Database Info

[Q] With ICS OTA will we loose everything?

Hi all,
After ICS OTA upgrade, will I have to reconfigure and reinstall all the apps?? Also, what about the media data?
TiA
- E.

It dosen't matter. Just backup with Titanium Backup and restore when it comes.

ElMango said:
Hi all,
After ICS OTA upgrade, will I have to reconfigure and reinstall all the apps?? Also, what about the media data?
TiA
- E.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You'll want to wait for a rooted version of the OTA anyway. It'll be out hours after the source is released. Then you can just use your favorite backup app to get your stuff back.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk

Do we know approximately when the ICS is set to come. Since I got the 3D I haven't really kept up with Nexus news but I'm looking to come back to the flagship.
Sent from my PG86100 using xda premium

Samfirmware stated on twitter two days ago that it was close.
Twitter.com/samfirmware
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA App

Don't see why it would take Google sooooo long to release the OTA ? I mean, The community has had it built for Weeks. I guess I'm just a bit too impatient and don't really feel like rooting my phone.
Sent from my Nexus S HAM using XDA App

I'm the same. I've rooted by all the ICS ROM's still have bugs. I'd already have a Galaxy Nexus if they did not delay and delay then have volume bugs! If they released all the drivers from day one, we'd have a million decent custom ROM's...

the nexus s is supposed to be an android flagship phone. Its built with vanilla android so its the first and easiest phone to update, yet for weeks now people are walking around with 4.0 on their galaxy nexus and nexus s users are still left in the dark. say what you will about apple but when an update comes out all compatible devices receive the update that day. obviously im not saying every android should get this update in a timely manner, but a phone by google made for this situation certainly should

I have a question when they said that nexus s should receive ice cream sandwich within " weeks" after galaxy nexus release. Do you guys think the clock has started or are did they mean release in the united states?
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA App

fightingroost12 said:
the nexus s is supposed to be an android flagship phone. Its built with vanilla android so its the first and easiest phone to update, yet for weeks now people are walking around with 4.0 on their galaxy nexus and nexus s users are still left in the dark.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, you may want to recall how us Nexus One users were treated with Gingerbread when the NS came out. ICS was probably developed primarily on the GN, so NS development slips on the totem pole. At least you are getting official ICS...

Rod3 said:
Yeah, you may want to recall how us Nexus One users were treated with Gingerbread when the NS came out. ICS was probably developed primarily on the GN, so NS development slips on the totem pole. At least you are getting official ICS...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yea your right, im very happy just to be on gingerbread (anyone with an x10 or intercept will agree with me) and i wouldnt even mind waiting for the update, its mostly the lack of any information from google thats killing me

hamiltus said:
Don't see why it would take Google sooooo long to release the OTA ? I mean, The community has had it built for Weeks. I guess I'm just a bit too impatient and don't really feel like rooting my phone.
Sent from my Nexus S HAM using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because unlike the Community, Google has certain standards it must meet before releasing an OTA. I mean no respect towards the community but no company could ever release partially working builds.

fightingroost12 said:
the nexus s is supposed to be an android flagship phone. Its built with vanilla android so its the first and easiest phone to update, yet for weeks now people are walking around with 4.0 on their galaxy nexus and nexus s users are still left in the dark. say what you will about apple but when an update comes out all compatible devices receive the update that day. obviously im not saying every android should get this update in a timely manner, but a phone by google made for this situation certainly should
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Nexus S will get a ICS update LOOONNNGGGG before any other phone will and ICS was built for the Galaxy Nexus so THAT was the first and easiest to develop for. The Nexus S is next.

I don't really care the Nexus S gets the update before other phones, I just want it asap.
I'd gladly have every compatible phone receive ICS tomorrow as long as I got it on my NS.
And, much as I don't like it; the Apple comparisons are true. Apple do release new OS available for everyone to download on the same day their new device featuring that OS is launched.
People say that it would be ridiculous to expect updates until the GN has been out a while, but why? Google should have made the next update available on the day they announced ICS.

