Google ends support for Ice Cream Sandwich

tubemonkey · 12-07-2018, 09:52 AM

Ice Cream Sandwich rides into sunset as Google raises API levels

I still have working devices that use Android 4.4 KitKat. Google's latest offering is Android 9.0 Pie, released this past August.

Quote:

Google has confirmed that it’s ending support for Play Store Services on Ice Cream Sandwich.

The change means app developers need to target Android 4.1 as the oldest supported version of Android.

Consumers will be unable to see or download an app that solely targets Android 4.1 and up.

Quote:

Ice Cream Sandwich was one of the most important Android updates in the platform’s history, but it’s long past its sell-by date. Now, Google has confirmed that it is discontinuing Play Services updates for API levels 14 and 15 (corresponding with Ice Cream Sandwich).

The company noted that Ice Cream Sandwich was released seven years ago, and now accounts for less than one percent of all active Android devices.

“Consequently, we are deprecating support for ICS in future releases of Google Play services. For devices running ICS, the Google Play Store will no longer update Play Services APK beyond version 14.7.99,” the company wrote on its developer blog.

leebase · 12-07-2018, 06:58 PM

1% of 2 billion is 2 million. It's one thing to not update software...but in the age of everything being tied to the cloud...you are basically bricking those 2 million devices.

tubemonkey · 12-07-2018, 08:05 PM

Hardware tends to outlive software and it's a crime to send functioning devices to a landfill for want of a software upgrade.

But hey, we live in a disposable society and this is the price we pay.

Pizza_Cant_Read · 12-08-2018, 02:00 AM

So the store won't work for them... but these users were abandoned by the manufacturers who sold them the devices and the newest apps are not likely to be compatible anyway.

I wish I still had that Sprint Samsung S2! Its good to know it would be a piece of junk by now, even if I hadn't lost it

AnemicOak · 12-08-2018, 02:14 AM

Glad I installed Nougat on my old Nook HD+, should extend its life a few more years. It's like a new tablet with that OS when compared to the 4.0.3 it came with.

theducks · 12-09-2018, 12:58 PM

Really annoying when all some devices need is a new battery to keep performing the tasks you originally got them for. (I guess they assume you want the latest wiz-bang app)
And this ripples down. I have a GPS with LIFETIME UPDATES that you updated via computer app. The problem was , the App started popping messages that XP was no longer supported. When I finally replaced the computer, I found out that LIFETIME expired if I did not update within 'N' months (and this became a double

, because I just had replaced the battery)

I understand not adding features, but locking out usage.

leebase · 12-09-2018, 04:42 PM

And don’t assume these are old devices. New Android devices are sold with old versions of Android all the time.

Apparition B5 · 12-11-2018, 10:02 AM

4.0 is seven years old. That's a long run. Honestly, Google should be ending support for all of 4.x at this point.

HarryT · 12-11-2018, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leebase

1% of 2 billion is 2 million. It's one thing to not update software...but in the age of everything being tied to the cloud...you are basically bricking those 2 million devices.

Does it not simply mean that there'll be no more Google Store updates for these devices, rather than that the Store will stop working? The announcement says "For devices running ICS, the Google Play Store will no longer update Play Services APK beyond version 14.7.99". I read that as "no more updates", not "it'll stop working".

DiapDealer · 12-11-2018, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Does it not simply mean that there'll be no more Google Store updates for these devices, rather than that the Store will stop working?

That's exactly what it means. What's more; the store will still function and apps that aren't specifically targeted for devices with Android versions newer than ICS can still be purchased, downloaded and updated. They may not be able to utilize the newest apps on Google Play, but that was already the case. The devices will still work--cloud and all. Not much will change for quite some time.

There may come a day when the Google Play services versions that ICS devices are stuck on won't be sufficient to communicate with the Play Store, BUT IT IS NOT THIS DAY!

HarryT · 12-11-2018, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

That's exactly what it means. What's more; the store will still function and apps that aren't specifically targeted for devices with Android versions newer than ICS can still be purchased, downloaded and updated. They may not be able to utilize the newest apps on Google Play, but that was already the case. The devices will still work--cloud and all. Not much will change for quite some time.

