Verizon has confirmed that the Droid Eris will not be getting an update to Android 2.2, leaving the less than a year old handset left behind. Eris users will be stuck with Android 2.1, without any of the advantages of the newer OS, not the least of which is Flash. A Verizon spokeswoman said, “we have other options in Android devices, so this is part of the normal evolution of our portfolio.”
The rollout of Android 2.1 was extremely spotty on the device when the update occurred.
The Eris is certainly an entry level device, but canceling updates after less than a year? That’s low, Verizon.
The only way you’ll get Froyo on the handset now is by rooting it, and doing the whole thing manually.
[ComputerWorld, via Droid-Life]
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Not cool. Looks like we’re about to see a separation of Android phones for 1) people who want to use it to its fullest potential for the life of their contract; and 2) people who don’t care about upgrades.
This is fine, as long as Verizon (or whoever) makes it clear which type of phone you’re buying to begin with. If my Droid had never been updated to Froyo just because Verizon/Motorola didn’t feel like updating it, I’d be kissing those companies goodbye in a heartbeat.
And this is exactly why I find developing for Android a bit frustrating. A lot of users are plainly denied an upgrade to a newer OS version. This makes the Android market even more fragmented.