ICS Update for the Nexus S 4G Discussion Thread

[pizana]

I was asked not to provide a date because ICS release might be pushed out again. I do not want to say it will be next week and then something is found in testing where Google has to push it out another week or two. A tentative date is better than nothing and lets everyone know that Google & Samsung has provided us a date for the roll out.

ICS has not been released yet because Google and Samsung are still performing test. I have been provided a tentative date, although we do not want to post a date incase Google or Samsung find something with the current test version and need to push the date out again.


Once Google and Samsung provide us with a date for the release of ICS, I will update this post and/or you will see a new post with the update information from one of our moderators. The update will be a slow roll out as Google has done with other big OS updates for Samsung.

All,


Google and Samsung are testing ICS as we speak and once ICS is stable and ready to be released on the Nexus S, we will post an update. Google will roll the update out slowly once ICS is ready. The current date is tentative to testing results so I will not post a date.


Thanks,

Blue


^^
Post from a sprint rep on the sprint forums.

 

[Ryuuie]

Re: ICS 4.0.5 Coming in March to Nexus S 4G

At first I was all on board for agreeing with you because Google did push out the GSM update in a decent time frame.. However from all the coverage I've been reading it truly seems like most CDMA, especially U.S. carriers like Sprint & Verizon have a bigger upper hand in the market here whereas many of the GSM carriers overseas can't or don't have some of the rigid practices in their markets.

For example they actually advertise more unbranded or unlocked phones, they don't always force the manufacturers to make silly adjustments to the phone by removing great features in the name of differentiation, or they release the phone months earlier (like the GS2 line).

It's kind of a mix of "can't" and "don't". GSM rules mean that they must allow any phone on their networks and all phones sold in countries using GSM are all unlocked phones. You can buy it (at full retail price, unless there's a sale or something) and use it on ANY carrier you want. CDMA is not like this and you're not allowed to take one CDMA phone to another CDMA carrier.

Sprint and Verizon have VERY tight holds on their phones and that's part of the reason Google will no longer publish updated images for the LTE Galaxy Nexus from Verizon, Motorola XOOM from Verizon, and Nexus S 4G. The files used to connect to CDMA are signed by the operator (Sprint/Verizon) and isn't open-sourced. Android is open source, CDMA isn't. It goes against Android to use non-open source files/programs. GSM is a world standard and is more open than CDMA so it makes sense Google would be cool with it.

People mistakenly claimed that Google would stop support for the Nexus S 4G, Motorola XOOM from Verizon, and the LTE Galaxy Nexus from Verizon but that's not the case. They're just not being posted to AOSP (Android Open Source Project) anymore.

Just a theory but I believe its the exact same situation, which sucks, but is nothing new for us consumers. Sprint wants us resigning contracts for new phones and rushing out buying new hardware no matter what. This shouldn't be so hard to believe with ALL of the things they have changed over the past year or so for us (less early upgrades, less waived fees.. etc). Business is business & I'm rocking Beezy's rom for now..

I could believe that, but I'd say it's more likely that Google is still working on 4.0.4. Sprint can't really afford to nickle and dime people like that, really. But hey...it's Sprint. :v Who knows.

I still don't see how people can defend Google on this. They have 2 phones that are getting ICS and they cant get 1 of them upgraded. This is ridiculous.

"Stuff" happens.

No, seriously. It does.

Google didn't go "HAHA! WE'LL MAKE ICS BREAK PHONES AND TAKE FOREVER TRYING TO FIX IT!" Things just don't always work out as planned.

Hell, the Nexus One took a long time to upgrade too, we've got more information now than we did then thanks to Jean-Baptiste Queru. I'd say, if you have questions, ask him (nicely) on Twitter or Google+.

pizana Awesome find! Welcome to the forums.

 

[jeffreynothing43]

4.0.3 is buggy? Really? Been running it since December. Way more bug free than ANY version of Android that I've ever used. Gps works, wifi works, 3g works, 4g works and never a reboot or a hiccup. Most stable Android I've ever seen. Lol

____________________
Just Flash It !!!

I absolutely agree with this...I never have any random reboots, sleeps of death, or any of the weird connectivity issues I had on GB. I finally feel like Android is solid. 4.0.3 is far from buggy...way more bug free and solid than any version of Android I've ever used. EVER.

 

[pizana]

Re: ICS 4.0.5 Coming in March to Nexus S 4G

Thanks, Ive been following this thread for awhile but decided to go ahead and make an account on here.

 

[rem_kujawa]

I've been been running 4.0.3 built off of source code by some guy in a basement with absolutely no problems. And Google, Sprint, the Easter bunny or who ever else is holding it up can't seem to make it work. I'm not buying it. Let's not forget ICS was developed on the nexus s first. This is nothing else but a ploy to sell more galaxy nexus.

