The HTC Desire and its desirable siblings will receive an update to Android 2.3 Gingerbread, but owners could be facing a long wait. The current Desire range won't be updated until after the new Desire S launches in spring.
A HTC representative confirmed that the phones would be upgrading to Gingerbread during our natter at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, but he wouldn't provide exact dates. We did manage to get HTC's man to say that the first Gingerbread update would be released within a month of the Desire S hitting shop shelves, but then he changed his mind and said it would probably occur within two months.
The existing Desire phones won't receive the update all at once. HTC told us that the Desire HD and Desire Z would probably be first.
The Desire S will launch in the middle of the second quarter of 2011, which should hopefully mean we'll see it in shops sometime in May. The best-case scenario, therefore, is that older phones in the Desire range could receive an update by June. That means you'll have Gingerbread goodness with your ice cream in the summer.
What about the worst-case scenario? If the Desire S launches in late May or June, and the update takes two months, then it could be August or September before it's available for the older Desires. And we're only talking about HTC making the update available -- your network still has to tinker with it and send it your way, which is a notoriously slow process.
Depending on the networks and the time that lapses between updates for the different phones, the nights could be drawing in before Desire owners can enjoy the update.
The Desire HD and Desire Z are currently up to Android 2.2 Froyo. HTC lists the original Desire as still being on Android 2.1 Eclair, but networks should have pushed out a Froyo update by now.
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anonymous 15 February, 2011 13:57
I thought the biggest change in the Gingerbread update was support for Near Field Communication technology? This requires new hardware to work, so why the rush to get the update pushed out to older handsets?
anonymous 15 February, 2011 14:03
Already rooted and upgraded my htc desire HD... too slow chicken marengo!
Anonymous 15 February, 2011 14:05
I've been refusing the latest updates to 2.2 which vodafone has been pushing out. It works fine as it is, normally the updates just screw something up! Maybe I'm getting old ...
weaz1981 15 February, 2011 14:16
2.2 is a billion times better than the other updates - take it!
i'm not bothered about 2.3....yet
anonymous 15 February, 2011 14:45
I have played around with Gingerbread, I had a Nexus S for a cup of coffee, and to be honest I much prefer the build of Froyo on the Desire HD. Its just nice to know its coming. Hopefully it will be the 2.4 build but I would settle for 2.3.... Cheers for the heads up Cnet Ukers :O)
Anonymous 15 February, 2011 15:09
Laaame... I've been waiting for a gingerbread and sense update for ages now.
If the rom cookers can port these things seemingly within days then why does it take so long?
PaulWilks 15 February, 2011 15:33
I hoped this wouldn't be the case but market forces (the worry from HTC that people won't buy the new phones if the older ones get an update) dictate that this is probably a strong rumour.
Anonymous 15 February, 2011 15:43
My Desire had the 2.2 froyo as standard. Glad to get the flashplayer ;)
EvilJoe39 15 February, 2011 16:09
why should we buy new phones from HTC if they're just pushing old spec at us?
Anonymous 15 February, 2011 16:53
To: HTC Corporation
From: Desire Z owner
I WANT MY GINGERBREAD. AND I WANT IT NOW!
Anonymous 15 February, 2011 17:07
Been running 2.3 on my Desire for as long as 2.3 AOSP has been avalible so I dont mins the wait ;)
Anonymous 15 February, 2011 19:50
Waiting for Gingerbread...Hope it might save at least some battery life.
Other than that HTC desire HD rocks...
Anonymous 15 February, 2011 20:03
Seriously? Another wait for HTC to drag their heels over an update. I understand they want to sell new phones, but has anyone thought about brand loyalty. I was really expecting my desire HD to get gingerbread at least by April, not maybe June, August. Seeing as most of us are locked into long mobile contracts, who will be buying these new phones anyway??? HTC, you are beginning to suck as much as Samsung (and they really suck for providing updates). There's a new Iphone coming out soon, and windows 7 phones, and blackberry, and HP (palm). And plenty of other android handset manufactuers. Come on HTC, pull your finger out.
