Sprint began to push a new OTA update out yesterday to eager EVO 4G owners that promised all sorts of good stuff:

• Improvements to Wi-Fi performance
• Exchange Active Sync improvements which include a fix to issue including new account set up, PIN policy usage, and Exchange Server 2010 Calendar Sync
• Addresses Social Networking Sync issue with Facebook application which can improve battery performance.

This all sounded exciting to most EVO users, especially when confronted with what many users believe are below average battery levels for day to day usage. Unfortuantely, as you can see here and here, the update was anything but a success on the part of Sprint or HTC. Apparently many users were prompted to install another update after installing the official 1.47.651.1 and, upon doing so, ended up with a very expensive paper weight. This is because, for some reason, the same OTA update was being pushed to the device twice.

The unlucky recipients of the second update reported that their phones were “bricked” and could not be repaired even at Sprint corporate stores or repair centers. What’s worse is Sprint and HTC are reportedly pointing fingers at each other and in many cases EVO users are simply left without a working phone. Other users who did not get prompted to install the OTA update twice, or who were lucky enough not to do so if they were prompted, also report a number of other issues:

• Some Apps not working, which they did prior to the update
• Some widgets not working, which they did prior to the update
• No longer able to disable HTC Sense UI and use the stock Android home screen launcher
• Google Talk runs in the background, even after disabling it within the app
• Apps working and then the phone becomes randomly unresponsive
• Many stock Android wallpapers were removed
• Much, much more

Sprint pulled the OTA update late last night and really had very little to say about it. Reports are in from users in this thread that the update is again available, in at least a few markets. With all that has transpired in the last twenty four hours, I recommend that you wait a few days and see how other EVO users are doing after the update. And if you do go jumping in, I wish you the best of luck.

Let us know what you think in the comments.

Have a Motorola Backflip? Want an official Android 2.1 upgrade? You will have to wait until the third quarter of 2010 to officially receive the Android 2.1 OS update, as Motorola has refreshed its release schedule for Android software updates. Other notable upgrades for Motorola products to Android 2.1 is the Droid, which is, as Motorola puts it, “currently rolling out in stages”, the Cliq/Cliq XT for sometime in Q2 of this year, and the Devour, which is under consideration for the OS update

New handsets will include the updated operating system while existing owners can upgrade through Samsung’s proprietary PC Studio 7 software (available at http://www.samsungmobile.com).  The upgrade is available in Germany and Samsung has detailed that it will be gradually rolled out to other European markets, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Asia, Africa and rest of the world (Antarctica and Americas.)

Motorola Droid owners are shaking their heads in disapproval and perhaps a little misplaced jealousy as the Samsung incantation of Android Eclair will sport no less than nine screens (Droid has three).  The Galaxy Spica will also experience some additional multimedia improvements over and above it’s current ability to play divx files (which Droid doesn’t).  The new media browser permits user to easily browse through Media files stored on the memory card and updates to the camera software promise ‘enhanced picture options and viewing functionality.’

Source: Samsung Press Release

Keep a close eye here and once we see a solid release date, we will be sure to let you know.

Source: BGR