Why Can't Android Update Like Windows?

[Dominato3r]

I was just thinking about this, tell where I'm getting it wrong:

Both are ubiquitous platforms
Both run on all types of hardware combos
Both run some type of 3rd party bloat

But Microsoft updates every windows machine by itself. Regardless of who made it. When it comes to tablets as well, every Windows 8 machine moves onto 8.1, no cost.

 

[lopri]

It's the thing with the open-source software. It's free to use, but no one particular is responsible for updates or patches. Windows is a proprietary OS made by MS.

But you can get updates like you do on Windows via Play Store or whichever store front you choose to use. Google has been trying to decouple its services from the core OS for multiple reasons.

 

[WelshBloke]

I was just thinking about this, tell where I'm getting it wrong:

Both are ubiquitous platforms
Both run on all types of hardware combos
Both run some type of 3rd party bloat

But Microsoft updates every windows machine by itself. Regardless of who made it. When it comes to tablets as well, every Windows 8 machine moves onto 8.1, no cost.

With windows I get updates from Microsoft for my OS, I get updates from AMD for my videocard, I get updates for my wireless NIC from (seemingly) random manufacturers because Linksys are crap, all my software updates from different entities and in seemingly random ways (some tell me to update, some automaticly do it, some just sit and rot).

Honestly I have a lot less hassle keeping my phone up to date than my PC.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Windows isn't open source. Manufacturers just put stuff on top of the OS, so MS is free to mess around with core services with confidence that they aren't changed.

Android is open source, most manufacturers mess with the very framework/core of Android. Google can't account for every single change because these changes are proprietary to the company.

Extremely different scenarios.

 

[Crono]

Carriers (and to a lesser extent Manufacturers, as well)

It's that simple. Microsoft has far less crap to go through pushing out updates. They only have to test things internally. Verizon the broadband ISP has zero control over Microsoft, but Verizon Wireless the carrier dictates a lot in terms of hardware from the manufacturers and updates from the software developers (Google, Microsoft, not so much over Apple).

 

[Ravynmagi]

Yeah, carriers and manufactures. As others said, Android is open, they tinker a lot with Android, so Google's Android isn't the same as Samsung's or HTC's or others. So Google can't push updates to all Androids because of the modifications done by so many others.

PS. Though Google is working around that issue with Google Play Services. Which as I understand it, reduces the impact of fragmentation since APIs can be updated regardless of what version of Android the phone uses now. Or something along those lines.

 

[nOOky]

I'm okay updating manually, what I would like is a restart option for when my smart phone is acting stoopid.

 

[gorcorps]

You mean... like the iPhone?

 

[gorcorps]

I'm okay updating manually, what I would like is a restart option for when my smart phone is acting stoopid.

You don't have a reboot option in your power menu?

 

[VirtualLarry]

You don't have a reboot option in your power menu?

My Exhibit 4G doesn't have one either.

 

[Graze]

I was just thinking about this, tell where I'm getting it wrong:

Both are ubiquitous platforms
Both run on all types of hardware combos
Both run some type of 3rd party bloat

But Microsoft updates every windows machine by itself. Regardless of who made it. When it comes to tablets as well, every Windows 8 machine moves onto 8.1, no cost.

I get updates on my Nexus 4 just like any WinPhone manufacturer does for their phones

I honestly don't see why it so hard to see why Android phones(except the Nexus) dont get OS updated like Windows phone.

Android runs on a wide variety of custom hardware. Windows phone runs on a very limited set of hardware that Microsoft can specifically cater to, as dictated by Microsoft.

Android does not run a HAL like the Windows desktop does, so in that case drivers are closer to metal and needs to be designer specifically for that piece of hardware.
There are millions of various devices that run hundreds of different CPU and other hardware configurations. Googles just can't write code specifically for them...duh!

 

[WelshBloke]

I'm okay updating manually, what I would like is a restart option for when my smart phone is acting stoopid.

What happens if you press and hold the power button for 10 seconds or so?

 

[beginner99]

Android is open source, most manufacturers mess with the very framework/core of Android.

They really do that? That sound extremely retarded. Adding your custom stuff on top makes sense but messing with the core? Just creates a huge overhead for every single update and yeah thats why we don't get them.

So basically the phone companies are the culprits.

 

[grkM3]

They really do that? That sound extremely retarded. Adding your custom stuff on top makes sense but messing with the core? Just creates a huge overhead for every single update and yeah thats why we don't get them.

So basically the phone companies are the culprits.

Look how much Samsung has done with the framework.

The s pen alone is huge and you can't expect Google to have updates for it when they didn't code it in the first place.