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Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is now available

developer.android.com

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Re: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is now available

#61

Post by ephemient »

taligent wrote: post #42
mtgx wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, it's exactly like saying that. Windows has several years between each version and each version still has like 30-40% each, so it's quite fragmented, too.

It is fragmented. But not in the developer sense. Microsoft has always been quite good in backporting their developer libraries. So even you did have users on XP you could simply bundle these with your app e.g. .Net, DirectX. Google may have to look at doing something similar for 2.3 users in particular.

You mean like http://developer.android.com/tools/extras/support-library.ht... ?

Re: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is now available

#62

Post by gardarh »

taligent wrote: post #42
mtgx wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, it's exactly like saying that. Windows has several years between each version and each version still has like 30-40% each, so it's quite fragmented, too.

It is fragmented. But not in the developer sense. Microsoft has always been quite good in backporting their developer libraries. So even you did have users on XP you could simply bundle these with your app e.g. .Net, DirectX. Google may have to look at doing something similar for 2.3 users in particular.

They are, with the Android Support Library: http://developer.android.com/tools/extras/support-library.ht...

It provides support for features from Android 3.0 (namely fragments) for all versions down to 1.6. IMO it's essential for Android development.

Re: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is now available

#63

Post by glogla »

jshen wrote: post #15
astrodust wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple gets a lot of things, obviously. Making the updates backwards compatible means more people are using the current version, and that means feature uptake time is minimized. Apple's intention is that supporting your hardware for a longer period of time makes it a more attractive purchase. Android phone manufacturers do not care about this. They are not in the business of promoting the operating system or cultivati…

that's flawed short term logic. I will never buy another android phone from someone like motorola. My phone is about a year old. Still under contract, and I can't even get ICS. I don't have the option of buying another phone right now!

Yes it is. It's stupid, shortsighted, and it is going to cost them money in the long term. They are still doing this.

But I don't understand about you not having option of buying phone. They won't allow you to use different phone with your sim or anything? You can just drop to a store, buy unlocked Galaxy Nexus, Galaxy S III, Xperia S or something, and use it right?

Re: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is now available

#64

Post by glogla »

ConstantineXVI wrote: post #49
no_more_death wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, iOS caught up with Android in many respects at the last WWDC, and Android is catching up with iOS on the responsiveness front. That's fine, on both counts. It means that Android and iOS are competitive. It also means I don't have to switch to iOS if I'm craving responsive. The Android JVM basically means Android needs a faster processor to get the same level of responsiveness. So that's what they're giving it.[1…

The JVM isn't relevant to Android's responsiveness, only Android is. Android wrote Dalvik and the Android UI framework from scratch, it's performance is entirely in their hands.

I think he ment Dalvik by "The Android JVM". It's really JVM, sure, but it's similar.

Re: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is now available

#66

Post by eropple »

gardarh wrote: post #62
taligent wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is fragmented. But not in the developer sense. Microsoft has always been quite good in backporting their developer libraries. So even you did have users on XP you could simply bundle these with your app e.g. .Net, DirectX. Google may have to look at doing something similar for 2.3 users in particular.

They are, with the Android Support Library: http://developer.android.com/tools/extras/support-library.ht... It provides support for features from Android 3.0 (namely fragments) for all versions down to 1.6. IMO it's essential for Android development.

The platform fragmentation is still fairly poor for game development, even with the support libraries.

Re: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is now available

#67

Post by javajosh »

Let me offer a solution: It's time for Google to offer a Google+ Certification for Android. These certified devices would have two important characteristics:

1. They are guaranteed to run the latest version of Android for 5 years.

2. They are guaranteed to have a clean version of Android, without any carrier or device maker modifications.

No doubt the marketing people can come up with other things to add to the list, but that's the gist of it.

If such a certification existed, personally I would only shop among those options.

Such a certification would require that Google have some sort of compatibility criteria, and that their future development efforts run well within those criteria. So it constrains Google just as much as the OEMs. The certification should be cheap, but not free. And I picked the name for Sergey's buy-in.

The nice thing about this (voluntary) certification program is that OEMs don't have to participate. And in fact could have certified and uncertified devices. The program captures the essential qualities that made the iPhone successful, in my opinion. The App Store is a big part of their success, and developing for the iPhone is far more pleasant because of the stability of the platform.

EDIT: Okay, if it was 3 years I'd still be happy.

Re: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is now available

#68

Post by YooLi »

_ea1k wrote: post #18
javajosh wrote: post #5

Until the fragmentation problem is fixed, every new Android release only fills me with dread. Normally when new versions of frameworks or software that I use come out, I like it. Except Android, because every new version of Android has lots of nice features that I won't be able to use and it is guaranteed to further fragment of the marketplace. Android is the (old) Internet Explorer of mobile. I've never seen one app…

91% of the Android market is covered by 3 major versions (2.2, 2.3, and 4.0). 72% is covered by just two major versions (2.3 and 4.0). This problem isn't quite as severe as its made out to be. Dealing with the diverse hardware ecosystem and implementation bugs are both much larger problems, IMO.

"91% of the Android market is covered by 3 major versions (2.2, 2.3, and 4.0). 72% is covered by just two major versions (2.3 and 4.0)."

Disingenuous. 65% of that 72% is 2.3. And now, yet another major version has been released.

Re: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is now available

#69

Post by timdorr »

javajosh wrote: post #67

Let me offer a solution: It's time for Google to offer a Google+ Certification for Android. These certified devices would have two important characteristics: 1. They are guaranteed to run the latest version of Android for 5 years. 2. They are guaranteed to have a clean version of Android, without any carrier or device maker modifications. No doubt the marketing people can come up with other things to add to the list,…

This is great. The only thing I have a gripe with is:

> They are guaranteed to run the latest version of Android for 5 years.

5 years is too long. The HTC Dream, the first Android phone, was released less than 4 years ago. It only has a 528Mhz processor and 192MB of RAM. I don't want to know what the ICS or JB experience would be on that device...

Keep in mind the iPhone only turned 5 this year (the App Store turns 4 in a couple weeks). And the last version that supported it (with limited features) was released 3 years afterwards.

I think 3 years is more reasonable. Most people are eligible for a discounted phone upgrade every 2 years. I think that would fit in for most folks.

Re: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is now available

#70

Post by gardarh »

javajosh wrote: post #67

Let me offer a solution: It's time for Google to offer a Google+ Certification for Android. These certified devices would have two important characteristics: 1. They are guaranteed to run the latest version of Android for 5 years. 2. They are guaranteed to have a clean version of Android, without any carrier or device maker modifications. No doubt the marketing people can come up with other things to add to the list,…

I sincerely agree. However 5 years is a long time, perhaps 3 is more appropriate. Keep in mind that the first iPhone was introduced 5 and a half years ago.
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