Verizon's 2nd 5.0 lollipop Build

systemofadown said:

***Edit***
It has dropped & I got confirmation that its running pretty well so far....

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To be fair systemofadown, my old granny with her zimmer frame could run better than Verizon's original Lollipop release!

This latest build, if reports are true, is OC4 which is build #4 of Mar: 2015 and is, "probably" based on the Samsung OB7 build of 13th Feb: 2015 which introduced the Mute Button and Screen Pinning but has now been replaced by Samsung on their unbranded international, G900F, model with a very much higher changelist firmware of OC7, build date 16th Mar; which corrects a lot of issues such as Wi-Fi, lag, notifications and battery drain, to name but a few.

Unfortunately, since it takes Verizon 6-8 weeks to heavily modify the Samsung Touchwiz firmware and add all their extra bloatware before bypassing Samsung and releasing direct to their customers, their firmwares will always be obsolete before release I am afraid.

Having said that, unless Verizon have totally mucked it up in their modification and bloatware process, customers, "should" notice a big improvement on their original Verizon Lollipop firmware.... let's be honest... it couldn't be any worse... could it?

See, also, #1.6 of 40 Galaxy S5 models - Dummies Guide

UPDATE

There seems to be some confusion as to who is elgible for this latest Verizon update

I trust that the report, here, turns out to be false. Otherwise, it would appear that this latest bugfix update is only available to Verizon customers that have NOT already updated to Verizon's version of Lollipop, OA8, Feb: release, and that those who have, are being punished, even more, for updating...

"The latest roll-out will be applicable only to users of Verizon Galaxy S5 who have not been seeded the Lollipop update until now. Users who have installed the earlier Lollipop build will not be eligible to install the latest update."

I wonder if this means that if you revert back to the Verizon Android 4.4.4 release, see Verizon downgrade to KitKat - Dummies Guide, you will become eligible to receive this bugfix update???

EDIT See post #14

Hi, being from over the pond I find it very difficult to understand Verizon's logic or cavalier attitude to it's customers. Phil

As a Verizon Customer of 20 years now, I don't trust them as far as I can throw their proverbial ass. I am still on 4.4.4 and until it is impossible to prevent it, will stay that way.

Having said that, technically I can see no reason why a current VZW Lollipop user would not be able to revert back to 4.4.2 and then accept the upgrades. I have it from the Horses Mouth via several conference calls that VZW does not track individual phones, only the software version that is on the phone "right now".

Therefore, current Lollipop users "should be" able to regress and then move forward at their choosing.
____________________________________
2 ea. Verizon Galaxy S5, 4.4.4 forever!, ART
MyPhoneExplorer lets you access a broken phone while locked
Nova Prime, Textra, Blue Mail, Qi wireless equipped
MacroDroid can help extend battery life
MacroDroid senses Screen off, turns Wifi & Data OFF
MacroDroid senses Screen UnLock, turns Data ON

systemofadown said:

I agree, once Verizon bought up alltel they became a monster

Treating your customers badly is no way to run a business but for some odd reason it works for both AT&T & Verizon

I'm also betting you can revert to 4.4.4 then jump right up to the newest build of lollipop. Unless Verizon in really into torturing their S5 customers so badly that they cane up with a way to block being pinged for upgrade...

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It works because there network is so much better than the other guys. If Tmobile or one of the others ever get there network as big and far reaching as Verizon well verizon would be none. The only reason I have Verizon is the coverage where I spend my time t mobile, sprint have no coverage there at all. Can't find many how stay with verizon for the great customer service or great deals. Signing a contract with Verizon is like signing a contract with the devil.

philayl said:

Hi, being from over the pond I find it very difficult to understand Verizon's logic or cavalier attitude to it's customers. Phil

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I too, found the totalitarian control and total disregard for customer satisfaction offered by both Verizon and AT&T, hard to comprehend and asked the same question in post #15, here.

EarlyMon took the time to bring me up to speed about the way things work in the U.S.A. in posts #21, here, and #26, here.

In a nutshell...

1. Unlike the U.K., which operates on the GSM network only, the U.S.A. has both GSM or CDMA. Depending on who has the better signal in your area, dictates which type of network you are on. See, next item.

