Carriers hold back Windows Phone update

[quote="DavesComputerTips":z4necaaf]
ARS has an interesting [url=http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2011/03/the-carriers-are-not-your-customers-the-windows-phone-7-update-mess.ars:z4necaaf]article[/url:z4necaaf] about the topic, which is a good read if the inner workings of large companies and their (lack) of common sense interest you.[/quote:z4necaaf]

Heh, I work for a large company (different industry though) and let me tell you -- the people who know whats going on are rarely the people making the decisions. Sometimes makes you wonder how these companies stay in business.

Carriers have also been holding back updates for Android as well, and point to the failed Windows update earlier this year as proof to why they can't push Android updates faster. Ironically, they also complain about Android security issues -- which are often fixed in the very patches they don't push out.

[quote="DavesComputerTips":1fph16c0]
I'm seriously considering an Android based phone in the near future. I'm sure it will find itself "rooted" if I get one![/quote:1fph16c0]

I have a Droid 1. It's....old. (2 years old and it's old...sigh). It is the best phone / computer I have ever used. Even though it's slowing down (I think the hardware is wearing out) I still love using this phone. It has it's frustrating moments (When I launch maps and it reboots, for example) but still...

I rooted the Droid 1 in November so I could load a custom mod. I was hoping for some speed boosts, but I didn't really see any. It did allow me to get up to the latest and greatest Android OS release (2.something or other).

For those who want a phone that can only do what you're told to do with it -- look to iPhone or Blackberry. For those who want a completely different experience that, while not perfect, gives you tons of flexibility, I cannot recommend Android enough.

Some advice Dave -- if you're looking to root your new Android phone, make sure it's not a Motorola product. They've built into the hardware a kill switch that will slag the processor if it detects unauthorized software. I'm not sure if they got around that yet or not.

LoL

To 'root' your phone means to gain root access (superuser - a Linux administrative term) and access things the carriers would really rather you didn't.

It lets you access the base OS and make fun changes.

Someday I'll have to look up with it means down under.