[PCWorld]

Post your comments for Will Google Tablet Sales Frag or Defrag the Android Market? here

[FHolt]

This article brings up some good points and it maybe best to wait on getting a tablet until this mess gets sorted out.

[Bruizer]

Pcworld still dreaming of the Google tablet. http://www.pcworld.c...oming_soon.html

[teevirus]

Somehow you fail to mention Amazon's tablet is run on a version of Android and the Amazon app store is available to the vast majority of android devices (phones and tablets). In addition short articles like these never seem to define exaclty what is meant by fragmentation. If what you mean is there are apps that will only work on the newest version of Android (4.0.x) I would love to be given some actual significant numbers/ examples of this.

[HomerNixon]

FHolt, on 09 April 2012 - 09:37 AM, said:

This article brings up some good points and it maybe best to wait on getting a tablet until this mess gets sorted out.

Unless you have money to throw around, wait to see how the Windows 8 offerings compare with the IPad 2 or the new Ipad and the Samsung/Asus android tablets.

I have a lesser Android tablet and regret making the early purchase. Way too many apps that not compatible, way too many crashes/reboots....

[HomerNixon]

teevirus, on 09 April 2012 - 10:13 AM, said:

Somehow you fail to mention Amazon's tablet is run on a version of Android and the Amazon app store is available to the vast majority of android devices (phones and tablets). In addition short articles like these never seem to define exaclty what is meant by fragmentation. If what you mean is there are apps that will only work on the newest version of Android (4.0.x) I would love to be given some actual significant numbers/ examples of this.

There are many apps that will only work on older versions of android.

[QMaverick]

Yeah, I love how the news seems to love throwing around the word "fragmented" when talking about Android, but speaking as someone that works directly with app developers...you're blowing it a bit out of proportion. There are maybe 3 total devices that people still use that have trouble with our app (including phones and tablets). None of the most recent devices (the ones being sold now) seem to run into any unique trouble. That's not fragmentation, it's amazing. The fact that diverse hardware can come together under one OS and work across multiple versions of that very same OS is simply impressive.

[teevirus]

HomerNixon, on 09 April 2012 - 10:34 AM, said:

teevirus, on 09 April 2012 - 10:13 AM, said:

Somehow you fail to mention Amazon's tablet is run on a version of Android and the Amazon app store is available to the vast majority of android devices (phones and tablets). In addition short articles like these never seem to define exaclty what is meant by fragmentation. If what you mean is there are apps that will only work on the newest version of Android (4.0.x) I would love to be given some actual significant numbers/ examples of this.

There are many apps that will only work on older versions of android.

Not that I don't believe you but you are really going to have to site some sources or examples.

[rpahk]

FHolt, on 09 April 2012 - 09:37 AM, said:

This article brings up some good points and it maybe best to wait on getting a tablet until this mess gets sorted out.

You just described why Apple is the only tablet that matters: it works in a way consumers can understand. Every time.

[nonseq]

As far as I can tell, apart from the Kindle Fire, there is no sustainable Android tablet market. And Amazon virtually ignores the Android connection in their Fire marketing materials.

[FalKirk]

teevirus, on 09 April 2012 - 10:13 AM, said:

If what you mean is there are apps that will only work on the newest version of Android (4.0.x) I would love to be given some actual significant numbers/ examples of this.

Teevirus, I don't have any hard numbers either, but are you suggesting that Apps written to take advantage of 4.0 will continue to run flawlessly on the much older, deviated version of Android that is the Amazon Fire? Version 4.0 wouldn't be much of OS upgrade if that were the case.

This post has been edited by FalKirk: 09 April 2012 - 11:42 AM

[FalKirk]

QMaverick, on 09 April 2012 - 10:35 AM, said:

Yeah, I love how the news seems to love throwing around the word "fragmented" when talking about Android...

Maybe they love throwing around the word "fragmented" because it's a major issue. All of your developer friends who are not troubled by Android fragmentation are developing for an older version of Android in order to get maximum compatibility. That's a problem.

And if you don't think fragmentation is an issue with consumers, just start asking around. They don't get the benefits of the latest OS and in most cases they can't update to the latest OS. That's a problem too.

