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Orange UK 2.1 update news

Captain Stu, I concur! HTC have been nothing but helpful with me, the problem seems to lie with Orange. I say problem, but I would rather they get it out right than get it out quick. It would just be nice to receive the same level of openness and correspondence from them that I do from HTC.

Just spoke to a very helpful lady at Orange who is going to find the external email address for the software testing team and pass it on to me. I will let you know any responses I get (but not the address- I'd rather they pass the information on through me than clog their inbox with hundreds of similar requests!)
 
dogrobber said:
the problem seems to lie with Orange. I say problem, but I would rather they get it out right than get it out quick. It would just be nice to receive the same level of openness and correspondence from them that I do from HTC.
Click to expand...
Exactly the problem. If Orange just came out and told us what they are doing - officially like on their website - then we could stop moaning and just be reassured that something is happening - and hopefully when...

But nope... everyone seems to get conflicting information with no real firm answer.

Thanks for relaying the email from HTC !
 
Reading between the lines, Orange appear to be really struggling with this update.

First it was promised in the next few days, then at some point in July, then it was 'still in testing', and finally it may not be released at all.

All signs point to some serious issues discovered during testing, which given the apparent success of the update on other networks, must be to do with the Orange branding.

With all the concerns at the start of July that T-Mobile was going to stuggle with this update, it turns out that they, and everyone else have managed to push it out before Orange. If I was the product manager within Orange for HTC, I would be pretty embarrassed by this.

But it seems that the higher management don't really seem to care. The frustration by customer services is evident in peoples' calls. In the e-mail from Andy posted below, I very much doubt he would have been authorised to say that the update may never be released (the fact is that he didn't need to say that), and he may be trying to rile people into lobbying Orange even more.

Luckily I only got a 12 month contract extension, which is up in a few months time.
 
Just an idea..... If Orange and Tmobile have merged to form 'Everything, Everywhere' and Tmobile have a working version of 2.1 then why cant they push that update to Orange customers?

okay, so we'd have orange decals on the hardware and Tmobile logo's on the software..... but surely they are the same company now - so who cares!?
 
They are still 2 brands under the same parent company, so I do not think it is that simple :(

Again though, I am sure we will find out more on the 26th as to Orange releasing or not, as this is the date I believe it to be coming out, as this is what I have been told :)
 
Hi everyone, just stumbled across this site whilst searching for info about the illusive 2.1 Android update. I too have an Orange branded Hero with numerous faults/issues. They have reached a point where the handset is now unusable. Orange say call HTC, HTC say call Orange. I'm then promised that the 2.1 Android update from HTC will fix all the issues (which they say are down to the software). Then HTC inform me as the handset is not a generic one and it's branded by Orange I will not be getting the full HTC Hero generic Android 2.1 update.

HTC today told me if I'm lucky and Orange manage to customise the 2.1 update and they can actually find a way of getting it to work then chances are all my faults will still exist due to Orange tinkering and removing certain parts of the update. The HTC adviser then told me that Orange have tried numerous times and failed to get the update Orange branded and tweaked to work the way they want it to without any joy and I should forget about getting this update anytime soon if atall.

After speaking to someone in the Orange Chief Execs Office they said they couldn't confirm what HTC are saying, but they also would be wrong to deny it. He even recommended that I buy a non Orange branded handset due to software clashes that Orange seem to encounter with many manufacturer updates!

I hope what HTC have told me turns out to be wrong but after all the promised and estimated dates from Orange which have proved fruitless and some of the negative Orange responses on here you have to wonder will it happen?
 
Taffy said:
Hi everyone, just stumbled across this site whilst searching for info about the illusive 2.1 Android update. I too have an Orange branded Hero with numerous faults/issues. They have reached a point where the handset is now unusable. Orange say call HTC, HTC say call Orange. I'm then promised that the 2.1 Android update from HTC will fix all the issues (which they say are down to the software). Then HTC inform me as the handset is not a generic one and it's branded by Orange I will not be getting the full HTC Hero generic Android 2.1 update.

HTC today told me if I'm lucky and Orange manage to customise the 2.1 update and they can actually find a way of getting it to work then chances are all my faults will still exist due to Orange tinkering and removing certain parts of the update. The HTC adviser then told me that Orange have tried numerous times and failed to get the update Orange branded and tweaked to work the way they want it to without any joy and I should forget about getting this update anytime soon if atall.

After speaking to someone in the Orange Chief Execs Office they said they couldn't confirm what HTC are saying, but they also would be wrong to deny it. He even recommended that I buy a non Orange branded handset due to software clashes that Orange seem to encounter with many manufacturer updates!

