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HTC Gingerbread update.

this is getting utterly disgusting...rubbish from htc, and i thought nokia was bad...unbranded phone on t-mo uk, no sign yet of anything...
 
I had a little think about this whole update thing from a business perspective, and I hate to say it but what HTC are doing makes commercial sense to them.

Regarding the branded/unbranded first debate, it makes perfect sense for the updates to be released thru the operators first.

They buy the majority of handsets from HTC, and HTC have to serve them better than anyone else to protect that revenue stream: both for the DHD and other handsets.

As far as I can tell, it's infuriating for us unbranded folks, but I think the people that buy off the shelf unbranded units make up a very small percentage of total ownership.

Same goes for how far HTC will update the DHD. They'll only keep pushing updates if major carriers want them, the phone is current, etc etc. If there's no business justification (ie: money rolling in), then there's no point in continuing to update a handset.

I'm assuming the Nexus models are special because of agreements with Google...they are supposed to be the flagship models, after all.

This is only one opinion and I guess people will flame me for it....I'm also not happy myself, but HTC are a business. Just remember that.
 
I wanted to clear up the IMEI queries I had so I contacted HTC again this morning -

Chat Transcript
Please wait while we find an agent to assist you...
You have been connected to Karin.
Karin: Hi John, thank you for contacting HTC Support. Please can you elaborate on your query?
John: Hi Karin
John: yeah, saorry
John: I spoke with a guy via chat yesterday about the OTA update you have ongoing at present
John: He said unbranded handsets would be first, followed by the network branded handsets later
John: I gave him my IMEI and apparently I'm branded
John: however, there is no network software on my phone and I have Android 2.2.1, software number 1.72.405.3
John: now I thought that would mean I was unbranded as the 1.72.405.3 firmware is a stock HTC ROM
John: can you confirm please?
Karin: If you give me your serial or IMEI number, I can have a look for you
John: ok, thanks.
John: IMEI - 69 Dude
Karin: Just a moment please
John: no probs
Karin: It seems as if orange may have used the unbranded rom for updating, or that they have used the same version number.
John: hmm, strange
Karin: Because I can see that the phone is branded, and that 1.72.405.3 is the same number as the stock rom.
John: does that mean that because I have a branded IMEI, I'll have to wait until Orange release the update or will I get it directly from you guys? I got the 2.2.1 (1.72.405.3) update in December and I wasn't aware the networks released that software version so I presumed that came straight from you
Karin: You should get your updates from Orange rather than us.
John: ok thanks, so it's done by IMEI then?
Karin: What is done?
John: the update, I presume you guys have a list of unbranded IMEI's to send out updates to?
John: sorry, I wasn't very clear there
Karin: The release of updates is done automatically from a server, we have no opportunity to manually send out updates to specific devices.
John: yeah, again sorry I didn't really make myself clear again, How do you decide (automatically) who gets the update? I presume only unbranded handsets get it from you and branded get it from Orange/O2/Vodafone etc. Do you have a list of unbranded IMEI's that you tell the server to can get the updates or is it done by some other means?
John: sorry, that's my last question, I promise ;)
Karin: I have double checked it with a colleague because I was not sure, but the update is released randomly (no choice of IMEI or serial) directly from our servers to all unbranded devices. At the same time we have given the networks the updates for them to tweak to their branding, which they release.
John: ok, thank you very much for your time and I apologise for the strange queries
John: you've been most helpful
Karin: No worries at all, we are here to inform. Thank you for contacting HTC, have a lovely day!
Click to expand...

It's just a random thing, not done by IMEI or serial by all accounts. I still think HTC gave me the last update, not Orange, but meh.

I'm not actually that fussed when I get the update, I just don't want to end up with branded firmware.
 
With my Desire HD, I've always had WiFi and mobile network permanently switched on. Worked fine for me :)
But with Gingerbread, if WiFi signal is weak, then my Desire HD changes automaticly to mobile network.
I would rather have the 2.2 behavior. But maybe with the next update .... :)

Harry
 
El Presidente, I have an unbranded phone from Vodafone, and I'm sure mine is fully unbranded (same ROM as you). I'm still not seeing an update, so maybe there's a difference between truly unbranded phones (SIM-free) and those sold by a network carrier with contract?

I still think I'm getting my updates from HTC also.
 
Uri Stamonov said:
I had a little think about this whole update thing from a business perspective, and I hate to say it but what HTC are doing makes commercial sense to them.

Regarding the branded/unbranded first debate, it makes perfect sense for the updates to be released thru the operators first.

They buy the majority of handsets from HTC, and HTC have to serve them better than anyone else to protect that revenue stream: both for the DHD and other handsets.

As far as I can tell, it's infuriating for us unbranded folks, but I think the people that buy off the shelf unbranded units make up a very small percentage of total ownership.

Same goes for how far HTC will update the DHD. They'll only keep pushing updates if major carriers want them, the phone is current, etc etc. If there's no business justification (ie: money rolling in), then there's no point in continuing to update a handset.

I'm assuming the Nexus models are special because of agreements with Google...they are supposed to be the flagship models, after all.

This is only one opinion and I guess people will flame me for it....I'm also not happy myself, but HTC are a business. Just remember that.
Click to expand...


