[Sprint HTC EVO 4G LTE] cabbieBot:
What I'd give for some transparency in this alleged carrier "testing". That gets them off the hook for everything apparently. I don't honestly believe it takes that long to deploy test units out to test the radio firmware to make sure it doesn't damage the cellular network (which is the only good reason), and everything to do with their internal inefficiencies born of low value added marketing crap from their bloatware. But thank GOD we have soundcloud infinity amirite? The more they try and cram into /system/app the slower everything gets because of the weakest link. Say contractually Tune In doesn't get paid till XX/15/12 but has a guarantee to be in the update...it doesn't matter that the update is ready to go on XX/01/12. Of course that's assuming there is the money to pay them and the easiest thing to do is not update it and avoid it so one directors quarterly numbers look better. Stupider things happen everyday, just being in the business world and seeing all the inane, brainless reasons why things go slow (if at all) in settings with low accountability, big egos, and unprofessional incompetents provides ample evidence, and guess who ultimately is the loser here? How many devices were left dead on the vine in pursuit of this crap?

I'm convinced that an expose into this "testing" would be very, very embarrassing for the carriers and I've quietly been waiting for one to hit the blogs. Just needs one great leak. It'd also be funny to see what lame excuses the king of carrier apologists (and anyone that is interested in BSing consumers), Phil Nickinson of Android Central, would string together to try and smooth it over. The single biggest platform issue is updates and a shock to the system is more than overdue at this point. I was never prouder than the week where we blitzed HTC from all angles and forced them to renege on locked bootloaders. We didn't get a perfect solution in htcdev but that killed the lie that we can never get acknowledged. Since then, though, things changed it seems. The FUD that exists among us, where we as hobbyists have been so thoroughly convinced by, amazingly enough, the outlets that are supposed to be looking out for us, that we are freaks and could never speak to the legitimate concerns of the ineffable, undefined "average consumer", has become scripture. And when we want better than what we have all been given, "average consumer" included, we eat our own by repeating that bull**** over and over amongst ourselves that we can only speak for us and we don't matter. The carriers and oems got a good thing going where their most loyal fans, interested consumers, and yes, discerning critics, dutifully silence themselves. Well played. We bought it, hook line and sinker.

I know we are talking about phone software updates, but in general, whenever something goes wrong and isn't the way it should be, in order to make sense of it...always ask yourself: whose interest does this serve? If that is not the end user, raise hell and don't ever let anyone make you feel sorry or different because of it, because you deserve better. We all do. Tell this to your buddies. Because Phil Nickinson sure as hell won't.