Develop Bugs

Why does the Android update system suck compared to iOS?

I don't understand why Android is such a pain in the ass to update? yakju vs. yakjuxw!? Samsung vs. Google? Some people getting 4.0.2 a month ago and some people still not having it!?
With iOS everybody gets the update at the same time and it's simple as pie. You're not going to see one person checking for an update and receiving it and another person checking for an update and showing "Your system is currently up to date." You're not going to see two identical phones from the same area on the same network showing two different status's.
What's crazy is that there are a LOT more iOS devices than there are Android 4 devices so if anything you would expect Apple to be forces to stagger updates! Why is it Google that needs to do this? Maybe I'm just venting b/c 4.0.3 is around the corner and my device is still stuck on 4.0.1. Just doesn't make sense to me.

The update for 4.0.2 was halted. That's why you haven't received it.
http://www.xda-developers.com/android/android-4-0-2-ota-update-for-galaxy-nexus-rolling-out-again/
OTAs are now back in effect.
Not to mention iOS is only on LITTLE amounts of devices. All these devices are unified and share the same features and specs. All iPhone 4S are identical, iPhone 4 identical, and so forth.
Android is open to all so there are more devices. Nexus devices are handled by Google (yakju, mysid). Manufacturers handle their own phones (Galaxy S2, RAZR, etc) and apply their own skins delaying OTAs.
Not to mention ICS is only on <2% of Android versions. You should be lucky that you're running Android 4.0+ you won't even notice much as it's optimization and bug fixes behind the scene. If it bothers you, flash a custom ROM with 4.0.3 on it.

Calm yourself. They stagger updates to prevent widespread bug issues. It also keeps the servers from being overloaded like what happens with iOS updates (takes hours to download and update). Also, iOS updates are done through the computer and not OTA.
You'll get the updates when you get them. If you dont want to take matters into your own hands and flash the updates manually, then dont complain. Its really as simple as that. I just got my 4.0.2 update yesterday. Type *#*#CHECKIN#*#* into your dialer and see if that helps push the update

spitefulcheerio said:
Calm yourself. They stagger updates to prevent widespread bug issues. It also keeps the servers from being overloaded like what happens with iOS updates (takes hours to download and update). Also, iOS updates are done through the computer and not OTA.
You'll get the updates when you get them. If you dont want to take matters into your own hands and flash the updates manually, then dont complain. Its really as simple as that. I just got my 4.0.2 update yesterday. Type *#*#CHECKIN#*#* into your dialer and see if that helps push the update
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iOS can be done OTA now.. http://www.macworld.com/article/163526/2011/11/hands_on_with_ios_over_the_air_updates.html

It doesn't matter who updates your device and if you have yakju or yakjuux. Everyone gets updates.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

zephiK said:
The update for 4.0.2 was halted.
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Its rolling out again

spitefulcheerio said:
Its rolling out again
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Yeah I edited my post again to say it's in effect again. I linked the article but forgot to mention that. Thanks.

zephiK said:
The update for 4.0.2 was halted. That's why you haven't received it.
http://www.xda-developers.com/android/android-4-0-2-ota-update-for-galaxy-nexus-rolling-out-again/
OTAs are now back in effect.
Not to mention iOS is only on LITTLE amounts of devices. All these devices are unified and share the same features and specs. All iPhone 4S are identical, iPhone 4 identical, and so forth.
Android is open to all so there are more devices. Nexus devices are handled by Google (yakju, mysid). Manufacturers handle their own phones (Galaxy S2, RAZR, etc) and apply their own skins delaying OTAs.
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I understand the update was halted but even when its not, it takes weeks to get out to everyone
iOS 5 was updated on a LOTTTTT more devices than Android 4.0.2.
I didn't ask about manufacturer skin updated, I'm only talking about the Nexus device right now (in particular the Galaxy Nexus). Being that Google and Samsung are updating it for everyone, why is it taking so damn long to update!? Everyone should be able to update at the same time and as they wish (like iOS). Being that manufacturers are all doing their own updates, there won't be anywhere CLOSE to as many Android devices updating at any given time as there are iOS devices which are all always on the same OS and updated simultaneously.
spitefulcheerio said:
Calm yourself. They stagger updates to prevent widespread bug issues. It also keeps the servers from being overloaded like what happens with iOS updates (takes hours to download and update). Also, iOS updates are done through the computer and not OTA.
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What's the difference if there are bug issues on some devices or all devices?! Either way they're gonna have to be fixed. Official updates aren't released until after testing for a reason!
Apple servers may overload on iOS updates but that just forces users to wait a few hours...not a few weeks! I don't see how that's a bad thing at all. Also, iOS updates have had the option to update OTA since iOS5 was released.

