How likely is Android 8 really?

[bloblo]

Has there been any word on the progress of Android 8, or Android P actually since that one is around the corner? I haven't ordered a Gemini yet and it worries me a little it's still stuck on Android 7, and all I've found on the internet is "well we would like to see Android 8 but have no estimate" - that seems worrisome for a completely new phone of this price range. I hope putting all those resources into Linux, the partitioner and other niche experiments won't distract the company too much from keeping Android up-to-date??

[Kishe]

Has there been any word on the progress of Android 8, or Android P actually since that one is around the corner? I haven't ordered a Gemini yet and it worries me a little it's still stuck on Android 7, and all I've found on the internet is "well we would like to see Android 8 but have no estimate" - that seems worrisome for a completely new phone of this price range. I hope putting all those resources into Linux, the partitioner and other niche experiments won't distract the company too much from keeping Android up-to-date??

it has little to do with planet computers and more to do with mediatech not making drivers for 8 or 9

[bloblo]

Well, planet computers did pick the chipset, and this sounds exactly like the situation with Fairfone (who also picked Mediatek for the Fairfone 1). Why should people buy a device for this price if the chipset is already end of life at the time of release? Surely, this is something that could have been cleared with Mediatek in advance and isn't some sort of unanticipated, sudden surprise?

[Eldkatten]

Hello,

(...) it worries me a little it's still stuck on Android 7(...)

Well, if you're so keen about not only running after the "latest" stuff, but even after "coming" stuff, why don't you switch to iOS and chase the allways latest-bestest-modernest IPhone?

Sorry for the sarcasm, but I really don't understand those "worries". Why is this a problem for you? In my opinion this is complaining on a high level. Do you actually know what to do with the latest and coming stuff?

I have tablets running Android 4.4, and until a few months ago I even ran a Smartphone with Android 2.1. The tablets I am still using on a daily basis, and they work perfectly.
Ask yourself what you actually want to do and what tasks you are going to use the device for. If it fits your needs, fine, if not, you have to move on. But actually, I'm afraid that if you decide that Android 7 (for instance) isn't good enough for you, I see you running after something not existing but assumingly "perfect" for ever. So again, what do you expect Android 8 to do for you that Android 7 can't?

And finally I'd like to point out that many Gemini users (and fans) are people who until recently were still using a Psion 5 (mx) or even a Psion 3a with great success, and those are gadgets from the 90s and 2000s ;-)

Kind regards

[Jeffers]

To be fair to the OP, you have the issue of security with outdated Android installs. That's the main reason why I'd want to see Android 8 on Gemini. It's not about the features, it's about the security.

[bloblo]

Well, if you're so keen about not only running after the "latest" stuff

Sue me for wanting a 700 bucks device to be up-to-date and secure at least for the first 1-2 years. (and no, I don't care about the latest features. but history has shown that outdated major Android versions will accelerate the ending of any sort of timely security patches greatly.) Also, isn't Android 8 the version that introduces Project Treble / modular drivers? That makes it an even more significant upgrade, since Android 8 could open the door to potentially a quite lengthy, decade long upgrade path if Planet Computer properly figures out a modularized build. So being stuck just one major version before that is making a major difference for the longterm outlook.

This forum post by the way seems to suggest mediatek isn't even planning to do any android 8 x27 chipset port: http://community.umidigi.com/thread-12561-34-1.html I'm really not impatient for an Android 8 upgrade, instead I'm simply worried it is unlikely to happen at all. And so far, planet computer hasn't said anything other than "we really want it to happen" which doesn't exactly inspire confidence...

[Jeffers]

Sue me for wanting a 700 bucks device to be up-to-date and secure at least for the first 1-2 years.

Hear hear! But, alas, this is how the mobile industry is right now, disposable everything! Even my 8 year old thinkpad running debian will likely be more secure than my gemini in a few year's time!

[TheWalt]

Gemini is the third or fourth kickstarter / indegogo project I've backed.  Every one seems to end up abandon-ware after initial release.  I had hoped Planet would be different, but I have finally learned my lesson.  Shame too because I think this is by far the best hardware device in similar category.

[bloblo]

I had hoped Planet would be different

I wonder if there are any official folks in this forum? If yes, can we maybe get more details than "we're looking into it"? Anything, really anything would be nice, e.g. "we're waiting for Mediatek to figure out their schedule" or whatever, really. More than just hollow words that you're supposedly trying to make it happen...

