Dell Streak Android 2.1 update enrages O2 customers

September 8, 2010 2:02 pm

Categories: Mobile Phones News Tags: Android 2.1, Dell, Dell Streak, Google, O2, Update

The newly released Dell Streak Android 2.1 update for O2 customers looked like great news but it’s turned out to be a nightmare for many users. Furious forum visitors on both the O2 and Dell sites are reporting that the update has crippled their Dell Streak, removing features and making syncing impossible. Read on for some tech horror stories…

Electricpig reader, KilnClose flagged up the problems they faced with the Dell Streak Android 2.1 update: “Don’t do it – once again a major player in the market has rolled out something without checking it – not only will it wipe your phone clean of any data it then refuses to sync with PCSuite – and if you think you can go back to 1.6 think again.”

Other Dell Streak users report that the Android 2.1 update has screwed up Windows Media Video playback and removed the Facebook widget as well as causing malfunctioning accelerometers and constantly flashing buttons.

A user on the O2 forum, Alistair Gill, reports that O2 told him the Dell Streak PC syncing problem after updating to Android 2.1 is down to Dell not updating the software. It will only work with Android 1.6.

Dell has promised a new Dell Streak Android 2.1 update to fix the issues but it’s not offered up a release date or an official statement. It may be of little consequence to you if you didn’t backup your data before diving in an grabbing the Dell Streak Android 2.1 update. It’s not been a great week for O2 after it had to pull the HTC Desire Froyo 2.2 update.

If you’ve been left in the lurch by the Dell Streak Android 2.1 update, share your story in the comments below.

Out now | £from free on contract | Dell

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Mrmediaguy

To be fair, the “missing” Facebook widget is not a bug; the 1.6 version used a Dell-specific widget and in 2.1 they replaced it with the “official” Facebook widget. There are pros and cons — the official widget links to the Facebook application, which is actually pretty good, while the old widget (which showed a lot more of your news feed) only worked with the browser-based version of Facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=657601089 Samantha Williams

I feel like I got off lightly. Although in places my O2 UK Streak is noticeably slower since the 2.1 update, apart from my battery lasting about half the time, painfully slow scrolling through most menus, no longer being able to play wma files, can no lnger use the Dell PC sync software and one app that caused a horrible ringtone to loop until I did a factory reset, I've not had any of the problems noticed above. My accelerometer works fine, except in one game where is it reversed. I hope I'm the norm and it's the people who have the problems who are exceptionally vocal about it! Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's remotely acceptable to release an update that clearly has severe issues and I'm very disappointed that Dell and O2 do not appear to know what each other is doing, neither wants to take responsibility for the big problems they've caused.
I do admit that update delivery was a debacle with O2 promising it one date, not delivering and not keeping us informed when it would be released – for such a big, high profile company it's a wonder they have any customers if this is the way they treat us.
I love my Dell Streak and will be a very happy bunny when O2 and Dell get their act together and sort out this mess. Hopefully they will feel guilty for all the problems and give us a free Dell accessory for our Streaks
Alexnode

I bought a streak a few days ago and i think they recalled the update ! i didn't receive any note for upgrading from 02 ! Do i have to do something to receive it or it is just that they recalled it ?

jamoose

Alexnode, I got the note about the update, but didn't get round to actually downloading it for a few days. When I eventually tried to I got a message error… and I've tried with no luck every day since, so I think they have stopped people from getting it.

Ben_fletcher_19

How do you bluetooth someones elses phone a song, i cant send videos and pics but dont no how to bluetooth a song?
Ben_fletcher_19

How fo you bloothooth songs!
Ben_fletcher_19

im sick of this keyboard, i ment, How do you Bluetooth songs to people.

