After a tremendous amount of waiting, X10 owners will finally receive an updated Android OS. When the Android powered handset was released in Europe the phone came with an already outdated Android version, Google Android 1.6, when most other devices had 2.1. Eventually the Xperia X10 was released in America but, still came with the same version of Android. Now users can rejoice as Sony Ericsson prepare to launch Android 2.1 for the X10, X10 Mini and X10 Mini Pro.

The actual release date and week will vary for various regions but, according to Sony Ericsson Spain, the update is due to be released in the week 38. This brings us to the 20th to the 26th September. Sony Ericsson UK have also confirmed that the update is due to be released before the end of September, presumably the same week as Spain. One reader from the Xperia X10 blog commented that Sony Ericsson Brazil had also given a guideline for the Android 2.1 release. Unfortunately this is slightly later and is slated for a week 43/44 release. Now all we need is for Sony Ericsson to reveal information regarding the release of Android 2.2 on their handsets.

After much waiting and much complaining, O2 have now released the Xperia X10’s latest firmware update. The update can only be done via PC, by either using the Sony Ericsson Update Service or PC Companion. The download is 153.8MB.

The update will take O2 branded X10 owners straight from R2BA016 to R2BA026, missing out R2BA020 which many users assumed would be the one released. While some users will be happy with the choice, many others will wish O2 had stuck with the R2BA020 update. The R2BA020 build is said to be the only version which doesn’t seem to have the WiFi bug present. Unfortunately, R2BA026 brings this bug back. O2 users shouldn’t notice any difference though, as R2BA016 is also said to have this WiFi issue.

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One of the most popular Twitter clients on the iPhone is making it’s way to the Android Community. TweetDeck will soon be released for Android. A beta version has been released this week. Unfortunately however, the beta version is only available for Android 2.0 and above, something which the Xperia X10 currently lacks. In the post which makes the beta public however, it has been stated that once the final version is released, it will come with support for 1.6. Which if the company are quick to release the full version, may be a relief for X10 owners, if we still haven’t got 2.1 on Sony Ericsson’s Xperia X10. You can keep up with the latest developments of TweetDeck on their blog here.

While some Xperia X10 users are wishing they had the option to update their handsets, those who have are advising against doing so. The latest firmware update for the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10, build number R2BA026 brings back a WiFi issue which was present pre 20 builds. If the phone loses network signal, the WiFi signal also drops off so you’re left not being able to do anything on the phone until either signal returns. I’ve also experienced the issue the other way around, where the WiFi will drop, causing the phone to lose a network signal completely. WiFi usually comes back on first, with the network signal following.

Hopefully the next firmware will again fix this issue. Another complaint users have with the latest firmware, is since installing it, the WisePilot app is no longer present. There are two videos showing the WiFi issue in action, which you can view after the break.
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While O2 UK may be struggling to get the last update out for the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10, Sony Ericsson have released another update for the handset. This time it comes in the form of “R2BA026″. The update has been confirmed for the UK and India so far. The update also brings the baseband up to 1.1.31.

There isn’t a changelog from the company this time but, users are reporting Timescape and Mediascape to have been improved and provide a better experience in terms of performance. This update was certified on July 12th but, it seems we may see another update roll out soon, with R2BA028 being certified on July 21st, so the update momentum is set to continue. Lets hope the carriers can keep up with the updates.

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Various readers have tried contacting O2 themselves about the update from Sony Ericsson. With Three finally releasing the update, this has put O2 UK as the last network to support the Sony Ericssons update which improves battery life and there still isn’t an timescale for how long users will have to wait. While looking to see if O2 customers had been made happy yet, I of course found they haven’t, well the UK ones haven’t anyway. Upon further inspection of the situation, it seems that both O2 Ireland and O2 Germany have approved and released the update for the phone, making the wait for O2 UK users seem even more ridiculous. One O2 user send the company a message via Twitter. Unfortunately, all they could say on the matter is that “a new software version will be appearing very soon on the SE site”. To confirm they were on the same wavelength, the user sent a reply asking them to confirm this was the Sony Ericsson update they were talking about and not the Android update. Unfortunately, they haven’t responded to that yet.

