Android versions and NZ Telco's

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crazed

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#115274 20-Mar-2013 08:15

Morning All,

Can someone answer this for me if possible, I've asked CSR's at various companies and retail reps and none seem to be able to give me an answer other than, "its what we sell", Why are NZ Teleco's providing outdated Android phones that carry the older 2.2.x and 2.3.x android OS as the only cheap phones available in NZ, When Android App Dev's in NZ and overseas are increasingly only producing app's for the later 4.x and later OS's which don't run on pre 4.x versions.

Other countries seem to be providing the cheaper version 4.x android phones yet in NZ it seems that we are stuck with the outdated 2.x phones?

Not all of us can afford or warrant the cost for the likes of phones that are $350 plus.

CraZeD,
Your friendly Southern Geeky Fellow :P

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#784206 20-Mar-2013 08:50

Be careful of comparing to phones in other countries, as they are often locked to a particular carrier, and as such that carrier may be more inclined to provide up to date firmware.
The obvious answer, IMO, is to purchase the handset, root it and install what ever flavour of Android you wish. With the caveat that you will void your warranty and possibly brick your phone.

As far as the Telcos go, there isn't much that can be done to speed things along. The older a handset is the more likely it is to be left standing on the side of the road. So if you want a handset backed by a local Telco you really need to be happy with what it is when you buy it, not what it might be.

Edit: Grammar

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

Toledo

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#784273 20-Mar-2013 10:05

What about the Alcatel 993 with 4.04 on it @ $249? Its the cheapest phone we sell with Android 4 on it.

At the end of the day you get what you pay for, If you want a phone that has later software and the hardware to back it up you will pay more for it.

My opinions are purely my own and are not at all those of my employer 2degrees.

jeffnz

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#784281 20-Mar-2013 10:23

I agree with both comments you get what you pay for so best to do some research on how well a phone is/will be supported and obviously the most popular will get most support. XDA forum is a good place to get the feel of what is what and also how to root & flash your phone to the latest and greatest.

I just flashed a work mates old Galaxy 3 S5801 to Ginger bread (was on Eclair) and the difference was night and day.

Learn to flash it isn't that hard after initial nerves and it will open up the world of Android to you.

Galaxy S10

Garmin Fenix 5

crazed

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#784343 20-Mar-2013 11:39

Cheers for your comments.

I brought into Android last year and while initially it was interesting and I found it highly useful, I have quickly found that a phone that was initially promoted to me as future proofed Droid phone by the teleco, turned out to be a $249 lemon. Namely the Huawei X1 or 8180.

Not really interested in spending money on a new phone.

CraZeD,
Your friendly Southern Geeky Fellow :P

johnr

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#784345 20-Mar-2013 11:42

I love it how people purchase the cheapest handset in the market and then complaim why it's slower than high end handsets and it does not have the same functionality

crazed

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#784404 20-Mar-2013 13:05

Because some of us can't afford to spend $800 + on a handset That's why. But as usual the Telcos haven't worked that out.

I'd have trouble justifying $800 to the wife for a cellphone.

CraZeD,
Your friendly Southern Geeky Fellow :P

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Toledo

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#784407 20-Mar-2013 13:09

johnr: I love it how people purchase the cheapest handset in the market and then complaim why it's slower than high end handsets and it does not have the same functionality

Totally agree, Its like buying a Honda Civic and then asking the dealer why it wont perform like a Ferrari.

My opinions are purely my own and are not at all those of my employer 2degrees.

johnr

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#784411 20-Mar-2013 13:18

crazed: Because some of us can't afford to spend $800 + on a handset That's why. But as usual the Telcos haven't worked that out.

I'd have trouble justifying $800 to the wife for a cellphone.

Not sure how this is Telco related?

Do you expect carriers to sell handsets cheaper than what they purchase them from the handset manufacturers for?

nzrock

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#784419 20-Mar-2013 13:25

Hi all

If you can't afford a new phone, then flashing a older phone with an updated android is the way to go.
I have a 3 year old desire HD that has been flashed to run jellybeen 4.2.1, which runs really well.

greg

sittingduckz

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#784426 20-Mar-2013 13:36

crazed: Because some of us can't afford to spend $800 + on a handset That's why. But as usual the Telcos haven't worked that out.

I'd have trouble justifying $800 to the wife for a cellphone.

So what's your big idea, what should the telcos do?

I'm not a complete idiot, I still have some parts missing.

Behodar

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#784432 20-Mar-2013 13:45

To be fair, there's still a bit of a premium in NZ. I "randomly" picked Three UK, which has the HTC Desire C with Android 4 for the equivalent of $175. I'm sure that other countries and operators would have similar pricing.

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eXDee

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#784434 20-Mar-2013 13:52

crazed: Cheers for your comments.

I brought into Android last year and while initially it was interesting and I found it highly useful, I have quickly found that a phone that was initially promoted to me as future proofed Droid phone by the teleco, turned out to be a $249 lemon. Namely the Huawei X1 or 8180.

Not really interested in spending money on a new phone.

The X1 even at release was far from future proofed. Even at release it was low spec hardware, and it would run android 4.X poorly. There are likely heavily tweaked custom roms which are based on android 4.X for this device, but this is not what manufacturers do, they develop their roms with total stability and other factors in mind which means its not as fast as a tweaked kernel for example.
Cheap phones can't handle the increased spec required for the newer android versions.

If you cannot afford a smartphone which is to your liking, i suggest not buying one at all and saving up until you can. This is what i do with anything that i want to get, as i know you get what you pay for.

Dratsab

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#784440 20-Mar-2013 13:53

A lot of it comes down to prioritising testing of the phones which are coming to market vs the variety of phones that are already on the market, along with the carriers perception of which older phones need to be tested first vs their staffing limits.

Gizmodo (yeah I know...) have recently written an article about this very subject which you may find useful.

DarkShadow

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#784507 20-Mar-2013 14:48

Just import a Nexus 4. $410 for the best Android ever.

Behodar

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#784515 20-Mar-2013 14:59

DarkShadow: Just import a Nexus 4. $410 for the best Android ever.

Google's site is still geoblocked... is there a version with a decent amount of storage yet or is it still capped at 16 GB?

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