Samsung Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 owners were recently disappointed to find out that the much-awaited Android 4.2.2 update for their handsets was going to be delayed because of issues with the TouchWiz interface. So what exactly is this TouchWiz that's causing all the fuss?
TouchWiz is essentially the Android user interface that Samsung has tailored for its own devices.
"TouchWiz is our user interface. It is the easier way to use your device or tablet, giving you intuitive handling of everyday tasks or advanced ones. You can use and create shortcuts to the things you use the most - and control your device with touch and gesture," reads the Samsung UK webpage for TouchWiz.
It still runs on the stock Android code from Google, but all the nifty animations and lockscreen effects and tailored functions such the gesture controls found on the Galaxy S4 are Samsung's way of differentiating the experience on its devices versus others. The downsides of TouchWiz is that it can eat up a lot of RAM and memory, and it's a major reason why Samsung devices running it will always receive their Android version much later than devices running Google's stock Android.
SamMobile reported the delay in tweet, and while Samsung hasn't confirmed anything regarding an Android 4.2.2 update for the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2, SamMobile has a reliable track record in leaking firmware news. The new TouchWiz will include Galaxy S4 features, and could be overloading some variants in the older lineup.
Another possible cause for the delay, according to IBTimes, is that Samsung is delaying the rollout of Android 4.2.2 until November to push Galaxy S4 sales on consumers. If the Samsung Android 4.2.2 experience can't be had on older handsets for a while, some might opt to jump on the Galaxy S4, or at least that's what the report says.
Samsung has not commented on the matter.