2. Unlike the U.K., where each of the network operators must, by government licensing, reach at least 95+% of the population, thus offering, in most cases, at least a choice of 4 or more carriers, in the U.S.A. the coverage is more ad-hoc and one goes for the best carrier in their area. Since Verizon and AT&T are the 2 biggest carriers and cover between them, about two thirds of the population, 200 million+, they get to call the tune.

3. Unlike the U.K., and most of the rest of the world, where unbranded handsets are the norm and Samsung issue unbranded, generic, firmwares for them, you have to go with the minority carrier handset that your carrier uses, as per #2, above. This means that there is little incentive for carriers to keep modifications and bloatware down as there is no viable, unbranded, alternative. Also, U.S. carriers lock their bootloaders in an attempt at preventing customers from flashing other stock Samsung firmwares, as we can on the worldwide, international, models, without, first, rooting.

4. The U.S. handsets are heavily subsidised, unlike the U.K. phones, and U.S. carriers seek to recoup their costs with revenue generating bloatware and ecosystems that are tied to them.

5. Given the above, Samsung, along with other major phone manufacturers, have to kowtow to the likes of Verizon and AT&T, to do business in the U.S.A. with them. Therefore, they provide separate models for the major U.S. carriers, sometimes with decreased spec's as in the case of AT&T who did not offer Corning Gorilla glass as standard on the Galaxy S4 to keep costs down. So, whilst Samsung supply the handsets and the basic TouchWiz firmware, the likes of Verizon and AT&T, take that firmware and heavily modify it to suit their needs and then bypass Samsung and issue it directly to their customers. They also get to decide whether or not to issue a bugfix update.

How does that work out in practice... you tell me. Samsung issued nearly 100 seperate Lollipop firmwares worldwide without a murmur, see, here, before Verizon launched their own version of Lollipop on the 2nd February and all hell broke lose on this and other forums.

The attitude seems to be... Hobson's choice, we're the best for coverage in your area and you got a cheap phone... deal with it!

EarlyMon will put me right if I have not offered the correct interpretation of his posts.

The above are purely personal opinions and are not necessarily those of Android Forums.

Hi ironass, your post goes a lot of the way to explain why Verizon treats it's customers with such a high handed attitude, it's just a shame that there isn't the competition, as in the UK, to keep these totalitarian firms in hand. My previous post was not a question of why people go with this company, just why a company would act in this manner. Phil

philayl said:

My previous post was not a question of why people go with this company, just why a company would act in this manner. Phil

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Answer... Because they can.

Lets be honest. The likes of Verizon and AT&T wouldn't last 5 minutes in Europe or most other countries of the world where there is more freedom of choice as regards carriers. As I once stated... Kim Jong-un, Supreme Leader of North Korea, lies awake at night, wondering how he can exercise the same totalitarian control that Verizon and AT&T have.

@ironass - you summed up what I said perfectly.

I can say that I am not a 20 year Verizon customer because of superior satisfaction, it is because they were the only carrier that could give me my coverage needs, and they have continued to maintain that dominance over the years.

If I could get a prepaid phone for half the price and still get the same exact coverage I have now, I would be gone in a heart beat.

Just to clarify the situation with Verizon's latest Lollipop release OC4 28th Mar:

It is only available to Verizon customers who have NOT previously received Verizon's own 2 stage Lollipop update, OA8 2nd Feb:

If you've had the OA8 update, reverting to KitKat and updating again will take you back to the OA8, 2nd Feb. build and NOT give you the latest OC4 28th Mar. release. See., here.

Verizon are aware of the ongoing issues with the OA8 2nd Feb. update and have withdrawn it from further release, (except to those who have already had it, see above).

Verizon have spent 52 days since the release of their 2 stage, OA8, 2nd Feb. update developing the latest release for those Verizon customers not yet on Verizon Lollipop in preference, it would seem, to fixing the problems they have caused to those who are already on their version of Lollipop.

Verizon have not given a firm update as to when or how, customers already on their earlier Lollipop, OA8, 2nd Feb. will get a bugfix update from them.

It would appear that something in the original, unique, Verizon 2 stage OA8 2nd Feb. update makes it incompatible with the latest Verizon, OC4 28th Mar. release and further modifications may need to be made by Verizon to OA8 to allow an update.

IMPORTANT

If a poster says they are on Lollipop with Verizon, it is now important to determine if it is the old Lollipop, OA8, firmware or the new Lollipop, OC4, firmware they are running, as there are major changes in the updated version with the potential to brick the phone with the wrong information.

