The state of Android updates: Who’s fast, who’s slow, and why

[Builder]

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014/08/the-state-of-android-updates-whos-fast-whos-slow-and-why/

 

Android 4.4, KitKat was released on October 31, 2013, or at least, that's what you can say about one device: the Nexus 5. For the rest of the ecosystem, the date you got KitKat—if you got KitKat—varied wildly depending on your device, OEM, and carrier.

FURTHER READING

THE CHECKERED, SLOW HISTORY OF ANDROID HANDSET UPDATES
We look at which OEMs and cell carriers might leave your handset an orphaned brick.
For every Android update, Google's release of code to OEMs starts an industry-wide race to get the new enhancements out to customers. So how did everyone do this year? Who was the first with KitKat, and who was the last? What effect does your carrier have on updates? How has the speed of Android updates changed compared to earlier years?

 

Very interesting indeed. So the situation is still excellent for Nexus devices and basically godawful for everyone else. I know what Android phone I'd get

[dlf]

Since I got my phone (3 years ago I think) OS updates have come out but I'm stuck on 2.3.5 (Gingerbread) . . . . . . . :wacko: :blink:

[terrytek]

Wow this is not fair. Samsung cut off updates for my Tab 2 10.1 at Android 4.1. I wish there was a hack I could use to force a 4.4 install.

[rashdanml]

This is the main reason I go for the Nexus devices, for the faster updates. Too bad the Galaxy Nexus was discontinued after Jelly Bean. KitKat is unofficially supported through AOSP builds and other custom ROMs. By that reasoning, even the Nexus one is still "supported". 

 

The new Nexus device will probably be my next phone. 

[Flyguygamer]

Since I got my phone (3 years ago I think) OS updates have come out but I'm stuck on 2.3.5 (Gingerbread) . . . . . . . :wacko: :blink:

On 2.3.4

[terrytek]

On 2.3.4

1.1, suckers!

[Builder]

I think the whole problem stems from them not wanting to use stock Android. They have to differentiate on hardware instead, because they all suck hard at software. Maybe this will all change with Material UI and Android Silver. If it does, I just might switch, or at least try it.

[dizmo]

Kind of interesting. This chart still describes it pretty well though.

 

 

Sorry, that's huge. That's what she said.

I don't know how to make it smaller so..

[terrytek]

Kind of interesting. This chart still describes it pretty well though.

 

Bro, longest picture I ever saw on this forum. Too much scrolling.

[Builder]

I think that pic was almost as long as the post in my sig...

[dizmo]

Bro, longest picture I ever saw on this forum. Too much scrolling.

I don't use forums nearly enough to know how to put it in that Show box. *shrug*

[rashdanml]

Stock Android easily runs on all hardware, but Manufacturers still wanted to provide something unique, hence the software modifications, which is basically a skin on top of Stock Android with a few extra unique apps. 

 

A more elegant solution would be to provide Stock Android on the device, with an optional app you can install from the Play Store to get the UI and other apps unique to the manufacturer. That way, users have more freedom - they can choose whether or not to install the particular manufacturers UI/apps. 

 

That's how Nexus devices work too. Stock Android, with Google Apps installed, all of which are available on the Play Store. You can still get pure Android by building it from source, without Google Apps. 

[Builder]

That's how Nexus devices work too. Stock Android, with Google Apps installed, all of which are available on the Play Store. You can still get pure Android by building it from source, without Google Apps. 

I wish Android was actually full GNU/Linux...then I would DEFINITELY switch.

[rashdanml]

I wish Android was actually full GNU/Linux...then I would DEFINITELY switch.

Well, technically it is. At least, the kernel is fully Linux (or modified Linux). 

The main problem with Android is the Dalvik VM and relying on Java. IIRC, Dalvik is based on a really old version of Java (due to licensing issues of using Java in a mobile environment, or something like that). The application framework is also based on Java, or very "Java-like".

