Help Drivers and the OS

[Android Question]

I have a question about Android drivers and running newer versions of the OS on old hardware.

I am novice to understanding software and code, but I know the basics of how an operating system works and how hardware devices communicate to software, libraries and such. My question is how does Android handle running new code and libraries on older chipsets and drivers? Is the reason many phones and devices get left behind prematurely, because the newest itteration of OS has new APIS and such not compatible with old hardware?

 

[chanchan05]

Usually the reason is just manufacturers refuse to pay someone to keep on testing software for the new phones and to host the servers where you update from. The more phones they keep on supporting, the more firmware updates they need to keep online.

This can be seen in more popular devices. For example, the Note 2 has unofficial updates made by third parties, all the way up to Marshmallow. But Samsung stopped supporting it with official firmware at Jellybean, a year ago.

 

[Jackman33]

Can a device using an older OS be upgraded to a more current OS?

 

[El Presidente]

Can a device using an older OS be upgraded to a more current OS?

Yes, a lot of the time this is done unofficially (as Chanchan pointed out).

I had an old Desire HD, the last official update for that was Android 2.3, I had a 4.1.1 custom ROM on there.

 

[Jackman33]

I am new to Android, so it sounds like you can't update at your desire. This Tab I have has 4.4.2 Jellybean and I just wait for it to upgraded to 5.0?

Thanks

 

[El Presidente]

What tab do you own? If the manufacturer hasn't officially updated, it all depends on whether an independent developer had made an updated version for your device.

 

[Jackman33]

Samsung SM-T230....

 

[Velar]

I need the latest OS for my sm -t 230

 

[Hadron]

Have a look at Sammobile.com for official firmware. That will be the latest that's been released for that model.

If you want to root and install custom (unofficial) software then I'd start by looking here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/tab-4/development. However at a quick glance I see no sign that anyone has made anything newer than Android 7 for this device, and not owning one I cannot tell you which ROMs work well and which don't - you'll have to look at what people say in the different ROM threads there. There is a thread there with advice on rooting, but I can't give any more advice than to suggest looking at this and doing a lot of reading and making sure you understand what you are doing before you actually try to do anything.