Anonymous 15 February, 2011 20:38
I think i gonna buy my SE arc.
Anonymous 15 February, 2011 22:44
Come on HTC we want gingerbread were paying customers when we start going to other companies
Anonymous 15 February, 2011 23:25
Will the htc desire hd get a sense update like the desire s
Anonymous 16 February, 2011 01:23
I'm very happy with my Desire HD running Android 2.2 but i'm waiting for the update!
Anonymous 16 February, 2011 02:21
I'm using a custom 2.2.1 on my DHD and it's great.
Battery life kinda suck but that's on.
No rush for the 2.3
Anonymous 16 February, 2011 02:26
Switch on the USB debugging mode (in the application settings) on your Desire HD will increase you battery life with hours. (its a bug apparently) Also install a program like JuiceDefender and your battery will last for 24 hours normal use (in my case.) Updating the software will make some apps not to work again with my phone. I am happy as it is now so I can wait!
Anonymous 16 February, 2011 08:47
Stop buying Andrioid phones. Now we understand what Steve Jobs meant when he descibted Andriod market as fragmanted.
Hardware manufactureres of Andrioid want us to buy new hardware for every new software update.
Please spread this message; this is the only way for Google to feel the heat.if they do not, Android will be another hype.
Anonymous 16 February, 2011 08:54
Android phones are never upgraded. They became useless within few months after they are bought.
Apple on the other hand, keeps respecting its custoers and issue updates to all previously sold models of phones.
I bought my Son Motorola Milestone a year back. He could not update ith to 2.2 since then and I happy in his decision to drop it and went to iPhone 4. Android Motorole phone is in the drawer now.
Since then Motorolla was very busy launching a new new phone every month and theur latest model devices run Andrioid 3.0. Sure, will never buy any new andrioid phone because 3.0 will be old after few months and Motorolla will not update it to sell their new devices.
Shame on you Google...
Anonymous 16 February, 2011 09:44
This will definitley go against them when I buy my next phone.
Anonymous 16 February, 2011 12:18
That is why I am never leaving the iPhone - I own both an iPhone and HTC & hardware wise the HTC to me is superior. I was hoping I could replace the HTC over the iPhone but when I hear this - big fat B*LL*X to HTC - I am sticking with the iPhone thank you v much!
Anonymous 16 February, 2011 22:56
It is not Google who is to blame here, it's the carriers and / or the phone manufactures who dont want to upgrade their phones..
Anonymous 17 February, 2011 10:40
This Updates delays are not Fair for Customers and specifically owners of smartphones that seeks always something new and new features the Ginger bread is out and there is no reason why we shouldn't get it
It's my first time to get an HTC and i bought the Desire HD since it is a high end handset but we are net being treated this way and i think this will be the Last time
If someone wants to get android they can get the Nexus phone since i think there will be no delays in getting all updates
Anonymous 17 February, 2011 17:24
Seems like a long wait... But perhaps manageable if they throw in the new Sense interface for Desire Classic somewhere in the next weeks, to keep folks happy. I would like to stay stock... Though some better VPN that would require root and native SIP in 2.3 Gingerbread are also tempting arguments to not wait too long and go custom ROM (actually I got better spec 3g to use voip - and so far I hardly used it.. By september my current data plan will have run out.. At least I would like to try the concept before deciding on a new plan.. In fact I probably will orient on a stable costum ROM to bridge the time, now more or less knowing what I am looking at in terms of.release schedule..
Anonymous 17 February, 2011 22:28
I hope that HTC read these comments and that they realise that people won't keep buying new phones if the ones that they have now are overlooked after only a few months. The desire HD only came out last October but now it is "old" and might get updated sometime this year? If HTC think that it is very complicated to update the software perhaps they should release "stock" gingerbread for their "older" phones (surely it wouldn't take too long to get stock gingerbread ready for desire HD?). And before somone replies with "you can always root your phone and install x, y, z" perhaps I would not go through the hassle and risk bricking my phone.
