I recently began circulating a graphic on the different policy updates iPhone and Android, which have down there. What it shows is that while all Apple terminals always have the latest version ( although not all features ) in Android does not happen hardly ever .
I will not use this to discuss whether Android is better than iPhone or vice versa ( I think they're both very good , what can I say ) , but to speak a bit of the problem of fragmentation in Android.
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Android fragmentation is one of the problems most often cited when talking about this system. But what really is fragmentation? Many refer to it as a problem that no two identical devices, each having a resolution , certain characteristics, different touch screen, physical keyboard or not ...
However, I think the real problem of fragmentation, which is not derived directly from the open philosophy of Android, is the updates . And, look look like the graph above , Android has a serious problem .
It is something that I have suffered in my own flesh . I had a Samsung Galaxy Spica , a phone that was not bad in terms of features . Samsung released it in early 2010 . In May of that same year , received the upgrade to Android 2.1 ( just as Google has launched Froyo) . And there he stayed. Although my phone could run perfectly Froyo, Samsung decided it was good idea to stop supporting the phone but had not spent a year of release .
And in my situation are many others that the manufacturer leaves them in the lurch . People hear that Google has launched a new version of Android, butsurprise, they can not update .
This is the real problem with Android, in my opinion . Yes , it's a great system. Yes, each new version brings better features. But what noses in it for me if , with luck , be able to have it waiting a few months? You could count on the fingers of one hand the current Android that will be upgraded to ICS .
And Google has to do something to correct this. If you can not be in real trouble. Have a great operating system that can not enjoy half of the users is not good. Whether pressuring manufacturers , working with them when bringing out new versions or whatever comes to mind, Google has to fix this problem. Could be set , for example because in Windows Phone , all devices are updated.
Yes , it is true that there is always the option of installing a ROM . But it is an alternative for you and me , we have more or less idea of how things are going . For other people , installing a ROM is an odyssey consisting of : knowing what the hell they 're talking about , convince , find manuals to do , overcome fear to charge the phone and then do it. It's not easy .
This problem is not going to slow the growth of Android, but it will leave a bad taste to its users, who are stuck in outdated versions . And Google should address it as soon as possible , because if you let it grow backward versions will accumulate and can become a real problem. If not, you ask Microsoft what she doing fighting with Internet Explorer 6 to clear .