spitefulcheerio said:
I just got my 4.0.2 update yesterday. Type *#*#CHECKIN#*#* into your dialer and see if that helps push the update
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Thanks just tried that but didn't help

NextNexus said:
What's the difference is there are bug issues on some devices or all devices?! Either way they're gonna have to be fixed. Official updates aren't released until after testing for a reason!
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Is that a serious question? If you have a bug on 10,000 devices it is immensely easier to take care of than a bug on 100,000 devices. Updates aren't released until after testing but bugs still get out. Look at iOS with their awesome battery bug that got out.

joshnichols189 said:
Is that a serious question? If you have a bug on 10,000 devices it is immensely easier to take care of than a bug on 100,000 devices. Updates aren't released until after testing but bugs still get out. Look at iOS with their awesome battery bug that got out.
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Once again, it's a lot harder to take care of if you're updating devices over multiple weeks. If devices could be updated within a matter of hours it wouldn't be harder to take care of at all. All comes back to the same issue.

joshnichols189 said:
Is that a serious question? If you have a bug on 10,000 devices it is immensely easier to take care of than a bug on 100,000 devices. Updates aren't released until after testing but bugs still get out. Look at iOS with their awesome battery bug that got out.
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+infinity
Google is being smarting updating in waves and seeing what each new wave brings. Then the next wave contains the little fixes like what recently happened with 4.0.2. Really, the only official updates would be 4.1, 4.2, ect. 4.0.x updates technically aren't "official" big updates

NextNexus said:
I understand the update was halted but even when its not, it takes weeks to get out to everyone
iOS 5 was updated on a LOTTTTT more devices than Android 4.0.2.
I didn't ask about manufacturer skin updated, I'm only talking about the Nexus device right now (in particular the Galaxy Nexus). Being that Google and Samsung are updating it for everyone, why is it taking so damn long to update!? Everyone should be able to update at the same time and as they wish (like iOS). Being that manufacturers are all doing their own updates, there won't be anywhere CLOSE to as many Android devices updating at any given time as there are iOS devices which are all always on the same OS and updated simultaneously.
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That's what a OTA is, it's "Over the Air" it rolls out in batches.
If everybody got the update all at the same time then downloads for the file would be significantly slower. That's why we have XDA, people obtain the download link before actually accepting it and share it. By sharing it, we can get the link and apply it manually.
All the OTA simply does is tell your phone, "hey heres the download link.. click this and it'll download" http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1419170
Google undergoes a lot of tests to bugfix their updates. After these tests are done and verified as stable, they release it in batches via OTA. These batches are like beta testers, and they will beta test it. If all is good, it will go to the next batch and slowly expand that way.
Not to mention, 4.0.2 was released on Google's website with STOCK IMAGES. You could of applied this yourself and have 4.0.2. Don't complain if you're unwilling to take control of your phone's updates when the resources are there to manually update your phone to 4.0.2 or even 4.0.3.
And you never said Galaxy Nexus, you called out the whole Android OS. You compared Android OS to iOS (hence "Android update system" compared to "iOS"). It a simple fact that manufacturer skins delay OTAs because they have to waste time and money to port their skins onto the new update.
All I'm saying is that the sources to update your phone are there. You can't say it "sucks" when the links and tools are out there but you don't want to manually update it. Instead you want a popup saying its available for your phone. Manually updating your phone doesn't affect future OTAs.
Edit: here's the link that the OTA would give you..... http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=21320324&postcount=82
manually flash it in stock recovery (or CWR.. shouldn't matter).
All the OTA is a simple popup saying update is here, click here to get it. It's simply just spoon feeding you the link. It's the same exact file you'd get from the OTA.

