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If you've been agonizing over which Android handset to get, this little analysis from Computer World should come in handy. One of the most important aspects of a phone, is future software support. If a phone never gets the new version of Android, that can be a real bummer. Each pre-Froyo phone was checked over in this study, and if the update happened in 2010, the carrier and manufacturer got a smiley face. Count up all the smiley faces, and you can see who's more likely to update your phone.
When it all came down to the numbers, HTC and Verizon were the most likely to update phones. HTC bestowed Froyo on 50% of their existing handsets this year. Motorola was next at 15.4%, and Samsung was third at 11.1%. As for the carriers, Verizon was up at 33.3% updated, Sprint was next with 28.5% updated, and T-Mobile was way down at 12.5%. AT&T has sent out no Froyo updates on its network.
Even the top end here isn't looking so good. Consumers have to choose wisely to get the OTA updates they might be wanting down the road. Carrier branded phones are always going to be behind the curve. We just didn't know how far behind. It looks like a Nexus phone is the only recourse for today's update junkies.
Image via Computer World
Comments are closed on this article
athlon11
January 13, 2011 at 11:41pm
Apple can control it because they own the hardware too. Microsoft can do it because they sell the OS to the handset makers and it's in their contract. Android is open source like Ubuntu, can Ububtu force every user on their OS to upgrade every 6 months when they release a new version?
B1Gx5MurF
February 01, 2011 at 12:52am
The real problem are the handset manufacturers, trying to add their own UI spin on top of android. Google releases updated versions of android, but handsets can't use them w/o some devs porting over a bunch of their own UI crap. They need to just make their UI 'enhancements' optional, and allow a stock android experience.
My personal android phone is limited to ver 2.1 by the handset manufacturer, and to 1.6 by at&n. I rooted and flashed it to 2.2, and got most of the enhancements, but running and unofficial 'hacked' rom, I'm missing features. Still, these 'hacked' roms are often ported by a programmer in their spare time, and oftentimes are fully functional within a month. Which really goes to show either laziness, or ulterior motives for handset manufacturers.
moko
January 13, 2011 at 4:20pm
this is a huge mistake on google,and the carriers,....not to update all android devices at same time....i mean huge : )
athlon11
January 13, 2011 at 6:10pm
Google doesn't control it, they provide the software for free, what the device manufacturers and carriers do after that is out of their hands.
Peanut Fox
January 13, 2011 at 11:14pm
Microsoft and Apple can do it. Why is it so hard for Google to make it happen?
They can make any excuse they want, but the problem is still there. It hampers users, but worse than that, it puts application developers in a hot spot when they go to make apps for devices that may or may not have software support for their application. There is no benefit to artificially splentering your market. It's in Google's best interest to address this problem
big_montana
January 14, 2011 at 5:59am
One, it is not Googles fault as much as it is the handsets fualt. two, the handset manufacturer releases $35 or less phones running sub par hardware that will not run the latest os, how is this Googles fault? This is most likely the carrier's fault, as not everyone has $300 to spend on a phone, or wants to spend. Three, app developers who develop for a model instead of an os version are idiots, and have no bussiness releasing apps as they are probably flawed to begin with, as you develop for a software version. That is why there are sdk's
athlon11
January 13, 2011 at 11:42pm
Apple can control it because they own the hardware too. Microsoft can do it because they sell the OS to the handset makers and it's in their contract. Android is open source like Ubuntu, can Ububtu force every user on their OS to upgrade every 6 months when they release a new version?
