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Samsung extends Android and security updates to 7 years

cnet.com

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Re: Samsung extends Android and security updates to 7 years

#141

Post by 01nate »

realusername wrote: post #93
01nate wrote: post #74

Now if they only allowed you to unlock the bootloader. Samsung makes great hardware* but it's disappointing see locked down and bloated devices that only gets security updates for a few years IF you pay full price when they come out. Long support periods are great, with that fixed it probably brings Samsung phones to Apple levels of quality, but I've enjoyed using my phone like a real computer instead of a locked dow…

Samsung devices aren't locked? You are just going to lose Knox in the process but it's not like it has much value, I don't use it even when I can.

Oh, cool, for some reason I thought they didn't let you unlock the bootloader. Did they stop you from doing it for a while and then re-enable it at some point or am I just misremembering?

Either way, always good to be wrong about something when I'm complaining about the state of tech.

Re: Samsung extends Android and security updates to 7 years

#142

Post by Kuinox »

arunkumar9t2 wrote: post #52
Kuinox wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Since 7 years I hear that Samsung apps are "quite nice theses days". I never found it to be true. I owned a Samsung S7, it was atrocious, people said it was great, the bloatware was painful, the gesture to open the apps drawer was conflicted with the gesture to open Samsung pay (which didn't worked with my bank), you can't disable Samsung pay, if you switch the launcher, it's still there. Searching the settings took…

They are industry leading in Android for quite some time. They often have innovations first that then Google generalizes in Android itself. For example, lock screen customization, secure folder, even work profile was first available on Samsung devices. Samsung literally contributed work profile (Knox) to AOSP.

What do you call "lock screen customisation" ?

> even work profile was first available on Samsung devices

Work profiles are available since Android 5.

Re: Samsung extends Android and security updates to 7 years

#143

Post by hulium »

tortoise_in wrote: post #132
hulium wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why not, it supports ad blockers so at least it is better than Chrome. Also it can put the URL bar at the bottom which makes much more sense on a phone.

Wait you on hacker news and don't use Firefox?

I do use Firefox. I defended Samsung against Chrome in the category of preinstalled browsers, Firefox plays in a different league of course.

Re: Samsung extends Android and security updates to 7 years

#144

Post by tagamma »

FirmwareBurner wrote: post #103
sundvor wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yup. I use the Samsung browser as my primary - thanks to the adblockers.

But how do you sync it with your desktop browser? As in history, bookmarks, etc.

I don't think you can.

At least I was not able to find a way to do that. That was the main reason I switched back to Firefox on mobile despite actually liking Samsung Internet more.

Re: Samsung extends Android and security updates to 7 years

#145

Post by anbotero »

rchaud wrote: post #138
jwells89 wrote: post #4

A good first step. The next one I’d like to see is a one-tap toggle that disables the bulk of Samsung OS customizations and “me too” apps/ecosystem cruft, as some other vendors have. Yes it can be removed manually, but with one of Android’s chief selling points being the choice it affords users, I shouldn’t need to do that, particularly on expensive flagship devices.

Seems like you just want a Pixel phone with all-Google apps. Samsung's built in apps are not "cruft" by any means. The Notes app has pen support for sketching and PDF import/annotate, which lets me use a printable calendar digitally. The Browser app has dark mode and adblock; good luck with that on Google Chrome. The Music app doesn't try to upsell me to a YouTube Music plan. I also use Bixby routines to quickly set…

Concur with Notes and Bixby Routines. Discovered and tinkered with them three months ago. I was missing a lot, actually.

Given I’m more Power User than average user, I’m also in favor of vanilla as possible, but it’s not like an extra icon away from home and Edge Panels is really uncomfortable for me, I don’t even feel the presence of a lot of those extra applications I don’t use.

Re: Samsung extends Android and security updates to 7 years

#146

Post by grumpyprole »

Kuinox wrote: post #111
grumpyprole wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While I might one day leave Samsung for the lack of Bluetooth codecs, in 2024 the UI is really very nice and I would miss it on many other "more stock" Android devices.