I hope what HTC have told me turns out to be wrong but after all the promised and estimated dates from Orange which have proved fruitless and some of the negative Orange responses on here you have to wonder will it happen?
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What you just said worries me a huge amount.
 
I recall a website from many years ago that would be ideal for 'us' at the moment. It used to be called www.hateorange.co.uk, but unfortunately it's been taken down.

However, the site content still exists here: Home page

If only we could revive this... what would it be like? :)
 
This afternoon's response from their Twitter guy (who I found on the OFFICIAL ORANGE website)

conorfromorange
@Douglas_Clark Hi Douglas, as I've previously said the 2.1 update is on it's way, and will be with you very soon. Thanks for bearing with us.

Sounds positive?
 
Just been on the phone to Orange tech dept. They said the 2.1 update is currently in testing, the lady confirmed this by putting me on hold and asking her colleague..apparently alot of people have already rang them about this and she said say that it should be released by the end of July, but if not then definately by mid August.

I also asked whether unlocking the phone would void my warranty and was glad to hear that it would not void my warranty and also it would not void my warranty if i tried to install any official HTC firmware to the phone after i had unlocked it. The lady did say that it might cause problems with the orange software, however it still would not void my warranty.

I dont know if there is a way to apply the official update once unlocked as im a total noob in this field so if anyones knows that would be a great help. Thanks.
 
All,
I have made several posts regarding Orange UK's lack of information re 2.1
Therefore, I have decided to take the fight to Orange, and have created a group on facebook.
Please use the link below to register your disapproval of Orange, and I will forward the group link to Orange, if the group proves popular.

Welcome to Facebook

The facebook group is called "
Orange UK - Give HTC Hero owners the 2.1 Update - NOW."

Message to moderator: Slug, I trust this post is acceptable. If not, please remove.
 
5Rivers79 said:
Just been on the phone to Orange tech dept. They said the 2.1 update is currently in testing, the lady confirmed this by putting me on hold and asking her colleague..apparently alot of people have already rang them about this and she said say that it should be released by the end of July, but if not then definately by mid August.

I also asked whether unlocking the phone would void my warranty and was glad to hear that it would not void my warranty and also it would not void my warranty if i tried to install any official HTC firmware to the phone after i had unlocked it. The lady did say that it might cause problems with the orange software, however it still would not void my warranty.

I dont know if there is a way to apply the official update once unlocked as im a total noob in this field so if anyones knows that would be a great help. Thanks.
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I wouldn't pay too much attention to what Orange have told you about the phone warranty. The Orange branded HTC Hero mobile phone comes with a manufacturers warranty - HTC. If you have the Orange phone insurance then it may be a different story. Just think of the scenario if you had problems with your hero after rooting it and it was still under warranty, you contact orange, they say warranties nothing to do with us get in touch with HTC. Your then bounced back and fore from one company to another. Sounds like the situation we're currently in with the 2.1 update?

Orange could give the Brothers Grimm a run for there money with some of the fairy tales they come up with.
 
I've asked before, now I'm asking again more firmly....

Post only in reference to the official Orange 2.1 update.

Generic 2.1 update questions? See here.
Want to try debranding and going with a generic ROM? See here.
Want to try a third-party ROM? Check the All Things Root sub-forum.

We've gone to a bit of bother reorganising the various update threads into something approaching logical order to assist people locate pertinent info, so help us out, please. ;)
 
bomber12 said:
All,
I have made several posts regarding Orange UK's lack of information re 2.1
Therefore, I have decided to take the fight to Orange, and have created a group on facebook.
Please use the link below to register your disapproval of Orange, and I will forward the group link to Orange, if the group proves popular.

Welcome to Facebook

The facebook group is called "
Orange UK - Give HTC Hero owners the 2.1 Update - NOW."

Message to moderator: Slug, I trust this post is acceptable. If not, please remove.
Click to expand...
Just joined this group - thanks for setting it up. Glad it has over 50 members already.

Anyone not in this group yet...come on get on in!!
 
I don`t get the mentality of Orange killing their phones with Branding anyway. As the only person that can see the branding on the phone is the user, and the user knows that they`re on Orange already.. so what`s the point.

It`s like Radio stations constantly saying you`re listening to Key 103..blah blah blah. I know i`m listening to Key 103 cos I tuned the Bloody Radio to 103.

Umph. :mad:
 
I've joined up but I fear it's a pointless exercise, Orange couldn't give a stuff about their customers, they are interested in one thing and one thing only, selling phones. Customer service and worst still customer happiness comes way down their list of priorities.

