Rumours confirmed: No 4.2.2 for Samsung Galaxy Note 2!!

Rumours that started floating a few days about Samsung skipping android 4.2.2 update for Note 2 ago have been confirmed by Telstra. As per latest info by Australian carrier Telstra, "Samsung have elected globally to skip the 4.2.2 update for this device and will instead go to a newer version of Android. No schedule has been provided for this update." 

This news talks of a newer update but doesn't mention whether it is talking about 4.3 or 5 and the biggest deal-breaker is that there seems to be no schedule for update promised for this device.

Customers have been waiting for a long time for this 4.2.2. Delays kept creeping up and now this particular update has been skipped. This shows how serious Samsung is about older flagship devices. Note 3 has brought incredible sales figures for Samsung and is an example of this giant MNC trying to save its latest flagship (S4) by making its previous flagships less desirable.

The thing to note is that this piece of news does not come directly from Samsung (not ready to face the flak of customers). So this is not to be considered as official statement but carriers always seem to have first hand information.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Skips Android 4.2.2: Telstra

Source:
1. http://www.androidcentral.com/galaxy-note-2-skip-android-42-go-straight-newer-version-says-aussie-carrier
2.  http://www.gottabemobile.com/2013/07/18/samsung-galaxy-note-2-android-4-2-update-cancelled/
3. http://crowdsupport.telstra.com.au/t5/Device-Updates/Handset-updates-18-July/td-p/172420

Stability update DDDMG1 for India is out for Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Since today morning my note 2 showed that an update is available. It automatically got downloaded with an approximate size of 88 mb. 

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Update Available for download

This just is an stability update which got available few weeks ago in Europe. The update is N7100DDDMG1 dated July 1st 2013.

Some guys reported on xda forum that the RAM improved after the update (could have been  due to restart  after update also). 

There have been no major  changes appreciable visibly. 

Will take some time to judge the actual changes but battery life improvement is something I am looking forward to.

Samsung Note 2 Updated to 4.1.2 N7100DDDMG1

Updates appeared today for India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh.

SamKiesUpdates Twitter N7100XXDMG1

N7100XXDMG1

Base Firmware: N7100XXDMG1(4.1.2)

Modem: N7100DDDMG1

CSC: N7100ODDDMG1

Build Date: 01.07.2013 

Changlist: 1071214

Rumour mills working: Android 4.3 for Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and S3

Get ready to be Shocked!!! This rumour at Sam mobile says that Samsung may skip with Android 4.2.2 update for note 2 and S3. They ask us to take this with a pinch of salt but I think Samsung is going to do exactly the same.   Looking into the delay in the update to 4.2.2 (and no leaks for 4.2.2 for note 2) it is highly likely that Samsung will skip this update. Most of the people haven't even got the latest 4.1.2 stability update.

Sam mobile have quoted Temefy as their source for this rumour.

Sources also confirm that Samsung S4, S3 and Note 2 all will get updated to Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie but looking into the delays into 4.2.2 and if it does gets 4.3 directly S3 & Note 2 seem to be last in Samsung's priority list.

This translates into more delays for Note 2 in getting any updates and it seems likely that Note 2 users may have to wait till November.

Sources:
1. http://www.sammobile.com/2013/07/16/rumor-samsung-may-skip-android-4-2-2-on-galaxy-note-ii-galaxy-s-iii-for-android-4-3/

2. http://temefy.com/samsung-might-skip-4-2-2-update-for-galaxy-s3-and-note-2-plans-jelly-bean-4-3-instead-along-with-galaxy-s4

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.2.2 Update Release Dates Seem to be Out !!!!

It was earlier rumoured that Samsung would provide the 4.2.2 update for Note 2 in May or June 2013 but now we know that it will be happening in Q3 2013. This is how it always works out with updates, we as customers are always eager to have the updates and rumour mongers do the rest of the work.

