Android 2.3.3 update has ruined my DROID 2 -- It's now a dumbphone

[Friskie]

At first I was pleased with the look and feel of the 2.3.3 update. That was before I'd actually had a chance to use my phone for a few minutes.

I am now beyond frustrated. This update has pretty much ruined my phone. It crashes frequently. Favorite apps -- Tweetdeck and Spotify among them -- are unusable because they crash every single time they're launched.

I get idiotic messages that my SD card is full, when it has 8.45GB of space available.

My phone was working PERFECTLY before this update.

My smartphone has become a dumbphone.

Heaven forbid that I'd ever actually need to MAKE A PHONE CALL if I witnessed an emergency. Half the time the phone won't even wake up.

Does anyone have any idea what I can do???

[EN3]

Friskie try unmounting your sd card, turn off your phone pull the battery for a minute or two. Turn it back on and remount the sd card if necessary. If that does not work than, bring it back to a verizon store for further diagnostics.

Unfortunately untill Verizon provides more updates to fix the update. You will just have to live with a degraded phone.

I would love to see someone from Verizon explain why they thought forcing a update would be a good idea. I would really like to see verizon in the future not force update on their customers. Are you still enjoy using my phone now its Just aggravating and annoying. I look at the futility of my complaints what is forced upgrade, and I see verizon really being indifferent. According to motorola the entire reason for this update was to make it easier for verizon's tech support because then they won't have to ask what version of the operating system you are using they know you are using gingerbread. Basically to save a few dollars in their tech support verizon has forced this update on everyone. A very unethical decision at best verizon in my opinion.

[wavereels]

This truly has made what was a great phone, very unreliable. At times the Green message light flashes, but there are no messages. Now I am noticing that text messages come through and I get no indicator light. Apps that used to work no longer work. IE Weather Channel and Score Mobile widgets.  The Vcast Media Manager was "connecting" for 24 hours straight. Battery life is noticeably weaker. Toggling from screens is slower. Pull up a contact to call and I get a solid white screen before contact info appears. Same thing happens when I access text messages and gmail account. I have no landline and rely on my phone. They've really screwed my phone up with this. Am thinking that this might be the excuse that puts me in serious thoughts about an iphone. I havent even had the Droid 2 for a calendar year yet.

[#4]

Friskie, and others, thank you for sharing your concerns about the software update. First, for the issues you are having with applications, I would first recommend clearing cache/data from the application. This does not delete info, but you may need to sign in again or enter zip code info again. To do this, go to Settings>Applications>Manage Applications>All>Application>Clear data/cache. If still having issues after that, please uninstall/reinstall the application. You should also report these issues to the developer of the application. 

For the issue with the SD card, I agree with the second posting that you should try unmounting then mounting the SD card again. Also try removing the SD card and re-inserting. Last step would be to backup the info on the card to your computer then format the memory card in the phone. 

Lastly, all Android software is pushed to devices. This is not something that only Verizon Wireless requires, it is by design. With that said, we do appreciate the feedback about your software issues and I will report this information to our product team for investigation. For other issues, especially multiple issues, I would recommend a factory reset. 

[NauttiBoy]

Thank you MarquiaF for the same info that has been stated over nad over....   yet in doing all of the above, it STILL didn't work. Then having to go to your final suggestion of a Factory Reset....  and guess what...   that didn't work EITHER!!!!

Funny how there are page after page both here and on the net about the glitches with this "update" yet your tech dept on the phone shows no reported information on the problem!!!!

With the amount of Droids that are on your service that have been effected by this....   kindly stop blowing smoke and fix the issue!!!! Or at least be honest that you as a company have no clue how to fix the problem!!!!

Your advice is merely a temporary band aid, because after 2 or 3 days it goes right back to the screen freeze when typing (touch screen or keyboard makes no difference!!!)

Kindly inform those of us that don't mind "downgrading" our phones how to do so so that they ACTUALLY WORK!!!!!!!

Instead of blaming the developer.....  how about you focus on your customers and actually offer some, dare I say it, CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!!!