[graynada]

To be fair to the OP, you have the issue of security with outdated Android installs. That's the main reason why I'd want to see Android 8 on Gemini. It's not about the features, it's about the security.

We have to remember that security for older versions (to a limit) is maintained buy updates to system apps not just by updating the next version. Many very high end phones are still in 7 and may not make it to 8 at all but Google know this and it is not in there interest to let a security flaw go unpatched on a version that is probably serving over 50% of the devices out there. 8 will be on a tiny proportion of devices at the moment (my WileyFox got it this week and they are usually early adopters compared to others) and if we get it we get it. We knew we were buying 7, 8 would be a bonus. My hope would be for a solid Lineage option as this would enable us to an option to keep up to the latest version if we choose to.

[bloblo]

Many very high end phones are still in 7 and may not make it to 8 at all but Google know this

Of course they do, for now. But Android 7 updates will definitely end considerably earlier than, e.g., Android 9. So being stuck on that older version from the start has a definite and direct impact on how long the device will be usable, if you care about any sort of basic security. It is also really unusual for a device at this price point - at least flagship Android devices usually get a decent start at up-to-date Android versions and because of that, a longer life than the average super cheap budget phone. That's why this sucks, because the Gemini is in a price range where one would expect different support

My hope would be for a solid Lineage option as this would enable us to an option to keep up to the latest version if we choose to.

This is extremely unlikely if Planet Computers can't make it happen. Why? Because Mediatek is the most likely culprit - and their stupidly closed-source device drivers. Android 8 has a completely different (and way better, much more easily upgradeable) driver model with Project Treble, so unless Mediatek can be convinced to provide those, neither Planet Computers nor LineageOS will be able to do anything about Android 8+. That is also why Planet Computers not speaking up clearly about this kind of sucks, because it would be really, really interesting to hear what Mediatek told them. Because other internet sources indicate Mediatek is not planning to support Android 8+ for the x27 chipset...

[Notime2d8]

I feel like Mediatek is taking the x27 as EOL. It came out around 2015/16 which is old in hardware life these days. And it has received two software updates from Android M to N. Or they could be having a hard time converting to the new Oreo Treble requirements. But there are at least two groups working on other MT6797 devices and getting Oreo and Treble working. I'm holding off on buying a Gemini until either Mediatek releases something - drivers or Oreo SDK, or if someone gets an Oreo Treble port running decent. But i think even with a port, the modem and graphics will never work right.

Fingers crossed that the Gemini PDA 2 has a Qualcomm SOC.

[Grench]

Has there been any word on the progress of Android 8, or Android P actually since that one is around the corner? I haven't ordered a Gemini yet and it worries me a little it's still stuck on Android 7, and all I've found on the internet is "well we would like to see Android 8 but have no estimate" - that seems worrisome for a completely new phone of this price range. I hope putting all those resources into Linux, the partitioner and other niche experiments won't distract the company too much from keeping Android up-to-date??

If Jolla gets Sailfish 3 working right on the Gemini with Android app support, then Android 8 becomes far less relevant.
https://blog.jolla.com/gemini/
According to that their plan is to have Sailfish 3 up for sale for the Gemini by the end of the year.

[Dixit]

I ordered the Gemini in February 2018 (with my birthday money).
A few days later my wife purchased a mid class Huawei. Of course she got it right in her hands - one-day delivery at Coolblue.

The Huawei

- runs Android 8
- was ordered in February and received in February
- is EUR 350 cheaper and came with its accessories (I am STILL waiting on the ones for the Gemini)

So she finds the whole project rather laughable.

Whilst I read the above story, I think she is right.

[rubus-3.142]

To be fair to the OP, you have the issue of security with outdated Android installs. That's the main reason why I'd want to see Android 8 on Gemini. It's not about the features, it's about the security.

I am no expert on this but in my experience there is a difference between "new release" and "security" - My Samsung phone  was originally Android 5.  After a few months It got Android 6 over the air (with a constant nagging to upgrade to A6).   - I continue to get updates to A6,  these have no new functionality so  I assume bug fixes and  security patches,  few months even though there is no push to Android 7 - presumably because the phone hardware can not support it?    My husband has same phone purchased about 6 months after mine - it came with A6 when new and gets updates.

I am not really bothered about Android 8 - to me the real question is how long there will be security updates to A7 (if at all!)  - There are perhaps two factors influincing it

1 - How long Google provide them
2 - How long Planet are prepared to "implement" and "push" them?

Other views particularly from Planet welcome