Motorola posted an update on its DROID X support forum today that discourages users from flashing an unofficial Android 2.2 ROM leaked to the Internet. Motorola warned DROID X owners that it does not have an upgrade path in place for this leaked ROM. Unless you go to back to the stock ROM, you will not receive the official Android 2.2 upgrade when it hits the DROID X in Early September.
Though frustrating, this statement by Motorola is not surprising. The wireless manufacturer has been down on custom ROMS and issued the now infamous statement confirming that the eFuse technology included on the DROID X is meant to prevent the installation of unapproved and untested software. Of course, the Android community worked around that so called limitation, but I digress. More recently, Motorola took an aggressive stance against this leaked Android 2.2 ROM and sent a Cease and Desist letter to the source website that posted up this piece of DROID X goodness.
Unfortunately, this issue of upgrade paths and unofficial ROMS will continue to rear its ugly head. On the one hand, you have the handset manufacturers that want to release a stable build as soon as possible and do not want to accommodate non-standard software. One the other hand, you have owners that want to flash, mod, and upgrade their handset because they own the phone and should be able to do whatever they want with it.
As much as we wold like to see the handset manufacturers take a step back and open up a bit, it is not going to happen anytime soon. Competition is fierce in the growing Android market and Motorola will not give up control over their handset. If you want to join the flashing fiesta, that is great. Come join the party! Just be prepared to accept the risks and the limitations that are associated with this rebellious choice.
[Via Motorola]