RC33 Update for T-Mobile G1 Android Phone Users – Why No 31 or 32?

by on February 3, 2009

On Monday February 2nd the RC33 OTA update from T-Mobile was sent to a select few G1 Android phone users.

I noticed it when it was first reported in the T-Mobile message boards Monday afternoon as a man claimed his wife had received an RC33 update but he did not.

At first glance it looks like a joke or plain ignorance, but it was reaffirmed by both a T-Mobile moderator and an actual screenshot.

Why is it not the RC31 update?

My sense is that RC31 was the release name that was aiming for mid January until it was scrapped and then RC32 was the release for end of January, so instead of calling the release actually sent 31 T-Mobile continued with its internal naming progression.

Looks like only a few Cupcake crumbs or perhaps sprinkles made it into this release.

Of course this was all put out in a T-Mobile MEMO … here we go again!

The MEMO states:

  • Updates will be rolled out from February 5th to the 15th
  • No details to which order who or what regions will actually receive the update
  • New G1s purchased at that time will get the update up to three days after its been activated
  • Will have the ability to save text message MMS pictures or files by long pressing the item
  • Be able to check for system updates
  • Use of Google Voice Search
  • Fixes the Reminder option in the Calendar
  • Fixes Comcast failure to download more than one email
  • Fixes WiFi disconnects from forcing IM service to log out
  • Fixes the device from locking up or sticking at the G1 start up screen when initially powered on
  • Plus other bug fixes

*** Also added to the release is a way to call out spam comments in the Android Market – From the Home screen, open the Applications menu. Tap Market. Browse to and view an application’s comments. Tap and hold the offending comment. Tap Mark this as SPAM. ***

So maybe the crystal ball does Work! So lets shake it again and throw it to get FLASH on the G1.

About the Author

Michael Martin is the SEO Manager at Covario and owner of Mobile Martin in San Diego, Ca while also being recognized throughout the search marketing industry as one of the leading authorities on Mobile SEO and all things Android. In his 10-plus years of Internet marketing experience, Michael has spearheaded online marketing campaigns for such global industry leaders as Research In Motion, Dell, T-Mobile, Samsung, IBM, SC Johnson and IGN.

39 comments… read them below or add one

Matt Soreco February 3, 2009 at 10:22 am

Ignorance? I’m offended! ha

That was the best I can type, and post with the phone. And the blurry pic was my 5th attempt.

Matt Sorecos last blog post..Liberals, I have a question for you

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Michael Martin February 3, 2009 at 10:34 am

@ Matt,

Sorry, no offense, just a lot of people making claims to have gotten the update over the past month you have to question everything.

So your wife is one of the lucky few (only one reported) to have received the RC33 update….can you confirm the features as I listed in this post or any other goodies?

I know you stated you only noticed the Google voice feature.

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sean February 3, 2009 at 9:45 am

“Will have the ability to save pictures or files by long pressing an item (assuming this means from text messages as well) ”

I can do this already… so what makes the update different?? Unless your assumption is correct(saving from MMS), this is a truly ridiculous update. Why not just hold off with these little scraps until the Cupcake update is ready for transmission?!?!

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Michael Martin February 3, 2009 at 9:53 am

A TON of the casual G1 users are complaining about not being able to directly save pictures from text messages as the end around is to send to the gmail account or use an App just for this function.

Saving pics from MMS is a Cupcake feature.

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Nickedynick February 3, 2009 at 1:39 pm

For those of you who are sick of people proclaiming “FIRST” on every app, there’s a spam setting in the Market now! :D
http://forums.t-mobile.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/97i6D3AE67B4A709D7F/image-size/original?v=mpbl-1&px=-1

It seems the Market also informs us of updates.
http://forums.t-mobile.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/98iC3F4A3941DE4A502/image-size/original?v=mpbl-1&px=-1

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jj February 4, 2009 at 6:26 pm

wow that seams really nice, im so sick of the market idiots, the youtube losers are migrating -.-

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Raymond Rodgers February 3, 2009 at 1:58 pm

The way release numbering works at most companies is that they do an official release candidate (the actual “RC” in “RC30″ for instance) build, and they have the quality assurance teams do evaluations on it. If it meets a certain minimum set of criteria, it *may* be passed along to any partners that also need to approve it. If they also approve it, then typically it’s given an official version number (the “RC” is dropped out, and the number afterwards may change entirely). What we’re seeing with Android is that the “RC” and candidate number is being kept for some reason; I doubt we’ll ever know why, but it is. All RC33 is telling me is that RC31 and RC32 were not approved either by the Android development team or T-Mobile, so we won’t be seeing those.