Anonymous 18 February, 2011 11:21
I just bought the Original HTC Desire for $487 in India. Would love to see what Gingerbread would offer. :)
Anonymous 18 February, 2011 13:57
I rooted my desire, installed the Oxygen rom, which is running Android 2.3.2, the ROM is incredible, phone runs way better. get it done..
Lunabu 18 February, 2011 17:22
I think my Desire has Froyo and I'm happy with it. If the new version promised anything revolutionary, I'd be keener to get it sooner.
billfred 19 February, 2011 13:00
Can the Apple fanboys please pi$$ off, you have no place here. No rush for 2.3 so why complain, the main thing I look forward to about it is the improved power usage... exciting...
Anonymous 19 February, 2011 13:08
Got 2.2 on my carrier free desire in an OTA in date last June a couple of months after release, after the Nexus 1 it was second in line to get it. Was hoping that gingerbread would be pushed as fast. Trouble is that android is making money for google hand over fist via advertising and apps even though the OS is free. Apple with IOS are not as bothered if you use the IPhone 3 or 4, they win all round. They make the phone, the OS, and revenue from the apps.
But phone manufacturers need to sell phones to make money, there lays the whole problem, which shows how clever google have been, they don't need to make or sell phones to make a fortune, you write the software and give it to every manufacturer for free, and it's win win.
Carriers and manufacturers want you to renew your contract and purchase a new phone, but by updating phones to the latest OS effectively you have the latest phone, especially with say the early desire with it's omoled screen, as opposed to the later LCD.
If HTC wanted too, they could give every handset purchased carrier free, Gingerbread right now, so could every carrier of handsets locked in. Off course Google want this too, but phone makers and new carrier contracts sellers do not. Love or hate Apple, but you cannot compare them to google or Microsoft who sell or give their OS to all to saturate the market. You only have to look what happens when Microsoft adopt the same business plan as apple with their xbox and kinect again win win. With android available on so many handsets of different specs for graphics speed processor etc, fragmentation will continue as with windows pc's, the sales person asking what you will use it most for, games, social networking or work.
Which unfortunately, even if the OS is lacking in some areas Applle will continue to make tablets and phones that work with all their apps as they should. I love android, but soon we will be seeing a similar scenario like windows, and saying I wish my phone would run that app, it's already happening in the android game market.
Anonymous 19 February, 2011 16:37
It is fine for me of having either 2.2 or 2.3,all I want to have is THE NEW HTC SENSE UI AND I WANT TO HAVE IT RIGHT NOW!!
(I'm a user of the Original Desire,running 2.2 Froyo)
Anonymous 19 February, 2011 18:30
desire hd is fine as it is , there is no need for any update, it is a wonderful piece of engg. marvel.
Anonymous 21 February, 2011 10:05
i regret ever having the htc desire hd as there support is poor at best there camera on this model is pointless as the camera on the two handsets ive already had snaps out of focus when the image is captured which renders the camera pointless, then theres the htc hub which has not been updated in the the three months ive had my handest. try talking to htc and thats all they do,, talk. avoid! avoid! avoid! try a much better company which cares about its customers..... by the time we get gingerbread it will mouldy and stale, out of date,,,,,
Anonymous 21 February, 2011 18:23
The HTC Desire is so full of bugs its making me sick.
PLEASE FIX THEM!
ace9988 22 February, 2011 18:05
Apparently HTC might not get android 2.3....they'll update it to android 2.4 instead so i guess its some sorta win =P
Anonymous 23 February, 2011 15:44
my Desire is just fine as it is. Well, to get gingerbread would be good but I'm not in a rush...
Anonymous 24 February, 2011 19:23
I just want to know what all the fuss is about. But froyo is awesome and if gingerbread makes it better then awesome.
anonymous 25 February, 2011 04:12
I'm not too bothered because the sense UI is worth waiting for and worth being a generation behind. Only thing that bothers me is how HTC thought it was ok to put a smaller battery in a phone with a bigger screen. Battery life on my desire HD is pathetic! To top it off they made it impossible to modify with a bigger sized battery and back cover.
