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Why even bother with 4.1? Straight to 4.2!

steveu694

steveu694

Android Enthusiast
So I'm on Verizon here in Texas, US. Now I don't know a lot about software development, but I've been reading and I'm semi savvy with how things go. My question is, with 4.2 supposedly being released on 10-29, why even bother with the 4.1.1? Why not just skip it and release 4.2 for everyone in efforts to not be outdated?

I think its ******ed that my software now is out of date on my GS3 and even when I get 4.1.1 it will be out again. Jeez, my nexus 7 has 4.1.2 already!

I've been looking at the LG Nexus and have heard about an HTC Nexus 5, which is still a rumor. I just want to be current without rooting. Is that too much to ask?
 
The only way you'll ever be up to date on the OS is if you own a Nexus, that's kind of the deal unfortunately.
 
With carrier input and device fragmentation, you are seeing one of the weaknesses of Android. Wish updates were dished out like Apple does. They are way ahead on that!
 
This is definitely one of the big pluses of the Apple ecosystem: All devices get upgraded at once to the current OS revision at the same time.

Of course that's because all the hardware is the same. In Android, you have multiple manufactures and hardware that are not built to conform to the same specs. It's the Microsoft/Apple thing in the mobile phone world.

Now, if only Google would build and sell it's own hardware (Nexus phones don't count as they are still made by other companies and don't seem to be universally updated in a timely manner like iPhones are).
 
BynoUK said:
The only way you'll ever be up to date on the OS is if you own a Nexus, that's kind of the deal unfortunately.
Click to expand...

And the problem here is that they don't seem to up to market on the hardware. Rumors I read today are the the Nexus 4 will not have an SD card (I don't think they ever do but anyway...) and only 16G of storage.

A no-brainer buy on my part would be a Nexus phone, with SD and at least 32GB of on-board storage. I want the SD for the ease of moving files around in-bulk if I don't have a cable (I admit that's not something I'd need to do too often). With enough on-board storage that would be a luxury really but with only 16GB built-in, it's more of a necessity.
 
With regards to 4.2 going by track record rooting is the way to go, otherwise by the time the s3 gets you'll be on to your next phone
 
well i know everyone wants to be on the latest firmware but with android being on tons of devices, by tons of manufacturers, and several different carriers with different overlays, its impossible to have the updates all come out at the same time. with the apple system, its only released on iphones, made by apple, and even their updates ruin older phones. i know several people with an iphone 4s, who updated to the ios6, and they all regret it. id rather them take time and make it good, ive used the leaked 4.1 releases and if half the people on here had them, every post would be problems
 
ICS itself is still a good version of Android, fully functional and capable. Why would you even bother messing your mind by expecting newer firmwares so fast? I know, there's always new features and we like to have them onboard, but mostly, what can you do with JB that you couldn't when your S3 was still on ICS? Sure, you now have Google Now and an "even smoother" phone, not that it wasn't on ICS, given the great hardware components of the phone. So, for me, enjoy your phone as it is.
 
motoracer1486 said:
Definitely the downside of Android and the upside of iOS.
Click to expand...

Completely disagree. We get the freedom of choice of hardware and ui. This is not a downside.

When a nexus gets a new version, its only half done. Its only half of what's on an s3 for example.

I really don't get what all the moaning is about
 
SUroot said:
Completely disagree. We get the freedom of choice of hardware and ui. This is not a downside.

When a nexus gets a new version, its only half done. Its only half of what's on an s3 for example.

I really don't get what all the moaning is about
Click to expand...

I'm not saying the freedom of choice of hardware and UI is the downside (this is why I chose to go with Android), I think that fragmentation is the downside. I feel that if a software update is available, it should be available for all phones. Look at Microsoft - if they have an OS update, every computer gets it no matter what manufacturer or specs it has (unless the old computer doesn't have the minimum required specs).

I don't get your reference to Nexus as I don't have one. What do you mean the Nexus only gets half done versions?

As for moaning about it - it doesn't bother me, I just would have thought Google would have come up with a better way of handling updates.
 
I don't see upgrade schedules as a plus for iOS because every new version is exactly the same as the old one. They never make any changes.

Proof (It's a little dated but still completely valid):

547937_385750244781529_899291632_n.jpg
 
Tman, I completely agree with you. But at the end of the day, all of the phones are getting the same upgrade at the same time.

Don't get me wrong, I chose Android for the superior OS. I just wish Google had a better uniform implementation of OS updates.
 
motoracer1486 said:
I feel that if a software update is available, it should be available for all phones. Look at Microsoft - if they have an OS update, every computer gets it no matter what manufacturer or specs it has (unless the old computer doesn't have the minimum required specs).
Click to expand...

See this is all wrong. Why should it be available for all phones?

1) all phones wont have the specs to run it. You picked up on this with the computer analogy.

2) just because the base OS is free, its actually not. Samsung, HTC, moto etc put lots of time and money into making their version of Android and their hardware a SELLING point for you. They give you a couple of major updates but they're not obliged to. Why would you buy another phone if you always got it updated for free? How would the manufacturer make money to invest in the development of their Android platform? This is what makes android develop so quickly.

