Samsung has far from an exemplary record when it comes to updating the Android builds that it puts into its devices. Just like most Android device manufacturers, it chooses not to offer the stock Android operating system in its phones and tablets.
Instead, it chooses to skin them with a proprietary layer called TouchWiz.
A stock Android experience offers a lot of optimizations for the OS that were meant to be there by Google. It also tends to be lighter, and since it sports an untampered OS straight out of Google’s vision for Android, devices with stock Android are, without exception, the first to get updated when a new build of Android is out.
Samsung has become infamous for interminable delays in its Android updates, and the Samsung Galaxy S fiasco is a case in point. For a device that was launched less than two years ago as a Samsung Android flagship model, it had been inexplicably omitted from the line-up that Samsung would deliver Android Ice Cream Sandwich.
Despite the furore that followed, Samsung has decided to stick to its guns with the official Android upgrade plans for the US. The Samsung Galaxy S and the original Galaxy Tab (the 7 inch slate with Android Froyo) have been snubbed again. The other major names in the Samsung line up are all there though.
AT&T: the Galaxy S II, Galaxy S II Skyrocket, Galaxy Note, Captivate Glide, Nexus S, and Galaxy Tab 8.9 will get Ice Cream Sandwich upgrades.
Verizon: the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 7.7 will be upgraded to Android 4.0.
Sprint: the Nexus S 4G already has Android 4.0, while the Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch is to be updated imminently. All Wi-Fi Galaxy Tabs currently running Honeycomb will get the update as well.
T-Mobile: this carrier’s customers haven’t been provided with any concrete information yet whatsoever. All that has been announced is that Samsung is “in close communication” with the carrier, and will “provide updates as we have additional details to share.”
[via The Verge]
