Has Google Done Enough To Keep Android Phones Up-to-date?

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Has Google Done Enough To Keep Android Phones Up-to-date?

#1 PCWorld

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Posted 29 June 2012 - 03:50 PM

Post your comments for Has Google Done Enough to Keep Android Phones Up-to-date? here

#2 MilesMcever

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Posted 29 June 2012 - 04:26 PM

Actually Gingerbread is only two versions behing and not even sure you can say that till mid July and Jelly Bean is officially released so I would say just one version as Honeycomb was a tablet only version. A simple Bing, Google, Yahoo search would have told you this. The realy question should be has Apple done enough to update its OS as that is all I hear from my Iphone friends as they are tiring of the iOS interface. I read an article about 4 months ago that said windows phone would soon kill iphones because of the lack of major upgrades to iOS, and I just laughed but seems there might be truth to it just not sure it will be windows. But everyone has a different idea of what an update or upgrade is.

#3 JakePetrosky

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Posted 29 June 2012 - 08:00 PM

Let's hope they keep up the good work. I love using my android phone. The only thing I love more is getting a new Android

#4 Gnostradamus

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Posted 29 June 2012 - 08:26 PM

Can we stop the stupid pretense that fragmentation is an issue of manufacturers not having time to update their overlays? Most overlays don't deal with data.

They just want people to buy new handsets in order to get new OSes.

#5 BrianKeesbury

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Posted 29 June 2012 - 09:54 PM

I'm starting to think that PCWorld should stick to what it knows best. PCs. The articles that I have read about mobile devices have been ridiculous and incredibly not helpful. And as for fragmentation, may I link to this handy graphic that explains my feelings.
https://lh3.googleus...agmentation.png

#6 IvanSavu

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Posted 30 June 2012 - 01:57 AM

Oh come on people.. Has anyone ever done web development? Can you imagine fragmentation there?

All the fragmentation in Android is just a drop in a web fragmentation ocean.. You have multiple extremely different Operating Systems running on the wildest variety of hardware (from phones to fridges..). And there's hardly any complaints..

I mean even windows development is more fragmented then Android..

The only real issue with fragmentation is that every user wants to won latest android, and many don't get it.

#7 dk3d

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Posted 30 June 2012 - 03:25 AM

I love the open feel of my android tablet running ICS, one of the few tablets that had it from the start (acer iconia a200). But I admit I tired of inferior apps, and the sense that google was bored or distracted.

I went back to an iPad 3. Yeah it's a locked down ship, no file structure to do real work or get my stuff into it easily.... But until google can keep even apps like their gmail or the browser app from freezing in android, I have to go with a company that is focused. Behind the curve? Yeah Apple is. But maybe it's because they want to make sure stuff works before they release it.

#8 userb9ho

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Posted 30 June 2012 - 06:36 AM

Hey DroidTards STOP apologizing for the MUTT of a OS Call Android version what ever, the os is OK for the NERDS that like to tinker but to compare it to IOS is Non-Sense, use the Imitation OS and Move On.

#9 RanShalmir

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Posted 30 June 2012 - 08:45 AM

I would like to see an easier way to upgrade your phone. Currently I have an Gnex phone... for some reason I haven't yet received the 4.0.4 update. The only way to get this update is to flash this and flash that and the other thing; leaving me with the feeling that there's more of a chance that I'll end up screwing up my phone irreparably.

Why can't Google put out something that updates your device?

Even more annoying is fact that Google has created one version on the Gnex and Samsung has another version. Both phones are exactly the same but the Samsung version gets updates way later.

#10 RanShalmir

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Posted 30 June 2012 - 08:46 AM

#11 telemachus

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Posted 30 June 2012 - 10:00 AM

IMO the impact of the fragmentation issue is over-rated.
I can switch between different ROM's, and on my tablet/phones, and all the apps I use (about 205 of them) work fine on all devices... so it has had no impact on my use of android.

#12 MarkG

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Posted 30 June 2012 - 10:55 AM

If you are running a smartphone with gingerbread, you are only 1 release behind.

Jellybean isn't out yet
Honeycomb was tablets only.

I stopped reading at that drivel, and couldn't be bothered to read any more sensationalist Google hating bile.

If you want the pure Android experience and prompt updates, buy a Nexus device. It's like Apple, but better.

