The HTC Sensation, Sensation XL, Sensation XE and Evo 3D will all be getting an upgrade to Android 4.0, aka Ice Cream Sandwich early next year. Welcome news for fans of those phones, but what about the HTC Desire series? And indeed, the recent HTC Rhyme?
A bunch of US-only phones have also been confirmed for the ICS update (stateside readers check out the full list here), but UK 'droid owners will be disappointed to see only the Sensation and Evo 3D blowers are destined to receive Android 4.0, at least for now.
Anyone who owns an HTC Desire, Desire HD, Desire Z or Desire S will be wondering if and when they'll be getting the latest version of Google's operating system. In a post on its Facebook page, HTC says it's "continuing to assess [its] product portfolio, so stay tuned for more updates on device upgrades".
HTC made a real hash of getting Gingerbread on to the original Desire, initially claiming that the phone couldn't handle it, and then releasing a scaled-down version that Desire owners had to force on to their mobiles manually. So it wouldn't surprise us if HTC chose Ice Cream Sandwich as the point at which to stop updating the Desire.
The Desire HD and Desire Z, however, are barely a year old, and we reviewed the Desire S in March of this year. The HTC Rhyme has only just been released. With no word from HTC, it looks as though Android fans who own these mobiles could have months to wait yet.
We understand layering the mostly excellent HTC Sense interface over a new edition of Android takes time, but one of the best reasons to buy into Android is that it's constantly evolving, with new updates bringing fresh features and interface tweaks. If you're left in the dark as to when -- if ever -- your phone will be updated, confidence in HTC and Android could slide.
Do you own an HTC phone? Are you gagging for a bite of the Ice Cream Sandwich? Let us know in the comments, or on our Facebook wall.
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Comments 56
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anonymous 7 November, 2011 12:20
thats it, ive had enough, im giving up on android, sick of these fragmented software updates doing my head in every time an update is released you have to be one of a select few of "chosen" handsets to get an update
Im not swapping to apple....even worse issues to deal with
looks like windows mobile!
anonymous 7 November, 2011 12:28
I owned a Desire and i'm not surprised about HTC not upgrading it after the whole farse of getting 2.3 on it, even though perfectly stable 2.3 roms were available a year before. I moved onto a motorola atrix and i'm still waiting for 2.3 (2 more weeks) :)
waiting to see if your phone is getting the new android has to be one of the most irritating and frustrating things in life. lol
anonymous 7 November, 2011 12:30
Why the constant clamour to update with the latest release of OS? I don't see a queue of cars outside dealerships demanding free upgrades when the next model year vehicles are released.
anonymous 7 November, 2011 12:43
Not ideal at all. I bought my Desire HD less than a year ago and now it may end up becoming obsolete !!!
If layering HTC Sense is the limiting factor, HTC should atleast offer an upgrade to the vanilla version of ICS for these handsets.
anonymous 7 November, 2011 12:47
Bring on Cyanogenmod
anonymous 7 November, 2011 12:49
To "Anonymous 7 November, 2011 12:30"
Software purchases come with the expectation of upgrades unlike cars. Even in a car, I would expect updates to be available to firmware within GPS systems etc.
ace9988 7 November, 2011 13:38
To be fair it doesn't matter what HTC do, the developers always find a way... On my desire hd I'm running the exact same ROM as the sensation xl so when that gets an update to ics.....so will i ;)
anonymous 7 November, 2011 13:41
The obvious answer is root your phone (easy) and use a 3rd party ROM (also easy with loads of choice). I use MIUI and I'm sure ICS goodies will come to that ROM as soon as the code is released.
anonymous 7 November, 2011 14:06
I am not too bother that my HTC Desire HD won't get ICS for now. The phone works perfectly well with Gingerbread and I can see myself upgrading to more powerful hardware in future. (i.e. Galaxy Nexus).
Sens UI is HTC's main selling point and i think it's worth waiting for in the upgrade process. Better that than get something rushed out and full of bugs.
MikeBuck_1 7 November, 2011 16:38
the Desire is never gunn aget ICS, not officially anyway, I've been watching some dev forum's and someone has got ICS onto the desire, and is working through the issues slowly with help. so the only way for the original desire and maybe the others in the range to get ICS maybe via a custom ROM.
