Google's Nexus One Not Getting Android 4.0 Update
by Andrew Cunningham on October 26, 2011 3:00 PM EST- Posted in
- Android
- Ice Cream Sandwich
- Laptops
Google's Nexus One phone, manufactured by HTC and originally released in January of 2010, will not be receiving the Ice Cream Sandwich update along with other phones, says Google's Android product management director Hugo Barra, because the device is "too old."
The Nexus lineup has traditionally been used to showcase new, "stock" versions of Android without added manufacturer customizations, and as a result they typically receive access to new Android updates before other handsets. Google's decision not to support less-than-two-year-old Nexus One with its newest mobile OS stands in contrast to Apple's strategy for the oldest phone in its lineup, 2009's iPhone 3GS, which received most of iOS 5's new features when the update was released earlier this month.
Barra said that the Nexus S, the immediate successor of the Nexus One, would be getting the update over the air a few weeks after the launch of the new Galaxy Nexus next month. Nexus One owners hoping for an update will need to rely on the open source community to hook them up after Ice Cream Sandwich's source code is released to the public.
Source: PCMag
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mavere - Wednesday, October 26, 2011 - link
I always see a lot of comments stating certain tech blogs (Giz, Engadget, Techcrunch) being so pro-Apple that it defines their existence.While page views definitely do not determine who's right and who's wrong, the size and reach of these blogs make me wonder if there's a mobile tech version of the saying "reality has a left wing bias".
cditty - Wednesday, October 26, 2011 - link
I would call Engadget the Fox News of Tech. I actually love the site when Joshua and crew were there. They were pro Apple, but at least covered other things and had a good podcast.Now, AOL seems to think there must be one Apple headline a day at least. For instance. In the past three days, there have been 2 headlines about porting a NON WORKING Siri to other devices. Who cares if it doesn't work. That is a page view post.
I deleted Engadget from my bookmarks this morning and will give This Is my next/The Verge a shot.
It's funny that in 10 years, there are only two sites that have been in my bookmarks the whole time... Anandtech and HardOCP. Neither one of them are afraid to speak their mind.
Gnarr - Wednesday, October 26, 2011 - link
I just bought Nexus One phone 4 months ago (a new phone) for my mom. This really sucks.But what is the real reason they don't update it? Nexus One is almost exactly as fast as Nexus S, it's even faster at some tasks :\
jalexoid - Wednesday, October 26, 2011 - link
Internal storage capacity is 512 MB in N1.Dribble - Thursday, October 27, 2011 - link
+1It's got nothing to do with google not *wanting* to support older devices - unlike apple who gets money from selling the phones google doesn't care which phone you use. I think even the cpu is just about fast enough.
I bet it's a simple case of 512mb of flash not being big enough to fit ICS + some apps.
sweetspot - Wednesday, October 26, 2011 - link
well issue with most phones is majority are not 4g LTE yet outside of the few newer models available.Most folks getting a new phone will get 4g flavor going forward, so upgrading old one is mute point, unless you have phone in hand and wont be getting upgrade soon. Those folks still under the 2 year contract for their current phone will pray for it.
Stuck with 2.3 for another year and half all those folks that bought one 6 months to a year ago, on those 2 year contract deals.
Whats the % of people that actually go full term 2 year contract deal with their original phone for that so called special deal ?? Id say over all would be less then 15% the other 85% break contract early and upgrade or leave carriers to another brand.
Sunrise089 - Wednesday, October 26, 2011 - link
I'm no Apple fanboy - iPhone are the only Apple products I've ever owned. But if Apple cut OS support for a flagship phone that's still under contract people would be going ballistic. I get the Nexus One sucked, but when people buy a subsidized phone with a two year deal there is some expectation that the phone will be supported for the length of the contract.Of course Google is free to do what it wants, and as consumers we can take note and act accordingly. I just find it a bit sad that there's so little outcry when Apple isn't the company making the decision.
jalexoid - Wednesday, October 26, 2011 - link
Obviously this sucks. But support not same as new features. I believe Apple even charged for iOS upgrade once...And considering that the phone sold in miserable numbers, no one will actually listen to the owners :( Now HTC Desire.... That is another story.
doobydoo - Thursday, October 27, 2011 - link
Apple didn't charge for iOS, ever.Having the latest and greatest iOS is THE SAME as features, unless you argue that Android 4.0 brings no new features (a ridiculous claim).
The fact the phone sold so poorly is no excuse.
Andrew.a.cunningham - Thursday, October 27, 2011 - link
In the early days of iOS, back when it was called iPhone OS, new software updates (versions 2 and 3) cost $10 for iPod Touch owners, though it was always free for iPhone users. iOS 4 was free to everyone who could install it.