Samsung Galaxy S4 Software Upgrade

[gpeterden]

When will the following software upgrades be released for Samsung Galaxy S4?

1. Samsung Galaxy S4 to access LTE on AWS spectrum.

2. To allow apps to be moved to external storage.

Thanks,

Gregg

[BakerGeckos]

If it goes like all others when you see all other carries on the patch don't start holding your breath as Verizon typically is last to upgrade.

[Julian_G]

It would really be great it VZW gave a timetable or status about these updates. I have been dealing with VZW updates on android since the origional Moto Droid. It is usually radio silence and then - "you have an update"

[rainy68]

Verizon does this so no one can pigeon hole them into a launch schedule. If something goes wrong in development, and it always does, no one can yell that the update hasn't been released it, but they never knew when it was happening anyway. Not saying I like it, but that's how it is. Plus, when was the last time Verizon made us FEEL like they really care about us?  I don't know what the other carriers do. I've not been with any of them.

[jrh4054]

I don't get it.  You've only had the phone a few weeks at best and you're asking about system updates already?  I still haven't figured out all the S4 bells and whistles, let alone deal with an upgrade already.

[BakerGeckos]

I agree Jrh4054 but the features are nice. But After being with verizon for well over 15 years I've learned one thing, that's to be patient.

Mike

[japetty]

Next thing you will hear when the update does happen is "That new update screwed up my phone and made it totally worthless" like we are hearing from many of the S3 owners after VZW released that update a few weeks ago.  Then a couple of days ago VZW release another update to fix the previous update and the jury is still out on if it really fixed the phone.  Be careful what you wish for as you just might get it.

[Klue]

That's because most people don't prepare their phones the correct way prior to installing the update.

[rainy68]

And how does one prepare their phone for an update? I ask as a new Android user.

>>personal information removed<<

Message was edited by: Verizon Moderator

[Klue]

This is list of chores to do for a phone update.

1. Remove external SD card

2. Do a backup of music, contacts, make a list of your installed Apps from the App Store.

3. Do a factory reset of the phone.  This will wipe your phone clean as it came from the factory.

4. Reformat the internal memory card.

5. Install the update.

6. Do a factory reset of the phone a second time.

7. At this time I would make sure all the factory installed software is working properly.

8. Reinstall the contact list.

9. Setup your phone to your personnel preferences.

10. Reinstall the Apps one at a time from the App Store after making sure each app works with the new update.

11.. Reinstall the external SD card.

Yes it is a lot of work but by doing this you will substantiously reduce the risk of a software conflict with the new update.  If there is a conflict then you will know what application might be the cause of the problem.

Alot of people just dump the new update of a phone full of downloaded stuff and wonder why their phones dont work like it used to. .

[Ann154]

Don't forget to backup text messages and call log.

[japetty]

I have never ever done any of this across 6 different smartphones and several upgrades and have never experienced any issues.  It is just not that big of a deal.  I have only had to do one battery pull and it was not because of an upgrade.  If the BS is going to happen to your phone it is going to happen.  People don't have time to be preparing a phone for these upgrades and they should not have to be doing this.  These updates should be made available to users and if users want the updates they should be able to navigate to a site and download them and install them not pushed out the way they are and you just have to deal with them.  Customers should have the control on their phones.  VZW should do less bulking up the updates and more testing of the software so they don't release updates as the failed update they released to the Samsung S3 which was released about 1 month ago.  I was one of the lucky ones on that update as I had zero issues but there were many customers.  It took VZW 3 - 4 weeks before VZW pushed out a fix for that.  I am amazed they got a fix out that fast though.  I am even surprised they silently took ownership of that big failure.  I have been reading about a similar issue with many of the MOTO Droid MAXX users as well but VZW won't take ownership of that as yet but there are many customers out there with totally useless phones because of an update.  I don't just read about these folks on this board but I watch a few other boards as well.  I will say one thing for VZW about the S3 update failure.  They did take ownership of that big failure and they did ship out refurbished  phones to customers which had not been updated to the version they had recently released.  They even left instructions up on this board how to roll your phone back to the previous version which really surprised me.  I thought sure those would have been removed but they were not.  THANK YOU Verizon Wireless you made many customers have they could keep their phone and not have to take one of the refurbished phones.   When you get the software that lets you move the apps to SD card, you may be a little surprised in the limitations of it.  It is not exactly they way your are imagining it to work.  Many people in Europe have it as it was released on the international S4.

[japetty]

I mean the MOTO RAZR MAXX  not the MOTO Droid MAXX.

[vzw_customer_support]

Gpeterden, I hope you're enjoying your S4! I can see you're anxious for updates. I do not currently have any details on upcoming software updates. Once available, you'll find details at vzw.com/support under Device.

MarquiaF_VZW
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

[TwiztidFreak6t9er]

Im really wanting the update Samsung just released overseas, but we REALLY REALLY REALLY need an update to address the horrible lag this phone has!!!I had to return one already, it wasnt just theblag though, horrible battery & overheating was also the cause...

This one still has the lag, not AS BAD, but not good either, and the battery still sucks!

Ive already contacted CS, and for now I pretty much just have to wait...I was also told by the rep, that there is an update coming, but the date was unknown...

Also, yes I've been through the whole anchalada with factory reseting, formating the SD Card, etc....

Nothing 0_o

I even did the whole activating dev mode and selecting for the animations to be Disabled and Force GPU Rendering....Did NOTHING...

PLEASW PLEASE PLEASE any mod or tec support guy/woman here take this info to the higher ups and let them know to get together with samsung and fix this!

A phone this powerful, if not the most powerful on the market has no excuse for being this way.....>_>

[Loki68]

gpeterden has a great question and is entirely in the right to demand the update. For the S4 to launch at VZW without the ability to move apps to SD is unacceptable.

The faster LTE service can definitely wait, but moving apps to SD and the rare overheating issue that noobs have with this device need to be pushed soon.

[BOBD1950]

Not waiting..Ordered S4$ w/the 32 g  storage. 2 day..July 9 shipping.

I've spent  an extra 50 bucks for worse things in my life.

This.. taint one of them.