NOT HAPPY!! GINGERBREAD 2.3.3 UPDATE CREATED PROBLEMS AND CHANGE THE INTERFACE

[SEM]

I was loving my Droid X until Verizon told me to run the OS Update.   There was no mention that it was a new OS or that it could "permanently" change parts of my display and other functionality or about potential compatability issues with 3rd party apps.  Since then it has been nothing but problems:

1)    After much research and testing I purchased CompanionLink / DejaOffice to sync with Outlook ’07.  It has done so beautifully for the past year.  After Verizon told me to run the OS Update on DroidX it scrambled my Android Contact “Groups” (Outlook Categories) and broke my favorites.  Contacts are just fine, but the Groups no longer appear in alphabetical order.

2)    After the update I have not been able to assign Favorites to my contacts that were imported using DejaOffice.  The first time I attempt to assign a Fav it picks a random one and then it won’t let me select anymore.  If I create the contacts in Android it works fine, but not for the one’s imported.

3)    Before my update my “Contacts” and “Settings” pages were displayed as white text on a black background.  For some stupid reason someone had the bright idea to change it to black text on a bright white background and no option for
the user to switch it.  Who in their right mind wants to look at their contacts or settings with black text on white
background?  This must be a mistake.  No one with any level of intelligence would make such a change.

4)    There are two fixed icons appearing at the bottom of my home page – “Dialer” and “Contacts”.  They both are exactly the same.  The very first time you select Dialer it does what it says, but if you search on a contact or select favorites the next time
you click on it, it comes up looking just like the “Contacts” icon.  So what were they thinking??   Another genius idea.  Seems like a dialer should be exactly that.  It should at least default to the dialer every time.  I do love the idea
the from the dialer I can search for contacts/fav’s, but should a dialer always default to dialer??

Could it be that Google has intentionally changed the OS to make it less compatible with other 3rd party apps??  Seems in their interest since they are promoting their own “subscription” based sync software.  

Oh, I learned after the fact that this “OS update” was not really an update but a whole new operating system.  Why didn’t I get a warning that there could be significant changes and that it could become incompatible with my 3rdparty software that I’ve Paid for!!     Shouldn't  I have been given a list of changes (like any other good developer does) so I could decide for myself??? Obviously the Gingerbread Update was half baked!!

If I sound a little testy it’s because I’ve spent the past 4 days full-time trying to fix these issues and neither Motorola nor Verizon has any answers.

I would sure like to hear some intelligent answers from someone.  I have gotten none from 3rd
tier technical support at Motorola.  Companionlink says they are having many problems with the Gingerbread update on "Motorola" phones but not others.

Model:          Motorola Droid X

Provider:      Verizon

Version:       2.3.3
(Gingerbread Update)

[vereyezuhn]

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SEM wrote:

3)    Before my update my “Contacts” and “Settings” pages were displayed as white text on a black background.  For some stupid reason someone had the bright idea to change it to black text on a bright white background and no option for
the user to switch it.  Who in their right mind wants to look at their contacts or settings with black text on white
background?  This must be a mistake.  No one with any level of intelligence would make such a change. THANK YOU! I'm glad to see someone who agrees that these menu changes are absurd. I don't know of anyone who prefers a "light" or "white" theme to their menus.

4)    There are two fixed icons appearing at the bottom of my home page – “Dialer” and “Contacts”.  They both are exactly the same.  The very first time you select Dialer it does what it says, but if you search on a contact or select favorites the next time
you click on it, it comes up looking just like the “Contacts” icon.  So what were they thinking??   Another genius idea.  Seems like a dialer should be exactly that.  It should at least default to the dialer every time.  I do love the idea
the from the dialer I can search for contacts/fav’s, but should a dialer always default to dialer?? You can change these icons on the bottom, except the app drawer icon. I've never had the issue you're talking about here, my Contacts and Dialer icons look different and each do what they should. Actually I don't think I've seen this problem reported on these forums.

Could it be that Google has intentionally changed the OS to make it less compatible with other 3rd party apps??  Seems in their interest since they are promoting their own “subscription” based sync software.  

Oh, I learned after the fact that this “OS update” was not really an update but a whole new operating system.  Why didn’t I get a warning that there could be significant changes and that it could become incompatible with my 3rdparty software that I’ve Paid for!!     Shouldn't  I have been given a list of changes (like any other good developer does) so I could decide for myself??? Obviously the Gingerbread Update was half baked!! I think it is all personal opinion. All but the first 2 things you posted about were personal opinions about the layout/style of GB - not actual problems or issues with functionality. I completely agree that the new white backgrounds for the menus are terrible, but I love the dark status bar and the docked icons on the bottom (I found it very helpful to put the ones I use most down here)

If I sound a little testy it’s because I’ve spent the past 4 days full-time trying to fix these issues and neither Motorola nor Verizon has any answers. Again, these are your personal opinions about the new layout - they can't be fixed (I'm speaking about all but the first 2 things you wrote about in your original post) because they aren't really "issues" - a lot of people like the new look. It's just what they did to it, nothing you can do really. Did you like Froyo before this? I'm sure there were people who didn't like that layout, and prefer this one. Same thing.

