Remember broken Nexus telephony? This is how Google treats it's customers • Hacker News Board

Re: Remember broken Nexus telephony? This is how Google treats it's customers

#111

Post by morganvachon » Sat, Jan 17, 2015, 4:21 AM UTC

debacle wrote: post #47

I feel like Android 5 is a step back, UI-wise. One of those "change for the sake of change" things. I don't see how a triangle, square, and circle are more user friendly than a back button, a home button, and a tab button. Chrome is also crashing constantly on 5.03 and the new keyboard is very very bright at night. Not a telephony issue, but I feel like 5.03 was a step back and I've actually contemplated downgrading…

> I feel like 5.03 was a step back and I've actually contemplated downgrading back to 4.* Is that an option for phone users, or does the carrier push the updates?

If we're still talking about a Nexus 4 or 5 here, it's Google who pushes the updates, not the carrier, as they are truly unlocked devices beholden only to Google. As such, you can download the previous versions of the OS all the way back to the initial release version[1]. The process to revert to an older version is not difficult (given the audience here) but if you've never done it before it can be a pain. The instructions are on the linked page.

For the Nexus 4, you can go all the way back to 4.2.2 (a nice, stable OS version if I may say so), and back to 4.4 for the Nexus 5.

If instead you are talking about another manufacturer like HTC or Motorola...good luck. Every manufacturer approaches downgrading/upgrading differently, not all manufacturers provide older ROM images, and some phones simply can't be downgraded once they've taken an OTA update.

[1] https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images

Re: Remember broken Nexus telephony? This is how Google treats it's customers

#112

Post by cbg0 » Sat, Jan 17, 2015, 10:29 AM UTC

whyaduck wrote: post #31

josteink wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> but it's clear now that Google not only cannot be depended on for their software (see Google Reader) How about all versions of Android 4.3 and down? 60% of the Android user-base is now without updates for critical security errors. Their support is ridiculous.

I have a Nexus 4 on Lollipop and I was experiencing this issue too, and saw the response. Last night I bought an iPhone.

So will you try a Windows phone when you have problems with the iPhone or perhaps a BlackBerry?

Re: Remember broken Nexus telephony? This is how Google treats it's customers

#113

Post by zumtar » Sat, Jan 17, 2015, 11:04 AM UTC

arihant wrote: post #108

zumtar wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> And the telco of Nexus is Google! It isn't, Google doesn't run their own mobile network or mobile virtual network ( yet ). Contacting the technical support team of the company that provides you the SIM card that is inserted into the Nexus device will have an effect. I know it seems backwards because the issue has actually been introduced with Google's OTA update but those technical support calls get escalated and e…

It won't work that way. Nexus 4 was not sold through a carrier, Google sold it unlocked through their website.

Yes it will. I am fully aware that the handsets are bought contract-free from Google (I am a long time Nexus user and purchaser), I am not suggesting that the carrier will replace or repair the handset.

The handset that attaches to a GSM network has to conform to many standards set out by the GSMA (GSM association) as well as many other local certification bodies and associations (one example is the handset must have the ability to call emergency services).

If complaints are made to the technical department of the carrier being used, the calls will eventually be escalated to a vendor/manufacturer of Google's size.

I've worked for various different cellular providers and I have personally seen such tickets.

Re: Remember broken Nexus telephony? This is how Google treats it's customers

#114

Post by Leynos » Sat, Jan 31, 2015, 10:08 AM UTC

zumtar wrote: post #113

arihant wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It won't work that way. Nexus 4 was not sold through a carrier, Google sold it unlocked through their website.

Yes it will. I am fully aware that the handsets are bought contract-free from Google (I am a long time Nexus user and purchaser), I am not suggesting that the carrier will replace or repair the handset. The handset that attaches to a GSM network has to conform to many standards set out by the GSMA (GSM association) as well as many other local certification bodies and associations (one example is the handset must have…

It does seem counter-intuitive though. I would never have thought to do this. The only time I would think to contact the mobile operator is if the phone was running a custom firmware provided by the operator.