Dishonest iOS/Android OS update chart floating around

[Ravynmagi]

What new features did you get on your iPhone 4?
Siri? Turn by turn navigation? Translucency? Panorama? AirDrop? FaceTime over cellular?
That's a lot of new features you have there...

If you are truly curious, you can read about all the features each version of iOS has added.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOS_version_history

Though some of the highlights would be the Notification center, iCloud, Twitter integration, Game Center, keyboard shortcuts, multi touch gestures, Siri, and Control Center.

Why in the world would I want to be stuck on iOS 4 or 5 on my iPhone?

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

If you are truly curious, you can read about all the features each version of iOS has added.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOS_version_history

Though some of the highlights would be the Notification center, iCloud, Twitter integration, Game Center, keyboard shortcuts, multi touch gestures, Siri, and Control Center.

Why in the world would I want to be stuck on iOS 4 or 5 on my iPhone?

I feel like people choose arguments that suit them. It's not like Samsung didn't withhold features from the GS2 that the GS3 got. S-Voice for example was not available for the S2. Smart Stay for example was not carried over despite the ICS update on the S2.

It's nothing new that manufacturers withhold software features from older phones to encourage you to buy a newer phone and to show that separation. And acting like the iPhone 4 got no new features despite having OS updates is disingenuous.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Well this is why I only buy Nexus phones now (that Galaxy S Vibrant was my last non-Nexus phone). I'm just the type of person that is bothered if I don't have the newest available OS.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I know for most people third party ROMs don't count, but for me they do. And in that scene Android updates happen to ancient devices. The Nexus One has 4.4:

http://www.intomobile.com/2013/11/29/nexus-one-gets-unofficial-android-44-kitkat-build/

A 3GS can't run iOS7, unofficial or not.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I know for most people third party ROMs don't count, but for me they do. And in that scene Android updates happen to ancient devices. The Nexus One has 4.4:

http://www.intomobile.com/2013/11/29/nexus-one-gets-unofficial-android-44-kitkat-build/

A 3GS can't run iOS7, unofficial or not.

Yeah, that is something Android really has going for it. It's open and fragmented nature make it hard to keep all these phones up to date. But at least the user community has the ability to make ROMs and put it on most of these phones to update it themselves. Definitely can't do that with iOS (or not nearly as easily if you can). I just dug out my Galaxy S Vibrant the other day for no reason and put Android 4.2.2 on it in just a few minutes with some tool someone made at XDA.

 

[shortylickens]

I wouldnt WANT a 3GS on ios7.

that far out I'd rather get a new phone.

 

[cheezy321]

You should probably read that chart a little closer, not all of those are apps, and some apps are basically integral to the OS and can be considered part of the OS (i.e. the keyboard, API's or Siri/Google Now, etc.)

Again you choose the argument that suits your bias. I am not talking about APPS. I am talking about the OPERATING SYSTEM. So you think that Kit kat is the same OS as gingerbread?

 

[sweenish]

If you are truly curious, you can read about all the features each version of iOS has added.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOS_version_history

Though some of the highlights would be the Notification center, iCloud, Twitter integration, Game Center, keyboard shortcuts, multi touch gestures, Siri, and Control Center.

Why in the world would I want to be stuck on iOS 4 or 5 on my iPhone?

/whoosh is appropriate here.

The iPhone 4 never saw Siri or turn-by-turn navigation, in spite of being "updated to the latest version" of iOS. And it sees less and less features as it is "updated to the latest version." Every feature mentioned by lothar and myself are features that weren't brought over to the iPhone 4, even though it runs iOS 7, and runs it poorly at that.

 

[Phokus]

Again you choose the argument that suits your bias. I am not talking about APPS. I am talking about the OPERATING SYSTEM. So you think that Kit kat is the same OS as gingerbread?

So you don't believe, for example, Google Now is part of the Android OS because it was moved to the play store? But yet, you probably consider Siri as part of the iphone OS. It's a semantics game you're playing. There's rumors that Google is going to move the User Interface to the play store and that will allow users to use the default android UI rather than handset skins. Is that suddenly an app when it moves to the play store and not part of the OS?

 

[cheezy321]

So you don't believe, for example, Google Now is part of the Android OS because it was moved to the play store? But yet, you probably consider Siri as part of the iphone OS. It's a semantics game you're playing. There's rumors that Google is going to move the User Interface to the play store and that will allow users to use the default android UI rather than handset skins. Is that suddenly an app when it moves to the play store and not part of the OS?

Blah blah blah, not answering the question per the usual. I think we really know who is being misleading here. Unless you consider Kit Kat to be the same OS as Gingerbread then the chart you originally posted is 100% accurate.