 

Luckily for us, Dalvik is being completely replaced by ART in Android L, so that removes one issue with Android. Still uses a Java-like API. 

[Builder]

Well, technically it is. At least, the kernel is fully Linux (or modified Linux). 

I know, but I want the rest of GNU and the ability to install apps from Linux userland and a full terminal and stuff.

[rashdanml]

I know, but I want the rest of GNU and the ability to install apps from Linux userland and a full terminal and stuff.

Would be nice if that was available by default, yeah. Terminal can be installed by rooting the device. I've used it to manipulate files on the device when I had a Galaxy S. 

The closest thing to what you want though, would be Ubuntu Mobile. http://www.ubuntu.com/phone

 

Or https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/linuxonandroid 

 

Google has a lot of potential to make Android a full Linux "distribution" with all of its services also available on desktop Linux distributions (and Windows/OS X). Would make switching between Android, Windows, Linux and OS X seamless if they can achieve that level of integration. 

 

-dreams-

 

edit: Phones using x86 instead of ARM might make the above a lot easier. One OS across all devices, automatically scaled. Windows has already done it, OS X will probably follow as well. 

[Tocsin_786]

Wow this is not fair. Samsung cut off updates for my Tab 2 10.1 at Android 4.1. I wish there was a hack I could use to force a 4.4 install.

root and put the newer samsung os on there? 

[MEC-777]

Still love my Nexus 4. Straight Android, no BS and no bloat. Always runs fast no matter what. Always get the latest Android updates right away. 

[rashdanml]

Still love my Nexus 4. Straight Android, no BS and no bloat. Always runs fast no matter what. Always get the latest Android updates right away. 

Except after the 18-month support cycle is done. Nexus 4 is no longer supported, iirc. KitKat was your last official update. 

[Builder]

edit: Phones using x86 instead of ARM might make the above a lot easier. One OS across all devices, automatically scaled. Windows has already done it, OS X will probably follow as well. 

There's already linux available on ARM though. Also OS X will not follow suit, because that is not a good idea, as evidenced by Windows 8.

[MEC-777]

Except after the 18-month support cycle is done. Nexus 4 is no longer supported, iirc. KitKat was your last official update. 

That's fine. I'm happy with KitKat and will be happy with this phone for a long time. 

 

Phone hardware specs haven't really gone much further over the last couple years, so I'm not worried about it becoming slow or obsolete for a long time yet.

 

I know friends and family who have Samsung phones and I can't stand all the bloatware junk they have. I think I will always go with Nexus phones, for that reason and because they're less expensive than most other higher-end smartphones.

[rashdanml]

There's already linux available on ARM though. Also OS X will not follow suit, because that is not a good idea, as evidenced by Windows 8.

Well, yeah. Windows 8 jumped the gun on bringing the tablet interface to desktop. Some sort of touch interface needs to become more common for desktops to fully utilize Windows 8/8.1. OS X is probably just waiting for that. 

 

If something like this became standard-issue with prebuilt desktops (bear with me, pre-builts still have a market even if we hate them) would make transitioning to Windows 8 easier, and would make more sense for a fairly consistent experience. 

[Nomelas]

anything longer than a month to put out an update is too long.

[BallGum]

Well, yeah. Windows 8 jumped the gun on bringing the tablet interface to desktop. Some sort of touch interface needs to become more common for desktops to fully utilize Windows 8/8.1. OS X is probably just waiting for that.

If something like this became standard-issue with prebuilt desktops (bear with me, pre-builts still have a market even if we hate them) would make transitioning to Windows 8 easier, and would make more sense for a fairly consistent experience.

Yeah, with a trackpad and the gestures, navigating the tile interface feels much more intuitive.

[Builder]

anything longer than a month to put out an update is too long.

I think anything longer than a day is too long. Frankly I have no clue why it took them two weeks to get it onto a Nexus device. Updates should be available the day they are released, end of story.