Android Fragmentation

[Armen]

Tim Cook makes it a point to poke at Android's fragmentation but looking at the report below holy cow.

http://opensignal.com/reports/2014/android-fragmentation/

 

[jlabute]

wow, lots of Android stuff out there

Tim Cook makes it a point to poke at Android's fragmentation but looking at the report below holy cow.

http://opensignal.com/reports/2014/android-fragmentation/

Android is a great open source flexible platform. Perhaps Google should reign in Android and enforce a standard UI experience... who knows. People can also jail-break... their choice. Google will be reigning in Android with TVs, watches, and soon phones is the rumour. I think a standard UI experience is important... but... it is one of those things I don't care about so long as I have the phone I like.

Sensor fragmentation is obvious. Many Android phones compared to just a handful of Apple phones. Why does it matter anyways? My android has a barometer. Cool feature but not on every Android. so? I can use barometer sensing apps, while others can't. Phone can detect what sensors exist... so you can always get a phone with the sensor list you want. Unlike wanting NFC, barometers, or whatever, and not having it available AT ALL because the manufacturer only makes one phone. The competition is good. The Android phones advance quickly in features although not homogenously.

 

[satcomer]

This has been going on since the beginning since Google released their first Android update. Hardly any current Android user could update until their phone manufacture had to make it compatible. Most manufactures rarely updated current Android phones. They just made users but a new phone to get the updates, security update or not.

 

[roadbloc]

Fragmentation is only a bad thing if your see it as a bad thing. Apple see it as a bad thing since they like to keep everyone updated to the latest software so they can ditch the last version of iOS real quick and get away with it. And now they are attempting to convince the rest of the world that fragmentation is bad.

In reality, fragmentation means better support. Google support more than the latest version of Android (phones last longer before being ditched) and Android apps don't NEED the latest version of Android to run (thus better compatibility with older and newer apps alike). If all of the people who dislike iOS 7 could continue using iOS 6 just fine without losing features and support, Apple's customers would be much happier.

 

[maflynn]

In reality, fragmentation means better support. Google support more than the latest version of Android (phones last longer before being ditched) and Android apps don't NEED the latest version of Android to run (thus better compatibility with older and newer apps alike). If all of the people who dislike iOS 7 could continue using iOS 6 just fine without losing features and support, Apple's customers would be much happier.

I can't see this as a good thing, too many flavors of Android on too many different models. An application has to support the lowest common denominator and that in of itself is never a good idea.

 

[roadbloc]

I can't see this as a good thing, too many flavors of Android on too many different models. An application has to support the lowest common denominator and that in of itself is never a good idea.

A fair point. And perhaps there is too many, I wouldn't know, I guess that is for Google to decide. But I don't believe fragmentation is as bad as Apple makes out by any stretch of the imagination. They just want their customers to accept they have to be on the latest and greatest to be supported. And accept it with a smile as though the world of Google is much worse off, when in reality, they're not.

 

[maflynn]

But I don't believe fragmentation is as bad as Apple makes out by any stretch of the imagination.

Of course not. Apple is in the business of selling iPhones so they want to over exaggerate their competitor's weaknesses.

Samsung is doing the same thing with their wall hugger commercials.

 

[Jessica Lares]

So you don't think manufacturers shipping out semi broken graphic drivers and earlier versions of webkit is a problem? You believe that developers should have to work around these frameworks as is?

It has nothing to do with hardware, and has everything to do with software. Haven't you ever noticed that most things that don't work okay on TouchWiz work perfectly fine in CyanogenMod?

 

[AustinIllini]

I don't have a problem with "fragmentation" as Apple calls it, but I do have a problem with their being no top of the line vanilla android flagship phone.

Until Silver comes out, the Nexus devices are the best option, but they cut a lot of corners.

 

[DJEmergency]

As a developer I have a serious problem with fragmentation. Try to be in my shoes... I have an idea that I want to release an app for and most android devices doesn't even have the technology I need to do it with. Not all Android devices have a gyroscope and ALOT have a poorly implementation of it.

 

[tdale]

Fragmentation is only a bad thing if your see it as a bad thing. Apple see it as a bad thing since they like to keep everyone updated to the latest software so they can ditch the last version of iOS real quick and get away with it.