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If you really can't stand the new look, look into a home replacement app. They let you customize the look/layout of your phone, and are really great. You could get rid of the docked icons on the bottom, get a different app drawer, get different icons for your apps, etc. Most have free versions as well.

[SEM]

Hello vereyezuhn,

Thank you for taking time to read and reply to my post.   I agree with you that my items 3&4 are opinions and I wouldn't have taken time to complain about them if it weren't for my first to issues 1&2 above, which are real problems so while I was at it I decided to post about these opinions as well so that google/motorola can see what some users prefer.

As for item#4 (opinion only) about the Dialer & Contacts icons.   Yes, they do have different icons on the screen, but their functionality and behavious is exactly identical.   From both icons you can dial, look up contacts and favorites etc and what ever screen you were in last that's where it comes up when you select that icon again later.  Hence the dialer may come up looking like contacts or your favorites screen, rather than always defaulting to the dialer screen.  That's what I had attempted to say initially.  Of course I can overlook this, but perhaps the architects should have another look to see how ridiculous this is. A dialer should always open as a dialer.

Items 1&2 above are unresolved problems that have been escalated to level 3 support in both Motorola and CompanionLink as well as a local supervisor at Verizon.  They all agree these are real problems with my phone but they have not been able to come up with a solution as of yet.  

So far, they have not found anyone else with my issue, but I was hoping by my post I would find out if there were other folks experiencing the same.  The phone is supposed to sort categories/groups in alphabetical order and it is supposed to let you assign favorites to your contacts... but mine is not doing that.  We have done 12-15 factory resets and they have offered me a refurbished phone which I have decline because I don't want to inherit someone else's problem.  My phone was fine until the update.

Thanks again.

[curtterp]

Google is not responsible for 3rd party apps. If there is a problem with Companion Link, then you need to talk to them about the issues. Its like telling Microsoft not to do a new OS because it will break another app that you bought. I did a quick search of companion link and came up with this article.

You must not be paying much attention to any Android news anywhere. Gingerbread is all over the news as a big Android update. As with any OS (including Windows, Mac, iOS, Linux), major updates will add new features, and deprecate (remove) old/obsolete features, framework items etc. Its up to the developers to look at the new updates to make sure that their apps to make sure that they are not broken under the new update. For a lot of the smaller developers, they either do not take the time to look through their code to make sure their app does break, or they do not take the time to fully test their app. They get paid when they bring new apps to market, not get paid for testing. A lot of them do not have any idea how to test effectively. Before I started working as a software tester for the company I work for, I knew testing was important, but in the past 6 years of testing, I have learned a LOT on effective testing. Some smaller developers use people to beta test their software, but if the beta testers do not know how to test, then the beta testing program is not worth it.

I also do not like the white background/black text of Gingerbread. I prefer black backgroud because it is easier on my eyes than a white background.

I might have made you mad by now, and I am sorry if I had, I am not saying that you do not have valid opinions about the update, because everyone's opinion is valid. I am just pointing out how things come to be. There are a lot of people that have problems with Gingerbread on their devices, and I do know that a lot of the problems are apps that are on the market. I have a couple problems myself with a couple of different apps. One is a paid app that I listen to internet radio with. The developer is a larger developer with a lot of specialized internet radio streaming apps that show as incompatible with my Droid X, but it took over 10 emails from 3 different email accounts, tweets, and finally when I said that I had a problem with not being able to download one of their newest customers apps, they finally responded. Now it has been almost a week since I heard anything back from them after their requests for more information from me. This app is one that I use a lot. There are days where it restarts my phone up to 5 times in a day, and there are days at a time where it doesn't restart my phone at all. They actually have an update out there, but then again, is that the market says not compatible with my phone. I could try a factory reset, but I don't want t lose the app that I paid for. I have had other apps that I used, and have had restarts during phone calls. One developer claimed it wasn't their app, but after I removed it, the restarts during phone calls stopped. Go figure.

Hang in there. I know that troubleshooting is now much fun (I really enjoy troubleshooting personally, been troubleshooting computers for over 20 years), but troubleshooting will help narrow down problems.

[Cinsual]

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SEM wrote:

3)    Before my update my “Contacts” and “Settings” pages were displayed as white text on a black background.  For some stupid reason someone had the bright idea to change it to black text on a bright white background and no option for
the user to switch it.  Who in their right mind wants to look at their contacts or settings with black text on white
background?  This must be a mistake.  No one with any level of intelligence would make such a change.   "I AGREE

Is there some way to put the old OS back on the phone?"

