If there was any question whether the HTC Thunderbolt would be getting Android 2.3 Gingerbread, this latest bit of news should put that question to rest. A leaked copy of the software has hit the web, but for those wanting to download it, they should be warned that it’s a test build – that means it is likely buggy and maybe some apps and features on the device might not work. Some leaked ROMs in the past have disabled mobile hotspot capabilities and Wi-Fi connectivity on Android devices, so proceed with caution.
It’s good to see that Gingerbread is on the way for the Thunderbolt. It’s a powerhouse of a device, and we were excited for it when we first caught glimpse of it at CES 2011. It was somewhat disheartening to see that it was powered by a 1GHz Qualcomm processor when we were getting flooded with dual-core devices and 1.2GHz smartphones, but it doesn’t seem to have any ill effects on the device’s performance. In fact, the only real downside of the HTC Thunderbolt is its paltry battery life and the lack of a simple toggle switch that allows users to go from 3G to 4G as needed or desired. Because the device primarily locks onto available Verizon 4G LTE networks, its battery life suffers. Most users can’t get through half a day without charging.
Maybe Android 2.3 will help alleviate some of the battery life issues, or that the particular build for the Thunderbolt will optimize performance and ultimately power consumption. For me, the phone would be practically perfect as far as Android handsets go if it got at least eight hours of battery life on a heavy day. One can dream.
See the link below to get things started, but again, proceed with caution as this probably isn’t anywhere near an official software build.
[Via: 911sniper]