Here’s the link: http://www.htc.com/au/SupportDownload.aspx?p_id=312&cat=2&dl_id=1048

You’ll need to provide your serial number to download it.  Then just plug in your phone via USB and run the file.  The instructions are pretty straight forward.

Be warned that you’ll lose all your phone based data in the upgrade including any numbers you’ve saved to the phone.  (I saved mine to my google account) and you’ll lose your SMS’s etc.

The process took about 20 minutes and it went without a hitch.  If  all your photos etc are saved to the SD card, you’ll lose nothing there.

Log into your google account again through the intro screens and you’re off and running.  Go to the App Market and in the download section you’ll see all the apps you previously paid for and you’ll be able to download them again.

One of the most notible changes I noticed immediately is the upgrade in the Gmail app. e.g.  Easier to reply to emails from the top of the email, instead of the bottom.

Also, there is an awesome new app installed called Hi-Fi Hotspot.  Once activated, it allows you to use your phone as a wireless router, providing internet access to anyone with a wifi device in the area. You can set a password on the phone app and on my laptop it just showed a wireless network called “HTC Network” – I typed in the password I designated on the phone and it’s like I’m at home on any standard Wifi.

Another app you might like is Apps2sd which allows you to store some apps to your SD card, thus freeing up space on your phone’s built in storage (NAND)

I’m just super impressed by the Desire and such a painless upgrade.  The Android system is just brilliant and I’m not surprised to read about the massive market share predictions.

What’s an Android phone?  Android is an operating system that Google created that is installed into smart phones.  Unlike Apple’s iPhone operating system, Android is an open source  system which means ANY developer can go in, pull it apart, add stuff, create stuff and change things.  This means flexibility, speed of advancement and I believe it fires creativity – which is always tremendous.

So what phone companies like HTC are doing is building phones that will make the most of the operating system and it’s features.  I grabbed the HTC Desire and I have to say that I’m very impressed.  I’ll explain why.

I had the iPhone before the days of ‘copy and paste’ so I did what a lot of people did and Jailbroke it (hacked it) – opening it’s possibilities e.g. video, copy and paste, backgrounds etc.  Having the Android feels very much like a Jailbroken iPhone, but super fast and built to be personalised.  I’m a massive Google fan (gmail, calendars etc) so I love the interactivity and super fast online search.

Do I hate the iPhone? No way, in fact I often grab Nat’s because it has some apps which I miss like the Amazon Kindle App (which is coming to Android soon).  I’m looking forward to seeing what the new iPhone will do to.

I must also give credit where credit is due and add that the staff at the Telstra shop in Kawana Shopping World were so incredibly helpful and nice to deal with.  I was about to take my business elsewhere and they won me over. Finally, great phone reception, decent data packages and local customer service.

I get the feeling that the Sunshine Coast economy is picking up and businesses are making the most of the “New Beginnings” that a fresh calendar year brings. A lot of my clients are bringing fresh ideas and concepts to me. It’s great!

As my web design and graphics business “Brainspace” comes into the new year, we have already started branching out into some new areas.  What I am most excited about is creating iPhone Apps.

I’ve just completed one for Pastor Steve Penny who is using the iPhone App to allow people a ‘single click’ into his life and ministry as he travels the globe speaking to churches and leaders.

From his App you can:
Read his Blog
Read his Twitter
Listen to sermons
Watch video sermons
View his Bio, Photos, Links and more

The App has been so popular that it overloaded the server that hosted the media files yesterday! (All good now)

Feel free to check it out via the link below or search for ‘Steve Penny’ on your iphone App store. Let us know if YOU or someone you know would like an App or website built as well!