Help Help- Complete beginner...updates?..kernel?

[loopylou532]

Hi, i am a complete beginner with smart phones.. i have the hd desire and i don't have a clue.
Firstly whats the most recent upgrade? I got my phone last month and havnt received one i just wondered if my phone was up to date?
Whats a kernel..?
I just dont know what i am doing.
Also the phone deleted all my messages?
sometimes messages take hours to come through?

Also.. i have a different sim card then what it came with..will that stop me getting updates or do they come to the phone not the phone number?
Sorry this may be really simple but i am just getting to grips with it all.

 

[El Presidente]

Hey, welcome aboard

The most recent upgrade is Android 2.2.1. It did come with a lot of problems so you're probably better off with 2.2. However, given some of the things you've said about messaging, it sounds like you may well have it. You can check by going

Settings -> About Phone -> System Software Information.

There are various different software/build numbers kicking about, they're dependant on what your carrier (network) has done to that particular phone.

Do the messages take a while to come through, or aren't you getting notifications for them? If it's the latter, you can install a 3rd Party message app which should sort it (Handcent or Go SMS are popular) but if like me you like the simplicity of the stock message app, you can download something which takes care of the notifications for you called SMS Popup. Again, you can get this from the market. If you need instructions on how to download/install stuff just say, but it's relatively straight forward.

As for your questions relating to kernels etc. The kernel is the base between the operating system and the hardware which controls the phone. TBH, it's not something you really need to worry about unless you're going to start programming or messing about with the Android OS.

Finally, some folk get a better performance from the phone if they turn on something called USB Debugging. You can turn it on by doing the following -

Settings -> Applications - Development -> Tick the box which says USB Debugging.

The SIM card shouldn't stop you from getting updates etc. but was the phone you had before 3G?

Any other questions, feel free to ask.