Have you got the Nougat "jones"?

[Anubis]

i have a pixel so no jones here

 

[Raduque]

Between Samsung's version and Verizon's on top of that, and way no way back except rooting (bye-bye warranty) and flashing a stock ROM, the picture looks doubtful

Not true. You don't need root to flash stock roms on the S7 US models. The U FW and the 7 FW have the same bootloader, and so they are interchangeable. I'm running Verizon 7.0, but I could easily swap to 6.0.1 U at any time.

 

[ericlp]

Hmmm, still on an S6 edge plus, I like the hardware. I think as soon as they roll out nougat for this device "O" will be rolling out!

But, on the other hand, while everyone is enjoying the new features (from what I see aren't worth much) they are also enjoying the bug fixes as well. I think the biggest feature of these roll outs are security fixes. I don't do any financial transactions on my phone, so and "marshmallow" is pretty good.

I am thinking the last andorid OS for S6 will probably be "N"... Maybe by the time "P" starts rolling out latter in the year, I'll see if the OnePlus5 will be worth getting!

As for the reason why you don't get updates on a specific carrier, is both device and network. If the device is ready to roll out a new update, can you imagine if you were the carrier and rolled out a update that bricked certain features of your phone? Call center would be overloaded if it was a major device like samsung, so... I think that is why there is a big lag in updates.

 

[Raduque]

As for the reason why you don't get updates on a specific carrier, is both device and network. If the device is ready to roll out a new update, can you imagine if you were the carrier and rolled out a update that bricked certain features of your phone? Call center would be overloaded if it was a major device like samsung, so... I think that is why there is a big lag in updates.

Mostly network, though. The carriers need to make their changes (and bug test and bug fix) and make sure their built-in junkware apps are working on the new build. That's what really takes time.

 

[sweenish]

Eh, Samsung's US unlocked S7 demonstrates that carriers are only a barrier if the company is even trying.

And as far as that phone goes, Samsung isn't even trying. Or maybe they are, since carrier versions do have Nougat. Same for Lenovo. You're not wrong, but I think the OEMs should also be sharing a good chunk of the blame. Too many just don't bother.

 

[lothar]

Mostly network, though. The carriers need to make their changes (and bug test and bug fix) and make sure their built-in junkware apps are working on the new build. That's what really takes time.

That idea is bunk.

Samsung's Unlocked devices AKA "U" model devices are not carrier devices.
T-Mobile's S7 and S7 edge received Android 7.0 over a month ago, while the unlocked models with the exact same specs and without any carrier affiliation are still languishing on Marshmallow.

The US unlocked version is still on Marshmallow 6.0.1 with March security updates.
The UK unlocked version is on Nougat with January security updates.

WTF Samsung?
People need to stop making excuses for the manufacturers.
With an unlocked Samsung galaxy phone, you get the worst of both worlds...Samsung as both the OEM and the carrier. Yuck.

Motorola also dances to the same tune as Samsung. Yuck.
The Verizon "DROID" model has had Nougat since November, while the unlocked model only got it in February last month with November security updates.
So much for carrier bloat, testing, bug fix, and junkware apps.
http://www.androidpolice.com/2017/0...id-nougat-two-months-verizon-variant-updated/

If I desperately wanted an OEM phone that is not a Nexus/Pixel, the only OEM I'd get is an HTC model.

 

[Raduque]

It was announced last year that the US Unlocked "U" models were on quarterly updates. Likely because it didn't sell well, as everybody did the financing on their carrier of choice.

You do realize this is the case with most devices in the US, right? US consumers don't believe in buying phones outright, they believe in buying them through the carriers because it's "cheaper" (and by cheaper, I mean not $500-700 up front). Therefore, carrier variants are goin to get preferential treatment over unlocked US models.

In Europe, it's a different story. They buy phones once and use them anywhere.

Blame US consumers.

That idea is bunk.

BTW, see below:

As for the reason why you don't get updates on a specific carrier, is both device and network.
As for the reason why you don't get updates on a specific carrier,
specific carrier,

This is what I was replying to.

 

[sweenish]

That idea is bunk.

It's not bunk.

Carriers are KNOWN to hold back updates due the testing that they require. HTC created a whole site dedicated to update status simply so that users could know when to start getting on the carriers.

The case you cited, which I also cited, simply shows that both are to blame, not that carriers are off the hook.

 

[jhansman]

Not true. You don't need root to flash stock roms on the S7 US models. The U FW and the 7 FW have the same bootloader, and so they are interchangeable. I'm running Verizon 7.0, but I could easily swap to 6.0.1 U at any time.

If this is so, then I might take a look at Nougat, just to see if it is as bad as the haters say. If so, and I could get back to 6.01 with ease, then great. Thus far, the only advantage I can find in my online readings is better battery life, but I have yet to find posts that say "OMG, get it. It's the best Android yet!!" More gripes than praise is what I find. BTW, is there any way to make the update notification just go the &^%$ away? I may just wander into a Verizon store and see if they have a GS7 Edge with 7.0 on it so I can see what all the fuss is about. It would also be interesting to see if anyone in the store could verify what you say.

 

[sweenish]

If you can't find anything out about Nougat aside from battery life, your sites suck.

 

[jhansman]

By all means, point me to sites that offer more info. Easy to badmouth, talk being cheap and all. What are your better choices?

 

[sweenish]

Are you that lazy? Because it's not like this is hard.

androidpolice.com, for one. If you want to know what a new version of ANYTHING Android brings, they are the place to be. arstechnica's Ron Amadeo is a top notch Android writer. Even engadget has pretty good coverage when big things happen in Android-land.

You seriously have to be on some backwoods garbage sites to glean nothing more than battery life for Nougat.

 

[jhansman]

Feel better now? I use all those sites, FWIW, especially Ars. Bottom line is Nougat is a flop, and it's not for nothing that Google has already announced "O." Listen to a few Android podcasts and you might gain an education yourself. Until then, put a sock in it.

 

[sweenish]

Because podcasts are so definitive.

I see now it's not that your sites being garbage, it's your reading comprehension coupled with willful ignorance.

 

[esquared]

OK, this thread has seen the end of its usefulness.


esquared
Anandtech Forum Director