Android Orphans: Visualizing a Sad History of Support

[gevorg]

Very nice infographics on Android support vs iOS support:

Full commentary by Michael DeGusta

 

[Red Storm]

It's a lot easier to update 2-3 handsets compared to ~20. Doubly so when you lock everything down to the point of not allowing you to change things like default apps (and don't support things like widgets and customized UIs...).

This is the trade off. I knew that going in and have had no regrets.

Also, is there a list that shows what new features the 3GS has received with each iOS update? Would love to know, I still have a friend who uses a 3GS and I know he's not up to date.

 

[Mopetar]

It's not really a problem for anyone on this forum. Most already run a custom ROM and anyone here is more than capable of figuring out how to install one if needed.

Most interesting is how this changes over time. Eventually Google will slow down their release cycle, reducing the problem. The question is whether or not this happens before the market becomes saturated. At that point, Google can't count on new growth driving the popularity of future Android versions. That's when things start to get complicated.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

How long do you expect companies to provide upgrades for devices that truthfully only have a 2 year life expectancy?
The "chart" is also skewed because several phones were released with the non current version of Android on them, thus they automatically got dinged.

All said and done, do you buy a device based on what the future OS might have available or do you buy it based on what it brings to you out of the box? I look at any update as a bonus and not a requirement for the company to provide. The only updates I would expect a company to provide would be to fix major secuirty flaws. As far as bringing new features, it's soley up to the company.
Also, If there was only 1 flavor of Android, the "support" for it would be more in line with Apple. But seeing as how Android has to run on a wide array of hardware, it takes time and resources for the vendors to do the work, and they can't justify it knowing that people aren't going to take real advantage of it. They have to sell them a new handset in 2 years.

 

[quest55720]

How long do you expect companies to provide upgrades for devices that truthfully only have a 2 year life expectancy?
.

I think 2 years would be the obvious number. If I buy a new top of the line phone I fully expect it to be updated for 2 years that is how long the contract I sign lasts. Other option is for vendors to lower prices of off contract phones where a person can buy them more often with out breaking the bank. I am not only paying for the hardware but support after the fact. I should not have to hack my phone to get updates.

 

[WelshBloke]

So the original iPhone and the 3G are running iOS5?

 

[Mopetar]

All said and done, do you buy a device based on what the future OS might have available or do you buy it based on what it brings to you out of the box? I look at any update as a bonus and not a requirement for the company to provide.

The problem is that when you have a choice and knowledge. If you know that a device from company A is going to still have support in two years, even if you don't know what you'll get, it becomes preferable to company B who probably won't provide support beyond a few months.

On the other hand, I'd say maybe 5% of consumers are aware of this information, 10% have the capacity to actually understand it, and somewhat larger minority actually care about it.

It would probably be more interesting to look at the data across the Android handset manufacturers.

 

[trmiv]

I think two years from the date of release is a reasonable expectation since you get locked into that contract. Verizon has killed the one year discounted upgrade, so that's not even an option anymore.

The biggest problem is locked bootloaders, and the crap UI overlays these manufacturers stick on some of these things. The bootloaders make it difficult to ROM it yourself, and the crap overlays give them a built-in excuse to drag their feet with updates. Hoping ICS changes that, but I saw the news in another thread that HTC is already sizing up ICS for Sense UI. Wonderful!

 

[Super56K]

So the original iPhone and the 3G are running iOS5?

It's a slightly confusing graph. It's saying it was on the "current" version 3 years after it's initial release.

 

[runawayprisoner]

So the original iPhone and the 3G are running iOS5?

Nope. But in their 3rd year, they still got support and were updated to the major version at that time. It's now past 4th year for the 2G, 3G is approaching its 4th, 3GS is approaching its 3rd, and iPhone 4 is now over a year old. In about 7-8 months, iPhone 4 would be on past its second year, and 3GS will be well over 3 years old.

In its 3rd year, the iPhone 2G was still running 3.x with 3G and 3GS. 3G was still running iOS 4.x with 3GS and 4. And now 3GS is still running iOS 5.x with 4 and 4S. I'd expect 5 to be the last iOS 3GS gets, but it's been through 2 major revisions and a lot of smaller revisions already.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Also, is there a list that shows what new features the 3GS has received with each iOS update? Would love to know, I still have a friend who uses a 3GS and I know he's not up to date.

So the original iPhone and the 3G are running iOS5?

From what I've heard, the iOS 4 and 5 updates for older iPhones really didn't change anything or add new features, even ones that would have been simple to add (like wallpapers). And didn't they actually cause more problems for some owners?

 

[NikolaeVarius]

That's a terrible graph. iPhones are flagship devices, there are 4 of them. Why are there things like the backlip and cliq there.

