Worried about lack of support

[TheHerd84]

With not even a rumor of 2.2 release dates for the Epic 4g and a serious history of samsung's lack of updates worries me.

I had the Samsung moment, left sprint went to Verizon had the Droid (1). Motorola/VZ gave us several OTA updates. All of you know the Moment had major issues that were basically resolved by Samsung putting out new phones (such as the Intercept) and screwing everyone in contract with a moment.

VZ was too expensive. I came back to sprint 9 days ago. I bought the Epic and for the most part and happy with the purchase, but even my 1.5 year old Droid (1) had 2.2. I worry that if the epic gets 2.2 it will be its final update (OS wise) and the gps/3g dl/ul rates and other minor bugs will not be fixed.

The epic in my humble opinion is nicer than the evo, but if the evo is going to get better treatment and support from HTC/Sprint I would rather have the lesser phone with better support.

Any thoughts?

 

[Kelmar]

Sprint/Samsung have already committed themselves to 2.2. Samsung has also recently announced that they are going to push android more.

That all being said, I was aware of the GPS issue and what not when I bought the phone. Whenever I buy a phone I expect it to NEVER get updated, then, if it does, I'm pleasantly surprised.

 

[TheHerd84]

Sprint/Samsung have already committed themselves to 2.2. Samsung has also recently announced that they are going to push android more.

That all being said, I was aware of the GPS issue and what not when I bought the phone. Whenever I buy a phone I expect it to NEVER get updated, then, if it does, I'm pleasantly surprised.

But what sets us apart from blackberry or any other virtually closed OS if we don't get updates and issues fixed. It was all well and good in 2002 when I bought my Sanyo 8100 and expected exactly what I bought, but these Android phones are meant to be upgraded, updated, and perform. I'm not arguing. I just worry, will this be like the moment.

 

[Kelmar]

They have made it sound like "no, it will not be like the moment." However, only time will tell.

 

[TheHerd84]

Thanks for the quick replies
Do you feel like the evo is getting better support from HTC (compared to Samsung) as it had issues at first, since your wife has one.

 

[Kelmar]

Thanks for the quick replies
Do you feel like the evo is getting better support from HTC (compared to Samsung) as it had issues at first, since your wife has one.

She never had any software issues, so that's a bit of a hard call. Having owned an HTC Hero (for Sprint), there were "lenghty" fix times. I've only had the Epic for a week or two so it's hard to judge when nothing has come out yet. The first bug on the Hero took about a MONTH to get fixed IIRC and it was a bug that was keeping the phone awake!

Also, worth noting, when HTC/Samsung fix these bugs, they have to make sure they don't break other things in the meantime. They also have to make sure that Sense/TouchWiz still work properly.

IMO, I wouldn't worry too much. There is always the root/developer route if things go sour.

 

[Herotech]

Just root it when they stop coming out with updates. I'm sure someone on the forum will updates that work.

 

[jim2point0]

I think their first priority was media hub, which launches tomorrow (technically today for me.... it's 1:15AM). Their tablets launch with 2.2... so the phones probably aren't too far behind.

 

[ragnarokx]

Whenever I buy a phone I expect it to NEVER get updated, then, if it does, I'm pleasantly surprised.

Yup, if you have low expectations you're a winner every time

 

[gamexdragon]

I wouldn't worry at all with this phone....Samsung has invested A LOT into the Galaxy S phones if you think about it. They came out with many phones all branded with the Galaxy S series. But, I think the biggest thing is that they have advertised this phone more than 99% of Android phones out there. They are expecting something big, so I'm sure they are prepared to provide, update, etc. for their huge investments.

But, like Kelmar said, don't wait for fixes. I got the G1 when it first came out. Bug fixes and updates seemed to take forever to come, and that was for the original Android phone and OS. So, many of our problems that can be fixed will most likely be fixed, but it will take time.

 

[Thefoodman52]

Hopefully the issues on the Epic get handled better than the crippling 30fps cap that comes courtesy of HTC on any non rooted Evo. It's the culprit to the tracking issues we have, as well as the choppy frame rate issues present in everything that you do on the phone. The gps issue here on the Epic is largely something as big as the issue we have. Granted, it doesn't show in every single aspect of the phone when you use it day to day, but it's still a major problem that needs to be handled.

 

[robl45]

dumbest thing i've ever read and I see it over and over again, they haven't supported any phone yet, why would you think its any different with these, they are already working on new phones like every other manufacturer, the difference is, other manufactuers actually support the products that are already out. HTC had updates out at this point, where is the GPS update for the vibrant? whats it been 2 months plus already? does anyone really have hope that they are doing that? you really think we even see froyo on this phone unless someone ports it? the only thing to worry about now is whether to return the phone or not before 30 days is up. I'm thinking evo is going to be in my future.

I wouldn't worry at all with this phone....Samsung has invested A LOT into the Galaxy S phones if you think about it. They came out with many phones all branded with the Galaxy S series. But, I think the biggest thing is that they have advertised this phone more than 99% of Android phones out there. They are expecting something big, so I'm sure they are prepared to provide, update, etc. for their huge investments.

But, like Kelmar said, don't wait for fixes. I got the G1 when it first came out. Bug fixes and updates seemed to take forever to come, and that was for the original Android phone and OS. So, many of our problems that can be fixed will most likely be fixed, but it will take time.

 

[Thefoodman52]

...I'm thinking evo is going to be in my future.

They see me trolling.... they hate me...

 

[robl45]

They see me trolling.... they hate me...

so if someone states facts they are trolling?

 

[Khemul]

so if someone states facts they are trolling?

Welcome to the internet. Enjoy your stay.


Although I wouldn't exactly calls those 'facts'.

