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Motorola Explains Hardware to Blame for Upgrade Delays

Feb 9, 2012, 8:07 AM by Eric M. Zeman

Motorola executive Christy Wyatt said that it's not the company's software customizations that delay system updates, rather, it's the hardware. Speaking to media at an event in New York, Wyatt explained, "When Google does a release of the software ... they do a version of the software for whatever phone they just shipped. The rest of the ecosystem doesn't see it until you see it. Hardware is by far the long pole in the tent, with multiple chipsets and multiple radio bands for multiple countries. It's a big machine to churn." Often, the customized user interface skins created by companies such as Motorola Samsung, and HTC are blamed for the delay in major system updates. Wyatt noted that the company has to adapt the operating system for hardware first, then the user interface, and then face carrier testing before updates can be distributed to end users. The company insists it works as fast as it can to provide the system-level updates to its customers.

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bluecoyote

Feb 9, 2012, 3:15 PM

Who honestly bought a Motorola device expecting quality control?

Even goldfish have a limited memory. Who honestly buys a Motorola phone expecting timely upgrades, properly performing hardware, and software that ISN'T glitch-riddled?

Can anyone name a company that is as screwy as Motorola? Samsung is bad, but I don't know of anything they have messed up as badly as the Xoom upgrade debacle.

MarryTheNight

bluecoyote said:
Even goldfish have a limited memory. Who honestly buys a Motorola phone expecting timely upgrades, properly performing hardware, and software that ISN'T glitch-riddled?

Can anyone name a company that is as scre

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T Bone

I've owned several Motorola products over the years, including the Xoom, and never experienced any problems with updates or anything else....let alone a 'debacle'....

...

MarryTheNight

Feb 9, 2012, 12:01 PM

This is why you need quality control

I love Android but it's a mess. I always buy the dev device anyway so things don't affect me but I like what Microsoft has done with WP7. Sure all their phones look similar but at least they avoid fragmentation.

Rhino77

had android forever and now with work i have new windows phone and I'm very happy

ibnturab

Feb 9, 2012, 1:50 PM

Wait, doens't Google own Moto ?

I thought that google now owns the moto division responsible for mobile phones . Why wouldn't their hardware be compatible with software produced from the same company ?

Rhino77

in the near future yes... the purchase has had to be approved

eazyigz

Feb 9, 2012, 8:31 AM

Stop the excuses

I think these are lame excuses for the fact that Motorola doesn't want to spend money to stay up to date on the latest Google software.

Eric M. Zeman

Well, Motorola's claims are being backed up by Cyanogen. When Cyanogen got its hands on ICS, it said it would take two months to get it to work for most phones. That was in November, and CM9 still isn't ready for the masses. What's the hold up? Cyanog...
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netboy

windows os (1 version) can install on any PC, why can't freaking smartphone os be install on any phone?

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