Hands on with the Samsung Galaxy S III

[Drillbit]

This is how it goes.

Adapting UI changes to a new OS is probably the least amount of work when it comes to adapting a new platform. You're covering the skin here. This is like giving a car spoilers and a new paint job. You are working on the top most level of the OS, just the aesthetics.

Adapting a new OS to a new CPU and GPU platform is the part that creates the most amount of work. In car analogy, its like completely changing the engine for the car, adapting new suspension and brakes needed to go along with it.

The most amount of delay is due to testing, fixing, testing and fixing. You simply cannot release to the public and to your partners a buggy product. And if you did, you have to contain the damage, prevent contamination. That is why updates are staggered. They start with one country, then move to the next, as feedback is received and adjustments are made.

Then finally you have corporate bureaucracy and their own battery of tests. This is also why unlocked international phones get the updates first (following regional staggering), before the carriers do.

I respond because I am sick and tired of all the misleading and mythical conceptions behind Android upgrades. I hope this clear things up.

[TC_Mits]

Drillbit, all that was clear from your previous lengthily informative post. Understood.

But not my point. If somebody values all that work done to perfect the changes, like Sense or Blur, however deep and extensive, then they might accept all those months of waiting as time well spent, idk.

But if what I want is getting an official OTA with the very latest Android version ASAP -- with the extras or without them, it doesn't matter to me -- then I have to feel some frustration that I'm left wondering if the 4.0.4 OTA will reach my SGSIII before the 4.0.5 source drops from Google.

Why not let me choose? Offer me the international version when it's ready. Then, when the final version with the more extensive improvements is finally tested and ready to go, offer me that. If it's as good as you say it is, I'll probably want it, too.

Idk, maybe you have issues with stock Android, or maybe not. But I simply feel that's something each of us can decide for ourselves.


Perspective instantiates reality.
[From DX by HoFo app.]

[HC - NO "i"]

TC_Mits,

Google is not the one making the hardware - even for Nexus devices. We, the "end-users", are not the "customers" in the partnership between Google and the OEMs… Carriers are!

Try to bring you own Verizon "certified" device and you will understand how limited your "choice" is. Otherwise, go custom ROM, go!

[TC_Mits]

Agreed. Not much choice.
But my question was, "Why not...?"


Perspective instantiates reality.
[From DX by HoFo app.]

[HC - NO "i"]

TC_Mits,

Because you are not building your own Android device to your unique specifications AND Verizon would bless it. It is a Samsung Galaxy XYZ for Verizon and you happen to be one of the Verizon subscribers who choose to use it. If you insist to go circular with this topic, ask Verizon why.

[TC_Mits]

Again, we agree: "Why not...?" is a good question.


Perspective instantiates reality.
[From DX by HoFo app.]

[HC - NO "i"]

TC_Mits,

No. It is a question would be ignroed or the answer would never satisfy you as long as you are limiting to yourself to carrier X with device Y running the specific flavour Z. You choose to "agree" with their terms by using them. You want to cherry pick? Sorry, run your own Samsung and Verizon then Otherwise line up please http://opennetwork.verizonwireless.c...Certified.aspx Dig up my old posts in the early days of CDMA, you should have no problem to find me asking the same kind of questions to my carrier too.

This is also why many end-users taking this matter to their own hands... Jailbreaking their iOS devices and using Custom ROMs in their Android devices.

[TC_Mits]

OK, look. You're telling me how it is. And you're right.
I'm just griping, saying, ''Well, I think ir should be this way..."
And you're saying, 'So what?'
And you're right, again.

NP.

Perspective instantiates reality.
[From DX by HoFo app.]

[Steveanderson13]

Okay, drill et al, I am nearing these concusions based solely on observations. Correct any one if in error.

