Google Launches LongevityGRF Program, Pushing for 7 Years of Android Updates, But Hardware Support Issues Remain
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Google Launches LongevityGRF Program, Pushing for 7 Years of Android Updates, But Hardware Support Issues RemainIT Home, October 24th - According to tech media AndroidAuthority, Google has recently launched a program called LongevityGRF, aiming to simplify the process for chip manufacturers to provide 7 years of Android updates for their platforms.Google introduced the GoogleRequirementsFreeze (GFR) program in 2020, designed to help smartphone chip manufacturers like Qualcomm and MediaTek provide 3 years of Android version updates
Google Launches LongevityGRF Program, Pushing for 7 Years of Android Updates, But Hardware Support Issues Remain
IT Home, October 24th - According to tech media AndroidAuthority, Google has recently launched a program called LongevityGRF, aiming to simplify the process for chip manufacturers to provide 7 years of Android updates for their platforms.
Google introduced the GoogleRequirementsFreeze (GFR) program in 2020, designed to help smartphone chip manufacturers like Qualcomm and MediaTek provide 3 years of Android version updates. The LongevityGRF program expands upon the GFR initiative, extending Android version update support to 7 years. The first chipset participating in this program is Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, meaning future phones utilizing this chipset will be eligible for up to 7 years of Android updates.
LongevityGRF also presents two requirements for OEM manufacturers:
- Linux Kernel Upgrade: After 3 years, OEMs are obligated to upgrade their Linux kernel version. This upgrade must be a major version update, not just a maintenance update. Failure to comply will result in a lack of Google certification.
- Release Restrictions: The program also restricts OEMs from releasing new phones with Android versions that are more than 4 releases ahead of their vendor software.
Google's mandate for OEMs to upgrade their Linux kernel versions stems from their current commitment to providing only 4 years of support for Linux kernels starting from version 6.6. If Google doesn't enforce this major kernel upgrade requirement, OEMs could potentially backport security patches themselves to ensure compliance with Android's security requirements. However, backporting patches could pose challenges, as not every patch included in a Linux kernel release is specifically marked as a security patch. This could lead to the omission of essential patches during backporting.
While the LongevityGRF program simplifies the process for OEMs and chip manufacturers to support 7 Android version updates, it further highlights the issue of functionality requiring hardware support.
For example, Android 12 introduced a 2G toggle, and Android 13 added a flashlight brightness API. Both functionalities require updated vendor software to be supported. Even if a device can upgrade to Android 12 or 13, if the vendor software remains on Android 11, these new hardware-dependent features will remain inaccessible.
This issue has already manifested under the GFR program, and it will become even more apparent with the expansion of LongevityGRF to 7 years. This means that even though a phone might receive 7 years of Android version updates, without corresponding vendor software updates, many new features will remain unusable.
From a user's perspective, the LongevityGRF program is undeniably positive. It signifies a longer lifespan for phones and ensures access to the latest security updates and feature additions. However, it is crucial to pay attention to the timeliness of vendor software updates to guarantee users truly benefit from the convenience and security provided by 7 years of Android updates.
Tag: Google Launches LongevityGRF Program Pushing for Years of Android
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