Why Google takes so long to release 5.0 Lollipop ?

[SomeGuyDude]

Here's the thing, guys.

Apple makes the OS as well as the phone, and carriers are not allowed to push their own branding onto it. So basically, Apple has complete and utter control on the whole process, and there is a very small hardware set to worry about.

Google, on the other hand, has their OS coming out on phones made by a dozen companies and each carrier has their own variant of it. Hell there are how many models of the LG G3 alone? I can't even imagine what the process must be for that.

It's sort of the downside to Android's otherwise strength: that it's open and available widely.

 

[jrswizzle]

Here's the thing, guys.

Apple makes the OS as well as the phone, and carriers are not allowed to push their own branding onto it. So basically, Apple has complete and utter control on the whole process, and there is a very small hardware set to worry about.

Google, on the other hand, has their OS coming out on phones made by a dozen companies and each carrier has their own variant of it. Hell there are how many models of the LG G3 alone? I can't even imagine what the process must be for that.

It's sort of the downside to Android's otherwise strength: that it's open and available widely.

That still doesn't explain why Nexus devices and GPE devices don't get it very quickly.

I get there do a rolling update push.....still seems like it takes a long time.

And I know, I know - I could just flash the update myself....I probably will if it ends up being any longer.

 

[gotluck]

That still doesn't explain why Nexus devices and GPE devices don't get it very quickly.

I get there do a rolling update push.....still seems like it takes a long time.

And I know, I know - I could just flash the update myself....I probably will if it ends up being any longer.

google loves staged rollouts, i agree it is lame, but apparently it has its merits

I've only had the patience to receive one OTA for real (becuase I got lucky with a 1st rounder), I've sideloaded the zips the other times.. too hard to wait potentially weeks

 

[jrswizzle]

All my apps have updated to 5.0 design so I could care less when lollipop comes out

Except for all those great 5.0 features right? Aren't you wanting to get those too?

Design continuity is a big deal to me on Android for sure, so having all the apps on the same design language helps.

But lockscreen notifications and native cloud restore/backup are two big things I'm waiting on that will only come with the OS release.

The whole idea of a Nexus/GPE device is that it gets everything faster because there isn't any carrier or OEM to go through. Just push the damn update Google.....

Unless there's something wrong with it. Then at least tell us. This whole coy, "we'll be rolling out updates this week" and yet no one sees any updates is irritating. They can be incredibly vague when it comes to these things.

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google loves staged rollouts, i agree it is lame, but apparently it has its merits

That's fine if the staged rollouts had any consistency.....but they don't.

 

[gotluck]

That's fine if the staged rollouts had any consistency.....but they don't.

aye they dont. GPE has always been slower behind nexus, fwiw

Don't believe any gpe devices have received ota's yet, regardless of staged rollout, not sure if that's what you mean by consistency

Some tweet from htc today says m8/m7 will be ready next week

I've only had the patience to receive one OTA for real (becuase I got lucky with a 1st rounder), I've sideloaded the zips the other times.. too hard to wait potentially weeks

 

[Sensamic]

Except for all those great 5.0 features right? Aren't you wanting to get those too?

Design continuity is a big deal to me on Android for sure, so having all the apps on the same design language helps.

But lockscreen notifications and native cloud restore/backup are two big things I'm waiting on that will only come with the OS release.

The whole idea of a Nexus/GPE device is that it gets everything faster because there isn't any carrier or OEM to go through. Just push the damn update Google.....

Unless there's something wrong with it. Then at least tell us. This whole coy, "we'll be rolling out updates this week" and yet no one sees any updates is irritating. They can be incredibly vague when it comes to these things.

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That's fine if the staged rollouts had any consistency.....but they don't.

Tried 5.0 on my Nexus 7 2013 and right now I'm flashing the 4.4.4 factory image to go back to KitKat.

Not a fan of L after a day using it. Some design changes make the UI worst for me (settings, multitasking, notification panel). Other design changes are great, but overall I find 4.4.4 much clearer at first glance.

I also want xposed framework back again to make some changes I like (back button on the right, for example, and swype up from the bottom of the screen to make a screenshot, YouTube Ad blocking, etc).

Also experienced very slow USB transfer speeds with L. Weird.

We already had lockscreen notifications, sort of. All we needed to do was pull down the notification panel from the lockscreen. We also had the status bar icons showing new notifications.

 

[SomeGuyDude]

That still doesn't explain why Nexus devices and GPE devices don't get it very quickly.

I get there do a rolling update push.....still seems like it takes a long time.

And I know, I know - I could just flash the update myself....I probably will if it ends up being any longer.

Well they do, you just seem to be kinda looking at the rather transparent development cycle as though this sort of thing doesn't also happen on Apple's end. You think this exact scenario doesn't play out with iOS as well? They just keep everything tight lipped until "it's ready to go guys!"

 

[jrswizzle]

We already had lockscreen notifications, sort of. All we needed to do was pull down the notification panel from the lockscreen. We also had the status bar icons showing new notifications.

I want iOS-like native lock-screen notifications. L isn't exactly the same, but close.

Also, from what I've read Google has built in a full cloud backup/restore option very similar to Apple's in that it will remember the organization and placement of apps and folders and restore your new device exactly as the old one was.

It doesn't bring over ALL app data (only Google apps) but it takes care of the annoying part (setting up your home screens and such all over again).

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Well they do, you just seem to be kinda looking at the rather transparent development cycle as though this sort of thing doesn't also happen on Apple's end. You think this exact scenario doesn't play out with iOS as well? They just keep everything tight lipped until "it's ready to go guys!"

Well whether it does or doesn't, I don't hear about it therefore it doesn't exist in my mind.

These types of things are all about perception - I'm not pretending they aren't.

One company says "here's our new OS, it'll be out sometime in the fall". And then in the fall "It's rolling out" yet no one seems to be getting it.

The other company says "here's our new OS, it'll be rolling out in the fall". We all know it coincides with the release of their new smartphone and after the smartphone announcement, we know exactly when the OS and phone will release. And then the OS is pushed OTA on that day to everyone. Yes, their servers get hammered, but I've never had an issue getting the update the day it's released.

If Google wants to stagger their rollout, that's fine. But be consistent about it. This whole "here is comes"......"no really, this time here is comes"......"ok, we're serious about it rolling out next week this time" bit is getting old.

Why not just tell everyone to get it themselves (if they have Nexus/GPE devices)? At least then they'd retain credibility.