Droid X = Redheaded stepchild

[Galaxy80]

This is a rant. I'm sorry, but I need to get this off of my chest.. I bought this phone back in November. It was the best phone Verizon sold then. Everyone said, it was Verizon's posterchild for Android phones, yet 6 months later, it has become the redheaded stepchild. I read 9 different Android news feeds plus a few other tech feeds like Gizmodo, Techcrunch, and Endgadget DAILY hoping to see some kind of news about my phone. Whether it be an update to Gingerbread, Netflix, etc. Every time I read something, it gets my hopes up real high only to be shot down into disappointment. I have fought the severe urges to do the R devil word to my phone beause I've been trying to do the (other R word) RIGHT thing and do updates like they're supposed to. But every day it becomes harder and harder to fight the temptation. What happened to the Droid X? In 6 months, it was thrown to the side for it's bigger, better brother the DX2 and I'm still stuck in a contract for a year and a half. This makes people like me start to think evil,tempting thoughts about how to get rid of my phone to get a better one. Don't get me wrong, I love my phone. I've done several things to customize it within keeping it stock like using a Launcher, etc. I'm sure Verizon doesn't smile upon this, but at least I haven't R'd my phone. At least not yet. Honestly, I came VERY close to doing it earlier, but then I caught another glimpse of possible false hopes of my phone being updated around the 26th. I'm sure this is another rumor like the many other rumors that have been going around for the past 2 months of getting Gingerbread on my phone. Honestly, it really SUCKS to get my hopes up, then let down over and over again thinking that I'm going to get an update to my phone. This is a big flaw in Android. I hate Apple, but at least when they update iOS, EVERY phone gets the update. The fragmentation of Android has become a big problem, and will start to lead people like me away from it. I feel like I have been thrown aside for the next new gadget coming out, and I speak for 99% of Droid X owners, I assume when I say that. If buying the best phone there is at the time, only to be obsolete in 6 months means owning an Android, I think I might just go take the plunge like everyone and their mama and get an iphone with AT&T. And for the meantime, void my warranty to get my phone updated and have Verizon look down on me even though I spend over $100/mo for their service...

[Ann154]

I wouldn't call the Droid X a redheaded stepchild. Maybe the Motorola Devour or HTC Droid Eris both of which will never officially see FroYo let alone Gingerbread, but never the Droid X.

[Tidbits]

Sorry I am going to have to chuckle at you....

Yes the DX will get 2.3...  It's only a matter of time...  Blogs and such are going off speculations and rumors...  Speculation and rumors are not always correct especially when it comes to date and time.  Just be patient and it will come...  There's already been a few leaks of the update and are kinda rough...  They are working on it and that's proof enough as without them working on it there would have NEVER been a leak at all.

These things takes time, and if someone mentions a rom cooker as reference...  Unless they are working without source and they ended up writing their own code, ril, and ported AOSP over themselves I can't give them full credit for it as most of the "hard" work was done for them and all they really do is add a couple of apps, add a theme, and did some bug fixes.

last paragraph of this is my opinion and nothing will change that.

[hallcp1019]

In reference to the leaks we have seen has anyone else had the thought it was gb for the x2 we were seeing in all likelihood it will get 2.3 before the x and be essentially the same phone could be why its compatible with the original. X

[Wildman]

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hallcp1019 wrote:
In reference to the leaks we have seen has anyone else had the thought it was gb for the x2 we were seeing in all likelihood it will get 2.3 before the x and be essentially the same phone could be why its compatible with the original. X

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Actually the DX2 has a modified version of 2.2 but I have wondered if the leak is infact that build  modified by developers....

Hope for a system dump from DX2 soon for comparison..

[Cody21]

Sorry if I glossed over your problem, but what precisely is the ISSUE with your current phone? Maybe I fall into that 1% category - my DX is flawless. I run LPP as well. I don't run a Task Killer. I run LOOKOUT antivirus. Example: I recently took an 8 hour trip and had GPS running with Navaigation (traffic), Pandora, email, texting, and a game from time to time, took some pics along the way uploaded to FB, updated Gas Buddy along the route -- all at the same time for the entire 8 hours ...  8 down & 8 back a few days later.  The phone NEVER slowed down, never rebooted on its own.  I love this phone. I've had it since September and it's been the ONLY one I've had.  Yes, the FROYO update back in December was very similar to the release strategy of Gingerbread, and many people were complaining. But frankly, I almost don't want GB as it *may* just introduce issues for me, personally.

So just what is it that is not working for you or you're upset about that you believe GB will fix? 9 out of 10 times it's usually a renegade APP that causes problems on these smartphones. (And don't get me started about the iPhone. That has been beaten to death if you do a search of this forum. IMHO, it is not the panacea that you might think it is.)

