There’s a lot of anger brewing among Samsung Galaxy i7500 owners, thanks to UK network O2 and maker Samsung both effectively “washing their hands” of the phone – and leaving users stuck on the 1.5 version of the Android OS.
Samsung said in a statement…
“Samsung HQ are currently not supporting a migration path to upgrade Galaxy to Android 2.0. Samsung UK continue to push for this but confidence on the change is low as Samsung HQ will be launching new devices on Android 2.0 in Q1″
…which has driven O2 users mad, effectively leaving them with 1.5 Android phones that are stuck in the past and no likely update solution to Android 1.6 or beyond. A German Galaxy group has even going so far as to start up a petition to get Samsung or Google or O2 or ANYONE to update the Galaxy’s Android build.
Here’s a picture of the Samsung Galaxy i7500 during happier times:
The Galaxy i7500 is still for sale on O2′s online shop, which is really a bit naughty of O2. Unaware buyers could find themselves stuck with an Android phone that’s soon to be obsolete – a fact that completely RUINS Google’s lofty dream of creating a global, unified operating system.
And could this happen to YOUR phone? Probably not if you’ve got an HTC Hero, but us UK Magic users are on shaky ground. Vodafone UK already appears to be passing the buck to Google when it comes to future firmware updates for the “With Google” UK Magic, claiming the phone will be updated if and when Google can spare the manpower.
Motorola’s latest flagship dual-core Android monster is a massive, original powerhouse, that’s a big improvement on previous MOTOBLUR mobiles – but still isn’t a total winner.
A slim and glamorous phone from Sony Ericsson, with the sharpest display around. It’s no powerhouse and the screen’s not the biggest out there, but we don’t mind. Because it’s cute.
LG’s first glasses-free 3D phone is a heavy, fat monster, with a clever 3D effect that works rather well. As a smartphone, though, it’s heavy and underwhelming.
A very shiny thing from Sony Ericsson, with a 3.7″ screen and Android 2.3.3 inside. But is it exciting enough to win fans in today’s spec-obsessed market? Can man live on one core alone?
INQ’s Android phone is an interesting “boutique” piece of hardware, packed with unique interface customisations that go far beyond the headline Facebook integration. We like it a lot.
Tom
/ January 1, 2010OK Samsung – exactly how many Galaxy owners will buy your next product and how many will recommend Samsung mobiles?
Ah yeah, erm nobody , nada, zip – you can live in hope that Morgan Computer is still going or maybe you can try fleabay- morons.
Tom
/ January 1, 2010How many Galaxies? – multiply each one by say, three lost sales? – priceless
EURODROID 00001
/ January 1, 2010You’ll like this one, Tom – now The Register is kicking the s**t out of Samsung and the poor old Galaxy – http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/12/30/galaxy_android_2/.
one
/ January 5, 2010I think that Samsung is fuc**** up with Galaxy owners….first they say it’s a great phone, long battery life, there will be a lot of updates etc.
and after 5 months??
battery life sucks(you can be happy with whole day working), and where the hell are updates??? you know Android 1.5 is not very useable anymore…we need at least 1.6….
Hope Samsung will do something on Galaxy i7500 too…because otherwise I don’t think any Galaxy user’ll trust Samsung promises again….
EURODROID 00001
/ January 5, 2010It is a disgrace. I love Samsung products, and it was only luck – and a general unawareness of Android at the time – that stopped me getting an i7500, as I believed the “hype” about it :(
I really hope Samsung does the right thing and gets a man on the case with an update, at least to v1.6.
roko
/ January 7, 2010Ok, I will will not buy Samsung, i will buy HTC
EURODROID 00001
/ January 7, 2010Don’t get the Tattoo. Hero or a cheap Magic all the way.
The people
/ January 9, 2010why do companies when they get to a certain status decide that it is alright to screw the people over…listen to this samsung, it’s the people who hold the power to make or break a business…
In todays world where mobile operators are dishing out minimum contracts of 18months or more i would have thought mobile manufacturers would understand that as technology advances at warp speed and your devices become obsolete after half a year…your customers need to be thrown a bone or two to keep us interested in your brand…or maybe you don’t see us as important?? Tell us, how did you get to where you are now…if it’s because “you gave us what we wanted/needed” then that isn’t apparent now..good luck for the future samsung and maybe when my samsung t.v needs replacing which is very soon, il purchase one from a company that gives a toss.
Samsunged
/ January 13, 2010Thought that Samsung was a quality house, but it isn’t living up to that label. Thought Android was the future and they would find the right way to bring early adopters along. Wrong again. I also thought Krispy Kreme was a good buy a few years ago but, uh — no. I did purchase the Galaxy and initially looked at the bright side, but at this point would consider tossing it.
I need to get a life or maybe just an iPhone.
EURODROID 00001
/ January 13, 2010Dump it on some poor soul who doesn’t know any better on eBay, then get a used HTC Magic or Hero. You ought to be able to break even on that.
Pissed customer
/ January 14, 2010Thanks to this kind of behaviour Samsung has already lost customers and sales; I was thinking about new TV and even if Samsung’s offer was good I decided to buy a 42″ Panasonic to the living room and next will be 32″ to the bedroom.
Guess these guys don’t know it takes years to build a reputation but it can be destroyed in one minute.
Well Samsung gave me a lesson I won’t never forget.
dude
/ January 28, 2010I was thinking in getting the Galaxy i7500 or the Spica, but now I will wait since I don’t want to be stuck with old versions of Android. I think in this respect HTC and Motorolla are more committed to Android than Samsung. Maybe I will get the HTC Hero or the Droid instead.
Hook
/ April 28, 2010Well..a few months futher and still no updates. Samsung did not hear their Galaxy customers at all. My current firmware and Android 1.5 is old and even very buggy. Daily the phone will simply shut itself down. While I think I am having a quiet day, the voicemail is getting fuller by the minute.
I have even got into contact with Samsung, but their answer was something like “go f..ck yourself, go buy another one of our products”.
For me this is the end of Samsung. I will never do business with them again and I have already sold my other Samsung stuff on eBay. The phone itself has been destroyed and replaced by a wonderful (great working) HTC.
I will never say anything good about Samsung anymore and I will even tell others not to buy any Samsung sh*t ever.
Koemi
/ May 26, 2010I have checked a lot of smartphones and the software inside and I thought that an Android based phone should be thé wannahave. Always updated and a great community with unlimited possibilties. I bought the i7500 Galaxy and I was very glad. What a beauty. Spent a lot of money, but this should be the smartphone everyone wants to have.
What the hell was I thinking of…? Why didn’t I take the HTC, or even… almost any other smartphone?
Without the possibility of updating, this one is absolutely no value for money.
Yes, you can call with it, but this is also possible with any crappy phone.
Yes, you can make movies and photo’s, but not with such a bad lens.
Yes, you can show videoclips, but if they are longer than 3 minutes, the battery is empty.
So, the only and final conclusion: never buy a Samsung i7500 Galaxy, because it is simply completely worthless!! Or do as I do: never buy any Samsung phone product anymore.
Dutch ‘Koemi’