Future Device Updates

[DrSuSE]

Hi all.

I am currently a webOS user (launch day Palm Pre) and considering checking out the Epic4G. I don't have any experience with Android.

I was just curious (and coudn't find any info through some [admittedly light] searching):

Do Android devices, in general, not get every Android update? Is it based on any sort of timeline or just a seemingly arbitrary decision by the manufacturer?

For example, I know it was announced that the Epic 4g will get Android 2.2. But would it get 2.3/3.0/whatever the next version is?

Anyway, just wondering how that worked or what it was based on.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

 

[Spartan616]

Most Android phones do get updates, but usually later than said. I'm not exactly sure why, but I think it has to do with both/either the carriers (e.g. AT&T, Sprint, etc.) and/or some of the hardware manufacturers (e.g. HTC, Motorola, etc.) that want to either skin or change the UI of Android.

As for the Epic 4G, It most likely will get updates including 3.0 (Gingerbread) since it has the minimum requirements, which is revealed here

 

[SeeK]

Just like Spartan says, it's basically a case of the phone manufacturers having painted themselves into a corner by not creating user interfaces that are completely compatible with each other, between different phone models. As such, they have to go through rigorous testing for each and every phone that is to receive an update, instead of testing it once for the UI as a whole and then pushing it out to every phone using it.

Very inefficient indeed, and I'm hoping they'll change their ways in the near future. I know I don't want to be left without updates within a year of buying a phone for $650. Phones running the original Android user interface are scarce these days, simply because it's not very good compared to HTC Sense and other offerings. The plan is for Android 3.0 (Gingerbread) to take care of that particular problem, as a major overhaul of the interface and "look and feel" of Android is in the works for that version.

 

[DrSuSE]

I appreciate both responses, thank you.