I 100% agree with you, also people don't buy a handset direct from HTC you get it from a reseller, so HTC are right to deal with the bigger customers first imho
 
dijon said:
El Presidente, I have an unbranded phone from Vodafone, and I'm sure mine is fully unbranded (same ROM as you). I'm still not seeing an update, so maybe there's a difference between truly unbranded phones (SIM-free) and those sold by a network carrier with contract?

I still think I'm getting my updates from HTC also.
Click to expand...

Thanks, did you get yours from Vodafone or was it bought SIM free and you're using a Vodafone SIM?
 
dijon said:
El Presidente, I have an unbranded phone from Vodafone, and I'm sure mine is fully unbranded (same ROM as you). I'm still not seeing an update, so maybe there's a difference between truly unbranded phones (SIM-free) and those sold by a network carrier with contract?

I still think I'm getting my updates from HTC also.
Click to expand...


There is a difference phones brought on a contract have updates from there network and NOT HTC (even though the HTC update server sends them out) sim free handsets get direct updates from HTC. So even if you have a 'no bloatware' version from your network ( I have that from Orange ) you still need to wait for the network to push the update back to HTC with there network tweeks on it,to send it out.
 
On 3UK with an unlocked and unbranded phone (albeit provided by them in their very early stock). Previously received OTA update with no issues, but no update as yet.

Called 3 customer services and they had no info whatsoever. The hardest thing was getting them to understand what I wanted to know so I wasn't hopeful tbh ...

Had a quick web chat with HTC and was told that the rollout is serial based, which seems to contradict what El Pres was told.

Ho hum.
 
falo said:
On 3UK with an unlocked and unbranded phone (albeit provided by them in their very early stock). Previously received OTA update with no issues, but no update as yet.

Called 3 customer services and they had no info whatsoever. The hardest thing was getting them to understand what I wanted to know so I wasn't hopeful tbh ...

Had a quick web chat with HTC and was told that the rollout is serial based, which seems to contradict what El Pres was told.

Ho hum.
Click to expand...


Hmmm seems to me that no 1 actually knows whats going on. Looks like everyone is passing the buck. What i mean by passing the buck is that we're all told something thats not actually solid concrete information. Kinda like the expression of Broken telephone, Grapevine and other rumor games played. It's like your back in school again lol
 
El Presidente said:
Thanks, did you get yours from Vodafone or was it bought SIM free and you're using a Vodafone SIM?
Click to expand...

I bought mine from Carphone Warehouse (online) on a Vodafone contract on the day the DHD was released. It arrived without any of the Vodafone branding and received regular updates for the first few weeks.

If what WigglesGRN said is right, I have to wait for VF to release it. However, that doesn't make sense if the VF update includes the operator bloatware, which I've never received.
 
I think the other problem with the mis-information (make that missing information?) is that asking after the Gingerbread update is a pretty niche field of expertise for most tech support personnel.

Even if the carriers had a definite plan, it's probably something that's pretty need-to-know within the core of the provisioning side of the business, so their break/fix jockeys won't have the details.

Same goes for contacting HTC - I think they do have a plan for the OTA upgrade, but probably don't have a plan for publicising the plan to their frontline techies, and therefore the general public...if that makes sense.

I have to say again that I'm super excited and have lost count of the number of times I've checked my handset....but I think we're just going to have to sit it out :(
 
Uri Stamonov said:
I agree with the above.

It's interesting that most Android users (me included!) have now got "upgrade fever", and not just for the base OS but apps as well.

I've seen apps rated poorly in the store just because of a lack of updates. We're not talking about bug fixes, just random new or different stuff.

Gone are the good old days of software and sysadmins, where the mantra "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" reigned supreme.

Having said all that, I'm gnawing my arm off waiting for gingerbread, and I'd flash the ROM on my washing machine and lawnmower if I could!

Uri
Click to expand...

:-) :-) How's your washing machine and lawnmower Uri??!!

I, too, am Vodafone UNbranded, and still wait in eager anticipation of Gingerbread. Ho Hum :-)
 
falo said:
On 3UK with an unlocked and unbranded phone (albeit provided by them in their very early stock). Previously received OTA update with no issues, but no update as yet.

Called 3 customer services and they had no info whatsoever. The hardest thing was getting them to understand what I wanted to know so I wasn't hopeful tbh ...

Had a quick web chat with HTC and was told that the rollout is serial based, which seems to contradict what El Pres was told.

Ho hum.
Click to expand...

The day I heard it had been released, I contacted HTC who advised it would "be rolled out in serial number sequence, with an anticipated completion within 2 weeks". They also added that UNbranded would receive first (as is the norm) followed by "network branded" later on.

The "network branded" units receiving later has obviously now shown to be incorrect, as Voda BRANDED are currently receiving the update.

Oh well, just have to wait,

Cheers
 
Reading this topic has got me quite confused.

I bought a DHD from Phones4U in November on an Orange contract. Now when I bought the phone, the salesman advised he had no branded handsets left so would have to sell me a GSM model (which I class as unbranded). I was quite happy with this as usually the orange software branding is ugly.

When I spoke to Orange to sort out phone insurance, I was advised they cannot insure the phone (as it's a GSM model) and might not be able to provide support as it was not provided by them.

I'm on 1.72.405.3 at the moment and hope that I'll get the stock HTC update as the last thing I want is Orange colours and logos all over my phone.
 
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