verizon software preloaded = future updates through verizon?

[Dovahkiin]

I will still be getting it regardless, I just don't like where the Verizon is taking the Nexus line. It's becoming just another phone.

I know how excited we were about this phone, but if you expected this to be "the One" on Verizon, you were only fooling yourself. They have the longest and most damaging reach on Android simply because they're the largest service provider.
I remember Zepfloyd (the guy has been right about releases and specs 99% of the time) on Droid Life months ago telling everyone not to get their hopes up and expect disappointment. He was right in my book. If this phone didn't have ICS, I'd seriously have no reason to buy it over the Rezound.

 

[Premium1]

I know how excited we were about this phone, but if you expected this to be "the One" on Verizon, you were only fooling yourself. They have the longest and most damaging reach on Android simply because they're the largest service provider.
I remember Zepfloyd (the guy has been right about releases and specs 99% of the time) on Droid Life months ago telling everyone not to get their hopes up and expect disappointment. He was right in my book. If this phone didn't have ICS, I'd seriously have no reason to buy it over the Rezound.

Well ICS is probably the reason 90% of people are getting it. The nexus line was never meant to be bleeding edge spec wise, it is meant as a developer phone.

 

[rootbrain]

I know how excited we were about this phone, but if you expected this to be "the One" on Verizon, you were only fooling yourself. They have the longest and most damaging reach on Android simply because they're the largest service provider.
I remember Zepfloyd (the guy has been right about releases and specs 99% of the time) on Droid Life months ago telling everyone not to get their hopes up and expect disappointment. He was right in my book. If this phone didn't have ICS, I'd seriously have no reason to buy it over the Rezound.

Rezound will probably get ICS within a month or two anyway. I like the Rezound better.

 

[Premium1]

I do not think those two apps will slow down updates. I mean how many times has an update been stalled because of the vzw bloat? Never that I can recall.

 

[ebrown126]

Just a thought....iOS and Apple send updates to their phones without Verizon running test. So I assume the Gnex will get the updates directly from Google.

Does the iPhone have back up assistant or my Verizon?

Verizon apps shouldnt give them the authority to prevent a Google update on a Nexus device. I would think once the source codes are released for each update the Verizon team has to get their apps up an running for that particular update or they simply won't work. Like mentioned before, the manufacturer skins seem to be the first part then Verizon has to test the hell out of that. Without the skin then the update should come from google.

Hope I'm right, I'm by no means a Android expert.

 

[Dovahkiin]

Just a thought....iOS and Apple send updates to their phones without Verizon running test. So I assume the Gnex will get the updates directly from Google.

Verizon apps shouldnt give them the authority to prevent a Google update on a Nexus device. I would think once the source codes are released for each update the Verizon team has to get their apps up an running for that particular updated or they simply won't work. Like mentioned before, the manufacturer skins seem to be the first part then Verizon has to test the hell out of that. Without the skin then the update should come from google.

Hope I'm right, I'm by no means a Android expert.

The million dollar question is if these bloatware apps are simply installed and can be deleted, or are they baked into ICS. If they're installed, then Google can pump out updates itself. If they're baked, we have a huge problem regarding updates.
This would force the update to go through Verizon first, and doing such a thing ALWAYS means ridiculous wait times.

 

[ebrown126]

The million dollar question is if these bloatware apps are simply installed and can be deleted, or are they baked into ICS. If they're installed, then Google can pump out updates itself. If they're baked, we have a huge problem regarding updates.
This would force the update to go through Verizon first, and doing such a thing ALWAYS means ridiculous wait times.

Makes sense. I added a question in my post. Do you know if the iPhone has Back up assistant or my Verizon baked into iOS?

 

[Premium1]

Makes sense. I added a question in my post. Do you know if the iPhone has Back up assistant or my Verizon baked into iOS?

Neither. You can download them but they do not come preinstalled. I still do not think the 2 apps are baked into the OS. I am sure you won't be able to uninstall them but that doesn't mean it is baked into the OS.

 

[Premium1]

Rezound will probably get ICS within a month or two anyway. I like the Rezound better.

Idk about that. Look how long the tb took to get gb.

 

[thescreensavers]

Makes sense. I added a question in my post. Do you know if the iPhone has Back up assistant or my Verizon baked into iOS?

App Store - My Verizon Mobile

App Store - VZ Contact Transfer

Are they baked into the OS?, it does not appear that way.

 

[hyperdude]

The million dollar question is if these bloatware apps are simply installed and can be deleted, or are they baked into ICS. If they're installed, then Google can pump out updates itself. If they're baked, we have a huge problem regarding updates.
This would force the update to go through Verizon first, and doing such a thing ALWAYS means ridiculous wait times.

Being "baked" into the updates from Verizon can be as simple as them being preinstalled into the /system/app directory. Unless of course Verizon is taking it upon themselves to somehow integrate the services provided by these apps directly INTO the firmware, which I doubt they'd do.
My guess is that if/when Verizon is responsible for pushing out the OTAs, the only delays they'll need will be to check the changes work right and the two preinstalled apps function correctly still.

Remember, the OG Droid got Froyo just a couple months after that hit AOSP, and that was waiting on Motorola to make the update. The Verizon GN will run the same OS as the global model with the exceptions of the network stack specific to CDMA/LTE, and having some Verizon bloat put in (they're just apps!). If we were talking some other random phone that was supposed to run unskinned Android, yes there would probably be delays because it would be up to the manufacturer to actually update the OS for the device.

