Will Tab A 8 get Android 9?

[Doncankook]

I think my Tab A 8 had Android 7 on it when I bought it, then was upgraded to Android 8 straight away.

I hear from some developers that they are programming for Android 9 now, so I wonder if we should expect another upgrade?

My old Nexus 7 2013 stopped getting "support" after it was upgraded to Android 6.0.1, which I thought was a very good version, with it's multiple audible notifications for each application, like battery alarms. Android 8 only allows ONE audible notification for any app.

Thanks.

 

[Rukbat]

I wouldn't count on it. One update is normally the limit (except maybe on some flagship devices). Google updates for 3 years, others aren't so generous. (Google has to for a while - they're developing Android on the current Pixel.)

 

[Quang Tran3]

It just did. AT&T rolled out earlier, Verizon just rolled it out last week. I have 2 issues though: 1) Everything became slower than acceptable, extremely unusable; 2) Hotspot tethering no longer works. I'm on Verizon, the error message is "Mobile number not found -- Contact your provider to subscribe". I spent an hour on the phone with Verizon support, then another hour at the local corporate store to try to reprovision mobile hotspot and couldn't fix it. Prior to dealing with support, I had already reset network three times, factory reset twice. Then I rolled back to Android 8 and hotspot tethering came right back. I put Pie on it to test again, and tethering went away again. One thing I haven't tried is to turn off/on hardware tethering under the Developer Settings section. I'll try that this weekend and see if that fixes it for Pie.

I think my Tab A 8 had Android 7 on it when I bought it, then was upgraded to Android 8 straight away.

I hear from some developers that they are programming for Android 9 now, so I wonder if we should expect another upgrade?

My old Nexus 7 2013 stopped getting "support" after it was upgraded to Android 6.0.1, which I thought was a very good version, with it's multiple audible notifications for each application, like battery alarms. Android 8 only allows ONE audible notification for any app.

Thanks.

 

[Joe1136]

I just received the update Android Pie on my Galaxy TabA I was able to delete the Kid Zone and an antivirus program that they had on the tablet so far so far it feels and run like it's brand new very smooth.

 

[DARK Vader777]

I grabbed the 32 gig Tab A 8" for my free gift from Samsung.
I was really surprised how fast this thing is.

I just use it for the security cameras because an RCA trash tablet we had won from a raffle was still running
Kit Kat. By the time it booted up, I'd have breakfast cooked.
Slow as hell booting up. Anyway we
gave it to my grandkids, then they moved to Florida and we got them the Tab S6.
They love them.

Gave the RCA to the Library. Cleaned it all up and it didn't look bad at all. The young lady laughed and said I wish it was an iPad, we needed one.

My wife goes out and donates one to the library. I'm not saying nothing.

But the Tab A 8" I have is excellent for monitoring a home system.
Installed wall mounts in living room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom.

Where this goes, it's always recording and on. Thanks Samsung
Running Pie One UI 1.1 on my Tablet A 8" 32 gig.
What a steal

 

[FarmerB0b]

I just received the update Android Pie on my Galaxy TabA I was able to delete the Kid Zone and an antivirus program that they had on the tablet so far so far it feels and run like it's brand new very smooth.

""Yippee!!" My A6 is really doggin'. That would be great if 9 ups the performance . . .

 

[Doncankook]

I just installed the update to Android 9!

The thing still works, but there are some weird changes:

The clock is on the left end. There is NO UI Tuner.

The quick-settings toggle buttons are mixed up & different, but I was able to put it back to my usual (WiFi, BT, Rotate, Sync.) If I try to add a widget, it crashes, but I think it was due to the Home Launcher (Apex.) There are some new sounds for new events or notifications.

Except for the weird things, I think it will work.

 

[Doncankook]

For anyone with a Tab A and some knowledge:
Is tere a way to get all those quick-lanch buttons out of the panel?? I only need about 5 spots, and there are about 30 buttons! Samsung decided you have to keep all of them, and you can only move a few to the 'hidden' area. I definitwly DON'T need Kids Mode, or Airplane, DNotDisturb, Dolbt Atmos, or Secure Folder!

 

[Doncankook]

I have had Android 9 for many months now, but Google Play says just about every application I have "may not be compatible" which means it hasn't been updated to the Android 210 standard.

What that means, IMO, is that YOU need to buy the newest Android 10 tablet!

 

[B. Diddy]

I have had Android 9 for many months now, but Google Play says just about every application I have "may not be compatible" which means it hasn't been updated to the Android 210 standard.

What that means, IMO, is that YOU need to buy the newest Android 10 tablet!

That message actually isn't specifically about Android 9 -- it has more to do with the fact that you have a tablet, and many apps aren't optimized for tablet use. The vast majority of those apps will still work without significant problems.

 

[Doncankook]

That's why if you send a message to the developer of an application, the first thing they ask you is, "what kind of phone do you have?"

There should be a stipulatuion on Google Play that tells you if an app is designed for a phone or a tablet.

 

[B. Diddy]

That's why if you send a message to the developer of an application, the first thing they ask you is, "what kind of phone do you have?"

Yes, this is a consequence of having such a vast variety of Android devices available, with differing firmware and hardware. It's one of Android's greatest strengths (variety) and weaknesses (fragmentation) at the same time!

The Play Store used to have a category for tablet-optimized apps, but I don't see it any more -- either they gave up on the category due to developers not really putting any effort into tablet optimization, or they figured that all apps should be designed to work the same on tablets or phones.