It's an important omission not to mention that Android-based phones prices are declining at a much faster pace than iOS based phones. This is important because in many cases updating from one android to the next version (and sometimes to the next next version) is less expensive than buying a simple iPhone, rendering the need for further support unnecessary.
Android Orphans: Visualizing a Sad History of Support
51–60 of 235 posts
Re: Android Orphans: Visualizing a Sad History of Support
#52I think that the fact that the chart stopped at June 2010 makes it looks much worse than it is now. Android is newer than iOS and works on a very different environment. Support 4 devices is much easier than 4 thousand. If you extend this chart to 2011 you will notice that the platform is more mature and most of the phones will receive ICS (my wife Galaxy S is a relatively old device and will get it).
Here's the thing: Device manufacturers / carriers can say "this device will get this upgrade", and then fail to deliver on that upgrade. I wouldn't rely on what they've promised.
One of the biggest points that the chart brings out is that by the time most Android phones DO get an upgrade, that upgrade is no longer current. So, while ICS might come to a lot of phones, I sincerely doubt it will happen in a timely manner. One of the biggest flaws in the Android ecosystem is the ridiculous software update cycles. Entire communities have been created to try to fill that gap (rooting & ROMs), but it's something Google needs to address directly.
Note: I have a Samsung Epic (Sprint's Galaxy S), and I've been waiting months for a promised Gingerbread update.
Re: Android Orphans: Visualizing a Sad History of Support
#53I wrote the piece / did the research. Happy to answer any questions or comments people might have.
As an owner of a iPhone 3G I don't agree with the solid green color that it gets. It was rendered unusable by iOS4.0, and although it was on "the current version" up until the release of iOS5 I don't recall it getting any actual feature from iOS4 other than faster javascript in the browser. So things are not as binary as depicted there. It also seems like you're looking at Android through an Apple lens where the only…
When did you get your IPhone 3G?
I got my Nexus one around 14 months ago. I choose it because its was the official Google developer's phone and so mostly likely to get updated! Except of course we now know that the Android benchmark device that's less than 2 years old will not be getting any more updates.
BTW - I am willing to bet that when ICS source is released someone works out how to get ICS on it. I.e - I doubt that there's any fundamental reason it can't be done?
Re: Android Orphans: Visualizing a Sad History of Support
#54The current situation is somewhat unfair to the indiscrete / non-tech-savvy consumer since they might buy an Android phone without understanding the differences from the iOS ecosystem. At least several of my friends did. "They're about the same right? And this one was $30 cheaper!" And I genuinely feel bad every time this happens. Note that I of course have no gripes with Android OS/concept itself -- it's a good cont…
Are OS updates really that important for most consumers? I have a Desire running Froyo. I don't think I've really missed out on a huge amount by not getting Gingerbread.
Are security updates important for most consumers?
Hell yes. Whether they know it or not.
Re: Android Orphans: Visualizing a Sad History of Support
#55I wrote the piece / did the research. Happy to answer any questions or comments people might have.
Just an observation: I believe I would strongly prefer a timeline, like iPhone 3 |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| iPhone 4 ||||||||||||||||||||||||| Nexus one ||||||||||----||||------- Other ph. ||||||||||||-------- This would make several things much clearer (e.g. what's the uptake of 2.3? Have Android manufacturers gotten better or worse?) Still, interesting. EDIT: Just FYI, at 47 minutes this has 9 points.
If you're coming to the chart to see how well a manufacturer supports their products, the current layout is best. If you're trying to understand the history of phone releases and their current state, your suggestion might be best. I prefer the current layout.
