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"Devices will be supported until Google drops support from the Android Open Source Project. Google guarantees major version updates for at least two years after

by ninjin 11y ago

"Devices will be supported until Google drops support from the Android Open Source Project. Google guarantees major version updates for at least two years after launch. Security updates are guaranteed for three years after launch along with 1.5 years after the last device is sold." As someone that is still using a phone from 2012, this is problematic since I have no intention of getting a new phone that often. Is there no stable, secure, and open combination of OS and smartphone out there?

ocdtrekkie 11y ago
No, there isn't. Microsoft supports Windows Phone/Mobile for three years, which is I think the longest of anyone, but obviously it's not open.
ausjke 11y ago
This is also the biggest concern to put Android into non-phone/non-tablet(i.e. no consumer devices) embedded products, which can run for years.
carkje9 11y ago
Cyanogenmod still supports security updates for the Galaxy S, a model released in 2010.[0] Is it still worth using a six-year-old phone? Maybe not, but if your device is lucky enough to have support it can last you a long time. [0]https://download.cyanogenmod.org/?type=nightly&device=galaxysmtd https://download.cyanogenmod.org/?type=nightly&device=galaxy...
- e12e 11y ago
  I recently lost my Note 3, subsequently bricked my HTC "Pico" explorer - bought as a dev phone and GPS device due to the notorious GPS issues on my first Android; a Galaxy S. So now I'm back (typing this in Firefox) on my ancient Galaxy S, running a recent cyanogen build [Ed: 11 nightly, based on Android 4.4.4 kitkat. I believe I tried 12 - but it failed to install]. It kinda works. Had to force a move from dalvik to art, and force HW rendering - there are quite a few stalls. I haven't tried encrypting the device; it's already slow enough. Ironically(?) Firefox works better than Chrome. Signal seems to work OK (only for sms so far due to missing network effect; I don't message anyone with signal installed). I'm considering just getting a new battery (replaceable battery, yay!) - as it is cheaper than getting an LG g3, nexus 5 (no memory card slot, bleh) or a Sony xperia z3 (waterproof). I wouldn't really say it's usable - but a g2 or 3 might be OK. [Ed:The low RAM on the early devices appear to me to be the worst issue. I wouldn't recommend buying a device with less than a gig of ram. the Galaxy S has ~384mb.]
- gsnedders 11y ago
  That's nightly builds, which CM discourage use of. The three most recent stable "snapshots" are from 2015-09-01 00:25:00, 2015-06-26 07:37:01, and 2014-11-12 08:14:51. Given Google has been pushing monthly security updates for a long time, I'd have massive doubts about about the status of security updates for it.
- strcat 11y ago
  CyanogenMod doesn't have all of the source code or the keys to sign low-level firmware, so it's not possible for them to provide full security updates after vendors drop support. They only provide security updates for the Android Open Source Project components. CopperheadOS is security-oriented so it's not going to keep devices alive when it becomes impossible to provide proper security updates.

by ninjin 11y ago

ocdtrekkie 11y ago

No, there isn't. Microsoft supports Windows Phone/Mobile for three years, which is I think the longest of anyone, but obviously it's not open.

ausjke 11y ago

This is also the biggest concern to put Android into non-phone/non-tablet(i.e. no consumer devices) embedded products, which can run for years.

carkje9 11y ago

Cyanogenmod still supports security updates for the Galaxy S, a model released in 2010.[0] Is it still worth using a six-year-old phone? Maybe not, but if your device is lucky enough to have support it can last you a long time. [0]https://download.cyanogenmod.org/?type=nightly&device=galaxysmtd https://download.cyanogenmod.org/?type=nightly&device=galaxy...

e12e 11y ago
I recently lost my Note 3, subsequently bricked my HTC "Pico" explorer - bought as a dev phone and GPS device due to the notorious GPS issues on my first Android; a Galaxy S. So now I'm back (typing this in Firefox) on my ancient Galaxy S, running a recent cyanogen build [Ed: 11 nightly, based on Android 4.4.4 kitkat. I believe I tried 12 - but it failed to install]. It kinda works. Had to force a move from dalvik to art, and force HW rendering - there are quite a few stalls. I haven't tried encrypting the device; it's already slow enough. Ironically(?) Firefox works better than Chrome. Signal seems to work OK (only for sms so far due to missing network effect; I don't message anyone with signal installed). I'm considering just getting a new battery (replaceable battery, yay!) - as it is cheaper than getting an LG g3, nexus 5 (no memory card slot, bleh) or a Sony xperia z3 (waterproof). I wouldn't really say it's usable - but a g2 or 3 might be OK. [Ed:The low RAM on the early devices appear to me to be the worst issue. I wouldn't recommend buying a device with less than a gig of ram. the Galaxy S has ~384mb.]
gsnedders 11y ago
That's nightly builds, which CM discourage use of. The three most recent stable "snapshots" are from 2015-09-01 00:25:00, 2015-06-26 07:37:01, and 2014-11-12 08:14:51. Given Google has been pushing monthly security updates for a long time, I'd have massive doubts about about the status of security updates for it.
strcat 11y ago
CyanogenMod doesn't have all of the source code or the keys to sign low-level firmware, so it's not possible for them to provide full security updates after vendors drop support. They only provide security updates for the Android Open Source Project components. CopperheadOS is security-oriented so it's not going to keep devices alive when it becomes impossible to provide proper security updates.