UPDATE: It's Official - Android 2.2 Is Done And Being Deployed

The wait is over.  Google officially announced that Android 2.2 is complete and has begun the OTA deployment to Nexus One owners.  

For the official Google announcement, click here.

Another 2.2 Build Released - FRF85B

Google has released another build that is available for download.  First there was FRF50, then FRF72, then FRF83 and now FRF85B.  Different websites and publishers were speculating that FRF83 was the final build but yesterday we published a blog in which we pointed out that there was speculation that FRF83 was not the final build in spite of reports that select Nexus One owners had reported receiving OTA updates.  What was particularly interesting was that Google had made no official announcement that they had finished with Android 2.2.  With this new build, there should be no doubt that Google is still working on a final build of Android 2.2.  Notice how each build is getting closer and closer in time.  A sure sign that Google is getting closer and closer to the final release.  We should not expect any major changes to Android 2.2.  It appears as if Google is in the tweaking stage.

To download FRF85B click here to download the file and then follow these step-step-directions.  It's very easy.  I've done it at least 4 times without any problems.

1.  Rename the file "update" and save it on your SD card on the Nexus One.
2.  Turn off the phone and turn it back on by holding down the trackball and power button.
3.  Select "Boatloader" and then "Recovery."
4.  When you see the android guy with the log, press the volume up button and the power buttons.
5.  Choose "update.zip" and wait until it installs the update.  Reboot the phone and that's it.

Let us know if you have noticed anything in FRF85B.

Is FRF83 The Final FroYo Build?

The other day Google released FRF83, the latest FroYo build.  We published a post giving our readers a step to step guide to manually downloading the update to your Nexus One.  Reports also started circulating that Google had begun the OTA (over the air) update of the build.  However, now we can report that there are conflicting reports about whether this latest build is the actual final version of Android 2.2.  The AndroidGuys blog is reporting that this is not the final release of Android 2.2.  In a blog published today, they report that Google is working on a build with a higher number than 83 and that they have actually issued an OTA update to a select number of testers.  What is interesting to them is that Google has not issued any public announcement that they have released Android 2.2.  They cite an inside source who tells them that Google is still working on Android 2.2 but acknowledge the possibility that FRF83 may be the final release for the Nexus One for T-Mobile because the source is using the Nexus One with AT&T.

Computerworld is reporting that FRF83 is the final build and that it has been released to the public.  In a blog published today, they claim that they have proof that Android 2.2 has been finished and the version released a few days ago, FRF83 is the final release version.  They claim that the reason the OTA update has been stopped is because Google was experiencing problems with its servers and is performing maintenance on them.  They suggest that this release was a test release and once they are finished with the maintenance on their servers, within the next few weeks, they will begin a mass OTA update to everyone and make the announcement.

At this point all we can do is wait to see which story is true.  Time will tell.  In case you haven't updated your Nexus One to the latest version of Android 2.2, you can do so by clicking here.

Possible N1 Battery Saving

I ran into this possible battery saving tip while surfing on some Nexus One forum.  I never knew you could do this but I did it and was able to change the setting as recommended.  I have not noticed any problems with my phone after I did this.  I am on T-Mobile.  So do this at your own risk.

On the dial pad dial the following set of characters and numbers:

*#*#4636#*#*

After you dial the final character you will see a menu of settings for the phone.  Go to "Phone Information" go down to "preferred network type" and select GSM auto (PRL).  Supposedly this will keep the phone from roaming and stay on your carriers network.  This is supposed to help the battery.

Let me know if you noticed any battery savings.

How To Manually Install FroYo FRF83 Over FRF72

Late last night I started seeing stories on the internet that Google had released a new version of FroYo.  Android users have been patiently waiting for Google to release FroYo for several weeks.  About a month ago, Google released a very early build, FRF50.  Many people, including this author, manually downloaded this build.  A little over a week ago, Google released another build, FRF72.  Yesterday came news that Google released the "source code" for FroYo to developers, a sure sign that Android 2.2 was about to be released to the public.  When news came out last night that a new build, FRF83 had been released, the initial information was that you had to go back to FRF50 if you wanted FRF83.  Websites and forums started publishing detailed instructions on how to uninstall and reinstall the builds and even go back to Android 2.1.  This morning I discovered a way of manually installing the new FRF83 build from FRF72 without doing anything to the phone.  Here's a step by step method of manually upgrading your phone to Android 2.2 FRF83.  This will only work for the Nexus One users.

1.  Download the update file.  Here is a link to the download:

http://android.clients.google.com/packages/passion/signed-passion-FRF83-from-FRF72.684bd56a.zip
2.  Rename the file "update" and save it on your SD card on the Nexus One.
3.  Turn off the phone and turn it back on by holding down the trackball and power button.
4.  Select "Boatloader" and then "Recovery."
5.  When you see the android guy with the log, press the volume up button and the power buttons.
6.  Choose "update.zip" and wait until it installs the update.  Reboot the phone and that's it.

It is unknown for sure whether this is the final release of Android 2.2 but it appears as if it is.

Let us know if you had success updating your Nexus One to Android 2.2.