If you buy something else, you are at the mercy and deadlines of the manufacturer.

#13 jazzy007

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Posted 30 June 2012 - 11:01 AM

So, Microsoft announce Windows 8 for his phone line. Everyone goes up in arm because Windows Phone 7.5 users cannot upgrade to 8. I have not hear a complain from Windows Phone users just like I don't hear a complain from Android users not upgrading from Gingerbread to Honeycomb, Ice Cream and now Jelly bean. The only ones that complain are the tech writers in PCWord. When people bought their phone generally they are happy with the phone they have, maybe not the carrier, but that is another story. The point is, who cares if you cannot upgrade from W7 to W8 or from Gingerbread to Honeycomb to Ice Cream or Jelly Bean. Most people keep their phone for two years before they upgrade. At least faster than changing cars. If I have an Android with Gingerbread now, by the time my contract is over, I will upgrade to Jelly Bean or whatever is next out their.

#14 MarkG

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Posted 30 June 2012 - 11:01 AM

dk3d, on 30 June 2012 - 03:25 AM, said:

What inferior apps? All mine are great..

#15 DadCooks

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Posted 30 June 2012 - 11:50 AM

As far as I am concerned, until Google/Android stops allowing customization by the OEMs, they will never really catch Apple.

#16 symbolset

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Posted 30 June 2012 - 12:40 PM

DadCooks, on 30 June 2012 - 11:50 AM, said:

As far as I am concerned, until Google/Android stops allowing customization by the OEMs, they will never really catch Apple.

Android is selling almost twice what iPhone is. Maybe when that's four times, then you might think they might catch Apple some day?

#17 elthesensai

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Posted 30 June 2012 - 02:06 PM

symbolset, on 30 June 2012 - 12:40 PM, said:

DadCooks, on 30 June 2012 - 11:50 AM, said:

As far as I am concerned, until Google/Android stops allowing customization by the OEMs, they will never really catch Apple.

Android is selling almost twice what iPhone is. Maybe when that's four times, then you might think they might catch Apple some day?

I think he meant the differance in money apple makes versus google on the smartphone market. While android has a bigger market share a lot of these are from people that don't really care about smartphones, usually bought as a gift. People that buy iPhone know and what to use a smart phone. The same can be said about google but only to an extent. As an example I'll use my grandmother. My aunt bought her a inexpensive android phone using a very dated android os and she only uses it for making calls. She doesn't buy apps nor does she care to surf the web on it. That's a reason why apple and it's developers make more money on its than they do on android. I mean google makes more money on ios than they do on android.

#18 LiveBrianD

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Posted 30 June 2012 - 02:26 PM

DadCooks, on 30 June 2012 - 11:50 AM, said:

As far as I am concerned, until Google/Android stops allowing customization by the OEMs, they will never really catch Apple.

To be honest, stupid custom skins and bloatware are precisely why I refused to get anything but a Nexus. (and an unlocked one at that) For instance, a reason I didn't get a Razr is because I hated the Motorola skin on it. I wouldn't be surprised if others are like this too. The sooner the manufacturers wake up to this, the sooner we ALL benefit...

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#19 LiveBrianD

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Posted 30 June 2012 - 02:30 PM

BrianKeesbury, on 29 June 2012 - 09:54 PM, said:

Yes, but keep in mind that for PCs, you mainly have XP, Vista, and 7 to deal with, as well as OS X if you want. (plus, you don't need the manufacturer to offer an upgrade - you can install Win7 on an old P4 machine if you like) Linux doesn't have much marketshare, so that's not necessairly worth it. On phones and tablets, there's 2.2 (the minimum standard for app support it seems), 2.3, 3.0 (tablets only), 4.0, soon 4.1, iOS (just one version for the most part though), Windows Phone 7 (plus 7.5, and soon 7.8 and 8), etc. Of course, Android, iOS, and WP7 are completely different. Think about it - who uses anything before XP nowadays?

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#20 LiveBrianD

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Posted 30 June 2012 - 02:33 PM

RanShalmir, on 30 June 2012 - 08:45 AM, said:

No, not quite. There's the GSM version, and the CDMA versions for Verizon and Sprint. Have you checked for updates manually? I got an offer to upgrade to 4.0.4 soon after I first used my phone. (unlocked GSM)

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