Wrong. Apple see it as a bad thing as its marketing. You can use older iOS if you wish. You can update if you wish, although very old models will lose updates eventually. In the Android world, you can often never get the next update as you rely on the phone manufacturer and the telco to provide for it. Or if you can get it, wait a year.





And now they are attempting to convince the rest of the world that fragmentation is bad.

It is, but not as bad as marketing dudes make out. You need to consider, can I get the next update soon, or at all? Does this affect the performance of the phone if there are so many CPU/GPU/components to support, will they use generic drivers or optimised.

In reality, fragmentation means better support. Google support more than the latest version of Android (phones last longer before being ditched)

Often, to get the next version you do need to ditch the phone


and Android apps don't NEED the latest version of Android to run (thus better compatibility with older and newer apps alike). If all of the people who dislike iOS 7 could continue using iOS 6 just fine without losing features and support, Apple's customers would be much happier.

Overstated. Apps will fail eventually as newer OS versions arise. Not great. Or they could de-optimise the apps so they aren't great, don't run great but support all previous OS versions. Its a matter of drawing a line in the sand re the best phone experience and backwards compatibility.

.

 

[AlliFlowers]

As a developer I have a serious problem with fragmentation. Try to be in my shoes... I have an idea that I want to release an app for and most android devices doesn't even have the technology I need to do it with. Not all Android devices have a gyroscope and ALOT have a poorly implementation of it.

And some have keyboards and some don't. Why do you need to change screen orientation when you have the keyboard out. Really? Little things like this will drive us nuts. Developing for Apple is still much easier.

 

[boast]

It was the downfall of Windows.

 

[mwa]

Fragmentation is only a bad thing if your see it as a bad thing. Apple see it as a bad thing since they like to keep everyone updated to the latest software so they can ditch the last version of iOS real quick and get away with it. And now they are attempting to convince the rest of the world that fragmentation is bad.

If you consider the ramifications in relation to security alone, then it is absolutely a bad thing. Factor in the effects it has on developers and even end users, and it's compounded. Then add to this that Android doesn't even match in most case Apple's promise of supporting 3 models old, and you begin to have a bit of a problem. Something like, what, under 3% of Android users have the hardware support for newer versions of Android that carry patches for widely circulated security risks. And, in one case, just to point out corporate motive, Google knew of security risks 4 years ago that they have only this summer begun to patch....for only those devices that can support the latest version, which as it happens is a pretty slim percentage.

Fragmentation of screen resolutions, fragmentation of hardware support contributing to fragmentation of interface styles and fragmentation of security options - it almost feeds itself, because as newer models are pushed out there is little incentive to support older devices when you're hoping to sell new models based on new features.

And buying Android means you're not even supporting an "open-source" (so called) system because of the way Google is continuing to lock things down and force developers and manufacturers to use Google services.

I don't see how anyone in their right mind (no offense to you if this is your viewpoint ), could possibly see it as a good thing. Plus, if you want advanced features you must sign in with your Google account, which opens the door to Big Search having Big Brotherly eyes on you 100% of the time; not that this doesn't happen already with the NSA, but still...

In reality, fragmentation means better support. Google support more than the latest version of Android (phones last longer before being ditched) and Android apps don't NEED the latest version of Android to run (thus better compatibility with older and newer apps alike). If all of the people who dislike iOS 7 could continue using iOS 6 just fine without losing features and support, Apple's customers would be much happier.

Google has some of the worst customer support in the world. And as far as some iOS 7 features not working in iOS6, well, that's par for the course with any software-driven device you buy - computers, GPS units, and smartphones. Expecting a then-current Version 1.n device to run 100% of all new Version 2.n features and blaming the company (in this scenario, it could be any company that does this) for lack of support is like training poodles to walk on a leash but then complaining when we toss them out the window and they don't grow wings and fly... It's a matter of "software progress fact" [sic] that major OS upgrades have features that previous-version software running on previous-version hardware simply can't support.

So, I get that it's frustrating that devices change quickly, but compare it to the growth and development of computers and tech in general. With new devices every year or even less, it's hardly a surprise that our Desktopian Brain doesn't fully grasp the speed with which the industry changes.

 

[RenoG]

It was the downfall of Windows.

I agree, I use to be a supporter of frag but I soon found out that it simply made more sense with a strong arguement to support it only in theroy, but in the practical hands on world of reality its a complete nightmare that you can't wake up from.

I'll take a walled garden over a open wild jungle any day of the week.