Android OS upgrading

[mcf57]

I recently got a Verizon LG Revolution 4G phone. Also got the wife a Verizon HTC Thunderbolt 4G phones as well. Have had both for about 2 weeks. Everything is working good for the most part.

I'm new to the world of smartphones, but I just saw how the new Samsung Galaxy Nexus 4G is going on sale and saw a review for it. Seems to be a good review and they talk about it getting this new "Ice Cream Sandwich" OS.

I know both my Android phones currently have 2.2 & need to be upgraded (to 2.3). The review stated that other Android phones will eventually get this Ice Cream update. I'm thinking I'll just wait. Is this essentially Android 2.4? How long do you think it will take for it to become available for my HTC and LG 4G phones? Again, I'm totally new to the world of smartphones so not sure how long stuff like this takes.

 

[valorian]

When Google comes out with a new Android version it is released to the public and to all the manufacturers. When/if the specific phones get the new software is up to the manufacturer. The best way to find out when or if your phones will get an update it to keep looking in the sub-section of this forum for you specific phone. Usually someone will find out if or when the phone will get an update. Then it's just a waiting game to find out when it will drop from Verizon.

You may want to visit the section for you specific phones because I though 2.3 (Gingerbread) was released for your phones.

 

[mcf57]

Yea, I think 2.3 is available for both our phones. I went into the software upgrade section of each and it says updates are available. I just haven't done it yet & like to wait a few months to maybe make sure its worth it & get possible bugs worked out (since its new). I then also check forums (like this) to see what others say about it.

I'm also seeing some info about "rooting" an Android phone & might want to do this (another reason to maybe not upgrade to 2.3). I'm thinking this is basically like hacking the phone so it has fewatures not intially available or intended for the phone. Is this about right? What are maybe some other advantages of "rooting"

Not sure if my HTC and LG can be rooted, but it might be something I would be interested in down the road. I've done similar hacking of other hardware (WDTV, Playstation, Wii, PSP, etc.) in order to obtain more features. And I know in other worlds of hacking, sometimes when you upgrade to a higher firmware (like 2.3), hacking/rooting can be more difficult. Therefore, its sometimes better to just stay on a lower/older firmware if you want to hack a phone. This is sort of the situation here for now for me & why I have not upgraded. Not sure if that is really the case with these Android phones, but I'll continue to learn more about it here.

 

[valorian]

Yeah, I'm not sure if there is a root method or not for your phones. I would think there would be. You may also want to check out XDA Developers Forum. This is a great resource for rooted / rooting phones. They have their website devided up into different sections for different phone models.

Usually a developer comes out with a custom ROM well before the OEM releases anything. Like the Incredible 2 that I have. There is already an ICS in Beta for this phones and HTC hasn't even said if they will be releasing ICS for this phone or not.

 

[mcf57]

Is gaining additional features the main reason for "rooting"? If so, I would be interested in obtaining a feature that allows my wife's HTC Thunderbolt be allowed to output HDMI video (from Netflix) to an HDTV via its micro USB port (& appropriate cable). Otherwise, I don't think this phone can do it.

My LG Revolution has a micro HDMI port and can do it so covered there for that feature.

 

[Crashdamage]

You may or may not ever be offered an update to Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0). But definitely do the update from Froyo (2.2) to Gingerbread (2.3). It will make a noticeable difference and is very worthwhile.

 

[valorian]

I rooted at first to be able to load a ROM that didn't have Verizon's bloatware on it. I also rooted to load an Android version not available for my phone from HTC. You may get some added features.

Some developers can pull features from one phone and incorporate them into another phone. The feature you are looking for is a good question to post on the XDA Delevopers forum. If the feature is not already available for the Thunderbolt I don't think it will be possible even with a custom ROM. Features like this might be hardware specific, not just software.