Google will require OEMs to provide regular security updates… or else

24 October 2018
Google might deny the device’s Android approval if the phone is not maintained with regular security patches.

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What kills us how no one open their mouths against Samsung!

    • ?
    • Anonymous
    • 3EJ
    • 28 Oct 2018

    Anonymous, 25 Oct 2018And now companies need to hire more people, invest more res... more"...will start having higher prices..."

    Hello???? They already have higher prices yet have LESS features.

    A small list of all the things that are gone that we once had.

    - user-replaceable batteries
    - audio jack
    - IR-blaster
    - micro SD-card storage
    - notification LED
    - call recording
    - option to install apps on whatever you want
    - crippled NFC (which phone can properly use NFC to transfer data to another phone)

    Not to mention that some models or ranges have become significantly worse quality-wise compared to their predecessors but this fact is hidden by e.g. more megapixels or other insignificant fluff.

    For example the Honor 8's main camera had both PDAF and laser-AF their successors lost Laser-AF. Or the poco F1 has a 20MP front-camera yet it's fixed focus... doh!

    Yet prices have gone up astronomically. It's disgusting!

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • sxr
      • 27 Oct 2018

      Muhamashi18, 26 Oct 2018Yes it's planned obsolescence, but planned by you. You can'... moreExcuses, excuses, excuses and more LAME excuses not to provide micro sd expansion. Apple likes to claim their Macbooks and iPhones are immune to viruses but won't allow micro sd cards due to virus corruption threats? What about USB transfers and connections? You want to disable them too because of virus corruption threats? And what storage expansion options are you talking about? Paying for cloud services monthly for as long as you live? Factory reset? Deleting apps and media files to make space for internal storage? Why? when you can have the convenience of a micro sd card? How naive can you get? Don't you see it? Non-expandable storage is corporate greed and planned obsolescence - nothing else.

        • S
        • S6 User
        • nFX
        • 27 Oct 2018

        Anonymous, 25 Oct 2018umm.... am I missing something here my 1 year old s8 has... moreNo your not missing anything, there is no problem with Samsung Security Updates, as you'll know, because you get them every month :)

        When the article said, "Will Samsung ever be on time with a major Android update?", it was referring to the rollout of the major OS Android Pie.

        I'm like most Samsung users and don't particularly mind the delay in a major OS release, because we already have most of the features already, and prefer to receive the update thoroughly tried & tested & as bug free as possible, don't forget even on Google's own Pixel devices there were alot of problems with Android Pie.

        Also, I'm like most Android users, in that Security Updates are the most important/ crucial.

        I still get Software/ Security updates on this S6 from March 2015.
        The latest one is September 2018-09-04 G920FXXU6ERG1 & before that I got June G920FXXU6ERF5, so yeah it's been quarterly so far.
        This S6 was launched 3 years 7 months ago and us still supported as it should be, how much longer?, I don't know, but all smartphones should have a minimum of 5 years Security Support & todays flagships should have 7 years minimum

        Yeah, 7 years might sound alot, but not everyone buys it on day 1, some buy 1 or 2 years later, also some prices are now crashing through the £$€1,000 price barrier.

        Details of all Samsung, Security, Android & Firmware updates can be found on SamMobile (read 'Read This First'):
        https://www.sammobile.com/samsung-galaxy-updates/

        Check the Model number of your Samsung device by going into your 'Settings', scroll down to the bottom to select 'About Device', & you will see (In my case):

        Model number SM-G920 (followed by a letter, &/ or number, it'll be an F, U, N, W, U1, or the number 0).
        Write this down including the -

        Go to:
        https://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/
        Type in your Model number or by the time you have typed (e.g. for the S9+):
        SM-G965 you'll see it in the drop down menu.
        Then select your Country & Carrier, to see what updates have been released & what's in the pipeline.

        Other Android users (Google, LG, Motorola, Nokia, sorry I don't know about Huawei & Xiaomi check there websites.), you can check on Security Updates here:
        https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/

          Anonymous, 25 Oct 2018Fixed internal storage in phones is planned obsolescence no... moreYes it's planned obsolescence, but planned by you. You can't underestimate the amount of storage you need, then blame a manufacturer when you realize you need more. There are options. Use them. As for the expandable storage, different companies want to create different experiences. Apple can't guarantee device safety if users are putting all sorts of crap on sd cards and putting them into phones. Cuz you know what the public will say? "Apple phones are casting viruses through currupted memory cards. At that point, you can't ask users to stop using memory cards. Everybody will complain that you need to fix it.

            Anonymous, 25 Oct 2018And now companies need to hire more people, invest more res... moreRight. Apple is worth a trillion usd because it takes care of quality. Huawei and Nokia don't?