But now it seems that we do have something substantial as far as the release dates for Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is considered. This recent article at gottabemobile.com says that "Australian carrier Telstra claims that the update’s submission slipped to July, a sign that Samsung is having problems with the software. The carrier expects a submission on July 8th and one round of testing before it’s ready to roll out. It expects to roll the software out at the beginning of August or right in the middle of the third quarter."

This is the closest we have till now as far as the 4.2.2 update for Note 2 is considered.Carriers are usually late in getting the updates than the international unlocked mobile phones as we have seen in the past. So, if Telstra is planning on for an update in August, we can assume that the international version of the device may get the update in July itself. 

Could Samsung be deliberately delaying the 4.2.2 update on Samsung Galaxy Note 2 GT N7100?

On 17 Jun a news item in Times of India caught my eyes saying that sales estimate of S4  has been cut down by 30%. Each Samsung flagship device has met with incredible enthusiasm in the market along with incredible sales. The sales of S4 seem to be good but this time it seems that Samsung is not going to meet its expectation. And what seems to be creating stiff competition for S4 are its own brothers the S3 and Note2. 

Yesterday I read a comment at xda forums about deliberate delay of updates and started thinking out about it and it did make sense. Though Samsung brings in some differentiation with each flagship device in terms of better hardware and some definite new features and better software (class leading hardware, lots of new features, new touchwiz interface and android 4.2.2 in this case) the gap between newer flagship device and older ones seem to be narrowing. With newer updates the differentiation gets narrower still. And the price difference seems to be growing (S4 at approx INR 40,000/-, S3 at approx INR 25,000/- and Note 2 at around INR 27,500/-. With such huge price difference factored in delaying the update would make sense to push the sales of its current flagship.

Though, overall sales make Samsung the market leader but as I said earlier the earlier flagships (S3 & note 2) may be denting S4 sales. Someone may argue that a deliberate delay may create losses and potential customers could move to other brands but Samsung holds the market leader position and S3 & Note 2 are still great phone at current price points.

Disclaimer: This article is just making a point for deliberation with no factual basis on whether Samsung is actually deliberately delaying the release of updates for S3 or Note 2.

Sources:
1. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-06-17/hardware/40027185_1_samsung-galaxy-s4-the-s4-smartphone-market
2. http://www.ubergizmo.com/2013/06/samsung-slashes-galaxy-s4-order-by-50-for-july/
3.http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=42693592&postcount=473

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Stability update XXDME6 (still 4.1.2): 4.2.2 release date still long away

Samsung has started offering a new update for Galaxy Note 2 GT - N7100, build version XXDME6 for its international version. Each update brings some happiness and excitement to the mobile phone users but it doesn't seem to be the case today. Despite all the hype about the latest 4.2.2 update being just around the corner, this update clearly shows that the 4.2.2 update is going to take its time. Though the reports were around that the 4.2.2 update was delayed till June end it seems that it will not certainly happen in June but Sam mobile has reported that it will happen sometime in Q3 2013. 4.2.2 seems to have been delayed as Samsung is taking more time for incorporating the new Touchwiz interface on the S4 and the new features on S4.

This update is available in Europe right now to be updated over the air (OTA) or through Kies update. As of now it is not available in India. XXDME6 is a 4.1.2 stability fix mostly fixing bugs relating to battery issues and other minor issues.

So don't expect much as of now from this update and keep your fingers crossed for the 4.2.2 update for S3 and of course Note 2.

Details of the update:

Model: GT-N7100

Country: United Kingdom
Version: Android 4.1.2
Changelist: 1071214
Build date: Fri, 31 May 2013 02:18:10 +0000
Product Code: BTUPDA: N7100XXDME6CSC: N7100OXXDME2MODEM: N7100XXDME4

Source:
1. http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/480525/20130619/galaxy-note2-gtn7100-android412-xxdme6-jellybean-update.htm
2. http://www.sammobile.com/2013/06/18/samsung-start-stability-update-galaxy-note-ii-still-android-4-1-2/