No 1.6 for current Android phones...

[zortoflaven]

There is a huge thread here about it:

http://androidforums.com/rogers/1064...-6-update.html

And here is the official post (if you don't want to read the whole thing):

http://androidforums.com/rogers/1064...tml#post197520

Looks like we are left behind in the Android world.

[bgoody]

Hi. Three things you should think about if you are considering Android on ROGERS are the network speed, software updates and paid apps. I have the Magic and it is an amazing phone coming from the Blackberry especially the browser and integration with Google however the 3G network with "speeds up to 7mps" is total ********* here in Montreal at least. It NEVER goes above 1.4 and most of the time it's below 1. This makes absolutely no difference for email and things of that nature but for web browsing it's marginal.

Another problem is the lack of commitment from Rogers on keeping the phones up to date with Google software upgrades. The American providers are either doing it over-the-air now or are committed to doing it. Given that the best Android apps are out for either 1.6 or 2.0, it's a real shocker to me that Rogers keeps us at 1.5. It's a Google phone, Rogers not a Windows phone.

The third and final stinker is that here in Canada there is NO access to paid apps in the Android App Market. Granted there are many good free apps however this lack of acccess to the other half of the app store is, to me, inexcusable. There are conflicting reports on who is responsible for this App issue but the end result for us Rogers clients is the same.

And to think that I paid an early termination fee to Telus of $240 to switch to Rogers because of the Magic. Brian

[OzCDN]

bgoody ... if rooting wasn't as easy as it is, all of your points would be quite valid.

But rooting eliminates two of them. The latest ROMs available out there are full on 1.6 with some elements of 2.1 added in. It is not just the choice of being up to date ... you can choose the ROM that meets your needs: speed?, long battery life?, features?.

And Market Enabler gives you full access to paid apps.

So the only real issue is internet speeds ... and I have to agree with you on that one. I am quite disappointed with the performance and I am in the Toronto area. I find it usable and I really do love having the internet everywhere, but the speeds rarely live up to the promises.

Of course there is a new provider in town now - www.windmobile.ca. They are not in Montreal yet but they are building as fast as they can. I figure in a year or two, when my contract is up, they may be a viable option. Give Rogers something to think about.

[bgoody]

bgoody ... if rooting wasn't as easy as it is, all of your points would be quite valid.

Of course there is a new provider in town now - www.windmobile.ca. They are not in Montreal yet but they are building as fast as they can. I figure in a year or two, when my contract is up, they may be a viable option. Give Rogers something to think about.

The problem with rooting is that it doesn't always work and essentially voids your warranty. Sure I could probably do it (and probably will) but that's like buying a new car and being forced to deal with warranty issues yourself. I'm wish someone would come up with a way to wipe the Rogers rom so we could have a google experience phone and then would be able to install the HTC update from their site.

As far as the WindMobile thing...they will not be operating in Quebec. They didn't even bid here afaik. Videotron anyone? I want to widen my options, not narrow them.

[Taknarosh]

As far as the WindMobile thing...they will not be operating in Quebec. They didn't even bid here afaik. Videotron anyone? I want to widen my options, not narrow them.

They did, oooooohhh they tried.
But Go ol' Videotron opened up the war chest.

Just to give you an idea how crazy those bastards are, Videotron spent more money on Quebec AWS spectrum blocks (around $500-600M) than Wind mobile spent $450M on the same AWS spectrum IN THE REST OF CANADA!

[OzCDN]

They did, oooooohhh they tried.
But Go ol' Videotron opened up the war chest.

Just to give you an idea how crazy those bastards are, Videotron spent more money on Quebec AWS spectrum blocks (around $500-600M) than Wind mobile spent $450M on the same AWS spectrum IN THE REST OF CANADA!

Well that sucks for Quebec (re. Globalive).

I also do agree that locking up the phones is stupid. Especially considering that this model is failing fast. Even with a locked Dream / Magic you can customize your ring-tones and other cosmetic items without buying anything from Rogers. And you can move your SIM card to another phone without Rogers' permission as well.

I'm not sure what they gaining by trying to block end user customizations. The low end user will always stick with the stock deployment, locked or not, and the high end user will always find ways around their blocks. The only thing that Rogers gains is resentment from people tired of having to make the effort to circumvent this stupidity.

It seems to me that selling a completely unlocked phone would be a great sales pitch.

Of course, when have marketing people ever been able to see the obvious??

[mikeovi]

The problem with rooting is that it doesn't always work and essentially voids your warranty. Sure I could probably do it (and probably will) but that's like buying a new car and being forced to deal with warranty issues yourself. I'm wish someone would come up with a way to wipe the Rogers rom so we could have a google experience phone and then would be able to install the HTC update from their site.

As far as the WindMobile thing...they will not be operating in Quebec. They didn't even bid here afaik. Videotron anyone? I want to widen my options, not narrow them.

dude.. unrooting is even easier than rooting. Install HTC Sync, Run Roger's RUU file, wait 10 minutes and BAM, you can send it in for repair for your warranty.

And rooting your Magic should work everytime, I don't see why it wouln't. All Rogers boards are 32A.

As you mentioned, if you wish someone would come up with a way to wipe the Rogers rom... then why complain that Rogers isn't releasing a 1.6 or higher? That'll still be a Rogers rom.

go to theunlockr.com and type in Root Magic, Unroot Magic, you'll get two step by step videos to root and unroot (if you need warranty repairs in the future).

They also have links to all the popular/stable ROMs. From Rogers Magic to a rooted 1.6 donut rom, it takes about 10-15 minutes given that you have all the files on your desktop.

Cheers.

[adrianhensler]

So my new phone is unsupported. Bravo.

What kind of stink would be raised if iphone users could not upgrade their devices?

[walie]

meh

i rooted and flashed a new Rom the instant i got my magic, i don't really care if Rogers releases 1.6 or not and if they do, they'll just add all their apps that nobody uses to it again

[jp1023]

i think rogers got android wrong, i also believe telus / bell "possibly" will get it wrong too. it's just something that happens in canada. not enough people to own it to make it worth their while.

i've rooted and flashed the cyanogen rom, it's so easy now and what a difference it makes in speed. all the lag and slowness it gone.

[zortoflaven]

The point is we shouldn't have to root our phones! I have mine rooted as well and am running 1.6 already. For the less savvy user, this task is daunting and often dangerous. It is unacceptable that Rogers has essentially forced its Android users to root and flash just to get 1.6.