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Insignia Refuses to Provide Security Updates for Tablet Owners - What to Do?

Hello all,
I own an Insignia Flex 8 tablet (Model: NS-P08A7100) that was purchased in September of 2016. Insignia has never issued a security patch for this unit. When I contacted their support, they simply said there were no security updates available. So, my current security patch level sits at May, 2016. Should I be concerned about Insignia's refusal to offer security patching support after the sale? If so, can anyone offer any recommendations on how to proceed from here?
Thank you, gus

With Android you need to understand the huge disparity that exist between updates to the devices. The chance your device will get updated if it's a cheap one it's slim to none. Even Samsung tablets which cost a hell of a lot more get abandoned in updates fairly early. The good thing with Android is that if it has enough user support you can customize the tablet to your liking and install another ROM. But I doubt the Insignia tablet will ever get updated, though it shouldn't pose any trouble as long as you don't install sketchy stuff.

HTC and Security Updates

Right now I have a Google Huawei Nexus 6P, support for it will end this October (thanks google). I am considering jumping ship to HTC due to a few things: Sense being very Stock-ish, Speakers, and Optics. I am curious on how HTC's reliability is with Android Security Updates. I am aware on the full version changes (6.0 -> 7.0 -> 7.1) it will be nowhere near as fast as I am used to, but I am very curious about HTC's track record with providing timely security updates and how long they tend to support their phones.

@anthonyjc2010 said:
I am very curious about HTC's track record with providing timely security updates and how long they tend to support their phones.
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Click to collapse
Better than average OEM, but still not great. They tend to keep their flagships alive for at least two years, e.g. HTC One m9 released in March of 2015 is still being updated but I highly doubt it will get Android O.
My EMEA unlocked One m9 is currently on Nougat 7.0 with security patch February 1st, and EMEA unlocked HTC 10 Lifestyle is on Nougat 7.0 with security patch December 1st 2016. Carrier's versions in Europe are usually updated shortly after Unlocked, that rule does not apply to USA.
TL;DR: If you want bleeding-edge updates Pixel is the only way to go; if not, then HTC is fairly reliable*.
*applies only to flagships, HTC abandoned some of their budget devices shortly after release.

buttie said:
Better than average OEM, but still not great. They tend to keep their flagships alive for at least two years, e.g. HTC One m9 released in March of 2015 is still being updated but I highly doubt it will get Android O.
My EMEA unlocked One m9 is currently on Nougat 7.0 with security patch February 1st, and EMEA unlocked HTC 10 Lifestyle is on Nougat 7.0 with security patch December 1st 2016. Carrier's versions in Europe are usually updated shortly after Unlocked, that rule does not apply to USA.
TL;DR: If you want bleeding-edge updates Pixel is the only way to go; if not, then HTC is fairly reliable*.
*applies only to flagships, HTC abandoned some of their budget devices shortly after release.
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Does HTC release the OTA's for the unlocked device?
I guess official RUU's will be available since it's not a VZW restricted device?

fuzzynco said:
Does HTC release the OTA's for the unlocked device?
I guess official RUU's will be available since it's not a VZW restricted device?
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Click to collapse
HTC US does not officially release the US Unlocked OTAs, but links to them get captured and posted here on XDA and the zips also get re-hosted on AFH. US Unlocked RUUs are usually posted by HTC US a bit after the corresponding OTA starts rolling out, but again the links are guessed ahead of time and RUU executables as well as RUU zips and decrypted firmware are posted. The threads are already here.
VZW RUUs are more like RUUs for non-US markets - RUU zips usually become available from unofficial sources. Obviously, there is no Verizon firmware for U11.
---------- Post added at 11:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:08 PM ----------
@anthonyjc2010 said:
I am very curious about HTC's track record with providing timely security updates and how long they tend to support their phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Judging by post-Nougat HTC 10, US Unlocked gets security updates relatively frequently, maybe every other month. Other regions are SOL, still stuck on January.

