Android phones updates

Android updates

Google is constantly working on new versions of the Android software. These releases are infrequent; at the moment they normally come out every six months or so, but Google is looking to slow this down to once a year.

Versions usually come with a numerical code and a codename that’s so far been named after desserts running in alphabetical order.

Android 1.5 Cupcake
Android 2.1 Eclair
Android 2.2 Froyo
Android 2.3 Gingerbread
Android 3.2 Honeycomb - The first OS design specifically for a tablet, launching on the Motorola Xoom
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich: The first OS to run on smartphones and tablet, ending the 2.X naming convention.
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean: Launched on the Google Nexus 7 tablet by Asus
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean: Arrived on the LG Nexus 4
Google also releases minor updates with bug fixes and improvements.

 Android updates always free.

Android updates are free. The updates bring a number of new features and changes to Android each time. Generally though, with each update the speed and overall performance of Android is improved upon.

Most of the high-end Android phones are scheduled to receive updates first. Most Android phones will have at least one update during their life cycle, with some having two. A life cycle is usually around a year, but depending on the phone can be longer.

How to update.

Android updates are normally received OTA (over the air), that is, sent directly to your Android phone without the need for a computer. Normally, once your Android phone or tablet is due to get an upgrade, you'll see a notification in the bar at the top of the screen. You'll then be prompted to connect to WiFi to avoid incurring extra data charges - updates can be quite big and downloading them over a mobile data connection isn’t advised.

Updates are generally one-stage processes and relatively straightforward, but in some cases you may need to back up/save any media (photos, movies, music) or apps you've downloaded before updating.

In some cases, such as with some of Sony’s and Samsung's older Android phones, you'll need to install the dedicated software supplied online by the manufacturer first.

Unlike iOS where all users get the update at the same time, regardless of device. Android updates are more fragmented, dependent on manufacturer and carrier - it can make for a frustrating experience, when some phones of the same model have the update when other phones haven’t.