Corvidd said:
I don't really care the Nexus S gets the update before other phones, I just want it asap.
I'd gladly have every compatible phone receive ICS tomorrow as long as I got it on my NS.
And, much as I don't like it; the Apple comparisons are true. Apple do release new OS available for everyone to download on the same day their new device featuring that OS is launched.
People say that it would be ridiculous to expect updates until the GN has been out a while, but why? Google should have made the next update available on the day they announced ICS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apple also restricts new features to older phones to encourage people to upgrade. Just look at Siri as a fine example, it's *only* available on the 4s even though it's been proven that it will run fine on the 4. Similar constraints can be found with each model upgrade.
When ICS comes out for the nexus S, it will be fully functional with no neutering of any feature. so how does one "encourage" people to upgrade? you delay the update to crank in some early sales.

Matridom said:
Apple also restricts new features to older phones to encourage people to upgrade. Just look at Siri as a fine example, it's *only* available on the 4s even though it's been proven that it will run fine on the 4. Similar constraints can be found with each model upgrade.
When ICS comes out for the nexus S, it will be fully functional with no neutering of any feature. so how does one "encourage" people to upgrade? you delay the update to crank in some early sales.
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Click to collapse
all because thats true it doesnt make the other point invalid. When a new iphone comes out, all iphones (and ipod touches mind you) get the update that day.

fightingroost12 said:
all because thats true it doesnt make the other point invalid. When a new iphone comes out, all iphones (and ipod touches mind you) get the update that day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does the iPod second generation have IOS 5? What about the original iPhone?
Sent from my Nexus S

Matridom said:
Does the iPod second generation have IOS 5? What about the original iPhone?
Sent from my Nexus S
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is the nexus one getting ICS? how about the G1?

fightingroost12 said:
is the nexus one getting ICS? how about the G1?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Point, but this is due to hardware limitations. Siri for example will run fine on older devices. also if I know the Xda, there will be a ROM available
Sent from my Nexus S

Matridom said:
Point, but this is due to hardware limitations. Siri for example will run fine on older devices. also if I know the Xda, there will be a ROM available
Sent from my Nexus S
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
of course there will be, there already are roms available now for the g1. the original iphone obviously has the same problem the g1 has, hardware limitations. When 4.0 came out the iphone 3gs was laggy and almost unusable until apple released a second update to fix the mess. But were losing sight of the point, when an OS is released by apple all phones (fine all compatible phones) get it that day. Sure it doesnt have all the features as the newest iphones, and by not all the features i mean ONE feature as in siri, but they get the update at least. What have we received since the galaxy nexus was released? And i honestly dont even care enough to keep talking about it, but when ever people hear about apple they always have to but in with "YEA BUT APPLE SUCKS CAUSE ____" which isnt the point, i was making a comparison.
like i said before all because one statement is true, it doesnt make the other statement false.

Google's Android Update Alliance Is Already Dead?

Interesting article, in my opinion I think it's true.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2397729,00.asp

Wow, that's an excellent article, and it seems to be very true.

Haha I sensed the sarcasm! Ofcourse it's true, what I meant was I should have known this about the vendors and their "promises".

I think that the updates are currently the most problematic thing in Android eco-system. Carriers just don't give a sh*** - have an old phone, come to us and buy one, have a long contract, well that's too bad. I just wish smartphone vendors would release all the drivers for their devices and let the community handle all the updates.

paszczi said:
I think that the updates are currently the most problematic thing in Android eco-system. Carriers just don't give a sh*** - have an old phone, come to us and buy one, have a long contract, well that's too bad. I just wish smartphone vendors would release all the drivers for their devices and let the community handle all the updates.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well it is not just the phone manufacturer as they would need to get the OK from others as well. They don't use their own hardware for things like radio, bt, screen ect.