So what are the issues with your phone? Maybe, just maybe we can help.

[Galaxy80]

I understand that those other phones haven't gotten Froyo yet, and my fustration and sympathy extends to the owners of those phones as well.
@tidbits I was mainly just letting out my frustration that people keep saying it will be updated on x date bit it never happens. Even the Netflix update was highly disappointing. Out of all of the news feeds I read on a daily basis, you don't ever see anything on the X anymore. It's been passed off and forgotten about, and that sucks!

[Ann154]

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Galaxy80 wrote:
I understand that those other phones haven't gotten Froyo yet, and my fustration and sympathy extends to the owners of those phones as well.

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You don't quite understand. The Droid Eris can't/won't ever receive an update from the manufacturer beyond Android 2.1. They aren't supporting it anymore. The Motorola Devour is stuck at Android 1.6. It was manufactured by the same company as the Motorola Droid X. There other phones on other carriers that will never have an official FroYo (Android 2.2) OS system built by the manufacturer of those phones. The Droid X at least based on the leaks is still supported and should see an official build of Gingerbread someday. Try to be patient. Remember it took eight months for the Samsung Fascinate to get the update from Eclair ( Android 2.1) to FroYo ( Android 2.2)

[curtterp]

Part of the OP problem is that they are reading all the online stuff about Android.... which is FULL of SPECULATION and REGURGITATION with each other. It is so funny how a lot of these sites are actually just rewording what each other is saying.

I am not saying that everything they post/say/speculate on is bad/wrong/off base. But the only 'official' word comes from the manufacturer/provider.

There is a lot of pent-up frustration from not hearing anything from Motorola/Verizon on if/when the Droid X will get Gingerbread/Netflix etc. We do know that it will be coming out, but with all the backlash from the Froyo update not coming at the start of the stated 'quarter', I can see why they would go the route of not saying anything at all. I am not saying that is the best customer service route to take, but I can understand why they would.

If you always wait buy a phone because of the rumors of the 'next greatest phone' to come out, you will never buy anything. I bought my X when it first came out, and yes, it can be a 'little' frustrating to see the next generation Droid X to come out less than a year after the original came out, but I looked at the Droid X2. Sure the dual processor would be nice, the screen is a little better, and I don't use the HDMI out port, so the mirroring doesn't affect me. I do have another line that I could use to upgrade at the discount price, but to me, it isnt worth that effort. I have not seen where the X2 is 4g compatible, so I will wait until next year for my contract to expire to see what might be on the market at that point. I can wait.

I know that it would be nice to have GB on our phones, but I would rather wait until it has been tested and the bugs worked out before the OTA rollout happens. My phone works good now, I want to get the update, but I want my phone to work after the update too

[Galaxy80]

Well, for the most part, my phone works flawlessly at least 80% of the time, but I do have issues from time to time. I was having restart issues yesterday with Youtube restarting my phone after watching 2 or 3 videos. That happened about 3 or 4 times then I just quit messing with youtube. My phone will also freeze from time to time.

There have been tests with the DX w/ GB and the results are amazing when it comes to performance. Most of my frustration is not knowing. I wish someone would either give me a real date or just tell me I won't get the update at all. The phone is perfectly capable of running the software.

I don't run rogue apps. I get all of my apps from either the Android market or the Amazon market. I've used advance task killer since I've had the phone and it's never caused any issues.I also run Lookout.

Some people may not agree with my frustration and that's ok. You can't expect everyone to agree with you all of the time. As far as the DX2, it isn't much of an improvement, but the screen and processor are nice and it kind of sucks that I spent so much money on this phone for it to be obsolete in 6 months. I'm kind of hoping my phone gets stolen or broken in a few months just so I can get the upgrade. I shouldn't be thinking those kinds of thoughts.

@Ann, I really do sympathize with owners of those phones. That really does suck. I don't know the specs of them or how powerful they are, so I don't know if they could handle upgrades like GB or not. I do know that the DX is a very powerful and capable phone of handling things like GB and Netflix and I don't understand why they just pushed the DX to the side. It's ONE of the most powerful phones out there for a single core phone. I had to highlight ONE so people don't misunderstand me.I know that eventually technology becomes obsolete, but 6 months is ridiculous! The Iphone 3gs has been out for a couple of years, and even though the 4 came out, it still gets updated and isn't obsolete yet. It's frustrating being stuck in a contract for a year and a half with an obsolete phone that doesn't have to be.