zephiK said:
That's what a OTA is, it's "Over the Air" it rolls out in batches.
If everybody got the update all at the same time then downloads for the file would be significantly slower. That's why we have XDA, people obtain the download link before actually accepting it and share it. By sharing it, we can get the link and apply it manually.
All the OTA simply does is tell your phone, "hey heres the download link.. click this and it'll download" http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1419170
Google undergoes a lot of tests to bugfix their updates. After these tests are done and verified as stable, they release it in batches via OTA. These batches are like beta testers, and they will beta test it. If all is good, it will go to the next batch and slowly expand that way.
Not to mention, 4.0.2 was released on Google's website with STOCK IMAGES. You could of applied this yourself and have 4.0.2. Don't complain if you're unwilling to take control of your phone's updates when the resources are there to manually update your phone to 4.0.2 or even 4.0.3.
And you never said Galaxy Nexus, you called out the whole Android OS. You compared Android OS to iOS (hence "Android update system" compared to "iOS"). It a simple fact that manufacturer skins delay OTAs because they have to waste time and money to port their skins onto the new update.
All I'm saying is that the sources to update your phone are there. You can't say it "sucks" when the links and tools are out there but you don't want to manually update it. Instead you want a popup saying its available for your phone. Manually updating your phone doesn't affect future OTAs.
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Fair enough...I should have said Nexus vs. iOS b/c that's the only fair comparison. And are you saying if I direct my device to the appropriate link in the thread you posted that my phone will update? If it's that easy then I stand corrected...otherwise, I stand by what I said.

NextNexus said:
Fair enough...I should have said Nexus vs. iOS b/c that's the only fair comparison. And are you saying if I direct my device to the appropriate link in the thread you posted that my phone will update? If it's that easy then I stand corrected...otherwise, I stand by what I said.
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Yes I just editted my post with the link that the OTA would give you. Someone obtained it with a logcat (or app that keeps track of what goes behind the scene).
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=21320324&postcount=82 just manually flash it. If you use stock recovery then rename the file to update.zip and put it in the root of your sdcard.
Edit: and if you're rooted... https://market.android.com/details?...m9yZy5wcm9qZWN0dm9vZG9vLm90YXJvb3RrZWVwZXIiXQ.. use that to keep root.

the obvious answer to this thread is that apple is one company that controls everything. this nexus has two companies involved, each wanting to do updates for one of the versions. dont ask me why this is, but its easy to see how this type of setup could not be optimal.

Haha well I just went to check for updates and lo and behold 4.0.2 was FINALLY there! Irony at it's finest...updating now.

NextNexus said:
Haha well I just went to check for updates and lo and behold 4.0.2 was FINALLY there! Irony at it's finest...updating now.
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Yeah mine just came through as well... I have to say, barring updates being halted (very rare occurrence from Google btw), they always say and allow themselve a couple of weeks, but I have always gotten my update within about 4-5 days of first reports, and usually within a day or two.
And having lived through the past few generations of both Android phones (mine) and iPhones (my sisters), there really isn't too much difference (except up until iOS5 a few months ago she had to sit around a computer). Sure she might get them that night, but it takes her literally ~5-6 hours because everyone is rushing to download it, when within a day or two I usually have it.
What is truly annoying is when you are on a non-Google Experience device (AKA G1, Nexus line, Xoom, etc are Google Experience, almost everything else is not), and waiting 4-infinity months for your upgrade because of BOTH custom overlays AND carrier testing/bloat.
The beauty of Android that is not and will not be open to iPhones is that we have extremely capable devs who watch the AOSP repositories like hawks to bring everyone the latest and greatest they can, in near real-time, direct from Google engineers. On iOS one has to wait until the carefully controlled dev releases get pushed out from the magic garden to get a sneak peek.

