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androidmarshmallow

Delayed Android updates accept been a reality of the platform almost as long as it has existed. An increased focus on security in the last few years has made for better incremental updates, but it's the large Os updates everyone craves. Those are, unfortunately, still slow to materialize co-ordinate to an analysis by ComputerWorld's Android Intelligence weblog. Virtually OEMs are mediocre, only a few are given failing grades.

Android Intelligence used data from the Marshmallow update to course six of the pinnacle US Android device makers. Now that Marshmallow is 6 months old, you'd recall everyone would have gotten those updates out the door. Well, you'd only remember that if yous're new to Android. The grading takes into account how long information technology took to get Marshmallow on the electric current generation model (when Marshmallow was released), the previous-gen model, and a few points for communication.

At the superlative of the Android Intelligence list is Google, which should come every bit no surprise. With a 95% rating, Google gets updates out the door to all Nexus devices inside weeks of the new version being announced, and the rollouts technically begin on day one. It only lost points for mediocre communication. Close behind Google is HTC (86% B), which managed to get Marshmallow on the M9 and M8 in less than three months. It is besides good about keeping everyone in the loop via Twitter.

Then we take a dip down with LG at 71% — that's a C- co-ordinate to Android Intelligence. The G4 got Marshmallow (on most carriers) in under three months, but the G3 was but updated recently. LG also got no points for advice. Motorola got a failing grade of 52%, thank you to its recent determination to carelessness carrier versions of the 2014 Moto Ten and the 2015 Moto Eastward. The way it tried to sneak that declaration past us besides lost information technology all its communication bonus points. At least the 2015 Moto X Pure got its Marshmallow update in under ii months.

Moto update

Only a bit behind Moto is Samsung with 49%. The Galaxy S6 and Note 5 however oasis't been updated on some carriers, and the older Milky way S5 and Note 4 are even so waiting. Not a single variant of the GS5 has been updated. Android Intelligence also threw in BlackBerry, which launched its first Android phone final terminal twelvemonth with Lollipop. Information technology gets a big fat zero because its sole phone is still running Lollipop.

So, why are Android updates even so so sluggish? This data is specifically related to the The states versions of the phone, which come up with a host of additional issues. Carrier certification in the Us tin can add weeks or months to the update procedure, and indeed, the unlocked international versions are unremarkably updated long before carrier versions.

It requires fourth dimension and effort to build updates for smartphones equally the hardware and software are closely linked in the name of efficiency. You tin't just have Google's Nexus ROM and wink it on a Galaxy S6. OEMs are basically spending money on building costless updates for phones that they've already sold. It's not exactly a peak priority.

It would be dainty to become the latest version of Android on all devices, but that's not the manner the platform works correct now. Google has moved some of import features into Play Services, which is delivered to all devices in the groundwork. Features similar Smart Lock, location services, malware scanning, data fill-in, and more are kept upwards to engagement past Play Services. At least OEMs can't screw that upward.