 

[Premium1]

App Store - My Verizon Mobile

App Store - VZ Contact Transfer

Are they baked into the OS?, it does not appear that way.

They aren't installed out of the box. You have to download them.

 

[ebrown126]

Being "baked" into the updates from Verizon can be as simple as them being preinstalled into the /system/app directory. Unless of course Verizon is taking it upon themselves to somehow integrate the services provided by these apps directly INTO the firmware, which I doubt they'd do.
My guess is that if/when Verizon is responsible for pushing out the OTAs, the only delays they'll need will be to check the changes work right and the two preinstalled apps function correctly still.

Remember, the OG Droid got Froyo just a couple months after that hit AOSP, and that was waiting on Motorola to make the update. The Verizon GN will run the same OS as the global model with the exceptions of the network stack specific to CDMA/LTE, and having some Verizon bloat put in (they're just apps!). If we were talking some other random phone that was supposed to run unskinned Android, yes there would probably be delays because it would be up to the manufacturer to actually update the OS for the device.

Thank you! That is exactly what I was thinking and trying to write. They are simply apps. There is no skin over lay that the manufacture must updated and give to Verizon for approval.

 

[grayzweb]

this is partly my point, these apps are not part of the software that is ICS..they are standalone apps that perform system activities. They dont need to program them into the software at the OS level, they can simply add them on top via an update. So what im saying is, they have other delivery methods like how angry birds comes from the market.

The part about angry birds originally was to point out that market apps dont need to be included with ICS updates just like these verizon ones wont need to be

Of course they can be downloaded from the Market, or directly from VZW. Just like any other App.
BUT, then it wouldn't be bloatware, and you could also uninstall it.
Verizon wants their apps baked in, so they can't be removed. Sure, you can root and then be able to remove them, but ya better put em back or else the next update will fail.
At least that is the rest of VZW phones are. They just have to have some control over you.
I pray this doesn't happen with the GN.

* And if I wanted VZW backup assistant, then let ME install it. Quit screwing around Verizon!


Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

 

[Droid800]

Nobody has ANY idea if these apps are part of the ROM or if they are simply preinstalled. Those are two different things. It is overwhelmingly likely that they are preinstalled, and can be removed easily.

ALL updates for Nexus devices come directly from Google. Period.

 

[hyperdude]

Of course they can be downloaded from the Market, or directly from VZW. Just like any other App.
BUT, then it wouldn't be bloatware, and you could also uninstall it.
Verizon wants their apps baked in, so they can't be removed. Sure, you can root and then be able to remove them, but ya better put em back or else the next update will fail.
At least that is the rest of VZW phones are. They just have to have some control over you.
I pray this doesn't happen with the GN.

* And if I wanted VZW backup assistant, then let ME install it. Quit screwing around Verizon!


Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

How would removing the apps cause the next update to fail? I'm fairly sure the update writes over the existing app in memory (and would reinstall the app), not fail because it's missing.
Unless you're saying that being rooted would cause it to fail, which it wouldn't necessarily - you'd just lose root, AND probably end up with those apps again. So re-root.
Or, if being rooted WOULD cause the update to fail, just install a custom recovery and flash the new rooted update once it hits the internet.

 

[Jerry Hildenbrand]

Nobody has ANY idea if these apps are part of the ROM or if they are simply preinstalled. Those are two different things. It is overwhelmingly likely that they are preinstalled, and can be removed easily.

ALL updates for Nexus devices come directly from Google. Period.

They are baked into the ROM.

How would removing the apps cause the next update to fail? I'm fairly sure the update writes over the existing app in memory (and would reinstall the app), not fail because it's missing.
Unless you're saying that being rooted would cause it to fail, which it wouldn't necessarily - you'd just lose root, AND probably end up with those apps again. So re-root.
Or, if being rooted WOULD cause the update to fail, just install a custom recovery and flash the new rooted update once it hits the internet.

OTA's are delta updates. If ALL the apps and files are not in place the update will fail the initial check of the system. Including Verizonware and changes in the framework needed for Verizon A-GPS.

All a person has to do is look at the LTE Xoom's update time-table compared to the wifi version. It will take a bit longer (Verizon has to test their apps and code), but not too awful much. Point releases shouldn't need Verizon to do anything except test it before they green-light it for their network.

 

[Droid800]

They are baked into the ROM.

Do you know that for a fact?

OTA's are delta updates. If ALL the apps and files are not in place the update will fail the initial check of the system. Including Verizonware and changes in the framework needed for Verizon A-GPS.

All a person has to do is look at the LTE Xoom's update time-table compared to the wifi version. It will take a bit longer (Verizon has to test their apps and code), but not too awful much. Point releases shouldn't need Verizon to do anything except test it before they green-light it for their network.

Verizon does not issue updates to Nexus devices, Google does.

 

[Jerry Hildenbrand]

Do you know that for a fact?

Yes.

Verizon does not issue updates to Nexus devices, Google does.

Link?

Anyone who thinks Verizon (or T-Mobile, or Sprint) allows/will allow Google to push updates to phones supported on their network without testing them is fooling themselves. Especially when dealing with closed and proprietary software like the couple Verizon apps included.

But like I said, it will only be a matter of a week or two (at most) delay IMO. Testing they way the two apps work with any update shouldn't take long.

 

[hyperdude]

But like I said, it will only be a matter of a week or two (at most) delay IMO. Testing they way the two apps work with any update shouldn't take long.

This is what I was trying to say. All Verizon will need once a new update is available is to check their apps work and that there's no problems all of a sudden. They don't need two months to make random changes.