The current state of HTC Droid Incredible Updates (Android/Sense)

[Medion]

I see a few repeated questions along the lines of "When will we see the New Sense/Gingerbread on our phone?" Here's my attempt to answer those questions. This thread will hopefully be used as a reference for when this question arises. If you have any new information that adds to or counters what I have posted, please post with a link so that I can update this.

Q: What version did the HTC Droid Incredible Ship with?

A: The HTC Droid Incredible launched in April 2010 with Android 2.1

Q: When was the HTC Droid Incredible updated to Android 2.2?

A: It was updated to 2.2 via OTA in late August 2010. Phones sold around this time had it pre-loaded.

Q: What is the current official release OS/Sense Version of the HTC Droid Incredible?

A: Android 2.2 with HTC Sense.

Q: What are the chances of the HTC Droid Incredible getting the "New" HTC Sense UI in an official release?

A: Pretty good, I'd say over 90%. Here's why.

1. The new version of Sense incorporates integration with HTC's new website, www.htcsense.com. This gives them a better chance to get their hooks into you and to keep you as a longer term customer.

2. Phones currently running the "New" Sense are on Android 2.2.1. The "New" Sense has not been ported to Android 2.2.0, nor has it been fully ported to Gingerbread yet. This means that if we do get the New Sense, we're getting Android 2.2.1.

3. HTC's Spanish (from Spain) Twitter account confirmed that their plan was to move the "New" Sense to all phones that have Android 2.2. An update to 2.2.1 is not a major update for them do to. Reference link: New HTC Sense Headed to DROID Incredible, Other Devices? - Droid Life: A Droid Community Blog

4. HTC has a history of updating their devices for at least as long as they still have shelf life. The Droid Incredible's current end of life target is March 31, 2011. Reference link: Verizon End of Life Sheet Says Current Droids Fading in 2011 | Android Community

Q: What are the chances of the HTC Droid Incredible getting the Gingerbread (Android 2.3) update as an official release?

A: At this time, slim to none. HTC clearly has not ported any version of Sense to 2.3 yet. New phones including the Evo Shift and Thunderbolt were demoed with Android 2.2 (or 2.2.1). They're also supposed to launch on 2.2.x. That tells me that HTC has a ways to go to get Sense and Gingerbread paired together. It took 2.5 months after Froyo went to source before HTC had a phone on 2.2 + Sense. Given the holidays right after Gingerbread's release, I'd suspect it would be at least the first week of March before any HTC phone sees Gingerbread + Sense. When this occurs, they will prioritize their phones. The Desire HD and Desire Z should get it first, followed by our local equivalents. The successor to the original Desire should be announced by then, so the original Desire will probably be left in the cold, as well as its derivatives (Incredible, Evo). It's just too close to the end of life.

Q: Dumb it down for me!

(current) HTC Incredible - Android 2.2 + Sense
(future) Android 2.2.1 + New Sense (what the Desire HD/Z currently have)
(unlikely) Android 2.3.x + New (Newer?) Sense (what even the unreleased phones don't currently have)

 

[woop]

Q: What are the chances of the HTC Droid Incredible getting the Gingerbread (Android 2.3) update?

Actually, the answer to this is extremely high. Thank you custom ROMs!

 

[Medion]

Actually, the answer to this is extremely high. Thank you custom ROMs!

Good point. Updated to show that I was talking about official releases, smart ass

As for myself, I might just switch to Cyanogen. As nice as Sense is, even it doesn't have universal copy/paste, a feature I've learned is actually superior on the iPhone than it is on Android. 2.3 fixes this, and I highly doubt we'll see it on the Droid Incredible.

 

[euph_22]

I don't agree with you, medion. For example, you say that"HTC has a history of updating their devices for as long as they still have shelf life." Based on what? The MyTouch 3g received froyo MONTHS after it was EOL'ed, which was long after the MyTouch Slide came out. Supposedly the Second Flight MyTouchs are actually being updated RIGHT NOW, when they stopped selling them in the summer. The Eris received updates after it was supplanted by the Incredible.

And more than that, everything you said is speculative. Granted it looks like pretty well reasoned and informed speculation, but still speculative. So I'm going to speculate that HTC wants to continue there track record on updates, and will update the Desire, Incredible and EVO.

Also, I didn't realize that Christmas was big enough in Taiwan to screw up their development schedule. J/k

Basically, my point is we should take what Medion said with a grain of salt. It may very well be right on, or it could be wrong.

 

[Medion]

I don't agree with you, medion.