 

[j_grouchy]

I don't really care so much that we haven't gotten it yet...but I think this has shown us that it doesn't really mean much to buy into the Nexus brand if you're interested in getting first crack at the next version of Android (unless, of course, you are willing to shell out big money to buy the newest Nexus phone every year). Chances are as long as you buy a "flagship" or "power user" device you'll be high up on the queue for OTAs...or just root and flash and all that jazz.

 

[jtexans]

I've been been running 4.0.3 built off of source code by some guy in a basement with absolutely no problems. And Google, Sprint, the Easter bunny or who ever else is holding it up can't seem to make it work. I'm not buying it. Let's not forget ICS was developed on the nexus s first. This is nothing else but a ploy to sell more galaxy nexus.

Or it's Sprint's way of pissing off us Android users and forcing us to buy iPhones out of frustration. They did invest heavily in Apple...

 

[evansgw]

I have had various ICS ROMS running on my phone for about a month now without too many problems.

I think people on this forum are the type of person to buy 'developer phones' like the GN, but because we flash and ROM we don't spend our hard earned cash, we just update our current phones ourselves. So I dont think the delay is due to the GN.

I can only imagine that the lack of official ICS on the NS4G is due to Sprint wanting to sell the iPhone.

 

[BlackHawkA4]

I have had various ICS ROMS running on my phone for about a month now without too many problems.

I think people on this forum are the type of person to buy 'developer phones' like the GN, but because we flash and ROM we don't spend our hard earned cash, we just update our current phones ourselves. So I dont think the delay is due to the GN.

I can only imagine that the lack of official ICS on the NS4G is due to Sprint wanting to sell the iPhone.

People who want the iPhone don't care about software. They just want the iPhone. They don't say to themselves p hey the ns4g has ice cream. Forget the iPhone.

 

[j_grouchy]

People who want the iPhone don't care about software. They just want the iPhone. They don't say to themselves p hey the ns4g has ice cream. Forget the iPhone.

Heh...I asked my wife last night if her iPhone had updated to the newest version and she had no idea what I was talking about.

 

[Paul627g]

I think my biggest problem with the whole delay in update is simple. A complete breakdown of Google's purpose behind the Nexus devices.

We were told from the start of the ICS release that the Nexus One would be left out this time around. Fine we can live with that, the device has served its purpose for an extended period of time and still continues to make many happy.

We were however told that the Nexus S line would be included in the ICS update along with the official release on the GNex.

So far the Nexus S started to receive the update then it was pulled. Many Nexus S users left waiting.... The Nexus S 4g was never even given the opportunity up to this point in time. No official word from Google, nothing from Sprint or Sammy on either end of the Nexus S GSM or the Nexus S 4g.

I could care less at this point what the reason is, the IPhone, the pending release of the GNex for Sprint, Android 4.0.4/4.0.5, LTE, whatever you want to throw in the circle. However I do think this whole thing has destroyed what the Nexus line stands for.. Developers Phone and up to this point always the first to receive the next OS. Now we have tablets ahead of us, even the word of pending updates to the SGSII and other devices. (US market's I'm referring too...)

Where does this leave me thinking? Would I buy the GNex? Its old news already... Were literally only 6 months if that away from a new Nexus if it does exist and then would I buy it knowing now that Google or the carriers may just decide to over look it and do what they have with ICS so far. Very mixed impressions of this whole situation. ICS hasn't over whelmed me by any means, its nice don't get me wrong but now were already getting Jellybean talk pushed to us.. Is this Google basically saying ICS was a Windows 98 or XP sorta speak to hold us off for Windows Vista or for what they really were working on from the start which was Jellybean but couldn't get it completed as they wanted so ICS 4.0 was released?

That's it.. That's where I stand.. Take it all with a grain of salt.

 

[flowsixx]

Hi.

I have been on this site for awhile now. At least for a year, since I ot my Nexus S 4G a year ago. I love the phone, but like most of you, I check this site everyday till I'm blue in the face hoping someone has even a little info on the ICS update.

This is my first time writing in for anything, but I felt it was warranted. I got so tired of waiting and waiting. I researched a way to unlock my phone, but I didn't wanna root it and void the warranty. I just downloaded the leak and Odin and forced the ICS update thru without rooting.

I've never been happier. Serious difference in speed and functionality. Its like having a brand new Nexus! Aside from the sensor issue when you're on a phone call and u have to press the power button to cut the screen off, its perfect.

Since I'm not rooted, whenever sprint decides to release it, my phone will still get it.

Just do it...

 

[BlackHawkA4]

The only reason im even rooted right now is for a completely stock ics port. Otherwise if we already had ics I would have no use for root at this moment.