1. The "update crisis", "fragmentation crisis" reminds me of the '30's radio broadcast of the space invasion. It's a panic and and a feeding frenzy based on "ignorance" of what you are getting. It's also a propaganda war by competitors.Their tools are: "You gotta have what everyone what has", "You're cheated if you're left out", "It's taking too ****ing long to get what I don't know I'm getting" but in general, people don't know what they aren't getting or whether they need what they don't know what they're not getting, or whether what they don't know what they're not getting is beneficial. Just look at Cliq owners. That mob mentality killed them. Specific improvements are rarely mentioned or discussed. But the consumer has the bucks, can't be alienated and this has not been managed well. It is not Google's forte'. There has been too much hesitation in stating clearly the situation. Samsung was the first with the Behold II when they just said, "Ain't gonna happen". They didn't cave.

Here's an example. When Droid 1 came out, I was gonna buy it but had read it had no bluetooth voice dialing. This was a deal breaker. But I bought it anyway (I had another phone), then read that feature was coming in 2.1? which took six months but I made do.

So there are some important features sometimes. Eg, if you are a camera enthusiast, known camera improvements feature would be important. But I think that is rare.

2. Fragmentation and updates: There is a trade-off. "Fragmentation" is Apple's word for diversity. Diversity is a) what allows everyone to use a smartphone (cheap) b) allows variations by market preference--different cultures will do different things in different ways c) allows different manufacturers to use different methods d) avoids concentration of power and other reasons I can't think of. There are few or no reasons for Apple's way to be universal although there are advantages.

The trade-off in this diversity is the difficulty in managing it. "Perceived" tardiness is the most apparent example.

3. Speed in creating upgrades. Google created three the first year, then lessened to two, now perhaps only one a year. This was breakneck in a rush to get to market. The necessary features have been implemented and adoption is high so now things are calmer. The only necessity now is new innovation to stay ahead of the other guy.

4. I agree with Drill; an older product that works is better than a newer one that doesn't. Any update that didn't work would kill the product. See Cliq. I just read a thread where the OP is going crazy because on the custom ics rom on his gs2, the notifications sound during a call. He is looking everywhere for settings, asking others for advice, going deaf when he receives a notification in call, never realizing the problem is the rom.

5. Everybody wants to blame someone and make money off the feeding frenzy, so who is to blame? The scapegoat of choice, the nearest and easiest one, the one easiest to repeat, is the carriers and bloatware. But see Drill's post. See Stephenson's rant on Google. So I think Drill is correct. Creating the upgrade with amazing (truly) new features, adapting it to a broad range of hardware so more people can use it, having it installed by manufacturers, tested and rolled out by carriers all over the world, making sure it works, all within six months, is truly monumental. All so more more people can use it.

So if anyone didn't understand that, Google's "making it work" is to blame. That is their responsibility. Imo, they have not communicated that; thus the attendant results.

But BGR is going to publish false rumors, leaks, etc just for a "click".

Hope this is beneficial to someone.

[TC_Mits]

Drill IS correct. IF...
you value the improvements to Android that require the delays.

If you'd rather just have *official* vanilla Android ASAP, then...
Drill is still right: you're SOL.


Perspective instantiates reality.
[From DX by HoFo app.]

[sabesh]

Drill IS correct. IF...
you value the improvements to Android that require the delays.

If you'd rather just have *official* vanilla Android ASAP, then...
Drill is still right: you're SOL.


Perspective instantiates reality.
[From DX by HoFo app.]

You then have the option of purchasing a Google reference device. In this, the Galaxy Nexus.

[Steveanderson13]

Or a custom rom, or a leak, or an ......iphone, yuck.

[sabesh]

Or a custom rom, or a leak, or an ......iphone, yuck.

LOL, True Dat.

[HC - NO "i"]

Sabesh,

You then have the option of purchasing a Google reference device. In this, the Galaxy Nexus.

... with the kind of "openness" of Verizon in his case! Surely, even geeks will try to figure out a custom ROM or close-to-purity mod with the Galaxy Nexus SCH-I515.

Or a custom rom, or a leak, or an ......iphone, yuck.

Steveanderson13,

Greetings.

This is what I think as well. Thanks for your sharing too.

[TadMorose]

Back to topic. Canadian S3 specs are now official:

http://mobilesyrup.com/2012/05/30/of...e-and-2gb-ram/