Does this really surprise anyone? The carriers and the manufacturers both make money from abandoning old phones and selling new ones. The only way that Android is going to have a consistant upgrade schedule is if someone who doesn't profit (Google?) makes the ground rules. If the manufacturers want to licence it then they need to follow the rules. If they use the AOSP code then they have to release code under its terms.

people need to call out google and push them to be competent

I'm at the point where I'm just completely Nexus, I dont even want to get near another OEM and their bloat, custom frameworks, etc... Go the way of the Nexus. Its a great thing to do.

jim93 said:
people need to call out google and push them to be competent
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And do what? They have no control over it once they sign the contract and if they don't carriers don't carry the phone. Then it goes the way of the Nexus 1.

Oh come on, things are way better now than ever. Have you seen the near endless list of devices getting ICS?
I still remember when phones never even got an update in their lifetime.
But you can always buy smart and get the updates from the hard core XDA developers who never seem to fail to deliver.
Lars
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

wire103 said:
Oh come on, things are way better now than ever. Have you seen the near endless list of devices getting ICS?
I still remember when phones never even got an update in their lifetime.
But you can always buy smart and get the updates from the hard core XDA developers who never seem to fail to deliver.
Lars
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just because the OEM says it will be releasing it at least in the US it is still the carriers call. Take a look at the inspire. HTC released a new buld for the device but ATT refuses to release one for the inspire

Nexus phones seem to be the way to go.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

zelendel said:
Just because the OEM says it will be releasing it at least in the US it is still the carriers call. Take a look at the inspire. HTC released a new buld for the device but ATT refuses to release one for the inspire
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't Americans download open versions like europe?
Dave
Sent from my LG P920 using Tapatalk

mistermentality said:
Can't Americans download open versions like europe?
Dave
Sent from my LG P920 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
No the The US versions have some minor diffs that the Euro versions do not. We dont get updates from the OEMs. Carriers control it all. ITs either carrier or custom rom ported for our devices

My phone never got Froyo over the air. It didn't even get a 2.2.1 update. As for GB we had to port it from the i9000 (i have a vibrant).Same with ICS. It really sucks, because batterylife is not as great as it could be. Android will probably never be released to all devices at once and my understanding is that the "GOOGLE" line of phones gets full support for atleast 2 years.

As for now, who wants upgrades should buy Google Nexus phones (not Motorola).
I take my hat off to Sony, they are excellent (but not perfect because of Xperia Play).

Don't buy samsung

Samsung is a manufacturer which is having the most market shares currently.But, their customer aftermarket support is the worst.
As all of us know, the Galaxy line of devices are so successful today for having a sales of up to millions.The reason for this is from the start of the Galaxy S.It is their flagship phone in 2010, with a sales of about 20 million globally. Now, Samsung have made a decision not to upgrade the Galaxy S to the newset Android 4.0. Source: http://www.samsungtomorrow.com/2043
Translated English page by Sammobile : http://www.sammobile.com/2011/12/22/official-no-android-4-0-for-galaxy-s-and-galaxy-tab/
Is it a hardware issue?No, it is because they just don't want to upgrade it and wants people to buy their new phones so they can make more money.And even Sony Ericsson done soooo much better than them. They decided to upgrade their whole 2011 Xperia line of devices, even including the 150$ Xperia Mini.
Yes i know that the Galaxy S is an old device, which already exceeded the 18 months of software update. But well, what happens to its other brother? The Galaxy S Super Clear LCD i9003 which launched about the same time as the Galaxy S2, and the Galaxy S Plus which have not even exceeded 6 months,and the recently Galaxy W,what would happen to them?And also, the Galaxy S have so much similarities to the Nexus S, which had its Ice Cream Sandwich update about 1 week ago.
It is a BIG SHAME that Samsung would make this decision, as these devices are still in the 18 months software update timeline. Is the Google's Android Update Alliance dead? Most of us would probably say yes. If Samsung are not gonna rethink this and release the new update for the Galaxy S phones, I would be sure that this is my first and last Samsung phone ever.Samsung is just caring its sales of new devices and its money.My next phone would be only from Google, the Nexus line.

