The View From Space

The long awaited Android 2.2 FROYO update for T-Mobile’s Samsung Vibrant is finally here… for some.
Althought the update is “readily” available to all via the quirky Samsung Kies Mini PC app, it is not currently available through an OTA (Over The Air) push.  There are a few issues I see with this rollout to “all”

Issue #1: How many of you out there know how/where to get the Kies app?

Issue #2:  I guess the first question should have been how many of you out there even KNOW what the Kies app is?

My point exactly.  The only ones who can tell you what Kies is and where to find it are the geeks who have already been flashing their phones (for all you normal people out there, Kies is software provided by Samsung to flash software updates to their many products).

Issue #3:  It ONLY works on PC’s.  So all you MAC and Linux users, sorry you’re SOL.

While technically T-Mobile is correct in saying that they’ve rolled out the Android 2.2 Froyo update for Vibrants, they’ve done a disservice to their average user. The majority of those who know about Kies have most likely flashed their phone with a custom 2.2 ROM and have no need of the upgrade. The vast majority of users probably won’t upgrade until Tmo comes out with an OTA that makes it a 1 button install.

It’s an unfortunate situation in which many customers bought the unit early on with the promise that the Vibrant would receive the FROYO upgrade as soon as it came out or shortly thereafter.  What this delay and “limited” release does is sour many of the first adopters to purchasing these phones as soon as they hit the market.

The next time it’s going to be a lot harder for them to shake loose the $$ from my hands.  I’m predicting that many will wait until the manufacturers and service providers start offering sweetheart deals in order to get rid of inventory, I know I will.