i really don't understand why ANDROID updates are so few and far between and out at different times per phone and carrier. Could someone please explain why this is. This is the only annoying thing about Android and really wish they would fix this!!
It has to do with the carriers and hardware. Android moves at a fast pace and carriers have no reason to update you. They put their own UI on them to make themselves different and that is a lot of why they can't simple flash the stock latest and greatest android version. Either root your device(I root day one if I can) so you can get the updates through the moding community or stick with the Nexus line of devices as Google will update these because they have a vanilla android os.
Rooting is not for everyone as it can brick your phone if you don't do your homework and mess up. If you do end up rooting you will never go back to stock as it gives you full control over your hardware but do your homework before tweeking anything you don't understand as rooting usually voids you warranty.
I personnally like being able to remove all bloatware and marking from the manufacturer/carrier and make the phone mine.
Yeah like said, the problem with Android isn't Google, its the manufacturer/carrier. Google rolls out a new version of Android about every 6 months. However, for non nexus devices, you'll see a skinned version of the update about one year later, at earliest.
I love my galaxy nexus. Even though its verizion and they take forever to update, the Modding community has a version out about 24 hours after GSM.
Get a nexus device and be happy.
Google are quick on updates, no delays.
Also.. USA sucks for their carrier system. I enjoy my phones unlocked and not branded and bloated from the carriers. <3
Google is getting really pissed at the vendors... They have been hinting that they are working on ways to "lay the smack down"... It is totally unacceptable that most android phones are NOT running version 4. Google has stated that vendors have been giving an Android 4 rom for EVERY device. The fault is NOT with google. It's with the greedy vendors.
We will see what Google does to fix this.
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googles gonna bring the pimp hand out? sounds fun to watch
I have a galaxy s2 on sprint and i always have like 10 notifications of spam from them. gets really irritating!!
I would say throw Cyanogenmod on your S2 and manually update when needed. No hassle.
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I'm going to be getting a Galaxy S3 pretty soon from verizon, so hopefully I won't have to deal with a bunch of spam, but I guess I'll just have to wait and find out.
Having a Samsung Vibrant was the worst experience I've ever had in the smartphone industry. I just bought a Samsung Galaxy S3 and my fears are gone. I don't think anyone will be able to match this phone for a long time. 4.0 is amazing and this phone is super fast.
Android 4.1 on Nexus devices rivals S3 and others. So sofware can always make anyhardware better.
Google has added some new systems to help manufacures push out updates quicker. Better debugging and giving them code early.
I'm just glad that my S2 was unlocked when I bought it. The funny thing is that at that time, I didn't know what "unlocked" means in terms of mobile phone devices definition until I looked it up myself.
simple thing for ya here, unlock/root/ROM your phone chances are youl get a more powerful android device before the companies actually release the firmware, and devs are more supportive of there followers and know a lot more than the companies head over to XDA, look for your device do a big of reading you will be clued up in no time!
just got my s3 on verizon it is amazing and loveing it so far i will post a review after i have had more time with it. The 4G is amazing speed test was 18 mbps down 19 mbps up
if you got a verizon qeustion just ask me, I work there as a call rep so I can help you with pretty much anything
Will do
Android rules like everyone said the problem isn OEMS and Carriers they dont like updates and it puts a hurtin on us as users im just glad im a dev on xda and contributed to the unlockin on the VZW GS3 bootloader. Samsung is a good OEM they release source on time with device releases and they update regularly the problem is VZW and Sprint and other Carriers want u to do what they want JUST LIKE APPLE hence the looked bootloader ONLY on the VZW GS3 then they decided to release a developer edition just to charge custys 700 just to have an unlocked device Android is awesome but OEMS need to ride Carriers to push updates
It's a mixture of OEMs and carriers that really make it a shit show. If you look online the international version of every phone gets updated in atleast a semi timely manner usually (still slower than it should be) the the idiot carriers wants their bloatware shit on their custom version because ooh they have to be different (I heard Verizon demands 5 and only 5 homescreens). US carriers are awful we need to follow Europe more closely.
I really wish that Google would go open source for Android so that way all Google has to do is say, "Hey, we just created this new source code for an improved ROM. Here guys, take it and run!" That'd be awesome. But seeing how there is so much red tape to achieve that, not to mention the profit loss that would happen, it'd probably never happen. I'm going to continue to enjoy my rooted HTC Inspire 4G running (4.0.1) Ice Cream Sandwich. Definitely going to update to 4.1 when it happens for my device! XD
Android has always been open source: http://source.android.com/