Droid X users are starting to get the official Gingerbread update today, but users who want to root their phones may want to think twice. The new update is version 4.5.588, and according to reports, the devil is in the details as to what it brings. It seems that Motorola may be quietly replacing the Droid X bootloader with a locked down version and users will have no way to revert back to the previous version. As if that wasn’t enough, the fact that Motorola and Verizon are quietly performing the update with no notice is just plain devious.

Users will just see the update has been downloaded and are prompted to restart their phones to have the update enabled. And once it is, there’s no turning back. But all is not lost for rooted phones. So if you’re planning on rooting your Droid, then you better do it before the update comes down the pike.

There is some evidence that the update is only going to users with Verizon’s official 2.3.340 build. So, users who have rooted their phones with ClockwordMod Recovery installed should escape the OTA update. If users don’t care about rooting their phones, then by all means hit restart and dive in to all the Gingerbread goodness. The roll out is occurring right now as an over the air update.

[via Android Police]

62 COMMENTS

  1. So because Verizon deny’s then it must be bs right? Because you now, Verizon NEVER lies. Btw ladies and gentlemen, the update has NOT gone OTA yet, but that doesn’t mean you can’t pick it up manually. Or maybe the 100+ links to the exact same file with the same build number as displayed in.leaked photos of the official update. Or maybe the programers who have confirmed authenticity are wrong. #assclowns#troll#idiot

  2. Running GB build 4.5.588, non rooted, update is out, working great added alot of the options I wanted. For all the people saying its not out yet, I say,
    This message posted by my Gingerbread powered Droid X!!!!

  3. I got some sort of an update but I think it was just the patch version of blur, still android 2.2.1. Not sure if that is what the update is or it is in preparation for gingerbread.

    • I did a manual update after downloading the widely published .zip and now have Android 2.3.3 System version 4.5.588MB810.Verizon.en.us Build 4.5.1_57_dx5-18.

      So far I’m really liking the improvements to the OS, and have had no problems at all running any of my existing apps. I don’t know how this leaked out, but it did… maybe there will be another version later that is the “official” release.

      I don’t root, never did and probably never will.

      •  it leaked because they send it to testers. verizon on the other hand didn’t like that built and has rejected 3 more since then. getting rid of bugs, adding bloatware, etc.

  4. I did the manual download, installed it, and am rockin’ Gingerbread!
    I am not rooted, and probably won’t want to, at least not on my first Droid phone, too much to learn yet.

  5. do i install the actual zip file into my sd card or do i put the zip into and actual file and name it update. not tryin to sound stupid but its not working for me and i want the update

    • Just leave it on sd card do not put it in a folder. I believe it should just be update.zip , it worked for me currently 2.3 gingerbread 🙂

  6. Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit! 3 days in and no update. This story is a repost from Android Police and many posters there are talking about a dev leak. Calling this one a hoax.

  7. Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit! 3 days in and no update. This story is a repost from Android Police and many posters there are talking about a dev leak. Calling this one a hoax.

  8. Until i see word of more people getting this OTA im going to go ahead and skip it. as much as i want gingerbread, almost every single person who has the GB update has gotten it by manually installing. just because a dev confirmed this is from motorola does not make it an official update. the leaked rom before this was official.. but it wasnt an update and as a result people who installed it will need to go through extra hassle when the official OTA is released. not saying dont install it… just be aware that if you install it you may have to go back to froyo before you can get the official, offical OTA update.

    for now im sticking with rubix focused

  9. Complete crap. This ota has been rolling out since the 12 its not the 21 and I still got nothing. I am rocking stock and still nothing. Tried the manual update. But my phone keeps rejecting it. Its all horse poop until I personally get it I’m not buying that this ota is real.

  10. I did the manual update one mine (same setup as yours) and it worked. I am having issues where the apps on my SD card, the icons are not showing.

  11. this is why im getting a HTC thunderbolt…..Fuck moto, and if verizon keeps piss’n me off Fuck them too…..I got a droid to get away from apple lock down, now i got to deal with moto’s shit….>_>

  12. DroidX running Gingerbread. I love it! SO MANY nice things… Smoother running, faster… A couple really nice things so far. Removed that GD smiley emoticon next to the period on the keyboard to start with… Low power sleep mode from the power button…

    Put it on one of the providers’ Droid, too. She’s loving it, too!

  13. Hey I got gingerbread on my DroidX and it runs very nice but I have 1 problem…… help?
    Problem: when I open my contact app and I try to select a contact so I can call them the app closes. Also I cannot add new contacts or do any change to my contact list.

    The only way to call people is voice call or if they called me I can select from recent…

    Thanks if anyone can help…..

  14. How did this guy get the web time to spout off with this bullshit?  There ain’t no Gingerbread update for the Droid X  as of May 18, 2011.

  15. It’s now the 19th and 7 days after your posting of this hype…OTA is not being rolled anywhere but in this garbage you’re posting.  The latest release news says MAYBE the weekend of the 20th. 

  16. It’s now the 19th and 7 days after your posting of this hype…OTA is not being rolled anywhere but in this garbage you’re posting.  The latest release news says MAYBE the weekend of the 20th. 

  17. I got it today.  My phone was not rooted, now its a paperweight.  The phone boots, the icons come up and, as soon as I hit any icon, the screen goes black except for the status bar at the top. 

    • Got on phone w/Verizon.  Had to do MASTER RESET to get phone up & running again.  HEY!  MOTOROLA!  That is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay less-than-ideal.  This reminds me of Windows Vista.

      • mine’s black too but i have no other phone to call verizon. think it can be done on their website?

  18. I got the .596 update yesterday and I love it…..changed the whole look of the phone and some of the features are different so its like having a brand new phone again!!!

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