Life is rough for Sprint Epic 4G users who are patiently waiting to get onto Android 2.2 Froyo after seeing their Android counterparts – HTC EVO owners – enjoying the latest from Google since late summer. And like the HTC EVO 4G owners before them, it’s very tempting to update to the latest version of Android when an unofficial-but-stable one hits the web. However, if there is any lesson to be learned from the EVO owners who upgraded early, there might be a price to pay when everyone else receives the official updated and you’re left behind. There is no guarantee that Samsung would even offer the same support that HTC did when it released another update for those early, impatient folks.
Here is an official statement from the Epic Product Manager regarding the update:
Sprint is working on a software package for the Samsung Epic4G that will upgrade it to the Froyo version of Android. Over the weekend, some users were able to access and download a test build (DK28) for the Samsung Epic from some 3rd party developer sites. Unfortunately, this is not approved software for Sprint production devices and we strongly recommend that users refrain from loading it.
Software version DI18 is the current production version of software. When new versions of software are available, users will receive a notification from Google on their device stating that an upgrade is available for download and installation. While we are unable to communicate a firm delivery date, rest assured that we are working on a software upgrade to Froyo and hope to have it out in the very near future.
Perhaps it’s the latter part of the message that has users anxious and causing them to grow more impatient. There is no firm delivery date on the actual update – you’ll just have to sit and wait until you receive the notification, or check manually yourself. I know how rough it can be.
Furthermore, Android 2.3 is just over a week away and so there will be 2.3, 2.2 and 2.1 users to further fragmentation. If you’re the owner of a slick Epic 4G and you’re seeing a hot Samsung Galaxy-esque handset out there rocking Gingerbread while you’re still on Eclair, I sympathize.
[Via: Sprint]