My Droid X is on the latest version, same with the X2, where is the Nexus S, the "flagship" product for google?

Also from the graph, it would seem that the Nexus 1 has better support than the i4.

 

[runawayprisoner]

From what I've heard, the iOS 4 and 5 updates for older iPhones really didn't change anything or add new features, even ones that would have been simple to add (like wallpapers). And didn't they actually cause more problems for some owners?

iPhone 2G didn't get iOS 4. It ended at 3.1.3. But that was actually on its 3rd year.

iPhone 3G got iOS 4.0 also on its 3rd, but it lagged pretty badly. Words have it that iOS 4 initially had the interface written to run on OpenGL ES 2.0. The assumption was that the 3G should do well, but it turned out the graphics drivers sucked pretty hard, and Apple had to rewrite a large part of it, so they reverted the code on the 3G back to OpenGL ES 1.1 in 4.1 and ended support for it. Performance after the fix was acceptable, though some parts were slower due to iOS 4 being pretty unoptimized by itself.

As far as features go, the iPhone 3G didn't get wallpapers, among a few other things in iOS 4 like multitasking, and etc... Enabling those features are pretty easy with a flip of a switch somewhere, but because most of those features rely heavily on OpenGL ES 2.0, they wouldn't work right, or they would lag the phone pretty badly.

But so far, the iPhone 3GS doesn't exhibit anything of the sort in iOS 5. I guess it's because its hardware is pretty similar to the iPhone 4 and 4S in terms of capability (though obviously lacking in performance). And at least iOS 5 is more optimized than iOS 4.

 

[Patranus]

But so far, the iPhone 3GS doesn't exhibit anything of the sort in iOS 5. I guess it's because its hardware is pretty similar to the iPhone 4 and 4S in terms of capability (though obviously lacking in performance). And at least iOS 5 is more optimized than iOS 4.

Ya. I have found on several 3GS that iOS 5 actually runs better than iOS4.

 

[alent1234]

From what I've heard, the iOS 4 and 5 updates for older iPhones really didn't change anything or add new features, even ones that would have been simple to add (like wallpapers). And didn't they actually cause more problems for some owners?

iOS 4 greatly improved the camera and finally allowed third party multi tasking. my 3GS at the time started to take much better pictures with iOS 4. the save state was also awesome. i can reboot an iOS 4 device and any app that uses this will still be there in the bottom tray exactly how i closed it

iOS 5 gave free texting

 

[runawayprisoner]

Ya. I have found on several 3GS that iOS 5 actually runs better than iOS4.

I think part of the reason why iOS 5 runs better might be because of the new notification system. The animation for the notification is a 3D animation, and if it is to have even half a chance of being seamless while running on top of a 3D game, Apple has no choice but to optimize the graphics system further.

That also explains 8 beta before the final release. Even so, the final release still has some pretty obvious bugs.

iOS 5 gave free texting

Technically iMessage is not free if the other end doesn't have an iPhone running iOS 5. Which is the case for 99.99% of my contacts...

If the other end doesn't use an iPhone, then it's not free texting as much as saying IM is free...

 

[trmiv]

Also from the graph, it would seem that the Nexus 1 has better support than the i4.

I think you need to read the graph again.

 

[Dominato3r]

Yea they get the newest OS but not all the features. I think when iOS4 came out and you could customize backgrounds, my 3rd gen iPod Touch was unable to do so.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Ya. I have found on several 3GS that iOS 5 actually runs better than iOS4.

I concur.

 

[Red Storm]

Yea they get the newest OS but not all the features. I think when iOS4 came out and you could customize backgrounds, my 3rd gen iPod Touch was unable to do so.

One man's feature is another man's "That's a feature?"

 

[Munky]

Updates are a much bigger deal for a phone which in original form couldn't even use custom ringtones. If my phone already has proper multitasking, an awesome camera, and loaded with features and customization options, I don't really care if in 2 years there will be no updates for it.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

motorola wins the worst phone manufacturer award.

 

[WelshBloke]

motorola wins the worst phone manufacturer award.

Which is a shame as I always thought their hardware looked fairly decent.

 

[Red Storm]

Well the Droid X is one of the best Android phones of all time IMHO. That thing was a tank, had good battery life, was light and held comfortably in your hand, and the hardware buttons were actual buttons.

I've only had the original Droid and the Droid X, so my experience with Motorola is actually pretty good.

 

[CVSiN]

um why is this sad?

why would I want to update an OBSOLETE slow device?

every 2-3 months a device comes out that doubles the previous leader in features and speed..
so why bother updating?

Apple sits on crap way too long..

rather have a choice of cutting edge handsets vs an updated dinosaur..