Re: Android Orphans: Visualizing a Sad History of Support
#56The current situation is somewhat unfair to the indiscrete / non-tech-savvy consumer since they might buy an Android phone without understanding the differences from the iOS ecosystem. At least several of my friends did. "They're about the same right? And this one was $30 cheaper!" And I genuinely feel bad every time this happens. Note that I of course have no gripes with Android OS/concept itself -- it's a good cont…
It is the same thing that happens in the PC space. Since Microsoft doesn't make hardware they or third parties must write drivers and support everything that people put out there. Where OS X only needs to support the devices that Apple creates. The difference is that Windows is such an entrenched platform that the third parties are willing to step up to the plate and write the drivers for the PC. Now the question is…
Android has all the drivers it needs.
The real difference is that Android systems are locked down in ways more annoying to circumvent than your average Windows OEM junkware install. It is easy to uninstall junkware on Windows, and to pop in a CD to upgrade or crossgrade the OS.
Re: Android Orphans: Visualizing a Sad History of Support
#57The current situation is somewhat unfair to the indiscrete / non-tech-savvy consumer since they might buy an Android phone without understanding the differences from the iOS ecosystem. At least several of my friends did. "They're about the same right? And this one was $30 cheaper!" And I genuinely feel bad every time this happens. Note that I of course have no gripes with Android OS/concept itself -- it's a good cont…
Are OS updates really that important for most consumers? I have a Desire running Froyo. I don't think I've really missed out on a huge amount by not getting Gingerbread.
They are to me. I like that something I bought a while ago continues to improve and add features. Toasters don't do that.
Re: Android Orphans: Visualizing a Sad History of Support
#58The current situation is somewhat unfair to the indiscrete / non-tech-savvy consumer since they might buy an Android phone without understanding the differences from the iOS ecosystem. At least several of my friends did. "They're about the same right? And this one was $30 cheaper!" And I genuinely feel bad every time this happens. Note that I of course have no gripes with Android OS/concept itself -- it's a good cont…
>And don't forget the mandatory "crapware" that carriers pre-install. ICS supposedly solves this problem but one has to wonder how many low-end Android phones will be sold in the next year (or even two?) that won't support ICS since the N1 won't be getting it.
ICS makes preinstalled apps removable? Even one Google preinstalls, like Maps and Gallery and Twitter?
Re: Android Orphans: Visualizing a Sad History of Support
#59How many PC users are still using XP, a 10 year old OS? If the version of the OS you have still works, it still works.
The real issue here is security updates. Google need a way to update core OS component that aren't affected by the manufacturer's UI skinning.
Re: Android Orphans: Visualizing a Sad History of Support
#60Earlier quoted context omitted.
As an owner of a iPhone 3G I don't agree with the solid green color that it gets. It was rendered unusable by iOS4.0, and although it was on "the current version" up until the release of iOS5 I don't recall it getting any actual feature from iOS4 other than faster javascript in the browser. So things are not as binary as depicted there. It also seems like you're looking at Android through an Apple lens where the only…
When did you get your IPhone 3G? I got my Nexus one around 14 months ago. I choose it because its was the official Google developer's phone and so mostly likely to get updated! Except of course we now know that the Android benchmark device that's less than 2 years old will not be getting any more updates. BTW - I am willing to bet that when ICS source is released someone works out how to get ICS on it. I.e - I doubt…
I think I bought it about 6 months before the 3GS came out. I no longer use it as a phone, but still use it for other stuff.
I also have just got a Nexus One (and have another Android phone). I'm not particularly disappointed that it's not getting ICS. I've not figured out one actual feature I care about that this announcement will deprive me of yet[1] (and as you say, I'll probably be able to put it on anyway. The key sticking point seems to be limited storage space, which custom ROMs have worked around before). Perhaps it'll mean I get better scores on javascript benchmarks with the default browser, but I'm keen to try Firefox anyway now that I have an ARMv7 device. But if the only thing I get is version number bragging rights, I'm not sure I'll even bother with ICS.
[1] Face unlock? No front facing camera on the Nexus One, Android Beam? No NFC chip. Better browser? I'm not sure how much the benchmarks translate into reality. Built in VPN capatablities? actually that's interesting. Folders? We're scraping the barrel now. Different multitasking UI?