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Motorola Marketed the Moto E 2015 On Promise of Updates, Stops After 219 Days

An anonymous reader writes: Over the past few years, Motorola has emerged as one of the best manufacturers for low-to-mid-range Android phones. Unlike many other major manufacturers, they keep their version of Android close to stock in order to keep OS updates flowing more easily. When they began marketing the Moto E 2015, updates were one of the features they trumpeted the loudest. But after the company published a list of devices that will continue to get updates, Android Police found the Moto E to be conspicuously absent. The phone launched on February 25, a mere 219 days ago. According to an official Motorola marketing video from launch day, "...we won't forget about you, and we'll make sure your Moto E stays up to date after you buy it."

13 of 123 comments (clear)

  1. Re:They have your money... by danbob999 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If they don't want to sell any phone again, then you are right.

  2. Lenovo... by Kennon · · Score: 4, Informative

    Motorola, brought to you by the same parent company that gave you Superfish and adware injections from the BIOS on fresh Windows OS installs...I'm sorry, are you surprised? You must be new here. :-)

    --
    "All those moments, will be lost in time...like tears in rain..."
  3. Really? by sims+2 · · Score: 3, Informative

    I have a samsung convoy 3 (Not a smart phone) it was released August 29, 2013.
    The last update for it was released on April 2nd, 2015.

    That's 581 days of support if I never get another update.

    Don't mind me I'm just comparing rocks to lolipops.

    --
    Minimum threshold fixed. Thanks!
    1. Re:Really? by CanadianMacFan · · Score: 3, Informative

      My iPhone 5s was released Sept. 20, 2013 and will be receiving updates until at least next Sept.

      I never understood why they segmented the Android market so much. It would have been better for consumers if Google had a core that could be updated from Google and the various phone manufacturers put their custom software on top. There could be some system that would prevent roll-outs until the manufacturer tested any updates to the core on their phones. If they stopped checking then the update would go to the customer directly but with a huge warning about the phone/apps not working. The phone would need a way to restore the previous system easily.

      The whole fragmentation and not knowing when/if updates are coming is preventing me from checking out Android. That, plus all they seem to be pushing is the large phones, like Apple. I know what my handle says but Apple is moving away from their roots. I used to like the iPhone because it was intuitive and easy to use. But with each new "feature" they are making it more difficult to use. Instead of designing to make things easy to use in any situation they are building their apps and phones for certain use cases. I don't fit in their use cases. It didn't matter before. Now it does. And so Apple has gone from what I want to use to being just the best of the bunch.

  4. Re:Money makes the world go round. by orasio · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The advertising said you would have at least one update. There was one.
    The claim was fulfilled that's not false advertising. Specially not for such a cheap phone, that already has Android 5.1

  5. UK users can take it back by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    in the UK you can return it as electrical goods have a 6year warranty, the stipulation is the fault must of been present when manufactured, not fit for purpose.
    EU users have 2 years.

    http://www.dailymail.co./news/...

  6. We promise! by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 3, Funny

    "...we won't forget about you, and we'll make sure your Moto E stays up to date after you buy it."

    (time passes...)

    "Ha ha, just kidding! We can't believe you fell for that shit!

    But look over here, Citizen- we'll give you $5 off The New Shiny if you sign up for a 50-year unbreakable contract."

    --
    Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
  7. Re: That was then, this is now by melios · · Score: 3, Informative

    As someone who bought the Motorola i1 with Android 1.5 on the promise of updates it never received, I'd have to disagree.

  8. Re:Vote with your wallet... by Samuel+Dravis · · Score: 3, Informative

    Exactly. I've used Nexus devices single the Galaxy Nexus, and I do not understand anyone who does not use the reference device wanting Android updates in a timely manner. If you go with a carrier, expect to be used for profit during the current fiscal year.

  9. Re:That was then, this is now by ArmoredDragon · · Score: 3, Interesting

    IMO since we're entering the IoE (Internet of Everything) age, I think it's probably worth having some kind of legislation that every company that sells a consumer product that is network connected must provide free security updates for a minimum of 5 years after the device's end of manufacture date (i.e. when the last batch of product hits channel.) If not, we're looking at a new era where the whole world is under a constant threat of botnet DDoS, spam, and identity theft.

    This could be enforced with hefty fines and civil liability in the event the device owners are targeted after 90 days of a known exploit and no patch is available. If they can't patch it, then a recall is required. If the company folds, then whoever buys the biggest portion of its assets assumes responsibility. If it folds and nobody buys its assets, then the source code for all components (including signing keys) must be released to an escrow company (no, open sourcing it all isn't practical for various reasons) that can fulfill the security updates for the remainder of the 5 year period. The escrow service would be paid by some kind of insurance (or bond) that must be paid prior to the company being legally allowed to sell network capable products to consumers within the US.

  10. 5 year support by emil · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The first Android OEM to promise and deliver 5 year support on their devices will likely become the dominant player. Current Android OEMS are in a race to stab their customers in the back. Google is winning by far.

  11. Re:That was then, this is now by davester666 · · Score: 3, Informative

    And yet Apple has the longest update policy of all phone manufacturers of any significant volume [there might be one or two outliers that provide updates for longer than Apple does, but they only sell a very small number of phones].

    The iPhone 4S I bought new in 2011, then passed onto my dad, is still supported by iOS 9 [started with iOS 5].

    With Android, you do have a choice of vendors. Roughly equally poor vendors [w.r.t. updating their software].

    --
    Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
  12. Re:Broken by thegarbz · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Because despite some of the fuckery that goes on in the Android market there are many many upsides to various devices that the iPhone just doesn't have.