If Google really wanted to they could implement a way that could updates phones from a prompt, like how iOS works. But the problem is manufacturers and carriers make all these different hoops that users have to jump through to get their phone updated.
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If Google really wanted to they could implement a way that could updates phones from a prompt, like how iOS works. But the problem is manufacturers and carriers make all these different hoops that users have to jump through to get their phone updated.
No, they couldn't. Android is a mostly open system and the manufacturers are allowed to add their crap. Google can't and shouldn't dictate how the OS should be delivered to the retail purchaser. This makes the "new OS adoption" comparison both difficult and irrelevant. This comparison is about as relevant as a comparison between a straight-from-China no name $200 android phone (retail cost, shipped!) and an iPhone 4s.
You can buy a lot of very crappy android devices that will be forever stuck on whatever OS version they were delivered with. Sure, you can play this as a negative (no updates), or you can recognize that its just market segmentation and people get what they pay for. Buy a crappy phone, you get no updates. Want quick updates, buy a Nexus. Want a slightly different spin on the default android OS, buy a Sense phone, or buy a motoblur phone, or buy whatever the hell Samsung calls their OS additions.
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i too understand the OP. I am running out of good things to say about android over IOS because pretty soon i think they will have widgets too and lte is already on the way and a slightly bigger screen. We are slowly running out of things to brag about. owell.
zsdersw
Lifer
- Oct 29, 2003
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The problem with your questions is that you're comparing the wide range of Android devices and the varying level of support and upgrade ability with the, at most, 3 iOS phones that are presently sold... and attempting to use this as a criticism of Android.
When there is only one company with 3 phones in a given ecosystem I'd expect OS updates to be both widely available and adopted. This is not something magical for which Apple should be either worshipped or praised. It's what we should all expect.
Android is available on a wide range of phones from every carrier for every price point.
If you want the most apples-to-apples comparison you should compare the iPhone to Google's phone.. the Nexus series. And yes, every Google phone is released with the latest version of Android. Presently, that's ICS.
Every phone that competes in the iPhone's price range is sold with ICS as well.
So, the bottom line is... your question is stupid.
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I think the correct question for Android users (and I am one, so I somewhat already know the answer), is this:
How many Android manufacturers is willing to upgrade at least one of their handsets' software by two major versions? (2.0 to 2.1 to 2.2 does count)
How many Android manufacturers is willing to upgrade at least one of their handsets' software by two major versions? (2.0 to 2.1 to 2.2 does count)
The problem with your argument is that while it sounds fine on paper, it doesn't reflect reality. It would be more credible if the Nexus line were the majority of Android phones sold, but it's more of a reverse case where they're in the extreme minority. Really though, the question to which you were responding is poor for a completely different reason: it begs the question of whether or not having the most updated version of Android even matters.
Are there any major apps out there that require the newest version of Android? As far as I'm aware, the most tangible benefits are improvements to the browser and javascript engine, which I think Google ships with their version updates. Otherwise I'm not aware of any critical features that devices running older versions of Android are missing out on.
Otherwise, I would say that the existence of something like the TegraZone where an app is exclusive for a specific SoC is a much larger concern for Android than version adoption. Everyone has known that it seriously lags behind iOS, but that hasn't had an adverse effect on sales.
Also, for what it's worth, having the latest version of iOS can be somewhat meaningless when it doesn't come with all of the new features. I can understand that in some cases there are reasons for leaving them out (e.g. lack of a front-facing camera or hardware that would be incapable of running the feature) but Apple seems to draw some arbitrary lines in the sand, so really, what's the point of running the latest version of iOS if you don't get most of the new features?
- Aug 23, 2003
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I'm not trying to troll/flame, for real guys, but Android ICS already offers more than what is coming in iOS 6, and ICS will be 1 year old by the time iOS 6 comes out this fall.
Another way of putting it: if you want to preview iOS 7 a year early, buy a Nexus loaded with Jelly Bean this Christmas from Google.
PS: I'm not trolling guys.
PPS: Seriously. Guys.
Another way of putting it: if you want to preview iOS 7 a year early, buy a Nexus loaded with Jelly Bean this Christmas from Google.
PS: I'm not trolling guys.
PPS: Seriously. Guys.
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QueBert
Lifer
- Jan 6, 2002
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Really? The AT&T store at this very moment has like 3 $200+ Android devices that are still running GB.
zsdersw
Lifer
- Oct 29, 2003
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Yup, really.
http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/devices/smartphones.html
The only one $200+ phone that doesn't have ICS is the Note... but I think most would say the Note is not really competing with the iPhone. The Note is a phone-and-a-tablet device.
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zsdersw
Lifer
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Why does the Nexus line's percentage of the Android ecosystem matter to the argument I'm making? If you're comparing the products of a company that is both the hardware and software creator (the only way you can really compare iOS to Android in an oranges-to-oranges way) you should compare Google's phones to Apple's phones.
