Attention Rogers HTC Magic / Dream Users
If you are an existing (or new) Rogers customer using the HTC Magic / Dream devices, this is important for you to know. You should be aware of the fact that both the HTC Magic and Dream run Android 1.5. While both these devices are stable and great, they will not be updated to Android 1.6 or 2.0 officially neither from Rogers nor from HTC.
For more information on this, read the following thread: http://is.gd/5sOn9
In a nutshell, neither Rogers nor HTC are willing to own up and provide and updated Android OS for the aforementioned devices. How does this affect you? Well there are plenty of apps being released on the Android Market which require you to have Android 1.6 to function. Moreover, new features such as Voice Dialing, Google Googles and numerous others will not be available to you, because our provider does not think these updates are relevant. Rogers, as always knows what their customers want/need.
For the time being, since we’re not going to get either 1.6 or 2.0, our only alternative to experience the new features are to rely on after-market (hacked) ROM images. One such image is the Droid 2.0 image which was ported to the 32A (Magic). This ROM can be found here, http://is.gd/5tlPz
Not relying on Rogers and their poor judgement (or lack there of), I’ve opted to install this ROM and not be left behind in the core and advanced capabilities made possible by Android 2.0.
I am a strong proponent of using the right and most relevant technology, Android is no different. Rogers just doesn’t seem to think it is relevant at all. Hopefully in the coming months Google’s Nexus One device is made available in Canada and hopefully Google will not sign a deal with Rogers to bring it to the Canadian consumers. This will be a BIG step in the RIGHT direction.
Until such time, I along with many other Rogers Magic/Dream users will await the expiration of our contracts and unwillingness to renew the contract going forward.
Update (Dec. 20, 2009)
This issue of Rogers / HTC unwilling to provide and update should not be taken lightly. The number of users who are requesting this update has increased considerably as this issue has gotten publicity across various channels through blogs and tweets. A collection of few are listed below:
Posted via email from Puleen’s Place to Posterize!
@RogersMary said:
“We believe that it was truly revolutionary to be the first to the Canadian market with these devices. They provided customers with a new, open-source operating system, on a new device, at a good price. We and HTC have been supporting them with updates and will continue to do so.”
I have to take issue with this, Mary.
1. Re: A new open source OS on a new device, at a good price. Considering the iPhone 3G 8GB price to buy with no contract is _cheaper_ than the HTC Magic, but the iPhone gets consistent OS upgrades, this is pure BS.
2. Re: Rogers & HTC supporting these phones with updates? I think we’re arguing semantics here, or you just don’t understand. You seem to be defining “updates” as bug fixes & security updates. _WE_ define “updates” as the new versions of the Android OS! Okay so to make things less confusing for you, we want consistent OS _UPGRADES_ for the HTC Magic & Dream, just like Rogers iPhone users get for their phones.