Sprint's HTC Hero and Samsung Moment Android 2.1 updates on track for early May?

Look, we're calling it: as Android goes, anything older than Eclair is officially lame sauce at this point. Manufacturers need kick things into high gear and offer upgrades for the good of their customers -- custom skin or no -- so we're glad to see that folks on Sprint might be mere weeks away from official updates for a couple of their devices. The Hero and Moment are both stuck on Cupcake for now, but we've known for a while that Android 2.1 is in the cards, and an internal screen at Sprint appears to show that we can expect the updates to launch in "early May." For what it's worth, enterprising Moment owners can already get their Eclair on -- but a more official option is always the best way to go, right?

[krisken Posted Apr 16th 2010 3:15PM]

Good news for all. With OS development slowing down, all these devices can catch up

[benthe1 Posted Apr 18th 2010 1:53PM]

@krisken. Too true. Hopefully Google will be able keep all updates within one new release at a time. For example: If the latest update is android 2.2 then all other phones that don't have 2.2 should at least have 2.1. That would keep the fragmentation under control that people have been talking about. Although, I really don't see the big deal with having 3 or 4 versions of the OS out since with each new update it brings things to the OS that older Android phones don't handle as well but I guess it would be nice to have all Android phones on the same version.

[dgskydive Posted Apr 16th 2010 3:29PM]

Finally a site with some credibility has posted something that we can believe in. Looks like the same screen that was shown for the April 9th update.....that actually happened (PRL update).....although it was not the 2.1 update. But that screen shot never said 2.1 anyway.

This is the best news I have heard all year. I actually believe it will happen starting on the 16th now.

[Apple Google Microsoft Posted Apr 16th 2010 4:24PM]

@dgskydive

As in today? I'm in England and it was supposed to be out today...checked HTC website for downloadable update but nothing. Getting really impatient now. Planning to sell and get the Desire.

[dgskydive Posted Apr 16th 2010 4:59PM]

@Apple Google Microsoft this is for the Sprint Hero. Not sure what is up with the European Hero. I did see rumors of the update starting this week for you guys, but who the hell knows anymore.

[drksilenc Posted Apr 16th 2010 4:18PM]

... o wow an update for a phone that will be replaced as soon as the updates out... give us info on the evo...

[dgskydive Posted Apr 16th 2010 4:58PM]

@drksilenc Yeah, but my upgrade is not due until January, so I will have the 2.1 just as 3.0 is ready to come out. The EVO will have 2.1 and see how fast it is behind when they come out with Froyo. Hopefully, by the time I upgrade in Jan., they will be caught up on the to 3.0 for EVO.

[drksilenc Posted Apr 16th 2010 5:08PM]

@dgskydive i have 2 lines for that exact reason one for my grandmother and one for me. she just wants a basic bar phone so i get 2 upgrades

[dgskydive Posted Apr 16th 2010 10:40PM]

@drksilenc I was actually just thinking of doing the same thing for the EVO, but............my grandma doesnt need a phone. :-)

[senormatt Posted Apr 16th 2010 4:29PM]

Right in time to go with the Evo launch in mid-May : O

[jarobusa Posted Apr 16th 2010 4:48PM]

@senormatt I hope after I buy the Evo, Google does not launch Android 2.2 and I have to wait 6 months for that version.

[senormatt Posted Apr 16th 2010 5:19PM]

@jarobusa

I think Google will address the fragmentation with the next update, so no need to worry after that.

[rkmj Posted Apr 17th 2010 12:12AM]

@senormatt The Evo is slated for launch mid-June

[senormatt Posted Apr 17th 2010 12:21AM]

@rkmj

you woke me up from a perfectly good dream : (

[rowedav Posted Apr 16th 2010 5:31PM]

This was originally meant to go live (for the hero at least) before the end of 2009. Here we are nearly 5 months later.

[Kitten Posted Apr 16th 2010 5:40PM]

First it was late March. Then early April. Then mid-April. Now early May.

WHAT'S TAKING SO LONG?!?!

Okay, frustrated venting over with. I will wait patiently like a good little techslave.

[BrianlikeshisMoment Posted Apr 16th 2010 7:34PM]

Well that right inline with what the rep at the sprint store told me. 2.1 is due in early may he said and the evo is due mid to late june. I also asked him about 4g(I live in jacksonville,fl) and was told that by the end of the year 4g will be 1/2 of florida. So I'm just waiting til the date is final so I can go to the store and update. Sweetness!

[thesafecigarette Posted Apr 16th 2010 10:21PM]

They have a 2.1 update??? I've been using 1.5 for so long I forgot that were any different versions

[wgray611 Posted Apr 18th 2010 7:58PM]

I got tired of waiting and downloaded and installed the 2.1 update that leaked and trust me, its like a whole new phone.

[StrikeFreedomMeister Posted Apr 18th 2010 10:17PM]

I don't know why everyone keeps saying what's taking Sprint so long? Didn't you see how fast they got, err .... still attempting to fix their website upgrade? It's still not working right.

On a more serious note, it's funny that Sprint's official announcements either by website or twitter have said first 1H 2010 & then early 2Q 2010. In none of Sprint's actual announcements, have they specified a date or a month. We still have nothing official as of yet.

I think people forget that Android devices are just like computers. A good update needs to be thoroughly tested & vetted. From those tester/modders who have Sprint's current test 2.1 updates that I've read, many of them claim that while Sprint's 2.1 updates are close to being ready but it's not quite there. It's of my opinion that the 2.1 update is being fine tuned so that Sprint can have the least amount of issues when 2.1 is deployed.

Considering how badly Sprint screwed up their website revamp, they need the 2.1 rollout to be as smooth as possible. Quite a number of customers are highly upset with a now 7 day screwup of a website redo. Honestly, I've never seen a major company like Sprint screw up something that should have been done in 24 hours with a competent IT team.

[wxrman Posted Apr 19th 2010 7:31AM]

The Sprint Moment update to 2.1 is nice... but still eats batteries... this is cutting it far too close.

[bradleyz Posted Apr 20th 2010 8:07AM]

I just talked with sprint tech support yesterday and was told that I can be looking for Android 2.1 for my Samsung Moment by the end of the month...

[koberams Posted May 8th 2010 2:39PM]

Someone has to come out and say it so here it is. The EVO will have to come out and be a best seller BEFORE hero and moment can get their 2.1 update. he delay maybe technical but even if it was not, the update will not be allowed to over shadow the evo release.