Updates like Apple

[o4liberty]

Why can’t all android devices get updated like all apple devices do? My iPhone is on beta which anyone can join and I always have the latest software. Even without beta all iPhones get updated all at once. My note 8 with its cost should be on Oreo by now! Why can’t android update like apple its very annoying.

 

[ashune]

iOS is used by a small amount of devices and all are controlled by Apple. Android on the other hand is used by hundreds of different devices, and OEMs a lot of times have to support dozens of devices at the same time. Android is really fragmented. Another thing is that iOS devices receive updates directly from Apple - their updates don't need to be approved by carriers. Most Android devices get updates after carriers have tested it and tweaked for their networks, and added their own apps and customizations (an exception are Google's Pixel and Nexus phones, and Android One devices). But I agree, Android device manufacturers should do more to support their phones with updates longer, even if it's just security updates.

 

[cwbcpa]

^^^ what they said. iOS and Android are completely different animals. Apple has to work for iPhones. Android has to work on Samsung, LG, Motorola, etc...plus you have the carriers making sure they get their claws in the update. It's just a totally different process. Somewhat out of necessity, but not entirely.

 

[bigsmoke79]

hopefully project treble being introduced in newer handsets helps lessen the fragmentation even just for faster security updates

 

[Almeuit]

Why can’t all android devices get updated like all apple devices do? My iPhone is on beta which anyone can join and I always have the latest software. Even without beta all iPhones get updated all at once. My note 8 with its cost should be on Oreo by now! Why can’t android update like apple its very annoying.

Because Samsung modifies the software from what Google hands them.. so therefore they have to test. Google does the update and hands it so Samsung. Samsung has to then test all their modifications / touchwiz /etc. in order to ensure no bugs. After that if the carriers are involved (in the bloat models from them) then they have to test.

A lot more goes into it. Apple is a closed ecosystem so no system modifications except for what Apple does. No extra "Touchwiz" or anything.

 

[srgonu]

I am not sure if I should agree with you guys. Microsoft Windows supported by multiple OEMs with their skin but still get updated at the same time. Why can't google do that?

 

[chanchan05]

I am not sure if I should agree with you guys. Microsoft Windows supported by multiple OEMs with their skin but still get updated at the same time. Why can't google do that?

Because again Windows is a entirely different animal. Windows can have universal drivers for every single device that don't need to be embedded into the firmware. Android's drivers need to be embedded into the firmware. It's basically the same reason why there isn't a univers Android installer. If you try to install the Oreo update for the Pixel on a Note, it can brick the Note. But the Windows 10 update from Microsoft will work whether you have a Dell, Asus, or Acer. It also has to do with the smaller file size of Android itself. Windows takes up as much as 30GB. Android hasn't passed 10GB even on modified versions.

 

[Dooki]

I am not sure if I should agree with you guys. Microsoft Windows supported by multiple OEMs with their skin but still get updated at the same time. Why can't google do that?

Because only 32 Microsoft phones were ever sold.

 

[magichoward]

I agree it's not good specialy premium phones like note 8 should be updated by know...

 

[Ry]

Why can’t all android devices get updated like all apple devices do? My iPhone is on beta which anyone can join and I always have the latest software. Even without beta all iPhones get updated all at once. My note 8 with its cost should be on Oreo by now! Why can’t android update like apple its very annoying.

Because open source.

It's an Apples to oranges comparison.

 

[Almeuit]

I am not sure if I should agree with you guys. Microsoft Windows supported by multiple OEMs with their skin but still get updated at the same time. Why can't google do that?

See my previous post. Samsungs own modifications have to be tested.

 

[Ry]

I am not sure if I should agree with you guys. Microsoft Windows supported by multiple OEMs with their skin but still get updated at the same time. Why can't google do that?

It's not the same build from Android phone to Android phone.

 

[ashune]

I am not sure if I should agree with you guys. Microsoft Windows supported by multiple OEMs with their skin but still get updated at the same time. Why can't google do that?

Windows 10 Mobile and Windows Phone are really closed down. Manufacturers do hardly any customization to those devices - even if they do, they just add an app or two. Android OEMs on the other hand do a lot of customization - from changing the UI/launcher to adding new apps and features.

 

[Note8uzer]

Every other phone manufacturer has the same issue that Samsung has and they don't have any issues rolling out Oreo 8.1.

The excuse that Samsung is making a ton of modifications is crap. Samsung is the worst company at updates.

 

[chanchan05]

Every other phone manufacturer has the same issue that Samsung has and they don't have any issues rolling out Oreo 8.1. The excuse that Samsung has to make a ton of modifications is crap. Samsung is the worst company at updates.

Actually no. None of the other manufacturers has as much modifications as Samsung in terms of software. They are way ahead of Android itself in terms of features, so it's not as easy as say, Sony, whose OS is so lightly skinned it might as well be stock with Nova on top and some exclusive apps.

Samsung has pop up windows, the drivers for the edge panels, in the Note there's the EMP emitter for the pen, etc.

And they're not the worst. Take a look at Asus, Xiaomi, and Honor. Heck Samsung's even better than LG nowadays.

However, if updates are really that important to you, just get a Pixel. Vote with your wallet. That's something they'd understand.

 

[anon(1733)]

Actually no. None of the other manufacturers has as much modifications as Samsung in terms of software. They are way ahead of Android itself in terms of features, so it's not as easy as say, Sony, whose OS is so lightly skinned it might as well be stock with Nova on top and some exclusive apps.

Samsung has pop up windows, the drivers for the edge panels, in the Note there's the EMP emitter for the pen, etc.

And they're not the worst. Take a look at Asus, Xiaomi, and Honor. Heck Samsung's even better than LG nowadays.

However, if updates are really that important to you, just get a Pixel. Vote with your wallet. That's something they'd understand.

That's well said. Couldn't have said it better.

 

[o4liberty]

I fully understand how both systems update just don’t understand why android as advanced as it is can’t do what apple does.

 

[chanchan05]

I fully understand how both systems update just don’t understand why android as advanced as it is can’t do what apple does.

Android isn't the problem. See Pixels. That's what you're looking for. If everybody was using unaltered Android, you'd see the same thing as you see on iOS. But the point of Android is being open source and everybody being able to alter Android for their own purposes.

 

[aldo82]

Samsung shoot themselves in the foot on this. But I don't think they care. Look at how many different versions of the note 8 there are. Every single one requiring a different firmware version. In the uk alone there are 4 carrier versions and 2 unlocked at least! This makes the whole process of updating much slower.

I'm sure they could have a generic firmware that works for everything just like apple do. Then have a separate carrier specific over the air update for the network specific things. Just like apple do. I don't know, maybe this can't work for android but it seems the way Samsung approach the software with so many variations is just counter productive for supporting fast updates

 

[hallux]

Android isn't the problem. See Pixels. That's what you're looking for. If everybody was using unaltered Android, you'd see the same thing as you see on iOS. But the point of Android is being open source and everybody being able to alter Android for their own purposes.

So much this.

If you want an Apple-like experience for updates from Android, you need to buy a device from the core company - Google. This means buying the Pixel line of devices (which actually end up being quite good). I have a Pixel 2 XL, but I also feel the Samsung update lag as I have a Tab S3 which only recently received a "monthly" security patch beyond August 2017 (yes, 6 months late on the monthly security patch cycle).

Samsung MUST do better. Those monthly patches are not major revisions to the OS, they're simply fixing holes that have been found and should result in little to no impact on the customization Samsung forces on folks.

I agree, vote with your wallet, go buy something else if Samsung frustrates you so much. Sadly, there will be someone else standing in line to buy the device you didn't...