I'm guessing u have a galaxy s? All companies are like that all they care about is money. Why give it to the old phone when they can Just make a new one and give it to that one and make double or triple the money. Just because their greedy didn't mean its a bad phone. Just saying. Funny thing is I have an HTC
Sent from my Inspire 4G using xda premium

These companies are venomous, I'm going to get an n9 even if its a dying breed
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA App

The best part about this post is the last sentence. The Nexus is made by Samsung buddy...

LMAO he doesn't know that Google phones are still made by Samsung (cue the Galaxy Nexus)
Sent from my GT-S5830 using XDA App

ODD PHONE ERA Reply
boss man Kole said:
I'm guessing u have a galaxy s? All companies are like that all they care about is money. Why give it to the old phone when they can Just make a new one and give it to that one and make double or triple the money. Just because their greedy didn't mean its a bad phone. Just saying. Funny thing is I have an HTC
Sent from my Inspire 4G using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The market is just a joke now - the devices are all junk really. Everybody can get one now because they're free on contract, and that has totally killed the value of a "smartphone", even if we can get them cheaper now. For this reason, there's no need to cry over spilled milk. I had an HTC Diamond from 2009 up until this year, when it wasn't worth it to repair because the market screwed itself so badly. I (sadly) carry around a Samsung Epic (the superior of all the Galaxy S series), but it'll never be able to replace the magic of Windows Mobile that our quickly moving market/retarded Microsoft has frowned upon.
- 2B

Motorola is the worse when it comes to upgrade
and with their locked bootloader you can't even load custom ROMs
HTC is heading the same way as Moto

If you want updates then next time just get a nexus device next time your available for an upgrade or get a crapple iPhone!! ;p
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium

If you are whining about updates why don't you flash a custom rom? Or get a nexus? Oh wait....
Sent from my E10i using XDA App

people who care about receiving the latest update would be on forums like this - by extension you will have dabbled with custom roms.
samsung gave their reason why they couldn't put ICS on the older devices - it involves touchwiz, which is their core skin - samsung aren't going to ditch it for their non nexus devices anytime soon (otherwise every android handset would really be "the same as the next").
load a custom rom with no skins onto your phone and stop complaining, or buy a new device. nobody guaranteed you any updates to the latest firmware - and hell, i wouldn't be surprised if the galaxy s 2 won't receive an update to android letter "J" because the screen resolution is too small or something.

Stop whining and get a new device. I was once a Galaxy S user, and have been through the Eclair, Froyo and Gingerbread era. I am more than satisfied to have this phone supported until Gingerbread. Besides, I can flash the ported ICS rom if I want to.

Wiggy Fuzz said:
people who care about receiving the latest update would be on forums like this - by extension you will have dabbled with custom roms.
samsung gave their reason why they couldn't put ICS on the older devices - it involves touchwiz, which is their core skin - samsung aren't going to ditch it for their non nexus devices anytime soon (otherwise every android handset would really be "the same as the next").
load a custom rom with no skins onto your phone and stop complaining, or buy a new device. nobody guaranteed you any updates to the latest firmware - and hell, i wouldn't be surprised if the galaxy s 2 won't receive an update to android letter "J" because the screen resolution is too small or something.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Spot on! Most of the average consumer don't give a damn about what android version they are using, the manufacturer skin and other stuff about that. As long as the phone is works just nice, then they don't care about the versions they are using. I even saw phones (Xperia X8) still stuck at 2.1 and yet the phone works just fine. Did the phone render unusable for not having 4.0? No right? If those guys (especially techies) still whine about manufacturers not giving updates or some sort why don't they flash a custom rom? Problem Solved.

Bro!
This is ****ing XD-****ing-A!
root your phone and flash the ****!
You're pissed off at a company for not putting out OTAs of upgrades?
We're talking about Android here, the OS that I love, that i die for. What are we talking about, Android? We're talking about Android! What are we talking about, Android?
This is XDA homez!
root your phone and flash ICS!
How in the name of Zeus did you go 4 days with a stock ROM on ANY Samsung device? How the **** did you not void your warranty the second you unboxed your phone??
In ALL of the time you spent putting together this very eloquent and moving post, you could have rooted your phone and flashed a custom ROM.
Just wait for CM8 on EVERY device, don't worry about it, you're getting bent out of shape.

