When will Eclair be phased out?

[mammador]

My phone at present is an Android 2.1, but now Ice Cream Sandwich is out when will Eclair be phased out?

 

[iahk]

what do you mean by phased out? devs still develop apps with compatibility for 1.6 in mind if possible.

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[mammador]

Well similar to how Windows XP for IBM clones will be phased out in time, or how few programs today run on Windows 2000 or 98.

If most people have Gingerbread per minimum, why make apps for anything less than that?

 

[smartpatrol]

It won't be phased out. Any phone on Android 2.2 or earlier is probably ancient (over 1 year old, which is like 7 Android years) and therefore will never be upgraded. It will be phased out only by attrition.

 

[Mopetar]

Unless it's still receiving any kind of support update, I would consider it already phased out.

 

[Insomniator]

Yeah Eclair... haven't heard of that in forever. Already gone!

 

[Bateluer]

what do you mean by phased out? devs still develop apps with compatibility for 1.6 in mind if possible.

Err, no . . . no. 2.1, more often 2.2, is the minimum spec now. Using Donut excludes so many features its almost laughable.

 

[iahk]

That's why I said if possible. I still see apps (if only basic apps) that still support 1.6

 

[T_Yamamoto]

if you are not on gingerbread, then its already phased out

android phases out support after a new os comes out

so if you arent on ICS or gingerbread, then you are out

 

[vshah]

there's no official definition of phased out. your phone won't be getting any more updates, but I would expect major apps & very simple apps to be compatible with it for a while yet. games is where i'd expect the most trouble.

 

[thedroidproject]

as a developer there isnt point yo support eclair bevause the newer apis have more functionality


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[rkkaranrk]

For me eclair is phased out but we all still need that 2.1 for some stuff like if we need a fresh install we still need to go back to stock (2.1). This is what most of the devs recommend.

 

[Deeko]

Err, no . . . no. 2.1, more often 2.2, is the minimum spec now. Using Donut excludes so many features its almost laughable.

I still have users of my Android app that are on CUPCAKE, let alone Donut. I mean...you're absolutely right that the SDK for those versions lacks quite a bit, but its an unfortunate truth that there are still users on pre-Eclair versions of Android.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

I still have users of my Android app that are on CUPCAKE, let alone Donut. I mean...you're absolutely right that the SDK for those versions lacks quite a bit, but its an unfortunate truth that there are still users on pre-Eclair versions of Android.

I wouldn't think there are very many of them in the US since any pre Eclair phone should have been out of contract long ago.

 

[Deeko]

I wouldn't think there are very many of them in the US since any pre Eclair phone should have been out of contract long ago.

Not everyone upgrades as soon as their upgrade comes available, though. Its not a huge number, but its still there.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Not everyone upgrades as soon as their upgrade comes available, though. Its not a huge number, but its still there.

like my dad, who is still on his OGD1, while im sailing on my gnex

 

[v-600]

As you can still buy phones new with Eclair then I would hope that its not for a good few years.