I’ve also tried contacting them and have just had a response back, saying it’ll be another week or two and again, to keep an eye on the Sony Ericsson site.

A while back someone claimed to have rooted the Xperia X10 which meant great news for X10 owners a like. Unfortunately it was later proven to be a fake but, after some persistence, the Xperia X10 has finally been rooted, for real this time. Folks over at the XDA-Developers forum have managed to bring root access to Sony Ericsson’s first Android powered handset and have managed to make it as simple as can be. The root process can be performed in as little as 3 steps after finding the Device ID. Xperia X10a owners will have to perform two additional steps to X10i owners. A fix for the Market is also included as some users have experienced difficulties since rooting. Again this is a simple process. You can follow the guide on how to root your phone here. Additional steps for 64 bit Operating systems may need to be performed, which you can find out about here. One thing I’ve noted after doing the root myself, is the guide says to run RunMe.cmd in step 2 and then run step2.cmd but, the RunMe.cmd file mentioned isn’t in the download folder but, other users have said you just need to run step2.cmd and I can confirm this works.

Unfortunately, the bootloader hasn’t been cracked yet, which means it isn’t possible to run custom roms on it, including Android 2.1/2.2 but, this is being worked on. You can however remove default apps which you don’t want or use, such as Moxier, Play Now, MediaScape etc. Again, the guide on how to uninstall the default apps can a found here. A quick video guide has also been created on how to uninstall the default apps.

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While the firmware update which improves the battery life among other things has been released to most markets now, X10 users in the UK who have an O2 branded handset are still awaiting the update. The firmware is available in several variants through out the world, starting from R2BA020 going up to R2BA024. The last digit is dependent on region and carrier. In the UK generic handsets have R2BA020 as does the T-Mobile update, while Vodafone branded handsets are given R2BA024. In India users are being updated to R2BA023. At least two networks are still awaiting the update, Three UK and O2 UK. One member of the Android Forums went as far as emailing Sony Ericsson, to ask where the update was for O2 X10 users. In the response, the Sony Ericsson rep suggested other ways to improve the battery life but, spoke specifically of the situation with O2. At the moment, Sony Ericsson are still waiting for O2 to approve the firmware version for release through the Sony Ericsson Update Service. Unfortunately no time scale is known but, the rep went on to say, as soon as the approval has been received from O2, they will release the update.

Have you updated your firmware yet, or are you still waiting for your carrier to approve the update? Let us know in the comments.

We recently learned that Sony Ericsson had pushed the release of Android 2.1 forward to Q3 from Q4. This may have been partly to user uproar, from users wanting the update sooner, or even skipping 2.1 altogether for Android 2.2 which has just been released. Or it may be because, Sony Ericsson have now committed to a Q4 release for Android 2.2.

Currently, Android 2.2, aka Froyo has been released on the Google Nexus One and will be making it’s way to other handsets over the next few months. It’s confirmed to be released on HTC devices sometime during Q3, with the possibility that those handsets will receive 2.2 before the X10 receives the 2.1 update. Other manufacturers have also confirmed they are working on 2.2. Samsung will update their Galaxy S series range to 2.2 but, a time line hasn’t been specified, while Motorola will be releasing the Droid X in the coming weeks, with Android 2.2 already installed. While X10 owners may have to wait longer than other devices, many X10 owners will be pleased that we get a 2010 release for Android 2.2, assuming it isn’t delayed anyway.

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While it’s been longer than expected, Sony Ericsson have finally released the update, R2BA020, which is supposed to fix problems with the battery and improve overall battery life. While the Sony Ericsson blog doesn’t specifically say this, other users are reporting improved battery life performance since updating. According to Sony Ericsson the update improves the general performance of the handset, as well as improving speed and responsiveness which X10 owners have echoed. One member on the AndroidForums says he’s noticed that the menus and unlock screen are smoother, while the screen is more responsive. The update also adds a built in back up and restore app and the ability to use themes within Timescape. At the moment the themes are limited to different colors.

The update is being rolled out across the market over the coming weeks. Folks in the UK have confirmed the update although if the handset is branded, the network may not have released the update yet. The update has also been confirmed in Canada on Rogers however, it can only be performed via PC and not “over the air”. Selected markets, premium apps and games have also been added to PlayNow.