s.m.knipe said:
Yeah mine just came through as well... I have to say, barring updates being halted (very rare occurrence from Google btw), they always say and allow themselve a couple of weeks, but I have always gotten my update within about 4-5 days of first reports, and usually within a day or two.
And having lived through the past few generations of both Android phones (mine) and iPhones (my sisters), there really isn't too much difference (except up until iOS5 a few months ago she had to sit around a computer). Sure she might get them that night, but it takes her literally ~5-6 hours because everyone is rushing to download it, when within a day or two I usually have it.
What is truly annoying is when you are on a non-Google Experience device (AKA G1, Nexus line, Xoom, etc are Google Experience, almost everything else is not), and waiting 4-infinity months for your upgrade because of BOTH custom overlays AND carrier testing/bloat.
The beauty of Android that is not and will not be open to iPhones is that we have extremely capable devs who watch the AOSP repositories like hawks to bring everyone the latest and greatest they can, in near real-time, direct from Google engineers. On iOS one has to wait until the carefully controlled dev releases get pushed out from the magic garden to get a sneak peek.
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Not sure what is wrong with your sisters internet but I've never had to wait 5-6 hours for an iOS update to download on the day it came out. My biggest issue with the roll out is that there is no communication from Google at all. The users had to figure out that the update was halted only after nobody reported an update for a few weeks.

All in honesty though. Seeing that the OTAs was back in progress since late last night. And considering it hasn't been 24 hours, I think this voids the idea that "Android system updates suck" even if you don't manually flash the update.
I just think it's a lack of announcement on Google's part on announcing the halt of 4.0.2 where I only read that there was a halt on 4.0.3 for Nexus S.
@s.m.knipe: Agreed with manufacturer skins. Try using a Galaxy S where Samsung will refuse to update Galaxy S, a best-seller phone because it cannot fit because of TouchWiz... or all of these other manufacturers releasing phones (CES 2011) with Gingerbread. The only non-Nexus device manufacturer I trust will be ASUS because they come out with timely fashioned updates. Be grateful you're running ICS in the first place.

Wishing Google and Verizon were a bit more communicative about updates

I like Android more than iphone but at least with iPhone you usually know some of the fixes that are in the works.
I don't know if a radio fix is coming with the next OTA update
I don't knonw when (if) I'll see an update for the Verizon Galaxy Nexus - I'm pretty sure I will but who is to say 100% other than Verizon or Android - tons of rumors like the 4.04 update and the 4.05 update etc but nothing concrete.
I suppose I'm kind of *****in but I'm also pretty sure they could make ALL of their clients happier if they released SOME info. E.g. a radio fix is in the works... or we'll have 4.04 for Verizon customers within 2 months - anything is better than nothing even if they don't' go into tremendous specfics.
Just my opinion of course.

boe said:
I like Android more than iphone but at least with iPhone you usually know some of the fixes that are in the works.
I don't know if a radio fix is coming with the next OTA update
I don't knonw when (if) I'll see an update for the Verizon Galaxy Nexus - I'm pretty sure I will but who is to say 100% other than Verizon or Android - tons of rumors like the 4.04 update and the 4.05 update etc but nothing concrete.
I suppose I'm kind of *****in but I'm also pretty sure they could make ALL of their clients happier if they released SOME info. E.g. a radio fix is in the works... or we'll have 4.04 for Verizon customers within 2 months - anything is better than nothing even if they don't' go into tremendous specfics.
Just my opinion of course.
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We can always wish, but it has never been that way for any other device, so why would it change now?

Ive often wondered why they cant give us generic montly statements or something. Put an intern on it or something. 5 min of time once a month from an intern would be so easy.

boe said:
I like Android more than iphone but at least with iPhone you usually know some of the fixes that are in the works.
I don't know if a radio fix is coming with the next OTA update
I don't knonw when (if) I'll see an update for the Verizon Galaxy Nexus - I'm pretty sure I will but who is to say 100% other than Verizon or Android - tons of rumors like the 4.04 update and the 4.05 update etc but nothing concrete.
I suppose I'm kind of *****in but I'm also pretty sure they could make ALL of their clients happier if they released SOME info. E.g. a radio fix is in the works... or we'll have 4.04 for Verizon customers within 2 months - anything is better than nothing even if they don't' go into tremendous specfics.
Just my opinion of course.
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I feel the same way.

RogerPodacter said:
Ive often wondered why they cant give us generic montly statements or something. Put an intern on it or something. 5 min of time once a month from an intern would be so easy.
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That would be fantastic. Even if it said this month - update coming in June - that would be better than me hoping I might find a rumor that might seem credible. Then I'd know where to get genuine news relating to my device on MY carrier.

