Android
Android fragmentation is here to stay – deal with it. [OPINION]
May 4, 2010 | by Andrew Kameka
Google Android
![Android fragmentation is here to stay – deal with it. [OPINION]](http://862525175.r.cdn77.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/android-treats.jpg)
Android fragmentation is here to stay – deal with it. I had to include that statement twice just to make sure people recognize this predicament. No matter how much we complain or shake our fists at Google and the Open Handset Alliance, Android will have different software versions.
Fragmentation is alive and well, and people need to accept this as a reality of Android. Just because one phone has a particular experience doesn’t mean that all phones will enjoy a similar fate. Google may have plans to try to fight this off in Froyo and Gingerbread, but it’s unlikely that they will be able to overcome challenges of different hardware specs and continued innovation.
Google has once again updated its platform chart to reveal which Android versions access the Android Market. Guess which is the most popular version? No, not the fresh-baked goodness of Eclair; the now stale sweetness of Cupcake and Donut, which account for 37 percent and 29 percent respectively. Despite Android 2.1 debuting nearly six months ago, and 1.6 several months prior to that, less than one-third of Android users have an up-to-date version of the platform.
People often complain that their Hero can’t use certain apps, their Tattoo can’t see certain apps, or that Google releases apps for the Droid or Nexus One instead of making them compatible with the G1. This is an inconvenience that we’ll have to bear. When the time finally comes that your Hero gets Éclair 2.1, you’ll celebrate and rush to use all those features previously unavailable on Cupcake. Two hours later, Android will probably be on 2.2 and you may still run into apps or features that are incompatible.
Android is a young platform that’s poised to be fragmented for the foreseeable future. Manufacturers are likely to continue building their own flavors of Android because its one of the few ways to set their product apart from others. After all, there’s only so many ways to stuff a Snapdragon processor into a WVGA screen with a 5 megapixel camera. There’s no way to avoid long periods of fragmentation if OEM’s will continue performing major changes to Android’s code, which adds a longer period of getting those interfaces to be compatible with Google’s rapid pace of updates.
I’d love Android to have a uniform experience, but not at the cost of choice. The only reason anyone should buy an EVO or Cliq is because they are attracted to Sense and MOTOBLUR, two unique experiences not available in the “vanilla” Android. If you want the latest updates, get a Nexus One.
Loving Sense and being stuck on 1.5 may have caught most people off guard, but it is now a known issue. From this point on, you choose to love Sense or MOTOBLUR fully-knowing that it will take several months to get the latest version of Android – if you get it at all. The same goes for people who own a G1, myTouch, Galaxy, and so on. You have a valid beef with your carrier/phone maker; however, if you want all the pizazz of Google innovations, get a new phone capable of running them.
There are only two options: evolve or perish. Android is going to move forward with or without you.
So basically you’re saying Android has issues, but because we know about those issues we should just put up with them?
Sorry, but too much fragmentation and it becomes unusable, just like what happened to Unix in the 70s and 80s. You either fix it, or watch as a similar product, ala Linux, comes along and takes over.
let's not forget that we're basically talking about a hand held computer. If updates came not be had in a timely fashion they will go with a vendor that can produce on time. If smartphones have any chance of overtaking standard computers for every day stuff, carriers, vendors, and manufacturers need to wake up to that reality.
I'm not going to buy a new phone every few months, but I will pay close attention how the other vendors besides HTC deal with the updates made available by Google. When it's time to buy a new phone I will try to stay away from HTC, because HTC has lied to us too many times now.
My HTC G1 got an update to 1.1 and 1,5 as soon as it was ready. My Voda HTC Magic got 1.6 about 2 weeks after T-Mo rolled it out. And I expect my Nexus One will get the next update pretty quick too. So go easy on HTC. There are many factors involved – SenseUI, different carriers etc etc etc
Fragmentation? Hey, guys, that's what Java is here for : being able to run your program everywhere. The problem probably lies in mobile vendors being lazy, or Google not helping updating to the latest versions, or the cellular operators not pushing those updates, or lack of interaction between any combination of those actors. But there is a potential, we could have at least Android 2.X on all mobiles
thats right, they are basically hand held computers as the os is updated and new features added the hardware requirements increase try installing windows 7 on a pc with 128mb of ram.. not going to happen, windows 98 would have worked perfectly as Andrew aptly put it “deal with it”
@elmicha maybe you are confusing the manufacturer with the carrier?
We have to remember that we are talking about phones here. An average user doesn't know or care what kind of software drives their smartphone. Many will likely be just fine with whatever goodness they have pre-installed on the device. Also let's not forget that Android is in its infancy and as such boasts larger than normal ratio of geeks to normal people among its userbase. It'll go away sooner or later. For Android to succeed, it needs to become a platform for regular people, which seems to be happening before our eyes. It's the developers who are really concerned about this whole fragmentation thing. Developing for a fragmented platform consumes more resources and thus is more expensive. For smaller developer shops it's prohibitive as it blurs the focus and dissipates the energy into the ether. In practical terms even if/when Android catches up with iWhatever in numbers the platforms will be vastly different from a developer reach perspective. In the i* land you develop for one device and can be pretty sure you are reaching tens of millions of nearly identical devices. In Android land you develop for a flagship device and keep your fingers crossed that your thing will work on a fair number of others. Fragmentation or not, Android is fun to work with and grows like weed. There are lots of nuggets here and there and the territory is largely unmarked… If you are an aspiring Android developer, stop thinking and go for it. Kind regards, Borys Burnayev actioncomplete.com GTD for Android and Web My recent post AC for Web Beta and AC for Android 5 Released, Feature 2-Way Sync
I agree, but dealing with it and accepting it and doing nothing are two different things. This is totally a shameless plug, but it's relevant. I started Duarlander (http://duarlander.com) so that developers who do want users to have a quality experience, and a consistent one, have a fighting chance at making everyone happy. I'd be really grateful if you'd check it out.
Brilliant marketing by google; people get to update their phone and OS! Keeps 'em wanting the new.
Fragmentation doesn’t only affect the user. Do you have any idea how frustrating it is that I have to have 2 version of one of my applications, with different experiences on both? Pain in the ass and a waste of my time. Google needs to make something that will make it easier for developers to make universal apps.
That fragmentation is going to make it difficult to overcome the iPhone. If I see my friend's iPhone, then I know what user experience I'm going to get. If I see my friend's droid, then I need to know exactly what carrier and model it is or I won't necessarily get the same user experience. That will slow adoption and will frustrate the non-techie user. My recent post Fencing – Flat Broke but Going for Gold
That fragmentation is going to make it difficult to overcome the iPhone. If I see my friend's iPhone, then I know what user experience I'm going to get. If I see my friend's droid, then I need to know exactly what carrier and model it is or I won't necessarily get the same user experience. That will slow adoption and will frustrate the non-techie user. My recent post Fencing – Flat Broke but Going for Gold
That fragmentation is going to make it difficult to overcome the iPhone. If I see my friend's iPhone, then I know what user experience I'm going to get. If I see my friend's droid, then I need to know exactly what carrier and model it is or I won't necessarily get the same user experience. That will slow adoption and will frustrate the non-techie user. My recent post Fencing – Flat Broke but Going for Gold
That fragmentation is going to make it difficult to overcome the iPhone. If I see my friend's iPhone, then I know what user experience I'm going to get. If I see my friend's droid, then I need to know exactly what carrier and model it is or I won't necessarily get the same user experience. That will slow adoption and will frustrate the non-techie user. My recent post Fencing – Flat Broke but Going for Gold
My G1 runs 2.1 just fine.