buttie said:
Better than average OEM, but still not great. They tend to keep their flagships alive for at least two years, e.g. HTC One m9 released in March of 2015 is still being updated but I highly doubt it will get Android O.
My EMEA unlocked One m9 is currently on Nougat 7.0 with security patch February 1st, and EMEA unlocked HTC 10 Lifestyle is on Nougat 7.0 with security patch December 1st 2016. Carrier's versions in Europe are usually updated shortly after Unlocked, that rule does not apply to USA.
TL;DR: If you want bleeding-edge updates Pixel is the only way to go; if not, then HTC is fairly reliable*.
*applies only to flagships, HTC abandoned some of their budget devices shortly after release.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I wanted the bleeding edge of updates I would stay go with the xl version of the pixel coming this October (when support for my phone ends, again... thanks Google). I honestly don't want a Pixel for various reasons, that is why I am looking at HTC. My only concern is security patches. I find it concerning that the 10 Lifestyle (Basically HTC 10 but with 3gb of RAM and a Snapdragon 625... right?) is still on December 1st 2016, but maybe Europe is just behind...
Oh, and I am not in the market for a budget HTC phone... besides in the US the only phones we can buy from HTC's website (that I can see) are the HTC U11, HTC U Ultra, HTC 10, HTC Bolt (so the flagships and their larger, lower spec'd counterparts). And I would never get a phone carrier locked (flashback to the days of using a Verizon locked android phone *shivers in terror*).

I probably misworded what I asked.
I meant is, if I am on a bring your own setup, (U11 on Verizon for example), who offers for OTA the patches and updates?
It seems to me Verizon woudn't its not their software. Would Google or HTC?

fuzzynco said:
I probably misworded what I asked.
I meant is, if I am on a bring your own setup, (U11 on Verizon for example), who offers for OTA the patches and updates?
It seems to me Verizon woudn't its not their software. Would Google or HTC?
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Click to collapse
HTC, since you'd be using the US Unlocked version of U11.

HTC seem to be very poor at releasing security updates to be honest.
The only real vendor that actually does it monthly appears to be Google themselves or a 3rd party like Lineage.

Electronic Punk said:
HTC seem to be very poor at releasing security updates to be honest.
The only real vendor that actually does it monthly appears to be Google themselves or a 3rd party like Lineage.
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Click to collapse
Currently using the Xperia X Compact until the U11 comes out and they've done a monthly update since release. Sony is pretty great about it now.

Got a Sony tablet and they have been pretty quick at updates on that (despite dropping Tablets from their lineup) but I don't get monthly updates tho

everdred said:
Currently using the Xperia X Compact until the U11 comes out and they've done a monthly update since release. Sony is pretty great about it now.
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this just sounds anectodal. One device getting a update is no guarantee the rest of the devices will get it.
Frankly, all OEM's are as bad. Sometimes they are better, sometimes not. My 10 still has Jan patch and android 7.0. Not that i think u there is anything wrong with the current software, and security is quite vague. I dont know of a single instance where people has been exposed to risks or data loss because of a old patch level.
Often people download bad apps and thats just like windows, if you download trojans there is nothing htc or google can do for you.

Electronic Punk said:
HTC seem to be very poor at releasing security updates to be honest.
The only real vendor that actually does it monthly appears to be Google themselves or a 3rd party like Lineage.
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Click to collapse
Very poor compared to who ? Maybe Google on the pixel series but pretty much no other. Look at Samsung they take 6 months to get system updates if not longer. Htc has in the past promised system updates with in 90 days. I do not think its fair to call Htc's updates system or security to be poor. Calling Samsungs poor would be more correct and honest.

DirtydAmbrose said:
Very poor compared to who ? Maybe Google on the pixel series but pretty much no other. Look at Samsung they take 6 months to get system updates if not longer. Htc has in the past promised system updates with in 90 days. I do not think its fair to call Htc's updates system or security to be poor. Calling Samsungs poor would be more correct and honest.
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You mean the S7 with April security updates, the S8 with its May ones.
LG are also on April.
Can call it pretty poor with EMEA being on January.

Electronic Punk said:
You mean the S7 with April security updates, the S8 with its May ones.
LG are also on April.
Can call it pretty poor with EMEA being on January.
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My Note 5 received the May security update a couple of days back. They always seem timely with the security updates, it's the general updates that take longer. I only received Android 7 a couple of months ago on it.