Thank you. That's the way that I interpreted it!

John F · 12-11-2018, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leebase

1% of 2 billion is 2 million. It's one thing to not update software...but in the age of everything being tied to the cloud...you are basically bricking those 2 million devices.

Isn't it 20 million? 10% would be 200 million, 1% would be 20 million.

HarryT · 12-11-2018, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John F

Isn't it 20 million? 10% would be 200 million, 1% would be 20 million.

Whatever the number (and yes, 1% of 2 billion is indeed 20 million), the worry is ungrounded. The devices will not stop working.

John F · 12-11-2018, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Whatever the number (and yes, 1% of 2 billion is indeed 20 million), the worry is ungrounded. The devices will not stop working.

A little slow on catching the mistake there HarryT. Now I don't feel so stupid about not knowing how to pronounce Maori.

AnotherCat · 12-11-2018, 07:59 PM

Until recently we had an Android 4.0x tablet here that was just being used by a user for emails, and that was about all it was good for as long as one was careful what email client one used (K9 was ok).

There were already many apps in the store that did not support it, so I am not sure that a lot will change from the user point of view, and often those that did were pretty underpowered or beyond sensible use on the tablet.

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12-07-2018, 06:58 PM	#2
leebase Karma Kameleon Posts: 2,934 Karma: 26616647 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: iPad Mini, iPhone X, Kindle Fire Tab HD 8, Walmart Onn	1% of 2 billion is 2 million. It's one thing to not update software...but in the age of everything being tied to the cloud...you are basically bricking those 2 million devices.

12-07-2018, 08:05 PM	#3
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,477 Karma: 158151390 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	Hardware tends to outlive software and it's a crime to send functioning devices to a landfill for want of a software upgrade. But hey, we live in a disposable society and this is the price we pay.

12-08-2018, 02:00 AM	#4
Pizza_Cant_Read Sentient Sauce Posts: 460 Karma: 2519794 Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: China Device: 9th Gen Oasis	So the store won't work for them... but these users were abandoned by the manufacturers who sold them the devices and the newest apps are not likely to be compatible anyway. I wish I still had that Sprint Samsung S2! Its good to know it would be a piece of junk by now, even if I hadn't lost it

12-08-2018, 02:14 AM	#5
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	Glad I installed Nougat on my old Nook HD+, should extend its life a few more years. It's like a new tablet with that OS when compared to the 4.0.3 it came with.

12-09-2018, 12:58 PM	#6
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,809 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Really annoying when all some devices need is a new battery to keep performing the tasks you originally got them for. (I guess they assume you want the latest wiz-bang app) And this ripples down. I have a GPS with LIFETIME UPDATES that you updated via computer app. The problem was , the App started popping messages that XP was no longer supported. When I finally replaced the computer, I found out that LIFETIME expired if I did not update within 'N' months (and this became a double , because I just had replaced the battery) I understand not adding features, but locking out usage.

12-09-2018, 04:42 PM	#7
leebase Karma Kameleon Posts: 2,934 Karma: 26616647 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: iPad Mini, iPhone X, Kindle Fire Tab HD 8, Walmart Onn	And don’t assume these are old devices. New Android devices are sold with old versions of Android all the time.

12-11-2018, 10:02 AM	#8
Apparition B5 Zealot Posts: 108 Karma: 2245322 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Device: Kindle Oasis 3 and iPad Air 5	4.0 is seven years old. That's a long run. Honestly, Google should be ending support for all of 4.x at this point.

12-11-2018, 07:59 PM	#15
AnotherCat .... Posts: 1,547 Karma: 18068960 Join Date: May 2012 Device: ....	Until recently we had an Android 4.0x tablet here that was just being used by a user for emails, and that was about all it was good for as long as one was careful what email client one used (K9 was ok). There were already many apps in the store that did not support it, so I am not sure that a lot will change from the user point of view, and often those that did were pretty underpowered or beyond sensible use on the tablet.

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