Shane Mann 7 November, 2011 16:56
Does anyone know whether Ice Cream Sandwich or HTC Sense 3.0 will be officially coming to the HTC Incredible S? I'm new to Android so i have no idea but both look great.
Peter Hudson 7 November, 2011 17:34
Since when does your phone not getting the absolute latest OS make it 'Obsolete'. It still does everything it did when you bought it.
I do hope the new OS comes to the galaxy S2 but im not gonna pull my hair out stressing about it. It will happen when it happens
anonymous 7 November, 2011 19:21
The whole idea having an android is you can stay upto date with any software update as long the phone's memory can take it.
Why a big jump from 2.3 to 4.0? I think personally it's all about make you buy a new phone in other words GREED
I own desise hd and to more android for me that is for sure
baldev 7 November, 2011 19:27
No more android for me can't trust those people behind it. How they can say android plateform is free so why can't we have update when the phone is capable to do so.
IT'S JUST GREED
anonymous 7 November, 2011 19:28
I just bought a Desire S! Don't make me sad now...
anonymous 7 November, 2011 19:47
my desire s is fine with gingerbread... i'll wait and upgrade once a few ics phones start fighting it out next year
anonymous 7 November, 2011 22:13
Woohoo Fkin sweet im gonna get ICS! Love the Sensation, Best Android device ive had by FAR!
anonymous 7 November, 2011 22:18
thats it. enough of that android ****. time to move on to windows mango
anonymous 7 November, 2011 23:22
Well since smartphone manufacturers don't make any money on updates there really isn't much of a incentive to update. So if the phones are old and outdated you want a new one and new phones means more money.
PS: I own a HTC Sensation so i am not really complaining :)
anonymous 8 November, 2011 05:54
All HTC Sensation series fellows you will end up in an year or two as the same way as the folks having HTC Desire series now. HTC takes too long to come up with an update when compare to its competitor like Samsung... If it goes like this for sure HTC will loose all its loyal customer soon...
PS: I am a proud HTC Mobile owner
anonymous 8 November, 2011 08:16
HTC Sensation recent s/w update to version 2.3.4 is a big mess with the introduction of Screen Snapshot. So its only fair that user get a fix with ice-cream sandwich.. I certainly hope android v4.0 will put the screen snapshot to a less frequently used activation button. Currently the accidential activation is driving me crazy....
anonymous 8 November, 2011 13:24
Bit of a joke that a phone you get on a 2 year contract stops being supported after less than a year. Bought a Desire HD last year and thought it would be up to date for the duration of the contract.
HTC need to bring out less phones and just concentrate on supporting a few over time. Existing customers won't come back otherwise.
anonymous 8 November, 2011 16:28
You are all a bunch of whining ******, just root your phones with th tool HTC provide and put ice cream sandwich roms on there. Or put a sensation Rom on and get the official update when it arrives
anonymous 8 November, 2011 16:42
This is so annoying I own a desire s and I've wanted this update for a while now and they've said were not going to get it until at least after Christmas
Jed McInnes 8 November, 2011 18:36
Annoying, but not entirely surprising. I suppose all that can be done is hope they sort something out in the future...
anonymous 9 November, 2011 14:58
I don't get all this fuss about getting the latest OS on your phone. if it works, don't fix it. My HTC DHD works fine on gingerbread, yes there are glitches but hardly any. The new OS will also have them. If you want to update just for the sake of being up to date then they got you, u r their targeted audience, you will break under the pressure they create and buy yet another phone before old one becomes incompatible with apps, technology etc. It's not about improving OS, better, faster, more, it's simply about your wallets: buy this, it's better because we named it different and changed how it looks etc. My phone does everything i need it for, that's the measure.
