Planned update has been changed from 2.3.4 to 2.3.5

[HoustonHeart]

 As the 2.3.4 beta ended over a month ago, they began the 2.3.5 Gingerbread beta tests, which was leaked earlier within a week this time unlike previous leaks. (keep in mind you receive no updates during the phases on leaks, take risks and void warrenties on unofficials).

 The plan was for a release of 2.3.4 OTA then 2.3.5. Yet now 2.3.4 is not going to be released and it is going straight to 2.3.5 since it is already stable and basically a radio tweak, improved kernel and UI tweak (more a wrap around 3D effect).

  This is good news we are getting the current build, but means the planned mid October update planned is not happening and it will be late oct into nov before the approval and OTA of 2.3.5

Icecream is in the works for charge, and other devices, Samsung, Motorola and others are on board. It is a very scalable OS/I tweak to merges tablets and phones, but delayed into 2012.

[DC5_K20Z1]

So in the mean time they are not even going to release any kind of bug fixes at all? Why not at least give us the 2.3.4 update and then give us the 2.3.5 update?

[rcaplinger]

Thanks for the update!  I'd rather they take a couple extra weeks to make it PERFECT (or close enough) and hopefully fix everything I've found wrong, than for me to have to update the phone, find and report more problems, complain online again, and then have to update it all over again.  It's usable now, so I don't mind the slight delay.  Thanks again!

[addysdaddy]

Truly mean no disrespect intended, but how do you know this?  From everyone I've spoken with at VZW, from the clerk behind the counter to senior tech support personnel due to some Charge issues I'm having, no one knows about the update and according to the senior support, the update is fully in the hands of Samsung, VZW has nothing to do with it.  I want the update as badly as the next, but I just don't understand how all of these projections are anything more then wishful thinking. I glance at these threads all the time in hopes of that someone has actually been pushed the update to GB, but it's still all a pipedream.  I understand the argument in both directions about whether it's actually going to  occur and I have an opinion on that, but that's all it is - an opinion.  

My hope in responding to your comment is that you somehow have access to insider information and that GB is actually coming and your able to somehow validate your sources.  Please please please don't get insulted, it's just I want to believe it's coming but there are no hard facts that I can latch onto at this point.  Can you help?

[HoustonHeart]

Some people are signed for the offcial testing, includign myself, that is how we know. Tech support can only deal with current builds released, nothing more.

Samsung has stages to each build, leaks are generally one to 2 builds behind test builds. Samsung released a statement to testers that they do not expect to release any OTA's for verizon for 2.3.4 as planned, but rather 2.3.5 which is a more stable build already. Releasing 2.3.4 then turnig naroudn and releasing 2.3.5 within a matter of a few weeks is a bi silly

As far as those with issues, it is NOT an issue for all users.  IT is not as wide spread as those complainign on the ofrum want it to be made out to be, not that there are not issues with soem ardware, soem flashed versions , and errors with OTA packages, which is plaqued.

All devices have issues, have reported issues, the same as the Bionic is facing them with some units.

I personally have no issues on our Driods with the network, the camera, and soem issues reported. (minus one returned intial unit). However all the EE4 versions were updated directly and not via OTA updates.

[JerryF]

10/9/2011

HoustonHeart,

First, a big thank you for all the public and private help you have given me.  I have appreciated your efforts and advise.

When version 2.3.5 Gingerbread is available I do NOT want to do an Over The Air (OTA) update. 

Would you please write up a step-by-step list of instructions on how to first download the new 2.3.5 software to my PC and then, second, how to get it updated into my Droid Charge phone? 

In the past I think you referred to this as a manual update and said it is the BEST way to update a phone.

Thanks and best personal regards,

JerryF

[HoustonHeart]

When ever the official update is released there will be info on the manual install (from samsung) the file will have to be moved to your SD card via usb fro mthe computer to the root directory. THe phone is then set into the update mode and you select upgrade via SD Card and allow it to update.

The other method is using the Offcial samsung flashing utility and drivers, selectign upgrade from the file on pc. The phone is left synched via usb/com port.

When it is official I or someone else with cover the steps in a easy how to. SOme prefer this method over OTA's to avoid errors.

2.3.5 looks very simliar (minus coloring of some aspects. 3d options optional. I use another 3d  page flipping launcher myself.

[ts47]

Thanks Houston Heart!!

While I'm excited to know 2.3.5 is definitely coming, it may be too late for me to keep my Charge.  I've fought a bluetooth bug since day 1 where I can hear callers, but they can't hear me.  It is an occasional bug.  Problem is I use the phone for business.  I can't continue to wait for an update to fix the bluetooth bug.  I've been through three Charges and two headsets with no luck fixing the problem.

So, here are my questions...

1. Do you know if 2.3.5 will fix the bluetooth problems some of us have been experiencing?

2. I've been given an opportunity to switch to the Bionic.  Do you know anything about the bugs with that phone and if it would be a reasonably stable replacement for my Charge?

[heavenlystew]

Hello.  How did you become a tester for the updates?

