Galaxy Nexus Android 4.3 Update Inspires Hope

Galaxy Nexus Android 4.3 Update Inspires Hope is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

The Samsung Galaxy Nexus Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update starting rolling out back in July. In October, the Sprint Galaxy Nexus received Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. Still missing is the Verizon Galaxy Nexus Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update, though, a recent development should inspire some hope amongst users.

All the way back in July of last year, Google released the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update for Nexus users. The update landed for the Nexus 7, Nexus 4, Nexus 10, and for Google’s former flagship, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. While we expected the Sprint and Verizon Galaxy Nexus models to be behind the rest of the pack, we never envisioned what would happen next.

The months rolled by without a peep from Samsung, Sprint or Verizon. In September, Google announced Android 4.4 KitKat, Android 4.3′s replacement. On Halloween, Google detailed Android 4.4 KitKat and said that the Galaxy Nexus would not be getting an upgrade past Android 4.3 Jelly Bean.

Shortly after the announcement, the Sprint Galaxy Nexus Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update emerged from hiding, delighting those who held onto the now ancient smartphone. The Verizon Galaxy Nexus Android 4.3 update was still nowhere to be found.

In December, a Verizon representative told Gotta Be Mobile that a Verizon Galaxy Nexus Android 4.3 update was still coming though he did not know when the update would get released. This inspired confidence in the remaining Verizon Galaxy Nexus user base, particularly those that still don’t want to root their phone and go with an Android 4.3 ROM.

It’s now February and Samsung and Verizon still remain quiet though there is a minor cause for celebration. Vodafone Australia issued one of its weekly updates on Android updates today and lo and behold, the company has included the once missing Samsung Galaxy Nexus Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update.

The update had gone missing from its charts weeks ago, but today, the carrier says that the update is back in testing. A specific release date isn’t known but it’s a great sign for those who have held onto the Vodafone model of the Galaxy Nexus. It’s also a good sign for those still holding onto the Verizon Galaxy Nexus because it could mean that Verizon is in a similar boat.

Samsung clearly struggled with Android 4.2 and Android 4.3. The company was forced to skip Android 4.2 on the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 and the Android 4.3 update that arrived for the Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 has been up and down for users. Verizon is known to be strict when it comes to testing so it’s possible that the Verizon Galaxy Nexus has been in a sort of testing purgatory all this time.

Thanks to HTC, we know how complicated Android updates and their testing process can be. Samsung and Vodafone appear to be in the final stages of the Galaxy Nexus Android 4.3 update release and perhaps, Samsung and Verizon are as well.

At the very least, the fact that another carrier is still without a Galaxy Nexus Android 4.3 update in February should instill a little bit of confidence in Verizon users. Of course, by now, most have probably moved onto unofficial versions of Android 4.3 and perhaps, Android 4.4 KitKat as well.

Galaxy Nexus Android 4.3 Update Inspires Hope is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.