HTC One M7 Enters Software Purgatory, Will Miss Future Android Updates
It's been a good run for the HTC One M7, a device that was launched two years ago and still stands up well today (I should know, I own one). Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever, including upgrade cycles, and the One M7's has come to an end with Android 5.0 Lollipop. Going forward, there will be no more software updates.
HTC's VP of Product Management, Mo Versi, confirmed as much in a Twitter post in which he stated, "Only the GPE version of M7 will receive 5.1. Our target is early April. Thanks." GPE stands for Google Play Edition, a higher cost version of the One M7 that shipped with a stock Android experience. If you own one, you're in luck, otherwise Android 5.0 is the end of the line.
This isn't necessarily a bad thing, and it's hard to fault HTC, especially since it stuck with its promise of pushing out updates to devices for two years. HTC made the promise after leaving One X owners high and dry with Android 4.2.
Two years is a good run for a smartphone. It coincides with the typically two-year service agreements that are so popular among wireless carriers, and in this case, the One M7 made it to Lollipop before HTC pulled the plug. Sure, it would be nice to still receive incremental upgrades, but if they're needed, there's always the option of rooting and installing a third-party ROM. Or even better, upgrading to a new handset.
HTC's VP of Product Management, Mo Versi, confirmed as much in a Twitter post in which he stated, "Only the GPE version of M7 will receive 5.1. Our target is early April. Thanks." GPE stands for Google Play Edition, a higher cost version of the One M7 that shipped with a stock Android experience. If you own one, you're in luck, otherwise Android 5.0 is the end of the line.
This isn't necessarily a bad thing, and it's hard to fault HTC, especially since it stuck with its promise of pushing out updates to devices for two years. HTC made the promise after leaving One X owners high and dry with Android 4.2.
Two years is a good run for a smartphone. It coincides with the typically two-year service agreements that are so popular among wireless carriers, and in this case, the One M7 made it to Lollipop before HTC pulled the plug. Sure, it would be nice to still receive incremental upgrades, but if they're needed, there's always the option of rooting and installing a third-party ROM. Or even better, upgrading to a new handset.
