UPDATE (5/14/2010, 1:11 PM EDT): Sprint has officially posted the Android 2.1 update for the Samsung Moment.
UPDATE (5/13/2010, 11:32 PM EDT): An Icrontic commenter going by “Kent” has once again confirmed that the Sprint firmware download is Android 2.1.
A user by the name of chrisfeltdrum on sdx-developers has made a happy discovery: Sprint has uploaded the Android 2.1 update for the Samsung Moment ahead of the official release, which is evidently scheduled for tomorrow.
The 101MB download update, located here, is Android 2.1 in the flesh, as several members of the sdx-developers community have already confirmed it after bravely running the update. Providing further evidence, Sprint also uploaded the complete upgrade guide (PDF), which is also dated for tomorrow.
In all, the upgrade process could take up to one hour, so users should be prepared with a full charge and some time free of incoming calls.
Things to know
Sprint confirms that the Moment’s Android 2.1 update will wipe the handset clean, and outlines what to expect in the upgrade guide:
The upgrade process will Erase ALL User Data from the device. Please ensure that all critical information has been Backed Up before applying this upgrade. Please Remove Your MicroSD Memory Card before you start the update process.
- Gmail and Moxier Mail Contacts and Calendar on your SPH-M900 Moment are stored remotely on the Google and Microsoft Exchange server. After the upgrade, you can log back into your Gmail and Moxier Mail accounts to retrieve your information.
- Pictures, music, video, and files are stored on your microSD Memory Card. Please remove your microSD Memory card before you start the update process.
- Text messages on your handset will be lost. To save important text messages, you can forward it to an email address.
- Tap the Applications Tab and then tap Messaging
- Select text message that you want to save.
- Hard press the text message. You will see a menu to Forward the message.
- Any installed applications downloaded from the Android market must be re-installed. To re-download applications follow the steps below:
- Tap the Applications Tab and then tap Market
- If prompted, sign in with your Google account credentials
- Tap My Downloads
Paid applications will populate the list shown. Free applications will have to be searched for again and downloaded manually.
This Upgrade Tool is Not Compatible with any other handset.
NOTE: Remove all previously installed Samsung New PC Studio and Samsung Drivers before installing this software update tool: Previously installed Samsung New PC Studio and Samsung Drivers may interfere with the software upgrade. Please remove them before installing the Software Upgrade tool.
What to expect
Android 2.1 adds a huge number of features to handsets running Android 1.5, and we’ve got the complete list below. Check it out:
- 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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