[#6]

NauttiBoy, I'm sorry to hear that the steps I provided did not work. I wish troubleshooting could be as simple as pressing a simple button, but unfortunately it is not. I also was not blaming these issues on developers, but trying to provide some troubleshooting steps that work time and time again. We recommend clearing cache on applications or uninstalling an reinstalling because it does clear up the majority of issues. Think of upgrading your computer from Windows Vista to Windows 7, or even just updating the service pack. It is possible for some programs that worked with Windows XP to have problems with Windows 7. The same goes for updating Android software. This is why I say to report problems to developers. 

There is not a way to downgrade the software or go back to the previous software version. Also, reading your post, your issue seems to be different than the issue of the original poster, which may be why the troubleshooting steps didn't help you. The issue with the screen freezing while typing has been reported to our product team and is expected to be fixed in the next maintenance release. We do not have a date for the software release at this time. What has worked for some other customers is going into the keyboard settings and turning off the Next word prediction. 

[zombiebob92]

ok... i dont know if this is related or not but i did the update here maybe about a week or so ago and now within the last few days, when i am typing pretty much in any messaging app now, it freezes and kicks me out of the virtual keyboard... when i was typing with the physical keyboard, i get a word completed and then it completely freezes and i have to completely get out of the messageing app and go back into it just to type another word...

[breezex]

zombiebob92 said:

"ok... i dont know if this is related or not but i did the update here maybe about a week or so ago and now within the last few days, when i am typing pretty much in any messaging app now, it freezes and kicks me out of the virtual keyboard... when i was typing with the physical keyboard, i get a word completed and then it completely freezes and i have to completely get out of the messageing app and go back into it just to type another word..."

This is from the Motorola Forums and is for the X2, but should work for the D2 also:

"Try tapping Menu>Settings>Applications>Manage applications>All>Multi-Touch Keyboard>Clear data>OK>Home. Hopefully, this will get the keyboard working again. You could also reboot the phone afterwards."

and

" settings..keyboard...multitouch...then uncheck next word prediction."  If the first suggestion does not work by itself.

[zombiebob92]

that is exactly what my phone was doing... i wish i would have seen this earlier becasue i did a factory reset, which worked as well but i lost all my stuff and now my facebook contacts arent showing up in my contact list anymore

[vicalicious]

I went into the Verizon wireless store and he said there's nothing u can do to delete this "upgrade" I can't watch even yahoo videos, only youtube from the apps. I can't believe how much trouble this "update" has outdated my beautiful phone.

[smac76]

There is somethig you can do to delete this upgrade.. . .. when I upgraded the phone went beserk  .. all I got was a blank white screen, after a few resets and i got to the regular home screen but with a huge lag problem ( lack of response to touch or sliding the keyboard out ) and of course the battery issue. It was sucking up the battery like beer at a frat party. The problems with this upgrade is clear all over the web and yet they want to blame some app or developer. Just accept the fact that this upgrade is doing some damage and get it fixed.

[aggie353]

MY Droid 2  version 2.3.3 also has become problematic with screen and keypad freezing, display disappearing among other issues. I do not know what to try.  A Verizon rep ordred a replacement phone and said there is an app to download that will fix  the inability to type.

[EN3]

MarquiaF_VZW, you stated "There is not a way to downgrade the software or go back to the previous software version."

That is not entirely accurate, If Verizon chose to any customer could go to the nearby Verizon store and have the phone reflashed to froyo. In order for this to happen two things would have to occur,
1 verizon would have so send out to their local stores the SPF image file of Froyo so they can physically flash the phone through the USB port.
2 Once flashed, the flashed back to froyo the system woul than recognize it as froyo and download the gingerbread update, so verizon would than have to change the update prompt to have an, "reject" the update option.

That would give customers back their droid just as they had puechased it. Now before you say it, flashing a phone this way may fail, resulllting in bricking the phone and that woulld leave the customer phone less until a remanufactured phone could be sent to them. I for one would be willing to take that chaance, happily and enthusiasticly.

Finaly, Verizon would have to make that decision, they have in the past given customers a choice to, "reject" updates. They have chosen to force all droid 2 users to Gingerbread.

