No Marshmallow for AT&T GS5?

[jhansman]

My wife just got an update notification from AT&T on her Galaxy S5, which turns out to be a security update for 5.1.1. I'm guessing this model will not see 6.01, if it hasn't come down yet. I have the same phone on T-Mobile, and got Marshmallow not long ago; it took 'em a while, but they put it out. Seems that AT&T is keeping the latest OS for new(er) models, no? Any info on this is appreciated.

 

[sweenish]

If you're on ATT, you shouldn't expect updates. Even the Nexus 6 didn't get updates.

 

[jhansman]

Amen. One more reason I switched and will not go back.

 

[dawheat]

Att is the worst these days. I'm actually impressed with Verizon and their update speed after Samsung releases.

 

[postmortemIA]

Samsung + ATT = the worst
and another bad pair is
Motorola + Verizon

 

[Megatomic]

If you're on ATT, you shouldn't expect updates. Even the Nexus 6 didn't get updates.

This. I have an AT&T branded HTC One A9 (work) and it's not been updated since Dec. 8, 2015. The unlocked retail HTC One A9 has had at least 4 OTAs since then. AT&T is in dead last by a wide margin when it comes to phone update support. They suck.

 

[gorcorps]

If you're on ATT, you shouldn't expect updates. Even the Nexus 6 didn't get updates.

How is that possible when nexus devices have no ties to the carrier?

 

[Zodiark1593]

How is that possible when nexus devices have no ties to the carrier?

The Nexus series removes the OEM as the bottleneck, however, a carrier can still stop updates.

 

[Nohr]

My AT&T S6 finally got the Marshmallow update around two weeks ago and another security update yesterday. They're slow but the S5 probably isn't too far behind.

 

[jhansman]

How is that possible when nexus devices have no ties to the carrier?

Doesn't the 6p use Google Fi, (nee Verizon/T-Mobile) for cellular connectivity?

 

[stlc8tr]

The Nexus series removes the OEM as the bottleneck, however, a carrier can still stop updates.

Unless you're on a branded build/device, I don't see how they would do this or how they could stop a user from flashing the update themselves.

 

[KeithP]

If you're on ATT, you shouldn't expect updates. Even the Nexus 6 didn't get updates.

Huh? Correct me if I am wrong but carrier locked Nexus 6 phones started getting the update at the beginning of 2016 from what I have read. However, if you are using an unlocked Nexus 6 (like from the playstore) on AT&T it received updates along with the rest of the Nexus 6 phones.

-KeithP

 

[gorcorps]

Doesn't the 6p use Google Fi, (nee Verizon/T-Mobile) for cellular connectivity?

He said the nexus 6, not the 6p

And I'm not sure what Google Fi has to do with it. The nexus 6p is an unlocked phone that can be used on any network. Google Fi is just one of the options, I'm using it on ATT right now.

Just to make sure we're on the same page here, and to make sure you have the right info... Were you under the impression that you HAD to use Google Fi if you had a 6p? That's not true. You can use the 6p on any network you want. It has all of the antennas to be used in every US network, and many international ones as well.

 

[ControlD]

The Nexus series removes the OEM as the bottleneck, however, a carrier can still stop updates.

People with Nexus phones actually rely on carriers for OTA updates?

 

[jhu]

This. I have an AT&T branded HTC One A9 (work) and it's not been updated since Dec. 8, 2015. The unlocked retail HTC One A9 has had at least 4 OTAs since then. AT&T is in dead last by a wide margin when it comes to phone update support. They suck.

At least with HTC, you can just update it yourself with Cyanogenmod or some other ROM. There's no way to do this with any Samsung AT&T branded phone.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I keep (every two weeks or so) getting an update notification from T-Mobile. But when I click on it, Google Play Store opens, and I don't have a Google account (and don't want one) so I don't get any further.

Is this stupid or what? REQUIRING a Google Play account, just to get phone updates? You would think that the carrier could push OTA updates, regardless of whether or not the customer has a Google account.

