[Kurtz79]

> and in a mobile device OS and application SW are tightly coupled I call bullshit. There's no reason Google can't update everything AOSP-y in /system - libc, libart, libwebkit etc.

That's not the point. Even if it were so, it's still responsibility of the manufacturer to integrate it in its own firmware and push the update with the carrier's approval.

You are comparing a laptop to a smartphone, which makes no sense, the smartphone has to connect to cellular network to be useful, and it's the carrier that establishes the rules for the update process.

I agree that it should work as you say for devices with no cellular connectivity, such as WiFi only tablets, where no other parties other than the OS and device manufacturers are involved.

[nradov]

No that's not how it works. Apple can push any iPhone firmware updates they want to without carrier approval.

[Kurtz79]

You are right in the case of Apple, but I don't think it is the normal process.

Although my experience in this matter is limited, this is was I was able to find:

https://www.quora.com/Why-is-it-that-Apple-can-push-out-upda...