Upgrade to Gingerbread breaks Google sky and other apps

I upgraded to Gingerbread on my Droidx about 6 weeks ago but since then Google Sky, Google street view, SKEye, and SpaceJunk no longer work correctly. Depending on how the phone is held the view on the screen is backwards, or some other strange angle. I spoke with Verizon and Motorola 6 weeks ago, both are aware of the problem, and it is widely publicized on the web. My question is: Does anyone know if there will be a fix for this, if so when? With all the urgency there seems to be to get the next hottest phone out there, I get the feeling the older phones have been forgotten and no one seems to care if a small number of customers are inconvenienced. Do I have any other options besides voiding my warranty and use my boot loader to load Froyo back in?

Thanks!

Accepted answers

shredde

hello to all. before i post this, i'd like to take a moment to say that nothing that follows is intended to be disrespectful to anyone.

Gingerbread does indeed break the accelerometer and compass for the Droid X, as well as several other devices from other manufacturers. Following is one example of a conversation pertaining to this problem.

https://groups.google.com/group/google-sky-map/browse_thread/thread/416068ce6ea636ae

what is interesting is that most folks (only counting those folks that post on forums that is) do not realize there is any problem at all. If you don't make regular use of the accelerometer, you wouldn't notice it does not function correctly. How would you?

As for the compass, Google Map was updated to make it work. If you really put it through it's paces, you'll notice it does not work in both portrait and landscape modes though. Again, this is not noticed by most folks it would appear from what peeps post.

What all of these folks also don't realize, apparently, is how devastating this bug is to those of us who like having these sensors working. And I am outraged that neither the carrier nor the manufacturer will acknowledge this situation.

Before I get flamed with advice, please be advised: I am handling this issue in the correct manner. I currently have an open ticket with level 3 at Motorola on this issue. As some slight backround, I have had my X for one year now. And I have participated in SOAK testing for both the Froyo and Gingerbread releases (my X shipped with Eclair a year ago).

All comments

Cody21

hmm.. the "upside down" orientation issue of MAPS was fixed in an update that was sent out like maybe a month ago. I would first try to uninstall MAPS, then re-install it. Also, have you tried a re-calibration of your GPS? Might be worth doing as well.

dagnabitboy

Hi, thanks for your response. I never actually had a problem with MAPS, but it was the streetview in maps, and the other applications that use the orientation of the phone to control the display that was broken, and is still broken. For example, if you go to streetview in google maps there is an option to use "compass mode" where you can see the view of a place as though you were standing there by moving your phone in a given direction. If you hold the phone perfectly horizontal it works, but holding the phone vertical the direction of view is backwards. This same error occurs in google sky, and the other APPS that I mentioned. I did re-calibrate my compass, and I did reload and upgrade all of the APPS that I was having problems with (good suggestions, thank you) and I also re-initialize my phone as well, all to no avail. Anyway, Google, Motorola, and Verizon are all aware of the problem. It just doesn't seem to be a high priority for them to fix. I was hoping someone from Verizon might respond here with some kind of status, especially since they don't provide a downgrade path back to Froyo. Thanks!!

bearone21

does streetview work in latitude?

dagnabitboy

Nope! Just checked it. Add latitude to the list. doesn't work there either.