Can old S even handle 4.0 hardware wise? How much ram does 4.0 need to run comfortably?
Also, OP, you've clearly NEVER really been a phone enthusiast, have you? Go look up OMNIA HD, for example. People still used and more or less loved it despite how little support it got even from the community.

Skv012a said:
Can old S even handle 4.0 hardware wise? How much ram does 4.0 need to run comfortably?
Also, OP, you've clearly NEVER really been a phone enthusiast, have you? Go look up OMNIA HD, for example. People still used and more or less loved it despite how little support it got even from the community.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah dude, ICS uses like so much less resources then even Sense 1.0, you could probably flash it on a motorola startac

orangekid said:
Bro!
This is ****ing XD-****ing-A!
root your phone and flash the ****!
You're pissed off at a company for not putting out OTAs of upgrades?
We're talking about Android here, the OS that I love, that i die for. What are we talking about, Android? We're talking about Android! What are we talking about, Android?
This is XDA homez!
root your phone and flash ICS!
How in the name of Zeus did you go 4 days with a stock ROM on ANY Samsung device? How the **** did you not void your warranty the second you unboxed your phone??
In ALL of the time you spent putting together this very eloquent and moving post, you could have rooted your phone and flashed a custom ROM.
Just wait for CM9 on EVERY device, don't worry about it, you're getting bent out of shape.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fixed. XD
It is just amusing to see that non-android techies just whine about (Insert phone manufacturer here) not giving updates to (Insert phone of the manufacturer). And OP even rant in a forum called XDA.... Head-------->Wall
What? Did the phone rendered unusable for not having 4.0? Well, you can get a freaking Nexus... and Problem Solved.
BTW Sammy is one of the most dev-friendly manufacturers out there. They tried to make everything open source, having an open bootloader and even gave SGS2s to CM7 developers. They hired Steve Kondik (The guy who worked on the popular CyanogenMod Rom) too. Unlike HTC which locks down bootloaders on their devices and lied about it about the bootloader unlock thingy.
---------- Post added at 02:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:32 AM ----------
orangekid said:
yeah dude, ICS uses like so much less resources then even Sense 1.0, you could probably flash it on a motorola startac
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I lol'd at this.

rocker529 said:
My next phone would be only from Google, the Nexus line.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You do realize that last two Nexus phones were made by Samsung, right?

AnyMal said:
You do realize that last two Nexus phones were made by Samsung, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless OP wants to get a Nexus One which won't be updated to ICS officially....

sooyong94 said:
Fixed. XD
It is just amusing to see that non-android techies just whine about (Insert phone manufacturer here) not giving updates to (Insert phone of the manufacturer). And OP even rant in a forum called XDA.... Head-------->Wall
What? Did the phone rendered unusable for not having 4.0? Well, you can get a freaking Nexus... and Problem Solved.
BTW Sammy is one of the most dev-friendly manufacturers out there. They tried to make everything open source, having an open bootloader and even gave SGS2s to CM7 developers. They hired Steve Kondik (The guy who worked on the popular CyanogenMod Rom) too. Unlike HTC which locks down bootloaders on their devices and lied about it about the bootloader unlock thingy.
---------- Post added at 02:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:32 AM ----------
I lol'd at this.
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lol thx for the fix, was laughing my ass off at Jim Rome and slipped the 8 instead of 9

Just get nexus end of story.

Galaxy S4 Google Edition at I/O 2013

Just found this on reddit, it will be interesting if it really happens. I would be interested to know XDA's thoughts on this rumor.
http://www.geek.com/android/samsung-galaxy-s4-google-edition-to-be-announced-at-google-io-1555174/
Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk 2

Fantastic! Lets wait and see if it is true.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2

I hope they give us the option to flash this ROM with Odin for i9505/i9500 in the future.

Wow, this would be fantastic.
The SGS4 GE would stop people *****ing about TW, s/w, lag, and 9GB of available storage.
The SGS4 Activ would stop the people *****ing about the display cracking.
The SGS4 Zoom would stop the people *****ing about the camera.
Something for everyone.

