General Frustration/ Venting Forum

[matmatician]

Well, I just wanted to express somewhere that VZ can see that I am extremely dissatisfied with their upgrade schedule. I've had my Droid Charge since about a week after it came out. I bought my fiancee the Moto Droid 2 Global, and her phone got GB before mine!! Is there any reason why one of Verizon's top phones (at least at the time of purchase) shouldn't be running an equally up to date version of Android?? My Droid 1 had Froyo for months before I even got my Charge.

Verizon, this is unacceptable. We pay top dollar for your service. I expect top quality. If I wanted out of date software, I would have gone to some pay as you go Wal-Mart plan.

[JerryF]

Riffrafter,

I am not sure.  I will guess that anything on your SD card, such as music, photos, and Videos, will be okay but APPS you downloaded might be lost as would be your settings.

Has anyone one else re-installed the current version software? 

Even though you would be installing the proper and official VZ software it probably would remove some stuff.

I wonder if we will lose all the data and APPs when we finally get the new Gingerbread 2.3.5 update???  Does anyone know?

JerryF

[demmo86rt]

So much action in here since my first reply, lets see if I can remember to hit all the points (some of which others may have touched on).  First off, I'll go ahead and apologize for my obvious frustration, seeing one more thread started by someone who seemed to feel that they were owed an OS upgrade just put me over the edge.  But I do want to reiterate, you were never promised an upgrade.  I've seen several mention of bug fixes and general issues with the phone.  These, yes, you are entitled to, but that does not mean you will be upgraded to Gingerbread.  Many phones receive maintenance updates to fix issues that slipped through the testing of the firmware.  I am no lover of Samsung, in fact, I will probably never buy Samsung (which really vexes me due to the GNex) because of the way they did handle the upgrades to the Galaxy line of phones.  While nobody is ever promised an upgrade, I see no reason why perfectly capable hardware shouldn't be.  However, coming to a peer to peer forum is in no way the way to get that handled, this forum is for users to help other users with issues and general how-to for their phones.  If you have a real concern about updates, you would be much better served by contacting Verizon or Samsung directly.  Just some food for thought:  Samsung builds the hardware and tailors the firmware to fit it, all Verizon does is approve the device/OS combination to run on their network.  They may be your first contact if there is a malfunction, but the OS not being the newest release is not a malfunction.  I also hold no real love for Verizon's business practices, but they really do have the best network and I absolutely despise AT&T.  I guess my point is this: while I do believe that updates SHOULD come in a timely manner as long as the device is capable of running it, that is not the real world and, your device is only guaranteed to have the OS that it came out of the box with.  If you have a problem with this, please take it up with the manufacturer.  They are the ones who can do something about it.

Oh, and brutethunder, nice nickname,,, it makes you sound real intelligent.  Actually, it's kinda growing on me, maybe I'll change my screen name.    Maybe not 

[JerryF]

Here is an idea for all you "Venter's."  It may help although it's a long shot maybe 100 to 1 but it's so easy to check so here goes. 

For all you folks with a Droid Charge phone that has problems you might check the following.  From your Home screen Touch Settings.  Go to the bottom of the Settings list and touch About Phone.  Now go to the bottom of the About Phone list and check to see if all your phone's specs from Build Number (at bottom of list) up to Hardware Version match the specs in the attached photo.

I suggest this because my three month old Droid Charge phone has worked perfectly since it was new...lucky me!   So my point is, was your Droid Charge delivered with this exact same set of software?  This software has worked great for me!

If yours is different:  Do not pass GO, Do not collect $200, Go directly to your closest Verizon store and get it fixed.  I suggest that you take a copy of this post with you.

BTW, mine is for sale for $1,000...JUST KIDDING.  I love it!

JerryF

[Ray999]

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JerryF wrote:

Point is, was your Droid Charge delivered with this exact same set of software?  This software has worked great for me!

If yours is different:  Do not pass GO, Do not collect $200, Go directly to your closest Verizon store and get it fixed.  I suggest that you take a copy of this post with you.

BTW, mine is for sale for $1,000...JUST KIDDING.  I love it!

JerryF

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Considering that the only way to have a different software version than what you posted would require voiding your warranty, this may not be good advice. But of course anyone that did that would most likely already know that.

I suppose that a person could also choose to ignore the EE4 update and dismiss it like every hour or so if they chose to do so.

[JerryF]

Ray999,

This has nothing to do with tooting your phone or installing an illegal version of the phone's software!!! 

The VZ store would re-install the the current legal version of the software because MAYBE the original install did NOT get installed properly or completely.  The warranty would NOT be lost.