I'm going windows! Lol!

 

[flowsixx]

I'd like a copy of a complete stock Ics as well... I'll gladly root my NS4G for that

 

[Paul627g]

I'd like a copy of a complete stock Ics as well... I'll gladly root my NS4G for that

[ICS] ICS Leak 4.0.4

 

[thezero4]

I've just about had it. I bought the Sprint Hero because it was the first Android device I could buy, it was only the third android phone so there had been no update issues and I wasn't anticipating them, it really pissed me off. So I decided to get the Epic 4G because Samsung said it would update the Galaxy S line since it was so similar to the Nexus S. The Nexus S wasn't available for Sprint to I jumped. Now that I traded in the Epic for a Nexus S and this is the great support I get for the phone that should be first to update. I don't know what I'm supposed to buy for an Android phone now, apparently you can't count on updates for any of them. I'm thinking Windows Phone or iPhone hard and I was a die hard android fan, I'm disappointing so severely by this.

At least there's the CM team on Android and I love the CM 9 that I've been running, but there still seems to be a battery life problem with my phone on ICS and newer code from Google could probably help those guys so much. If and I mean if I buy another android phone Google will have nothing to do with the decision, I will be on Cyanogen Mod's website making sure what ever I buy has a stable channel for that phone.

 

[petrochemicals]

Still no ICS and it's been 3 months.

Four sites have written articles on it.
http://mobilesyrup.com/2012/03/14/wi...-point-to-yes/
http://www.androidguys.com/2012/03/1...t-android-4-0/
http://androidandme.com/2012/03/opin...comment-289068
http://androidcommunity.com/samsung-...date-20120314/

Reddit has two trending posts about it.
http://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comm..._s_owners_.../
http://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comm...s_still_an.../

Androids G+ page has been spammed about it for 3 weeks now.
https://plus.google.com/104629412415657030658/posts

Sprints official Nexus S forums first two post for the last 3 months have been about it.
Sprint.com | Sorry for the interruption...

There is a petition about it.
http://www.change.org/petitions/to-b...rolling-it-out

A full G+ page dedicated to the issue.
https://plus.google.com/111258827537845270806/posts

And last but not least Google's very own Android help forums have over 30 threads on the subject with thousands of posts. Not a single one replied to by Google.
http://www.google.com/support/forum/...78038957252633

This is some grade A customer service all around. Do they really think ignoring this issue for so long is helping them in any way. How much longer till the big sites like Engadget, The Verge, or Gizmodo pick this story up?

 

[Droid800]

Still no ICS and it's been 3 months.

Four sites have written articles on it.
http://mobilesyrup.com/2012/03/14/wi...-point-to-yes/
http://www.androidguys.com/2012/03/1...t-android-4-0/
http://androidandme.com/2012/03/opin...comment-289068
http://androidcommunity.com/samsung-...date-20120314/

Reddit has two trending posts about it.
http://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comm..._s_owners_.../
http://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comm...s_still_an.../

Androids G+ page has been spammed about it for 3 weeks now.
https://plus.google.com/104629412415657030658/posts

Sprints official Nexus S forums first two post for the last 3 months have been about it.
Sprint.com | Sorry for the interruption...

There is a petition about it.
http://www.change.org/petitions/to-b...rolling-it-out

A full G+ page dedicated to the issue.
https://plus.google.com/111258827537845270806/posts

And last but not least Google's very own Android help forums have over 30 threads on the subject with thousands of posts. Not a single one replied to by Google.
http://www.google.com/support/forum/...78038957252633

This is some grade A customer service all around. Do they really think ignoring this issue for so long is helping them in any way. How much longer till the big sites like Engadget, The Verge, or Gizmodo pick this story up?

The big tech sites are not going to care. You are a very vocal minority, nothing more nothing less. As far as they're concerned you don't exist and your issue isn't valid.

Btw; a petition? Really? People in places like Syria are being murdered in cold blood every single day and you have a petition because your phone doesn't have the latest and greatest OS update?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

[Zerocool84]

You girls can stop crying now:

Own a Nexus S or Nexus S 4G? Wondering when you'll finally get to enjoy a tasty bite of Ice Cream Sandwich? One our trusted sources has confirmed that Google is not abandoning you, and that an official Android 4.0 update for last year's Nexus is expected to drop in the next few weeks -- for reals this time. We'll keep you posted as we find out more, but for now there's always the DYI route if you're rocking the AWS model.

http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/15/confirmed-ics-coming-to-the-nexus-s-in-the-next-few-weeks/

 

[d14racer24]

You girls can stop crying now:

Confirmed: ICS coming to the Nexus S in the next few weeks -- Engadget

Thank you, I got a good laugh out of this!