You will should get Android 7.zero for the Nexus 5 from XDA. Let’s attempt to determine why.
Many people are unhappy that the Nexus 5 is not getting any official replace to Android 7.0. Particularly once we watched and noticed Google proceed to construct gadget timber within the code for Hammerhead — meaning somebody, someplace, was engaged on it. And when Sony introduced which telephones have been going to obtain an replace to Android 7.zero, many observed that the Xperia Z3 wasn’t on the record. Whereas the concept telephones from 2014 not getting up to date late in 2016 is not notably shocking, the truth that the Z3 was a part of Sony’s Android Idea Initiative — a flowery identify for an Android 7.zero Beta program — however did not make the minimize and that Google was engaged on Nougat for the Nexus 5 then simply out of the blue stopped was.
The state of affairs has the web asking the apparent query — why? The reply is that the Z3 and Nexus 5 truly cannot formally run Android 7.zero, despite the fact that might as a beta. Learn on. It should all make sense.
Android platform updates aren’t as important to consumers as we make them out to be. Right here at Android Central we get enthusiastic about something new and glossy, we inform you as quickly as we will (typically after you already know as a result of leaks occur) after which all of us get excited collectively. The truth is that Google Play Providers and month-to-month patches will allow you to do every part you do in your telephone for a very long time, and by the point a must have app comes out that requires the subsequent model of Android you will in all probability have a brand new telephone or the replace.
We will nonetheless need it, however that is simply how issues go till somebody Google steps ahead and modifications it. Then you definitely’ll hear speak about Google’s iron fist and EU complaints and God is aware of what else. The established order sucks, however it nonetheless is the established order.
Android 7.zero has no official help for the Snapdragon 800.
For the Android 7.zero replace, particularly, we have to look no additional than the necessities and the hardware of the Xperia Z3 or Nexus 5 (and loads of different telephones) for a possible reply about why sure telephones aren’t capable of be up to date. We will not affirm this utilizing official statements or paperwork or a flowery slide, however we’re positive sufficient to speak about it and why it labored out the best way it did.
Android 7.zero in AOSP has eliminated help for the MSM8974 chipset. The Snapdragon 800 SoC makes use of this chip together with the Adreno 330 GPU. This implies telephones (and tablets — good day, Nexus 7) utilizing the Snapdragon 800 aren’t supported. However this does not clarify why the Z3 was capable of run the beta, and run it nicely. For that, Google Play compatibility comes into the image.
No one from any of the businesses concerned is speaking about these points, and requests for an official assertion have not been returned, however the web has some clues about all of it. Right here we see Ola Olsson, of Sony Cellular Communications, talk a bit about it in a comment on Google+.
Yeah, that is unhappy however we do not need to play the blame recreation which signifies that we will not say extra concerning the technical limitations. Even when we actually needed to offer you N on the z3(c), we would not [have] been capable of do it. Not if we needed to move the Google CTS.
You will discover comparable responses elsewhere, and that is Sony not throwing anybody underneath the bus and dealing with issues in knowledgeable, company approach. The essential factor there’s the point out of Google CTS.
Google CTS is the Compatibility Testing Suite used to ensure a tool might be licensed to make use of Google Play. Android is a free software platform that anybody can take and use in any method it likes, however Google Play isn’t. It is a true for-profit business enterprise and Google has full and full management over the whole lot related to it.
The precise guidelines and necessities wanted for Android 7.zero CTS compliance are a little bit of a thriller — both companions cannot speak about it or do not need to speak about it — however we all know the gist of it. Your product has to have the ability to run any app focused in your platform model. Meaning in case you’re utilizing Android 7.zero, it is advisable help any app designed for Android Nougat. You possibly can check out the Android 6.0.1 CTS documentation when you’re curious. The Android 7.zero CTS documentation ought to stay in the identical place as soon as it has been up to date.
In the course of the beta testing for Android N — simply after the discharge of model 4 — builders have been informed that Android N APIs have been finalized they usually might start targeting apps for them in Google Play. One of many issues Android N does for builders is allow them to use the Vulkan and OpenGL ES three.1 APIs with each the SDK and the NDK. For that, although, you want hardware help. The Snapdragon 800 doesn’t supply hardware help for both, and apps not designed to fall again to an older model of OpenGL wouldn’t run.
Now, as talked about, we do not have entry to the newest Android CTS paperwork. For Android 6.zero.1, it stated that hardware needed to help OpenGL ES 1.zero, 2.zero and three.zero or three.1. I have been informed that was amended to say “help OpenGL ES 1.zero, 2.zero, three.zero and both three.1 or Vulkan,” however Google has stated nothing formally. However this definitely explains why help for the Snapdragon 800 was eliminated and telephones just like the Nexus 5 and the Z3 aren’t going to see an official replace, and I am assured that that is the rationale.
Android is open, however Google Play just isn’t; there are guidelines concerned.
This can be a lengthy, convoluted and complicated topic — very similar to Android updates usually. In the long run, we all know two issues: the Sony Xperia Z3 won’t be up to date to Android 7.zero as a result of it will not move the CTS for technical causes, and the Snapdragon 800 SoC doesn’t supply OpenGL ES three.1 help. The truth that no telephone utilizing the Snapdragon 800 or 801 (the 801 additionally makes use of the Adreno 330 GPU) has been introduced as getting an replace is a bit telling, too.
Let’s be trustworthy — this sucks. As lovers, we need to get an replace even when it does not change something. The sensible view that platform updates aren’t as essential as we make them out to be is ok, and I do assume it is true, however that does not fulfill the inside geek. However it’s additionally inevitable. Android has to advance and help new (and higher) applied sciences like Vulkan. When these require hardware help, there needs to be a cutoff. Perhaps this time, the cutoff might have been prevented — the Common Cellular 4G, an Android One system that makes use of the Snapdragon 410 and is in each means weaker on the hardware entrance than any telephone operating the Snapdragon 800 — already has Android Nougat and this throws an enormous wrench into even probably the most believable concept.
Is Google breaking its personal guidelines right here in regard to the CTS? Or is every little thing we’ve got heard and assume we all know all bullshit and it actually is a few sinister plot to make us indignant? (I am pretty sure Google is breaking its personal guidelines as a result of it could possibly, however I am simply as sure that every part is bullshit, so I nonetheless do not know.)
The underside line is that if in case you have a telephone just like the Xperia Z3, or the Nexus 5 or the Galaxy S5 and actually need Android 7.zero Nougat, you will in all probability need to get it from the fantastic group constructing customized software program for the telephones on XDA.