JerryF

[Ray999]

---

JerryF wrote:

Ray999,

This has nothing to do with tooting your phone or installing an illegal version of the phone's software!!! 

The VZ store would re-install the the current legal version of the software because MAYBE the original install did NOT get installed properly or completely.  The warranty would NOT be lost.

JerryF

---

Generally speaking, a phone that had a bad install of the original software would either be bricked or be throwing lots of errors from the get go. You are correct that the phone should have those versions, but the MOST LIKELY CAUSE of the phone not having those versions is that the phone has been rooted at some point or the user has dismissed the EE4 OTA message every time that it has come up.

The whole process of loading the software image to the phone in a manufacturing environment doesn't lend itself to much error. Sure there can be software load failures due to an equipment malfunction. However those failures are probably weeded out pretty early in the process  due to the fact that the phone will either be bricked, have totally non-functional radios, or not even boot completely.

As far as the OTA to EE4 goes, there are a small percentage of devices that will fail and in doing so, brick the phone or be so obvious that a call to tech support would be warranted.

[MJT1111]

You know the sad thing is the version your running is not even the most updated...commeting on the picture a few posts back. In a seriouslness the amoung of time some people have spent posting they could already have 2.3.6 running which solves all the problems people seem to having. I understand the reason why you don't want to do and that makes sense. But if your phone is having that many problems due to poor software implementation then you have two options sell it or install new software. Just my two cents. I for one installed new software and this phone runs like it was designed to.

[MJT1111]

Sorry for all typo's in the previous post haha. You know it's bad when you correct your own post haha.

You know the sad thing is the version your running is not even the most updated...commenting on the picture a few posts back. In all seriousness the amount of time some people have spent posting they could already have 2.3.6 running which solves all the problems people seem to having. I understand the reason why you don't want to do it and that makes sense. But if your phone is having that many problems due to poor software implementation then you have two options sell it or install new software. Just my two cents. I for one installed new software and this phone runs like it was designed to.

[JerryF]

MJT1111,

You are correct, to much time complaining and not enough time fixing.  In everyday life, my mantra has always been, let's just fix it.

If my Charge phone was as half as bad as some folks on this forum I would have gone to a new build before 2.3.6 and would have already moved on to 2.3.6 possibly even before you.

Fortunately for me my Charge has been a perfect phone right out of the box.  As a poker player would say, it's just the luck of the draw.

JerryF

[MJT1111]

Jeff,

I too didn't have any issues out of the box either. But for me it's allways about trying to improve the products I buy especially at this price. The new leak 2.3.6 build compared to the stock ota build is like night and day. Once you try it you will wonder what you and verizon were waiting for. There are noticable differences in signal strenght, gps lock and speed. The thing is if you don't like it just reload the orginal verizon update no big deal. The thing is you won't want to.

[jmurphy914]

re: I would have just used Wallmart's service"   I jut wanted to note the Wallmart phones uses Verizon's network but if you tried the tech support or customer service on the wallmart phone "cheap-talk" or whatever it is you, would come running back to Verizon really quick. There is no tech support and you will hear "thank you for that information" over and over every time you speak, and you won't understand a word of their India accent.. haha Also, there is no such thing as an update on a wallmart phone at all... Oo

[droiddevice]

After more than 10 years I will be leaving Verizon when my contract is up on the 27th of this month. For 2 years now I have been putting up with the first version of the Droid. The worst phone I ever ownded. I have complained about this phone right from the beginnig dropping calls, cutting out, lousy email functioning, etc. Verizon told me to stick it out and there would be an update for it. The update came and the dropping calls was corrected but my 3 emails have never worked correctly. I have made several trips to the verizon store to have it fixed. My contract is up on the 27th. My 3  emails still doen't work and now I need them working more than ever as my computer is down and I'm waiting for a new computer. I brought the phone to verizon last Sunday and asked them to either fix my emails or let me upgrade 22 days early with no penalties. They wouldn't let me upgrade 22 days early. After 20 minutes they got my emails to upload. I left the store and the same day I was back to not getting any of my emails. My email screen just sits there saying it's loading. I'm done with Verizon!!! And... I'm taking my 2 son's with me that also have Verizon accounts.  Will probably go open an account and purchase another phone with another company this weekend so that I can get my emails. Thanks for listening to me vent!!!