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • IW@
              • 26 Oct 2018

              On a side note, not offering micro sd expansion has more to do with corporate greed rather than 'technological advancement' or 'the future of mobile computing'. The truth is, Google has vested interests in a monthly cloud subscription model where Google would like to profit from you monthly - FOREVER. Nothing wrong with that really, if Pixel phones gave you a micro sd expansion option. But really, Google won't because lifetime monthly cloud subscription is key to continued profits. Also, phone manufacturers have higher profit margins from higher internal storage options. What better way to psychologically instill 'fear of missing out' on phone buyers than to remove micro sd expansion option. You'll be forced to OVERESTIMATE your storage needs simply because you can't make a mistake - there's no storage expansion! That's corporate greed, however you look at it. And no, the LAME EXCUSE from manufacturers 'But they aren't fast enough! They're slow, they give you problems, headaches, blah, blah, blah!' is more IMAGINED than real. Micro sd card is primarily used to store media files: photos, (mp3 music, full HD/4K videos), etc., and not for storing apps that launch from the micro sd card. Planned obsolescence because of corporate greed. No wonder tech companies now top the market value charts where before, it used to be oil companies and food/consumer companies. They are getting ever richer and are controlling every facet of our lives including political views (Facebook) and needs perception (making us spend less on other things like appliances and PC's which we need not replace regularly while with phones, we are condtioned to replace them annually based on planned obsolescence strategies)!

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • IW@
                • 26 Oct 2018

                Storage flexibility is the key. Zero storage flexibility (no micro sd expansion) simply means that if you make a mistake (underestimating your current and/or future storage needs), it doesn't matter if you have 32GB or 512GB base internal storage. If you need MORE than your initial assessment. a year or two later and have absolutely ZERO option to expand storage, then that drives you to buy a new phone. That's planned obsolescence and it doesn't matter how much the user had initially (32GB or 512GB)

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • IW@
                  • 26 Oct 2018

                  Anonymous, 25 Oct 2018A phone you've filled up could easily be large enough for a... moreThat's actually the essence of planned obsolescence. Make the storage fixed and non expandable. Lesser options, lesser flexibility = More reasons to upgrade.

                  I'd like to emphasize: it really doesn't matter what the starting internal storage is. Some users buy 32GB internal storage option because its what they thought they would only need for a Facebook and Youtube device only. Some users buy 64GB and 128GB options because they believe they need more storage. Still others buy 256GB and 512GB because they see it fits their 4k movie buff lifestyle and personal 4K video recording needs. Guess what? Storage fills up with time; user needs change with time. If any of those users find out a year or two later that they need more and have zero option to expand storage, they will buy another phone with bigger storage and YES, it doesn't matter if what they had initially was only a 32GB or 64GB, or a higher 128GB, 256GB or 512GB internal storage only phone.

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • tNw
                    • 25 Oct 2018

                    Anonymous, 25 Oct 2018A phone you've filled up could easily be large enough for a... moreWell, that "X gb storage is enough" user might be getting screwed of his or her money by paying for 4k camera capabilities while having on 128gb non expandable storage.

                    Companies are lucky the average user is dumb. Like how people paid for 16gb iphones back then.

                      • N
                      • Nana
                      • xYL
                      • 25 Oct 2018

                      It would be great if google publishes the exact list of device models would be great to avoid any assumptions. It's still unclear to the end users that their devices are eligible to receive updates.

                        Is there any way to get security updates for custom ROMs? We need installer, that will check for compatible service, which is already in phone's ROM, and upgrade it from Google's servers. Most of he phones use same network services from Android AOSP. Software should check if service is not modified by OEM. If service is original, it should be updated.

                        I am talking about similar updates system, that Microsoft uses. It should be implemented in newer Android versions.

                        I am not sure if anyone will understand what I imagined here.

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                          • Anonymous
                          • m%5
                          • 25 Oct 2018

                          And now companies need to hire more people, invest more resources.
                          And now your general android phone will start having higher prices.
                          And now you understand why Apple devices cost more than say Chinese products - Apple takes good care of both the hardware and the software part, which costs much more than just putting some components and parts together.

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • 81X
                            • 25 Oct 2018

                            Anonymous, 25 Oct 2018Fixed internal storage in phones is planned obsolescence no... moreA phone you've filled up could easily be large enough for another user, so no, that's not obsolescence; sell it on. A phone with a dud battery is of no use to anyone, so that description fits.

                              AnonD-558092, 25 Oct 2018Samsung already published November patch on J7 Prime. I thi... moreI wasn't asking a question, I was quoting the writer of the article

                                • K
                                • Kangal
                                • RN8
                                • 25 Oct 2018

                                Shellyman Infinity, 25 Oct 2018Thank you! Start enforcing these OEMs or else. That's essentially going to make it or break it.... enforcement.
                                It's pointless to have rules, unless you have someone to police those rules.

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                                  • AnonD-558092
                                  • 45}
                                  • 25 Oct 2018

                                  Walter C. Dornez, 25 Oct 2018"Will Samsung ever be on time with updates?" Tbh, LG is mu... moreSamsung already published November patch on J7 Prime. I think this answers your question

                                    Thank you! Start enforcing these OEMs or else.

                                      "Will Samsung ever be on time with updates?"
                                      Tbh, LG is much worse

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • vV5
                                        • 25 Oct 2018

                                        Elgea, 25 Oct 2018I wonder, how Google will control this process for all "no ... moreNo name ? what phone that has no name ?

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