 

[sweenish]

You're both playing at semantics.

Obviously, Gingerbread and KitKat are different operating systems, and obviously OEMs should be held accountable. BUT, Google is trying to mitigate that through Play Services and breaking apps out and putting them in the store.

The same cannot be said for Apple, as they gladly leave users behind feature-wise while getting them to drink the "everyone on the latest and greatest" kool-aid. New app hotness is still hamstrung by hardware requirements.

At least Google is trying to bring the features to those who aren't getting updated. In the same way it's absolute rubbish that the iPhone 4 doesn't have Siri, it would be rubbish if older Android phones couldn't get Google Now. But older Android phones can get Google Now because it was separated from the core OS.

 

[KeithTalent]

My S2 is on 4.1.2, which, as far as I can tell, is only 2 versions behind, not 3 like it says in that chart.

KT

 

[sweenish]

my s2 is on 4.1.2, which, as far as i can tell, is only 2 versions behind, not 3 like it says in that chart.

Kt

4.2, 4.3, 4.4

 

[poofyhairguy]

My S2 is on 4.1.2, which, as far as I can tell, is only 2 versions behind, not 3 like it says in that chart.

KT

Current Android is 4.4.

 

[Ravynmagi]

/whoosh is appropriate here.

The iPhone 4 never saw Siri or turn-by-turn navigation, in spite of being "updated to the latest version" of iOS. And it sees less and less features as it is "updated to the latest version." Every feature mentioned by lothar and myself are features that weren't brought over to the iPhone 4, even though it runs iOS 7, and runs it poorly at that.

Yes, it slipped my mind while I was replying it didn't get Siri and some other features. But it still got iOS 7 and most of the features. And at least to me the stuff it didn't get wasn't even important. I don't even use Siri on my iPhone 5S.

I'd still much rather have an older phone running the latest software and missing some features. Than to be stuck with an OS from 2 years ago that is missing a lot more features. I'm okay with the degraded performance, it's expected with any old device.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I'd still much rather have an older phone running the latest software and missing some features. Than to be stuck with an OS from 2 years ago that is missing a lot more features.

That is too generalized.

I would prefer any 4.1+ phone with full features over a phone with iOS7 that lacks big features.

I would prefer any iOS 7 phone to a Gingerbread phone.

I would also rather stab myself with an icepick rather than use a Gingerbread Android phone daily.

 

[KeithTalent]

Current Android is 4.4.

Oh whoops, my bad. I read it wrong.

KT

 

[Ravynmagi]

That is too generalized.

I would prefer any 4.1+ phone with full features over a phone with iOS7 that lacks big features.

I would prefer any iOS 7 phone to a Gingerbread phone.

I would also rather stab myself with an icepick rather than use a Gingerbread Android phone daily.

I like Android and iOS both a lot. So for me I'd rather have the latest version of both.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I like Android and iOS both a lot. So for me I'd rather have the latest version of both.

Well yes, in the perfect world I never want a phone older than 18 months.

 

[dagamer34]

I think some people are missing the point here: getting iOS 7 on the iPhone 4 is about developers not having to focus on supporting multiple versions of iOS from 3 years ago. 70% of people already have iOS 7 installed on their phones. It's to the point where unless you are Twitter or Facebook, you really shouldn't bother supporting iOS 6 or below when making a new app. You could *never* do something like that with Android.

One thing that can never be fixed via a Google Play update is security updates for the OS itself. And the way its setup such that OEMs need to pay carriers for update testing gives a huge disincentive to do so. If phones really are going to be the "computer of the future", I don't see how that can continue in the long run. It's like running Windows XP after Microsoft will no longer support it in April 2014; you are simply asking for trouble.

 

[lothar]

I feel like people choose arguments that suit them. It's not like Samsung didn't withhold features from the GS2 that the GS3 got. S-Voice for example was not available for the S2. Smart Stay for example was not carried over despite the ICS update on the S2.

The difference though here is that Samsung and the other Android manufacturers aren't claiming to be clean on that issue like an iPhone 4 user bragging that they have the latest iOS 7 update on their phones.

It like a Republican preaching hate against homos on the Senate floor, only to find out he was fucking a male page or hobbling his feet and body parts in the restroom against another dude only to find out that he was actually a closet homo himself.
Do democrats do the same? Sure. But most of them don't claim to be innocent like Republicans are on that particular issue.

Or in another case Newt Gingrich impeaching Clinton in the name of morality while he himself was having an extramarital affair while his wife was recovering from a cancerous tumor.

