HTC Desire Android 2.2 Update – A Guide To

As the proud owner of a HTC Desire, you no doubt like showing off to friends what your device can do and are pleased at how well it works for you.

You probably find that Android is more customisable and fun than previous clunky operating systems.  Much of this will be because you have the latest version of Android on the device.

Still a rapidly developing system, 2.1 that shipped on the device has now been updated to 2.2  this means more features functions and improvements.  Sounds good? Yes? How do you get it?

Well, providing you own a UK specification, Unlocked, SIM FREE HTC Desire, you can now take advantage of a FREE upgrade to Android 2.2.

The upgrade brings a whole host of changes, a full list of which can be found here, but the main headline changes are as follows:

• It’s faster in overall performance
• Battery said to last longer.
• Android Cloud to Device Messaging support, Eg. ChromeToPhone to send links, maps directly to phone from chrome/firefox browser now supported
• Shutdown time has been reduced a lot.
• Screen can now also be rotated to the right!
• HTC App Share application – Share your applications with friends.
• News & Weather application
• Voice Search
• WiFi Hotspot – Use your phones connection to the internet and share it with others
• Torchlight  Use the LED flash of the camera as a torchlight
• Google Search bar updated
• It’s no longer possible to unlock the slide-down screen by pressing menu.
• Device lock can now be a pattern lock, PIN lock or an alphanumeric password
• Keyboard now allows for Chinese input
• Keyboard now allows for quick language change.
• Facebook events and birthdays are available in calendar.
• Camera takes pictures a lot faster than before
• 720p Recording possible with MPEG4 Codec.
• Flashlight can be switched on during video recording.
• The bottom box to type text in when creating a text message is bigger.
• Text message screen now shows how many characters you have left from the start along with a new icon for send and an icon for attaching something.
• So to the process of updating…

1.  Backup all of your data on the HTC Desire to your memory card or PC.

The HTC Desire (subject to your settings) will automatically back up all your data as and when changes are made, thus ensuring that constantly there is a backup of all the data on the memory card.

The update will wipe all data off the Desire, but once complete the backup will be automatically restored from the memory card.

2. Perform the update.

Because of the size of the download it is advised to do the update through WiFi, but it can be downloaded through a data plan with your network provider.

Do be aware if going through your network provider you may wish to check costs for the data download.

Do be aware too that this update may cause third party applications to fail as they may not support Android v2.2/HTC Sense customisation as yet. The majority will work without issue.

From your home screen click the Menu button > Settings > About Phone > System Software Updates > Check Now

The device will go and check for any updates. If you have not already updated a message should come up on screen confirming that an update is available.

You will then need to select over what connection (WiFi or GSM/Cellular) you wish to perform the update.

Select the appropriate one and let the download commence. Depending upon connection speeds this could take a while.

When complete follow the on screen instructions and leave the device to complete the update.

This could take 5-10 minutes and it will re-start a few times during this time. Just leave it until it re-boots and presents you with your re-stored home screen (providing you did the backup).

That’s it basically. It isn’t complicated, in fact it is very straight forward. You have now successfully updated to Android v2.2 as will be confirmed in your ‘About Phone’ screen.

Here are a few images to show what your device may look like before and after the update.

New Messaging Screen (Before/After):

New Google Search Bar (Before/After):

New Apps/Widgets

UPDATE 08/09/2010 – PLEASE NOTE:  THE AUTO-BACKUP FACILITY HAS BEEN DISABLED – READ MORE HERE