Galaxy Nexus ban: update to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean may help avoid ban
Google’s third generation Galaxy Nexus smartphone has been banned in the US. But Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update may help it avoid ban
Google and Samsung are working to update firmware of the Galaxy Nexus handset to thwart the shipment ban on the device in the US. Google, which stopped showing the gadget on Google Play in response to the pre-trail injunction, is to update the device with the new Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Along with the update, the company will remove the four controversial features, which are alleged by Apple as infringing on its patents. After the update, Google and Samsung hope that they can sell the device with no legal barriers in the domestic market.
Google told All Things D that the company along with Samsung is set to patch the firmware of the Nexus handset. The move is set to avoid infringing the Apple patents that led to the injunction by the U.S District Court Judge Lucy Koh. As per the Mountain View firm, the patch is anticipated to be pushed out to the handset pretty soon.
Once the update is active, the much-touted Ice Cream Sandwich reference phone may not have the features of universal search, slide to unlock, word recommendations and auto correct during typing. These Android features are under question by Apple as infringement of its patents.
Galaxy Nexus; the latest victim
Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus is the latest victim of Apple Vs Samsung legal war. Before the Nexus, the U.S. court had a positive verdict on Apple’s appeal for a ban over one model of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab tablet. Apple has been frequently filing suits against the products of all its major Android rivals including Samsung, HTC and Motorola for a while. Recently, we have been witnessing intense legal war between Apple and Samsung. The Cupertino-based firm was even prepared to sue Samsung’s latest Galaxy S III for the same reason, because the ICS handset also comes with the same features.
But, an intervention from the part of court against the move seems to have blocked Apple from that litigation. As per some analysts, if Apple moved against the S III, the shipment ban would also have been applied on it as well. But fortunately for Samsung, it did not happen. Later on, the S III is now becoming one of the most-sought after Android handsets ever. Once iPhone 5 will come, the S III will certainly be the major threat for Apple on its way.
Galaxy Nexus ban impacts
There may be less impact on Samsung with the ban over the Nexus. The device has not been a much-wanted handset in the market for sometimes, and especially after the release of S III. But, for Google, for which the Nexus is a third generation handset of its Nexus handsets, the device has always been important. Google’s Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich was debuted on the handset, which is now known as an ICS reference handset, indeed. Intense efforts from the part of Google against the shipment ban of Nexus can be found from that angle.
Nexus update
It is indeed a rational step from the part of Google and Samsung to update the handset to avoid the ban. Soon after the ban over Nexus became effective, Google stopped selling the handset and moved it from Google Play. If you visit the Nexus page on Google Play now, you can read an apology from the company. “Sorry! Device on Google Play is not available in your country yet. We’re working to bring devices to more countries as quickly as possible. Please check back again soon,” says Google.
Of course, it means that the company is working to re-launch the handset in the U.S with the software update. Thus, the company hopes to sell Galaxy Nexus in the country without any interventions. The update will hit on all Nexus handsets in the country irrespective of carriers, Google claims.
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