Samsung

[Yv]

Hello everyone,

Ok, so I got a Google Galaxy Nexus. I ditched Apple, and I'm happy.

Now the Galaxy Nexus I run is a SIM-free version. Inside is a Vodafone pre-paid SIM-card.

My current OS v. is Android 4.0.2. I read about the signal issues the Galaxy Nexus developped following the 4.0.4 update.

So my questions are:

1) What's the status of the Android updates?

2a) How do I update my phone, the standard, newbie way?

2b) Does the fact that I run a SIM-free phone without contracts makes a difference on how/when I'll get updates?

Thank you

P.S. I worked 5 years in IT, and although I'm *still* happy about ditching Apple despite the crashes I have with my Galaxy Nexus on 4.0.2, does the Android platform has some serious issues to deal with, or is it just me?

[drey_p]

Welcome to the forum Yv - I hope you're enjoying your new device!

Let's see if I can answer some of your questions:

1)  Not sure what you mean but "status of the Android updates" please could you provide a bit more detail

2a) The easiest way to update your phone is over Wifi. Once you have connected to your Wifi network select Settings then scroll down to About Phone.  Once there select Software updates and then Check Now.  This will automatically check for any updates for your phone.

2b) Because your phone is sim-free / unbranded you will get updates sooner than people who have a branded handset simply due to the fact that Vodafone like to test the new software and customise it to work on their network before releasing it.

Regarding the serious issues on the Android platform... I guess I have been lucky not to have any so far!

Hope that helps you!

[Yv]

Thank you, that is indeed helpful.

By "status of the Android updates", I meant, for example, when is 4.0.5 going to be released?

So it seems I have been doing things properly in order to check for updates.

Now, is it normal that I have no (4.0.4) update available (is it due to the 4.0.4 signal issue on the Galaxy Nexus following the 4.0.4 update)?

[drey_p]

4.0.5 was rumoured for March this year and then April... then things kinda went quiet on that front.  It is supposed to improve battery life and sort out the radio issues that were affecting the signal.

As far as I am aware the 4.0.4 update should still be out there - however it does sometimes take a while for the update to show for some reason.  I can't find anything that says it has been withdrawn, although I would personally be more cautious with it because of the reported signal problems.  If you wanted the update - you could find it on the internet and be able to download and install it on your device.

[Yv]

Thank you for your informations.

I think I will wait before playing around.

In the meantime, I hope Google will settle this: http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=28133

Android is a great OS and Google should avoid distributing updates which is rendering their new flagship phone almost useless.

[drey_p]

Unless you are wanting to play around with the phone and root it so that you can install custom ROMs I would hold off with the 4.0.4 update if I were you just in case it messes up your working phone.  If you do want to root your phone, there are quite a few custom ROMs to choose from but I do have to warn that if you do this you will be voiding your warranty!

Unfortunately glitches do occur with software updates.  Apple has had quite a few problems with a number of updates it released so it is not just Google Android.  I would hazard a guess at the delay in the 4.0.5 update being brought on by them trying to make sure that all the glitches have been ironed out before they release it so that it fixes the issues instead of creating more.

[pv666]

Hi

No need to root your phone or unlock bootloader thereby validating warrenty.

There have been two builds of 4.0.4, the first one had the signal drop issues and was the version initially being rolled out by Vodafone. Google halted the roll-out and then released a reportedly fixed new build but still denoted as 4.0.4, Vodafone then recommenced the roll-out but with the newer build.

If you're having signal problems on 4.0.4 you may be using the older build. I suggest you check, the build number of the newer build is IMM761. If you're struggling to upgrade then you could use the Galaxy Nexus Toolkit http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1392310 having downloaded the newer stock ROM 4.0.4 from https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images#yakju.  Read the instructions carefully for the toolkit, will not void warranty so long as you don't unlock bootloader or root the phone - just avoid those options when using the toolkit.

All best

P 

[Yv]

Unfortunately IMM76I is still reported as being problematic (look at the last comments): http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=28133

I'll wait... In the meantime, thank you everyone for your help.

[pv666]

Thnaks for the correction  looks like we're all waiting!

P

[Yv]

Some update here: http://www.anandtech.com/show/5882/galaxy-nexus-cdmalte-404-imm76k-update-rolling-out

Nothing showed-up for me though.

What about others?

[ZoeandKev]

American carrier version, not uk?