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Android 2.1 Finally Makes It To Droid

Posted by timothy on from the for-all-your-robot-needs dept.

MrSmith0011000100110 writes "The lovely people over at AndroidCentral have broken the announcement that Android 2.1 is finally coming to the Motorola Droid, with actual proof on Verizon's Droid support page (PDF). I don't know about my Droid brethren, but I'm pretty excited to see the new series of Android ROMs for the Droid phone that are based on a stock Android 2.1. As most of us know, the existing 2.1 ROMs can be buggy as hell and either running vanilla 2.1 or a custom ROM; but this phone is still a tinkerer's best friend."

17 of 132 comments (clear)

  1. I am quite happy! by ircmaxell · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I am quite happy about it! I LOVE my Droid, and the added features will be a welcome addition.

    And no, I won't root it. Not because "I'm scared", but because I don't mess around with my primary device (I have a G1 and a ATT Tilt (HTC Tyan II) that are both rooted). If something goes wrong, I want the ability to drive directly to Verizon and get a new device without worry about "Crap, it's still rooted, let me get home and try to unroot it before taking it in"... Plus, I rely on it for daily use. So if for some reason it bricked, I'd be up the creak without a paddle...

    --
    If a man isn't willing to take some risk for his opinions, either his opinions are no good or he's no good
    1. Re:I am quite happy! by GweeDo · · Score: 3, Informative

      Nandroid full backup of your stock 2.0.1 install. That is all you need. Something isn't working, just flash back to that and it will even rewrite your recovery image if you want it to. Verizon will never know.

      --
      Unstable Apps: Our Android Apps Don't Suck
    2. Re:I am quite happy! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      And no, I won't root it. Not because "I'm scared", but because I don't mess around with my primary device (I have a G1 and a ATT Tilt (HTC Tyan II) that are both rooted). If something goes wrong, I want the ability to drive directly to Verizon and get a new device without worry about "Crap, it's still rooted, let me get home and try to unroot it before taking it in"... Plus, I rely on it for daily use. So if for some reason it bricked, I'd be up the creak without a paddle...

      So in other words, you're scared :)

    3. Re:I am quite happy! by Hurricane78 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Has anyone noticed how bad it is, that you have something that is supposed do be an open source Linux-based phone, and you don’t even have root access right out of the factory?
      Even worse, not only do you have to root it with a hack, but you are also supposed to feel bad about it when returning it for broken hardware (which has nothing to do with modded software)?

      Sorry, but how can you stand something like that? I would never buy it, or be very very pissed.
      My Linux phone had root. I installed my own software, and various other packages. And it’s not only OK with the vendor. No, it’s even expected.
      (I’m not going to say which one, so I don’t sound like a retarded fanboi. But it’s pretty obvious which one it is, since it’s as far as I know the only one. ;)

      --
      Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.
    4. Re:I am quite happy! by nschubach · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I understand your sentiment, but let's be honest here for a second. If you want support, the best way to go about it is using "approved" versions of the software. I love Linux, but it makes it hard for a company to support. Now, they could insist on nandroid backups of the OEM system in order to support phones with root, but that's yet another system they have to support. For instance they could say, "Do with it what you like, but before returning it to the store for repair, run this to restore the default configuration."

      Hell, back when I did PC support, most OEMs insisted on this for even Windows builds. I'm sure we all remember the Packard Bell/Compaq/etc. system restore discs. They were more to ensure that the software wasn't the problem and it truly was a hardware issue. Most of them don't even help you today with Windows builds unless they are factory stock.

      --
      Every time I start to have faith in humanity, I ruin it by driving to work between 7 and 8 am.
    5. Re:I am quite happy! by centuren · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Has anyone noticed how bad it is, that you have something that is supposed do be an open source Linux-based phone, and you don’t even have root access right out of the factory? Even worse, not only do you have to root it with a hack, but you are also supposed to feel bad about it when returning it for broken hardware (which has nothing to do with modded software)?

      I have indeed noticed something at least a bit...off about Android phones, but that something could easily be something I'm missing. Before I explain my situation, perhaps someone with more experience can enlighten me: what's the deal with carrier released Android ROMs? More specifically, is this news only to Droid users who haven't rooted their phone, or are Android phone owners really not able to upgrade their OS version without a carrier release?

      I've wanted an Android phone since the G1 was announced, more or less, but never could justify committing to the total cost of ownership (I get by with spending $10/mo on voice and ~$5/mo for 400 or so texts). Less than 6 months ago, I won a Samsung Behold 2 in an online giveaway (to my amazement). It's not the Android phone I would have picked by far, but it has enough of the hardware features one needs to use all the neat apps (touch, tilt, compass, gps, a rather nice camera, etc). Already being a T-Mobile customer, I put my existing sim card into the new phone, turned off all the wireless data conduits, and only use "network access" via WIFI (home, work, friends' places). I miss out on key things like maps and Internet outside where they can be most needed, but it works out well enough compared to the alternative of not having an Android phone at all.

