Motorola DROID Android 2.1 Firmware Going OTA Right Now?
What's that you say, an Android 2.1 update for the Motorola DROID? Pretty demanding, aren't you. Still, according to a leaked internal Verizon memo that Engadget somehow managed to acquire, your demands have been heard and – if all is going to plan – the first 1,000 people selected to receive the new firmware will have had an on-device notification. That number will grow to 10,000 by midnight tonight, with broader availability promised for this coming Thursday.
In-between there'll be a 24hr period where nobody will get the upgrade, presumably so that the first 10k can be treated as test-subjects and report any DROID-killing bugs that may have made it through quality control. Among the changes users should see are pinch-zoom in the browser, maps and gallery, speech-to-text in any text box, a new Gallery app and Yahoo! Email support (though not, bizarrely, over WiFi). Anybody reading this and seeing the update on their DROID? Let us know in the comments.
Verizon Memo:
Starting 03/30/2010, Verizon Wireless is pleased to announce a new software update for the DROID by Motorola. Users will be able to upgrade their software to version AP: ESE81/BP: C_01.3E.03P to receive new improvements and enhancements.
*Key Advantages:*o Email – Yahoo Mail is now supported – customers can simply
sign in with their Yahoo! Email address and password. Note:
Yahoo! Email is not available over Wi-Fi
o Pinch to Zoom now available in the Browser, Maps, and Gallery
o Speech-to-Text – Customers can now use their voice instead
of typing whenever a text-entry box appears
o Google Goggles is now preloaded
o The new Gallery application uses 3D layout and shows both
pictures taken with the customer's Android device and images
from Picasa Web Albums account online
*Software Schedule:*
Below is the software-upgrade notification schedule (All times listed are Eastern Time):
o At noon on 03/30, 1,000 users will receive notification of
the update.
o At 11:59 PM on 03/30, 9,000 more users will receive the
update notification.
o After the first 10,000 users receive the update on 03/30,
there will be a 24-hour period when no additional upgrades
will be delivered.
o On Day 3 (04/01), 200,000 users will receive the update
notification at 11:59 PM. This schedule will continue each
day thereafter until the update has been delivered to all users.
*Download & Install Conditions:*
o An OTA download requires 40% or more power availability if
the device is not connected to an external power source or
20% or more power if it is connected to an external source
o If roaming, the customer will not receive the update. The
only option in this scenario is for the subscriber to enable
Wi-Fi and wait for a mandatory OTA. The wait period in this
case will not be more than 12 hours
o User must wait to receive the upgrade via OTA
o User is unable to make or receive calls, including emergency
calls during this time
o Users will see the following information when they select*
More info* on the update screen:/ This software update
includes new enhancements to support Yahoo! Email,
pinch-to-zoom, and many other improvements for your DROID by
Motorola. You will be unable to use your device or make
emergency calls for the duration of the install. The
software updates automatically, and your DROID will power
off and on as part of this software upgrade.