HTC has gone on the defensive about its recent decision not to upgrade the Desire HD to Android Ice Cream Sandwich.
It recently cancelled the planned upgrade, leaving owners of the Desire HD -- of which I am one -- stuck on Gingerbread. And why? Well apparently it didn't want to risk deleting our data.
HTC acknowledges in a blog post that this is a controversial move, and fills us in on the details. "For more background, due to how storage on the HTC Desire HD is partitioned -- and the larger size of Android 4.0 -- it would require re-partitioning device storage and overwriting user data in order to install this update. While technically advanced users might find this solution acceptable, the majority of customers would not.
"We also considered ways to reduce the overall size of the software package, but this would impact features and functionality that customers are currently using. Even after installing the update, there were other technical limitations which we felt negatively impacted the user experience."
HTC goes on to say an update should "always improve the user experience" and so it weighs up each decision carefully. It also apologises for reversing its earlier decision.
It had got us Desire HD owners' hopes up by confirming the handset would get the jump to Android 4.0 earlier this month. Then it dashed them on a big rock just this week.
It is annoying, but it does echo Motorola's sentiments that it'll only update a handset when it'll improve the user experience. I can see why the Desire HD has missed out, I just wish HTC wouldn't make promises it can't keep.
Are you a fellow frustrated Desire HD owner? I feel your pain. Let me know what you reckon of HTC's upgrade plans in the comments below, or over on our Facebook page.
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Comments 13
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Ryan J Pattinson 28 July, 2012 12:20
go on xda and get it? you wont have sense thought but its not a huge loss
anonymous 28 July, 2012 12:49
It's not about the Sense but the kernel and camera...
anonymous 28 July, 2012 13:00
Why don't HTC offer a choice to said 'technically advanced users' by making the upgrade package available on the developers site? They did this with the Gingerbread upgrade for the Desire. It's easy enough to backup your data and apps.
anonymous 28 July, 2012 14:51
That statement is a cop out, if it can be done with only a risk to data then why not offer users the choice? My last two phones have been HTC, my next one won't be. 3 months left before I can upgrade, I've already had apps fail to install as they need ics. Shelving a product within 2 years is unacceptable. I'm off to pastures new.
anonymous 28 July, 2012 17:05
What about backing up the current users data as a compressed tarball or whatever, storing it on a pc, then restoring to the phone once it has ics on it?
anonymous 28 July, 2012 19:27
current phone is desire HD, next phone will be GALAXY S3...simply
anonymous 28 July, 2012 20:35
so upset by this been waiting for ages
billfred 28 July, 2012 22:54
FFS, Gingerbread is a great OS. Stop the whining!
anonymous 29 July, 2012 08:43
Now running Jellybean on my HD through XDA, doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure how to back up data, just need the kernel to be released so XDA devs can create some amazing roms with a working camera.
james79 29 July, 2012 12:06
Well at least htc have done the right thing here unlike Sony. Sony released ics 4.0.4 for 2011 xperia range that makes your phone lag and has a bug with the notification light.
Loadit 30 July, 2012 11:40
At least HTC has stated they are not going to update to ICS, so owners know and not wait blindly. Motorola has not even given any info on why the Razr and Razr Maxx have not been offered the update.
Although I don't really care as Gingerbread 2.3.6 is working fine without any issues.
anonymous 30 July, 2012 19:39
HTC should not take such decision, it may reflect negatively by moving customers choice to other brand. HTC should come up with alternative way. Many users are smart enough to upgrad OS using USB. So I hope HTC cooperate to HTC desire HD users.
anonymous 1 August, 2012 10:57
The system partitions on the Desire HD and the Incredible S are exactly the same down to the byte. The Incredible S has ICS. Perhaps you guys should report this too. More details on XDA.