The Samsung/ Android Update Debacle Now Hear This!
Seith Weintraub over at Fortune Magazine published a really great article today in response to Apple Fan Boy MG Siegler’s article about IOS updates. Now of course most of you know even though Mr. Paris Lemon is a deep mac boy we have a overall Tech Crunch Fans. However, MG or (Lemon if that’s what you prefer to call him) said that 90% of IOS users were on the most updated version of IOS and Android users, aboud .4% had a chance of being on the latest version. Seth, quick to help us out, pointed out that 90% of Android users are on 2.XX while 52% are on 2.2, yes we know that 2.3 is out now.
Everyone is also very aware of all the name calling, insult throwing, accusations and blowback Samsung is receiving because they are holding back an Android 2.2 upgrade on all 4 US major carrier Galaxy S devices just because they have the Samsung Vibrant 4G coming out in a few weeks on T-Mobile. That’s right the Verizon Fascinate, the Sprint Epic 4G and the AT&T Captivate are all being held back simply because of the T-Mobile device.. right? OF COURSE NOT!
Most of the other Galaxy S variants in every other country in the world have already received an upgrade to 2.2 via KIES or by way of an OTA through their carrier. The first thing we need to know in America is that Kies is not readily available to us. This is by way of the CARRIER and not Samsung.
The second thing you need to take into consideration, kind of like Android as a whole, is that a lot of the Samsung Galaxy S’ were acutally sold OUTSIDE of the United States. So to me the logic that Samsung only cares about the bottom line can be debated by the argument than why did all the other countries get the update quicker.
Hopefully you’re following me so far and the rest of this will just end up pissing people off.
- Many of the people whining about Samsung updates and bashing Samsung in general don’t own a Samsung phone. Or don’t use one on a regular basis. Remeber according to Andy Ruben we are activating 300,000 Android devices per day. A lot of those are for normal consumer people. The bulk of the readers of the tech blog readers, writers and community aren’t normal “consumers”. The normal consumers get upset when they start hearing about these updates through their tech savvy friends and then feel slighted.
- Most of the Samsung Galaxy S variants came with Android 2.1 in a modified form with touchwiz on top, couple that with the hardware (superAMOLED screen, 1ghz hummingbird processor) etc and the proprietary social hub, media hub etc, that actual normal consumers are taking advantage of you still have a pretty darn good, up to date device. We aren’t talking Sony Xperia here that released with 1.6 we’re talking about a version of 2.1 that was fancy schmancy at the time. Add to that the fact that both the Fascinate and the Epic 4G included Mobile Hotspot (one of the key features from 2.2) and what out of this world, oh my god my phone is so outdated, feature are the general public Samsung customers missing?
- The next thing we have to realize is the way America works. There is a lot more bureacracy from the government and carrier politics from our wireless carriers than most other countries. There is a lot of red tape for everything that happens in the wireless industry on the carrier/manufacturer side than any other country in the world. Take kies for instance if America had access to kies everyone with a Samsung Galaxy S phone would be upgraded.
Now take your active Android Evangelists, ones with a passionate heart and a vested interest in Android who actually own a Samsung Galaxy S phone. Your @theandroidgirl and @raywalters for instance, these people, among countless others who are on twitter and podcasts and were big enough believers to purchase a Samsung Galaxy S variant, and who may have partially based their decision on the fact that Samsung did say (at least at IFA) that we would see Froyo by the end of 2010, these people have legitimate complaints to the source.
Of course its also very disheartening that Samsung obviously has the source code for 2.3 as it’s running on the Nexus S today. And Gingerbread is a whole different issue.
For our followers on Samsung Galaxy S US Variants, we feel for you but have a challenge:
In the comments below, tell us what you are looking for out of Froyo that you aren’t getting out of the modified version of 2.1 that’s on your Galaxy S now?
Why should you do this? Take a trip over to samsung.com and you will see that thedroidguy is one of the twitter accounts featured on Samsung’s website. Trust me comments here will be seen by people that matter at Samsung. And for the record, even as someone who genuinely suports Samsung, we are very disappointed in this whole Samsung upgrade mess and definitely feel let down that US users didnt get a Froyo update in 2010. And also for the record as far as the phones I am currently using, my 1st use phone is a Droid Pro, 2nd is a Samsung Nexus S and 3rd is an HTC Desire.
Category: Android, ATT, Samsung, Sprint, T-Mobile, Tech News, Verizon
I’m let down because of not having gps fix, FLASH, no skype, and some apps don’t support galaxy s. Other than that, I was informed 2.2 was to be delivered before December 31, 2010, 11:59:59 PM. I have several Samsung products, dvd player other phones, tv, but because of this debacle I opted to buy a toshiba laptop over a samsung today.
First and foremost FLASH!! We should not have to root to attain, the single biggest difference between Android and Apple!! I personally own a T-Mobile Samsung Vibrant
ummm have you heard of JAILBREAKING?
I want to be able to use flash and be able to customize my quick bar. I saw demos of 2.2 and 2.3 and I am so frustrated that I don’t have it yet. To add to my frustration, all my coworkers have an HTC EVO & have been rubbing 2.2 in my face. I like Samsung but if February rolls around & I am still on 2.1 I’m going to ditch Samsung!
2.2: Installing apps to SD to save on phone memory is a HUGE DEAL.
Gee, I didn’t realize that being able to move apps to my SD card was such a trivial concern. If Samsung was going to have this many problems upgrading the OS, then they shouldn’t have lied about it. I would have said the screen is nice, but the functionality is more important & injured up for an HTC device, instead. Never buying Samsung again.
We do have Kies in the US, just not the full version. Kies mini is for firmware upgrade only.
I think the worst part is trying to view websites (like verizon wireless full website) from my fascinate and can’t because of the lack of flash player. being able to store apps on your sd card would be nice too seeing that the galaxy s phones have less internal memory than both the droid x and evo 4g. Not that 2.1 sucks but those features would keep the line of phones in the top running and if updating the devices to 2.2 is the way to do it then that’s what they have to do.
These are the features I’m most excited about:
USB tethering and Wi-Fi hotspot functionality (although AT&T will probably not allow this)
Additional application speed improvements courtesy of JIT implementation
Integration of Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine into the Browser application
I would also like the GPS fixed fully, once and for all.
At this point, I feel like they should commit to release 2.3 for these phones to make things up to us. They already have it working on the Nexus S, after all.
Lack of Flash is one item. However, my biggest issue is the lack of transparency. The lack of communications… No one has the guts to stand up and say why 2.2 is not being pushed or if it will ever be. That’s my main frustration with Samsung and T-Mobile, my carrier. They point fingers then stay silent and let everything fester. If “we the nerds” are inconsequential in their business model, then why not tell us what’s happeniong?
I am an eic user since sept. 9th. I want flash player, the ability to save apps to sd and be able to use samsungs very own car dock accessory(use the phne as mp3 player connecting to stereo. It says right on it with a red sticker that function not available until 2.2 is released. Also many voice safety concern for bluetooth voice dialing and having to be hands freedriving in their respective states.