14 DAY TRIAL // After more than a week since Sprint pulled the Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread for Kyocera Echo following reports from owners who bricked their smartphones, the carrier is resuming the deployment of the update.
Although the percentage of Kyocera Echo owners who managed to turn their smartphones into brick was rather small, it goes without saying that Sprint needed to pull the update “until further notice” and solve the issue.
Well, it appears that it took nine days to solve the problems, but the carrier has just started to roll out the update again.
However, it will take a few weeks until all Kyocera Echo owners will be able to download and install the Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread, as the carrier reports that the update will be pushed OTA (over the air) in waves.
“Sprint will restart the Gingerbread update to Kyocera Echo users beginning today (August 10). In an effort to provide the best possible customer experience, Kyocera and Sprint have addressed a previous issue with the update raised last week. The Gingerbread update will provide Kyocera Echo users with performance enhancements including faster response, improved power management, enhancements for gaming, and more. Every Echo customer should have the update within the next few weeks.”
Even though there's no mention about the bricked Kyocera Echo units, we assume that owners should visit the nearest Sprint store and replace them for free.
Several users already reported that they have installed the update and seem to experience minor freezing issues, but otherwise their devices are working smoothly.
Those who don't know what new features the current upgrade bring here are the highlights of the Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread for Kyocera Echo:
- an upgrade to Swype 3.0 virtual keypad, with Tap Correction and Horizontal Word Choice List (predictive text); - an improved Downloads application, offering easy access to any file downloaded from the browser, email or another application; - pinch-to-zoom in Browser, Gallery, Maps and Sprint Navigation.
In addition, the update will also add an Eco Mode, which will appear on the screen as a new application, as soon as the update installs correctly.