Study: Fragmented Android Users "Get Screwed"
Study: Fragmented Android Users "Get Screwed"
Posted 10/27/2011 at 11:19am
| by Paul Lilly
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The fragmentation that exists on the Android platform is an annoying side effect of Google's open-source ecosystem, and we'll be reminded of that once Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) slowly rolls out to certain devices, while others are left out in the cold. Such will be the case of the Nexus One, a phone Google said is simply "too old" for a major OS update. But do Nexus One owners have it all that bad?
Not according to a study posted on The Understatement blog. Michael Degusta, the study's author, says he "tracked down every update that was released" for every Android phone shipped in the U.S. up through the middle of last year, and it turns out Nexus One owners have had it better than most, though the overall "picture isn't pretty."
Other than the G1 and MyTouch, Degusta says virtually all of the millions of Android phones in his chart are still under contract, yet seven of the 18 never ran a current version of the OS. A dozen of the 18 only ran a current version of the OS for a matter of weeks or less, and 10 of them are at least two major versions behind well within their two year contract period. The numbers only get bleaker.
There are a number of possible explanations that dive deeper into the issue of fragmentation. According to Degusta, one widely held viewpoint is that there's no incentive for smartphone makers to continually update and support their devices since they don't make any money after the sale.
"If that’s really the case, the phone manufacturers are spectacularly dumb: ignoring the 2 year contract cycle & abandoning your users isn’t going to engender much loyalty when they do buy a new phone," Degusta says. "Further, it’s been fairly well established that Apple also really only makes money from hardware sales, and yet their long term update support is excellent.
"In other words, Apple’s way of getting you to buy a new phone is to make you really happy with your current one, whereas apparently Android phone makers think they can get you to buy a new phone by making you really unhappy with your current one. Then again, all of this may be ascribing motives and intent where none exist - it’s entirely possible that the root cause of the problem is just flat-out bad management (and/or the aforementioned spectacular dumbness)."
View the chart and read more of Degusta's analysis here.
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MarioJP
October 27, 2011 at 4:01pm
This reminds me of the days of the "xp users" I don't need to upgrade if it works. Google better start think about closing the lid on this before they really dig themselves in a leagacy plague. Microsoft hopefully learned that lesson lol.
Roll Tide
October 27, 2011 at 3:48pm
On the flip side, some users dont know you can upgrade your OS for better productivity. They are rarely ever ota now but none the less its better. I have a low level OPtimus T and after up my update to 2.2.2 its works much better. No random shutdowns or SD card remounts. Most friends phones I look at, that are even more powerful than mine are still carrying 2.2.1 and are frustrated.
MR24ME
October 27, 2011 at 2:02pm
All someone has to do is root their phone, and install CyanogenMod, etc. One of the best things an Android phone user can do.
Caboose
October 28, 2011 at 9:13am
Not everyone knows how. And most people will find something like that to be frightening.
Carbon
October 27, 2011 at 1:52pm
Wow this is completly backwards!
Apple pushes out software that makes your old phone run worst and worst till you are forced to buy a new one.
That is what harware comapanie do!My Nexus One is almost 2 years old and runs 300% faster then the day I bought it thx to software upgrades and I have no need for a new phone still even tho I do want one.
win7fanboi
October 28, 2011 at 5:19am
Same here. Nexus One FTW! Atleast with Android you have an option to buy a "pure Google" phone with no added crapware and fast OTA updates.
JCGPZ9
October 27, 2011 at 1:18pm
Considering that there are many different configs in Android phones and that many manufacturers put their own skin/ themes on it, of course updates will be all on the manufacturer and be released at differing times. If the phone is old enough it may not even recieve the latest software due to hardware limitations or the manufacturer determining end of life. Ice Cream Sandwich is supposed to end or tighten up the "fragmentation." Another point is that software costs the manufacturer money so they'd rather focus on releasing a new product instead.
Besides, as stated by previous posters phones from Apple and RIM are not without their own problems when it comes to updating. Also, the 3GS is still being sold through AT&T so of course there will be continued support for the phone.
Trooper_One
October 27, 2011 at 1:01pm
"The fragmentation that exists on the Android platform is an annoying side effect of Google's open-source ecosystem,"
There is a solution to this:
iPhone 4/4S
Engelsstaub
October 27, 2011 at 1:00pm
Yeah. I don't get the Cover Flow anymore on my iPod Touch 4G since upgrading to iOS 5. Like everyone else's it just crashes and goes back to the main screen if you try.
I'm optimistic that Apple will fix this...but it's equally likely that they won't. It doesn't "brick" the iPod, but I love Cover Flow. As an old-school music lover it's nice to get a similar experience minus the crateful of records to flip through.
BTW: I bought my iPod Touch less than two years ago. It even stll looks like new. I know this is about phones but I guess what I'm saying is that Apple can have its own problems similar to those attributed to Android-devices and outlined by Michael Degusta.
Carbon
October 27, 2011 at 12:54pm
Wow this is completly backwards!
Apple pushes out software that makes your old phone run worst and worst till you are forced to buy a new one.