You never do

For example, you say that"HTC has a history of updating their devices for as long as they still have shelf life." Based on what? The MyTouch 3g received froyo MONTHS after it was EOL'ed, which was long after the MyTouch Slide came out. Supposedly the Second Flight MyTouchs are actually being updated RIGHT NOW, when they stopped selling them in the summer.

Either I miss communicated or you misunderstood (I'll assume the former and edit my post). I meant that HTC has a solid track record of continuing to support their devices at least to their EOL, rather than just releasing it and abandoning it. That's good enough reason to expect at least one more update (New Sense, which was already confirmed).

The Eris received updates after it was supplanted by the Incredible.

That has nothing to do with EOL though, which is what I was talking about. The Eris received it's final update in May. It was EOL in June. Further evidence of HTC supporting their products up through EOL.

Your examples on T-Mobile have less to do with HTC and more to do with T-Mobile. T-Mobile is anal about making sure their branded handsets get updates, even if they are late.

And more than that, everything you said is speculative.

Well, yea. I said as much. Since HTC hasn't officially confirmed anything, we have to speculate. That's why I provided links and facts to back it up, to keep it in one place.

So I'm going to speculate that HTC wants to continue there track record on updates, and will update the Desire, Incredible and EVO.

So why are you debating with me if you ultimately agree with me?

Also, I didn't realize that Christmas was big enough in Taiwan to screw up their development schedule. J/k

It's my understanding, and correct me if I'm wrong, that the software updates for the localized phones are done by the local HTC software teams (IE, HTC America does the updates for phones in the US and Canada, among other places).

Basically, my point is we should take what Medion said with a grain of salt. It may very well be right on, or it could be wrong.

Exactly. I tried to make it clear that, in lieu of official word, this is all we have to go off of. That's why I posted links and facts to back up any and all speculation.

 

[Yaksha]

Actually, the answer to this is extremely high. Thank you custom ROMs!

I haven't put any custom ROMs on my phone yet, are any of them using Gingerbread?

 

[Medion]

I haven't put any custom ROMs on my phone yet, are any of them using Gingerbread?

There are two big Gingerbread ROM's I'm aware of. One of them is OMB, but I've heard that it's not feature complete (issues with the camcorder), and it may no longer be in development. You'll have to check with XDA for info on that.

The other one is Cyanogen. While 6.1 is stable and based on 2.2.1, version 7 is in the nightly stage. It's based on 2.3 and I've heard is stable enough to be a daily driver, but is not without its issues.

I'm a "stable release" kind of guy. I'm going back and forth between Virtuous and Cyanogen 6.1 trying to ween myself off Sense. Cyanogen 7, when it hits stable, will be the ROM I eventually move to. This will ensure that as long as Google keeps releasing Android updates, I'll have the latest version.

 

[FramCire]

There are two big Gingerbread ROM's I'm aware of. One of them is OMB, but I've heard that it's not feature complete (issues with the camcorder), and it may no longer be in development. You'll have to check with XDA for info on that.

The other one is Cyanogen. While 6.1 is stable and based on 2.2.1, version 7 is in the nightly stage. It's based on 2.3 and I've heard is stable enough to be a daily driver, but is not without its issues.

I'm a "stable release" kind of guy. I'm going back and forth between Virtuous and Cyanogen 6.1 trying to ween myself off Sense. Cyanogen 7, when it hits stable, will be the ROM I eventually move to. This will ensure that as long as Google keeps releasing Android updates, I'll have the latest version.

I am using the nightly Cyanogen 7 (Gingerbread) and you are correct it is stable enough for daily use. Most of the issues in the pre-nightly builds have already been corrected. Rumor is RC1 may not be far away!

As for the rest, I am doubting we see Gingerbread officially released. Just my opinion though.

 

[Robbyhoe]

Well i can only hope that you are a right, i myself got my incredible at the beginning of the year, and its been a great phone but the ability to customize more with sense 2.0 is what i would really hope for. i mean ya gingerbread WOULD BE NICE, but hey our phones are working now right? i least we're not stuck on like 1.6 <-- Lol. 2.3 does give some performance updates but when it comes down to it our phones have been fine since we've had them right? I myself got mine for free from bestbuy, meanwhile verizon over there still selling them $150 retail, knowing the new one will be out not to soon. Im just happy that its not a TOTAL slap in the face the incredible 2 will only get a front facing camera and .3inchs of a bigger screen. Big whoop. its basically a thunderbolt at this point. I mean when the incredible came out it & the evo were one of the most advanced phones, and to this day continue to top some of its newer rivals. So bottomline i think we're loking to much at the numbers than everyday use of our phones and what we're really going to NEED.