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Youtube on my mother in laws Samsung tablet from 2013 has stopped working. It has stopped because it has android 4 and you can't update chrome past V42 and yout

Youtube on my mother in laws Samsung tablet from 2013 has stopped working. It has stopped because it has android 4 and you can't update chrome past V42 and youtube won't load without a later version of chrome. I installed firefox and she has access to youtube through the web for now. The tablet is in immaculate condition physically. if it played youtube in 2013 it should be able to play it now, it cost over €500 at the time. How is this anything else except planned obsolescence. I know there will be comments about security etc but she only needs it for youtube and solitaire.

harrygeez 6y ago
There's a good chance you can find a compatible version of LineageOS. That should extend its lifespan considerably
- gruez 6y ago
  If you go through the lineageos device list there's literally no samsung tablets from 2013 that's currently supported. If you count the devices that had builds but aren't currently supported you get more devices, but I suspect your odds are still not good considering there's several unsupported models for every supported model.
codethief 6y ago
I sympathize with your (mother-in-law's) situation! I, too, own a Samsung tablet from that period. Have you checked whether you could install LineageOS or some other custom ROM on the tablet? That way, you might be able to extend its lifetime by another couple years.
steerablesafe 6y ago
Maybe give Newpipe Legacy a try. https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.schabi.newpipelegacy/ https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.schabi.newpipelegacy/
ako 6y ago
That is not planned obsolence. Nobody said this tablet should stop working by 2021. It's simply the result of limiting cost of software development. If you are creating a new version of android, you cant affort to support all devices. If you create a new version of chrome, you cant affort to support all version of android. If you create a new version of youtube, you cant afford to support all versions of chrome, etc, etc.
- mc32 6y ago
  While true, Microsoft used to be able to do a much better job of it (and still does, compared to Android).
- delecti 6y ago
  Agreed. I think there needs to be a better term for the reality of the situation, something like "negligent obsolescence". There's no technological limitation preventing Samsung from updating those for a decade or more, they just don't care. A battery degrading over time isn't planned obsolescence, and while not being able to easily replace the battery might be, more likely it's that they just don't bother to put in the slightly extra effort to make the batteries easier to replace. Right to Repair mandates would be a good start in ensuring manufacturers are properly motivated.
- asddubs 6y ago
  you should at least have a way to install another OS on it then. So IMO driver blobs are a real part of the problem here
- burntoutfire 6y ago
  > If you create a new version of chrome, you cant affort to support all version of android. If you create a new version of youtube, you cant afford to support all versions of chrome, etc, etc. Google is making billions per year, they can certainly afford to support all versions of Android. They just choose to pocket the money and screw their customers instead.
- mywacaday 6y ago
  Correction I installed Opera. Anyone know why opera can run on android 4 and the latest Chrome can't/wont?

harrygeez 6y ago

There's a good chance you can find a compatible version of LineageOS. That should extend its lifespan considerably

gruez 6y ago
If you go through the lineageos device list there's literally no samsung tablets from 2013 that's currently supported. If you count the devices that had builds but aren't currently supported you get more devices, but I suspect your odds are still not good considering there's several unsupported models for every supported model.

codethief 6y ago

I sympathize with your (mother-in-law's) situation! I, too, own a Samsung tablet from that period. Have you checked whether you could install LineageOS or some other custom ROM on the tablet? That way, you might be able to extend its lifetime by another couple years.

steerablesafe 6y ago

Maybe give Newpipe Legacy a try. https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.schabi.newpipelegacy/ https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.schabi.newpipelegacy/

ako 6y ago

That is not planned obsolence. Nobody said this tablet should stop working by 2021. It's simply the result of limiting cost of software development. If you are creating a new version of android, you cant affort to support all devices. If you create a new version of chrome, you cant affort to support all version of android. If you create a new version of youtube, you cant afford to support all versions of chrome, etc, etc.

mc32 6y ago
While true, Microsoft used to be able to do a much better job of it (and still does, compared to Android).
delecti 6y ago
Agreed. I think there needs to be a better term for the reality of the situation, something like "negligent obsolescence". There's no technological limitation preventing Samsung from updating those for a decade or more, they just don't care. A battery degrading over time isn't planned obsolescence, and while not being able to easily replace the battery might be, more likely it's that they just don't bother to put in the slightly extra effort to make the batteries easier to replace. Right to Repair mandates would be a good start in ensuring manufacturers are properly motivated.
asddubs 6y ago
you should at least have a way to install another OS on it then. So IMO driver blobs are a real part of the problem here
burntoutfire 6y ago
> If you create a new version of chrome, you cant affort to support all version of android. If you create a new version of youtube, you cant afford to support all versions of chrome, etc, etc. Google is making billions per year, they can certainly afford to support all versions of Android. They just choose to pocket the money and screw their customers instead.
mywacaday 6y ago
Correction I installed Opera. Anyone know why opera can run on android 4 and the latest Chrome can't/wont?