A timely article:
https://www.androidcentral.com/just...-months?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
These models have security updates from the last 2 months, although it can't be strictly true.

My mom's Sony Z5 (E6653) is not receiving any update for month... last was Android 7.1.1 with Security Update from September 2017.
My wife's HTC U11 is on Android 8.0 with November 2017 Security.
So I can't recommend any of those company's.
But Samsung is not better - when your mobile gets older > 2y your out of support....
This situation is really poor - hope it get better with Android 8.

Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite is the Enterprise Recommended Device

Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite meets the Android Enterprise Recommended Device requirements.
https://androidenterprisepartners.withgoogle.com/device/#!/4812862572724224
This means Xiaomi should release the update within 90 days at the latest.
Example:
Android 10 v11.0.4 comes with March security update.
March 1 - April 1 / 1 month
April 1 - May 1 / 1 month
May 1 - June 1 / 1 month
Xiaomi cant release the new security update at June 2.
So they have left 13 days for the new update.
Learn more:
https://www.android.com/intl/en_us/enterprise/recommended/

Quote removed.
They don't really care about deadlines anymore as this phone will no longer get any system updates in 2 month as the 2 year support ends.

Think so as well, no more updates for this device. Will be left with a buggy Android 10 experience.

vinylmeister said:
Think so as well, no more updates for this device. Will be left with a buggy Android 10 experience.
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I didn't say that we not getting updates anymore ,it's just they don't care about deadlines ... We probably get 1 or 2 system updates as they fixed the buggy Android 10 on mi a3. On that phone they pulled the update like 4 times and managed to fix it on the 5th version....

We will get 3,4 update in our a.s from xiaomi. We get so many updates for oreo and pie and they fix nothing, only new problems with new updates or i say security patches. For me i dont care about new versions of android, any stable version is good, but xiaomi wont to fix anything. My wife use redmi 5 plus almost 2 year without any bug, any restart, lag,.... That phone is same like a2 lite (specification) only a2 lite is google phone and redmi 5 plus is miui. And every miui phones works like charm. So xioami dont give a f... about google phones.

It is clear that they have no interest in the "Android one" program, I dare say that they never miss an opportunity to "sabotage" it continuously with fallacious version advances and security patches that instead of solving the problems add others