BarryH_GEG said:
Wow, this would be fantastic.
The SGS4 GE would stop people *****ing about TW, s/w, lag, and 9GB of available storage.
The SGS4 Activ would stop the people *****ing about the display cracking.
The SGS4 Zoom would stop the people *****ing about the camera.
Something for everyone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The SGS4 Ultimate would combine all of the above to stop people biching about all of the above.

MaKTaiL said:
The SGS4 Ultimate would combine all of the above to stop people biching about all of the above.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Add metal construction to it and it would be the perfect phone. And probably $1,000 USD.

If this releases tomorrow and is updated by Google, that will be my next phone for sure. Although I'm not sure if I would miss the features Samsung added to touch wiz.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

msavic6 said:
If this releases tomorrow and is updated by Google, that will be my next phone for sure. Although I'm not sure if I would miss the features Samsung added to touch wiz.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why not just stay on the TouchWiz version and hope for a dualboot kernel? That way you could enjoy the best of both worlds. A perfect aosp rom would be amazing and might even make some of the cyanogenmod devs come back.

Toss3 said:
Why not just stay on the TouchWiz version and hope for a dualboot kernel? That way you could enjoy the best of both worlds. A perfect aosp rom would be amazing and might even make some of the cyanogenmod devs come back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would be awesome, I'm very excited for tomorrow.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

And i hope its the 9500 version....

DocRambone said:
And i hope its the 9500 version....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doubt it'll be an Exynos variant as that would require a lot of work from Samsung. Releasing an AOSP version of the i9505 would allow them to piggyback on Google/Cyanogenmod.

Pretty sure this is never going to happen.
First of all, their software and hardware dont match.
1) Google is promoting software buttons, and the Galaxy s4 has capacitive + a hardware home button
2) Google is promoting the discontinuation of the menu button, and instead opts for a separate multitasking button
3) Google hates SD cards and external memories.
And secondly, Samsung has no reason to do this....
Samsung already controls most of the Android market, and most Android users dont care about AOSP or stock or whatever.
Also, selling through Google wont really help them with their profit either.
If it does happen tho, please have it on Verizon

JaeKay said:
Pretty sure this is never going to happen.
First of all, their software and hardware dont match.
1) Google is promoting software buttons, and the Galaxy s4 has capacitive + a hardware home button
2) Google is promoting the discontinuation of the menu button, and instead opts for a separate multitasking button
3) Google hates SD cards and external memories.
And secondly, Samsung has no reason to do this....
Samsung already controls most of the Android market, and most Android users dont care about AOSP or stock or whatever.
Also, selling through Google wont really help them with their profit either.
If it does happen tho, please have it on Verizon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The rumours have it pegged for a release on AT&T. And none of the above matters as it isn't a nexus device.

JaeKay said:
Pretty sure this is never going to happen.
First of all, their software and hardware dont match.
1) Google is promoting software buttons, and the Galaxy s4 has capacitive + a hardware home button
2) Google is promoting the discontinuation of the menu button, and instead opts for a separate multitasking button
3) Google hates SD cards and external memories.
And secondly, Samsung has no reason to do this....
Samsung already controls most of the Android market, and most Android users dont care about AOSP or stock or whatever.
Also, selling through Google wont really help them with their profit either.
If it does happen tho, please have it on Verizon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very invalid arguments.
Sent from my GT-N7105