I am a looong time nexus user and I dont wish this anymore because I know it wont happend. Google works this way.
The only more or less "sure" thing is that when they say that it will be released in a couple of week is because it is already deployed in most employees devices for a long test and it will in fact be released in 2-3 weeks.

Google works this way because they don't have a ETA for when things are complete.
That's like saying telling CyanogenMod that you want more communication between them and the users so that they can post a timeline on when RC1/RC2 will be complete etc.
Things are just done when they're done.

RogerPodacter said:
Ive often wondered why they cant give us generic montly statements or something. Put an intern on it or something. 5 min of time once a month from an intern would be so easy.
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Because...when something goes wrong, and they do not make their timeline, people would throw a fit, even more than they do now.

As others have mentioned, expecting any sort of ETA is completely unreasonable.
But honestly, this whole upgrade experience has been pretty underwhelming for two reasons: lack of communication and very slow speed. The volume bug -- a completely show-stopping bug -- took two weeks for a fix. I highly doubt it would take Apple that long to issue a software fix for such a serious bug. Sorry to bring Apple into the discussion, but it's true.
Not to mention that it's taken Google FIVE months to get NFC to be fully functional...
At the end of the day, having relatively quick updates of stock Android will probably keep me with Nexus devices, but an advertised and guaranteed monthly status update? That would be a killer USP. The silence between 4.0.2 and 4.0.4 was absolutely terrible.

boe said:
I like Android more than iphone but at least with iPhone you usually know some of the fixes that are in the works.
I don't know if a radio fix is coming with the next OTA update
I don't knonw when (if) I'll see an update for the Verizon Galaxy Nexus - I'm pretty sure I will but who is to say 100% other than Verizon or Android - tons of rumors like the 4.04 update and the 4.05 update etc but nothing concrete.
I suppose I'm kind of *****in but I'm also pretty sure they could make ALL of their clients happier if they released SOME info. E.g. a radio fix is in the works... or we'll have 4.04 for Verizon customers within 2 months - anything is better than nothing even if they don't' go into tremendous specfics.
Just my opinion of course.
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Yes it sounds great, but it would just make things worse.
People would be exponentially more angry if they gave progress reports and they didn't go where people wanted. They'd complain even more because they'd know it wasn't fixing the way they wanted it to be fixed. And as soon as they promise a timetable and are unable to deliver, all hell would break loose. Either that, or they give a timetable too far in the future to keep from hurting themselves, and people complain the timetable is too far out.
Google and Verizon aren't just sitting on their asses doing nothing. They're working. Its downright insulting saying that Google isn't working hard on these updates. Just be patient ffs.

martonikaj said:
Yes it sounds great, but it would just make things worse.
People would be exponentially more angry if they gave progress reports and they didn't go where people wanted. They'd complain even more because they'd know it wasn't fixing the way they wanted it to be fixed. And as soon as they promise a timetable and are unable to deliver, all hell would break loose. Either that, or they give a timetable too far in the future to keep from hurting themselves, and people complain the timetable is too far out.
Google and Verizon aren't just sitting on their asses doing nothing. They're working. Its downright insulting saying that Google isn't working hard on these updates. Just be patient ffs.
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Agreed. Also with Google (or the manufacturer doing updates) it has to be approved by the carrier UNLESS you're using the GSM model of Galaxy Nexus which is independent of any carrier.
This is from a news article I read yesterday,
“HTC has delivered a ROM to us however it is still having issues the reason that other sensation types have the update without issue and ours did not come out that way is because every ROM must be adapted to the hardware of the device because we use a different radio than other providers and also have applications such as wifi calling it also has to be compatible with those. What the HTC rep told you is most likely correct because once a ROM is delivered we have 2 weeks to test it and then approve it or send it back they then have 4 weeks to fix the bugs and return it back to us, where we are exactly in that process I do not know but that is how a ROM is delivered to the customer.
The original ROM was not delivered to us in November, we started testing it just recently but I think it has been longer than 2 weeks so at this point HTC most likely has the ball.
You bought a phone and it has been announced that you are getting ICS you have every right to know what’s going on with it and when you can see these awesome features. I did go into a lot of detail about how a ROM gets to the end user (you guys) but that wasn’t to point fingers only so you would have a better understanding of why you don’t have it yet, the bottom line is the Sensation has T-Mobile’s and HTC’s name all over it and both companies want to make you proud to be a Sensation owner so we are working as fast as we can to deliver it but also want to make sure that it stands up to your expectations.”
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tl;dr it says that, the ROM that HTC made didn't meet T-Mobile's expectations and has to be fixed by HTC... then sent to T-Mobile to test the ROM equalizing MORE delay
I know OP has Verizon, but that's kind of your fault for using Verizon. We all know how it is when it comes to Verizon and keeping a tight control over their phones. I personally don't consider Galaxy Nexus (LTE) to be a "Nexus" device. It comes bloated with VZW apps, Verizon has to approve the update by Google, Factory images are no longer uploaded, etc.
Kind of off-topic but I'd love to see the idea of Google buying T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom (owners of T-Mobile USA) then we would never have to worry about carriers trying to keep a tight grip on their phones. Not to mention then tight integration between Google services such as Google Voice would be tightly integrated between the carrier and Google services. Just a dream of mines.