Lurgandude 10 November, 2011 01:55
I have a Sensation running gingerbread. My son has a Desire S and recently got an over the air update to gingerbread. I actually felt a little miffed that he now has the same OS as me. I paid more for the Sensation and so expected it to be a little more special for longer than his Desire S, so bring on ICS...
anonymous 10 November, 2011 07:12
I would really be disappointed if my HTC Desire HD was not updated to ICS. I bought the phone about 5 months back and there is no need for me to upgrade now. It would be interesting to get the update to see where the future of Android is headed
anonymous 10 November, 2011 13:43
I am getting a Samsung after my desire wears out. I love my HTC desire but was utterly upset when they stop supporting it after 2.2 and a scaled down 2.3. Now, my friends with desire HD and the few that came after the original desire may not get 4.1.... I get all those I know to support Android and ditch HTC. F
anonymous 10 November, 2011 19:44
I really don't see the OG Desire getting ICS, but if it did, then I would stick with mine intill it died (volume buttons are already close to dead).
If the Desire S get's ICS, I'll probably make the tiny leap (despite the OG Desire being better looking and having real buttons) since it can be had for next to nothing.
anonymous 12 November, 2011 10:33
I'll be upgrading my rooted sensation as soon as a stable ics rom is available, not too worried about it having sense.
anonymous 18 November, 2011 10:24
if ics not coming for desire hd my next phone will be not htc, it s ******** they said we support minumum 18 month for a new version of android. and now say bla bla bla.
anonymous 18 November, 2011 11:13
ROOT YOUR PHONE! It's so easy, and then you can have beautiful cyanogen and ICS will come to your device probably in February.
anonymous 18 November, 2011 18:14
C'mon! Desire HD is not THAT old, not to get an Ice Cream Sandwich!
anonymous 20 November, 2011 12:47
My rooted DHD is running Gingerbread 2.3.5 with HTC Sense 3.5 (neither of which are officially supported on the DHD) without any problems at all
anonymous 22 November, 2011 17:14
I own a Desire HD and if HTC don't update it to ICS in a reasonable time frame it will be the last HTC I ever buy!
I have had an HTC phone since it was a "no name" (orange SPV running WM) but the slow updating and insisting on the sense UI when you can download others from the android market are really putting me off the brand.
anonymous 23 November, 2011 22:21
Those that say they will move to Windows phone, will be even more disappointed as updates are even less likely. They still have to be built for each phone.
I agree that my experience of HTC not updating a phone that was the flagship phone only a few months ago means I am unlikely to go HTC next time. I have used Cyanogen on an older phone and it looks like it is the future for my DHD.
anonymous 24 November, 2011 12:21
HTC should take a leaf from Sony Ericssons book and strip back the software, all of Sony Ericsson handsets are getting the update, as there is no fiddling involved with the HTC sense
anonymous 25 November, 2011 16:29
I own Htc desire HD, actually I admire htc UI - htc sense - and for that I would go for htc android devices over others, but what bother me the most that with htc you can never be sure, and I hate that when I did not get htc sense 3.0 i was fll of anger and disappointed not only cause i did not get it but also cause it was only few months later after the release of htc desire HD and that made me doubt htc whether they worth to rely on or not
anonymous 30 November, 2011 11:05
Guess who's got a desire...
anonymous 12 December, 2011 20:41
I've been wondering about this update because I have a HTC Desire HD and wanted to update to Ice Cream Sandwich but after checking the updates and download pages and scouring the net I couldn't find it. It'd be nice to see HTC Desire owners get the latest updates. Shame really :(
anonymous 14 December, 2011 19:39
i want to buy desire s but i want to know that will this phone will suport ics ........??
anonymous 27 December, 2011 04:26
Have the HTC Desire Z for about a year now. Brilliant phone and love it but as you stated it is barely a year old so I would be bitterly disappointed if I don't get an upgrade for it. It was not a cheap phone and it was meant to be one of their top of the line phones when it first came out.
I feel however that HTC is not really supporting existing customers and they only care to bring out new models and move on to even newer models forgetting about the older ones (Only a few months "old").
All those who blindly attack Apple forget one key thing. It is not the iPhone or the iOS that people mostly are attracted to but the continous support for their devices. Even the "older" ones.
anonymous 29 December, 2011 13:56
Desire hd
Doesn't need it dnt fix something unless its broken simple
anonymous 30 December, 2011 17:21
ive spent countless nights crying over this, cant even speak to anyone,its not fair, , poo pants to htc.
anonymous 4 January, 2012 16:13
Have the HTC G1 from 2008 i think. it best phone at thats time and love it but it only 4 years old so I would be bitterly disappointed if I don't get "Ice Cream Sandwich". It was not a cheap phone and it was meant to be one of their top of the line phones when it first came out 2008.