What I woulld love to see or hear is a Verizon representative explain why has chosen to force Gingerbread, what is so beneficial to either their customers or to Verizon that this change must be applied? Not why it cannot be optional, but why you can not have a choice, you have to use gingerbread, no if's no and's no bit's no maybe's, no choice.

[Tidbits]

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EN3 wrote:
MarquiaF_VZW, you stated "There is not a way to downgrade the software or go back to the previous software version."

That is not entirely accurate, If Verizon chose to any customer could go to the nearby Verizon store and have the phone reflashed to froyo. In order for this to happen two things would have to occur,
1 verizon would have so send out to their local stores the SPF image file of Froyo so they can physically flash the phone through the USB port.
2 Once flashed, the flashed back to froyo the system woul than recognize it as froyo and download the gingerbread update, so verizon would than have to change the update prompt to have an, "reject" the update option.

That would give customers back their droid just as they had puechased it. Now before you say it, flashing a phone this way may fail, resulllting in bricking the phone and that woulld leave the customer phone less until a remanufactured phone could be sent to them. I for one would be willing to take that chaance, happily and enthusiasticly.

Finaly, Verizon would have to make that decision, they have in the past given customers a choice to, "reject" updates. They have chosen to force all droid 2 users to Gingerbread.

What I woulld love to see or hear is a Verizon representative explain why has chosen to force Gingerbread, what is so beneficial to either their customers or to Verizon that this change must be applied? Not why it cannot be optional, but why you can not have a choice, you have to use gingerbread, no if's no and's no bit's no maybe's, no choice.

---

That is NOT true...  Verizon does not have the power nor the authorization to release a SPF file.  This has to be done by Motorola and Motorola alone...  As well as coding it for where the update can be "rejected" has to be done from Google or Motorola has to hardcode it into the OS themselves.

[mcrbids]

I loved loved LOVED my Droid2 for about a year. It was stable, crashing perhaps once per quarter. Now it crashes more than once per day. I've reset the phone, rebuilt the cache, and replaced the phone. I've had the "new" phone for about 8 hours and it's already crashed on me!

While I was rooting for the GB update, I soooo long to have Froyo back!

[Tidbits]

I recommend doing a factory restore. DO NOT log into you Google account and open the market until AFTER you disable restore data. Check to see if everything works out. If it does then it has NOTHING to do with the update. It has to do with your backup being corrupted. If problem persists then the update isn't working for you.

[MZX]

My phone's bluetooth stopped working with this update.  I can't connect my phone to anything.  I agree, i love the look of the new platform but yah, bluetooth is useless now.  What a waste of money.

[mikepo]

I'm afraid I've upgraded my credit card to Visa 2.3.3 - unfortunately, it does not support payments to Verizon and there's no way to revert to the previous (functional) settings.

I'll start paying for the service again when my newly purchased Droid is flashed backed to a functional state with working Bluetooth. Until then, I'm simply not paying.

[#19]

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MZX wrote:

My phone's bluetooth stopped working with this update.  I can't connect my phone to anything.  I agree, i love the look of the new platform but yah, bluetooth is useless now.  What a waste of money.

---

MZX, I understand how important Bluetooth is, especially when driving. We have reported this issue to our product team and it is still being investigated. Some customers have seen that completing a factory reset has resolved this issue. If you are still having issues, please let us know more details. Are you able to pair your device but not connect? Are you getting an error message when connecting? 

[jwemt81]

You are so not alone.  The 2.3.3 update also totally killed my Droid 2 Global.  I was kind of excited at first because I liked the look of the new layout, but then I started trying to use my phone to send texts, take pictures, web browse, etc. and it's SO SLOW!!!!! It takes forever for anything to load now!  Also, the alert tone for my text message now sounds like a dying duck and sometimes the tone doesn't even go off at all now when I get a text, so I have missed a few text messages because my phone never made the alert noise it always used to before the update.  I am beyond mad.  My phone ran perfectly fine before the update and now it's just a pain to use because of how slow and laggy it is since doing the update.  I'm going to use my upgrade to get an iPhone next week.   Very disappointed in this update.