With android phones, do you have to wait for the carier to release an update?

[BigToque]

I'm just curious to know, if you have a phone with android on it, do you have to wait for a carrier specific release before you can update?

IE, your phone has v. 2.1 and you want 2.2, do you have to wait for your carrier to release their own version of 2.2, or can you just compile (or download) whatever the latest version is right from google?

 

[Drekce]

It's carrier driven, unless you root and apply the updates yourself.

 

[SunnyD]

You have to post in the right forum first.

 

[rudeguy]

its carrier based. Unless you root your phone.

Happy myTouch owner running 2.1 here

 

[gaidensensei]

Not that I want to rub one in you dudes faces, I just want to contribute to the discussion.

I've been using an unlocked, non-rooted G1 with AT&T for about a year and half. I get OTA updates, not from using the "check update button" but I assume the phone is downloading bits of update info with the GPRS/edge connection while I'm not using it.

I don't know how it does it as I'm not really a phone buff, but I have received cupcake and donut (was that the codename for the second one?) updates without manually installing it on my phone.

 

[rudeguy]

Not that I want to rub one in you dudes faces, I just want to contribute to the discussion.

I've been using an unlocked, non-rooted G1 with AT&T for about a year and half. I get OTA updates, not from using the "check update button" but I assume the phone is downloading bits of update info with the GPRS/edge connection while I'm not using it.

I don't know how it does it as I'm not really a phone buff, but I have received cupcake and donut (was that the codename for the second one?) updates without manually installing it on my phone.

cupcake was the only update done. I don't know what other updates you are downloading...????

 

[gaidensensei]

There was a second one for sure, after cupcake. I started out on the factory update prior to cupcake.

I forgot about cupcake some point on and got a prompt on my screen one day saying "update your phone?" OK Cancel

Figured it was cupcake and it was.

Then like half a year back or so I got another one. I didn't know what that one was but I was out of the phone loop by then.

If it helps, says currenyly my firmware is 1.6 and kernel ver kernel version 2.6.29-00479-g3c7df37

We know for a fact AT&T doesn't carry the G1, how it's getting updates is the only way I could think of in the previous post.

 

[Fox5]

There was a second one for sure, after cupcake. I started out on the factory update prior to cupcake.

I forgot about cupcake some point on and got a prompt on my screen one day saying "update your phone?" OK Cancel

Figured it was cupcake and it was.

Then like half a year back or so I got another one. I didn't know what that one was but I was out of the phone loop by then.

If it helps, says currenyly my firmware is 1.6 and kernel ver kernel version 2.6.29-00479-g3c7df37

We know for a fact AT&T doesn't carry the G1, how it's getting updates is the only way I could think of in the previous post.

It probably is just connecting to the tmobile server and downloading. I doubt there's any verification on the downloads, the phone is probably just set to download from the tmobile server.
That makes me wonder though, is it possible to change the download location of the phone? Maybe point everything to nexus one updates?

 

[murphy55d]

Yeah if you're rooted you just have to wait for someone to put out a ROM which has the newest version. If you're not, then you have to wait for your carrier to decide theyre going to update your phone, then wait for them to release an official update. Which can really suck if you're unable to root...I got an Eris in November, waited 6 months for Verizon to release 2.1, it STILL isn't out...and I have since moved on to a Droid.

 

[sswingle]

While "root or wait for carrier" is mostly true, the Eris has had 3 leaks so far that have not needed root, but haven't been officially released by Verizon yet either.

 

[slightlyhuman]

root. i've flashed 3 roms since this past weekend. root or die.

 

[murphy55d]

While "root or wait for carrier" is mostly true, the Eris has had 3 leaks so far that have not needed root, but haven't been officially released by Verizon yet either.

Those leaks have also not been rooted, either. Despite ongoing efforts. If that test rom was never released for the Eris there would be no root at all on that device. It was basically handed to them.

 

[rudeguy]

root. i've flashed 3 roms since this past weekend. root or die.

which one are you rocking now?

I'd like to find a fast hero ROM but I can't find a stable one.

 

[darkswordsman17]

This is something I've been curious about. Obviously if you update/install software that the carrier/manufacturer hasn't readied you'd be on your own as far as software support, but does it impact your warranty? Its also one of the things that has me leery on Android, is that since its going on a variety of products, getting software that properly utilizes your specific phone's capabilities could become a headache.

 

[rudeguy]

Yes it voids your warranty but you can always put it back to stock

 

[vshah]

cupcake was the only update done. I don't know what other updates you are downloading...????

there have been two OTA updates on tmo: cupcake (1.5) and donut (1.6)

the phone does verify the md5 of the image it downloaded. it would be insane not to.

 

[slightlyhuman]

which one are you rocking now?