JaeKay said:
Pretty sure this is never going to happen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a rumor so you could be right. But there's some logic in it. If what the story OP posted is true it's not a Nexus phone; it's a special edition of what's likely going to be the best selling device of 2013 in "pure" form from the world's largest Android device manufacturer.
It's good for Samsung because:
It's positive press and shows Google and Samsung are a "team" damping all the "stake through the heart" stories.
Addresses Samsung's perceived lack of support for "enthusiasts" (EG: dev community).
Introduces another SGS4 variant that addresses the needs/wants of a sliver of the market further increasing SGS4 sales.
It'll cost them next to nothing to produce and support.
It's good for Google because:
It's positive press and shows Google and Samsung are a "team" damping all the "stake through the heart" stories.
Samsung releasing a non-TW device shows their support for native Android and Google's not on the hook for contractual commitments and added time to market like with the Nexus program.
The more support for Android the better.
Google's a business. This would be good for business. That, to me, supersedes fixed storage and on-screen navigation keys. This isn't much different than what HTC/T-Mobile did when they released the Desire Z as the T-Mobile G2. It was the same phone sans the overlay and marketed as "pure Google." This would be a more dramatic announcment than Motorola's XFON with last year's specs that been rumored for I/O. We'll know soon enough.

Wonder if the software is pure android (no touchwiz) if Samsung will still **** with the screen brightness based on the color of what is being displayed on the screen or if this version would actually be brighter than the touchwiz version

We will find out today
I really like Touchwiz it looks beautiful but I also love AOSP rom:laugh:

Sadly this version will only be available to developers as SamMobile has stated.
I'm not completely sure in which ways a normal everyday user could profit from this?
Maybe all XDA'ers will eventually turn into developers?
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium

If they do release such a phone, it would surely be ported to the normal variants easily as they have the same hardware. So, if it does happen, it would be a very good thing.
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk HD

source code released for up coming 9505g google edition

will we see an official rom soon 2 for us 9505 users
http://opensource.samsung.com/reception/receptionSub.do?method=search&searchValue=GT-I9505G

I don't think that helps us one bit. Hope I'm proven wrong, though.

Nice ty.:angel:
I wonder what Ill get first Wednesday. Windows 8.1 preview or stock Android 4.2.2 for I9505 =]

Aerys said:
Nice ty.:angel:
I wonder what Ill get first Wednesday. Windows 8.1 preview or stock Android 4.2.2 for I9505 =]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you even have to ask that? Android, of course! :victory:

any leaks yet team..

SALAH100 said:
any leaks yet team..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My friend, wait 1 day and we probably have official rom

How to use the code?

John Chu said:
How to use the code?
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Click to collapse
Dial *#THE CODE# and your phone will change to GT-I9505G

DjeMBeY said:
Dial *#THE CODE# and your phone will change to GT-I9505G
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Careful now, he might actually believe it.

I am still trying to figure out the logic of wanting the stock AOSP for the S4 from Samsung.
How will this be any different from running any other AOSP rom? I mean, if you check out PA GamerZ ROM, that works quite well as a daily driver. Why would we want to use this stock AOSP (with features that are quite basic)? Just to get 4.3 when it comes out? So? Some dev will port that anyways.
I mean, if someone bought the S4, wasn't it for the features? If anyone wanted stock AOSP then why not Nexus 4? Ok if hardware is the question, then really waiting for the next Nexus isn't that hard.
So can someone explain to me why?

kingzain900 said:
I am still trying to figure out the logic of wanting the stock AOSP for the S4 from Samsung.
How will this be any different from running any other AOSP rom? I mean, if you check out PA GamerZ ROM, that works quite well as a daily driver. Why would we want to use this stock AOSP (with features that are quite basic)? Just to get 4.3 when it comes out? So? Some dev will port that anyways.
I mean, if someone bought the S4, wasn't it for the features? If anyone wanted stock AOSP then why not Nexus 4? Ok if hardware is the question, then really waiting for the next Nexus isn't that hard.
So can someone explain to me why?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For someone like me, it's not about running the stock AOSP on S4. It's about how it can improve the AOSP based custom roms like CM, PA, etc.
Hopefully, Samsung/Google will release proper source codes as quickly as for Nexus devices so that custom roms can run better on S4.
I've been using GS3 (i9305), mainly with CM for the last 10 months or so. It works ok as a daily driver, but not as well as it could've been, mainly because not all the necessary sources are available/released.
I tried Nexus 4 for about a couple of weeks and running CM was definately more fluid/enjoyable than on GS3.
But I couldn't really get used to not having the physical home button and lack of storage space. If GS4 Google Edition is released with exact same hardward as normal i9505, then this will be almost perfect - custom roms running as well as on Nexus devices with physical home button and MicroSD slot.