[teevirus]

Teevirus, I don't have any hard numbers either, but are you suggesting that Apps written to take advantage of 4.0 will continue to run flawlessly on the much older, deviated version of Android that is the Amazon Fire? Version 4.0 wouldn't be much of OS upgrade if that were the case.
[/quote]

That is just it. The only significant apps that were written for 4.0 that are in existence are the updated standard Google apps. I would venture to say there are no apps with any significant downloads that don't work with 2.3 (gingerbread) which over 65% of android devices run. (according to some sources [http://www.droid-lif...-carrier-push/])

These apps are almost guaranteed to work on 4.0.

[crosswordbob]

teevirus, on 09 April 2012 - 12:17 PM, said:

FalKirk said:

Teevirus, I don't have any hard numbers either, but are you suggesting that Apps written to take advantage of 4.0 will continue to run flawlessly on the much older, deviated version of Android that is the Amazon Fire? Version 4.0 wouldn't be much of OS upgrade if that were the case.

That is just it. The only significant apps that were written for 4.0 that are in existence are the updated standard Google apps. I would venture to say there are no apps with any significant downloads that don't work with 2.3 (gingerbread) which over 65% of android devices run. (according to some sources [http://www.droid-lif...-carrier-push/])

These apps are almost guaranteed to work on 4.0.

Doesn't that imply that uptake of new app development features from recent versions of Android is slowed due to fragmentation?

[rrubin5]

Instead of "fragmentation" read "choice". Choice is what the Android biospere offers users, just look at the great selection of android cell phones that are out there. A variety of sizes, functionalities and costs for everyone's needs. "Choice" not "fragmentation".

[FalKirk]

rrubin5, on 09 April 2012 - 12:37 PM, said:

Instead of "fragmentation" read "choice".

Andy Rubin, is that you?

This is the most ludicrous argument ever. No one voluntarily chooses to have an older, less capable OS. This is fragmentation, not choice and for you to even suggest otherwise is a rationalization (mental evasion of reality) of monumental proportions.

[Nuke61]

rrubin5, on 09 April 2012 - 12:37 PM, said:

Instead of "fragmentation" read "choice". Choice is what the Android biospere offers users, just look at the great selection of android cell phones that are out there. A variety of sizes, functionalities and costs for everyone's needs. "Choice" not "fragmentation".

Choice is just another word for fragmentation. Do the developers then code for the LCD device, or should they code for newest, or neither? I don't understand how anyone can argue that fragmentation on Android doesn't exist, because all you have to do is look at the apps. I just now checked on the reviews for Google Maps, there are are lots of "GREAT APP" type of reviews, like this one:

• Eris on April 9, 2012 (Motorola Photon 4G with version 6.5.0)
  
  Awesomeness!!

. But there are also ones like the following:

• Kenny on April 9, 2012 (HTC myTouch 3G Slide with version 6.5.0)
  This keeps force closing when I try to use navigation...no problems until the last ...
  This keeps force closing when I try to use navigation...no problems until the last update. Why did you guys have to go and screw it up?? Just like everything else, open source apps kick your butts

Same app version, different OS versions, different hardware, different results. That's choice, and that's also fragmentation.

Go check it out for yourself... https://play.google....mFwcHMubWFwcyJd

Rather than a question of fragmentation, my question is how the hardware vendors will feel about competing against the very company that supplies the software. They're probably O.K. on the phone front because there's a lot of market share to spread around, but the tablet market has been bloody for all the hardware vendors to this point. Now they have to compete with not only Amazon and their "sell at cost" mentality, but now Google too? They can't be too happy about that, if Google does actually enter the fray.

[Kazmatron]

If Microsoft can deal with all of the hardware out there, I'm sure Google will find a way to do the same.

[rrubin5]

FalKirk, on 09 April 2012 - 02:57 PM, said:

rrubin5, on 09 April 2012 - 12:37 PM, said:

Instead of "fragmentation" read "choice".

Andy Rubin, is that you?

This is the most ludicrous argument ever. No one voluntarily chooses to have an older, less capable OS. This is fragmentation, not choice and for you to even suggest otherwise is a rationalization (mental evasion of reality) of monumental proportions.

[rrubin5]

rrubin5, on 09 April 2012 - 06:29 PM, said:

FalKirk, on 09 April 2012 - 02:57 PM, said:

rrubin5, on 09 April 2012 - 12:37 PM, said:

Instead of "fragmentation" read "choice".

Andy Rubin, is that you?

This is the most ludicrous argument ever. No one voluntarily chooses to have an older, less capable OS. This is fragmentation, not choice and for you to even suggest otherwise is a rationalization (mental evasion of reality) of monumental proportions.