If the outrage over the Galaxy Nexus won't convince Google of extending the update cycle maybe it will once the 2012 Nexus 7, Nexus 4, Nexus 10 and 2013 Nexus 7 reach that completely arbitrary 18 months. I could get a Nexus 5 and just hope on that happening.
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Galaxy Nexus is not getting 4.4 KitKat
- Thread starter hova
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I don't understand what the issue is. The Gnex will still get the latest core apps and it's not like the phone just just off and stopped working. A year and a half of instant updates is more than most phones get.
People also keep bringing up the iPhone getting iOS 7. Sure, it got a new version number, control center and a new UI. What else did it get? A whole lot of nothing. I'd rather not get an update than have my phone crippled for nothing.
People also keep bringing up the iPhone getting iOS 7. Sure, it got a new version number, control center and a new UI. What else did it get? A whole lot of nothing. I'd rather not get an update than have my phone crippled for nothing.
This ought to help: http://www.droid-life.com/2013/10/3...om-the-nexus-5-dump-search-launcher-and-more/
Download: New Google Apps From the Nexus 5 Dump (Search, Launcher, And More)
Download: New Google Apps From the Nexus 5 Dump (Search, Launcher, And More)
True but after the first year, they dont get the FULL updates and things get out.
I agree the Gnex should get 4.4 but at least it will get the full updates of all the apps like most older devices get.
Galaxy Nexus is a crappy phone. Period. It's a battery hog, the lag is very annoying and a bunch of other issues that just pile on one after the other. I much rather have Google focus on its current line of products and makes these the best it can.
Yup.
But the 18 month window is still BS, especially since they're touting that Android Kit Kat, moving forward, is so efficienty that 512MB RAM devices can run it. But I guess that'll depend on future Android versions, too.
Ultimately, not that big of a deal since 18 months is a pretty solid window, second only to Apple's updates (plenty to debate whether which is better considering you lose a ton of the main features of iOS as updates get further down the road).
Also, Google updates their core apps individually, which just rocks. And they update often.
As I've said before, the competition -- nearly on all fronts -- is just simply moving way faster than Apple.
That's a lame excuse we all know that. That company (TI) is a huge multi billon dollar corp by the way.
Android is designed to run on different processor levels unless they changes something on Android 4.4 to only support Qualcomm or Samsung chips.
I thought TI had abandoned their OMAP processors.
http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/mobile...tphones_and_Tablets_Fires_1700_Employees.html
That's why Google is using the 18 month window to cover up this mess. I'm almost positive that if enough people cause a stink about it, they'll end up pushing out the update anyways. Problem is, do enough people even care?
Really it is ht 18 month window. It not that Google could not create 4.4 for the GNexus. Just they choose not to.
That being said it is BS. This has nothing to do with them not being able to do it. It has to with the fact they do not want to spend the money on dev and QA time to get it ready.
18 months... a joy.
People buy phones usually every 2 years, and they stick with a 1.5 year update cadence.
remember Nexus is not generally sold on contract. Also I would like to point out it was about 2 years ago the Galaxy Nexus was released 2 years ago. Hell 4.3 was outside of their 18 month window.
So, basically, anyone who is unlucky enough to not have good GSM coverage are screwed because Google doesn't feel like spending money?
well lets be fair CDMA people have been screwed a long long time.
But yeah. In terms of cost in just raw man time you are talking about my guess at least 10 man weeks worth time time on the low end. Man week costing 6+k each *. So you are easily look at 60k worth of time. This is on the low end. I would not be surprised if it would cost them 100k to update it. dev time is not cheap.
*this based on the normal billing rate for just break even. Includes things like over head, equipment cost and so on. Billable rate for a dev is around 150-200 per hour. 150 is break even in a cheap market.
Nexus has no business on USA CDMA carriers. It's a pain in the ass for google to such an extent that they dumped support for the Nexus S 4G and GNEX more than once only to go back and do updates after enough people threw a fit...rightly so. That's the whole point of a Nexus device.
I just don't get why android is handled like crap when it comes to updates. iOS 7 was pushed out to like what, 9 different devices on the same day, some as old as 3 years. No one can seem to give a good reason that Google is incapable or unwilling to do the same.
I just don't get why android is handled like crap when it comes to updates. iOS 7 was pushed out to like what, 9 different devices on the same day, some as old as 3 years. No one can seem to give a good reason that Google is incapable or unwilling to do the same.
Are you speaking strictly about Nexus devices? Cause I think you know the answer if you're including carriers/OEM devices.
If you are strictly talking about devices, while other Nexus devices may have to wait a few weeks, at least they get all the features that come with it. A few weeks isn't a big deal as it rolls to all Nexus devices (+ GPE phones).
Also, one of the biggest difference is that Google updates their core apps and framework individually. This is a huge advantage as you get updates throughout the year. In the past month or two, they've updated a ton of their core apps, and more is to come in the advent of Kit Kat. And this applies for a wider range of Android devices, not just Nexus.
Also, did iOS 7 come to the iPads the same day? I thought it was a little later?
Anyway, here's the grid:
iPhone 4S, but does not support:
Filters in Camera app
AirDrop
iPhone 4, but does not support:
All items from iPhone 4S, plus
Panoramic photos
Siri
Third-Generation iPad, but does not support:
Filters in Camera app
Panoramic photos
AirDrop
iPad 2, but does not support:
All items from 3rd Gen. iPad, plus
Filters in Photos app
Square photos and videos
Siri
You win some and you lose some.
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Is that really the reason? If so, I can forgive a 2-3 week rollout time frame to keep their Nexus devices affordable. Easily forgive.
For their Nexus devices, I can't see any other reason. As for if you're saying it's true that Google doesn't make much money from Android? Yeah, it's true. Google makes more money from iOS than Android.
You need to remeber Google complete the OS update. Then the OEMs get it and the OEM do their update after that it is carrier approval.
Apple is the OEM so they skip to step 2. I can promise you on the american carriers Apple has gotten them all to sign off on the OS update before they release it.
Now unlike Apple Android does not get BS software blocks like Siri not being on the 4 or no navigation on the 4, Camara filters and Air drop not on the 4S. Those are 100% software block and there is no hardware reason why they could not support it.
Not to mention, aside from bugs/glitches, anything that is a poor or weak feature/app within iOS requires waiting a year to get it improved. So improvements and additional features don't come until a year's time. That's a long wait!
Versus Google's model, where apps throughout the year will be improved and upgraded with added features.
With iOS, sometimes, even after a year -- sometimes years! -- certain features still don't get updated. I'm looking at you iOS keyboard. YEARS. For comparison's sake, how many times has the Google Keyboard been updated since its released into the Play Store this past year? I can recall at least three or so updates -- with another one coming soon along with Kit Kat.
I'll say it again: the competition is simply moving and improving faster than Apple.
Versus Google's model, where apps throughout the year will be improved and upgraded with added features.
With iOS, sometimes, even after a year -- sometimes years! -- certain features still don't get updated. I'm looking at you iOS keyboard. YEARS. For comparison's sake, how many times has the Google Keyboard been updated since its released into the Play Store this past year? I can recall at least three or so updates -- with another one coming soon along with Kit Kat.
I'll say it again: the competition is simply moving and improving faster than Apple.
The 4S has filters in the camera app. Airdrop is not supported because the hardware does not support wifiDirect (ie. Apple is not artificially restricting it).
The 4 does have filters, but it is not realtime, you can only apply after you've taken the photo (which is better anyway).