Galaxy Nexus 4.3 OTA Upgrade?

[steampunk_cowboy]

It's Tuesday, 11 June 2013, and rumors continue about the much anticipated release of Google Jelly Bean 4.3 (or some variant of it). Though it didn't happen yesterday the 10th as some had expected--others now say July, an article by Robert Triggs just a few hours ago on Android Authority begs the question "Galaxy Nexus passes through Bluetooth SIG, is Android 4.3 incoming?" Apparently, a GT-I9250 (aka "Maguro": GSM/HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus variant on AT&T/T-Mobile networks) was spied being tested against Bluetooth standards, a requirement for new update releases. That, my friends, is a major step toward our beloved GNexes getting another transfusion that's slated to resolve the over-discussed problems of overheating and rapidly draining batteries. Plus, gaining a couple of new features: a new camera UI and a power-saving Bluetooth upgrade to v4.0 that most higher end devices have. To read Robert Triggs' complete article, go to " http://m.androidauthority.com/galaxy-nexus-passes-bluetooth-android-4-3-224336/ " . I'm so (steam)punked, I check my phone's System Updates in Settings every hour or so.

[Igor_K]

Nexus 5 just released and NOT for Verizon!

Verizon, congrats! You just lost another 4 customers!

[djortiz]

Google also announced no kK for Gnex.

[GameDiversity]

Well, with that news .... I just completed step 3 and bought the Google Nexus 5. Now, to figure out the right pre-paid plan. I will first try Tmobile.

1. Suspend Verizon service

2. Purchase sim card (done)

3. Purchase Nexus 5

4. Test Tmobile pre-paid plan

5. Test AT&T pre-paid (I hear AiO throttle badly)

6. Decide Nexus 5 & Pre-paid or

7. Verizon Galaxy Note 3 Developers Edition

[vonelliott]

Don't you still have to pay your bill w/ suspended service?

[GameDiversity]

You have the option to stop service and continue paying your bill, or stoping service and payment for 90 days. Because I am already out of my contract period, I went with the later

[vonelliott]

As I'm still under contract until May it makes sense why I don't have that option. However, it may be worth the $60 early term fee to try out some other carriers.

[Planner1]

If you buy out and cancel you still have to pay the remaining months GameDiversity?

[Planner1]

Well I'm not holding my breath for 4.3 to come to my Galaxy Nexus any longer. I am going to jump to 4.4 next week when our Unlocked Nexus 5 comes in. Hopefully Verizon will learn something from this. They are losing two 15 plus year customers. Good luck everyone and I will keep my fingers crossed for you guys!

[12345678987654321]

I also plan to drop my service with Verizon due to the poor update cycles for the GNex.  All the updates so far have taken much longer than any other carriers.  4.3 being delayed this long is BS.  It's represents a total lack of ability displayed at all levels of the company. I cannot support a company that just doesn't give a crap about their client's needs.

Re:  these inane comments by the CSRs.   We are 30 pages deep now- and you are asking what the issue is?  You want to continue our relationship?  Jesus, you sound like a pathetic loser after his girlfriend finally wised up and dumped him.  Just stop before my eyes begin to bleed from me trying to dig them out of my skull.

[vonelliott]

They have to be automated. I can't fathom these canned responses being

anything but robotic attempts at pacification.

On Nov 1, 2013 2:34 PM, "12345678987654321" <forums@verizonwireless.com>

[lmgtfy]

I've been watching this post for about a month now. I check back in every couple of days to see what is the current temp of the verizon community of nexus users. I have two general question: one for Verizon and two for the community.

1. Verizon:

     Many people here are complaining about your service and lack of concern for the customer base. Additionally, many users are complaining regarding the      frequency of updates and vague answers with no direction. What steps are being taken to persuade customers that they matter, their concerns matter, and      that Verizon is listening?

2. User Community:

     a. If Gnex users are expecting the newest and vanilla-est experience, why aren't there more people saying that they are upgrading to 4.4 themselves? (not      to discuss a taboo subject, but we can place whatever ROM on our phone we wish). I get it, we shouldn't have to do that as this is the whole point of the      nexus device... but we can.

     b. For those users who have the 4.4 version, how is the experience? we've only heard from one person(?), i think

[djb6]

Problem with this discussion you want to have is although this is an online forum, it is not going to be something that Verizon allows.

To your point before things get removed, I've been using a very shiny version of android 4.4 on my gnex for a few days now.  Works okay, lots of graphical issues that are trying to be worked out.  Phone is much faster than ever before, but it does tend to reboot from time to time.  I would suggest checking it out online.

I before this used a shiny version of android 4.3.1 and that was awesome!  It made the phone feel brand new, which I am sure is the reason VZW is trying to not update to it.  A new feeling phone means less people upgrading to a new phone.  To be honest though, if VZW does not get a nexus phone, I have no interest in the company.  The promise is that I've read Google and VZW are working on some projects to be introduced in 2014.  Those might have to do with the VoLTE that is supposed to be put into action this upcoming year.

