It spewed from the creative belly of Samsung; the Galaxy S4 smartphone. They say that its got “cutting edge” hardware. They say that it “will have” the latest version: 4.2.2 of the Android OS. They are saying all kinds of interesting things, but frankly, I have a few complaints here.

Key Lime Pie – Android OS Upgrade Issue with the Galaxy S4:

They Key Lime Pie is a problem associated with the Android OS. Technically, ‘Key Lime Pie’ is a name for the upcoming Android OS version that is due in May 2013. Until then, the existing owners of the Samsung Galaxy S4 will have to make do with the old OS version. That’s a doozy, I say.

Holding the Samsung S4 Galaxy in My Hands – CNET Images

Naturally, with the latest cellphone, you deserve, or rather expect, latest accessories. Even if you have outdated accessories, at least you are expecting a nifty software upgrade because that’s basically what you paid them for. But how about this: You bought the Galaxy S4 Samsung smartphone but you have it running on the old operating system.

The thing is that officially, the S4 isn’t here. It will be released at the earliest in April 2013. At the time of its release, the S4 will have Android 4.2.2, as mentioned by Samsung Electronics. Another version of the OS is due after a few months’ gap. Until then, there is no evidence of further updates.

The issue for Samsung is that its best phone is supposed to have the latest and the greatest software. The fact that Google is moving at its own pace with respect to major upgrades, it kind of complicates the market strategy for Samsung.

Picture it this way. In April 2013, the Samsung Galaxy S4 will debut. At that time, there is no doubt that the smartphone will oversee a high demand percentile. Meanwhile it is obvious that the competitors will not be sitting ducks. Eventually, someone will release something by May 2013, hence resulting in a sudden low demand for Samsung’s flagship device.

At the moment, Samsung’s dilemma is underscoring a problem which other handset developers are sharing equally. All those products, all the tablets and anything that has to do with the Android OS upgrade, it will “suffer” a little.

Throughout its past, Samsung has maintained a history of keeping its phones up-to-date. However, users are going to start complaining. It will turn into constant bitching eventually. The slow rollout of software upgrades is not going to affect casual users. Tech nuts, on the other hand, and geeks who prefer to go to the smartphone software options,  just because they have a knack for latest versions will definitely have a hard pill to swallow.

Plus, there is going to be a lack of vendor control in this scenario – It will be glaring. Android updates are often times complicated by the relationships between a seller and a buyer. Then there’s the Google + Cellphone Career services relationship, which is yet another perspective. How so? If you must know, Google’s Android Key Lime OS will never be rolled out immediately.

It will happen in a multistep process. First, Google will release the OS; then the career will have it transported to its side. Later on, the career will release the OS upgrade via OTA strategy. Seeing to the number of career subscribers, the OS installation will take turns. Maybe you’ll get the OS update prompt at the start of May 2013, maybe you will get it at the end of May 2013.

Hail Tizen – The New Samsung OS:

Samsung is also running a project at its own place. It is called: “Tizen”, the new software which is currently under development. If it is released, which it will be at one point, Tizen OS will have a multitude of development options for new players.

As a matter of fact, just because Samsung is onto Tizen OS for its smartphones, Google perceives Samsung as a threat to its market. Android will have yet another competitors and Google will have to offer new software related features to Android users. Otherwise, Tizen will replace Android in days to come.

It is unbelievable and pretty dramatic at the moment. Let’s see how things will be “rolling” out in a few months from today.