Help Verizon asked for an update this morning. Is this 4.3?

[stephen65]

I got an update notification on my S3 this morning. Would this be the update to 4.3 that has caused a lot of problems? Because I've looked all over Verizon's website and can't find any information on what this update is.

Also while I did have the option to defer it will only let me defer to a different hour and not a few days like before. So it seems they are really trying to force this update.

Right now I've deferred it until 9PM tonight but I hope it will give me the option to defer it again until I can determine that it's safe.

What do I need to do?

EDIT Apparently this must be the 4.3 update because Verizon's support forums are covered up with complaints about this update. I thought they had pulled the 4.3 update?

 

[IlIOsirisIlI]

Yes it is.

 

[stephen65]

Yes it is.

Good grief. Are you required to take it? Because like I said before unless it asks me again to defer, it looks like it's going to install it automatically.

 

[funkylogik]

Id start backing up my data if i was you and be prepared to do a factory reset once you get the update. That should fix any bugs :thumbup:

 

[stephen65]

Id start backing up my data if i was you and be prepared to do a factory reset once you get the update. That should fix any bugs :thumbup:

See I've never done anything like that before. I think I can get my pictures and videos off of it. I don't know of any data I have on it except for my contact list. There are no files saved or anything like that.

Will all the apps I've bought disappear?

 

[prj]

Don't accept the update. 4.3 sucks.

Do a hard reset and wipe the cache when doing so and the update notice goes away and doesn't come back

 

[stephen65]

Don't accept the update. 4.3 sucks.

Do a hard reset and wipe the cache when doing so and the update notice goes away and doesn't come back

Hard reset? Is that just a power off then power up? How do you wipe the cache?

 

[Deleted User]

This update seems to be getting a bad reputation on Verizon due to the FoxFi issue (cant speak for other carriers issues) If you don't use FoxFi, I would recommend the update. I am quite surprised how much smoother everything runs on this update... I debated letting it go through or not and finally did. Glad I did it.

 

[funkylogik]

See I've never done anything like that before. I think I can get my pictures and videos off of it. I don't know of any data I have on it except for my contact list. There are no files saved or anything like that.

Will all the apps I've bought disappear?

Yeah the whole device will be wiped. Apps will auto download after the reset though (make sure youre using wifi)
Youre gona see a lot of people saying "dont take the update" but this happens after every big update, people dont wipe the phone after it so theyre riddled with bugs.
When people use custom roms, they always wipe the phone when putting a new version on and people getting official updates should really do the same imo.
I think unless you use one of those free tethering apps or if you ever plan on rooting the phone then people should take the update, factory reset and start with a clean phone. A lot of people are very happy with the update.
Android is now at 4.4.2 so you dont want to be stuck on 4.1.2.
The next big update will probably bring these same bugs if people dont wipe. Its just the way it is :thumbup:

 

[stephen65]

This update seems to be getting a bad reputation on Verizon due to the FoxFi issue (cant speak for other carriers issues) If you don't use FoxFi, I would recommend the update. I am quite surprised how much smoother everything runs on this update... I debated letting it go through or not and finally did. Glad I did it.

If FoxFi is something to do with WiFi then no I don't use it. But I thought it was a battery killer and did some other bad things like that bad update last summer?

 

[funkylogik]

FoxFi is an app that over-rides certain carriers block on wifi tethering (sharing the phone's mobile internet with a tablet or laptop)

 

[stephen65]

FoxFi is an app that over-rides certain carriers block on wifi tethering (sharing the phone's mobile internet with a tablet or laptop)

If it's an app that you have to download then I don't have it and it doesn't concern me.

The bottom line is do I need to keep putting this update off or go ahead and accept it?

If the defer option was like it was before and you could delay it days at the time then I would just keep deferring it. But since that option looked different this morning and would only let you defer 23 hours, I'm more worried that I won't have the option to defer again or it's just going to automatically update it anyway.

 

[svensett]

This update seems to be getting a bad reputation on Verizon due to the FoxFi issue (cant speak for other carriers issues) If you don't use FoxFi, I would recommend the update. I am quite surprised how much smoother everything runs on this update... I debated letting it go through or not and finally did. Glad I did it.

I agree. I took the update on from Verizon almost as soon as it was available. Since they were back to their usual last ones to update, I assume most of the bugs from the early adopters were worked out. The only "issue" I've noticed is the loss of free WiFi hotspot options, which doesn't concern me too much. If I feel I absolutely need the hotspot, I'll pay for it for the day or so I use it.

My phone seems to run smoothly a lot more consistently than before the update. I was to the point of using App Cache Cleaner every few days, whereas I don't think I've used it once since I took the update on December 19th...

 

[stephen65]

I agree. I took the update on from Verizon almost as soon as it was available. Since they were back to their usual last ones to update, I assume most of the bugs from the early adopters were worked out. The only "issue" I've noticed is the loss of free WiFi hotspot options, which doesn't concern me too much. If I feel I absolutely need the hotspot, I'll pay for it for the day or so I use it.

My phone seems to run smoothly a lot more consistently than before the update. I was to the point of using App Cache Cleaner every few days, whereas I don't think I've used it once since I took the update on December 19th...

So there's no severe battery drain problems, no problems with the phone getting hot, no losing of text notification issues, etc.?

 

[allDroidnow]

So there's no severe battery drain problems, no problems with the phone getting hot, no losing of text notification issues, etc.?

It's been almost a week and I've experienced none of those problems. My phone works great post update!

