Youtube App by google making millions of devices not usable on there system

[techie]

I was kind of debating about this, or where to put it. It is a general google decision to make owners of millions devices not useable with the youtube app.

https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6098135?p=yt_devicesupport&hl=en&rd=1

Google in all of there great wisdom, kind of like the botched together Google+ has decided that it's not important to support any models of TV's, DVD players, and devices that were built before 2013. This is millions of devices with smart apps. I don't consider something a couple years old obsolete. This is going to leave many TV owners and other device owners with a bad taste in there mouth.

I really don't care much about youtube, but this is not a small group that google is stepping on. I guess the geniuses think everyone is going to buy new products and get rid of what they already own. The users will get frustrated, most will totally abandon youtube.
I wonder what genius at google thought it would be smart to disable millions of dollars worth of devices, which will eliminate all ad revenue fo to google. This also places all of the manufactures in a bad light because the owners feel abandoned.

I don't particularly care I'm not a fan of either youtube or google.

Here is just a Sony list:
http://esupport.sony.com/US/p/news-item.pl?news_id=487

Sony is the only company that has said there is a problem. Samsung, LG and others aren't even discussing it, probably typical we are hiding it for now.

[Corrine]

Typical, "I can do whatever I want" attitude from Google.  That is a heck of a lot of Sony devices that are impacted.  Are the other vendors waiting until after the fact and their customers start complaining or are they hoping it will spur more sales?

[techie]

Sony is the only company I know that has told there customers about the problem. They have even updated the app on the TV smart screen stating that after 4/20/15 it will no longer be supported, by youtube. I haven't seen any other companies make a statement or even post anything. This is going to affect other companies, Panasonic, Samsung, etc.

I would expect that Sony isn't going to rewrite the complete firmware, for these products, just for Youtube. The TV's should be capable of complete firmware update, but it isn't economical just for Youtube.

It's not a big deal, I could care less about Youtube. I surely wouldn't go buy another device or panic if I don't have it. I think it is just a stupid move on the part of Google. When I say millions of devices, how many just Sony TV's are out there, not including Blueray Players, etc. This is a international shutdown, not just a specific area. How much lost revenue will Google have? More than they think.

I didn't purchase my TV's because it was a smart tv. I purchased it because the price was right and the design features are much more appealing. My main tube is designed with X-reality Pro, Gorilla glass, Sharp Panel, 3D (Just happened to be a feature). I didn't buy it because of you tube.

[techie]

This is all about money, the older app doesn't generate ad revenue, like I said I have no intent of buying another device to make Google money. We all know that Google is showing it's true face since it's all about the stock holder an no longer about user experiences.

Google isn't even worried about security. This an example that people think there cellphone is secure, simply google doesn't care. The problem is many of devices are still be sold today, cellphones, tablets, and devices running these versions with no upgrade path.

http://www.extremetech.com/mobile/197346-google-throws-nearly-a-billion-android-users-under-the-bus-refuses-to-patch-os-vulnerability

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/bits/2015/01/13/google-jelly-bean-patches/1

http://www.computerworld.com/article/2867043/google-stops-patching-core-android-component-in-60-of-devices.html

Google isn't invincible, as history shows, companies can quickly fall from grace.

I can't find any other company that has intentionally left there users so vulnerable within a short period of less than a couple of years, with no intent of honoring there support or indication of any support cycle.

[techie]

I guess I have got off topic here, but the security issue of the google web view browser needs to be made much more public. Google if there not going to support it, needs to allow it to be uninstalled from the OS systems, since it is locked as a component of the operating system. If it's vulnerable than get rid of it completely google. The only way to get rid of it at this point is to bypass or hack the OS.

The quick fix is as stated here.

To protect themselves from security risks, the said users should install the Chrome of Firefox web browsers, as these are both regularly updated through Google Play.

"Using an updatable browser will protect you from currently known security issues, and since it can be updated in the future it will also protect you against any issues that might be found in the future," Ludwig continued. 

Read more: http://www.itpro.co.uk/android/23833/android-jellybean-users-told-to-ditch-webview-for-chrome-or-firefox#ixzz3X7bkZAIP

I would not recommend using the chrome browser, not impressed with it's security. Go with Firefox or Palemoon for android. Don't give anything back to google, they didn't for the users.

I guess you can see Google isn't being honest with it's users. Google is it's own worst enemy. Google doesn't care about people, just the dollar sign.

[Corrine]

It is one thing when talking about an OS such as Windows XP, originally released 25OCT2001 and supported with service packs until 14APR2014 but Google abandoning a two or three-year-old phone leaves no question in my mind that it is all about the bottom line. 

[techie]

Yes, the bottom line, last release Jelly Bean version 4.3, July 24, 2013 being sold daily on cellphones and laptops that aren't going to be given any update to a newer OS version like 4.4 Kitkat. I see that this is major issue, Google abandoning users, with this model people need to open their eyes and see that this isn't how people and users should be treated.

How can anyone in good faith be expected to trust such a company, and purchase anything that has to do with them, with absolute decisions being made for the company and not the millions of people using there so great Android OS or any other developed product by them? Anyone buying anything that has to do with Google, should really understand it's all about Google. Google is showing it's true colors. These decisions are for profit only, not user experiences. A company with no absolute direction is what Google is. A company that isn't forthcoming in dealing or telling there users what to expect. A company that just abandons projects without warning, leaving people vulnerable.

Do you think a salesman is going to tell someone there phone or tablet is vulnerable out of the box and isn't going to be fixed? I thought under good faith by law the consumer is supposed to be told before purchase and notified if a change such as this occurs, after purchase.