Droid users have been waiting for the latest upgrade to version 2.1 of the operating system for a couple of months now. The upgrade will finally put it on par, from an OS standpoint, with Google's Nexus One. By installing the upgrade, Droid owners will get a raft of new features including pinch-to-zoom in the browser, Gallery and Google Maps. There are many more feature upgrades including a new Google Maps app, live animated wallpapers, support for Yahoo Mail, voice-to-text entry, a 3D gallery layout and more.
Based on the reports circulating around the Web, Droid users could begin receiving the upgrades as early as March 18. With the Droid and Nexus One now sporting the latest version, that's going to put pressure on other Android handset makers to bring their phones up to date as many are still stuck running Android 1.5 and 1.6.
Update 3/18/2010 11:59 AM EDT: Verizon should begin rolling out updates to 1,000 Motorola Droid users today begining at 12:00 EDT. If all goes as planned, another 9,000 get the update beginning at 11:59 EDT. After making sure all is still well, rollouts will continue on Saturday in batches of 200,000 until all 1 million users get the update.