HTC explains upgrading Desire HD to ICS would risk our data
HTC has said in a blog post why it won't update the Desire HD, even though it previously said it would.
HTC has gone on the defensive about its recent decision not to upgrade the Desire HD to Android Ice Cream Sandwich.
It recently cancelled the planned upgrade, leaving owners of the Desire HD -- of which I am one -- stuck on Gingerbread. And why? Well apparently it didn't want to risk deleting our data.
HTC acknowledges in a blog post that this is a controversial move, and fills us in on the details. "For more background, due to how storage on the HTC Desire HD is partitioned -- and the larger size of Android 4.0 -- it would require re-partitioning device storage and overwriting user data in order to install this update. While technically advanced users might find this solution acceptable, the majority of customers would not.
"We also considered ways to reduce the overall size of the software package, but this would impact features and functionality that customers are currently using. Even after installing the update, there were other technical limitations which we felt negatively impacted the user experience."
HTC goes on to say an update should "always improve the user experience" and so it weighs up each decision carefully. It also apologises for reversing its earlier decision.
It had got us Desire HD owners' hopes up by confirming the handset would get the jump to Android 4.0 earlier this month. Then it dashed them on a big rock just this week.
It is annoying, but it does echo Motorola's sentiments that it'll only update a handset when it'll improve the user experience. I can see why the Desire HD has missed out, I just wish HTC wouldn't make promises it can't keep.
Are you a fellow frustrated Desire HD owner? I feel your pain. Let me know what you reckon of HTC's upgrade plans in the comments below, or over on our Facebook page.