This is the end: HTC One S won’t get Android 4.2 update

Farewells are bittersweet. They often affirm the value of something we had and lost, or make us nostalgic for the brightness of its heyday.

I loved the HTC One S. I was probably more excited by its introduction than the flagship One X when both devices, along with the One V, were announced in February 2012. The lightweight aluminum construction, distinct design, blazing performance and affordable price combined to make a mid-range device that was in many ways more desirable and accessible than the One X.

Both the One S and One X share the same 1.5Ghz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor and 1GB of RAM. They both began their lives with the same Android 4.0.3 software running Sense 4.0. But, as flagship products tend to, the One X got more love from the Taiwanese manufacturer, while the middle child played second fiddle, receiving sporadic updates that finally petered out.

While the One S was updated to Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean beginning in February, the company has decided that it will not be updated to Android 4.2 like its One X counterpart.

We can confirm that the HTC One S will not receive further Android OS updates and will remain on the current version of Android and HTC Sense.  We realize this news will be met with disappointment by some, but our customers should feel confident that we have designed the HTC One S to be optimized with our amazing camera and audio experiences.

Yes, HTC, this will be met with disappointment. There is no reason whatsoever the One S should be cast aside while the One X should continue to thrive. This is the reason Android users feel disillusioned and begin tinkering with their devices. This is the reason so many people stick with the iPhone. This is the worst example of device alienation. You should be angry about this even if you don’t own a One S; abandoning a device barely a year after it comes to market is just bad business, plain and simple.

Then again, there’s always CyanogenMOD.

Source: MoDaCo