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Whats with the slow Android updates?

M

mrbutters

Well-Known Member
Better yet, what happened to that "update alliance" BS the carriers and manufacturers agreed to like a year and a half ago promising to update their devices quickly? :rolleyes: Jelly bean has been out since the summer and my S3 still sits on ICS, why? Because AT&T hasnt had time to add their bloatware to it yet? This is just pathetic. It also looks as though Google pulled the 4.2 update from the Nexus 7 that was scheduled for Oct 29th with no explanation. Asus has placed the blame solely on Google saying they are waiting to get the update. I will bet its because Google wants 4.2 to debut on their new toys next week to drive up sales, so they have intentionally screwed faithful existing customers. Nothing has changed. Android is still a clusterf**k mess with no one sticking to their word on updates and leaving brand new phones on old software. I am over it. Bought an iPhone 5 and its already been updated to iOS 6.0.1 I have a feeling I will be selling my S3 since it looks like JB has been pushed back yet AGAIN until 2013. Just pathetic Google, you should be ashamed.
 
I'd rather get updates when they're fully tested and trouble-free than as quickly as released just to have the latest and greatest for bragging rights. It's really a carrier and manufacturer problem anyway, not Google/Android.

Have fun with your iPhone. Lotsa luck using Apple's maps.
 
Crashdamage said:
I'd rather get updates when they're fully tested and trouble-free than as quickly as released just to have the latest and greatest for bragging rights. It's really a carrier and manufacturer problem anyway, not Google/Android.

Have fun with your iPhone. Lotsa luck using Apple's maps.
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The JB update has been ready for months and has been rolled out to plenty of S3s overseas. Its the US CARRIERS that delay these updates so they can add their BS bloatware! They have even admitted as much in the past. You really think they need 5-8 MONTHS to test an update from Google? LOL
 
That's the price to pay for using an "open" OS. Being open, it means Android is freely modifiable for anyone, and as the carriers get the devices, they are free to modify it to their liking, unlike Apple's "closed" approach where they do not allow any modifications. Besides, Google has no hold on the carriers because the carriers aren't part of the mobile alliance. Google can't force them to relay the updates as well.

The more pressing question really is, do you really even NEED to update? Sure updates bring tweaks and stuff, but no one really NEEDS to update. Even if the manufacturers never send updates to their phones, none of us have any right to complain. We bought the devices as it is. Them sending us updates is a favor.
 
chanchan05 said:
The more pressing question really is, do you really even NEED to update? Sure updates bring tweaks and stuff, but no one really NEEDS to update.
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Using that logic, you would be happy to take a new Android phone running Donut or Eclair right? I mean hey, the phone works and thats all that matters right? Yea, right :rolleyes:
 
A Nexus phone gets updates just as fast as an Apple phone, except the Nexus phones are waaaay better.

As far as non Nexus phones... First Google makes great software, then OEMs have to add their bloat and test, then carriers add their bloat and test, then eventually (typically 6months to a year later) they release an update.

I had the Nexus S and thought I was upgrading by getting a Galaxy SII. I learned my lesson... I'm getting the Nexus 4 in less than 2 weeks!
 
chrlswltrs said:
A Nexus phone gets updates just as fast as an Apple phone, except the Nexus phones are waaaay better.

As far as non Nexus phones... First Google makes great software, then OEMs have to add their bloat and test, then carriers add their bloat and test, then eventually (typically 6months to a year later) they release an update.

I had the Nexus S and thought I was upgrading by getting a Galaxy SII. I learned my lesson... I'm getting the Nexus 4 in less than 2 weeks!
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Thought about it until I found out LG made it, their phones are awful IMO. Should have been Samsung. Besides, it doesnt have LTE which is a joke. T-Mobile is garbage out here and AT&Ts LTE is just HSPA and its painfully slow compared to Verizon's LTE. So I wouldnt get it anyways but thanks.
 
mrbutters said:
Thought about it until I found out LG made it, their phones are awful IMO. Should have been Samsung. Besides, it doesnt have LTE which is a joke. T-Mobile is garbage out here and AT&Ts LTE is just HSPA and its painfully slow compared to Verizon's LTE. So I wouldnt get it anyways but thanks.
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Samsung has a lot of problems with signal issues, GPS, and WiFi (at least on the GSII). Verizon has the worst customer service of any company I have ever dealt with. I would never consider ever going back to Verizon for any reason, and I am glad Google chose a differ manufacturer for this Nexus. I have never had an LG phone, and from everything I have read they have really stepped their game up.

I wouldn't want LTE right now anyways. I would rather have a phone I can use anywhere in the world and not have LTE killing the battery super fast. HSPA+ is definitely fast enough to stream movies, what more do you need as far as speed?
 
mrbutters said:
Using that logic, you would be happy to take a new Android phone running Donut or Eclair right? I mean hey, the phone works and thats all that matters right? Yea, right :rolleyes:
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Uh, no. Why would I buy an Android phone running Donut or Eclair when there are Android phones with ICS available? Your argument makes no sense. Doesn't matter if it did not get updated, I bought it as what is was, not because I was expecting an update the next year.
 
mrbutters said:
Really? Pretty sure I see all the major carriers on this list :rolleyes:

Google partners with manufacturers and carriers to speed up Android updates | Android and Me
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AFAIK That's a recent agreement between Google and the carriers, not the list of the Open Handset Alliance. Anyway, that agreement just states that the phones bought from the carriers will be officially supported for 18mos, not that the carriers will push the updates immediately.

Also, the carriers have investors who as part of their agreements, the carriers must put their apps into their firmware. That's part of their making money.

You want a phone that updates as soon as possible without carrier crap? Buy it full price unsubsidized direct from the manufacturer. But no, many of you want subsidies so you don't pay the full $700. So by my book, if you got your phone subsidized from a carrier, you have no right to complain. They're already subsidizing your device. For example, the North American versions of the Galaxy Tab Plus has had the ICS update months ago. AFAIK some of the Verizon or T-mobile issued ones still have no updates.
 
chrlswltrs said:
Samsung has a lot of problems with signal issues, GPS, and WiFi (at least on the GSII).
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LG has those problems as well. Not much problems on my GSI regarding those except that the antenna was weaker at getting signals than a Nokia (then again Nokia had that down pat even before Samsung started making phones). I wished they went with Motorola instead. At least the N10 was Samsung.
 
Aside from 'old' phones (older than one year, yeah right :rolleyes:) being discontinued, then agreed, more should be done. New sets ship with old firmware especially pre-pay units. Surely the retailer should prompt the customer at time of purchase if they'd want updating (as this would need purchase / un-boxing)? That would be the first step.

Second step would be to have the official option of running vanilla android or continue running manufacturer firmware - maybe this choice not given for prepay handsets?

Third would be to then have the updates available *from one place, at any time* (google?) on-line or in-store, though probably only in-store for prepay model (which would also require de-branding).

Such a shame that selling new phones takes priority over updates. Maybe better interaction between devs & manufacs would help. They're (devs) often way ahead of manu's.
 
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