(Dell) Streak to the (Android OS) past told you about my frustration that the my Dell Streak came with Android 1.6 (Donut) instead of 2.1 (Eclair) or 2.2 (Donut). There I debated whether to wait for Dell to get around to Froyo or instead jump to installing a custom Donut ROM (none available for Froyo yet).

Patience is not my strongpoint, at least when it comes to outdated OS versions. I followed the advice of this thread at XDADevelopers and am now enjoying Eclair goodness on my Streak. There were a few minor glitches, but nothing insurmountable.

So am I satisfied? Nope. I want Froyo. Or at least a better UI (HTC Sense anyone?) on my Eclair. But for now at least, what I have is as good as I’m going to get. Tomorrow, of course, is another story

I sprang for the Dell Streak. I couldn’t resist the lure of a phone with a capacious 5” screen but yet is pocketable.

The Streak’s OS is Android, my current smartphone OS of choice. But the version is the 1.6 (Donut).  Donut seems positively ancient, with most Android smartphones sporting at least 2.1 (Eclair) if not 2.2 (Froyo). Indeed, my only other Android device with Donut is the Archos Internet Tablet. But the Archos has been around for a while, whereas the Streak is just released.

Dell must have known that the Streak having Donut instead of Froyo or Eclair would be a negative to buyers. Indeed, that almost caused me not to buy the Streak. Almost … I assumed Dell will quickly have an update to Eclair, if not Froyo.

Indeed, Dell announced shortly before the U.S. Streak became available that the European Streak would be updated to Eclair. Since, Dell has indicated unofficially (via Twitter) that it would update the U.S. Streak directly to Froyo and skip Eclair.

Why then did Dell release the U.S. Streak with outdated Donut? I’m not on a first name (or last name) basis with Michael Dell. However, my guess is that Dell had not yet finished testing Froyo (or Eclair) on the Streak but did want to defer releasing the Streak any longer than it already had.

Be that as it may, Donut is a letdown after enjoying Eclair and Froyo goodness. Big difference between 1.6 and 2.x.

So am I stuck with Donut until Dell gets around to updating the Streak’s OS? No. There are unofficial ways to root the Streak and install a custom 2.1 ROM.

Will I do that, or wait for Dell? Not sure right now. The rooting part seems safe enough, and nothing I haven’t done before on other devices. But there does not appear to be a first class 2.1 custom ROM available … yet. However, one likely will become available soon. then again, Dell’s update of the Streak to Froyo also may become available in the same time frame … or not. With Dell, hard to tell.

Assuming both options are available, which to choose? Froyo is Froyo. But there are different user interfaces, HTC Sense being the most well known, but hardly the only one. Indeed, Dell has its own custom interface for the Streak. Can’t say I like it. But that may be because of Donut, rather than the UI itself. But the bottom line is that the choice will become a battle of the available UI’s. And that would be a good subject for another article, don’t you think?

This post’s title is not as snappy as the title of the famous song What a Difference a Day Makes. But that song’s singer was mistakenly exulting about a new love, not a new device.

Steve “Chippy” Paine of Carrypad has posted Dell Streak and Archos 5 screens – 0.2″ is a lot! (picture source). He’s comparing the screens of the upcoming Dell Streak, a 5” phone just arrived in Europe and coming to the U.S. next month, and the 4.8” Archos 5 Internet Tablet, a PMP which I own and have written about before. He writes:

“I was under the impression that the Dell Streak was a 4.8″ screen but it’s not. It’s a true 5″ screen. In addition, there are physical Android buttons which remove the need for on-screen buttons and thus save some important screen real-estate. The end effect is shown in the image.”

This screen comparison has more than just academic interest to me. I’m considering buying the Dell Steak for my wife. She complains that she needs reading glasses to read the screen of her phone (vanity thy name is woman). I showed her my Archos 5 IT. She said she could read the screen without glasses. I asked her to hold it as if it were a phone (which it’s not). She said she could – encouraging since I understand the overall dimensions of the Dell Streak and the Archos 5 IT are almost identical. I wasn’t concerned about pocketablity since she keeps her phone in her purse not her pockets. And with a larger device she has a better change of finding the ringing phone in time in that black hole of a purse

Chippy promises his first impressions of the Dell Streak soon. I can’t wait! Update: Here it is: Dell Streak First Impressions. As Chippy mentions, his wife also wants the Streak, and will carry it in her purse, so no pocketability issue.

Sprint’s EVO 4G became available today. Did I add it to my gadget harem? Do bears sleep in the woods? Of course I got it. Here’s my story of today’s events, actually more about Sprint Customer Service than the EVO.

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You don’t need to know Korean to appreciate these Android commercials playing in South Korea. In addition to a good laugh, I learned the droid had teeth.

Per Google’s Nexus One page, the N1 may not be coming to Verizon after all: “For Verizon’s network, you can buy the Droid Incredible by HTC, a powerful Android phone and similarly feature-packed cousin of the Nexus One.”

Hardly a surprise. The similarities we identified between the N1 and the Incredible made it unlikely VZW would offer both phones.

Per BGR, Google’s spin: “We won’t be selling a Nexus One with Verizon, and this is a reflection of the amazing innovation happening across the open Android ecosystem. Verizon Wireless customers who want an Android phone with the power of the Nexus One can get the Droid Incredible by HTC, which can be pre-ordered now and which will be available in Verizon Wireless stores on Thursday, April 29th.”

Is the Incredible better? We discussed this also. In addition to the better camera, onboard memory and trackpad vs. trackball, per Engadget, the Incredible has superior multitouch support due to a better (and more recent) sensor.

Speaking of the Incredible, per FedEx, mine is estimated for delivery late (7 pm) this Wednesday.

The HTC Droid Incredible can be pre-ordered from Verizon today for April 29th availability. And I did. Not a difficult decision. My BlackBerry Storm is getting old. No large touchscreens from BlackBerry in sight. (Meh to the Storm2). Nothing else exciting from VZW on the horizon. I like the AT&T flavor of the Google Nexus One, which is quite similar to the Incredible.

Hopefully I will receive the Incredible the end of next week. I’ll let you know what I think.

We’ve talked before about the HTC Incredible. Then it was just a rumor. Now it’s coming to Verizon is announcing you can pre-order the “Droid Incredible” on April 29. The operative word is “pre.” No actual release date … yet.  Also no official specs … yet. So what exactly would you be (pre) ordering? A device  very similar to the Nexus One. But there are differences:

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Exciting news for those of us who have Android devices and pets. Google Translate for Animals translates barks, meows, etc. into human speech. Check out the informative video!

[via TechCrunch]