4)    There are two fixed icons appearing at the bottom of my home page – “Dialer” and “Contacts”.  They both are exactly the same.  The very first time you select Dialer it does what it says, but if you search on a contact or select favorites the next time
you click on it, it comes up looking just like the “Contacts” icon.  So what were they thinking??   Another genius idea.  Seems like a dialer should be exactly that.  It should at least default to the dialer every time.  I do love the idea
the from the dialer I can search for contacts/fav’s, but should a dialer always default to dialer??  "I AGREE"

Location: Santa Ana

SEM

Contributor

Posts: 4

Registered: 08-06-2011

Device: Motorol Droid X

Plan: Nat'l 1000 minutes

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Address Book & Calendar Information Screwed up

So let me understand THIS CORRECTLY... The "NEW" look on my Contacts and the Dialer are from a new OS?!

For the last 2 days I have been trying to figure out what Verizon done to my phone to put this "Kidergarden" looking stuff on my phone.

My Contacts AND my Address book are all screwed up 

1. Any contact that had more than 2 numbers to them no longer have the other numbers the only numbers that are there are Home & Work
2. My contacts Birthdays & Anniversaries are not dates anymore they are a random 13 digit number some having a "-" signs in front.
3. My notes in my contacts are scrambled and missing info.
4. Email addresses are coming up as numbers for some contacts & others who had 2 email addy's are with ppl they don't belong to

 My calendar has lost appointments and some that are reoccuring are not reoccuring and when I try to update the appointment it doesnt change and I can't set it to reoccuring.

The Reminders are all set to 1 hour or 15 minutes- so if I have reminders set for 1 hr 3hr 24 hr all 3 are set to 1 hour.  This is BAD BAD BAD.  I DEPEND on my calendar to be my brain and tell me where and when I need to be some where.

NowI don't feel that these issues are rants but real problems with my information being scrambled. - But I do NOT like the Kidergarden looking address book / dialer.

[Cinsual]

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Cinsual wrote:

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Address Book & Calendar Information Screwed up

So let me understand THIS CORRECTLY... The "NEW" look on my Contacts and the Dialer are from a new OS?!

For the last 2 days I have been trying to figure out what Verizon done to my phone to put this "Kidergarden" looking stuff on my phone.

My Contacts AND my Address book are all screwed up 

1. Any contact that had more than 2 numbers to them no longer have the other numbers the only numbers that are there are Home & Work
2. My contacts Birthdays & Anniversaries are not dates anymore they are a random 13 digit number some having a "-" signs in front.
3. My notes in my contacts are scrambled and missing info.
4. Email addresses are coming up as numbers for some contacts & others who had 2 email addy's are with ppl they don't belong to

 My calendar has lost appointments and some that are reoccuring are not reoccuring and when I try to update the appointment it doesnt change and I can't set it to reoccuring.

The Reminders are all set to 1 hour or 15 minutes- so if I have reminders set for 1 hr 3hr 24 hr all 3 are set to 1 hour.  This is BAD BAD BAD.  I DEPEND on my calendar to be my brain and tell me where and when I need to be some where.

NowI don't feel that these issues are rants but real problems with my information being scrambled. - But I do NOT like the Kidergarden looking address book / dialer.

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ALSO Just found out that everytime I add an appointment to my calendar it disappears.

I cannot work this way!!!!!  HELP PLEASE

[AnthonyTa_VZW]

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Cinsual wrote:

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Cinsual wrote:

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Address Book & Calendar Information Screwed up

So let me understand THIS CORRECTLY... The "NEW" look on my Contacts and the Dialer are from a new OS?!

For the last 2 days I have been trying to figure out what Verizon done to my phone to put this "Kidergarden" looking stuff on my phone.

My Contacts AND my Address book are all screwed up 

1. Any contact that had more than 2 numbers to them no longer have the other numbers the only numbers that are there are Home & Work
2. My contacts Birthdays & Anniversaries are not dates anymore they are a random 13 digit number some having a "-" signs in front.
3. My notes in my contacts are scrambled and missing info.
4. Email addresses are coming up as numbers for some contacts & others who had 2 email addy's are with ppl they don't belong to

 My calendar has lost appointments and some that are reoccuring are not reoccuring and when I try to update the appointment it doesnt change and I can't set it to reoccuring.

The Reminders are all set to 1 hour or 15 minutes- so if I have reminders set for 1 hr 3hr 24 hr all 3 are set to 1 hour.  This is BAD BAD BAD.  I DEPEND on my calendar to be my brain and tell me where and when I need to be some where.

NowI don't feel that these issues are rants but real problems with my information being scrambled. - But I do NOT like the Kidergarden looking address book / dialer.

---

ALSO Just found out that everytime I add an appointment to my calendar it disappears.

I cannot work this way!!!!!  HELP PLEASE

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Cinsual,

So sorry you are experiencing problems with your Droid X since the Gingerbread update!  I am happy to assist!

Regarding the Calendar appointment and reminder issue, which calendar are you using on your Droid, the Google Calendar or an Exchange Calendar?  Have you tried clearing the calendar's cache and data in the Settings / Applications menu?  I am including a link below with instructions how to clear cache and data in Settings:

Reset Application Motorola DROID X MB810

Let me know how this works out for you!