Verizon's Droid Eris Receiving Android 2.1 Update

Users of the HTC-made Droid Eris should see a notification from Verizon Wireless in the next few days indicating that Android 2.1 is ready for download. The new system software is a major leap forward from the Android 1.5 that shipped on the device. Ready for some Eclair?At this point, I am beginning to feel sorry for Sprint customers who bought the HTC Hero or the Samsung Moment. Both of those devices are still stuck with Android 1.5, more than eight months since launch. The Motorola Droid was updated to Android 2.1 more than a month ago, and now it is the Eris' turn. I can't say what the delay is for Sprint's Android phones, but Verizon is beating them to the Eclair punch big time.

Verizon has said that Eris users will be notified when their device is ready to be updated. The update will be delivered over-the-air, and requires that the phone be mostly charged in order to work correctly. Verizon spokesperson Brenda Raney explained, "As always, the process is phased in. A small number of Droid Eris owners have already received the update and in about 24 hours we will begin to send to increasingly more customers. Customers will see a icon in the notification tab on the phone and much like an application update, they have to confirm the install." The changelog is pretty intense, and Eris users should be plenty happy with the new features.

First and foremost is that the Eris will now support pinch-to-zoom in the Gallery app, browser, and Google Maps. Android 2.1 also brings in voice-to-text entry support for all text fields (and not just within voice search); support for multiple Exchange accounts; support for Yahoo! Mail; Google Maps with Navigation; and much, much more.

Eris users will also be happy to note that the update brings with it the latest version of Sense UI from HTC. That's excellent news. That includes the new Leap feature, which lets users quickly jump between the seven different home screens; the new Friend Stream application, and an improved weather application.