If 4 people own a HTC evo, should HTC spend hundreds if thousands if dollars / pounds developing an upgrade for it? Its not Google who develop the release

3) can you get ios6 on an iPhone 3g?

4) lets not confuse major android releases (4.0 to 4.1) with incremental patches (4.0 to 4.0.1)

The SGS3 is on jellybean. It will get all the patches for jellybean. It will go from 4.1 to 4.1.9 or whatever, just like windows patches. You do not get windows 8 for free as an "update" so unfortunately the analogy falls over at this point. You say every computer gets and update whereas in truth, no computer gets it.e


motoracer1486 said:
I don't get your reference to Nexus as I don't have one. What do you mean the Nexus only gets half done versions?
Click to expand...

Its not that it gets half done versions. It gets full versions but then HTC, samsung etc add much more to it. This point was really in reference to those who say "nexus got jb 3 months ago. Why haven't we got it?". Often people don't understand how much time, money and effort goes into modifying android simply to work on a device, let alone making it your own I'm such a way it stands above the rest AND protect your work from theft


Comparing apple and Microsoft to android is like comparing apples and oranges.

Apple have like 3 iPhones getting ios 6 updates. Android have probably 100's getting jellybean. ...and they're not all the same. Yes we say they're all android devices but they're really much much more than just android. Each phone has sense, touchwiz, blur, timescape etc so its not even similar
 
SUroot said:
See this is all wrong. Why should it be available for all phones?

1) all phones wont have the specs to run it. You picked up on this with the computer analogy.

2) just because the base OS is free, its actually not. Samsung, HTC, moto etc put lots of time and money into making their version of Android and their hardware a SELLING point for you. They give you a couple of major updates but they're not obliged to. Why would you buy another phone if you always got it updated for free? How would the manufacturer make money to invest in the development of their Android platform? This is what makes android develop so quickly.

If 4 people own a HTC evo, should HTC spend hundreds if thousands if dollars / pounds developing an upgrade for it? Its not Google who develop the release

3) can you get ios6 on an iPhone 3g?

4) lets not confuse major android releases (4.0 to 4.1) with incremental patches (4.0 to 4.0.1)

The SGS3 is on jellybean. It will get all the patches for jellybean. It will go from 4.1 to 4.1.9 or whatever, just like windows patches. You do not get windows 8 for free as an "update" so unfortunately the analogy falls over at this point. You say every computer gets and update whereas in truth, no computer gets it.e




Its not that it gets half done versions. It gets full versions but then HTC, samsung etc add much more to it. This point was really in reference to those who say "nexus got jb 3 months ago. Why haven't we got it?". Often people don't understand how much time, money and effort goes into modifying android simply to work on a device, let alone making it your own I'm such a way it stands above the rest AND protect your work from theft


Comparing apple and Microsoft to android is like comparing apples and oranges.

Apple have like 3 iPhones getting ios 6 updates. Android have probably 100's getting jellybean. ...and they're not all the same. Yes we say they're all android devices but they're really much much more than just android. Each phone has sense, touchwiz, blur, timescape etc so its not even similar
Click to expand...


Not sure why you're getting so defensive. Just because we don't share the same opinion doesn't make mine wrong.

You're talking about all of the money going into the development...I'm simply stating that the way Android is setup, there is no way to have a universal OS update across the phones. I for one would like to see carriers stop adding their crap to the OS and just push updates directly from Google. This is the only reason it takes so long to get updates pushed out (outside of quality control).

There are many phones out there that are capable of handling JB, but since the manufacturer doesn't want to put the money into adding their crap into it, the phone owners won't ever get the update. I feel a phone should get the latest OS update as long as it has the specs to back it up.

You mentioned the iPhone 3G not getting the iOS 6 update...You're talking about a phone that's over 4 years old. I wouldn't expect a phone thats over 4 years old to be able to handle the latest OS.
 
android love it or leave it. we have options with android roms thanks to our developers. ill stay with android and modding my phone. have it your way
 
Forget about carriers. My point is Google don't push the updates. Samsung push them. Motorola push them. HTC push them. The only time Google push updates, it's to Google phones i.e nexus. If you want you want updates from Google, you have to have a Nexus.

This is the point. They are all "Android" but they're not really.

I don't expect free updates forever. I don't feel that samsung should waste money developing roms for my old s3 when I'm the only one who still has uses the phone. That money is best spent innovating.


Nothing else you own gets updates forever. Nit sure why you're picking on android. Your pc will be out of date shortly. The OS in your TV. ..Blu-ray player. Even your iPhone. Why expect nothing from anyone except your phone.

Symbian, windows phone, ios, android... ALL of them offer limited updates.

I'm not saying your opinion is wrong. I'm saying it's unreasonable.

Perhaps one day, someone will release a 3k android phone, which offers longer support but until you pay for it, you wont get it. You get what you pay for and we're not paying nearly enough to warrant 3, 4, 5 major updates. People massively underestimate the cost of development. Paying for the time, resources, skill....