I'd like to find a fast hero ROM but I can't find a stable one.

tried cymod5 test3 yesterday and so far i'm keeping it for now. did away with my swap on my SD card since it was recommended for test3. it flies!

 

[rudeguy]

there have been two OTA updates on tmo: cupcake (1.5) and donut (1.6)

the phone does verify the md5 of the image it downloaded. it would be insane not to.

Yep...I got my deserts confused. Sorry about that.

I meant that donut was the last OTA update, so I'm not sure what he has been downloading since then. I know that Tmo will release occasional firmware updates but I haven't heard about any.

 

[rudeguy]

tried cymod5 test3 yesterday and so far i'm keeping it for now. did away with my swap on my SD card since it was recommended for test3. it flies!

Yeah...I have some kind of issue going. It flies right after boot up but after a while it will lag for a good 15 seconds when I want to return to my home screen. My class 6 memory card should be here within a couple hours. I'm going to do a clean wipe and go with no swap to see if that helps. Are you OC'ing at all?

 

[boomhower]

I root and do my own as well. I am now running a 2.1 ROM stripped of Sense on my Hero. The EVO is going to be out before Sprint updates them to 2.1 at this rate.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I'm also running a hacked OS. Samsung Moment on Sprint. First it was supposed to be updated in late March, and since then it has been "any day now" for over a month.

I think there's a lot of passing the buck between the carrier and the manufacturer. I don't know whether to blame Samsung, HTC, or Sprint for the delays. I've heard unconfirmed rumors that Sprint wants to update both the Hero and the Moment at the same time, so it's possible that the update is finished for one but not for the other. And I still have no clue what's taking them so long. It's not like 2.1 doesn't exist or something. It's been around for months.

So yeah, a couple days ago I got tired of waiting and installed 2.1 on my Moment. Started with that, then installed a custom ROM, then tried a newer release (DD10 instead of DD03) with another custom ROM. So far the biggest advantages have been the slide to unlock and slide to answer features along with compatibility with more apps. There were a lot of apps I wanted to use but couldn't because they were only for newer versions of Android. Examples:

Helix Launcher - Pretty simple replacement home. Unlike most home replacements, it's not overburdened with features so it's about as fast as the stock home. Lets you add four extra apps that are available on all home screens. Also lets you add extra home screens (I don't really need more than the stock 3 but you can have more if you want).

Google Navigation - Much improved over Maps. Google Nav gives you turn-by-turn directions without having to use a shitty Sprint/Verizon/whatever navigation app.

Google Goggles - Not that useful, but neat. Take a picture of just about anything and it will analyze it and give you more information. Converts pictures of business cards into contact information, pictures of businesses into reviews of said businesses, and pictures of landmarks into travel information.

 

[zerocool84]

I'm also running a hacked OS. Samsung Moment on Sprint. First it was supposed to be updated in late March, and since then it has been "any day now" for over a month.

I think there's a lot of passing the buck between the carrier and the manufacturer. I don't know whether to blame Samsung, HTC, or Sprint for the delays. I've heard unconfirmed rumors that Sprint wants to update both the Hero and the Moment at the same time, so it's possible that the update is finished for one but not for the other. And I still have no clue what's taking them so long. It's not like 2.1 doesn't exist or something. It's been around for months.

So yeah, a couple days ago I got tired of waiting and installed 2.1 on my Moment. Started with that, then installed a custom ROM, then tried a newer release (DD10 instead of DD03) with another custom ROM. So far the biggest advantages have been the slide to unlock and slide to answer features along with compatibility with more apps. There were a lot of apps I wanted to use but couldn't because they were only for newer versions of Android. Examples:

Helix Launcher - Pretty simple replacement home. Unlike most home replacements, it's not overburdened with features so it's about as fast as the stock home. Lets you add four extra apps that are available on all home screens. Also lets you add extra home screens (I don't really need more than the stock 3 but you can have more if you want).

Google Navigation - Much improved over Maps. Google Nav gives you turn-by-turn directions without having to use a shitty Sprint/Verizon/whatever navigation app.

Google Goggles - Not that useful, but neat. Take a picture of just about anything and it will analyze it and give you more information. Converts pictures of business cards into contact information, pictures of businesses into reviews of said businesses, and pictures of landmarks into travel information.

I've tried 3 different ROMs so far for my Moment. Found my favorite one so far. Calkulin's DD10 is awesome. Snappier than stock DD10 and removes all that Sprint crap and has Swype and other goodies built in. You should check it out.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Sprint seems to have released the official 2.1 update for the Moment. Basically if you go to download the CL14 service release, it downloads a version of 2.1 with build number DE03.

I'm going to wait a day or two and see what happens but this might be it!

The amazing thing is if they officially release it tomorrow, then they will have just barely met their "early Q2" goal by one day.