If youre a proud owner of the HTC Droid Incredible 2, get ready: your weekend just got a bit sweeter. Android 2.3 Gingerbread is on its way by means of an OTA update, and should bring with it all the goodies of Gingerbread, and then some. The file is 116MB, and according to Verizon, the process should take about 20-30 minutes of your time.
Update enhancements include bug fixes to the Mobile IM and Hotmail sync, a brand-spanking new Download Manager app and Desktop Dock app, improved power management information, enhanced copy function and word selection, and overall improved stability. Most importantly, the update should provide better device connectivity when roaming. Also, if your hip enough to charge your phone sans wires, there will also be a new user interface while charging wirelessly.
Were not sure when exactly the update will begin to roll out, but since Verizons offered up instructions and update benefits, were thinking Gingerbread could get here any minute now.
The Droid 2 has been making its rounds as we inch closer and closer to launch (and – strangely enough – Verizon hasn’t made a formal announcement this close to the rumored launch date. We usually see them spill the beans a week ahead of time) and that trend continues with this full page ad that’s been showing up in various newspapers.
There’s nothing entirely special to see here: the latest Droids are lined up beneath the unreleased Motorola Droid 2 with a hint of availability: we should see the device “coming soon”. Oh, and we’re also urged to rule our empire with iron thumbs with these devices, but I’m just not sure if I can undergo such a transition. I like my flesh… well maybe I can give up just one of my thumbs for any of these.
We’ve also been treated to some early pricing details from Best Buy. As they usually price these types of devices, the Droid 2 will be available through them for $199.99 after a two-year agreement and $599.99 if you want to walk out with no contract to fiddle around with. The prices may vary if you’re buying straight from Motorola or Verizon (or any other third party retailer).
I know a good handful of you are trying your hardest to keep up with Verizon’s DroidLanding Twitter account to find one of those devices they’re placing out in the wild (hint: it’s a Droid X, and you know you want one). If you don’t already know, you can use Google Maps & Navigation Beta to input those coordinates and have it hook you up with the exact location that the phone is sitting in.
After which, you can use the turn-by-turn navigation features to have your phone lead you right to the area the device is (that’s assuming you have an Android device, of course. You may be able to use other navigation apps – across different platforms – or turn-by-turn navigation units to do the same).’
I show you everything you need to know in order to try it for yourself in this quick how-to video (which you can apply to many other uses, as well). [Note]: I did say his name was Peter Choung in the video. His name is Francis Choung, to be exact, so my apologies for the screwup.
As I explained in my Droid X Hands-On, I’m hoping to get up my full review tomorrow. In my attempt to be completely thorough I just read the user guide in its entirety, and simply couldn’t wait until tomorrow to share this incredibly useful bit of advice on page 18 of the manual:
That’s right… if you aren’t able to see the screen while wearing sunglasses… take them off. Try to sleep on THAT cosmic piece of advice while your mind gets blown by all sorts of related philosophical thoughts.
Now excuse me while I pull an all-nighter to please the Droid-loving, Review-hungry masses.
If you’re sitting on the bus reading this article on your 2-year-old beat up LG Voyager, while making your way to Best Buy to pre-order that hot new Droid X, then I hope you’ve got a seat, because you’ll want to be sitting down for this: Best Buy have ceased taking pre-orders for it.
Yes, that’s right, just 5 days after Best Buy started taking pre-orders for the device, they’ve had to halt them after stock allocation ran dry.
Is this a sign that the Droid X will be a runaway success? Or that stock shortages aren’t just limited to the Droid Incredible? Who knows? But either way, kiddo, you better get off the bus at the next stop and make your way back home. Today’s not your day.
If you’re sitting on the bus reading this article on your 2-year-old beat up LG Voyager, while making your way to Best Buy to pre-order that hot new Droid X, then I hope you’ve got a seat, because you’ll want to be sitting down for this: Best Buy have ceased taking pre-orders for it.