaces Google with Yahoo.
@ Tim
I am glad you are so content with your carrier VWZ, unless you are being bias in your judgment, say for example due to an “employment” factor!
VZW is not is perfect, just like most of the industry!
In case you missed it, here is a repost:
Google Search coming to Samsung Fascinate with Android 2.2 update, Bing not replaceable
by Boy Genius on September 11th, 2010 at 4:29pm
“….a Verizon Wireless spokesperson has chimed in, and broke it down for everyone. Once the Fascinate is updated to Android 2.2, users will be able to download the Google Search application to get their Google searching fix directly from the device. Even with the new application though, customers will not be able to change the default search setting from Bing to Google, and the search button will always trigger a Bing search. Oh well.â€
Reference Link:
http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2010/09/11/google-search-coming-to-samsung-fascinate-with-android-2-2-update-bing-not-replaceable/
Thank You
@F1
For the record neither I, or any of my friends or family work or have ever worked for Verizon.
And what does the Fascinate/Yahoo debacle have to do with the Eris not getting a Froyo upgrade? Not only is this the wrong place for it, but also none of my comments have been in response to other people bringing it up.
Yes, they tried something with Bing and it majorly backfired. Move on…
For the record I agree it was ill advised, just as it was when AT&T did it on the Backflip. Good to see VZW is making it right, is AT&T?
@Tim
As you well know, if VZW, would have accepted APPLE’s deal on the iPhone, it would have been a whole different ball game, sadly VZW dropped the ball on that also, in addition to the above sited “BING” debacle, pending your budget, VZW is not exactly what one could consider “competitive” in it’s pricing.
That said, we agree that AT&T, arguably exemplifies the worst carrier status in the U.S. Over the years, I have considered the iPhone several times, however AT&T just made it easy for me, to stay away, despite my admiration and consideration for the iPhone and it’s quality support system,i.e firmware updates, as sited above by Christopher Price.
Thank You
@F1 — we need to stop taking this off topic
You mean demands? Apple came to VZW with a set of demands for the phone some of which were completely unacceptable to them. For example let’s say you have an issue with your phone, with Verizon and with almost any other phone off of AT&T the carrier can take care of you by fixing or swapping out the phone. With an iPhone AT&T just says “you have to call Apple/go to the Apple store” Also originally the iPhone was only available un subsidized (meaning you had to pay full retail), did not have MMS (Steve didn’t think it would catch on) when every other phone on the market had it, and a plethora of other issues. It’s easy to see the grass as green on the other side, but trust me it’s not.
Oh and you may want to do some research. While AT&T structure things differently in their rate plans and add-ons when it is all said and done there is literally NO difference in price, maybe $5 like the unlimited plans but that’s about it.
@ Tim (I agree)
1. “you have to call Apple/go to the Apple storeâ€
Steve’s way to insure post sales quality control, I think it is brilliant, given today’s standard-less world, protecting his brand & name is critical!
2. I would not sign up with AT&T, even if it’s cost, would have equaled T-Mobile or SPRINT, call quality is sub par, and so is it’s customer service.
3. I have unlimited roaming (I am on a Vintage SPRINT Plan), with “at will roaming” on the VZW network, I do not see such quality differences, data is even slower on VZW, per my frequent Speedtest.net experiments, besides the phone selection on SPRINT has improved significantly, with better rates, so you could say, at the moment I enjoy the best of both worlds.
Different carriers for different locations, until they all switch to LTE and use the same radio and frequencies globally.
Thank You
And what about those of us who live no where near an Apple store? Sorry no thanks. I’ll walk into a local vzw store and get it swapped out or call customer service and have a replacement sent out free overnight. That’s the main thing Apple does anyway is swap out the phone or parts of the phone.
@ Tim
I frankly don’t know, perhaps, on a case by case bases, customer service at APPLE flips the bill for a prepaid RTS FEDEX box?!
A SPRINT CDMA iPhone 4G4, (lol) in January 2011, is on my short list.
Btw, here is further proof of another fine example of product support this time by SONY,as a reminder,the PlayStation 3 was first released on November 11, 2006 in Japan, four years later:
http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/17/3d-blu-ray-on-the-ps3-it-works-video/
Thank You