Oh lord. Not another 'The Verizon Nexus is not a Nexus device' comment.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA

adrynalyne said:
Because...when something goes wrong, and they do not make their timeline, people would throw a fit, even more than they do now.
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But I'm not asking for an eta or timeline. Just something like "here's what we're doing this month, or even this quarter."

adrynalyne said:
Oh lord. Not another 'The Verizon Nexus is not a Nexus device' comment.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA
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Yea, everyone knows true Nexus devices only come with half the storage space and only on less desirable carriers.

TiltedAz said:
Yea, everyone knows true Nexus devices only come with half the storage space and only on less desirable carriers.
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Ah, my bad

I'm gonna guess the OTA will come with the white 16 gig version on April 5th, and that the white Gnexs will come with 4.0.5 loaded. Just a hunch. The rumors have been early April, so on Thursday or that weekend is my guess.

Well, I don't know about everyone else, but my "fake" Nexus has had 4.0.4 for a long time now. I've seen 2 updates since I bought my Nexus (fairly early after release). Not EVERY update comes via OTA. The Nexus line has ALWAYS been like this. At any rate, my 3 month old "fake and unsupported" Nexus has already seen more updates than my Vibrant ever did.
As far as GSM users complaining over updates, shut up. Your phones didn't need the updates that Google implemented for the CDMA version. I don't want fixes for a phone that isn't mine. I don't want Google releasing something that isn't ready. Radio issues are up to Samsung and the carrier, not Google. Stop whining about Google. Stop thinking Google is the hold up. Google isn't the hold up. Samsung is the hold up. If you have a CDMA version, blame Samsung and Verizon. If you're GSM, place the blame where it largely belongs, on Samsung.
For some reason 80% of people on this forum seem to think that Nexus means that you get an update every month or something like that. Like we should be on 4.1.7 by now or something like that. It's the most insanely retarded community I think I've ever seen in my life.

As a member of the choir and a Verizon customer for12 years
.....
Keep preaching.

TiltedAz said:
Yea, everyone knows true Nexus devices only come with half the storage space and only on less desirable carriers.
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Verizon is a less-desirable carrier for me. Just sayin'.

boe said:
I like Android more than iphone but at least with iPhone you usually know some of the fixes that are in the works.
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and since when do you know about iphone updates before release? Apple is the most secretive tech company ever. They only comment on issues when they get really out of hand and media goes all over it (like the recent address book privacy issues or the better known antennagate).
iOS does have private betas though, which is kinda the equivalent of aosp for android in terms of release schedules. aosp 4.0.4 >>> 8 months >>> oem 4.0.4 updates

Is Verizon pushing lollipop yet?

I have seen articles where two people got the update. Some threads show people have it...My phone says i'm up to date. Can I get the official word?
These are reasons Apple is better than Android. They release an update and within a week 80+% of devices in the wild have taken the update. My two year contracts be up on Droid's before I get updated. Really sucks. Not sure why Google can't get the power over the carriers like Apple has.

EVOme said:
I have seen articles where two people got the update. Some threads show people have it...My phone says i'm up to date. Can I get the official word?
These are reasons Apple is better than Android. They release an update and within a week 80+% of devices in the wild have taken the update. My two year contracts be up on Droid's before I get updated. Really sucks. Not sure why Google can't get the power over the carriers like Apple has.
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Let's not start the Apple vs Android thing here but know that Verizon controls it, not Google (nor does Apple control Google..).
I duno if Verizon released the update officially but if they did, it should show on their website. Also, it's usually waves so one guy might get the update and you will the next day.