 

[stephen65]

It's been almost a week and I've experienced none of those problems. My phone works great post update!

So it's hit or miss then? I'm just not thinking it's worth taking the chance.

 

[funkylogik]

Stephen. If you dont need wifi tethering and you arent interested in rooting and youre willing to do a factory reset after then i urge you to take the update mate. Theres been too much negativity posted about this update which is to be expected but its been over a month now and i really dont want people being scared to update their phone.
Android keeps getting better and although the s3 update is samsungs version of 4.3, i think its worth taking.
Think im gona start a thread on here tomorrow for people posting positive views of the 4.3 update

 

[svensett]

So there's no severe battery drain problems, no problems with the phone getting hot, no losing of text notification issues, etc.?

In my case, no. Now that you mention it, I haven't noticed the phone getting hot since the update. It would get hot from time to time previously.

One thing to remember about forums, over 80% of the people post because they have a problem with their device. The number of people having issues is probably 1% of the total number of devices out there, but that's what you see. Also the issues that were occurring to the international devices were probably corrected by the time Verizon released their build.

I'm not saying that you're 100% guaranteed not to have any issues, but you have a lower chance than you think.

 

[Mark16q]

Not a power user here, and wish I could say all way rosie, but not happy with the update. Ironically, my foxfi works just fine which isn't that big of a deal for me, but battery life is worse, notifications are hit and miss, Kies3 doesn't work right with outlook (known issue, no know fixes) and important to me to sync.

So now I have a phone with a battery that dies too quickly and isn't in sync with my calendar or to do list. I've checked for rogue apps running frequently clearing memory and nothing is showing up as a big power drain. Just dies too fast.

If not an outlook user, not a big deal, but I rely on it pretty heavily and very pissed that kies3 messed it up. Used to take maybe 2 minutes to sync, now if I'm lucky it'll sync in about 1/2 hour but usually just locks up.

Losing patience....

 

[stephen65]

Stephen. If you dont need wifi tethering and you arent interested in rooting and youre willing to do a factory reset after then i urge you to take the update mate. Theres been too much negativity posted about this update which is to be expected but its been over a month now and i really dont want people being scared to update their phone.
Android keeps getting better and although the s3 update is samsungs version of 4.3, i think its worth taking.
Think im gona start a thread on here tomorrow for people posting positive views of the 4.3 update

I've never done a factory reset before, at least I don't think I have. What's involved in doing it? Do you lose everything that you currently have on your phone, contacts, apps purchased, etc.?

I read your thread on positive results from the update but I think there is so much negative talk because it seems like it's ruining a lot of people's phones and I mean a lot of them. If there was just a little negative feedback and if I hadn't had that horrible experience with the update last summer, I would go ahead and update. But I'm a very nervous nellie with electronics in general and being that I don't have a land line, this phone is my only source of communication. I need it to work properly.

 

[GTWalling]

Doing a Factory Reset you will loose everything, this is why funkylogik stated to do a Backup. This is where a lot goes wrong with updates by not doing the Reset. You will get all your Google apps back when you log into your Google Account with the phone. Battery life is also improved with the Reset. I can usually get 11-13 hours on a charge with light uses on the weekend and around 8-9 heavy at work. There are several Apps at Google Play and downloadable software for the Apps for the PC to help backup. The one I use is MyPhoneExplorer. Take the update you will like it.

 

[stephen65]

Doing a Factory Reset you will loose everything, this is why funkylogik stated to do a Backup. This is where a lot goes wrong with updates by not doing the Reset. You will get all your Google apps back when you log into your Google Account with the phone. Battery life is also improved with the Reset. I can usually get 11-13 hours on a charge with light uses on the weekend and around 8-9 heavy at work. There are several Apps at Google Play and downloadable software for the Apps for the PC to help backup. The one I use is MyPhoneExplorer. Take the update you will like it.

But I've never done a backup. I don't know how to do one. Doing a factory reset just seems way over my head and I'm afraid I'll permanently lose everything if I tried.

 

[Rdjr74]

The "sync app data" has always confused me. Yeah I have it selected in the settings under my google account but this don't seem to backup data for example, games. I'm guessing it only backs up google apps such as maps, etc. Only way to truly backup everything is to root from all the reading I've done.

BTW I finally got the software update notification and it's just sitting there. I'm very hesitant to do the update because I don't want to lose my ability to use the hotspot. It's disgusting that verizon would take this feature away and force us to pay. It sounds to me that foxfi no longer works but one person above posted that it actually does still work for them. I actually use "hot spot toggle". I like it best. Although I rarely use this feature, I love having the ability to have just in case.

 

[sternbul]

I received the 4.3 update from Verizon on 11/26/2013 for my Galaxy S3 and my phone was flashed to PagePlus Cellular and I lost nothing. It took about 2.5 hours to install but the phone works just fine. I don't use foxfi either and don't tether data either. I also didn't lose any battery life. I keep my wifi on all the time until I shut it down around 10.00PM and I get two days of battery life (but I'm a lite user). I really like the way the 4.3 update works and from my perspective I would recommend it. Again as stated above no one can promise you that you won't have any trouble.

 

[prj]

Hard reset? Is that just a power off then power up? How do you wipe the cache?

Volume Up/Home/Power

This will bring you to you the Android recovery menu. Once there wipe data cache after that is done then do a factory reset.

I did this back on December on my phone and my wifes phone and the notification to update has not come back since.