14 DAY TRIAL // Although Verizon initially stated that the Gingerbread update for HTC Thunderbolt will be deployed in Q2, it appears that Thunderbolt owners are still waiting for the upgrade.
HTC excitedly announced back in March that the Thunderbolt will receive the Gingerbread (Android 2.3) update in Q2 2011, but missed the deadline due to unknown reasons.
However, a Thunderbolt user has just received an answer to an email in which he expressed his concerns regarding the highly-anticipated update.
An HTC rep states rather vaguely that the Gingerbread update for Verizon's Thunderbolt will be launched sometime in Q3 2011.
“…We will certainly pass along your concerns to the developers at HTC. We are working hard to address the issues you have mentioned with future updates for the device. We are excited to announce that the HTC Thunderbolt will receive the Gingerbread (Android 2.3) update in Q3 2011. Stay tuned for details as we get closer to the update availability…”
The upcoming Gingerbread upgrade for the Thunderbolt is pretty important, as the new version of the operating system brings lots of new features and enhancements that increase the phone's functionality and performance.
Among the most interesting new features and enhancements that Android 2.3 Gingerbread should bring for Thunderbolt are listed below:
New user features
- UI refinements for simplicity and speed; - Faster, more intuitive text input; - One-touch word selection and copy/paste; - Improved power management; - Control over applications; - Downloads management; - Mixable audio effects; - Support for new media formats; - Access to multiple cameras.
Enhancements for gaming
- Performance; - Native input and sensor events; - Open API for native audio; - Native graphics management; - Native access to Activity lifecycle, window management; - Native access to assets, storage; - Robust native development environment.
According to HTC, Android 2.3 Gingerbread for Thunderbolt also adds new forms of communication, including Internet telephony and Near Field Communications (NFC).