Will HTC G1 get Ice Cream Sandwich with htc sense 3.0 next year ?
HTC don't support G1 anymore, very disappointed.
anonymous 4 January, 2012 16:16
Have the HTC G1 from 2008 i think. best phone at that time and love it but is only 4 years old,I would be disappointed if I don't get "Ice Cream Sandwich". It wasno't a cheap phone and it was meant to be one of their top of the line phones when it first came out 2008.
Will HTC G1 get Ice Cream Sandwich with htc sense 3.0 next year ?
HTC don't support G1 anymore, very disappointed.
sorry for my english "copy and paste"
anonymous 9 January, 2012 02:13
I got my desire s within a month of release, I wouldn't have been too bothered about the ICS 4.0 update had HTC not advised they would be offering software updates/support for 18 months from device release. Personally it is poor from HTC to state this and then announce we won't get 4.0 although that said the desire s wasn't going to receive sense 3.0 and it did. At the end of the day HTC may or may not release the 4.0 update to devices within there 18 month specified support period although they really should. Perhaps if they only release a handful of handsets each year rather than flooding the market they can spend more time providing this 18 month support they speak of. From a business point of view they don't make money form these software updates but people like me halfway through an 18 month contract aren't going to run out and buy the latest device to get the latest O.S or features so it makes some sense to look after the existing customer base. Even a revamp to sense, more skins and a choice of U.I colour scheme would be great, love sense and the widgets are amazing.
S
anonymous 15 January, 2012 18:44
To be fair, the icecream upgrade would probably be the last for HTC Desire series anyway. I might add that a friend who has a new phone with the latest Android and has found that magical HTC clock has stopped, so its not flawless.
Me? I'm on the Desire Z and if they won't upgrade (I asked them and they said no decision has been made), and if it really bothers me then I will consider rooting in a year or so, when I will also be moving to a newer Samsung, or Nokia phone. Loyalty works both ways, and HTC should remember that!
anonymous 24 January, 2012 01:27
I WANT THIS UPGRADE!!!!!! DO IT Bitches!!!! DESIRE S FOR ever!!!!
anonymous 24 January, 2012 11:45
I've been rocking a HTC Desire Z for around 9 months (my 'thanks for givig birth to our son' prezzie) and I am expecting a delicious ice cream sandwich within the next 4 months. i say 4months because I am a generous person. should HTC decide my desre isn't worthy of an upgrade they will lose this and plenty more customers. the desire series are under 1 year old and more than capable to run this OS. we made you a competitive name in the cell phone market now its time to give back to your customers! i understand if the phone was over 2 years old but 1? thats just greedy
anonymous 20 February, 2012 01:32
Who cares about Sense? Hell! Desire Z is just a year old so *please* just do port ICS on this and make sure my next 450€ won't go straight to Samsung.
anonymous 21 February, 2012 21:21
****************************READ THIS********************
The Desire series will get the ICS after the first wave has been released for the sensation etc. On Androids and HTCs official Facebook they said that we will get it. So all you haters, the HTC desire is still the best phone.
anonymous 23 February, 2012 20:13
As a Desire HD owner, I am please that HTC has just announced that Ice Cream Sandwich will be officially released on my phone, but I won't update, I'll wait for a tweaked version on XDA before I flash :)
..but in all seriousness, it's great that HTC are supporting their older users and working to give them updates.
Great company.
anonymous 15 March, 2012 03:38
Bought HTC Desire back in 2010, cracking phone but time moves on so now got htc sensation xe. I expect this to be the last update: ics before they stop supporting the phone especially as htc one is launched. Contracted till 2014. By then android chocolate flake will be out and I'll have upgraded to the HTC wonderful. Stop whining people, feel sorry instead for my mum who is using a nokia 3210 ;-)
anonymous 20 March, 2012 18:16
I have a sim free HTC sensation my partner has a sum free sgs2 checked both for updates ,no luck yet.has anyone got it yet in the UK.