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The last device sold by Google that now runs an Android release of 4.2 or earlier was (afaik) the Nexus S - which was released in 2010. I think it's reasonable

by gst 12y ago

The last device sold by Google that now runs an Android release of 4.2 or earlier was (afaik) the Nexus S - which was released in 2010. I think it's reasonable to stop support for a particular device after something like 4 years. Yes, there are other 3rd party manufacturers that sold devices based on such outdated versions up until recently. But why should it be Google's task to provide updates for these devices? That sounds like something that the manufacturers are supposed to do.

sangnoir 12y ago
I have a Galaxy Nexus (2011) that's stuck on 4.2. I wouldn't mind receiving bug-fix releases.
- chambo622 12y ago
  Small correction, the GNex was updated through 4.3.
  - ben1040 12y ago
    The poster may have had the Verizon model; it never got 4.3. They just abandoned it at 4.2.
    - digi_owl 12y ago
      And that may be one reason for Google going full steam with Project Ara. Limit the carrier meddling to a replaceable mobile radio module.
iamcreasy 12y ago
Not every part of the world changes at the same pace. There are places where a device running Android 4.2 are the best one on the market. That being said, its extremely frustrating to see this happening.
- fpgeek 12y ago
  > There are places where a device running Android 4.2 are the best one on the market. Where? With the possible exception of China [1], after the Moto G and Android One, I'd expect that you could get a KitKat (or better) entry-level device pretty much anywhere. [1] where there are entry-level KitKat devices, I'm just not sure of their quality since some major entry-level manufactureres (e.g. Xiaomi) are still on 4.2, not to mention that I wouldn't expect Google to go out of their way to support Chinese devices since they don't come with and generally can't use most Google services.
  - arihant 12y ago
    Almost all Xiaomi, OnePlus, Gionee, Oppo phones are running KitKat. Xiaomi is running 4.3 on their cheapest device which would be the last device to get KitKat this month. Almost all their devices are running KitKat for a long time and they had released an unofficial testing ROM for 5.0 a week after the code was pushed. Xiaomi phones do come with Google services. Their flagship devices are expected a 5.0 early 2015. I would say they move faster than most brands. I went from iPhone to their $100 model and find almost nothing that I could do before that I now cannot. Even in terms of performance and polish. Actually I can do slightly more thanks to Android Wear, but Xiaomi has less to do with that.
  - iamcreasy 12y ago
    Where people don't have the opportunity to look up online to see what are their options are, but good students come out of those situations nonetheless. Most them are on 3G network and reception of a wifi network is an accident.
  - gcb0 12y ago
    ah, the great San Francisco tunnel vision strikes again...
jacquesm 12y ago
> I think it's reasonable to stop support for a particular device after something like 4 years. Right, because 4 year old electronics might just as well go into the landfill and if someone is dumb enough to use them still we don't care if they have a security liability in their pocket. Of course you need to support your devices longer than 4 years. You need to support them as long as their design life, and if your design life is only 4 years then you're not aware of the trickle-down effect of hardware once bought.
microtherion 12y ago
That depends on whether you see Google's role in the Android ecosystem as primarily an OS vendor or as a hardware vendor. In the latter view, your position certainly seems plausible. However, if one sees Google as an OS vendor, then, considering that 60% of Android phones are running 4.2 or older (according to https://developer.android.com/about/dashboards/index.html https://developer.android.com/about/dashboards/index.html), supporting somewhat older phones would seem to be desirable.
- bestnameever 12y ago
  They do support them as much as they are able to through play services. The fact remains is that many of those phones are unlikely to receive updates through 5.0.. How are you supposed to support them if the hardware vendors are unwilling to update them?
- sliverstorm 12y ago
  As an OS vendor, it is still in their interests to drive android forward and minimize effort wasted on antique versions. They have Windows XP as an instructive example of the risks of allowing themselves to continue supporting an OS too long
bloaf 12y ago
I believe the Google TV platform uses 4.2.2 or earlier (i.e. 3.2) Those devices are still on the market, and it may technically be the manufacturers' responsibility to upgrade, but none of them have. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_TV#Second_Generation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_TV#Second_Generation

by gst 12y ago

sangnoir 12y ago

I have a Galaxy Nexus (2011) that's stuck on 4.2. I wouldn't mind receiving bug-fix releases.

chambo622 12y ago
Small correction, the GNex was updated through 4.3.
- ben1040 12y ago
  The poster may have had the Verizon model; it never got 4.3. They just abandoned it at 4.2.
  - digi_owl 12y ago
    And that may be one reason for Google going full steam with Project Ara. Limit the carrier meddling to a replaceable mobile radio module.

iamcreasy 12y ago

Not every part of the world changes at the same pace. There are places where a device running Android 4.2 are the best one on the market. That being said, its extremely frustrating to see this happening.

fpgeek 12y ago
> There are places where a device running Android 4.2 are the best one on the market. Where? With the possible exception of China [1], after the Moto G and Android One, I'd expect that you could get a KitKat (or better) entry-level device pretty much anywhere. [1] where there are entry-level KitKat devices, I'm just not sure of their quality since some major entry-level manufactureres (e.g. Xiaomi) are still on 4.2, not to mention that I wouldn't expect Google to go out of their way to support Chinese devices since they don't come with and generally can't use most Google services.
- arihant 12y ago
  Almost all Xiaomi, OnePlus, Gionee, Oppo phones are running KitKat. Xiaomi is running 4.3 on their cheapest device which would be the last device to get KitKat this month. Almost all their devices are running KitKat for a long time and they had released an unofficial testing ROM for 5.0 a week after the code was pushed. Xiaomi phones do come with Google services. Their flagship devices are expected a 5.0 early 2015. I would say they move faster than most brands. I went from iPhone to their $100 model and find almost nothing that I could do before that I now cannot. Even in terms of performance and polish. Actually I can do slightly more thanks to Android Wear, but Xiaomi has less to do with that.
- iamcreasy 12y ago
  Where people don't have the opportunity to look up online to see what are their options are, but good students come out of those situations nonetheless. Most them are on 3G network and reception of a wifi network is an accident.
- gcb0 12y ago
  ah, the great San Francisco tunnel vision strikes again...

jacquesm 12y ago

> I think it's reasonable to stop support for a particular device after something like 4 years. Right, because 4 year old electronics might just as well go into the landfill and if someone is dumb enough to use them still we don't care if they have a security liability in their pocket. Of course you need to support your devices longer than 4 years. You need to support them as long as their design life, and if your design life is only 4 years then you're not aware of the trickle-down effect of hardware once bought.

microtherion 12y ago

That depends on whether you see Google's role in the Android ecosystem as primarily an OS vendor or as a hardware vendor. In the latter view, your position certainly seems plausible. However, if one sees Google as an OS vendor, then, considering that 60% of Android phones are running 4.2 or older (according to https://developer.android.com/about/dashboards/index.html https://developer.android.com/about/dashboards/index.html), supporting somewhat older phones would seem to be desirable.

bestnameever 12y ago
They do support them as much as they are able to through play services. The fact remains is that many of those phones are unlikely to receive updates through 5.0.. How are you supposed to support them if the hardware vendors are unwilling to update them?
sliverstorm 12y ago
As an OS vendor, it is still in their interests to drive android forward and minimize effort wasted on antique versions. They have Windows XP as an instructive example of the risks of allowing themselves to continue supporting an OS too long

bloaf 12y ago

I believe the Google TV platform uses 4.2.2 or earlier (i.e. 3.2) Those devices are still on the market, and it may technically be the manufacturers' responsibility to upgrade, but none of them have. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_TV#Second_Generation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_TV#Second_Generation