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Google Pixel 4a's old firmware is gone, trapping users on buggy battery update

androidcentral.com

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Re: Google Pixel 4a's old firmware is gone, trapping users on buggy battery update

#311

Post by markerz »

scarface_74 wrote: post #308
userbinator wrote: post #302

Have the battery replaced for free at a walk-in center in the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Singapore, or India or take advantage of a mail-in repair program (US-only). Whatever else you think about Google, I think you'd agree that is a much better response than what Apple did.

What exactly did Apple “do”?

Initially they silently under-clocked CPUs for phones with aged batteries. https://www.pcmag.com/news/apple-does-slow-iphone-speeds-but...

Then they announced a $29 battery replacement program for phones that were affected by this battery issue. https://www.pcmag.com/news/report-apple-is-refusing-to-repla...

Re: Google Pixel 4a's old firmware is gone, trapping users on buggy battery update

#312

Post by refulgentis »

terramars wrote: post #299

if this is due to that specific manufacturer having battery fires, i don't hate it as it seems like the battery replacement option is basically the same as a recall. completely different from a random bug causing it or an across-the-board EOL update. pixel longevity isn't great, but at least they're relatively easy to maintain and the device protection program is acceptable.

I guess even if we didn't hate it, it'd be nice if they said that, so people knew that it's not a buggy update, but rather, they have a ticking time bomb in their pants pocket.

Re: Google Pixel 4a's old firmware is gone, trapping users on buggy battery update

#313

Post by scarface_74 »

markerz wrote: post #311
scarface_74 wrote: post #308

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What exactly did Apple “do”?

Initially they silently under-clocked CPUs for phones with aged batteries. https://www.pcmag.com/news/apple-does-slow-iphone-speeds-but... Then they announced a $29 battery replacement program for phones that were affected by this battery issue. https://www.pcmag.com/news/report-apple-is-refusing-to-repla...

So in other words, unlike Google that made perfectly good phones worse, Apple did an update that made iPhones with aged batteries not completely shut off.

And you don’t see the difference?

Re: Google Pixel 4a's old firmware is gone, trapping users on buggy battery update

#314

Post by quicklime »

markerz wrote: post #311
scarface_74 wrote: post #308

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What exactly did Apple “do”?

Initially they silently under-clocked CPUs for phones with aged batteries. https://www.pcmag.com/news/apple-does-slow-iphone-speeds-but... Then they announced a $29 battery replacement program for phones that were affected by this battery issue. https://www.pcmag.com/news/report-apple-is-refusing-to-repla...

Having an “aged battery” is very different from having a battery that was suddenly ruined by a buggy update that can’t be rolled back though.

Re: Google Pixel 4a's old firmware is gone, trapping users on buggy battery update

#315

Post by scarface_74 »

adgjlsfhk1 wrote: post #310
scarface_74 wrote: post #308

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What exactly did Apple “do”?

https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-stop-apple-throttling-iph... Apple does the same thing, but doesn't offer free repairs when they do this

No, it’s not “the same thing”. Apple throttled the phones because the alternative was the phone shutting off. It wasn’t a software bug. It’s physics that when a battery got old and you tried to run the phone at full speed, the battery couldn’t handle it.

Re: Google Pixel 4a's old firmware is gone, trapping users on buggy battery update

#317

Post by ryeguy »

quicklime wrote: post #314
markerz wrote: post #311

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Initially they silently under-clocked CPUs for phones with aged batteries. https://www.pcmag.com/news/apple-does-slow-iphone-speeds-but... Then they announced a $29 battery replacement program for phones that were affected by this battery issue. https://www.pcmag.com/news/report-apple-is-refusing-to-repla...

Having an “aged battery” is very different from having a battery that was suddenly ruined by a buggy update that can’t be rolled back though.

This wasn't a buggy update. It was announced ahead of time via email, including compensation options.

Re: Google Pixel 4a's old firmware is gone, trapping users on buggy battery update

#318

Post by scarface_74 »

kllrnohj wrote: post #271
OliveMate wrote: post #75

Hi, (soon to be ex) Pixel 4a user here. Regardless of why this update has happened, the way Google have went about this update is sketchy at best, and deceitful at worst. To be plain: this phone has been EOL for 1½ years now. This update has appeared out of the blue and specifically decimates the battery + charging capabilities. My most charitable view is that Google have found a major fault with the Pixel 4a battery…

> My least charitable view (and immediate reaction) is that they're purposely ruining a viable budget phone to make more sales. Given the legal & regulatory trouble Apple got in and is currently in depending on jurisdiction for doing this, it seems highly unlikely Google would have picked now to attempt the same thing. Especially since it's literally a single device, and even the sibling 4a 5g didn't get the same tre…

Apple did not “do this”. Apple ole didn’t ruin a perfectly good phone with an update. The throttling they did on phones with old batteries kept them from shutting off completely.

Re: Google Pixel 4a's old firmware is gone, trapping users on buggy battery update

#319

Post by polka_haunts_us »

slavik81 wrote: post #305
userbinator wrote: post #302

Have the battery replaced for free at a walk-in center in the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Singapore, or India or take advantage of a mail-in repair program (US-only). Whatever else you think about Google, I think you'd agree that is a much better response than what Apple did.

My Pixel 4a won't turn on. I wonder if this might fix that problem. I guess it's worth a shot.

My dad and I both bought a 4a (5G) at the same time, ours both died within a week of each other. With mine at least I know the issue was that it just stopped charging entirely, no cable plugged in would fix it.

Unfortunately, the 5G variation doesn't appear to be part of this program.

Re: Google Pixel 4a's old firmware is gone, trapping users on buggy battery update

#320

Post by scarface_74 »

kristopolous wrote: post #256
nullc wrote: post #251

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Nobody has said "well thank God my new MacBook has no ports" or "I'm glad my battery isn't removable". The support column for these decisions is empty. No, but they do say "thank god my device survived being splashed by water" or "I'm happy this teeny tiny thin device doesn't leave an unsightly lump in my pocket" The de-featuring isn't capricious -- it's a result of optimizing for different tradeoffs. While it woul…

I've never bought that argument. Apple wanted to sell high margin accessories that get broken, lost and replaced often because people hold on to their devices about 4 years now instead of the 1-2 from 10 years ago. I use a panasonic wired headphone with a mic, $10. Airpods are $200. They wanted to increase their costs and frequency of purchase by hiding it behind accessories with higher profits and shorter longevity…

You realize that not only can you buy non Apple headphones, Apple sells Bluetooth headphones with the same integration that the AirPods have for $70?
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