What would you miss in the "more stock" android devices ?

Too many to list, but it's small things such as seeing how long a charge will take. Stock Android is certainly less refined.

Re: Samsung extends Android and security updates to 7 years

#147

Post by andrewia »

abdusco wrote: post #64
andrewia wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's an inherent limitation of modern lithium batteries with a smartphone's constraints of density, size, packaging, charge current, and a bunch of other requirements. Replacing a battery every 18-24 months costs ~$75 (or 1 hour and $35 if you're comfortable with DIY), which is a reasonable maintenance cost considering smartphones cost $300-$1300. Many car owners don't sell/scrap their car until repairs exceed the…

Good luck finding genuine replacement battery after 3-4 years. All you'll find will be fake Chinese knock-offs. Samsung should back their word by keeping a stock of replacement parts.

I usually use Chinese knockoffs. Brands like Cameron Sino and Nohon are growing brands who accurately state capacity, make good batteries, and don't pretend to be OEMs.

As for official batteries, California's Right to Repair law compels manufacturers to sell parts like batteries for as long as they sell battery replacement services, up to 7 years. Apple still replaces batteries for the iPhone 5S, a 10-year-old phone, so they 2022+ phones should have official batteries available for a long while (and the prices seem quite fair). Google also sells genuine batteries for the Pixel 2, a 6-year-old phone, through iFixit. Samsung only offers batteries attached to a midframe and display assembly, for the S20 and newer, through iFixit for $200+. So the former 2 brands seem like good options.

Re: Samsung extends Android and security updates to 7 years

#148

Post by andrewia »

gtirloni wrote: post #31
andrewia wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's an inherent limitation of modern lithium batteries with a smartphone's constraints of density, size, packaging, charge current, and a bunch of other requirements. Replacing a battery every 18-24 months costs ~$75 (or 1 hour and $35 if you're comfortable with DIY), which is a reasonable maintenance cost considering smartphones cost $300-$1300. Many car owners don't sell/scrap their car until repairs exceed the…

I've replaced the batteries on several phones (at authorized places) and, while I like the idea, they all started displaying weird behavior. I guess they are glued so hard that the heating needed to open them up must cause some tiny damage. Just a guess.

I haven't had any issues with a Samsung S7, Samsung S9 (although I broke HDMI output), and Sony Xperia 5 Mark II (very pleasant to repair). iPhones have been much more troublesome for me, as I have destroyed three during repair attempts. All the issues were from damage to ribbon cables, as they are fragile and easily damaged from being bent. So I'd advise avoiding devices with tight tolerances like iPhones, and minimizing interaction with ribbon cables.

Re: Samsung extends Android and security updates to 7 years

#149

Post by sundvor »

tagamma wrote: post #144
FirmwareBurner wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But how do you sync it with your desktop browser? As in history, bookmarks, etc.

I don't think you can. At least I was not able to find a way to do that. That was the main reason I switched back to Firefox on mobile despite actually liking Samsung Internet more.

Confirmed.

I tend to use my phone for personal research stuff mainly and Firefox on my desktop/laptop for work. I use bookmark syncing in Firefox, and that works great! But I generally don't need to synch from phone to desktop.

Having said this, I also had Firefox installed on my phone and on checking, see that ublock origin is available there!

Will give it a shot now. :-)

Re: Samsung extends Android and security updates to 7 years

#150

Post by hurrdurr57 »

38 wrote: post #53

what we really need is a way to disable forced updates. how people are not more upset by that is beyond me. every time I say that people scream "BUT MUH SECURITY", as if thats the only thing that matters and nothing else should even be considered. I am an adult. if I want to disable updates, I should be able to do so. give me multiple, loud warnings before doing so, fine, but dont stop people outright. otherwise its…

You could always root your phone and install an open source OS.
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