When the Android 4.3 update was finally delivered to Australian carriers there was much rejoicing from owners who have been waiting for an update to their phones which have been left languishing on Android 4.1.2 for over a year. But the celebrations appear to be short lived with Vodafone advising in their latest Software update that Samsung has pulled the Android 4.3 update.
The Software Update Weekly Wrap – 13th March 2014 shows the following message with the current Android version for the Galaxy Nexus listed as Android 4.1.2 and the Future version – Android 4.3 crossed out with N/A in its place. The Status is now listed as :
Cancelled by Samsung. They’ve confirmed there will be no further updates for this phone.
Optus lists the Android 4.3 update on their software update page as the current version. We have asked Optus about the update to see if they too have received confirmation that the update has been pulled. Optus advised :
Optus has completed it’s testing for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and were currently waiting on Samsung to confirm the availability date for customers.
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Optus also advised that their variant of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus differs slightly from the Telstra/Vodafone model. The Optus version of the Galaxy Nexus is the i9250 while the Telstra/Vodafone model is a i9250T.
We contacted Telstra regarding the Android 4.3 update, which is listed in their Handset Software Updates – 6/03/2014 forum post as Approved 14 February and is classed as ‘Now Deploying’. Telstra have now asked Samsung for more information relating to the possibility that the update has been pulled and we await further developments.
So it appears that Samsung has not yet begun deploying the update to handsets in Australia, even after all three carriers have approved the update.
If you’re not willing to wait for the update, there’s two options. The first option is to flash the Android 4.3 Factory Image from Google to your phone by simply following our handy guide. Or, there is a functioning Android 4.4 ROM for the Galaxy Nexus which we’ve looked at as well, that you could flash.
We have asked Samsung Australia for confirmation and comment on the cancellation of the update, at this stage there is no further information but we will be following up with more information as soon as it comes to hand.
Developing…
Have you received the Android 4.3 update on your carrier branded Galaxy Nexus?
whatever you do DON’T UPDATE TO 4.3 it slows the nexus down and it is virtually unusable, it freezes, it makes it have 10 second delay on every app and it is virtually unusable. I don’t know why or what 4.3 is doing to the my nexus 9259 but whatever its doing its not good and on the 4.2 my nexus worked perfectly. if anyone has a solution then I would be more than happy to try it out because my smartphone is virtually unusable
Check it – Looks like Samsung/Google did a back-flip.
http://community.vodafone.com.au/t5/Vodafone-Blog/Samsung-Galaxy-Nexus-4-3-Jelly-Bean-8-4-14/ba-p/327699
Just received the Android 4.3 OTA update on my Samsung GS3 GT-I9300.
Looks like it’s time to hit CM11!
Aren’t Nexus devices supported directly by Google? The OEM simply provides the kernel. So why is Samsung releasing the update, and why are carriers involved?
When the Galaxy Nexus first launched it was determined there was two versions – a ‘Pure’ Nexus which was purchased unlocked and outright with updates supplied by Google – then there was Gargamel….I mean the Carrier branded Galaxy Nexus which while identical to the unlocked Galaxy Nexus hardware wise, it would have updates delivered by Samsung after carrier testing.
We covered this at the time and you can read about it here : http://ausdroid.net/2011/12/23/who-will-be-updating-the-galaxy-nexus-from-australian-carriers/
Ah, ok. Thanks for that.
Disgusting by Samsung.
But in all honesty though, people aren’t missing much. The 4.1 version on the Gnex ran the smoothest IMO. Everything after that was just buggy and slow. :/
Good to see Vodafone once again on the ball with their software update comms. While Telstra and Optus are scrambling for answers, Voda’s being upfront and clear with what’s going on.
Carrier branded stuff sucks. I’m on a S3 and I’m still waiting for optus to release 4.3 they have pushed the update back like 3 times now