Rogers confirms it will update the HTC Magic to Android 2.1, Dream to stay at 1.5

By on Jan 6, 2010 at 7:02 AM
General January 6, 2010

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HTC Magic and Dream owners in Canada take note as Rogers has reconsidered its “No Donut or Eclair policy” for at least one of its two Android handsets. Rogers has confirmed that, in the next few weeks, it will issue a minor update for the Android 1.5 OS on both the Dream and the Magic, bringing the HTC Sense UI to the Magic while keeping the platform steady at Android 1.5. By mid-2010, the HTC Magic will be updated to Android 2.1 complete with HTC’s updated Sense UI. While Magic owners are jumping for joy, Dream owners may want to get out a handkerchief to dry their eyes as Rogers confirmed that the HTC Dream will not be  updated past Android 1.5 due to “certain limitations on the HTC Dream.” Any Rogers Dream owners out there can vent voice their opinion in the comments below.

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24 Comments

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  • Colby

    dang that sucks for Dream owners! but at least Magic owners will be upgraded to SENSEUI. still this is a major fuckup for Rodgers…they have to learn to get their priorities straight…have they even issued a statement as to why the dream wont be updated? we all know why (less internal memory) but its nice to know exactly where Rodgers stands on this.

  • http://www.iwantmyonepointsix.com/ mjschmidt

    Rogers needs to offer Dream owners an opportunity to exchange their phones for HTC Magics. In Canada the Dream and Magic debuted at the _same_ time, and if we had known then what we know now, surely many Dream owners would have purchased Magics instead. It is akin to being swindled, in a way.

    • http://wireheadednoodlebrain.blogspot.com/ Taimng

      Anyone who didn’t understand the hardware differences between the Magic and Dream (and I am talking memory here, not keyboards) when they bought their phones wasn’t paying attention. The Magic has 512 of internal memory, which makes it possible to upgrade easily.

  • unknown

    The reason for the unfair upgrade is due to the memory restraints in the G1 (correct me if i’m wrong).

    But this cloud has a silver lining i guess. The Magic 2.1 sense UI could be one of the ugliest UI’s i’ve seen in a while- The bubble icons dont do it for me.

    But I’m Canadian, i’ll just apologize and take it.

  • JakemG

    So, my question is, why doesn’t Tmobile USA do this for our MyTouch3G (Magic) phones? I would be super happy to have the Sense UI for now and then Sense with 2.1 later…

    • Jordan

      AFAIK, the MyTouch3G has the same memory as the G1 (Dream), which is why it’s the only model not under the Magic branding. But I could be wrong, so take it with a grain of salt. It’s been a while since I sold my Dream.

    • Sined

      Because, looking purely from a hardware perspective, the MyTouch3G is actually much closer to a G1/Dream while the Magic (32A) is much closer to the Hero.

      Just have a look at the XDA Forums in the Sapphire Development section.

      Most if not all the 32B ROMs are heavily influenced by G1 ROMs while almost all 32A ROMs are derived from Hero ROMs.

  • http://www.dastardlyreport.com ryaninc

    There is no limitation to the Dream/G1 running 1.6. The T-Mobile USA version has been running 1.6 for months. And not only does it work, but it brought a drastic performance improvement over 1.5.

  • Jnl813

    This is just the beginning, wait till U.S carriers announce this… Both the Cliq and G1 wont be getting this either. This is why I’m not really digging Android right now. You buy a phone thinking you have the latest and then 2 months later, not just a new phone comes out, a new software that you cant even update to! I know technology cadvances pretty quickly but Google should consider updating all of their devices. I know, I know..some of you will say that its the carriers, and we can sit here and point the fingers all day, at the end we the consumers end up losing, or spending more money out of our wallets just to get the latest (again). This will be pointed out by Apple at their conference, that you can count on, and what is Google going to say? What Google needs to do is stick to one handset, update it every so often bt kieep it simple, once you dont keep it simple this is what happens.

