DailyTech - AT&T to Give All 2011 Post-Paid Android Handsets 2.3 Upgrade

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Gadgets AT&T to Give All 2011 Post-Paid Android Handsets 2.3 Upgrade
Shane McGlaun (Blog) - July 25, 2011 12:42 PM

15 comment(s) - last by robinthakur.. on Jul 26 at 1:17 PM

Samsung Captivate to get Gingerbread on AT&T

Upgrade will come at different times for different handsets

AT&T will be offering the update to Android 2.3 Gingerbread for all smartphones that were launched in 2011. The update will come for all post-paid handsets.

Among the handsets to get the update include the Motorola Atrix 4G, and the HTC Status. The HTC Inspire 4G will get the update in the coming weeks. When the update hits the Atrix, it will give owners the ability to download apps from third-party stores. On July 17, the HTC Status will hit AT&T stores with Android 2.3 onboard.

Owners of the Samsung Captivate will also get upgraded to Android 2.3. Other smartphones getting the 2.3 update include the LG Phoenix and Pantech Crossover.

The delivery method for the updates will vary depending on the smartphone. The updates will come OTA when possible but in some cases, Wi-Fi or a PC connection will be needed to get the update.

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2011?

By ratbert1 on 7/25/2011 1:29:44 PM , Rating: 2

The Captivate was released in 2010.

RE: 2011?

By Smartless on 7/25/2011 3:22:17 PM , Rating: 2

Shhh don't spoil it for me. They might even allow sideloading apps from Amazon, but I'm not holding my breath.

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RE: 2011?

By estrello on 7/25/2011 5:42:07 PM , Rating: 2

Believe it or not, this update ALLOWS installing apps from Amazon marketplace. haven't tried anything else (updated to 2.3.4 15 min ago.)
Atrix 4G btw.

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So Verizon

By JakLee on 7/25/2011 7:33:08 PM , Rating: 1

Where is my 2.3 update? I left at&t for better pricing, a better phone, and less cost.... I got a great phone, good pricing (still grandfathered in for the unlimited data) and fine service.... but my driod 2 is still on 2.2......

RE: So Verizon

By Aloonatic on 7/26/2011 8:01:20 AM , Rating: 2

Yeah, to be honest, the Android update plan is putting me off getting another Android phone come update time in September.

I (should) have (if it hadn't been ran over) a HTC desire and that's stuck on 2.2, with no word about if, let alone when it will get 2.3. I bought my phone just as it came out too, and only on an 18 month contract, so I'm pretty lucky. However, if you buy your phone a few months after it's been released, and on a 24 month contract, which are the only competitively priced contacts these days (in the UK at least) then you face the prospect of a good 12 months of running a phone with out-dated firmware.

Sure, don't support phones that are over a year/18 months old, but then don't pretty much force people to go onto 2 year contracts.

Maybe it wont be such a problem when the operating systems mature and the difference aren't that great, but I still use my wife's HTC Desire (bought about a month after mine) and it's just plane irritating to know that there are updated phones about with menus that are now annoyingly jerky (even more annoying now as I know this is an issue address in 2.3) etc, but you're being ignored and have no choice but to stick it out.

Shabby!

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RE: So Verizon

By robinthakur on 7/26/2011 9:19:11 AM , Rating: 2

Agreed, and to be honest, I would probably have tried Android a while back if they sorted out their fragmentation issue. Unless you buy something like a Nexus S, it seems quite complex to just update your phone with all this rooting 3rd party ROMS malarky. This is an area which Apple has had sorted since day 1 and your phone will be supported for about 2-3 years from when you buy it with updates. This is likely to improve even more with iOS5 and the wireless delta updates etc. The 3GS is even getting a full version of iOS5, which is pretty good considering how old it is! The juddering scroling etc I couldn't really live with either...24 months is a lifetime in the mobile space, and there's no way I'd sign up to that!

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And the advantage of this is.....?

By 225commander on 7/25/2011 1:06:58 PM , Rating: 2

Root-n-Woot, providing Gingerbread to Galaxy S users, waaaay before AT&T decides to 'hook you uhp' and 'allow' apps from third party vendors.
So outside of warranty issues the advantage would be?

RE: And the advantage of this is.....?

By abhaxus on 7/25/2011 5:54:49 PM , Rating: 2

Official release = source code = better/easier kernel and rom development.

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heh

By sprockkets on 7/25/2011 5:57:20 PM , Rating: 2

Heh, Gingerbread does add some cool nice touches to android, like the unlock gesture or the color changes. Alas, my mytouch3G runs too slow with it. Froyo it is for me.

2.3?

By Flunk on 7/25/11, Rating: -1

RE: 2.3?

By AmbroseAthan on 7/25/2011 1:32:13 PM , Rating: 4

The 2.x's are for phones with 2.3 being the latest available for the phones as far as I am aware.

The 3.x's are for the tablets/larger screen devices, with 3.1 being the latest though I think you are right and 3.2 is right around the corner.

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RE: 2.3?

By Mysteron26 on 7/25/2011 1:32:53 PM , Rating: 2

Android 2.3 is the phone OS. Android 3.1 and 3.2 are for the tablets

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RE: 2.3?

By kleinma on 7/25/2011 2:03:41 PM , Rating: 2

Version 4 will merge the tablet and phone based systems, although likely only the very newest of hardware will be able to get that update.

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RE: 2.3?

By B3an on 7/26/2011 5:50:23 AM , Rating: 2

quote:
although likely only the very newest of hardware will be able to get that update.

I've read on multiple sites that 4.0 will run on ALL Android phones/devices.

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RE: 2.3?

By robinthakur on 7/26/2011 1:17:10 PM , Rating: 2

I'll believe it when I see it. Weren't HTC saying that 2.3 wouldn't even fit in the alotted memory for the Desire previously before reversing their stance? Will it work on all the Android phones like the Hero where they've been denied 2.2 upgrades? The updates situation is a joke, as it stands.

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