It's nothing new that manufacturers withhold software features from older phones to encourage you to buy a newer phone and to show that separation. And acting like the iPhone 4 got no new features despite having OS updates is disingenuous.

And acting like Android phones got no new features because they're not on the "latest" Android update is just as disingenuous and dishonest.
The difference here now is that Google packages most of the updates into Google Play Services, and it's apps(Google Search/Google Now, Hangouts/Messaging, Google Keyboard, etc) so there's little need to.

Could Google have done like Apple and release Google Now(ala Siri) and market it as an exclusive feature for only Android devices made after Summer 2012? Absolutely.
Could Google have released Hangouts(ala iMessage) and say you device must be running the latest Android OS(Kitkat or JellyBean 4.2/4.3 and above) to get such a feature? Absolutely.

Can Google use Play Services to push and install Twitter app to all Android phones today and automatically claim that they have "Twitter integration" like an iPhone 4 user bragging that they have the latest iOS7 updates and features? Absolutely.

Can Google use "Google Play Game Services"(which is comparable to iOS Game Center and works on Android 2.2 and above) instead of doing like Apple did for "Play games" which requires an iPhone user to have the latest iOS7 update to get such a feature? Sure.

What difference does it make that an iPhone 4 user is bragging that they have the latest iOS 7 update with Play Games, Notification Center, Keyboard shortcuts, or iCloud when an Android user on Gingerbread can get those same exact features today without requiring an OS update?

Could Google follow Apple and claim each year is a +1.0 release like Apple does and start a "latest version" wars like how Chrome and Firefox desktop browsers seem to be racing to who can get to the magic version #100 first? Absolutely.

 

[lothar]

If you are truly curious, you can read about all the features each version of iOS has added.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOS_version_history

Though some of the highlights would be the Notification center, iCloud, Twitter integration, Game Center, keyboard shortcuts, multi touch gestures, Siri, and Control Center.

Why in the world would I want to be stuck on iOS 4 or 5 on my iPhone?

So your iPhone 4 has Siri on iOS7?
Prove it.

An Android phone has most of those features you listed without requiring the latest OS update.
-Android has always had a notification center...
-Android has it's own version of "iCloud" and it's not limited to having the latest Android update either.
-Google Play Game Services(which is comparable to "Game Center" on iOS, and both were launched this year) only requires Android 2.2 and above. It doesn't require an OS update.
-Google keyboard is on the Play Store and all Android phones automatically get the new features(such as swiping, better prediction, shortcuts, etc...) without requiring an OS update.
-All Samsung(I can't speak for HTC/Sony/Moto and other Android phones since I've never owned any other device besides Galaxy S2, Nexus 4, and Nexus 5) phones have always had Quick settings(which is comparable to "Control Center" on iOS) since the Gingerbread days, if not earlier. In fact, Samsung was the pioneer of Quick settings/Control Center and not Apple nor custom ROM modders on Android. Both my Nexus 4 and 5 also have Quick settings.
-I've had multi-touch gestures on all my Android devices and didn't require any new(or the latest and the greatest) OS update.
-All Android phones have Google+ integration, which is comparable to Twitter.
Can Google use Play Services to push and install Twitter app to all Android phones today and automatically claim that they have "Twitter integration" like an iPhone 4 user bragging that they have the latest iOS7 updates and features? Absolutely. But they won't because all social networks(Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare) are their competitor so there's no reason to enable their competitors product on all Android devices.

I've completely destroyed your argument that having the latest OS updates is an absolute requirement to get new features.
Unlike it is on iOS with the iPhone, being stuck on an old version of Android doesn't automatically mean that you won't get new features.

 

[Fingolfin269]

So your iPhone 4 has Siri on iOS7?
Prove it.
/snip

I think you got all emotional a little too late. He already backtracked.

 

[Kaido]

What's most telling to me about that chart- forget OS versions, look at the absolute sad update life of iPhone HARDWARE.

LOL good point

 

[Kaido]

Unlike it is on iOS with the iPhone, being stuck on an old version of Android doesn't automatically mean that you won't get new features.

I do find Android devices extremely annoying to support in business. I've had to tell 2 people within the last quarter that they have to purchase new phones because their one or two-year-old phones don't support the business features they need in the version of Android they have, and they are unable to get the OS updates they need to make them work. Training is also annoying because so many things change between versions, handsets, and carriers. I forced a change to iOS devices for in-house purchased devices, which has it's pros & cons, but overall has been fairly simple to support & train people on.

Although I did just get a couple 21" HP Android tablets that I'm using as thin clients and they are epic :awe: