AT&T planning for a post-8107 OS update for current Windows Phones

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AT&T caught a lot of flak over the weekend regarding their semi-public declaration to non support the 8107 Bone update for their current Windows Telephone lineup. That update, as many of y'all know, is critical for security fixes equally much as for fixing the famed disappearing keyboard problems.

We simply spoke with AT&T on the situation and we can confirm and analyze a few things on the record. First, it is true that they have passed on 8107 or what they referred to as "Windows Phone Mango Commercial Refresh ane" or but CR1. They've likewise passed on CR2, which is what the Lumia 900 and Titan Two are running (that's build 8112). That update brings LTE and Visual Voicemail support for AT&T with the get-go aspect manifestly being pointless for electric current Mango phones.

So that's the bad news.

The skilful news is they have non close the door on OS updates for their current lineup including the Samsung Focus South, Focus Flash and HTC Titan. Stacey Harth, a spokeswoman for AT&T, told us this morning time "AT&T plans for a Windows Phone update that will contain the improvements in the 8107 update and more" with no commitment to a time-frame.

And so what does that hateful exactly? It ways "Tango", which goes by the alternate name CR3, is something that they are looking to evaluate for an Os update. While they did non want give whatever time-frames they are definitely committed to updating those devices with a post-8107 OS update from Microsoft. "Tango" (or a build mail service-Tango) is certainly the near viable candidate for such an update.

Of course what yous want to know is why are they passing on 8107? It's a chip complicated and you don't have to concord with their position only they do have a rationale (and it'southward not to get y'all to buy a new phone). In brusque, each update comes with a respective OEM firmware update which also fixes hardware bugs and/or optimizes the software (these are ofttimes at the request of AT&T). Those updates need to be scheduled with the "bits" from Microsoft and it does accept a fleck of coordination to get that to happen. Moreover, while 8107 does prepare a pretty annoying problems, the updates in CR3 (aka "Tango") brings that prepare and even more . For example, AT&T very much likes the idea of multiple-photos in MMS, voice notes, etc. that Tango brings to the table.

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And that's the crux of the thing: AT&T is admittedly bourgeois on Os updates and would adopt to not certify every single one that Microsoft releases for evaluation. Instead, they prefer the method where you can pack numerous bug fixes and new features into a single, bigger update. It'due south similar to the "do I buy this telephone now or look iii months for a better i?" scenario that many of you confront when you follow technology. For AT&T, the question is do nosotros push this update or do we wait for that even amend ane just a few weeks away?

That does heighten a larger, ongoing issue, which is why can't Microsoft just push button out mini-issues fixes to the Os without interference by AT&T, particularly if it does not touch on the radio firmware? It's certainly a very valid signal and the reason seems to be a philharmonic of "this is how carriers operate" and Microsoft has not made "patching" as easy (or perhaps they've merely conceded too much power to the carriers).

Regardless, the take abroad point is that AT&T is planning to update your phones and that update volition be a larger, post-8107 update which volition include that keyboard fix and even more than features. We tin can disagree on what makes an update imperative and yes, nosotros consider the keyboard fix to fall into that, only that is the current situation.

In the end, it may not be the answer y'all want to hear just we think it is a lot more palatable than the perception left from this weekend.

The AT&T version of Surface Duo is now getting Android 11

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The AT&T version of Surface Duo is at present getting Android eleven

Afterwards a very long expect, the original Surface Duo is at present eligible to receive its over-the-air Bone update to Android eleven. Here is what is new and fixed with the biggest update yet for Microsoft'southward commencement dual-screen Android device.