Still waiting for software update

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Still waiting for software update

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sbiddle

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#1902571 16-Nov-2017 09:35

ubernoob: Update from Sony support NZ. Apparently using my phone imei number there are no more updates planned for my phone. He was very diplomatic and knew later international updates were released for the Z5 but was certain there would be no more updates for ISP branded phones
So there you go.

I asked Spark and got this back -

"The latest build we have tested for the Z5 is 7.0 – which we approved on 28/02/2017. We don’t have a new build from Sony on the radar at this stage, we've asked them to see if we will get it or not. "

Basically it seems if you want 7.1.1 you'll need to flash it yourself. Android is so broken.

PolicyGuy

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#1902668 16-Nov-2017 11:36

I use a employer-provided Samsung Galaxy XCover3 supplied by (and I think owned by / leased from) Vodafone.

We set up the Mobile Device Management software to require at least Android 5.1.1 to be loaded (there was a security issue at the time), and I got that update - 'Android security patch level 2015-11-01'.
Nothing since, and I'm not hearing anything through our VF account management channel either.
Hmm

sbiddle

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#1911014 30-Nov-2017 11:46

I wrote a blog post about this very issue here https://www.geekzone.co.nz/sbiddle/8961

I also got a message back from Spark yesterday.

After our specialists nagged at Sony we've been told that we can expect an update early next year. This isn't 100% set in stone but its closer than we've had before.

ubernoob

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#1911361 30-Nov-2017 22:46

Thanks for the update I wonder why we are so far behind the Australian release

sbiddle

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#1911407 1-Dec-2017 07:12

ubernoob: Thanks for the update I wonder why we are so far behind the Australian release

That's not something I can answer. All I can do is speculate which is what I did in my blog post.

I've actually got an interesting scenario at present where Oreo isn't yet available for my dual SIM Xperia XZ which is a Hong Kong handset. Xperifirm shows it being available for other markets but not Hong Kong yet - normally Hong Kong handsets are the first to get most updates.

freitasm

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#1911506 1-Dec-2017 10:14

Android updates is a mess. There's no way for people to deny it now.

The word we use is "fragmentation" and for years every time I wrote it someone would say "No, it's not a problem".

Yes, it is a problem. People think that updates is for fancy things only. It's not. It's for security, privacy and the fancy things.

1101

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#1911525 1-Dec-2017 10:27

freitasm:

Android updates is a mess. There's no way for people to deny it now.

I would say its at the stage where android can no longer reasonably be seen as a ~secure~ device, and should no longer
be an option for company phones.

They have had how many years to sort this out ?
My (then) expensive Samsung Tablet, zero updates. Ever
My various Samsungs mid range phones. Zero updates. Ever
My 2? year old flagship LG. Updates: nope . No longer any support from LG. Download links on their webpage are all dead

Patch for Kraken security issue , iphone yes, Android :what a joke.
Patch other Android security holes , nope none unless on current version . Thats 75% of Androids un-patchable.

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talsemgeest

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#1911527 1-Dec-2017 10:31

freitasm:

Android updates is a mess. There's no way for people to deny it now.

The word we use is "fragmentation" and for years every time I wrote it someone would say "No, it's not a problem".

Yes, it is a problem. People think that updates is for fancy things only. It's not. It's for security, privacy and the fancy things.

Thats the problem Project Treble is trying to fix in Android O. Unfortunately the list of devices updating to O without Treble is longer than those that do.

Should get better in the long run though, once devices start shipping with O and have to support Treble's HAL.

freitasm

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#1911528 1-Dec-2017 10:35

talsemgeest:

freitasm:

Android updates is a mess. There's no way for people to deny it now.

The word we use is "fragmentation" and for years every time I wrote it someone would say "No, it's not a problem".

Yes, it is a problem. People think that updates is for fancy things only. It's not. It's for security, privacy and the fancy things.

Thats the problem Project Treble is trying to fix in Android O. Unfortunately the list of devices updating to O without Treble is longer than those that do.

Should get better in the long run though, once devices start shipping with O and have to support Treble's HAL.

It should get better - but won't be for at least a couple of years/

Technofreak

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#1911531 1-Dec-2017 10:39

The advantage of the device manufacture having control of or "owning" the OS certainly shows through.

Apple are only developing for a very limited number of chipsets/screen layouts etc all of which they have control over. That makes life so much easier to manage the OS update delivery.

Android's openess is its achilles heal. So many differing chipsets and screen sizes. They have to find a way to rationalise things to allow an effective update process. Perhaps we will see a reduction in the number phone models available and or the manufacturers taking control of the OS development to a greater extent for their range of phones.

Samsung have been developing Tizen, perhaps the Android situation may spur that along some more.

EDIT.

I see the stuff about Project Treble. That makes tremendous sense. Looks like that have found the way to rationalise and improve the update process.

Sony Xperia XA2 running Sailfish OS. https://sailfishos.org The true independent open source mobile OS
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
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Technofreak

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#1911552 1-Dec-2017 10:55

1101:

freitasm:

Android updates is a mess. There's no way for people to deny it now.

I would say its at the stage where android can no longer reasonably be seen as a ~secure~ device, and should no longer
be an option for company phones.

They have had how many years to sort this out ?
My (then) expensive Samsung Tablet, zero updates. Ever
My various Samsungs mid range phones. Zero updates. Ever
My 2? year old flagship LG. Updates: nope . No longer any support from LG. Download links on their webpage are all dead

Patch for Kraken security issue , iphone yes, Android :what a joke.
Patch other Android security holes , nope none unless on current version . Thats 75% of Androids un-patchable.

Jolla (which is a very small company compared to Google or Samsung) with its Sailfish OS is still providing regular updates to devices which are over 4 years old. If they can do it then you have to wonder about the big guys.

Sony Xperia XA2 running Sailfish OS. https://sailfishos.org The true independent open source mobile OS
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Dell Inspiron 14z i5

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