Unlocked vs Carrier update times?

[omnius]

I was told recently that if you buy an unlocked Nexus you get OS updates to your phone faster than you do on a Nexus bought from your carrier. Is this true or false? If true, what's the typical difference in time?

 

[sniperfox47]

Yes it's true. The reason is that YAKJU (the version of the OS on the phone from the google play store) recieves it's updates directly from google whereas YAKJUX (the most common version from other retailers) is a samsung version of the OS and receives updates from, you guessed it, samsung. Because google is the one actually developing android they tend to release the update earlier.

The only difference between the two versions is who manages them and apparently a few proprietary modifications by samsung in their yakjux variant, although I've never actually heard what they are.

If it's really that big a deal buy the phone from the google play store. Otherwise just wait a couple days. It's usually not that big a difference in time but sometimes Samsung may take quite a while or ignores a patch.

The other option is to install the google images on the phone, however I don't endorse that as you need to root your device, which not only voids your warranty and goes against almost every carriers TOS agreement, but can also potentially wreck your phone if you don't know what you're doing/can't follow instructions.

 

[mogelijk]

Yes it's true. The reason is that YAKJU (the version of the OS on the phone from the google play store) recieves it's updates directly from google whereas YAKJUX (the most common version from other retailers) is a samsung version of the OS and receives updates from, you guessed it, samsung. Because google is the one actually developing android they tend to release the update earlier.

The only difference between the two versions is who manages them and apparently a few proprietary modifications by samsung in their yakjux variant, although I've never actually heard what they are.

If it's really that big a deal buy the phone from the google play store. Otherwise just wait a couple days. It's usually not that big a difference in time but sometimes Samsung may take quite a while or ignores a patch.

The other option is to install the google images on the phone, however I don't endorse that as you need to root your device, which not only voids your warranty and goes against almost every carriers TOS agreement, but can also potentially wreck your phone if you don't know what you're doing/can't follow instructions.

First, let's clarify that the yakju/takju are versions of the i9250 GSM Nexus. The CDMA versions have different device names: the Verizon is manguro and the Sprint version is toro.

Also, as I mentioned on another thread, the US version of the i9250 is takju and the International Google version is yakju -- the main difference is that takju has Wallet included in the software build. But, as you mention, it is only these two versions that Google updates directly.

The remainder of GSM versions appear to be country dependent: yakjudv for Australia, yakjukr for South Korea, yakjusc for Japan, yakjuux for Canada, yakjuvs for Brazil, yakjuxe for Russia and Eastern Europe, yakjuxw for western Europe, and yakjuzs for China and Hong Kong. I believe it is up to the carrier if they sell the generic International i9250 or a country specific version.

 

[sniperfox47]

First, let's clarify that the yakju/takju are versions of the i9250 GSM Nexus. The CDMA versions have different device names: the Verizon is manguro and the Sprint version is toro.

Also, as I mentioned on another thread, the US version of the i9250 is takju and the International Google version is yakju -- the main difference is that takju has Wallet included in the software build. But, as you mention, it is only these two versions that Google updates directly.

The remainder of GSM versions appear to be country dependent: yakjudv for Australia, yakjukr for South Korea, yakjusc for Japan, yakjuux for Canada, yakjuvs for Brazil, yakjuxe for Russia and Eastern Europe, yakjuxw for western Europe, and yakjuzs for China and Hong Kong. I believe it is up to the carrier if they sell the generic International i9250 or a country specific version.

For the record the general GSM version is called maguro. Both of the CDMA versions are refered to collectively as Toro.

Proof: fingerprints. For example my phone's fingerprint is google/yakju/maguro:4.1.1/JRO03C/398337:user/release-keys All other GSM phones would be similar except with yakju changed for their version and all the stuff after maguro swapped out for the proper version.

On the other hand the CDMA versions should have .../toro:... instead of .../yakju<country code>/maguro:... for the verizon version and .../toroplus:... for the sprint version.


To sum up the GSM version is maguro while the CDMA version is Toro/Toroplus

As for who carries what I thought that carriers carried the samsung version with the exception of those sold by google and some in some parts of europe?

Edited edit: It seems like I'm arguing with you in a whole new post now, when I fist posted this I saw you quoting me and assumed I was still in the other topic. xD Fixed my post now. Just figured I should clarify.

 

[mogelijk]

For the record the general GSM version is called maguro. Both of the CDMA versions are refered to collectively as Toro.

Proof: fingerprints. For example my phone's fingerprint is google/yakju/maguro:4.1.1/JRO03C/398337:user/release-keys All other GSM phones would be similar except with yakju changed for their version and all the stuff after maguro swapped out for the proper version.

On the other hand the CDMA versions should have .../toro:... instead of .../yakju<country code>/maguro:... for the verizon version and .../toroplus:... for the sprint version.


To sum up the GSM version is maguro while the CDMA version is Toro/Toroplus

As for who carries what I thought that carriers carried the samsung version with the exception of those sold by google and some in some parts of europe?

Edited edit: It seems like I'm arguing with you in a whole new post now, when I fist posted this I saw you quoting me and assumed I was still in the other topic. xD Fixed my post now. Just figured I should clarify.

Looks like the source I used was wrong as to the CDMA device names. From what I can find, I believe the Verizon is actually mysid and the Sprint is mysidspr.

 

[sniperfox47]

Looks like the source I used was wrong as to the CDMA device names. From what I can find, I believe the Verizon is actually mysid and the Sprint is mysidspr.

