Motorola Droid Owners Can Manually Install Android OS 2.0.1

Motorola and Verizon have begun sending out an update for the system software on the Motorola Droid, but so far only a few thousand people have received it. Those who are impatient can now update their smartphone manually.

However, this method is not authorized by either Verizon or Motorola. The cautious can wait a couple of days, and  the software update will be sent to their phone where it can be installed in the approved manner.

Android OS 2.0.1 is a fairly minor update emphasizing bug fixes, but it also promises longer battery life and improvements to the camera.

Installation Instructions
Those who are interested in doing the unauthorized update should do the following:

• Make sure their Droid has at least a half battery charge before starting this process
• Download the system software update
• Rename the file to "update.zip"
• Put it in the root directory of the microSD card
• Turn off the Droid
• Turn the Droid back on while holding down the ‘X' key on the physical keyboard
• The smartphone will boot in recovery mode, indicated by an image of a triangle with a exclamation point appearing on the screen
• Either press the volume up key and camera button key OR press only the camera key down halfway
• This will bring up an on-screen menu. User the directional pad to move to and select "apply update.zip"
• The update process will begin, and take several minutes.
• When it is finished and the on-screen menu appears again, choose "Reboot"
• When the Droid starts again, it will be running Android OS 2.0.1

What in Android OS 2.0.1?
As mentioned earlier, this is not a huge update, but it does include features most Motorola Droid users are going to want.

According to Verizon, the changes in the new software version are:

• OS stability is improved.
• Battery life is improved.
• Camera auto-focus functionality is improved, and time between shots is reduced.
• Enhancements for three-way calling.
• Audio for incoming calls is improved.
• When receiving a call on call waiting, the speakerphone now remains on.
• Bluetooth functionality is improved; background echo is eliminated.
• Improved Bluetooth phone book transfer of contacts to in-vehicle Bluetooth solutions.
• After closing a GPS application, the GPS icon will now automatically be removed from the notification panel.
• Users can now receive SMS and MMS messages after an EMS message is received.
• SMS and MMS may now be sent to seven-digit addresses.
• Google contact merging has been updated to accommodate seven-digit numbers.
• Visual Voice Mail notices now arrive instantaneously.
• The corporate calendar widget user interface is updated.

For those who are willing to wait for the approved update process, Verizon is going to send out 200,000 more updated tomorrow, then that same number each following night until all Droids have been updated.

Source: BGR