According to representatives on the official Verizon Wireless support account, deployment of the Droid Eris’ Android 2.1 update is under way.
According to representatives, the update will be deployed to users in phases over the span of the next two weeks. Users will be notified via an alert when the update is ready for download. Verizon reps also confirmed that users will not have to back up their phone prior to installing the upgrade.
A list of the primary differences between Android 1.5, the Eris’ current OS, and Android 2.1 is provided below. Note that the list of changes does not include features unique to the new version of the HTC Sense UI, which are outlined here.
Differences between Android 1.5 and Android 2.0/2.1
- Improved OS stability.
- Improved battery life.
- Free turn-by-turn GPS based on Google maps.
- Three-way calling enhancements.
- Incoming call quality is improved.
- Speakerphone remains on when call waiting kicks in.
- Better Bluetooth, background echo eliminated, improved phone book transfer of contacts to in-vehicle systems.
- GPS icon will disappear after a GPS app is closed.
- SMS and MMS messages can be received after an EMS message is received.
- SMS and MMS can now go to seven-digit addresses.
- Google contact merging supports seven-digit numbers.
- Visual Voice Mail notices arrive instantly.
- Universal search from the home screen.
- Camera, camcorder and gallery features integrated into a single UI.
- Corporate calendar widget is updated.
- 802.1x VPN support.
- A comprehensive battery usage indicator in the setting menu identifies all sources of battery drain, and what percentage they’re consuming of the whole.
- Sync support for contacts from multiple data sources including Exchange. Handset manufacturers can choose whether or not to include Exchange support in their devices.
- Developers can create sync adapters that provide synchronization with additional data sources.
- Quick Contact for Android provides instant access to a contact’s information and communication modes. For example, a user can tap a contact photo and select to call, SMS, or email the person. Other applications such as Email, Messaging, and Calendar can also reveal the Quick Contact widget when you touch a contact photo or status icon.
- Combined inbox to browse email from multiple accounts in one page.
- Search functionality for all saved SMS and MMS messages.
- Auto delete the oldest messages in a conversation when a defined limit is reached.
- Camera: Dramatically improved auto-focus
- Camera: Built-in flash support
- Camera: Digital zoom
- Camera: Scene mode
- Camera: White balance
- Camera: Color effect
- Camera: Macro focus
- An improved keyboard layout to makes it easier to hit the correct characters and improve typing speed.
- Revamped Android Marketplace with a new UI and new options to sort apps by paid/free.
- The framework’s multi-touch support ensures that key presses aren’t missed while typing rapidly with two fingers.
- A smarter dictionary learns from word usage and automatically includes contact names as suggestions.
- Refreshed UI with actionable browser URL bar enables users to directly tap the address bar for instant searches and navigation.
- Bookmarks with web page thumbnails.
- Support for double-tap zoom.
- Support for HTML5.
- Calendar: Agenda view provides infinite scrolling.
- Calendar: Events indicate the attending status for each invitee.
- Calendar: Invite new guests to events.
- Revamped graphics architecture for improved performance that enables better hardware acceleration.
- Bluetooth 2.1
- New BT profiles: Object Push Profile (OPP) and Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP)
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