      As many will know, the Behold 2 shipped with Android 1.5 or 1.6. I have looked into rooting it but haven't put any serious effort into it yet, primarily because I haven't come across information on upgrading the OS version. I understand the advantage to getting a ROM from a carrier (e.g. I'd really like my camera software to keep working properly), but I expected to go to http://www.android.com/ and find a "Download Android 2.1 Now" link, with general documentation about how one goes about installing Android on their supported device.

      All I find is the release notes and the SDK, which I've downloaded and used before with an emulator. If that's a path to upgrading my phone, I missed it (not having a phone at the time). If I have to root my phone before I can install / upgrade on that level, fine, just point me to a tangible Android 2.1 download I can use on my phone once I've rooted it. Since 2.1 is a big upgrade over 1.5/1.6, I'm not exactly going to be spending any money in the Android marketplace, since I don't know which weak points I want to replace are improved in the OS upgrade.

  2. Already use DroidMod by Aequitarum+Custos · · Score: 2, Informative

    which has all the features 2.1 has that I found useful Multi-touch + Picasa Gallery + Google Earth!

  3. Re:what is this "ROM" of which you speak? by Sir_Lewk · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This is what happens when you bring linux to the masses. A perversion of terminology. Just one of the reasons I am not a linux evangelist.

    --
    "linux is just DOS with a UNIX like syntax" -- Galactic Dominator (944134)
  4. Too bad it won't work in Canada by i_ate_god · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Unless you're with CDMA Telus or WIND which only exists in two cities. Otherwise, all the other networks are AT&T compatible which means no Droid, Nexus One, or N900 for me, the three phones I want to replace my iPhone with.

    --
    I'm god, but it's a bit of a drag really...
    1. Re:Too bad it won't work in Canada by ajlitt · · Score: 3, Informative

      Today is your lucky day: N1 for 3G 850/1900/2100

    2. Re:Too bad it won't work in Canada by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 2, Informative

      Motorola Milestone is a GSM variant of DROID that's offered in Canada. So far exclusive to Telus, though.

      And yesterday, Google has released a variant of Nexus One that works on AT&T 3G frequencies in U.S., which means that it also works in Canada. And, yes, they do ship to Canada. You can only order an unlocked one online, though, not subsidized via any operator.

  5. Re:What? by sbeckstead · · Score: 2, Informative

    I use Mac OS because it's cool and I like to use it. I use Windows cause it pays the bills. I use Linux because it's a neat hacker OS and it's cool too. But Windows still pays the bills. I'm working on fixing that but until we switch I'm stuck.

    --
    Why bother
  6. Re:Help... by loconet · · Score: 2, Informative

    Knowing is half of the battle.

    --
    [alk]
  7. Re:Help... by GweeDo · · Score: 3, Insightful

    A blog link that answers your question. If you target 1.5, you will cover 99%+ of the users with Android phones. The best bet is to decide what features your app needs. Then target the lowest API version that allows for that.

    --
    Unstable Apps: Our Android Apps Don't Suck
  8. Re:Bitchin Bagle is where it's at. by nschubach · · Score: 2, Informative

    FYI, the SholesMod guys moved onto DroidMod. Not sure if you followed any of that.

    --
    Every time I start to have faith in humanity, I ruin it by driving to work between 7 and 8 am.
  9. Super. by nine-times · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'm glad to see this. I'm a current iPhone user, but I'm considering moving to an Android phone. One of the things that has kept me from taking the plunge is the perception that the Android market is fragmented and manufacturers aren't bothering to update their existing models with the most advanced version of the OS available. I don't know if that's a reality, but that's my perception.

    So what worries me is that I'll buy a Droid (or whichever model) and some feature will be buggy. The problem will be fixed in an OS update, but that update won't ever make it to my phone. Or some great new application will be released, but it won't work on my phone because I can't upgrade the OS.

    I'm not a big fan of Apple's tight control over application distribution, but at least they're keeping things pretty compatible and offering free upgrades to their newest OS version. If Motorola can show that they'll keep these things up to date, maybe I'll make the switch.

  10. Re:Flash? by BatGnat · · Score: 2, Informative

    They back-tracked and said that full flash ten will only work on phones that have an ARM v7 Cortex processer, so only newer phones get it (Droid, N1)
    http://www.androidauthority.com/index.php/2010/02/26/adobe-flash-10-will-not-support-first-generation-android-devices/