Android O Is Officially Launching August 21 (techcrunch.com)

Android O is set to arrive on August 21, with a livestreamed unveiling event timed for 2:40 PM ET in NYC -- which is roughly when the maximum solar eclipse is set to occur for New York. TechCrunch reports: Android O will get a full reveal at that time, which seems like kind of a weird time to do it since a lot of people will be watching the NASA eclipse livestream that Google is also promoting, or staring at the sky (with the caveat, hopefully, that they have procured proper glasses for safe viewing). Google says that Android O will have some "super (sweet) new powers," most of which we know all about thanks to pre-release builds and the Android O teaser Google provided at its annual I/O developer event this past May. WE know, for instance, that the notification panel has been changed significantly, and there's new optimization software to improve battery life on all devices. While Android O's name has yet to be confirmed, the official consumer name is speculated to be "Oreo." Prolific leaker Evan Blass posted a picture of an Oreo to Twitter on Friday following the announcement of the reveal date and event.

Comments

New Android

[Anonymous Coward]

Officially launching on less than 1% of all handsets.

Nougat 7.0 is on less than 7% currently.

Google still can't figure out how to make this work right after nearly a decade. Fully 93% of handsets aren't running the latest secure version and I don't see this changing with the next upcoming release.

Re:New Android

[sheramil]

I was hoping the "super (sweet) new powers" might include the ability to delete the bloatware, in particular the bloatware that is still forced on us but which is no longer supported or even has a server. Yes, Samsung, i'm looking right at you.

Re:New Android

[AvitarX]

Or people like me that are in capable of keeping them intact.

I've even lost a phone once.

Re:New Android

[Mandrel]

Even Samsung doesn't provide updates. Since I bought it in October last year, my A9 hasn't received any updates from Marshmallow 6.0.1. I'm not hopeful of any.

Re:New Android

[belg4mit]

Maybe the latest requirements shouldn't be jacked up repeatedly and artificially or just for the sake of eye candy that many could do without. It's based on Linux, and Linux has a long tradition of being able to run on old hardware, it's just all the whizbang window dressing and other bloat that bogs things down.

I've had to disable the Google Play Store since last fall fall because an update to Google Play Services began eating nearly 100% of my CPU on 3.2. All of the core functionality of the OS is there without it, so why the fuck does it need to run all the time, let alone non-stop? Similarly, although I've tried updates to Mail, YouTube, etc. from the store I've reverted them all to stock because in typical modern fashion, the new ones were more resource intensive with less appealing interfaces and missing features.

Re:New Android

[sexconker]

Google doesn't make the hardware, just the software. It's up to the phone manufacturers and carriers to get the updates out.

Microsoft doesn't make the hardware, just the software. It's up to the PC manufacturers and the ISPs to get the updates out.

Do you see how fucking retarded that is?

Google needs to provide the updates. Carriers need to fucking deal with the fact that customers don't want their bloatware. As far as firmware and drivers for specific hardware go, that shouldn't depend on or impact Android updates.

Re:New Android

[The Cisco Kid]

You get that ability by buying the phone from someone OTHER than a cellular carrier. Either directly from Google for their direct branded phones, or from an independent electronics retailer that is not associated with a cellular service.

For instance: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c...
lists a variety of LG, Motorola, and Samsung phones. Unlocked, no carrier bloatware.

(I have no association with B&H)

Re:New Android

[TFlan91]

I don't have this issue.

Dual boot OnePlus 5. I did have the OPO, but after quite a few years, I decided it was time to upgrade.

Re:New Android

[Anonymous Coward]

Google phones come with Google bloatware and spyware. LG phones comes with both Google and LG bloatware.

As the owner of both a Google phone and multiple LG phones, I know this for a fact. It's why I have custom ROMs installed on all of them.

Re: New Android

[zaphirplane]

Lookup project Treble, it is about adding an abstraction layer so the is can be upgraded without requiring the drivers to also be updated by the vendor.

Re:New Android

[Lussarn]

Fully 93% of handsets aren't running the latest secure version and I don't see this changing with the next upcoming release.

Having the latest OS is not a requirement for having a secure OS. Several older OSes including Android releases are still receiving updates.

Re:New Android

[NotThisMind]

You think google doesn't have the money or the power to at least up that 7% quite a few percent more?

Re:New Android

[iampiti]

I don't think the part is referring to carrier bloatware but to manufacturer one. For example, Samsung, on unbranded phones includes several apps that can't be deleted and that may or may not want.
Also, many Google apps are also undeletable and I don't have any use for most of these (Google kiosk, movies ...).
I understand Google makes Android to promote their products on services on smartphones but I'd be nice if I could remove every non-essential app even if I had to pay some license or something for admin-enabled Android.

Re:New Android

[iampiti]

The minimum requeriments don't increase that much. The lack of updates is because it costs money (development, testing, certification) for the manufacturers and they don't think it's worth it. I'd personally pay more for a phone with guaranteed updates for say, 3 years, but most regular joes don't know or care which Android version they're running.
Also, SOC manufacturers have to support the new Android version on their hardware, else there's little the manufacturers can do.

