The Android OS: Splintered but Unbroken Discussion

[Mitlov]

HeadCronie's talking about exactly what I meant. For a lot of devices (not all, but a lot), ICS was delayed or never available unless owners rooted their devices. The same will likely be true of Jelly Bean.

[headcronie]

I guess I misunderstood. I didn't think he was talking in that context. It sounded like he was saying you need root to get an update at all. Sorry.

No worries, good buddy. It's all good.

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[Drillbit]

While raw Android is cool, the UI layers actually offer superior functionality and even offered features that are ahead of Google. Ironically Google adopted many of these features.

These features include:

1. Social networking integration in the shell. (Sense, Motoblur)
2. The use of dark themes on the notification bar and curtain. (Sense, Touchwiz)
3. More organized application screen (the ability to segregate by Downloaded, Most Recently Opened, and so on).
4. Seven homescreens, sometimes 9 depending on device. Raw Android started with three and progressed only to 5.
5. Pinch to see all homescreens (TW, Sense)
6. Settings on the notification curtain (TW, Sense)
7. Resizable widgets (Motoblur)
8. Fine grain battery and power control (Motoblur).
9. The built in apps, such as the SMS app, the contacts app, calendar, email app, are often cooler than the raw Android's. I really like the ones with HTC Sense, they are almost the reason to buy an HTC phone.
10. The list can go on and on but one more thing I like to add is that sometimes the built in browser of a non Nexus phone can be faster than the Nexus or the raw Android. It appears to me the manufacturers often do their own performance tweaking.

I own a whole host of Android devices but I don't feel fragmented. Pretty much just about every app I run on Gingerbread wll run on Ice Cream Sandwich and vice versa. The one notable exception is Google Chrome.

Also one thing about the Android platform is that the key Google apps are updated separately from the OS. This means unlike other mobile OS, it does not require an OS update to update these apps. This is especially true of the Android Market - Google Play, GMail, Youtube, Google Search, Google Maps, and other apps.

[Varjak]

I think it might be a good idea for Google to flex a little muscle and 'convince' the carriers to carry at least one device that is 'clean' so it can get new updates as soon as possible. That said, I kind of agree with Drillbit that for the most part the major overlays like Touchwiz and Sense add functionality. I like them.

As for Jellbean, I've been hearing it won't be a major upgrade, especially as it's designated 4.1, which seems a relatively minor upgrade over 4.0.

BTW, I got a little facetime with the Sprint Evo 4G LTE the other day. As with most top-tier Android phones, it is both sublime and ridiculous.

[questionfear]

I look at it this way, whether you call it fragmentation or something else, if the answer to buying a future proof phone is solely "buy a nexus" or "root", well, that's an indication something is very broken, considering "buy a nexus" only covers one line out of dozens and dozens of android devices.

[headcronie]

I look at it this way, whether you call it fragmentation or something else, if the answer to buying a future proof phone is solely "buy a nexus" or "root", well, that's an indication something is very broken, considering "buy a nexus" only covers one line out of dozens and dozens of android devices.

iToy 3G got how many updates? Seems equally as broken to me.

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[Hook]

I look at it this way, whether you call it fragmentation or something else, if the answer to buying a future proof phone is solely "buy a nexus" or "root", well, that's an indication something is very broken, considering "buy a nexus" only covers one line out of dozens and dozens of android devices.

Sorry, but that's ridiculous. You can't future proof technology, and that's been true going back to when technology was slower. If you aren't buying what you need right now, then what are you doing? The rest is gravy.

[headcronie]

Sorry, but that's ridiculous. You can't future proof technology, and that's been true going back to when technology was slower. If you aren't buying what you need right now, then what are you doing? The rest is gravy.

Agree in full.

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[weegie]

Only a few seem to care, I don't understand why it's made out to be such an issue when the hardware goes out of date quickly and Android adoption is taking off into the sunset despite tech bloggers going on about it, obviously people are willing to trade fragmentation for the far greater options and choice you get as a result.

[questionfear]

Ok, hang on, before you all jump on me, I apologize. I posted while exhausted last night and didn't make my comment clear at all.

My issue/complaint with Android is that if you want a reasonable assumption that your device will be somewhat up to do date with OS updates and features, you need to either go nexus or buy another company's flagship phone. I know people who thought they were saving a few dollars buying an HTC Eris or similar serviceable but fairly midrange phone, only to hear them complain bitterly that their phone is slow, doesn't get updated for bugs, doesn't run apps well, etc., within a year of purchase. I think the issue is that people pick up the cheap phone on contract, and don't consider that they saved a few dollars up front to lock into a crap phone, when they could have paid a bit more up front and been able to use the phone for longer. It isn't just an Android issue, the whole system is broken, but Android tends to be manipulated by manufacturers more easily into lower tier phones due to the open nature.

For what it's worth, I give the same advice to anyone who asks me about buying a new smartphone: I tell them to pick either a flagship/nexus android phone, or a 4S. Yes, it means spending $200 or more, but when you consider the cost of a smartphone plan over a 2-year contract, saving a few dollars up front but being locked into a phone that will be orphaned in 6 months is a poor savings. With iOS, you know you will see 1-2 major OS updates and one or two minor point updates as well. With Android, a Nexus, or Droid RAZR/HTC ONE/Galaxy S series phone, you have a reasonably strong assurance that you will receive official updates rather quickly and be on top of Android OS changes. You can't say the same for a lower tier android phone, though those are fine if you are comfortable with ROM flashing, etc. And I have told people not to buy an iPhone 4 just because it's $99, because it's a terrible deal compared to spending another $100 and getting another 6-12 months of support and OS relevancy.

I hope this was a bit more clear. I guess my criticism is that Google wants it both ways: they want every device possible running Android, but they seem to recognize that not everyone will have a good experience that way, and so they have their fingers in the pie as well. It seems sort of like heading to your local diner, and the owner swearing all the food is equally good...but the owner only eats one dish, and never orders the others. Would you feel comfortable eating the hamburger there if you knew the people making it wouldn't touch it?

I don't know that there is a good answer, except the same one that's existed since technology began: Obsolescence is inevitable, but smart shopping, educating yourself, and buying the best device you can afford can all help slow the pain when the new and shiny is released.

Does that make more sense now?