Such total BS.

 

[jhansman]

He said the nexus 6, not the 6p

And I'm not sure what Google Fi has to do with it. The nexus 6p is an unlocked phone that can be used on any network. Google Fi is just one of the options, I'm using it on ATT right now.

Just to make sure we're on the same page here, and to make sure you have the right info... Were you under the impression that you HAD to use Google Fi if you had a 6p? That's not true. You can use the 6p on any network you want. It has all of the antennas to be used in every US network, and many international ones as well.

Yeah, I know only one person with that device, and he made it sound like his only option was the Verizon/T-Mobile deal with Google Fi. Good to know that's not so.

 

[jhansman]

I keep (every two weeks or so) getting an update notification from T-Mobile. But when I click on it, Google Play Store opens, and I don't have a Google account (and don't want one) so I don't get any further.

That's weird. All my T-Mobile updates have come directly from them, and I've never been directed to the Play Store. In any case, I'm glad I have a Google account, as it serves me quite well for what I use my devices for. I know others who feel as you do, but it's kind of hard to have an Android phone without Google as part of it. What I would like to be rid of is Samsung, but fortunately they have kept their distance so far.

 

[stlc8tr]

People with Nexus phones actually rely on carriers for OTA updates?

That depends on if you're sticking with the branded carrier builds as those updates can get delayed.

http://www.androidpolice.com/2015/0...-builds-why-they-exist-and-what-it-all-means/

http://www.droidviews.com/install-android-6-0-marshmallow-ota-for-verizon-nexus-6/

But if you've flashed to stock or purchased a generic Nexus device, you'll get updates along with everyone else.

 

[sweenish]

By inserting an ATT SIM into a Nexus 6, ATT is able to control updates. ATT had their own boot animation, it was SIM-locked, and came with a few other ATT "goodies." There were ways around most of this.

This applied to the Nexus 6, and probably only the Nexus 6 since it was a literal last-minute Nexus phone.

http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/11/23/de-att-nexus-6/
Also follow the links in the article for more information.

I know that by now I shouldn't be, but I keep being surprised by how little the "enthusiasts" seem to actually know.

 

[ControlD]

By inserting an ATT SIM into a Nexus 6, ATT is able to control updates. ATT had their own boot animation, it was SIM-locked, and came with a few other ATT "goodies."

This applied to the Nexus 6, and probably only the Nexus 6 since it was a literal last-minute Nexus phone.

http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/11/23/de-att-nexus-6/
Also follow the links in the article for more information.

I know that by now I shouldn't be, but I keep being surprised by how little the "enthusiasts" seem to actually know.

But you can still unlock the bootloader on a AT&T Nexus 6. At that point you can install whatever image you like, including the latest image from Google. You don't have to wait for OTA updates from AT&T unless you choose to.

The SIM lock sucks though.

 

[sweenish]

I added an edit that there are ways around it. Even though my link takes you to a page that says exactly that.

It still serves as a decent example of how awful ATT is with updates, even if it could be mostly circumvented in the case of the Nexus 6.

 

[Megatomic]

At least with HTC, you can just update it yourself with Cyanogenmod or some other ROM. There's no way to do this with any Samsung AT&T branded phone.

I tried the CM ROM for the A9, it's mostly OK but there are sound issues that are slow to be resolved. What I really want to do is S-Off and mod the phone to an unlocked retail model but I am so hesitant to do this as my employer gave me the phone. That and it's harder to do than to just put CM on it.

 

[stlc8tr]

By inserting an ATT SIM into a Nexus 6, ATT is able to control updates.

What? How does this work? How does inserting a AT&T SIM into a N6 running a stock build let AT&T control updates?

 

[sweenish]

http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/1...for-tethering-and-has-the-carriers-ringtones/

I could be off on the update thing, an ATT sim does trigger the tether check at least, but I'm pretty sure it allows ATT to control updates as well. Even non-ATT branded Nexus 6's with ATT sims in them didn't get updates pushed to them.

Search around, it was a big deal.