Businesses aim to make a profit. Spending more money developing for a phone than was received as income for selling it is counter intuitive surely?
 
SUroot said:
Forget about carriers. My point is Google don't push the updates. Samsung push them. Motorola push them. HTC push them. The only time Google push updates, it's to Google phones i.e nexus. If you want you want updates from Google, you have to have a Nexus.

This is the point. They are all "Android" but they're not really.

I don't expect free updates forever. I don't feel that samsung should waste money developing roms for my old s3 when I'm the only one who still has uses the phone. That money is best spent innovating.


Nothing else you own gets updates forever. Nit sure why you're picking on android. Your pc will be out of date shortly. The OS in your TV. ..Blu-ray player. Even your iPhone. Why expect nothing from anyone except your phone.

Symbian, windows phone, ios, android... ALL of them offer limited updates.

I'm not saying your opinion is wrong. I'm saying it's unreasonable.

Perhaps one day, someone will release a 3k android phone, which offers longer support but until you pay for it, you wont get it. You get what you pay for and we're not paying nearly enough to warrant 3, 4, 5 major updates. People massively underestimate the cost of development. Paying for the time, resources, skill....

Businesses aim to make a profit. Spending more money developing for a phone than was received as income for selling it is counter intuitive surely?
Click to expand...
I'm not asking for lifetime updates, but I do expect a phone that's a year or two old to get the latest updates.

I get updates on many devices whether they are free or not, but at least I have a choice to upgrade them...Nest, DVD/Bluray player, AV Receiver, Logitech remote, DVR, computer, TV, etc.

You make it seem that you should get the OS that comes with your device and never expect an update for it. THAT seems unreasonable to me to be honest.

Wireless companies are making BANK of smartphones, it's nice to know you're still feeling sorry for them because they have to invest money to stay current.
 
Its a mutually beneficial relationship. They make profit, we get the advances in tech we want.

Your updates stop for everything.

Yes I am saying you shouldn't expect an update to a new os. Bug fixes, sure they're important. A whole new OS? Its a luxury not a requirement.

Do I like we get updates? Sure but it would be unreasonable for me to EXPECT them. For free.

A handset is only financially viable whilst its selling and a short time after for good will.

You forget they are a business. Its not about feeling sorry for them. Its about not expecting a huge corporation to put their hand in their pocket to give you something for free that they don't need to give you.

There is no contract saying "we'll update you". There's nothing even remotely hinting you'll get an update on any of these companies literature or marketing before a new os is released so why would you buy a handset expecting updates when no one even said there would be any?! Thats what I don't understand.


Almost everything that gets updates, is for money. Linux -open source operating system. Free? To you maybe but people are paying them for it. Sure some of them are doing it out of the goodness of their own heart's. But then the updates are smaller. Slower to release.

When your blu-ray gets and update, its fixing a couple of bugs here and there. So you don't feel you bought a piece of crap, you'll buy your next one from them too. This is only financially viable for a short time.

My blu ray, tv, NAS are all no longer receiving updates. Even when they were, it wasn't completely been revisions of an OS. Patches, fixes..



Edit. Why do you keep mentioning carriers and wireless companies? They're nothing to do with this argument. This is about android and handset manufacturers. Networks and operators and carriers are irrelevant
 
SUroot said:
Its a mutually beneficial relationship. They make profit, we get the advances in tech we want.

Your updates stop for everything.

Yes I am saying you shouldn't expect an update to a new os. Bug fixes, sure they're important. A whole new OS? Its a luxury not a requirement.

Do I like we get updates? Sure but it would be unreasonable for me to EXPECT them. For free.

A handset is only financially viable whilst its selling and a short time after for good will.

You forget they are a business. Its not about feeling sorry for them. Its about not expecting a huge corporation to put their hand in their pocket to give you something for free that they don't need to give you.

There is no contract saying "we'll update you". There's nothing even remotely hinting you'll get an update on any of these companies literature or marketing before a new os is released so why would you buy a handset expecting updates when no one even said there would be any?! Thats what I don't understand.


Almost everything that gets updates, is for money. Linux -open source operating system. Free? To you maybe but people are paying them for it. Sure some of them are doing it out of the goodness of their own heart's. But then the updates are smaller. Slower to release.

When your blu-ray gets and update, its fixing a couple of bugs here and there. So you don't feel you bought a piece of crap, you'll buy your next one from them too. This is only financially viable for a short time.

My blu ray, tv, NAS are all no longer receiving updates. Even when they were, it wasn't completely been revisions of an OS. Patches, fixes..



Edit. Why do you keep mentioning carriers and wireless companies? They're nothing to do with this argument. This is about android and handset manufacturers. Networks and operators and carriers are irrelevant
Click to expand...
Why do you keep saying I expect updates to be free? Did I ever say that? :pound:
 
Buying your handset buys you an update or two. Even though its not publicised, that's what we're talking about. When you've had those updates, your credit has ran out. Any thing you expect after your credit has ran out, is expected for free.

Or you'd rather we all paid more for a device? So we Invest more credit, ergo more updates? Seems logical but then when our hardware dies, we lose that "credit".
 
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