    • Paul

      i think you’ll find that the dream, as mentioned a few times above, has already been updated past 1.5 to 1.6 in the us & in the uk meaning it is possible to upgrade the dream past 1.5.

      also, there have been rumours that the dream will get 2.0 or above when pushed out by t-mob: http://www.androidcentral.com/rumor-has-g1-getting-android-21-update

      only 2 days after the 2.0 sdk was released, it was ported to a dream (give or take a few minor bugs) . video below: http://www.bgr.com/2009/10/30/android-2-0-ported-to-the-g1dream/

      the magic has always been bog standard android ‘with google’, rogers wants to change it to htc sense for some reason, but that’s their decision.

      re. consumer losing out and spending more money on android powered devices, f*ck me, have you seen how much you have to fork out for an iphone before the ridiculously expensive call/data/text plans?!

      re. google needs to stick to one handset, google doesn’t make handsets! oems do. google only supplies the os. they work in partnership with, for example, htc, samsung and lg, to release great android powered devices.

      what you’re talking about is implementing a communist like scenario where the dictator tells his followers they can only use one type of phone, restrict control over the os, say it’s the ‘funnest’ phone ever and what type of apps his people should use… oh, wait.

      i reckon you need to think before you post next time.

  • http://puleen.com Puleen Patel

    I agree with MJSchmidt, Rogers needs to provide an alternative for the Dream owners rather than leaving them behind. This should also be a lesson for Rogers to learn with regards to understanding of new technology and more importantly in providing reliable and transparent customer service.

  • Christopher Cox

    They dont HAVE to do anything. You act like we are somehow entitled to the new releases. If it’s not upgradable due to limitations, it’s not available. The carriers shouldn’t have to dedicate engineers to modifying the image, strip stuff out, and make it fit on aging hardware.

    • Sined

      Actually, people are entitled to these upgrades.

      Google is getting a WEALTH of information (and really let’s not kid ourselves that’s their bread and butter) from the way people use these handsets (your location, searches, etc).

      If people get burned and stop using these devices and word goes around to stop using Android devices it would be a HUGE blow to the potential information Google could acquire.

      I love how you call the G1/Dream aging hardware. It’s BARELY 1 year old.

      If people weren’t bold enough to take the plunge on the first devices why would more handset be made, thus you wouldn’t have Hero or Droid or Nexus One today.

      Not to mention that people on their own free time, that don’t have the resources of HTC or Google have gotten 2.0 to work on the G1.

      Way to burn the trailblazers.

  • dream

    Why would Rogers be responsible for the limitations of the hardware manufacture. You bought a phone which functions and does what it is supposed to do. It isn’t the wireless providers fault that the device cannot support an upgraded o/s.

    • Sined

      Again this would be a fine argument if the G1 truly couldn’t handle the 2.0 kernel. But there hasn’t been substantial evidence to support that.

      Not to mention that the Dream won’t even get the 1.6 update.

      Secondly, yes it fall upon the carrier. As we sat witness to the rise of the Droid, people with the Hero feeling brunt by Eclair envy demanded to know if they would get the same update.

      The HTC clearly stated it was already working on the update (2.1 + Sense UI) but it came down to a carrier requesting it.

      In this particular situation, Rogers thought they could sit pretty rake in the cash from 3 year contracts and not have to update their Android Handsets. But once again in their lack of clairvoyance the Canadian public, after watching their American counterparts received the highly anticipated 1.6 update, backlashed at Rogers’ stance and this announcement (while still not a victory for Dream users) is evidence that the carrier were in the wrong doing.

  • Wander

    Any news about the HTC Hero?

  • StevenGlansburg

    Open Source…. LOL

  • MW

    I would imagine this is a pretty good confirmation that T-Mobile G1 owners wont be seeing an update either.

  • Sam

    The Nexus One shouldn’t have a problem with updates in the future. After all, it is being sold directly from Google.

    • bigshape

      you’d like to think so wouldn’t you, but going by current form it’ll be superseded in 6 months and left for dead…

  • chrisyak

    Until Rogers & HTC come up with some type of compensation for Dream users whether it be exchange of handsets,early termination of contracts or software upgrades this will not go away.Rogers and HTC are selling a outdated phone that they are not even willing to support and the phone should be pulled from their lineup or given away free with full disclosure of the issue and Rogers HTC Dream customers should be offered a compensation considering is very obvious the customer was mislead into what they were buying.

  • Adam

    I’ve been hearing within the next week Rogers will announce a Dream to Magic exchange program…

  • Karlo

    Rogers has offered a free HTC Magic to all HTC Dream customers. No strings attached, just picked mine up from UPS!

  • spiritofradio

    Any update on release date? And are Magic owners entitled to a refund for the price diff between the two units?

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