Anthonie

get a app called bluetoothfile transfer only thing i found that says about transfering songs

Nonohay2004

I've downloaded the updated about two weeks ago and then the phone wouldn't reboot – It froze on the Dell logo. I tried different things and nothing worked. I called 02 and they said they had to send it back to Dell to get it fixed. I picked the phone up today and it turned out they replaced it completely for a new one with the old version of the operating system. (I won't risk it getting broken again, so I won't try and download 2.1 again…). The good thing is that when I took the phone to 02 they said I could keep the battery and the back panel. Because they replaced the handset for a new one so I now have an extra battery.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Antony-Jerome/584308184 Antony Jerome

I had the exact same issue as you. After the update my Streak continually continues to crash until the touch screen just stopped working. Now i have a new streak back (without the extra battery >:( ) The android is stuck as 1.6 and the update option has gone. goodbye all my aps that only work with the later android

Marchowe

hi i have recently purchased a dell streak and have missed out on the chance to get my 2.1 update. I have herd mixed reviews on this some horror stories and some good ones. I would like the chance to update but it seems like it has been wiped of the face of the earth on the net…… Does any body know where i might be able to get this update or should i wait till dell/o2 sort out there life's and bring us a bug free update which could be never??????
James

I'd just like to say, I updated my Streak to 2.1 as soon as it became available, it did remove all of my installed apps which it warned me about anyway, but all of the data on my SD card is still in tact. After re-downloading my apps and putting contacts back in I have had NO problems at all. 2.1 is fantastically smooth compared to 1.6, my only gripe is that after using the old keyboard for so long I actually miss it But after a month of using the new one i'm used to it. Most of the horror stories about this update are just that, Horror stories. My girlfriend updated at the same time and again her phone is fine.

bensillis

Glad to hear it – we've heard nothing but bad news about it so far.

S Hardy750

the front camera does not work any more and my security unluck screen does not work properly as it keeps breaking up when you try and make your unlock pattern my battery used to last all day now i have to charge it twice a day now i miss the old keyboard and your home screens have to have the same picture now too not like before where thewy all had differant pictures i could get used to all this apart from the battery not lasting as long and the front camera not working anymore

Anthonie

get a app called advanced task killer it is a free app and it stops all apps from running when you are not using them. because my phone was getting like that and even if you restart phone the apps are still open then battery will then run better i saw a difference straight away

Mandsal

Well, here's my update story:

Installed the update on 6th September. Phone booted to Android System Recovery Utility screen and then rebooted itself about every 10 minutes – stuck in a loop never getting past the system recovery screen.

O2 basically said it was nothing to do with them and told me to contact Dell (O2, so useless they didn't even have a working support number for Dell). Dell said my Streak would need to go in for repairs and arranged to have UPS collect it.

That's as far as I've got. It's now 2.5 weeks later and Dell still have my phone and only this very morning told me that I'd get the phone back “when they'd finished” – I'm sure you'll agree that's a lovely precise and helpful date.

I've requested a replacement device, but so far they haven't managed to answer that email.

I think this is closer to harassment than customer support. Dell fail.

Mark

Has a similar experience and just received the phone back. After waiting 3 weeks. Speaking to Dell was a nightmare, they could not tell me where the phone was, if they had looked at it, if they had shipped it or when I could expect it back.

Replacement is not the phone I sent away, has android 1.6 on it and has damage on one of the corners.

If you have a monthly contract with O2, technically the phone is theirs and you have a contract with them – they are responsible for providing the warranty on the phone to you. My advice would be to not contact Dell again, but demand that O2 ensure you have a phone you can use with their contract. If they don't they may in breach of contract?

Dazed & Confused

I upgraded to 2.1 and the damn thing wipe all my settings and now I'm haveing major problems getting my Outlook phone and address details. The whole look has changed and it's a nightmare trying to find a way to get this mess sorted.

Dell and 02 have managed to screw up my phone and I currently don't have any phone numbers on it. What the hell are these morons doing, I even backed up to the SIM and now it's saying there are no files there.

Dell Streak Android 2.1 update enrages O2 customers

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