Why do some Android updates say they come from the carrier while most don't?
https://i.postimg.cc/QtS59Fhm/update20210815.jpg

Last month's Android monthly update said it's from the carrier but normally
they just say that they're updating and don't say they're from the carrier.

What's different about this month's update?

Jerry <Jerry@JerryThinks.com> wrote:

> Why do some Android updates say they come from the carrier while most
> don't?
>https://i.postimg.cc/QtS59Fhm/update20210815.jpg

And your unidentified phone is ...? Did you buy a locked phone? Is it
a T-mobile branded phone? If a T-mobile phone and locked, you are
getting updates from your phone maker who happens to be your carrier.

My guess is your phone maker (well, the company that contracts for the
phones they sell) and your carrier are the same entity. Your phone
maker and carrier are locked together. Also a guess, the code fix(es)
were for T-Mobile's code in their customized version of Android.

> Last month's Android monthly update said it's from the carrier but
> normally they just say that they're updating and don't say they're
> from the carrier.
>
> What's different about this month's update?

All but Google phones (i.e., Pixels) have the Android customized. This
is how phone makers brand their phones. Some add their own features,
some change the config screens (so nav paths for settings vary by
maker), some enhance or throttle some standard features of Android, and
so on. Unless you get a phone by Google (or some Nokia and Motorola aka
Android One; see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_One), you don't
get a pure (or stock) Android OS.

https://www.androidauthority.com/best-smartphones-stock-android-844672/

Google cannot provide code fixes for custom code changed or added by the
phone maker. Whomever created the customized Android has that code, not
Google. Also, while Google continues to issue updates to Android, you
won't get them from your phone maker after they discontinue your model.

On Sat, 28 Aug 2021 15:22:39 -0500, VanguardLH wrote:
VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> asked
> And your unidentified phone is ...?

It's a typical Samsung A series phone.

> Did you buy a locked phone?

It's locked to the carrier.

> Is it a T-mobile branded phone?

Nope.

> If a T-mobile phone and locked, you are
> getting updates from your phone maker who happens to be your carrier.

Each month I get an update but this is the first update from T-Mobile.
The rest seemed to be out of nowhere - they didn't say T-Mobile on them.

> My guess is your phone maker (well, the company that contracts for the
> phones they sell) and your carrier are the same entity.

Samsung is the phone maker. T-Mobile is the carrier. Google has the OS.

> Your phone maker and carrier are locked together. Also a guess, the code fix(es)
> were for T-Mobile's code in their customized version of Android.

Maybe that's why this update was different from all the other monthly
updates. It's amazing how much they are updating Android phones lately.

> All but Google phones (i.e., Pixels) have the Android customized.

Samsung added that Knox junk. I haven't tried to remove it yet.
There's also a Samsung account but it doesn't have much in the store.

> This
> is how phone makers brand their phones. Some add their own features,
> some change the config screens (so nav paths for settings vary by
> maker), some enhance or throttle some standard features of Android, and
> so on.

I wish they would all just use stock Android.

> Unless you get a phone by Google (or some Nokia and Motorola aka
> Android One; see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_One), you don't
> get a pure (or stock) Android OS.
> https://www.androidauthority.com/best-smartphones-stock-android-844672/

I'm ok with as stock android as possible as I can add the apps I need.

> Google cannot provide code fixes for custom code changed or added by the
> phone maker. Whomever created the customized Android has that code, not
> Google. Also, while Google continues to issue updates to Android, you
> won't get them from your phone maker after they discontinue your model.

Maybe that's why this last monthly update was different from all the others.
This monthly update was obviously a T-mobile branded update.
All the rest of the monthly updates weren't as obviously branded as this.

They are pretty religious with all these monthly updates all the time now.

On Sat, 28 Aug 2021 08:44:54 -0700, Jerry wrote:
> Why do some Android updates say they come from the carrier while most don't?
> https://i.postimg.cc/QtS59Fhm/update20210815.jpg
>
> Last month's Android monthly update said it's from the carrier but normally
> they just say that they're updating and don't say they're from the carrier.
>
> What's different about this month's update?

Got another Android update just now (twice this month) from TMobile.
https://i.postimg.cc/9fvJMK06/update20210830.jpg

Is it Tmobile or Android or Samsung that is updating twice monthly?