That is what harware comapanie do!My Nexus One is almost 2 years old and runs 300% faster then the day I bought it thx to software upgrades and I have no need for a new phone still even tho I do want one.
bautrey
October 27, 2011 at 12:50pm
Just root your phone and install whatever ROM/OS you want. The support for various ROMs are much better than the actual manufacturer and plus other benefits.
CaptainFabulous
October 27, 2011 at 12:33pm
This "study" is total BS. Why are all the top-tier phones missing? Y'know, the ones that DO get upgraded regularly? Where are all the Samsung phones?
And he conveniently leaves out that while older iPhones are allowed to upgrade to new OSs, much of the new features of those OSs don't work, so what's the point?
Sounds like an iTroll to me.
LeCappitan
October 27, 2011 at 8:41pm
Bullcrap. I had my iTouch for 2 years before I sold it. I had every software feature available, and it worked. A tiny bit of jailbreaking, and a bit of changing some lines of code(which was pretty much copy and paste) and you had an awesome piece of software that ran on last gen tech. So, before you go and spout crap, read up on stuff first. Also, that was the only piece of apple hardware I ever owned. Hackintoshes ftw.
CaptainFabulous
October 28, 2011 at 6:34am
"A tiny bit of jailbreaking"
I think that disqualifies your whole point. But nice try tho.
Cause the exact same point could be made for any of the phones on this guy's list. Just root the phone and install a custom ROM. Voila! Problem solved.
LeCappitan
October 28, 2011 at 8:02pm
Fine if you want it that way, I could do it without any jailbreaking. I tunneled through a USB connection into the iTouch's firmware and edited the code to enable stuff. Jailbreaking was used to get extra addons that I wanted, or if I was feeling reckless I could edit everything myself.
Caboose
October 31, 2011 at 7:38am
You still had to go out of your way, to make an unauthorized modification. Its not native, and therefore doesn't apply.
Keep trying to word your way around it, but the fact remains that older iDevices are in the same boat. A new OS comes out, and certain features don't work because the Apple says that the older devices don't support them.
Jonthomasdesigns
October 27, 2011 at 12:24pm
? I Have Older Ipod Tocuhes (not that old) that cant upgrade to 5.0 .. so whats the difference ?
biggiebob12345
October 27, 2011 at 12:17pm
How about the hardware and custom UI layers get a little bit standardized. I can buy a Windows PC made by dozens of different manufacturers and use 4 different OS flavors with any number of updates. Do the same sort of compatibility with android phones and I'll actually buy one.
quickone
October 27, 2011 at 12:02pm
You also have to look at how much smartphones have changed in the last 2 years, my Moment 2 years ago was great but now it is a painfully underpowerd brick. I'd imagine once the hardware side levels out they'll be able to run the new OS more often. 2.1 is starting to get left behind though, not all apps support it anymore and it came out only 2 years ago to the day.
someuid
October 27, 2011 at 11:43am
This is the primary reason I've not jumped to getting my own phone on Android (and just dual use my work cell phone.)
I do not like the idea of paying for a phone, either directly or through a multiyear contract, and have no expectations of regular updates to the phone's software from either the device manufacturer or the cell phone carrier.
I didn't jump to an iPhone because, well AT&T isn't out here unless I pay for roaming. Forget that.
The whole cell phone market/carrier market needs to be wiped out and replaced with something more consumer oriented.
CaptainFabulous
October 27, 2011 at 12:38pm
Don't be suckered in by this "study" that's full of vague and incomplete half-truths. If you get a top-tier Android phone it's going to get at least one upgrade over the course of your contract. iPhones are no different. They get 1, sometimes 2 upgrades, and many times those "upgrades" don't include any of the new features anyway.
And as someone below pointed out, you don't always need to have the latest and greatest OS as long as your phone works. If you really need the newest OS you can always root your phone and install whatever OS you like.
Archangel1976
October 27, 2011 at 2:27pm
Take my HTC Evo. About a year old. Running older OS. But... so what? Still works fine. When it needs an update, I can see it in the marketplace and bump it up if i choose to do so. Plus, if I don't like it, I can always put cyanogen or some other OS on it.
What I didn't like about my iPhone WAS, to some degree, the CONSTANT UPDATES. I'd have to update it and hook it up to my computer and it was basically a brick for the duration of their update every time I did this. And honestly... where was the "upgrade" from the update? I never saw any appreciable difference. If anything, it got more laggy.
Don't take this the wrong way, but having Apple f**king with things every week... cripes man. Just leave my crap alone. Plus... I also know that this "update" is probably a two-way street. What data were they mining off me every time they did this? Really... I don't WANT APPLE or ANY COMPANY for that matter constantly digging into my crap. I paid you for your product. Thank you. Now go away and stop bothering me. Quit telling me every damn time I turn around that "your product needs an update" and tossing some 100 page legal document in front of me. It stinks.
I don't want a company being my lil buddy buddy, because they're like that friend that ALWAYS wants something. When I want something from you, I want customer service. After that, go away, leave me alone.
AETAaAS
October 27, 2011 at 11:40am
While fragmentation is a known problem on Android, I take exception with the last paragraph. Just because the OS is not the latest version, it does not mean that the experience falls to pieces right away, it still works. Period.
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