Android L Update

[Diego Carmona]

Hi, guys
Do you think the nexus 4 will receive this update? Is there any announcement from Google about this?

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Ry]

Android L is only in a preview release state right now.

 

[acejavelin]

Hi, guys
Do you think the nexus 4 will receive this update? Is there any announcement from Google about this?

Posted via Android Central App

No, well not likely anyways... The Nexus 4 will be beyond the normal support window (18-24 months) and will not probably not "officially" get Android L. Google has shown us they are only interested in continuing development on the current and previous model, and at the time L is released the N4 is one step too far out.

On a brighter not, there are so many developers for the Nexus 4 that it will likely get Android L, M, N, and who knows what is next as long as they can make the software talk to the hardware.

 

[zorak950]

I suspect it will depend on whether L is paired with a new device for its release. If it is, the N4 probably won't get it: traditionally, Google will only support two Nexuses at a time. If there isn't a new Nexus, all bets are off.

 

[Diego Carmona]

I think this 18 months thing shouldn't stop Google from updating the nexus 4 because it still is a great phone with high hardware performance. But if that doesn't happen, at least we'll still have the developers to support us.
Oh... And there's also that androidOne thing... Low-end devices with the most recent android version. If the N4 has more hardware than these devices, why shouldn't it receive the update? Oh, yeah... Those stupid "18 months".
Sorry my bad english.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[acejavelin]

I think this 18 months thing shouldn't stop Google from updating the nexus 4 because it still is a great phone with high hardware performance. But if that doesn't happen, at least we'll still have the developers to support us.
Oh... And there's also that androidOne thing... Low-end devices with the most recent android version. If the N4 has more hardware than these devices, why shouldn't it receive the update? Oh, yeah... Those stupid "18 months".
Sorry my bad english.

Posted via Android Central App

Like it or not, Google has a pretty proven track in this area... I put the chances at the Nexus 4 officially getting L to be around 20%. As for zorak950's comment about another Nexus device, until just a few hours ago I thought the Nexus line of phones was completely dead seeings how all stock had mysteriously disappeared from the Play Store in recent weeks, but now that we see a Yellow Nexus 5 is likely to be coming, plus some of the leaked pictures of L are shown running on Nexus 4 device, so who knows what the future holds... it's not like Google hasn't surprised us with things in the past.

Even if we don't officially get Android L, the developers of ROMs for the Nexus 4 will pretty much ensure we get Android L and beyond for some time, in "stock AOSP" and customized versions. There is actually pretty heavy discussion on this in the XDA developer forums, it is fully expected to have a relatively stock Android L ROM port fully working on the Nexus 4 within a couple days, it seems they already have a bootable version but it buggy... and yes, Dalvik support is gone completely, ART is the only working runtime.

 

[Diego Carmona]

Like it or not, Google has a pretty proven track in this area... I put the chances at the Nexus 4 officially getting L to be around 20%. As for zorak950's comment about another Nexus device, until just a few hours ago I thought the Nexus line of phones was completely dead seeings how all stock had mysteriously disappeared from the Play Store in recent weeks, but now that we see a Yellow Nexus 5 is likely to be coming, plus some of the leaked pictures of L are shown running on Nexus 4 device, so who knows what the future holds... it's not like Google hasn't surprised us with things in the past.

Even if we don't officially get Android L, the developers of ROMs for the Nexus 4 will pretty much ensure we get Android L and beyond for some time, in "stock AOSP" and customized versions. There is actually pretty heavy discussion on this in the XDA developer forums, it is fully expected to have a relatively stock Android L ROM port fully working on the Nexus 4 within a couple days, it seems they already have a bootable version but it buggy... and yes, Dalvik support is gone completely, ART is the only working runtime.

Great to hear that. I'm really excited to try Android L in my device. I'll keep an eye on xda forum for more news and, who knows, a stable ROM to flash.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Fearless Freep]

I'd put the chances at higher than 20%. There isn't likely to be another Nexus phone and we'll still be within the 2 device/24 month window. There's really not a good reason the N4 won't get it.

As I have seen explained, the reason the N4 isn't getting the developer preview is because it's an outdated developer device, the N5 fills that role. It's the same reason there's not an image for the N10 tablet - the N7 is the development tablet of choice.

Stay calm, I think we will see it supported.

 

[acejavelin]

http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/0...says-that-the-nexus-line-isnt-going-anywhere/

And now this, which I am glad about... But it pretty much puts the last nail in the coffin on the N4 getting L.

EDIT: Well, I maybe completely wrong here... it seems that Android L preview binaries are starting to be released for the Nexus 4, which would lead to say that L will be released for the N4. https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/blobs-preview

 

[Fearless Freep]

Not surprised to see the L O/S binaries for the N4.

Until there's another Nexus phone or it's superseded by an Android Silver, the N4 will be supported. Google has long supported the two most recent versions of their developer phone. Given that the N4 is second in that line, they'll support it.

 

[Ry]

I don't think you can point to the Galaxy Nexus support as an example for future Nexus support. I truly believe Google said "18 months" to save some sort of face. It really came down to (lack of) support from Texas Instruments.

 

[zorak950]

I don't think you can point to the Galaxy Nexus support as an example for future Nexus support. I truly believe Google said "18 months" to save some sort of face. It really came down to (lack of) support from Texas Instruments.

It's not just the Galaxy Nexus: it's every Nexus to date. The One and S both also lost support when their successor's successor became available for purchase. Now, that doesn't mean things can't change, but three in a row I think fairly constitutes a pattern.

 

[Diego Carmona]

Now that I've checked xda thread discussion, I'm 90% sure we'll get the final Android L update and maybe even the preview... Even moto g will get it (the final release). I don't see a great reason why google won't update it.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[ehiggins]

I believe the galaxy nexus was due to Texas instruments.

The nexus one ran out if storage space. As someone who has three nexus S at home, they were pretty terrible and needed EOL.

I loved the form factor. Hardware has come a long way and I'll be surprised if the N4 isn't upgraded. I have two so I hope they are.

The original Nexus 7 I can see not receiving the update. It feels a little slow and no ART support makes me think it'll be done.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Linh321]

I hope they do since Google project butter require minimum system requirements to run Android and the Nexus 4 by hardware standard is not top notch but not outdated yet! It's near the middle of the lower high-end spectrum which can run pretty much anything out there! Like most of you say if their support by record is only 24 months out of device's release then there's always developers to help us all out!

Posted via Android Central App with LG Google Nexus 4

 

[zorak950]

...near the middle of the lower high-end spectrum...

Favorite phrase ever in the AC forums.

 

[Ry]

The original Nexus 7 I can see not receiving the update. It feels a little slow and no ART support makes me think it'll be done.

I'm not using my Nexus 7 (2012) as much due to lag.

 

[sibeans]

I think the 2013 n7 has the same guts as the n4, so if official updates continue for the former, I expect the same for the latter.

Otherwise, I'm sure 3rd party ROM support will continue. I'm running 4.4.4 on an HP TouchPad and can't complain.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[jackadillo]

Awesome sauce! Really excited to hear the one downside of my phone--battery life--will get a huge boost. I always felt this was the final frontier on the software side of things. This will probably be the single biggest battery booster for Android until we get graphene commercially viable.