That fact that this device meets the requirements for Android Enterprise means nothing for us, customers, since that service is made specifically for companies and not individuals, so don't confuse the terms Android One and Android Enterprise. Don't read whatever makes you feel comfortable and try to post it as a fact. The following statements are made not to argue with the fact that Xiaomi/Google/Qualcomm doesn't give a damn about this device and the latest updates were horrendous, it is to fix the false information posted about this device. I want to make this statement at the beginning of my argument because I am not in any way protecting Xiaomi, but I can't stand false information based on reading 3 words and not understanding them properly.
Android Enterprise is and I quote "Android Enterprise Recommended rugged devices are designed to perform in harsh working conditions and stay up to date over long deployments. ... These devices can be used by a single employee or shared between employees."
To translate that to you folks, this doesn't apply to any of you, or us. This is directed towards the enterprise businesses which can control the devices of a company, like deploying apps, collecting data and so on. Just like some companies still use handheld devices on the field running some enterprise windows mobile/ce custom version for their company, they have a special set of features over those devices which normal customers don't have. Now do you understand the difference between customer and employee? When you buy a device that you fully own, you are a customer and you fully own the device and it's capabilities, when you are an employee and the company gives you this device you don't own it, an the company reserves the right to modify the device content and behavior based on their needs. Also the enterprise version only imply ONE version upgrade from factory version and 5 years of max 90 days security updates, which is different from what was stated in the leaflet that came with the phone.
Now for customers and not enterprise/employees there is the standard Android One program. A stock android experience, forbid to major skinning/customization with 2 year OS updates (which implies 2 versions of Android from stock/out of the box since Android is launched once a year) and three years android security updates and bugfixes. I would also go a step further to note that this is a minimum time obligation, no one is forcing them not to release a 3rd or a 4th major update for the device, but that would be contrary of the saying "you won't buy something new unless the old one is obsolete". Now back to the track, so you get 2 year os updates, which is a fancy way to say that you'll get 2 android version updates and bonus you get one more year of security updates for the last version you got. You don't add up 2+3 and for sure the 3rd year is still enforced by google!
Now, I'll tell you why the information stated in OP is false. As we established, Enterprise must be updated at least once per 90 days... Good, that's correct and fair... But, the Android One program is enforced to MONTHLY updates, not 3 months updates. And my source is and I quote directly from the android security directive website "We have an established monthly update cycle for Pixel devices, as well as those under the Android One program." and to enforce the enterprise I also quote "In addition, Android Enterprise Recommended devices are updated at least every 90 days."
So, as you can see, Xiaomi is way over their heads with this specific device. This specific device was not once, but twice way behind schedule and the penalties from Google may start to show up soon, but it may be us, the end users, the customers who'll feel the full force of those penalties. Even if the .04 version fixed the bricking problem, it's still miles away from being a good and functional build, many of the basic functions to work you have to give up on other functions, and sometimes, even some 3rd party apps can mess up the inner workings of the system. This is just wrong and I totally hope to see some improvements, hell, just make one good build and abandon it for god's sake, but don't make us experience new bugs with every update... We... and also I craved the 10 update because of many reasons... but for me, this specific version of 10 that we got, it's just a broken pie with gestures and dark mode... this isn't what google promised when developing 10, and this is not what Xiaomi promised when they enrolled in the Android One program.
But hell, again, maybe OP is right, maybe the Android Enterprise program is giving them an escape window to delay the Android updates for ~3 months... but we will see... I was eagerly waiting for an update on Monday... that day passed, the next day passed... and we're on to the end of the month... when we're going to get probably another half-assed update, with the April or May security patch... and maybe a few bugfixes that would only make us wait eagerly for the next update as well.
Honestly I miss the days when devices were built with one thing in mind, customer satisfaction. When the devices were built to simply work, and when updates, as rare as they were were actually improving your device experience, not crippling it. Now they have to find problems to fix just to release a monthly update, because updates are cool aren't they? No, they are not... The full functionality of the device is cool...
I hope I made my point, and I hope I don't upset anyone with stating my opinion based on facts. I was contradicted many times on this forum, and maybe my approach on the subject was wrong, but when you judge something, you have to always be objective, and always state the facts over feelings. I know most of us are upset and angry with the state of our devices, which is understandable and well based, but yelling our frustrations without understanding how things work isn't going to cut it.

Samsung quits support for the Galaxy S8

Well.. after all the drama Galaxy users had with their previous flagships regarding Software Updates, the Galaxy S8 is the next one to be silently ended by Samsung. They removed the S8/S8+ from their Security Update site, which means that the April 2021 patch was the last one we will ever see from Samsung's site on the S8. Maybe they will roll out an additional one, as they did last year with the Galaxy S7 (EOL: August 2020 patch), but thats not guaranteed..
Sad news but I already saw that coming last year, so I already switched to an iPhone.

Sad story.
How secure is using an unpatched phone with a good antimalware / antivirus ?
Alternatives?
Are there custom ROMs receiving security updates that can be used
with play store etc... without having root enabled?

I'm wondering this myself.
Is it time to buy a new phone and retire this?
My display is already cracked in two corners with small bits gone.
I'm not happy that there are no more security updates.

I have the same questions! I'd like to install a custom rom but the links all seem to be down.

Schok Freedom Turbo XL 2022 Edition

I couldn't find any categories for Schok so I'm posting here. Feel free to move if needed. I saw this phone which was launched a couple weeks ago and is labeled the" 2022 edition".
Schok Freedom Turbo XL - Schok Gear
The most advanced flip phone in its class. The Schok classic is made for consumers who enjoy life without complications.
www.schokgear.com
It comes with Jan 2022 security update on the phone out of the box. Does anyone know if Schok ever updates their phones with security updates? What about Android updates? I don't care about 5g, but the phone comes with Android 10 which I think is a little outdated for a new phone in 2022. If not is there a way of updating these ourselves both for security updates and Android OS?