BWolf56 said:
Let's not start the Apple vs Android thing here but know that Verizon controls it, not Google (nor does Apple control Google..).
I duno if Verizon released the update officially but if they did, it should show on their website. Also, it's usually waves so one guy might get the update and you will the next day.
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I'm starting it just sucks is all. Not comparing devices. Makes no sense I'm asking for the latest OS on a device that will be replaced by a newer model in a couple months. You blame Verizon, so I ask how is it that Apple is able to get OS' pushed to their devices the day they release to the public, but Google has a year plus fight to get a release pushed down. Hell, they released 5.1 and I bet less than 50% of their devices in the wild have 5.0

EVOme said:
I'm starting it just sucks is all. Not comparing devices. Makes no sense I'm asking for the latest OS on a device that will be replaced by a newer model in a couple months. You blame Verizon, so I ask how is it that Apple is able to get OS' pushed to their devices the day they release to the public, but Google has a year plus fight to get a release pushed down. Hell, they released 5.1 and I bet less than 50% of their devices in the wild have 5.0
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Ok, you do realize that Android is on a crazy amount of different device from different company? The OS needs to be update/adapted to every single variant there is = Takes time! Apple has to deal with their products only, which is much easier. So yeah, therefore pushing updates faster across all Iphones.
Now I do agree with you that it sucks to wait for updates longer than others but you phone is working right, isn't it? And it won't become bad cause a new model was released. Afaik, that new model will be running the same version of android as your device when it gets updated (which should be quite soon if it's not up already).
If you really want instant updates, grab a Nexus, which is Google's line. You'd get the updates just as fast as Iphones get theirs. Oh and it never takes a year for Google to release updates? Unless it's on a very very old device.

BWolf56 said:
Ok, you do realize that Android is on a crazy amount of different device from different company? The OS needs to be update/adapted to every single variant there is = Takes time! Apple has to deal with their products only, which is much easier. So yeah, therefore pushing updates faster across all Iphones.
Now I do agree with you that it sucks to wait for updates longer than others but you phone is working right, isn't it? And it won't become bad cause a new model was released. Afaik, that new model will be running the same version of android as your device when it gets updated (which should be quite soon if it's not up already).
If you really want instant updates, grab a Nexus, which is Google's line. You'd get the updates just as fast as Iphones get theirs. Oh and it never takes a year for Google to release updates? Unless it's on a very very old device.
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Makes sense...I buy new phones as soon as they come out, so the G3s days are numbered, so is my N4.

Why is this phone so slow to receive updates?

I recently got the a520f after a few years with the iPhone. I was happy enough but then released there is 2 roms, 1 in alpha and another which is abandoned then noticed the updates from Samsung are sparse at best.
I'm unlocked in UK and stuck on 6.0.1, they "used" to say unlocked got updates first, noticed the way I said "used to" because carriers seem to be releasing 7.0 before unlocked, and while on the point 7.0 at this stage when Oreo will soon be released, even bringing the phone out with 7.0 would have been slow when 7.1 was available.
I am thinking I have made the wrong decision with the a520, Samsung are slow with updates anyway yes but the a520 seems to be at the bottom of Samsungs list of priorities. Last years a510 even has 7 for a while now.

hi !
Yes ,all people here want updates with another android version but i think that the most important thing is to enjoy with this phone :
it's a device with MM6 have enought power for to play game , it have the best super amoled screen ,it have a fabulous battery life ! , a fingerprints and "near" 20 differents sensors ,he have a good modem and hardware for 4G , this MM + sansung adds have all useful functions and parameters ....and the middle economic mode is impressive for the battery life...

The phone is receiving updates slowly cause the phone has owners all around the world, it's probably to make sure that OTA servers are not overloaded. Imagine what would happen if they released it at the same time for the whole world, the servers couldn't deliver acceptable speeds. That's just my guess though.