Re:New Android

[MMC Monster]

So, assuming you're not yet another iPhone-fanboy Apple disciple here to troll anything about Google, do tell us: what's your genius solution given the different realities of Android and the inherent restrictions? Since you in all your endless wisdom must have already "figured out how to make this work".

Nice 'Apply Fanboy' dig to hopefully curb discussion.

Of course Google doesn't make much hardware (baring the Nexus 6P). But it's their OS and they have influence in how the OS can be updated.

I would suspect they should be able to figure out how to do updates of the OS and keep the junk that the carriers require on their phones and keep everyone generally happy.

As for the hardware requirements going up, the OS must have a journal of minimal requirements for the OS. The question is whether the minimal requirements are being kept artificially high. After all, it's not uncommon for a 2-3 year old iPhone to be able to run the latest iOS with (at worst) only slight sluggishness.

Re:New Android

[Zero__Kelvin]

Actually, you can't figure out how all this works. Saying what you said is equivalent to saying everyone running Windows 7 and 8 are running the insecure versions of Windows, and all those running 10 are running "the secure version."

Re:New Android

[PmanAce]

Maybe because the vast majority are low end android phones found in India, Africa, etc?

Re:New Android

[Luthair]

Google has figured it out fine, their devices are mostly upgraded. Unfortunately OEMs and carriers refuse to bother.

Re:New Android

[Luthair]

It is, but OEMs were able to block Windows 10 from devices if they didn't offer drivers.

Re: New Android

[Luthair]

Which is a step in the right direction, unfortunately it doesn't help when the vulnerability is in the driver :)

Re:New Android

[squiggleslash]

The fragmentation issue has been dead now for several years if that's what you're complaining about. Yes, few phones have the latest version, but:

- Google has ensured all 4.x+ versions of Android have a common, full, API all programmers can code for.
- Google pushes out security updates at every level for them.

What are you missing by not having O on your cheap 2+ year old phone? The new features and UI of O, and nothing else. You still end up with the same apps, and the same level of security.

Re:New Android

[r1348]

Google releases monthly security updates for its Nexus and Pixel lines.

Re: New Android

[cyber-vandal]

LineageOS Nougat runs very nicely on my Note 2, an expensive flagship phone from 2012. Samsung haven't provided an update for it beyond Jelly Bean 4.4.2. The iPhone 5 released in the same year is still getting updates from Apple. I can understand why el cheapo Android phones might not get the latest updates but to not provide a longer update cycle to flagship phones is just shit.

Re:New Android

[drinkypoo]

What are you missing by not having O on your cheap 2+ year old phone? The new features and UI of O, and nothing else. You still end up with the same apps, and the same level of security.

No, that's really not true. It rapidly becomes practically impossible to get OS updates for many handsets, and those updates include security improvements. If you're lucky enough to have a device supported by Lineage OS then you have a reasonable alternative to carrier- or manufacturer-provided updates, but many people haven't got one of those.

Re:New Android

[Kjella]

Microsoft doesn't make the hardware, just the software. It's up to the PC manufacturers and the ISPs to get the updates out. Do you see how fucking retarded that is?

Red Hat doesn't make the kernel, just distribute it with a few tweaks. It's up to kernel.org to get the updates out. Do you see how fucking retarded that is? Either you're a vendor and sell a product or you're a manufacturer and make a product. If you make a product, you're inherently responsible for that product in every way no matter how much of it is assembled from components and parts you've bought or licensed from others. If you buy a PC from Dell, it is Dell you should hold primarily responsible. If they choose to "pass-through" the OS support to Microsoft that's up to Dell.

If Dell is not happy with the way they're treated by Microsoft or Microsoft is not happy with the way they're treated by Dell, that's for them to sort out in the back room. I mean there has to be some reciprocity here, Dell can't just leave updates to Microsoft and next week Microsoft pushes an update that bricks everything. Microsoft can license their OS if they want, but they probably don't want their name on a product they can't update that will get 0wned by every script kiddie out there. Those are the terms between Microsoft and Dell though, the sale is between Dell and you.

Google has licensed Android as a component, an OS the manufacturers can tweak as they please and they have the responsibility for. It's worked wonders for capturing market share, so I think they're pretty happy with the way things are. It would be nice if they could push their own un-customized version as a required alternative though, say for example re-invent Android Nexus as a software option. No custom applications, branding or OS tweaks (though possibly custom drivers for the hardware) and updates direct from Google. Not sure the OEMs would go for making Google the new Apple though.

Re:New Android

[jareth-0205]

I agree sortof, but the security issue is a real problem. Security fixes are almost never backported to old versions. I'm fairly fine with saying "you bought your phone with this featureset, that's all you get", and given that major OS updates often slow the device down in some cases I'd prefer that, but when a security problem arises then that needs to be patched and there's no way of doing that without the latest newest OS release. Same problem with iOS really, if you have an old device you have to upgrade it or you won't get security patches, even if that also makes it unusable slow.