[rcschnoor]

---

droiddevice wrote:

After more than 10 years I will be leaving Verizon when my contract is up on the 27th of this month. For 2 years now I have been putting up with the first version of the Droid. The worst phone I ever ownded. I have complained about this phone right from the beginnig dropping calls, cutting out, lousy email functioning, etc. Verizon told me to stick it out and there would be an update for it. The update came and the dropping calls was corrected but my 3 emails have never worked correctly. I have made several trips to the verizon store to have it fixed. My contract is up on the 27th. My 3  emails still doen't work and now I need them working more than ever as my computer is down and I'm waiting for a new computer. I brought the phone to verizon last Sunday and asked them to either fix my emails or let me upgrade 22 days early with no penalties. They wouldn't let me upgrade 22 days early. After 20 minutes they got my emails to upload. I left the store and the same day I was back to not getting any of my emails. My email screen just sits there saying it's loading. I'm done with Verizon!!! And... I'm taking my 2 son's with me that also have Verizon accounts.  Will probably go open an account and purchase another phone with another company this weekend so that I can get my emails. Thanks for listening to me vent!!!

---

I have some bad news for you. If you are not currently eligible to upgrade, but become eligible to upgrade on the 27th of this month, then you still have 4 months left on your contract.

Verizon allows everyone to upgrade 4 months prior to the end of their contract. If your contract ENDS on the 27th of this months, then you are already eligible to upgrade, and have been eligible for the past 3 months. If you are not currently eligible to upgrade, but become eligible on the 27th of this month, then you still have 4 months left on your contract and will have to pay an ETF if you leave for a different carrier after the 27th. Sorry to break the news to you.

[demmo86rt]

No, because it's a Nexus phone, updates will be pushed directly from Google as soon as they are ready. You'll even get small updates, 4.0.1, 4.0.2, etc., that most phones never see.

[JerryF]

I did have a bit of a problem following some of Dalite's points due to his grammar and presentation but the one thing that I missed completely was any blame toward the phones manufacturer.  What about failures caused by poor circuit design, manufacturing processes (poor procedures and Quality Control), assembly problems and packaging (procedures and QC again), and so forth.

Remember, both software and hardware can be at fault and, rightfully so, we blame Verizon the most because they are the seller with whom we deal but let's not forget the manufacturer too.

Sometimes even the phone's user may be causing the problems.

This is a 3-way street:  the phone's user, the phone's manufacturer...Samsung, and the phone's seller...Verizon.

JerryF 

[gene526]

I have been a Verizon Wireless Customer for years. I currently
have a family plan and most recently upgraded to a droid bionic. The phone is
great but that is not the issue. I pay $30 a month for 2GB. New Verizon
customers who sign up for the new Razr will get 4GB a month for the same price
Bionic customers are paying for 2GB.

I just called customer service and was told that it is for new customers, how do you like that.

[JerryF]

They told you the wrong. VZ said it is for everyone with a 4 g phone.  Go look here:

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19736_7-57319456-251/verizon-to-double-data-amounts-for-4g-smartphones-...

JerryF

[rcschnoor]

Sign into MyVerizon, under change your plan it will let you change to the double data deal.

[midnightinohio]

Has there ever been a worse phone than these? (Samsung reality red and piano black). I can't believe how the buttons are so sensitive that in my pocket I call people. I don't always remember to shut the SOB off then turn it back on after every call. The worst was here I am trying to buy my wife a clock on QVC from a company called temp-tations because this brand is microwave, dishwasher and oven safe. So as I'm on hold with the speaker on listening to the music waiting for the next operator I guess I press a button or combination of buttons and the phone rings and someone says hello sounding they're asleep. I said is this QVC I want to buy some temp-tations products. They answer no. I am so **bleep** I can hardly see, but I remember this phone is a POS. So I hang up and look at the last dialed message and low and behold its my best friend! I work 2nd shift so I don't get off work till 11:00 EST. Now I have to drive over to his house in the morning and show him the call and appologize for waking him up! That's nothing though I have been in a restaurant and I go to look at my phone to see the time and I'm on youtube with something about airplanes! I can't wait till my contract is up (next April) and I'm going to lay these phones under my lift truck and slowly run them over!!! LOL How bad is this phone? I will never own another Samsung!!!

[midnightinohio]

This has just finally come to a point where I have to vent something to some one. I called verizon to complain about the phone and I was told there was a few issues but that I could turn my phones in at the end of the contract. When I woke my friend up as far as I'm concerned, it's personal now...

[Developer]

I have the Charge and, as a phone, love it. The UI is smooth, the calls always go through, it lasts through most of my day and I'm a pretty heavy user. It was given to me as a replacement for the thunderbolt which had massive problems. What I don't like is the 4G network and the problems associated with it. When it's up and running, it runs full bore. When it has any sort of an issue, I can't even use 3G on the phone. It seems like we're all the beta testers for their shiny new network but at a cost to us. It has frustrated me to no end. What's worse is that I'd be willing to downgrade if they gave me the choice but there aren't any 3G only phones that I'd want to have. Catch 22 at its finest.

Just a vent.