Well, I'm a moderator, but that's not why I'm here.
I've used a number of phones, I've seen a number of Android updates, and I want to toss out some info and a suggestion or two.
Android =
embedded Linux operating system +
a nifty thing called the Dalvik Virtual Machine +
apps that run inside the Dalvik VM and use Linux software services
And a lot of app issues after a revision update - they come from a Dalvik issue.
Because of how it's designed and built, Android has two very important cache areas - "the cache" and the Dalvik cache.
Ever get whacky browser issues that just go away when you clear your browser cache on your PC?
I promise - Android is exactly like that. Whenever we see users having conflicting reports on app problems after a version update, then it's about a 90% or better certainty that is caused by something getting tangled in those caches.
I've seen keyboards switch to Spanish only, no matter what, re-install or not, I've seen YouTube stop working, I've seen Flash go haywire, I've seen browser and emails get completely hosed - all because of cache issues.
Maybe some of you have heard of the practice of rooting - if not, it's just a trick where you get admin access to your phone - exact same thing as admin access on your PC. And Android rooters know to clear those two cache areas at the first sign of trouble - because for them, they can, it's easy.
For non-rooters - you have to jump through some hoops to get there.
The only known path to clear those two caches for non-rooters is to perform a factory data reset.
And that has the unpleasant side-effect of removing your apps and data.
So, to get around that, you need a good backup/restore strategy - I recommend MyBackup Pro (paid app, worth it the first time it saves you hours of grief), SMS Backup+, and also ensure that all of your contacts are either all on the Google cloud, or if you don't use that, all backed up to your sd card area. Then backup your backups to your PC.
Then, if any of you are using Google Wallet - go into the app, menu, settings and reset Google Wallet - that is a must-do.
Then - factory data reset and then restore your backups.
I know - people hate doing it. I don't blame you. The OS installer ought to just clear those areas as part of the update. They could. But we've never been able to get that message through the thick skulls of the manufacturer/carrier update community.
But this approach - like I say, it works for 90% or better cases. I've literally gotten thousands of thanks for this advice alone, and in many device forums, it's been adopted as a standard practice, passed down from user to user to user.
And if this doesn't work, then you may find an app incompatibility with the new os version.
Hope this helps!
I don't like the "app chooser" every time I touch a web link. Gets old when I've got two web browsers I use, the extra step of pressing just once or always is pointless.
I'm a browser freak, I always have a half dozen or more installed that I use or tinker with on my phone.
FWIW, I set a constant and then switch between them using Choose Browser - great app and free. Makes it a cinch to re-launch a page I'm viewing with another browser.
