Android 8.0 Oreo is Now Available on Devices That Enrolled in Beta

Android 8.0 Oreo is Now Available on Devices That Enrolled in Beta

The Android 8.0 Oreo rollout has begun: Those devices that were enrolled in the beta are now receiving the update to the final version over-the-air.

Google officially launched Android 8.0 Oreo, and unveiled its final branding, at a short virtual event on Monday. At that time, it specified a schedule for getting the release out to existing devices, starting immediately with Android Open Source Project (AOSP) devices.

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But those devices that were enrolled in the beta—Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel C, and Nexus Player—were slated for the next drop. And that happened “soon,” as Google promised: The first reports of the final build being delivered OTA happened that same day. And my own Pixel XL, which has been on the beta since the beginning, was offered the update yesterday.

(And unlike with previous updates, this one was very quick. I suspect there were very few changes from the last Developer Preview release.)

Google had also noted that it was working with its partners to deliver Android 8.0 Oreo to existing devices. Given the glacial (and often non-existent) rollout of new Android versions to existing devices, one might expect it to take up to a year or more to be complete. Not that it matters: With smartphone buyers replacing their devices every year or two, Android fragmentation has moved from a complete non-issue to being an urban legend at this point.

 

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  • MarkH

    Premium Member
    23 August, 2017 - 10:50 am

    <p>So could a person (with an unlocked Pixel XL on Verizon) join the Beta, get the final version, then unenroll and be back on the public release schedule like it never happened? Or would there be a device wipe in there somewhere or maybe things just don't work that way?</p><p><br></p><p>EDIT: I know that *normally* returning to the public release from beta will wipe your device, but during this brief window when the beta program IS the public release, I'm wondering if I could get away with it.</p>

    • MarkH

      Premium Member
      23 August, 2017 - 12:41 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#168182"><em>In reply to MarkH:</em></a></blockquote><p>Ok, so because I'm impatient, I tried it (remember, unlocked Pixel XL on Verizon)</p><p>1) Enrolled my device in the beta at android.com/beta</p><p>2) Immediately received OTA update for Oreo</p><p>3) Downloaded, installed, rebooted, waited for the "Finishing Update" notification to go away</p><p>4) Went back to android.com/beta and UNenrolled my device</p><p>5) No roll-back, no wipe, just simply remained on the final 8.0.0 release. Nice :-)</p>

  • MacLiam

    Premium Member
    23 August, 2017 - 12:01 pm

    <p>Haven't had the update offer on my 6P yet, but am hopeful for sometime today. The last beta release worked fine for me until three days ago when the Play Store broke with error DF-DFERH-01and stayed broken until about 10 minutes ago despite trying every fix-it workaround I could find for the last four years' worth of Android releases. If a bunch of apps that had been stuck in limbo could finally stage a break and get to my phone, maybe the new OS release will be able to do the same. I hope it brings the August security update with it.</p>

  • Mark Pfeifer

    Premium Member
    23 August, 2017 - 12:07 pm

    <p>Yes, you can enroll your Pixel for the beta, get the released version of Oreo, then immediately de-enroll your device. I did this yesterday.</p>

    • Michael Pate

      Premium Member
      23 August, 2017 - 12:45 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#168208"><em>In reply to Mark_Pfeifer:</em></a></blockquote><p>I did the same thing. The update was available within a couple of minutes and the whole process took less than half an hour.</p>

    • MikeFromMarkham

      23 August, 2017 - 2:26 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#168208"><em>In reply to Mark_Pfeifer:</em></a></blockquote><p>Did exactly this with my Nexus 6P last night. The update was available less than 15 seconds after enrolling for the beta. Took a while to download on my flaky wifi, but it installed quickly and smoothly at the end. This should work for any eligible device, just make sure that the version you downloaded is NOT a beta version but the final 8.0 Oreo release. That will ensure no device wiping/potential data loss when you unenroll. </p>

  • mortarm

    24 August, 2017 - 12:36 pm

    <p>I'm curious what kind of deal Google made with Nabisco.</p>

    • Jeff Jones

      24 August, 2017 - 4:21 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#168458"><em>In reply to mortarm:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>I was really hoping we'd see a special edition green colored Oreo cookie with an Android molded into it.</p>

  • Jeff Jones

    24 August, 2017 - 4:19 pm

    <p><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"With smartphone buyers replacing their devices every year or two, Android fragmentation has moved from a complete non-issue to being an urban legend at this point."</em></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">That's not really true because of brand new crap with Android 4.4 and 5.1 still being sold by Straight Talk, Tracfone, Consumer Cellular, etc.</span></p>

    • CmdrZod4R

      25 August, 2017 - 12:14 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#168535"><em>In reply to DataMeister:</em></a></blockquote><p>Are people forced to buy that stuff? Does it stop working after they buy it? I don't see what the problem there is – oh right, security of course. Well it is plausible that one day that all those poor users without updates lose a lot to insecurity – but when that happens we can discuss it. Until then I think people will buy what they feel is right for them – it's not anybody's fault if they buy a 4.4 device when plenty of 7.1 choices are available at Amazon for not too much.</p>

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