[trparky]

I'm not liking this idea at all.  This place is already near riot-conditions with people screaming about this not working and that not working and people complaining about dropped signal and other various network issues.  Don't they know that they practically have a virtual riot on their hands brewing in this place?

Release something, anything, just as long as it can fix a majority of the issues that people are having with the phone so that this place will cool down.

I dread coming to this forum because I know that I'm going to see another rant thread.4

Granted I went ahead and rooted my phone and loaded GummyCharged GBE with an EP3H-based kernel and the EP3H-based baseband firmware and that has finally made it stable for me but other people aren't like me and willing to go ahead and root their devices.

[jimde]

Oh please!  Release something?  Obviously you weren't in on the Fascinate fiasco.  Let them get it right then release an update that works. 

I would think that both Samsung and Verizonwireless are are more than a little snakebitten after that mess.  I don't blame them for being energic in their testing.  There is a price to pay for being on the bleeding edge. 

I would be willing to bet that you would be one of the loudest complainers if there were a release with a major flaw.  So don't get your shorts in a wad.  Sit back, make your calls and enjoy a rather awesome piece of hardware even without Gingerbread or Ice cream sandwich.

[russv61]

The sales of this phone would have skyrocketed if gingerbread was released to it sooner.

Don't they (Samsung and Verizon) realize this?

And what if they publicly promised the Icecream update?

VZW could not keep them on the selves.

And thanks for the info HoustonHeart.

[DC5_K20Z1]

I was a owner of the fascinate, the phone worked great minus missing calls all the time. The phone froze up quite a bit, I can deal with that....but I can't miss calls, that is why I switched to this phone. It had been great, minus the dead air issues that plagued it for three weeks. Every once in awhile it happens again for a little while. Verizon said that in this new update that would be fixed. This is the main reason I would like some sort of an update, to fix that. This build will have some bugs I'm sure, even though they are taking extra long on it, plus it would be nice to have improved performance and better battery life and hopefully the cycling of 1x 3g and 4g stops along with the "no connection" of data. This phone could use some fixes. I hope it is a well polished build then since it is taking so long to release. Other samsung phones run gingerbread and seem to be doing well.

[phillthedrill]

According to this update, it is suppose to fix a bluetooth bug, and the charge should be part of it since a lot of it is samsung updates.

2.3.5

25 Jul 2011

• Brought improved network performance for the Nexus S 4G, among other fixes and improvements.
• Fixed Bluetooth bug on Samsung Galaxy S
• Improved Gmail application

Google "2.3.4 vs 2.3.5" to see where they say it on wikipedia.  It wouldn't let me post the URL here.

[ts47]

---

phillthedrill wrote:

According to this update, it is suppose to fix a bluetooth bug, and the charge should be part of it since a lot of it is samsung updates.

2.3.5

25 Jul 2011

• Brought improved network performance for the Nexus S 4G, among other fixes and improvements.
• Fixed Bluetooth bug on Samsung Galaxy S
• Improved Gmail application

Google "2.3.4 vs 2.3.5" to see where they say it on wikipedia.  It wouldn't let me post the URL here.

---

Thanks Phll!

My biggest frustration with the Charge is the bluetooth.  I really hope 2.3.5 fixes that.  I also hope that VZW/Samsung gets it right.  The Thunderbolt update was released and almost immediately got pulled due to multiple bugs.  VZW has offered to let me try the Bionic.  At this point, I think I'll take them up on it.  Not that it is anyone's fault... I just can't bring myself to keep waiting.  I really do like the rest of the Charge.  If the Bionic doesn't fix my problems, I'll be back.

[bluevolume]

Lots of "fuzzy" info in this thread guys.  Take it with a grain of salt.  The person that started this thread is drawing a lot of their own conclusions based on things they are reading on Twitter, and its all 2nd and 3rd hand info with some personal commentary added.

[russv61]

Bluevolume

I've been googling "samsung droid charge gingerbread" for months.

Digging through every site and forum I found.

Houstonheart seems to have some of the most believable info I could find.

I hope that he's right about the updates, but wrong about how long its going to take to get them.

I'd also like to hear your opinion on the updates.

[heavenlystew]

How did you get VZW to 'offer' you a different phone? Were you eligible for an upgrade? I hate to have to go through several remanufactured phones when I purchased this phone new just 3 weeks ago (too late to exchange).

[DC5_K20Z1]

Very nice....hope it fixes it then

[DC5_K20Z1]

It is nice to hear some info on the charge as there really is no news about it or updates for it. Verizon nor samsung say anything about it, other phones and phone owners are kept in the loop for the most part. I've found alot of information and insight helpful on here.

[Clark75115]

It seems like we have heard all this before.  I'll believe it when I see it.   But at this point Verizon could give me the hope diamond, I wouldn't care.  I still think they have been irresponsible and indifferent to their customers.    I am counting the months until my contract is up and it is Bye Bye Verizon and Samsung.   I have been a good customer for 12 years, paid my bills and fulfilled my contracts and I get nothing in return except for regret and frustration.   They don't care at all about any of their customers so it is time to go.

The best I can hope for is the Verizon fails miserably and is shut down, in a humiliating way.