I have this nagging doubt in the back of my mind that Orange cannot get 2.1 to work with their unnecessary branding and we'll all be stuck with 1.5.

I've read and and reread about rooting, and frankly it's beyond my skills, maybe I'm reading it wrong or I'm just not good enough to understand it. I don't think I'll be alone.

One thing this has taught me is never to sign up with Orange again and I will never recommend them to friends and family.

Al
 
Has anyone heard the latest situation from Orange? has been quiet from Richard - Hopefully he is on some kind of well deserved Holiday. I'm going to try and get in contact with orange again today to see if there is an update - but if anyone else already has, i'd sooner not phone as that is another person they have to tell the same thing too.
 
I tried the gold card over a month ago (possibly some of you followed my instructions on my blog as I got a lot of hits that week: cpearson.me.uk), it failed due to the Sim lock error, probably making me one of the first to get it. Still waiting now as are most of you.

The 26th can't come soon enough. What I will say though, when my contract is up (24 monther :( ) I'm done with android. As an early adopter I feel utterly messed about by the lack of official support from google, HTC and Orange. Not just with the upgrade but when I had issues with Gmail app etc.

Apple has never let me down with other items (Macbook, iPod) and support has been excellent so I am going to get my next phone from them also (which looks like it will be iPhone 5 :( )
 
alinver said:
I've read and and reread about rooting, and frankly it's beyond my skills, maybe I'm reading it wrong or I'm just not good enough to understand it. I don't think I'll be alone.

Al
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Completely agree - I'm too scared to risk it incase I bu**er my phone up. I'm technically minded but even so the instructions sound over my head.

I'm giving Orange till the end of the month but then I will pluck up the courage. And again I agree - I'm not sticking with Orange at the end of my contract if they couldn't give 2 shi*s about me then I'm not showing them any loyalty in return.
 
Obviously as themaninthesuitcase suggests, this raises some very major questions about Android going forwards if support is not provided. Where does the problem lie though? Is it Google not properly controlling their OS, and mandating that OS upgrades need to be made available and supported by phone manufacturers and networks? Is it the phone manufacturer or network for not properly factoring in support for their legacy phones? Is it the network for simply not communicating and being resourced or capable of (or wanting to!) updating phones? These are fundamental questions that will dictate the success of Android in comparison to iOS. As much as I hate Apple, they do properly support and integrate their systems! They do have the advantage of creating and controlling the hardware though...

What actually IS the Orange branding on a Hero? I assume it goes a lot further than just an orange spash screen and the odd logo here and there? I hear talk of radio being affected, and by that I mean the ability for the phone to transmit / receive calls, signal, etc? Thats a fairly fundamental thing for a phone, so obviously Orange have to get it right, and calling it a "branding" issue is misleading. However why have no other carriers had problems with this? Why is Orange different?
 
That's exactly my point, the support has been poor, and from what I can see different manufacturers have more or less been the same. It's a Android phone thing not an HTC/carrier/Google thing, some phone get support (nexus, some motos) some don't (Samsungs). And even those that do get support, some get upgrades but no help (nexus) some get help but no upgrades. The whole thing is a massive mess.

Apple are always open x phone will get x upgrade on x date. Fetures x y and z won't work on x phones due to reason x. Ok they are "less open", but imo there are some HUGE plusses to the way they work (spam apps for example) that more or less offset the cons. The antenna issue is a big lame, but that's Apple for you, they have always been like that, expect gen 2 phones to come with clear coat on the metal or similar.

Sorry I am dragging OT again, I'll stop now.
 
Just joined the Orange discussion on Facebook, well done on over 100 :)

Have tried to get through to orange but was on hold waiting for someone for about 10mins so gave up!

May try later on, but who knows. Really want this upgrade, I can't believe how little details have been released from orange now :(
 
Just out of curiousity, what would happen if you downloaded the 2.1 android update from the acer smartphone download section and tried installing it onto your orange branded hero? The acer site isn't like HTC where you need to input your serial number, just click on download and it starts downloading. If I'm breaking the site rules I apologise.

Service & Support

Click on Smart Handheld, Liquid, Liquid, then the 2.1 ROM update can be downloaded.

Was searching last night for any updates from Orange and HTC but to no avail. Rang HTC this morning, got through to a UK call centre again and was told exactly the same thing as last time. Todays guy said the 2.1 Orange Android update is like the Titanic, its not gonna arrive. Well not until those icebergs have melted.
 
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