When cupcake is released, it will be at least RC34, but could be any number above that. For instance, if they do another 5 official release candidate builds after RC33 before cupcake is released, it may very well be RC38. (This is an example, NOT RUMOR.)

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userfriendlyme February 4, 2009 at 9:32 am

funny thing is how wrong these blogs have been. altough entertaining it hasnt hit the mark yet. id be carefull trusting anything from a tmobile sr source of anything. they obviously are not in the loop of whats going on. i wouldnt say a crumb or sprinkle is in this release not to mention its a couple numbers off from rc31. I think these tmobile reps are getting a kick out of telling different stories im sure it makes for and interesting lunch break.

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Justin February 4, 2009 at 9:44 am

Michael, you once said in a previous post under the comments that had there been no cupcake by february you would let your sources be known. Here we are with no cupcake and still no clue of when its coming. Can we atleast know who has been feeding us this crap for the past month?

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Michael Martin February 4, 2009 at 10:14 am

Even tho an update is now coming out with some Cupcake pieces in (saving pics/files from MMS is from the Cupcake development path)…I will say the previous memo and battery replacement information is from a Moderator on the T-Mobile forum.

Its not Will who correctly provided affirmation that the update did indeed go out to a select few on Monday.

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scott February 4, 2009 at 10:12 am

This is probably a stupid question but, do u have to have 3g on to receive the update? I usually just use edge so the battery lasts longer

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Michael Martin February 4, 2009 at 10:17 am

2G Edge is fine, not entirely sure if you have WiFi without any cell service if you would get the OTA update.

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D February 4, 2009 at 7:13 pm

As far as the 1st 2 OTA updates i read online we can’t receive it with wifi on and i received em both.

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Abel2fresh4u February 5, 2009 at 8:20 am

psssss I HOPE THIS IS NOT AN OTHER BULLCRAP!!!!!!!

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Michael Martin February 5, 2009 at 10:16 am

Matt Soreco who commented above was the first to publicly disclose the RC33 update with a screenshot and T-Mobile has confirmed it as well – http://forums.t-mobile.com/tmbl/board/message?board.id=87&thread.id=30897

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part 2 February 5, 2009 at 12:38 pm

I got my update today but its not cupcake

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Brian February 5, 2009 at 12:52 pm

Im receiving the update as this post is written, the file size is 19868347 bytes and the file name is signed-PLAT-RC33-from-RC30.f06aa9b3.zip for anyone that wants to try to find the file from google for a manual upgrade or hacking.

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erasable February 5, 2009 at 3:58 pm

I got mine around 430. I’m in the nyc area. I’ve been using the anycut device info shortcut to check for upgrades to no avail. But last time under last checkin it said fota failed or something like that. So I kept hitting hitting the check for upgrade button until it said checkin successful and it started to download it.

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sean February 5, 2009 at 4:32 pm

here’s the link if anyone wants to manually update your phone.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=479571

and instructions:
**Download the file above.

1- copy to sdcard root the file with the name (update) with ext (zip)

2-insert sdcard to phone and hold home key and press (end call or turn on)

3. when you see a triangle and small cellular picture open the keyboard and press (alt+L)

4-you will see yellow text, press (alt+S) check what will do in the text.

5- when you finish press home +back to reboot and wait. for the flash of radio

6-you will see chip picture with arrow..wait,wait AND THE PHONE REBOOT ITSELF.

7-finish

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scott February 5, 2009 at 6:15 pm

the google voice search feature is pretty sweet.

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kenton February 5, 2009 at 6:59 pm

What is this “cupcake” update you all speak of?

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jack February 5, 2009 at 8:39 pm

If you cant wait for the update… Download anycut from the market. Open the app and hit new shortcut. Then hit activity and then device info. This will create a short cut on what you could say “the desktop” Click on it scroll down to bottom and hit check for upgrade. Once I did this it started the RC33 download.

