Windows-Phone7
Such a big load of trouble for such a small update. Microsoft’s first WP7 firmware refresh has been causing some unfortunate brick-like behavior in Samsung Omnia 7s and the company has wisely decided to pull the new software back until it can correct whatever’s going wrong. An official communiqué to WinRumors says Microsoft has identified the issue at hand and is working to correct it and redistribute the update as soon as possible. For any Samsung WP7 phone owners who haven’t been able to resuscitate their device yet, the advised course of action is to go back to the store and swap it for a livelier one
Microsoft announces the availability of Windows Phone 7 Service Pack 1
Software supplier Microsoft on Tuesday announced the availability of Windows 7 Service Pack 1 that promises to bring new improvements in the operating system.
Apart from new improvements to features & services in Windows 7, the update includes formerly released performance, stability and security updates.
The Windows 7 Service Pack 1 includes a bug fix for HDMI audio devices that stops working following the restart of the computer. It promises to fix problem associated with printing mixed-orientation XPS documents.
One can download the Windows 7 Service Pack 1 from Microsoft’s official website, or through Windows update, or by obtaining an installation DVD. But according to experts, the easiest and safest way to install the Windows 7 Service Pack 1 is through Windows update service.
Users are suggested to back-up their computers before installing the new update.
Smartphone owners are quick to complain when updates are delayed getting to their phones, but as proven by the current Windows Phone 7 update they are not easy to produce properly. What was claimed to be a minor patch update by Microsoft has been causing some Samsung handsets to fail during the update process. The lucky phone owners affected have the update fail at a point where the phone can be rebooted sans update. A few unlucky Samsung phone owners have the update process corrupt the firmware, rendering the handset inoperable (bricking). Bricked phones must be returned to the black hole of carrier technical support. Microsoft is encouraging owners to hold off on the update for a few days until the issues can be addressed.
This is not a good way for Microsoft to begin the Windows Phone 7 update situation. The company had been criticized in Windows Mobile days of yore for allowing partners to determine if phones would receive an update. A common complaint of WinMo phone owners was that OS updates rarely made it to handsets after purchase due to partner refusal to provide them. WIndows Phone 7 was touted by Microsoft to change that, as the company remained in control of the update ecosystem. This minor update failure for some phones does not make Microsoft look very good to new WP7 owners.
Further sullying the WP7 update situation, Microsoft is admitting that carriers have the right to pass on any update. A WP7 support tech stated in a support forum:
Some Mobile Operators have the right to skip one update if they wish. However, they can’t skip the next one, which would be an acumulative update and would include the previous one.
So if your mobile operator decided to block this one, you will be getting the early March one (which will include the Feb one too).
That’s directly opposite to what has been claimed by Microsoft in the past, and while an improvement over the update process of old, it’s not the same as guaranteeing WP7 owners will receive all updates as promised. It is not a good beginning for WP7 in regards to customer support, and further proves how difficult a process OS updates can be