HTC, Samsung, Motorola, LG, etc do not make the OS. Only the Nexus series is exclusively under the control of Google... like Apple is with the iPhone.
If HTC, Samsung, Motorola, LG, etc, wanted to release updates in a relatively small amount of time after each source code is released, they could.
zsdersw
Lifer
- Oct 29, 2003
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Just because the way Android and Apple updates are handled differ due to the way the different companies who use them operate, does not change the fact that they operate in the same market space and compete against one and other.
If consumers actually viewed a lack of Android updates as a problem, it would impact sales. If it were an issue, no one would care that it's not a fair apples to apples comparison in regards to who makes the software and hardware. They just wouldn't buy the devices.
However, we know three things:
1) The percentage of devices running the latest version of Android is a minority.
2) The percentage of Nexus devices (which are the exception to #1) sold is also in the minority.
3) Android devices overall, make up a majority of smart phone sales.
From this we can conclude that a lack of updates for smart phones is not an issue for the vast majority of consumers. If it were, either Android sales in general would be miserable, or the Nexus line would see a much higher overall % of sales.
ControlD
Diamond Member
- Apr 25, 2005
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That isn't the way it works though is it? My understanding of the process is that the manufacturers release the updates to the cell phone providers. The provider then adds whatever crap ware they want to the new image and finally release everything as an OTA update for the phone. There must be some sort of agreement between the manufacturers and the cell providers to not simply provide updates direct to the users.
And there in lies the problem. There are more to software updates than new features. There are security updates that should be pushed to phones. Phones are the most personal device that you will ever use and that makes it a larger target.
zsdersw
Lifer
- Oct 29, 2003
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This thread is made by and participated in by people for whom update availability matters... inasmuch as it was brought up and is being debated. For those that care about update availability my point stands.
The discussion about whether it matters to everyone else is irrelevant.
Fair enough point.
However, the question that Motion Man posed referred to all Android devices.
Also, you would probably be able to expand it beyond the Nexus line for anyone who uses custom ROMs. For the most part, they probably don't care too much about official updates.
zsdersw
Lifer
- Oct 29, 2003
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His original question, in the OP, was about Android in general.. not all Android devices. It wasn't until he started acting like an Apple fanboy that he brought up Android devices... to try to use their wide range of upgradeability as a criticism of Android. His later question was a giveaway on that.
Custom ROMs still incorporate official Android updates. People who use custom ROMs don't care about carrier-supplied updates.. but they do care about updates to Android from Google.
AstroManLuca
Lifer
- Jun 24, 2004
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Manufacturers? I think if you look through all the major Android handset manufacturers, you can find at least one phone from each that has received two major updates.
My old phone, a Samsung Epic, shipped with 2.1 (despite 2.2 already being out at its release) and later received official updates to 2.2 and 2.3. Of course, unofficial releases of each version were available months before the official OTA updates, and there are several ICS-based roms available for it now.
Similarly, my wife's old phone, an HTC Evo 4G, shipped with 2.1 and later received updates to 2.2 and 2.3.
I know the original Motorola Droid shipped with Android 2.0 and received updates to 2.1 and 2.2.
Not sure if there are any LGs that have gotten two major updates. All (or most) of the Optimus One variants shipped with 2.2 and received updates to 2.3, and the Nitro HD shipped with 2.3 and is upgradable to 4.0.
I think, in general, most higher end Android phones get at least one update, if not two. In many cases, though, that first update just brings it in line with what it SHOULD have shipped with - for instance, the Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX came out a while after the Galaxy Nexus but shipped with Gingerbread anyway and STILL doesn't have an ICS update.
For comparison, Apple doesn't really make "low end" iPhones. They just continue selling the old versions for a while. So an iPhone 3GS purchased today won't get as many updates as a 4S bought today, just as a low end Android phone bought today won't get as many updates as a high end one.
It is a valid criticism of Android, though. If you care about getting updates in a timely manner, it really does restrict the number of devices that you can choose from.
What I was pointing out, was that this doesn't appear to have a terribly large impact, either in terms of reducing or limiting functionality or in terms of Android sales to the general public.
Yes, but they're not waiting for some company to push them out. Google seems to be slipping into a fairly regular update cycle now, so it's fairly predictable as to when those updates will come out, provided they continue to make the source code available.
It's the device manufacturers/carriers that are the main hold up for everyone else, but as I pointed out, it really doesn't appear to have a severely adverse impact on usability and the vast majority of customers don't appear to care.
- Jan 11, 2006
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Bullshit. I tried to keep this from becoming the typical iOS vs. Android thread. When that became impossible, I asked FOLLOW-UP questions to the issues being raised BY OTHERS.
All I asked in the OP was about things that Android fans thought were missing from iOS6. It was others who brought up all the other crap.
Check your facts.
MotionMan
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