kingzain900 said:
I am still trying to figure out the logic of wanting the stock AOSP for the S4 from Samsung.
How will this be any different from running any other AOSP rom? I mean, if you check out PA GamerZ ROM, that works quite well as a daily driver. Why would we want to use this stock AOSP (with features that are quite basic)? Just to get 4.3 when it comes out? So? Some dev will port that anyways.
I mean, if someone bought the S4, wasn't it for the features? If anyone wanted stock AOSP then why not Nexus 4? Ok if hardware is the question, then really waiting for the next Nexus isn't that hard.
So can someone explain to me why?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In simple terms.
Google gets to have its vanilla version of Android on a flagship device without having to subsidize the cost of designing the hardware.
Unlike Nexus devices where Google invests R&D money to make the hardware... having Samsung and HTC put a version of Stock Android on the device pretty much absolves Google of any financial liability in relation to hardware development.
Nexus devices are traditionally spartan... and Google likes it that way... but what if mobile manufacturers want to have nexus compatible device with all the bells and whistles... they will all compete on who has the most Nexus compatible device.
This will attract developers and customers that prefer the stock Google experience
Bear in mind also Google is still developing their Motorola flagship device... this has handset makers very jittery.
Having a GE also puts the latest Android on a device and puts pressure on the makers of the device to move build it out into their MAIN version of Android.
So Key lime pie or 4.3 should come quicker on the HTC and S4 than would be tradtional.
Another issues is transparency.
For too long handset makers have said "our phone can't run the latest version of Android" when we know they lie.
Samsung has been good.. the S2 has JB while the HTC Sensation 4G has all but been dumped by their makers.
Companies that have a Google edition will have that extra edge in longevity.

Gillion said:
In simple terms.
Google gets to have its vanilla version of Android on a flagship device without having to subsidize the cost of designing the hardware.
Unlike Nexus devices where Google invests R&D money to make the hardware... having Samsung and HTC put a version of Stock Android on the device pretty much absolves Google of any financial liability in relation to hardware development.
Nexus devices are traditionally spartan... and Google likes it that way... but what if mobile manufacturers want to have nexus compatible device with all the bells and whistles... they will all compete on who has the most Nexus compatible device.
This will attract developers and customers that prefer the stock Google experience
Bear in mind also Google is still developing their Motorola flagship device... this has handset makers very jittery.
Having a GE also puts the latest Android on a device and puts pressure on the makers of the device to move build it out into their MAIN version of Android.
So Key lime pie or 4.3 should come quicker on the HTC and S4 than would be tradtional.
Another issues is transparency.
For too long handset makers have said "our phone can't run the latest version of Android" when we know they lie.
Samsung has been good.. the S2 has JB while the HTC Sensation 4G has all but been dumped by their makers.
Companies that have a Google edition will have that extra edge in longevity.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very good answer. Makes sense. It'd be exciting to see what Motorola device Google releases. MoNex (MoNey?).

kingzain900 said:
Very good answer. Makes sense. It'd be exciting to see what Motorola device Google releases. MoNex (MoNey?).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This could be the much rumored Google X Phone...
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Theshawty said:
Careful now, he might actually believe it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Easy, everyone knows that to work, he'd to input: *#THE SOURCE CODE# , otherwiste it will not work :laugh:

what time the phone will be up for eating anyone knows?
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium

big_b0sss said:
what time the phone will be up for eating anyone knows?
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't think I'd want to eat a phone, actually.
Bet it'll be up noonish, USA time, which means roughly 18.00-19.00 Brit time.

big_b0sss said:
what time the phone will be up for eating anyone knows?
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it can be all day in USA

Aerys said:
I think it can be all day in USA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah thats right all day i remember how nexus 4 was eaten within an hour
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium

big_b0sss said:
yeah thats right all day i remember how nexus 4 was eaten within an hour
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope we get firmware today