It’s been a while since HTC has talked about the Android 4.0.4 update for Verizon’s HTC Thunderbolt. The Ice Cream Sandwich update for the device was originally expected to launch by the end of August of last year. Unfortunately, the update never materialized, leaving HTC Thunderbolt owners wondering if the update would ever be released.
Back in December, HTC tweeted that the ICS update for the Thunderbolt “will be here soon,” but it’s always hard to know when “soon” really is. Fortunately, we have concrete evidence that the Android 4.0.4 update for the HTC Thunderbolt may be only a few days away. Yesterday afternoon, Verizon posted two Android 4.0.4 update documents on the HTC Thunderbolt’s support page which show off some of the new features that will be included in the software build.
Verizon Wireless is pleased to announce a new software update, 7.02.605.06 710RD; Baseband: 8K:2.02.00.1117r 9K:0.02.02.1211r, for your Thunderbolt™ by HTC. This update includes an upgrade to the Android Operating System 4.04 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and HTC Sense 3.6.
We’re still missing a release date for the Thunderbolt’s Android 4.0.4 update, but we wouldn’t be surprised if the update started rolling within the next few days. We know a lot of HTC fan are mad that the update has taken so long to roll out, but we;d like to remind you that this will be the second major update for the HTC Thunderbolt – a device which launched with Android 2.2 on board.
HTC Thunderbolt Android 4.0.4 update features
- Launch bar: The home screen now includes a customizable Launch Bar. You can easily drag apps, shortcuts and folders in or out of the launch bar for instant access from any home screen.
- Lock screen notifications: Accessing your notifications is just a swipe away, even when your device is locked. Users can now dismiss individual notifications with a simple swipe of a finger. HTC Sense provides a richer lock screen experience with more lock screen styles, shortcuts to apps and more.
- Face unlock: Easily unlock your phone with face recognition, no typing required. Alternative PIN or Password serves as additional security.
- Usage Center: Monitor your data usage all in one place. Set warning levels, check individual app usage or turn off data completely.
- Folder Creation: Easily create folders by dropping one app on top of another.
- Recent Apps: Multitask with ease using the Recent Apps feature. Easily switch applications by tapping on thumbnails or swipe away applications that you’re done with to close.
Additional updates to this software upgrade include:
- Verizon Remote Diagnostics has been added.
- New customer care solution to improve customer service experience. When a customer calls into Verizon Wireless customer care, this solution, with the customer’s permission, allows support personnel to remotely view the user’s device for device training, application demonstrations and troubleshooting.
- Improved device stability will decrease device resets.
- Verizon Apps, Blockbuster, Rhapsody, Verizon Video and Mobile IM app have been removed.
Source: Verizon
Well I called Verizon and they confirmed That ICS is out but they are saying it will be released in waves. Come on like there are really that many Thunderbolts left out there they need to release it in waves.
Don’t be too excited to get the update. Mine updated overnight and now I have no video streaming capabilities. Hulu+ and CW apps work but give errors when launching the actual videos. Will be checking Netflix and others next but, I am disappointed in this turn of events.
This update stinks. I am having so much touble just reading the screen its causing incredible eye strain; I’ll probably have to chuck the phone (good for verizon, thinking i’ll get a new one), but i’ll probably switch carriers (bad for verizon).
I hear you cannot revert back.
I dont know what they did with the fonts (almost like microsoft clear type), and web pages dont seem to re-size properly. and zooming in seems to take a long time to sharpen the fonts.
woke up this morning and my phone had updated all by it’s self. WTH I cant access my text messages, FB, call people, my apps. that I had on different screens dissapear…WHATS GOING ON???? I did not choose to do this!!!! I want my OLD stuff back NOW!!!
I woke up Monday morning by my phone’s alarm and was shocked to see that i didn’t recognize the screen! It took me three days to resync up my yahoo email and fb. Still working on gmail… Today my home button takes screen shots and my power button no longer puts my phone to sleep nor does it turn on the screen. Can’t find the settings for either of these issues. This makes me want to switch providers!
My phone updated overnight. All my pictures disappeared. Can’t find stuff. And in trying to post this my phone spontaneouly shut down for no reason. Loved my Thunderbolt, now iPhone is looking a whole lot better now!
Photos are still there — you just need to find the “Gallery” app icon and you will see they are there. I had to drag this to my desktop again because the update did remove the old one.
I did like the way my wallpaper scrolled in the old version and it looks like it may not in the new version but I’m still playing with that.
not all change is bad. All in all, this is a refreshing update, yes it does take some getting use to. I use an iphone for work and no way it is better than my HTC Android. This phone is still the best.
Takes some getting used to ? This update has trashed a pefectly good phone! All my music is gone. Everytime I go back to the home screen I get the spinning circle of death. It has shortened battery life. AND I can’t hear any audio on incoming calls unless I’m on speaker phone! The T-bolt is a business phone for me and the phone doesn’t work!?! Rubbish.
I HTC Thunderbolt was upgraded on February 15. Before that, for 2 years, I was using my phone very reliably for corporate mail (Exchange). After the upgrade, the synchronization fails. We have a (large) corporate account with Verizon and their support was USELESS!!!! I set up my email account of a different phone (still with Verizon) and it works fine, so the problem is not with our company exchange server.
The way Verizon handled this was (and still is) very frustrating.
My next phone will NOT be with verizon.
Stefan
I am incredibly upset by this update. It updated by itself, overnight, about a month ago. I’ve waited about a month, thinking that Verizon would work out the kinks. My battery life is now very short – I have to keep my phone charged most of the day. I can’t use wireless anymore, because as soon as I connect to wireless, my phone goes haywire. Apps take forever to start, and once they’ve started, they freeze. Updating my email takes minutes instead of a few seconds. And the phone restarts itself randomly – often while I’m using Google Maps to drive or while I’m checking email.
I’m sure Android 4.0 is a great system – but why did my two year old Thunderbolt need it if the phone can’t handle it? Verizon should have given us an option, and allowed us to revert back. My system worked great before; now I need a new phone (which may be why Verizon did this?). I took the phone to the Verizon store and a staff member told me that these problems are because my phone is old. That’s rather offensive: The problems started the day the new system came!
I’m hoping the rumors of a 100% Google-controlled phone a true, and that the phone comes out soon…
I HATE THE UPDATE. MY PHONE CHANGES MY RINGTONES AND ALARMS WHENEVER IT WANTS TO. SLOW VERY SLOW. I’M SO DARN ANGRY. I WISH THAT I NEVER EVER HAD UPDATED MY THUNDERBOLT. BEFORE I UPDATED, THE ONLY PROBLEM WAS BATTERY LIFE. NOW THE BATTERY LIFE IS OKAY, I HAVE ALL THESE HEADACHES FROM THE SMALL SIMPLE THINGS ON THE PHONE. IS THERE ANYWAY TO UNDO THE UPDATES?
You guys really need to quit being retards. It’s 2013 and you’re gonna cry cause you can’t adjust to the ICS? All of you threatening to go to iPhone, go ahead. iPhone was made to enable stupid people to use technology while making you pay out the ass for everything. Bwahahahahahaha true story too. Sheeple
This update is a mess. Everything was reset and I had to go back and put it back the way I had it set. But the biggest PAIN is everything is EXTREMELY SLOW. I tap an Icon and wait 10 to 15 seconds before it loads. Changing any screen takes over 5 seconds. I’m back to charging my phone in the middle of the day and over night, and rebooting it 3 or 4 times a week. The only thing that changed was the update. I’ll be giving my next phone and the carrier a lot of thought when my contract is due. Thanks Verizon.
amn