Nah, Samsung kinda sucks. I mean they couldnt make a proper working fingerprint sensor on stock MM, had to install nougat for the bloody thing to work.

aoyanagi said:
The phone is receiving updates slowly cause the phone has owners all around the world, it's probably to make sure that OTA servers are not overloaded. Imagine what would happen if they released it at the same time for the whole world, the servers couldn't deliver acceptable speeds. That's just my guess though.
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How does Apple cope then?

That's Samsung decision to release update or not, as user we can wait for it or complaints to Samsung
Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk

It has nothing to do with "the server not able to cope" or anything. There are a few reasons building up to the devices being in literally the bottom of the pile as you put it:
1) Samsung has heavily skinned Android with a lot of added features, which all take a while to port to a new verison.
2) Costs of development, Q/A testing and everything else that needs to be done before the update gets released public (not doing the update obviously means a lot of saved money)
3) Most people don't care about updates or are even annoyed by them and think they are something evil. That's excluding heavy updates to a new version which slow down the phone by a large margin with features you could have lived without (Apple are doing this), those updates really are evil. Due to the lack of updates though, this rarely happens on Android in all fairness.
4) It's a mid range price device
5) Samsung's policy of not wanting to update the phones too much anyway so the user buys a new one
The phone is probably going to be updated to 7.0 within the next month or two. I doubt extremely it will get updated to 8.0.
This is unacceptable for a phone that has come out for 2017, to not got an update of an OS to a version that is released in 2017 just a little over an year later. We should definetly not put up with it and complain to Samsung however, not on XDA.
We should make sure OEM's take note that we want our phones updated to new Android versions fast for at least a few years, just like iOS devices. And on top of complaining, we should vote with our wallets also. That gets the chain moving.

aoyanagi said:
The phone is receiving updates slowly cause the phone has owners all around the world, it's probably to make sure that OTA servers are not overloaded. Imagine what would happen if they released it at the same time for the whole world, the servers couldn't deliver acceptable speeds. That's just my guess though.
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That is tackled in another way. Your phone randomly receive updates in batch.
Yes you can get an update if you manually go into settings and download updates.
But again it is automatically provided in random batches.
Samsung is late at updates because they have a large number of models.
Not like Iphone that only support 3 models of past I think.
Samsung also needs to provide stable updates which take a lot of testing.
Again it depends on your country and provider when the start rolling updates.
By the way A5 got certified for oreo.
https://www.wi-fi.org/product-finder-results?keywords=A520f

It has Oreo in Russia now
https://forum.xda-developers.com/samsung-a-series-2017/how-to/sm-a520f-oreo-russia-t3779287

3UK Razer Phones - MR3 now live

Time to update your phones to get all of the cumulative updates.

lonetormenter said:
Time to update your phones to get all of the cumulative updates.
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Yep I'm currently doing that right now, glad the update has all the updates combined into one!

Yeah it was there when I got out the shower this morning as I hadn't even done my morning manual scan for updates yet.

Glad Three finally delivered for you all and in full which is a shock! Thought it would always be behind.

Not bad. 1 week after the non-carrier version. Three must have rejected the mr2 update since it had so many bugs.

aknotts415 said:
Not bad. 1 week after thennon carrier version. Three must have rejected the mr2 update since it had so many bugs.
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I think you are right

I and a few years others were across on the official Razer forum causing some friction..... The general idea was to create more negative hype quicker than what they could create positive... I think they and three got the point.
Let's hope they keep up now, with the kitguru article they will have some work!

Yeah I saw that KitGuru article come up but seems it got published after the update went live so just bad timing on that.
I didn't want to give razer negatively my point to them was you have a lot of loyal fans of the brand and to communicate what's going on with public updates rather than keep us in the dark. Sometimes they need listen to their customers and respond rather than looking to point the blame.

Got to hear the updates are finally coming through...
Really glad to hear that you 3 UK users are finally getting your updates, as I think it was terrible that you have such a fantastic phone and for no updates to be pushed to the phone (and razer have pushed out about 2-3 updates on my unlocked variant). The update should also contain the latest security patch (I think it's January)...
Hopefully they can (as they have suggested) sync the unlocked and 3 UK variants future updates, simultaneously

I left 3 a few years ago since the price hikes, Are they still bundling bloatware with the OS? Very interested in this if this years devices don't appeal