Neither Google or Samsung are to blame for Verizon's own firmware versions as Verizon take the basic Samsung TouchWiz firmware and heavily modify it and add their, not inconsiderable, bloatware, before releasing it themselves and not via Samsung, directly to their customers. Therefore, any issues with Verizon's versions of Lollipop should be addressed directly to Verizon. As per #1.6 of 40 Galaxy S5 models - Dummies Guide...

"These models are hybrid carrier minority variants. Whilst Samsung supply the handsets and the basic TouchWiz firmware details, these carriers then set about heavily adapting that stock firmware with more apps, (20+), to elicit extra revenue as well as Android system modifications, (locked bootloaders and forced firmware updates for instance), to Samsung's original TouchWiz firmware. Also, unlike all the preceding models, these phones are not updated through Samsung but modified and released directly by the carriers themselves. Therefore, any firmware issues on these models, should be addressed directly to the carrier and not Samsung. Whilst the carriers receive all the, "bugfix", updates from Samsung as other models, it is up to these individual carriers whether to spend the, not inconsiderable, time and money on incorporating all their modifications and releasing them. Consequently, these tend to receive far fewer, "bugfix", updates than most other models. You will also see issues that are only relevant to these models and not applicable to all phones."

systemofadown said:

@ ironass & Mcgee10 Very well said on all points

Mcgee10, have you been prompted for update yet?

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I seem to be one of the few that my undate went well the first time. I'm not having any problems with lollipop 5.0. I don't know what I'll do if prompted to download 5.1

I also took the OA8 previously and today after a master reset a few weeks ago I had had it with this phone, so I was checking my bill online and decided to try the software repair utility or assistant cant think of it but either way I let that auto run and install from verizon's website, meanwhile I came back here obsessing and getting made because I also thought about downgrading to kitkat but I said no matter what I need to reset which I didnt want to do. Anyway on the software repair thing it also said OA8, it master reset and started backing up my apps, etc. so I said let me try to see if something is there to dl and low and behold it said there was a software update available, still not sure if it would work i dl'd it and my software now shows G900VVRU1BOC4. SO I say try it and see if you can get it, before resetting the update was not pushing to my phone, not sure if it was the reset of if verizon is now pushing it to those of us that took the OA8

It seems that Verizon's is now pushing it to those on OA8 now. Perhaps a change of heart or customer pressure.

ironass said:

It seems that Verizon's is now pushing it to those on OA8 now. Perhaps a change of heart or customer pressure.

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You keep trying for a deterministic explanation for their actions.

You're going to need far more alcohol to formulate the complete picture, double that so you can talk yourself into believing what you come up with, and double that again when they break the model.

Figuring out Verizon: the cost is just too high.

Aw shucks EarlyMon, you take all the phone out of it...

me? I just don't trust them to have it right yet....
going to let a lot of grass grow before I allow any flavor of the new Verizon Popsicle on my phone.

dylanp said:

I also took the OA8 previously and today after a master reset a few weeks ago I had had it with this phone,

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I just love it when people on Verizon say they have had it with their phone when the Verizon firmware update sends it into meltdown, as if it would be different with any other make of phone running their crappy version of Android. Phil

philayl said:

I just love it when people on Verizon say they have had it with their phone when the Verizon firmware update sends it into meltdown, as if it would be different with any other make of phone running their crappy version of Android. Phil

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If you can unlock your bootloader and root, you don't have to care.

You can get a lot closer to free even without unlocking a Verizon Samsung.

The HTC One M8 Verizon Lollipop 5.0.2 has most of the 5.1 fixes in already, and added the 24-bit Dolby sound from the M9 (only carrier to get the sound mod early).

It's Verizon. Get the whisky.

I was running OTA OA8 and manually checked for updates today and sure enough there is OC4. Updating now. We'll see what happens, especially with battery drain. I used to get 48 hours now I'm lucky if I get 24.

I've only been on the latest build for 18 hours or so. Battery life seems to be better so far. I also noticed that I have about 5% more free ROM than I did previously. So far so good.

Almost 24 hours on OC4 and still at 54% battery!
As well, overall it feels snappier. The camera used to take forever to open/close. It's what I always test first and it is MUCH quicker. All hail to OC4!