Android 2.1 Appearing on Verizon... Again
There's talk again that Android 2.1 his hitting Verizon within a matter of days, if not right now.
Various sites including this one are reporting that Verizon is finally rolling out the highly-anticipated Android 2.1 update for the Motorola Droid. Of course, we've heard this pseudo-announcement before in weeks past, so we're naturally skeptical until the OTA update actually lands on our Droids.
Consumers have waited for quite some time for the features the update will bring. These include pinch-to-zoom in the web browser, Google Maps, and the gallery, and Live Wallpapers that animate the smartphone's background. The 2.1 update will also implement a new Gallery application with a 3D layout, support for voice-to-text entry, a new Weather and News application, and more.
According to numerous sources, the rollout will be a gradual process-- Droid owners should hang tight if an update notification isn't received on Wednesday. All Motorola Droid owners are expected to receive the update by the end of the week, so the wait shouldn't be a long and drawn-out process... if the update is actually hitting Droids this week, that is.
Last week Motorola pacified Droid owners with an update on the firmware's status, saying that the rollout was taking longer than expected without offering up any reasons for the delay. Prior to that, a Verizon spokesperson stepped up to the podium and said that the previous so-called 2.1 rollout--sparked by a PDF uploaded to Verizon's website-- was merely a test for various subscribers, and was never intended to be an official release.
Update: For those who want to update earlier than the slow rollout, check out this guide here.
- University to Give iPad, MacBook to Every Student
- Unvarnished Could Cost You Your Next Job
- Report: Terrorists Using Explosive Breast Implants
- A 6.5-inch Ultraportable With a Numeric Keypad
- Google Maps Envelope: Not an April Fool's Joke
- Rumor: Next iPhone to be 'iPhone HD', Use A4 SoC
- Google Chat Can Do File Transfers From Browser
- Man Buying PS3 From Craigslist Gets Scammed
- An Illustration of the 500 Worst Passwords
- Microsoft Confirms 64GB Zune HD, Price
- Australian Scientists Create Bionic Eye Prototype
- Microsoft Releases Out-Of-Band Patch for IE
- VIDEO: Metroid Other M Gameplay Trailer
- Tech Behind Xbox 360's Project Natal Revealed
- Xbox 360 Slim Shots Fake, Just HD DVD Drive
- Pills That Rat You Out for Not Taking Your Meds
- The Xbox 360 Will Win the Console Wars
- Wii Game Powered by What You Search on Google
- New Orleans May Get Google Fiber; Others Hope
I want 2.1 on my HTC Magic!
Yes it can run it, I have the 288 MB version.
Finally! This update is beginning to feel like Bigfoot sightings.
Thanks for the link to the manual update guide, I am updating as I type! Just waiting for the installer to finish...
I just finished updating...pinch to zoom is SOOOOOO much better! I love it!
I just finished updating...pinch to zoom is SOOOOOO much better! I love it!
How's the speech-to-text? That's the main thing I want, so I can text and avoid the whole die-in-a-fiery-crash thing.
The speech to text worked great pre 2.1 for me. What I use is the voice search function rather than voice dial app. When I tap the voice search function and say 'Call Dad Home' it pops up a msg box 'Call Dad Home' and below has a dial button and cancel. If I do nothing, it will auto dial after a few seconds. This is how I dial while driving and have had little in the way of issues. I have not checked 2.1 for any improvements or new apps.
Update: I just checked the voice/speech to text on 2.1 and sadly, there is no change. Though voice search works for dialing while driving, I was hoping for a tweak to the voice dialer to make it auto dial the number. As it stands now, when you say 'Call Dad' it comes up with the contact very quickly but you must press ok to dial. Voice search takes a moment for the search to complete and it is more picky about what you say. For instance, for my Dad I have only a home number but for voice search I must say 'Call Dad Home' whereas Voice Dialer I can just say 'Call Dad'. The latter spoken into the voice search pulls up the right contact but does not auto dial.
Rather than continue to fill up the comments section with my thoughts on the update, I have created a Forum topic if anyone cares to discuss this further. http://www.tomsguide.com/us/forum/ [...] mpressions
Kevin,
Google Maps already has pinch to zoom on 2.0 devices. The update that gave pinch to zoom was released as a stand alone update for Google maps and is not bundled with 2.1.
Otherwise, awesome! Can't wait to get 2.1 on my Droid!
Kevin,Google Maps already has pinch to zoom on 2.0 devices. The update that gave pinch to zoom was released as a stand alone update for Google maps and is not bundled with 2.1.Otherwise, awesome! Can't wait to get 2.1 on my Droid!
Yes but this added pinch to zoom for maps only, now you can do this in browser and on images in the gallery app as well.
Yes but this added pinch to zoom for maps only, now you can do this in browser and on images in the gallery app as well.
I know, I was simply correcting his mistake where he claimed that 2.1 was adding pinch to zoom to Google Maps, which it is not.
I know, I was simply correcting his mistake where he claimed that 2.1 was adding pinch to zoom to Google Maps, which it is not.
Yes, sorry about that. But I still think the article is correct because maps will be updated along with the rest of the system whether you have already updated maps or not and I would imagine that most people have not updated. So in that sense I don't think there is anything wrong with the article though it could have clarified that better.
Update: I just checked the voice/speech to text on 2.1 and sadly, there is no change. Though voice search works for dialing while driving, I was hoping for a tweak to the voice dialer to make it auto dial the number. As it stands now, when you say 'Call Dad' it comes up with the contact very quickly but you must press ok to dial. Voice search takes a moment for the search to complete and it is more picky about what you say. For instance, for my Dad I have only a home number but for voice search I must say 'Call Dad Home' whereas Voice Dialer I can just say 'Call Dad'. The latter spoken into the voice search pulls up the right contact but does not auto dial.
No auto-dial will be annoying. Almost makes me want to avoid 2.1.
They're late with the update but it sounds like they are making progress.
I've had 2.1 for months on my motorola droid.
Root access ftw.
Now, what about flash support?
No auto-dial will be annoying. Almost makes me want to avoid 2.1.
You just have to use the voice search app to have it auto dial. This has been possible since the droids release.