 

[robl45]

really??? name a device that samsung has supported in a timely manner? I own two of these epics, I thought this time would be different, but obviously we are in for the same old same old.

Welcome to the internet. Enjoy your stay.


Although I wouldn't exactly calls those 'facts'.

 

[th3j3ster]

I, as well as robl45 and a few others, appear to be eating our words.

Epic 4G getting an update today to enable Samsung Media Hub | Android Central

Granted it doesn't look like a GPS fix or Froyo, but hey, bug fixes two weeks in? Can't be all bad...

 

[TheHerd84]

really??? name a device that samsung has supported in a timely manner? I own two of these epics, I thought this time would be different, but obviously we are in for the same old same old.

Rob do you think it will be any different with the HTC evo though? I had many of the same thoughts you did (clearly as I'm the OP of this thread), but HTC will have a new phone out probably by Nov-Dec meaning that the Evo is going to be old news and second (or third when the WM7 phones come this winter) on HTCs list.

That really leaves the question here: Do we hope samsung fixes our problems or do we go with a phone that is gone in 2 months?

 

[robl45]

I, as well as robl45 and a few others, appear to be eating our words.

Epic 4G getting an update today to enable Samsung Media Hub | Android Central

Granted it doesn't look like a GPS fix or Froyo, but hey, bug fixes two weeks in? Can't be all bad...

what bug fixes, the only thing that update appears to do is give you samsung media hub which is a revenue generating product most likely for samsung and sprint.

 

[robl45]

my point is that the evo already got a number of updates including 2.2 while the galaxy s series has gotten nothing. you are absolutely right that phones are basically forgotten a month after release, but htc at least seems to update them a bit. samsung gives me really bad vibes after the behold 2 incident.

Rob do you think it will be any different with the HTC evo though? I had many of the same thoughts you did (clearly as I'm the OP of this thread), but HTC will have a new phone out probably by Nov-Dec meaning that the Evo is going to be old news and second (or third when the WM7 phones come this winter) on HTCs list.

That really leaves the question here: Do we hope samsung fixes our problems or do we go with a phone that is gone in 2 months?

 

[th3j3ster]

We're two weeks into the release...if you were apprehensive about support, why buy a sammy phone? Why not wait a few days to see what the consensus was?

From what we saw so far of the bugfix list, which was part of the link I posted above:

Optimized, HotSpot in 3G idle mode to help conserve battery power
Optimized, Applied Qualcomm patch for performance enhancement
Added, Media Hub
Modified, WiMAX exit delay
Modified, UI "Noisey" One to "Noisy One"
Fixed, 32GB mSD card is not recongized when formatted in device
Fixed, When playing video, the playback is paused if a headset is connected/disconnected
Fixed, Sorry popup when DRM file is selected in the Gallery
Fixed, Hotspot registration/deregistration

 

[robl45]

and there are two major issues, gps and upload speed, do you see those addressed? I'll bet those two issues are causing problems for more people than anything else, the rest of the crap is minor. We are two months into release or more for the galaxy S series. I bought it on faith that samsung might actually support a product, is the gps fix for the vibrant out yet? didn't they say sept? I'm guessing that means maybe oct 10th when the majority of galaxy s owners will be locked in for 2 years.

Honestly I love the phone, but 500 dollars for 2 phones and 20 bucks extra a month for phones that are way inferior to my friends droid 2 and can't upload worth a damn is a bit much. and then there are the gps issues, mine locks great, of course i'm locked sitting in my house and it thinks I'm at the neighbors house, but I guess thats close enough for samsung

We're two weeks into the release...if you were apprehensive about support, why buy a sammy phone? Why not wait a few days to see what the consensus was?

From what we saw so far of the bugfix list, which was part of the link I posted above:

Optimized, HotSpot in 3G idle mode to help conserve battery power
Optimized, Applied Qualcomm patch for performance enhancement
Added, Media Hub
Modified, WiMAX exit delay
Modified, UI "Noisey" One to "Noisy One"
Fixed, 32GB mSD card is not recongized when formatted in device
Fixed, When playing video, the playback is paused if a headset is connected/disconnected
Fixed, Sorry popup when DRM file is selected in the Gallery
Fixed, Hotspot registration/deregistration

 

[MILcityBOI]

The easiest way to handle your problem with Samsung is to take your Epic's back and take yo' azz to Verizon for two Droid 2's........I am sure that the phone is perfect in every way possible and there are not any "cough" bugs "cough".

 

[robl45]

glad to see we have the mature people on the forum today.

The easiest way to handle your problem with Samsung is to take your Epic's back and take yo' azz to Verizon for two Droid 2's........I am sure that the phone is perfect in every way possible and there are not any "cough" bugs "cough".

 

[Aero1]

Samsung does have a widespread and deserved poor reputation based on history of not supporting their smartphones.

To say on one hand, people should not be strident about the problems and "take it back" is silly and counterproductive, and alternately it is unrealistic to expect issues to be addressed after just a month, and they are both, IMHO, wrong views.

The identification of bugs and issues, and strong advocacy and complaint to Sprint (samsung didn't sell you the phone and doesn't care about users) are good effective strategies. Patience is good, but patient passivity doesn't work with modern products because as they are dropped on the market and forgotten due to the speed of product introduction consumer electronics now demands. You can be certain everyone dealing with technical aspects of Galaxy at samsung has moved onto whatever is next.

We actually have a thread called "stop all the bashing" which attacks people for reporting known bugs. That is childish. But it is correct to not that it is still one jsut one month since Sprint finished its testing and at least one of the big bugs (GPS) has a major troubleshooting and testing problem, in that it only occurs without resets, and the Sprint testers were probably resetting daily or more often. The 3g speeds are another issue. I doubt Sprint didn't know about that from day one.