Why dosent Google give OEM's earlier access to software updates?

[TechTinker]

Why dosent Google release the code as they near the reveal to get samsung and ect to get their skins all over it? It gives them time to analyze it, then they skin it, then when google releases the final version, finish it up. That way people don't have to wait a a year. I mean it won't be right away though that'd be good for android. Just quicker.

 

[Aquila]

One of the benefits of HTC and Samsung having Google Play edition devices is that they do get the code earlier now. However, it's still a very lengthy process because rather than being "skins" in the old desktop app sense of the word, they're more akin to a ground up rewrite that just happens to have a lot of functionality in common, and many things are not backwards/forwards compatible and have to be rewritten.

It's interesting to note that the GPe devices still run the same underlying firmware structure as the "skinned" devices, so a lot of the foundational changes are being made very quickly, so what we're really looking for in the delays are a combination of unique features/apps being rewritten to support the new OS and the testing and certification processes, which take much longer on re-releases because there is no profit motive to create urgency with the carriers.

 

[Jlav78]

A lot of companies can't keep it secret (then again... nexus 5 leaks a few times a day) and it's usually finished a week or two before launch.

Posted via Android central app on my rooted LG Google Nexus 4

 

[ahaxton]

At Google I/O last year, Google announced hardware partners would be getting a platform development kit for the new OS 2-3 months in advance of release to speed updates.
Google will release an Platform Development Kit for hardware developers ahead of each major Android upgrade | The Verge

 

[Ry]

Why dosent Google release the code as they near the reveal to get samsung and ect to get their skins all over it? It gives them time to analyze it, then they skin it, then when google releases the final version, finish it up. That way people don't have to wait a a year. I mean it won't be right away though that'd be good for android. Just quicker.

And even if they got earlier access, that OEM would still need to invest time and resources developing and testing the upgrade.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Jerry Hildenbrand]

Who said they don't

 

[Rule9]

The carriers should also be mentioned as culprits for update delays

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

 

[Ry]

The carriers should also be mentioned as culprits for update delays

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

You can't blame a carrier if the OEM isn't even trying to make the update.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Rule9]

You can't blame a carrier if the OEM isn't even trying to make the update.

Posted via Android Central App

Never said I was referring to carriers alone

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

 

[Ry]

Never said I was referring to carriers alone

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

"delays"

Can't delay something that was never in development.

 

[Rule9]

Mom in law? Is that you?? Bad enough you nit pick about insignificant things when u visit but I thought we had a talk about you following my forum posts!

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

 

[SactoKingsFan]

Why wait up to a year for an update? Just root and apply custom ROM.

 

[alexlam24]

*cough cough HTC cough cough lack of support cough cough buying Nexus 5 when I have money cough cough I think I'm dying* wheezes*

Sent from Samsung Z1 GPE on T-Mobile

 

[franky_402]

That's pretty funny considering the HTC one was practically the first device besides nexus to have 4.3 and looks to be the first to get 4.4 as well.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[alexlam24]

That's pretty funny considering the HTC one was practically the first device besides nexus to have 4.3 and looks to be the first to get 4.4 as well.

Posted via Android Central App

It came out with 4.1

Sent from Samsung Z1 GPE on T-Mobile

 

[anon5664829]

It came out with 4.1

Sent from Samsung Z1 GPE on T-Mobile

Umn that's besides the point. It still got 4.3 before any other phone.

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