I'm trying to be patient. I've been waiting for 2 months for this GB update, and have been waiting since last year for Netflix. I spoke to Netflix in December about an app for Android and they told me early 2011. The app finally came out in May and I can't even use it because my phone that's perfectly capable of doing so isn't supported. Even though many DX owners have installed it on their own and it has worked. The Iphone 3g can run it and this phone is WAY more powerful.

I didn't come on here to argue with anyone. Just to express my frustration hoping that other DX owners would understand...

[curtterp]

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Galaxy80 wrote:

I didn't come on here to argue with anyone. Just to express my frustration hoping that other DX owners would understand...

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A lot of us understand the frustrations that come along. The reports of GB coming down the OTA pipeline every few weeks, and nothing from Verizon of when it really going to hit. It was also disappointing for Netflix to release only to a few devices when they finally released their Android version. That FRUSTRATED me too.

and

I never felt like you were arguing, just stating your feelings/opinions/venting etc.

[Galaxy80]

Speaking of problems with the phone, I just plugged it into USB to put some music on it, and right after I chose mass storage, my phone crashed and restarted.. Like I said, it runs great about 90% of the time, but it does crash quite often..

[Galaxy80]

Holy crap.. I just installed Netflix and it works. Stock Droid... I'm in shock...

[curtterp]

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Galaxy80 wrote:

Speaking of problems with the phone, I just plugged it into USB to put some music on it, and right after I chose mass storage, my phone crashed and restarted.. Like I said, it runs great about 90% of the time, but it does crash quite often..

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I see this issue about 50% of the time when I do USB Data Storage. Not sure why it started to happen, but I chalk it up to something running from the SD Card, and the OS is not able to stop it, so it restarts to quit the app so it can make the SD card available to the computer.

[Cody21]

There is definitely a bug/flaw with the whole "USB File Xfer" thing.  I've given up on even trying to use any of the multi-media software that either Verizon or Moto provides.  They either cause a crash of my phone or just plain don't work at all.  (Do a search to see those issues documented.)  That being said,  I turned on the USB DEBUGGING MODE - and just left it on now. That setting seems to have fixed a lot of my USB connection issues. And when I connect, I NOW always connect using "USB MASS STORAGE" - and then just use FILE EXPLORER on my PC to manage/copy files to/fr the phone.  Try setting that option ON and connect again ...  let us know if that fixes your "crashes".

SETTINGS / APPLICATION SETTINGS / DEVELOPMENT / USB DEBUGGING

[Galaxy80]

I think that's what the culprit was cody. Because the Verizon/Motorola management program came up, and right after I closed it, the phone restarted.. I think I'm just gonna uninstall it..

[crb79]

I don't know if these points have been covered already as I only read the first page but here goes:

Any device is sure to be outdated at some point.  You can buy a $5,000 computer and it will be outdated within a few weeks.  

As for Iphones, well considering that Apple makes 1 phone per year and no other company is allowed to use IOS of course there aren't issues with updates needing to be tailored for many devices.  For each Iphone release, there is typically 50 Android phone models released by various manufacturers.

I don't worry about the 2.3 update.  Sure I check from time to time to see if it's available, but if I really wanted it right away I'd have installed it back in January when it was first leaked.  

Right now there isn't a device released yet which I would trade my Droid X for, and I've had my Droid X since release day.  All the phones I've had before, I wanted the next best thing a month or two after I bought it.  My next phone will be the Motorola Targas, or if that's the codename for the remodeled Bionic, then the Bionic will be my next phone.  

[droidsw]

crb79, a cogent post. At least smartphones aren't like TV's. Nothing like paying upwards of $1500 on a large screen, only to notice even larger ones selling for half that a year later......Your iphone point was right-on. And, I second that sentiment on the Droid X still being the only phone I want.

[Winkly]

An official word from Verizon regarding Gingerbread would ease the minds of many a weary soul.

Even if it was (summer 2011), we could stop looking at each weekend as being 'the' weekend.  Oh and if they have beeen holding it up for this long, they found some huge bug, or they want more feedback from the X2, before they roll ota.

[Tidbits]

Motorola already stated something, but no one paid attention, and it got burried in searches because of all the "negative people clicking on links that want clicks to get paid(Any site based on rumors and speculation)...  Also there are leaks out for gingerbread on the Droid X.  In the software world that means it IS being worked out...

Gingerbread will come to the Droid X...

[TryTheFish]

That's generally not true with the carriers.  Typically, they have what most call "bloatware" that they insist be on the phone, then they send it for test, re-test, etc. until the phone works with the new "features," as Verizon would call it, installed.

It's probable that Motorola would have almost zero issue releasing Gingerbread on the Droid X if Verizion got out of the way.

Sorry, but it's the same with AT&T and a few others.  Nothing we can do about it but bend a bit and take it.