That may be the release name similar to yakju/takju/yakjuux/ect., but the device name is maguro for the GSM and Toro for the CDMA. All of the Nexus series device have fish names..

 

[Petrah]

I was told recently that if you buy an unlocked Nexus you get OS updates to your phone faster than you do on a Nexus bought from your carrier. Is this true or false? If true, what's the typical difference in time?

True. The Galaxy Nexus was created collaboratively by Samsung and Google. The GSM version is unlocked, free from carrier bloatware, and can be used on a GSM mobile carrier (T-Mobile or AT&T). So in essence if you try out AT&T with this phone and decide you don't like AT&T, you can take that same phone and move to T-Mobile.

The Sprint and Verizon versions (CDMA) are both carrier branded, have carrier bloatware, and are locked to each carrier (meaning you cannot move the phone between carriers).

The differences in updates is; the GSM version gets it's updates directly pushed from Google regardless of what carrier the phone is on. It's pretty much guaranteed you will get Android OS updates long before anyone else. The CDMA versions get their updates from the carriers and are generally slow with the updates, or just altogether nonexistent.

 

[sniperfox47]

True. The Galaxy Nexus was created collaboratively by Samsung and Google. The GSM version is unlocked, free from carrier bloatware, and can be used on a GSM mobile carrier (T-Mobile or AT&T). So in essence if you try out AT&T with this phone and decide you don't like AT&T, you can take that same phone and move to T-Mobile.

[...]

The differences in updates is; the GSM version gets it's updates directly pushed from Google regardless of what carrier the phone is on. It's pretty much guaranteed you will get Android OS updates long before anyone else. The CDMA versions get their updates from the carriers and are generally slow with the updates, or just altogether nonexistent.

All of that information only applies to the US versions of the phone. The american GSM version (takju/magruro) is unlocked however the only non-american GSM version that's unlocked is the yakju/maguro version. Yakjuux/maguro, yakjuxw/maguro, ect. are not unlocked and are carrier specific.

Also only Yakju/maguro and Takju/maguro get updates from google. Toro and Toroplus (verizon and sprint CDMA versions respectively) get updates from their carrier and all the other GSM maguro versions get updates from samsung.

 

[Petrah]

/pats Mog on the back.. I feel ya.

 

[omnius]

ok so how do you tell, walking into a carrier store outside of the US whether or not you're getting the kind of Nexus that gets early updates from Google? I'm in Canada and both Rogers and Bell are GSM here now AFAIK

 

[sniperfox47]

If they offer the Nexus they are GSM with HSPA+ except sprint and verizon.

As for how do you know what version you're getting:

If you buy it from verizon or sprint in the states you get Toro which is the CDMA version (mysid/toro for verizon and mysidspr/toroplus for sprint). These two are updated by their carriers.

If you buy it anywhere else you get the GSM version Maguro. which is what's outlined below in the quote block:

If you buy it from the play store in the US you get Takju/maguro with the google wallet.
If you buy it from the play store anywhere else (no longer sold) or from most places in western europe you get Yakju/maguro.

Those two are the only two updated by google and are unlocked from any provider.

If you buy it from ANY retailer outside of western europe and a couple in you get
yakju<countrycode>/maguro (example yakjuux in canada) which is updated by samsung and are locked to a single provider.

So if you buy the phone from a retailer in canada you are getting the Yakjuux version that is updated by samsung, not google.


Hope that cleared things up.

Edit: also, Mogelijk, I did double check and toro and toroplus are the models for CDMA similar to maguro for the GSM. Mysid and Mysidspr are the version like takju, yakju, yakjuux, yakjuwx, yakjukr, ect.

 

[mogelijk]

Edit: also, Mogelijk, I did double check and toro and toroplus are the models for CDMA similar to maguro for the GSM. Mysid and Mysidspr are the version like takju, yakju, yakjuux, yakjuwx, yakjukr, ect.

Yes, that is what I was trying to say, sorry if I wasn't specific enough. Maguro, toro, and toroplus are the models of the Nexus. Takju, yakju, mysid, etc. are the device names (or, at least my phone shows "Device samsung takju").

 

[sniperfox47]

Where do you see that? Looking under "About phone" the closest thing I see is "Model Number" which says "Galaxy Nexus".

Edit: Oh, do you mean in fastboot? Looking there now.

Double edit: Nope. Fastboot just says "PRODUCT NAME - tuna" "VARIANT - maguro 16GB"

 

[mogelijk]

Where do you see that? Looking under "About phone" the closest thing I see is "Model Number" which says "Galaxy Nexus".

Edit: Oh, do you mean in fastboot? Looking there now.

Double edit: Nope. Fastboot just says "PRODUCT NAME - tuna" "VARIANT - maguro 16GB"

Oddly, the only place I know to find it is in the Maps App. Go to Maps, then to settings>about. Not sure why Google hid it there.

 

[sniperfox47]

Huh, yeah. "Sumsung Yakju" Wierd that it would be there but not elsewhere xD Google's a bunch of weirdos I guess <3

 

[Demache]

The Sprint and Verizon versions (CDMA) are both carrier branded, have carrier bloatware, and are locked to each carrier (meaning you cannot move the phone between carriers).

To be fair, the Verizon version of the Nexus doesn't have any real bloat surprisingly. Its almost identical to the GSM ones except for the fact there are CDMA/LTE specific features/options and there was a My Verizon app which is used for managing and viewing account details (I really wouldn't count that as bloat since it actually is useful). Its surprising knowing Verizon.