Connect with us

Editorials

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Potentially Hobbled by Ice Cream Sandwich

Published

on

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2, which is slated for launch on August 29th, may have at least one feature that will not appeal to those who might be interested in the next-generation phablet.

Thus far, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 sounds like a fantastic device and a big improvement over the original Galaxy Note smartphone that sold millions worldwide and recently arrived on T-Mobile’s HSPA+ 42 network.

It’s rumored to feature a 5.5-inch HD display that may or may not be flexible, a quad-core Exynos processor, 4G LTE data speeds, and improved cameras. It’s an exciting device, for the most part.

Read: Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Features: What to Expect.

Previous benchmarks of the device list the device as running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. A little more than a month ago and that would have been music to the ears of consumers. After all, Android Ice Cream Sandwich is a fantastic operating system.

However, at Google I/O at the end of June, Google announced Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, its latest operating system, and one that we feel blows Android 4.0 out of the water. Google feels the same way.

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean comes with a host of improvements and features including Google Now, re-sizable widgets, better Notifications, offline Voice dictation, and maybe above all, improvements to the user interface that make it much faster and much smoother than the UI found on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Problem is, there is a chance that the Galaxy Note will be running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and not Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

Besides, the benchmarks, signs include the fact that the Samsung Galaxy Nexus devices on Verizon and Sprint have yet to receive their Jelly Bean updates and the Nexus S on Sprint has yet to see it either. Additionally, we have yet to see any new devices launch with the software on board, including T-Mobile’s Galaxy Note.

Also troubling is the fact that Samsung launched the previous version of the Galaxy Note on AT&T with Android 2.3 Gingerbread on board, even though Android 4.0 was ready and available.

None of that bodes well for the prospects of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean on the Galaxy Note 2 at launch.

However, the fact that it could be missing might not even be the worst part.

We’ve heard that the Galaxy Note, the original, might be getting Android 4.1 Jelly Bean in Q4. So, we imagine that that could mean a similar time table for the Galaxy Note 2, if it does indeed arrive with Android 4.0.

That’s great, except for the fact that American carriers are generally way behind international operators when it comes to getting updates out.

Galaxy-Note-2-Release-Date-Stylus-575x398

The Galaxy Note 2 might not arrive with the latest Android software.

So, if Android 4.0 ICS does end up being the operating system, it means that those snagging the Galaxy Note 2 on American carriers might have to wait until 2013 for Jelly Bean.

Read: Jelly Bean Makes Galaxy Nexus Faster, Smoother & Smarter.

And even worse, have to deal with the silence and rumors in regards to Jelly Bean’s release date.

For many, none of this will be a deal breaker. However, for others, especially those that have endured the hardship of an Android update, it may be a reason to pause.

Remember, Google will likely be launching a new Nexus smartphone this winter, a device that always has the new operating system on board at the start.

If Android 4.0 ICS is the stock operating system on the Galaxy Note 2, will you reconsider picking up the Galaxy Note 2?

6 Comments

6 Comments

  1. HBKILLA

    08/08/2012 at 2:19 pm

    Ill wait for 4.1 since this phone is gonna be a small investment. Tmobile is selling the Note for 299.99. I cant imagine how much the Note 2 is gonna be. I hope it’s with all this hype!!

  2. Rob

    08/08/2012 at 7:14 pm

    I’ll wait till January-febuary to purchase my galaxy note 2 hopefully by then, when my upgrade is due the jelly bean upgrade will be also. Either way ive been wanting this phone for a year since the original came out. My wife and I have been having so many issues with out iPhones we are gonna be happy to get rid of them!!!

    • KID ANDROID

      08/09/2012 at 5:14 pm

      @ Rob , More ppl coming over to Android from the dark side lol. I love it & you will not be disapointed when making the switch if you do choose to go with a Galaxy Note or Galaxy Note 2. I have yet to find anyone write anywhere anything negative that have switched from an iPhone to a Galaxy Note, all are overjoyed with their decision & say they didnt kniw what they were missing.
      ANDROID IS THE FUTURE – KID ANDROID (Team.Android.Canada)

      • Hmm

        08/10/2012 at 7:25 pm

        @KID ANDROID I am interested in the Note 2, but your comparison of people switching from the iPhone to Note isn’t really relevant. Why? That’s like saying someone switching from eating slop to normal meals will appreciate their foods.Of course they are. They already know they want a larger device. And for me, that’s the ONLY draw. I hate the (almost) fact JB will not be standard, I hate Samsung with every breath of my being, I hate Android Fragmentation and I hate how apps populate in the background even after you killed them.

        Still, I can’t stand it any more to browse the web et al on a puny flipping tiny screen. If the iPhone 5 was an actual iPhone 5 (5 inches), I’d be one happy person. For now, the Note 2 is something I have to have, especially since my Galaxy 1 has caused me to pull almost all my hair out.

        • KID ANDROID

          08/11/2012 at 5:27 am

          @ Hmm if your comparing iPhone to a Galaxy 1 then that is the reason that you hate Android, everything you mentioned is solved in Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich other than the fragmentation. ICS was a complete rebuild of the OS from the ground up & solves alot of the problems in previous versions. The apps no longer run in the background because you can close recent apps (hold down the home button & then flick apps away to close). I always forget that ppl have such old devices as the Galaxy 1 so dont have ICS.
          When Im saying that the ppl that have switched from iPhones to Galaxy Notes they all say they love EVERY aspect of the phone, the speed , screen, size, the OS(ICS), every single aspect of the phone which you cant compare to a Galaxy 1 even though it has a bigger screen then the iPhone.

  3. societyofosiris

    08/14/2012 at 4:08 am

    There are 2 solid reasons that Galaxy Note 2 will have to ship with ICS 4.0 and that’s the very heart of what has made this device so popular… the S Pen and S Note. ICS 4.0 ships with the S Memo and has the S Pen down to a science. It will take several months of software adaptation for 4.1 to work effectively and efficiently with S Pen while improving upon the Photoshop app-killer.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.