Desktop OSs have had multiple major releases getting separate security updates for ever - we need this on phones too.

Re:New Android

[thegarbz]

Fully 93% of handsets aren't running the latest secure version

Actually you'll find most handsets are running the "latest secure version". Security fixes are backported and rolled out via OTA to many handsets that don't qualify for updates. Just because I have nothing like Android 7.0 doesn't mean I didn't get a security update rolled out OTA last week. Also many of the security problems in Android are patched through the Play Store as system components have become more and more separated from the core OS.

I don't have access to 7.x but then I also don't run the latest Windows 10, or the most recent Linux Kernel. All that has nothing to do with security.

Re:New Android

[thegarbz]

Carriers need to fucking deal with the fact that customers don't want their bloatware.

But don't they... I think you'll find that phones that have been bloatware free have generally not sold well. Even Samsung did pure Android releases free of their own version and of carrier crap of it's earlier smartphones which generally bombed.

For the most part consumers have spoken mostly through their silence on the matter.

Re:New Android

[therealbev]

You get that ability by buying the phone from someone OTHER than a cellular carrier. Either directly from Google for their direct branded phones, or from an independent electronics retailer that is not associated with a cellular service.

For instance: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c...
lists a variety of LG, Motorola, and Samsung phones. Unlocked, no carrier bloatware.

(I have no association with B&H)

Google provides its own bloatware -- I don't want google music/news/games etc. but they're undeleteable from my unlocked Motorola Moto G2, which is really good about NOT adding crap. I'm willing to leave the playstore, gmail and their browser there just in case I actually NEED them, but the other apps are just useless garbage.

Re:New Android

[Zaelath]

What Google bloatware? What, if anything, rises to the level of manufacturers installing Facebook on your phone with no way to remove it, and it starting up every time you start the phone regardless of not having a Facebook account and sucking 20% of your battery.

Google+? N-word please.

Re:New Android

[Zaelath]

Yeah, that would be a perfectly reasonable comparison if every brand laptop manufacturer decided to hack the Windows kernel with a custom UI to make their laptop superior to others, and then couldn't be arsed to every do an update because they'd already sold it, so the work to backport the security was operating costs they don't want.

It's the manufacturers choice to do more than add apps on top of the vanilla OS.

It's the manufacturers problem.

Re:New Android

[sexconker]

You're a clown. Red Hat provides something in addition to what the free kernel provides. If you want RHL you want RHL.

Re:New Android

[sexconker]

Yeah, that would be a perfectly reasonable comparison if every brand laptop manufacturer decided to hack the Windows kernel with a custom UI to make their laptop superior to others, and then couldn't be arsed to every do an update because they'd already sold it, so the work to backport the security was operating costs they don't want.

It's the manufacturers choice to do more than add apps on top of the vanilla OS.

It's the manufacturers problem.

No, it would be perfectly reasonable if the overall design of Android wasn't such a shitshow. A system library security update shouldn't break a skin, UI tweak, or build.prop tweak an OEM slapped in.

Android is an abortion of Java on a crippled runt of Linux running with shitty fucking Qualcomm firmware.

Re:New Android

[Zaelath]

Sure, Touchwiz is just a skin and a few UI tweaks.

I'd say you're talking out of your ass, but it seems redundant.

Re: nO

[tepples]

Presumably a device with an unlocked bootloader on which AOSP (Android without GMS) has been installed.

Re: What's it like?

[Brockmire]

I probably shouldn't reply, but my BlackBerry DTEK60 gets monthly updates.

Re: My Galaxy A3 2017 only just got Nougat update

[baker_tony]

If you've got a Samsung, I'd just be content that it's not burning your house down and leave it at that.

Re:Android O...

[dottrap]

I know they're going to pick something super lame like Oreo, but given they are launching during the eclipse I'm half hoping for a pattern breaking "Android Occultation" or at least Oatmeal Cookie if they gotta stick with the sweets.

Android Ocular Jelly

Re:What's it like?

[iampiti]

The security problems are rarely a problem for regular users unless they install apps from untrusted sources. It's not like Windows in the 90's/00's where would get viruses very easily.
I'd be nice if we'd all get the latest Android version on every smartphone but not having it doesn't usually represent a problem. Most major apps work on pretty old versions (Admitedly, that may be a problem for developers) and I haven't seen anyone that I know having a security problem

What's the real story?

[Zero__Kelvin]

It sounds like there is a story to be told here. Could someone tell us the story of O?

Re: nO

[Luthair]

An image probably built by some 22-year kid that he downloaded from some random site. What could go wrong?

Google Fi on the Nexus 6P

[Captain Ramage]

So, I have Google Fi, with the Nexus 6P, my wife has a new Pixel. - Phone is unlocked. - No bloatware. - Fully rootable if you so desire with no manufacturer complaints. - Gets the latest Android at release.

Re: nO

[Luthair]

I do, but apparently you do not - you aren't going to easily compile ASOP and put it on most devices anymore than you're going to successfully build a linux distro from scratch and put it on an arbitrary device.

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