[GameDiversity]

To answer 2a, updating yourself can sometimes be time consuming ... unless you are really into that sort of thing and have the aptitude for it .... it can be pain. I will probably go that route if a) I do not like the Nexus5 experience on a prepaid service and b) a verizon galaxy note 3 developer edition is not released ...

There is an outside chance that if a) and b) happen, I also drift to the Lumina 929 which is soon due on Verizonhttp://www.theverge.com/2013/11/4/5064650/nokia-lumia-929-pictures-specifications-verizon

Should be a nice phone, if you like are okay with Windows. I, however, have a lot invested in Android, so I would go the self update route

[Pyro411]

@Imgtfy the latest Shiny jellybean 4.3.1 seems a bit laggy comparatively to stock 4.2.2, I haven't tried KitKat but have seen reports that driver binaries have been found for toro/mysid for 4.4 so it's possible that Verizon may step up to the plate & build 1 last stock rom.

As for KitKat on the Galaxy Nexus currently the only issue I've seen people complaining about is graphical issues/crashes caused by not having the proper driver "prior to the driver being found"  I'm holding out on seeing if the TI drivers that were located help out.

With your lowest data package costing the same as the grandfathered unlimited package VZW will have to do something phenomenal to coax people off it while staying with you & not going to a competitor.  Also a big thing that could be introduced is a data bucket, what's sold plan wise via full 4g speeds & everything else limited to low 4g or 3g speeds.  I don't do it much anymore but taking my phone with me while working away from the office/home, using streaming services and whatnot very very very easily chews through the bandwidth... I have actually seen 7-13GB monthly usage even without netflix on my phone when I was using it a lot.

If you get in a Galaxy S5 Google Play Edition next year, I may be tempted to buy that phone if the rumors are to be semi trusted.

[jtown]

Answering #2:  Why don't I do the upgrade myself?  Because I bought a friggin' Nexus device so I wouldn't have to screw around with it and risk breaking something or getting my phone locked/bricked.

If I was in the 15-20 year old range, I might have considered it worth saving a bit of money and buying a cheap phone (rooting comments removed).  But I'm no longer a kid just scraping by.  I can afford to buy what I want.  I paid a premium for this phone because it was supposed to have a clean OS and get the latest OS updates as soon as they're available.  That's the definition of a Nexus device.

Apparently Verizon didn't get the memo.  My phone and Nexus tablet were only on the same version for a few months.  Now my tablet's about to be TWO versions ahead of the phone.

(removed) Verizon!

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[Pyro411]

JTown, the Moto X is "Mostly" stock but it's a mid range device & not a top tier device.

I'm right with you wanting the clean stock roms minus skinning and "Value Add" bloatware.  Which really really makes me wish Google would stop with the Nexus line & take up the stance of every flagship needs to have 2 options.

Flagship option one, carrier & oem branding/skinning/etc

Flagship option two, Google play edition

Now here's the clincher, they need to release a program with the phone allowing you to switch between the two options allowing you the choice without having to buy 2 different phones.  I believe Motorola did this a while back for one of their early droids where you launched the Motorola updater which flashed the rom on the phone with the updated Stock rom... a step in the right direction but not there yet...

[MikeInATL]

Here's my response to lmgtfy's question # 2 - I'm shiny as well, but I still have some signal problems and certainly handoff issues, even with FK01 & FK02 baseband versions.  It's my understanding that we must get new signed radios from  Verizon because of their proprietary network.  So that's why I'm highly irritated that they won't update. 

I don't really care about the android version since I've done what you've done, but I would certainly appreciate better signal quality, strength and handoff.

[eturk001]

Last I read, Google themselves are not updating the Galaxy Nexus to 4.4 because of graphic support issues. The guess is that it's the Texas Instruments chip, TI being defunct now, it will never work properly. It's like the Droid 3 ROMs over 2.3 that never really worked because the camera driver just wouldn't get updated.

One advantage of Apple I guess is that they're so closed, providers never have to worry about all this software support. Hardware supplier variety means dead ends often.

[djortiz]

Actually TI had an updated driver set ready to go and it didn't make it in

time for Google's last update of 4.3.

Google didn't feel like merging it after the fact, but several developers

are looking at it now.

[Pyro411]

I read that as well, but that was several days before I saw reports of people finding the TI Binaries for the graphics so we "May" *crosses fingers* see an official stock rom of 4.4.x.  It is however true that TI got out of the mobile industry if Droid-Life is accurate.

As for Apple you're just a bit off, Apple still uses manufacturers for parts but appear to be better at forcing contracts for support levels / time frames.

[Leonardo77]

KinquanaH_VZW said:

". We are unable to provide any information about new software until we receive it from the manufacture. " 

Android 4.3 was release in July.  Are you telling me google is withholding from verizon?  Or is it maybe Samsung that is holding out.  Criminy, get creative!!! You CAN come up with better excuses than that can't you?   Or maybe you should slap a lawsuit on Samsung/Google for catering to your competitors.  They seem to be getting timely updates.

Thank goodness AT&T has great coverage in my area, excellent data speed, and I only have 6 months to go!!!