Anonymous 26 February, 2011 22:58
2.3 doesnt really improve much and as far as i know the only major update is NFC and even thats useless in the uk
and as a htc desire owner froyo made me love my phone again and unless somehow something comes along that means i dont have to charge my phone everyday i doubt any update will be as needed as that
Anonymous 27 February, 2011 04:27
Who cares? Froyo with HTC Sense is better than stock Gingerbread anyway and without NFC hardware there is not much advantage to Gingerbread over Froyo. Only nerds care about this stuff, most people just want a phone that works. I bought a laptop with Vista and I had to pay for Windows 7, why should phones be any different?
Anonymous 26 March, 2011 20:31
I own desire hd. not waiting for gingerbread cos its fine how it is, in fact its better than fine, its perfect. had nokia nseries, for years, but it crashed all the time. this aint crashing at all. now the iphone, had one and sent it back, just didnt feel like i owned it, but it was on loan to me by apple. i couldnt do anything naughty with my phone, it was rubbish. couldnt even uninstall app without pc. got boring after 3 days use. on the other hand, desire hd, do what you like with it. balls to you apple, and stuff magazine who you are paying to rate highly of your products!
Anonymous 30 March, 2011 17:27
I have 2.2 on my Desire and 2.3 on my Nexus One and I must say that after getting over the initial excitement of a slightly cleaner layout.... there isn't really much of a difference between the two. I love the screen fade-to-standby animation (like an old tv turning off) but other than that I've noticed no new enhancements.
I actually noticed a bigger change moving from 2.1 to 2.2 so don't get too upset about not getting 2.3 so soon. The realchange will be the new Sense UI though so that's worth a wait.
Anonymous 10 April, 2011 21:44
I have just seen a video on the 2.3 firmware it looks aufull its going backwards like 2.1 firmware if thats 2.3 i wont be updating.
Anonymous 2 May, 2011 04:44
I love the fact that they stiff all the HTC Desire owners who put HTC firmly on the map in the first place with there first real killer smartphone.
It's there laughing at us, get 2.3 to the new phones, the more we sell the bigger my bonus!
Anonymous 12 May, 2011 11:15
I can see how punishing early adopters would be good business sense
Anonymous 12 May, 2011 15:46
It's middle of May now. Hopefully, the 2.3 will be released for Desire soon.
Anonymous 12 May, 2011 22:55
2.3 for desire is expected at the end of may
Anonymous 18 May, 2011 19:35
Dont know if they are changing back office architecture to support new Droid versions but since 2.3 went live my 2.2 desire has been real buggy in relation to on line apps/widgets such as Facebook, if Google can't get rid of this fragmentation isue and ensure device compatability (even Microsoft don't say Windows7 will work on Dell but not HP) then I'm going back to winmobile.
Anonymous 25 May, 2011 15:31
Almost june, no update....
-desire
Anonymous 30 May, 2011 18:40
i hear updates for htc desire hd .. but what abt htc desire ???
Anonymous 2 June, 2011 07:12
HT Desire HD update has just come out.... don't do it!!! I now have to manually disconnect and reconnect to the mobile network each and every time I come out of sleep to get data/internet. Apparently hard reset the only fix, and I can't do that because I have no computer to back up with.
My advice - wait until they iron out the bugs before you do it.
Anonymous 7 June, 2011 22:49
I just updated. So far, everything works fine! Some screen control improvement are somehow helpful. It took me around 3-4hours downloading the updates.
Anonymous 8 June, 2011 17:58
I really want to get Gingerbread on my old desire!! But no! I love sense! I will not root and get stock Android 2.3!
anonymous 27 March, 2012 16:00
When you buy a laptop it comes with a specific OS. You get security updates, but you still have the same OS. You certainly never get your laptop updated for free to a newer OS (i.e., if you bought Vista, you won't get Windows 7 unless you buy it).
Why, therefore, do you expect a free OS on your phone after you bought it? If the OS you have works well, what's the problem? And if you really want to upgrade to a newer version of your OS, you can do so at the end of your contract. You get nothing for nothing!