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D February 5, 2009 at 9:15 pm

I did what you said and it says CHECKIN_SUCCESS but nothin happens.What do i do next?

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mike1016 February 5, 2009 at 11:32 pm

i did the same thing and it said CHECKIN_SUCCESS but nothing happens after that

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D February 5, 2009 at 11:41 pm

Also wanted to let everyone know that with RC33 i can check MSN mail from my G1 in email settings now.Woot Woot.

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Kyle February 6, 2009 at 12:16 am

I’m suffering from “low on memory” issue (market at 36mb now). Will that cause a problem receiving the update?

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D February 6, 2009 at 9:54 am

No it won’t effect it but to solve that issue just back up everything and factory reset your phone.the market will go back to 0B.The way the market size increases is by all the data is loads when ur browsing it but for some reason google hasn’t added and opt to clear data in manage apps.They will eventually fix this(in my opinion they can’t charge in the AM till this is resolved or they’d have huge issues with customers) but that’s the way to get it back to size and just view apps by date and continue viewin only from the last apps u view by date.Untill this is fixed u will prob have to reset ut phone every few months.My free memory is at 55MB.

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Abel2fresh4u February 6, 2009 at 12:22 pm

it really works!!! YAY!!!!!!!! I DOWNLOADED THE ANYCUT THINGY. I HIT CHECK FOR UPDATE . AND ITS DOWNLOADIN IT RIGHT NOW!!! THANKS. =]

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Chris February 6, 2009 at 10:27 pm

Does anyone know if they’ve fixed the issues with missing calls while on EDGE? The phone prioritizes data over voice… a major issue which made me return the phone.

Try it out: be on a non-WiFi and non-3G network (i.e., EDGE), open google maps and keep scrolling around so it has to keep loading, call your phone and listen to it never ring…

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Dakota February 9, 2009 at 4:07 pm

No, that has not been fixed… I have the new RC33 update and it still seems to prioritize data over phone calls.
This is very frustrating for me I miss calls sometimes and there is no notification, the only way I can tell if I miss a call I have to look in my “call log.”

Maybe Someone Else has better luck?

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tracester February 15, 2009 at 7:34 pm

i had this same issue except the call wouldn’r always show up in the log. the only way to know someone called was if they left voicemail. i got a new phone, but it never occured to me it was connected to the OTA update. that was when my 1st phone mysteriously stopped ringing.

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bob February 9, 2009 at 4:20 pm

i got the update last night at around 9pm eastern time. in it i noticed immediately the voice search for Google and then i went into settings and saw that the update was called RC33. i looked online for facts about it and thats when i read that only a select few got it! i feel pretty luck now that i think about it! lol jk.

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SLiNkY February 9, 2009 at 5:57 pm

I just recieved the update 7:45 ET i’m in Tampa, Florida i noticed the new voice search icon on my google search widget and the new app for it build id is PLAT-RC33. I’m gonna play with it see what’s involved and share the news.

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Don February 10, 2009 at 6:04 pm

Is this new? When I hold down the Home button it shows me a list of applications running. Has this been here all along and I just never found it? I run a app that does the same thing for the camera button, but that really isn’t convienent.
-Don

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Michael Martin February 10, 2009 at 6:14 pm

This function existed in the previous build

It displays the last 6 applications you were using – not whats currently running.

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Jacob February 11, 2009 at 4:58 pm

I got the update. meh…
This just means Cupcake is a long ways away, if at all.

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dro February 25, 2009 at 10:24 pm

G1 is the $}{!t lol gr8 fone..I was one who got an update I saw my fone sayin system update n it wrx nice n smooth..I got a lot of good ideas 4 this fone =) hit me me keep doin ya thing google/tmobile

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aboreech March 4, 2009 at 10:01 am

anyone after the updates do u guys have to go through the activation process again.

thanks

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Pedro Simão April 2, 2009 at 8:08 am

I have updated my system to RC33, and now I have several BUGS.
Sometimes the system freezes.
And everytime I want to recieve or end a call I have to press the buttons several times until the calls starts/ends.
What should I make?

Reply

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