Another one bites the dust: the HTC Desire HD will not be updated to Ice Cream Sandwich, let alone Jelly Bean.
According to Canuck canetwork Telus Canada, the Desire HD's Ice Cream upgrade has been cancelled "due to poor device performance during testing." That leaves the phone stuck on the venerable Gingerbread and unable to update to the latest version of Android software.
Each new version of Android is named alphabetically after a tasty treat. Version 2.3 Gingerbread made its debut in late 2010 and version 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich came along a year later. It's still struggling to make it to many phones though, leaving the vast majority of Android phones and tablets stuck with Gingerbread -- even as the latest update, Jelly Bean, arrives on the Google Nexus 7.
Sure, the single-core Desire HD is two years old, so we can't expect it to still be right at the cutting edge. But this is the phone that we described as the "ultimate smart phone" when we reviewed it. How can such a top bit of kit go out of date so fast?
Ice Cream Sandwich has proved tricky for many phones. Manufacturers have claimed that modern phones are so complex it's hard to organise an update -- but then we have also seen it running on the first Android phone, the T-Mobile G1.
As time passed and Ice Cream Sandwich updates were nowhere in sight, Motorola and Sony both resorted to claiming the new software isn't even that good anyway, and you're better off with Gingerbread. I've asked HTC for a comment on the Desire HD, but haven't heard anything yet.
For a bit of nostalgia, let's flash back to the way we were in 2010. Check out our video of the Desire HD from the days of Matt Cardle, trapped miners, and vuvuzelas:
Does HTC owe you an upgrade, or should everyone be happy with their phone as it is? Has Ice Cream Sandwich been a disaster? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page.
Update: HTC has confirmed that the Desire HD and Desire S will be updated to Ice Cream Sandwich after all, but not when. Telus has contacted us to stand by its assertion that HTC cancelled the upgrade.
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Comments 18
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anonymous 17 July, 2012 12:08
due why to wait for official update get a rom from xda developers....
:-)
anonymous 17 July, 2012 12:28
Huh? What? According to everyone else it's only Telus in Canada that's not getting the upgrade, according to a facebook post direct from HTC, everyone else is still on course:
Thank you for contacting our Customer Support Center.
With regards to your inquiry,
Please note that the Ice Cream Sandwich will be coming later this year to HTC Rezound, HTC Vivid, HTC Amaze 4G, HTC Evo 3D, HTC Design 4G, HTC Incredible S, HTC Desire S, HTC Desire HD, HTC Rhyme, HTC 4G+, HTC Raider 4G. It is expected within July-August for hTC Desire HD.
We're continuing to assess our product portfolio, so stay tuned for more updates on device upgrades, timing and other details about HTC and Ice Cream Sandwich.
You will receive a notification on the handset when the upgrade is ready for your device. We would recommend using a free Wi-Fi hotspot or an unlimited data plan, otherwise standard data charges may apply.
Thank you once again for your continued patronage.
Let me know if I have successfully answered your question, please click here to complete this.
To send a reply to this message, please click here.
Sincerely,
Nouran
HTC
anonymous 17 July, 2012 12:57
OMG. How many sites can report this WRONG. The device IS receiving the ICS update. Only Telus devices aren't.
Here:
http://www.gsmarena.com/ics_update_for_htc_desire_hd_reportedly_canned-news-4524.php
Paul Clarke 17 July, 2012 13:04
Lol - well done CNET :)
anonymous 17 July, 2012 13:09
Using MIUI ICS on DHD....works fine!
Christien Sauvé 17 July, 2012 14:47
And HTC UK won't admit or deny that the ICS update for the HTC DHD has been cancelled :(
Rich Trenholm 17 July, 2012 15:20
I asked HTC for confirmation either way before publishing the story, and have yet to hear anything. I'll update the story when we know either way
anonymous 17 July, 2012 21:01
This is where I'm disappointed in HTC. Imo they release too many phones. The Desire HD was the best phone out when released imo and I preordered in August 2010. It wasn't until early December mine finally arrived, already giving it a 3 month disadvantage. The phone is barely 2 years old and they should still be supporting it. Videos on Youtube show it running hacked versions, so don't know what the issue is. I'll be keeping my Desire HD until it is at least 3 years old, and apart from the crap battery life it's still an excellent phone and the best looking one HTC have released to date. Maybe HTC should focus on creating a top end phone that is designed not to be replaced every 6 months and also focus on customer support. I can see myself swinging back to Samsung as a result
FaisalMiah 17 July, 2012 23:31
CNET is so biased against HTC.
anonymous 18 July, 2012 08:44
FUD
meanwhile look jellybean runs on desire hd just fine
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1778202
anonymous 18 July, 2012 08:59
How can anyone say CNET are biased against HTC when their phones get constantly high ratings and praised?
Anyway, at least CNET responded to questions about how true this article is. I'm still waiting for a response as to why the Android spam virus article only included quotes from the two sources furthest from Android making accusations, and nothing from Google or Lookout who had said that same day that the problem was not with Android.
Oh, and I'm still waiting for them to confirm whether or not the Windows 8 $40 upgrade is for all Windows users or just those that bought Windows 7 after 2nd July.
A bit of effort would be nice, but fair play for responding to questions here. This author does seem to go the extra mile to answer questions than some of the other writers.
anonymous 18 July, 2012 09:48
Will it or won't it? Would have been nice to get ICS upgrage, my wife's Sensation got it a year ago, but no big deal, the Desire HD is still a great phone & Gingerbread really does everything I need very well. It's not the end of the world folks!
anonymous 18 July, 2012 12:31
This post is wrong, The HTC desire HD IS going to get ICS as HTC has already commenting on the rumor that is here! https://www.facebook.com/htcuk/posts/475148015848018?comment_id=5699831&offset=0&total_comments=16
FaisalMiah 18 July, 2012 23:37
@ anonymous 18 July, 2012 08:59 Have you read their article of the HTC One X? Yet they praise the Samsung S3- two phones with really similar specs. Overall though, CNET does a really good job reporting tech news!
storerboatplans 19 July, 2012 01:58
Ithe article is humping the gun. A few hours ago Slashgear received information from HTC that it is all going ahead. We'll see I guess.
I thought CNET would have said they were trying to reach HTC. This is news about Telus, not HTC.
MIK
anonymous 20 July, 2012 16:56
A load of BS. The announcement to supply the Desire HD with ICS was followed very quickly with a report on HTC's poor financial performance. At least be truthful HTC. I am running ICS on my HD Desire flawlessly apart from camera support.
anonymous 21 July, 2012 16:39
http://blog.htc.com/2012/03/ics/
anonymous 25 August, 2012 03:40
ICS with Sense 4.0 running smoothly on my phone, all through XDA.
No thanks HTC. I will be looking into the new Samsung phones when this contract finishes perhaps.