Due to the recent Stagefright exploit on Android devices, Samsung has announced that they will issue monthly software patches to its Android devices. These will be pushed out over the air (OTA), mercifully sparing users from the horrors of using Samsung’s awful Kies PC software.
This problem is compounded by the increasingly fragmented world that Android occupies.
Every manufacturer has a range of devices, most of which run a skinned version of Android which adds to the complexity. Add to this the network carrier’s own software to control OTA updates on mobiles - most of who rarely (if ever) update their software OTA and you have an impenetrable mix of software that spans networks across the globe.
Given that Samsung have long had a history of only updating their flagship devices to a point, can customers be sure that they will even get manufacturer software patches, and will the relevant networks even allow it?
Personally, I can’t stand the amount of updates that Android apps need anyway – rarely a day goes by without a couple of things needing a time consuming update. If my phone’s software required a lengthy update every month, I am sure that I would find this tedious after a while – not to mention the probable requirement to perform the updates while plugged in and connected to WiFi.
I applaud Samsung for actually trying to plug holes in what originally was said to be a vulnerability-free operating system, but I’m sure that things will not go according to plan due to carrier software issues – and I sincerely hope that Samsung is going to provide support for all of their devices, not just their current flagships.
As for any of the other manufacturers, will they ever provide any software updates?
The Android fragmentation problem is really starting to look quite serious now.
