[Galaxy S II General] jpbl1976:
That's exactly what I mean. Here's the thing: I have 2 ROMs on my SGSII (not running simultaneously, of course, just backed up one on the other) -- an ICS one and a GB one.

As you say, the LPH kernel runs passably well -- except you can't overclock, you can't do a backup without flashing another kernel and a new CWM, etc. If you try a modded kernel, things go crazy -- SD apps don't work and so forth. The GB ROM, on the other hand works perfectly -- no need to switch kernels to do things, you can overclock. Basically, everything is copacetic. I also have an ICS theme running on it.

So the point is, what does the ICS ROM do that the GB ROM can't? Even visually, many GB ROMs can approximate the ICS experience. About the only thing I prefer on ICS is the contacts app.

I don't want to have the latest version of Android just to have it. I want it to work well -- to actually be better and to run with as few hitches as possible with room for tweaks without having to go through hoops. It's like a car; some newer models AREN'T better than older ones. In the case of these leaked ROMs, they're like the newer models that aren't better.

---------- Post added at 11:26 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:06 AM ----------

I agree but also think that maybe, given the experience with the S2 ICS implementation, which has been delayed, there's more to it than wanting to sell more Galaxy Nexi.

Consider this: the SGSII is generally regarded as one of the best Android phones ever (at the time it came out, some even said it was the best ever) and for the most part, it still is.

Samsung are aware that in a fast-changing smartphone environment, your reputation (and market share) can fluctuate with the release of not-quite-ready-for-it devices. A case in point is the HTC Sensation (and earlier than that Motorola between the release of the Droid and Droid 2); HTC had one of its worst years last year as a result of their loss of focus and the terrible Sense 3.0 implementation -- their CEO even admitted it. That's the reason HTC are really going for it with the One line of devices.

Now, if you're Samsung, do you want to release a device that ISN'T miles better than the Galaxy Nexus? Of course not -- you don't just want to release a device that's basically a Galaxy Nexus with an 8 or 12MP camera. You want to release a device that's just as miles apart as the SGSII was in comparison with the Nexus S (sorry, Nexus S friends :-)). They want wow factor and they want to make sure the software doesn't ruin the end-user experience.

That's no small thing: too many devices did that and look where that got the companies behind them -- the Sensation being only one example. Going back, Nokia did that with the N97, Moto disappointed with an "evolutionary" Droid 2 as opposed to their revolutionary Droid, BB disappointed with their last 4 year's worth of products, HP with the WebOS debacle -- even Apple sort of disappointed expectations with the 4S (which is why the New iPad is so important to them).

Right now, Sammy still has consumers happy with the SGSII and the Galaxy Nexus, even if it's a "Google Device" is also a plus for their portfolio. If nothing else, that buys them some time to tweak the SGSIII because, as we've seen, consumers and consumer pundits can be very fickle.

Also, you don't want to announce something that'll just get lost in the shuffle amidst Apple's announcement of the New iPad ;-).