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Robisan

macrumors 6502
Jan 19, 2014
339
2,059
I look at Android in the same fashion I view Windows. The cost of the machines are subsidized by third parties and distributors to help sustain margins in a world where the only control they have is in the manufacturing of the hardware.

But many flagship Android devices aren't any cheaper iPhones, which have no carrier control or bloat. Yea, there's some price flexibility after devices have been out awhile, but I suspect the lack of iPhone price flexibility is due more to Apple's price fixing, err, tight product control, than lack of third party subsidies.
 

Fanaticalism

macrumors 6502a
Apr 16, 2013
908
158
But many flagship Android devices aren't any cheaper iPhones, which have no carrier control or bloat. Yea, there's some price flexibility after devices have been out awhile, but I suspect the lack of iPhone price flexibility is due more to Apple's price fixing, err, tight product control, than lack of third party subsidies.

Their cost to consumer is the same but margins between channels are not.

----------

Microsoft announced recently that THEY are taking over updates to mobile devices for Windows 10 because of complaints of carriers taking their time.

http://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-says-its-taking-over-updates-for-windows-10-mobile-devices/

And yet we will have to wait and see how that spans across their devices. Android is the largest platform for carriers which translates into a huge opportunity for monetization. If Windows manages to achieve this and gains significant marketshare, they would be a in a similar situation as Apple where they carry significant clout and could tell the carriers to piss off if they try and garner control over updates for the sake of pushing bloat from third parties in exchange for dividends.


For the sake of clarity, I am not defending but trying to look at it from a realistic POV. As a Nexus owner, I think it is ridiculous that I have to jump through hoops because of some asinine agreement between the carriers and Google.
 

Robisan

macrumors 6502
Jan 19, 2014
339
2,059
Their cost to consumer is the same but margins between channels are not.

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And yet we will have to wait and see how that spans across their devices. Android is the largest platform for carriers which translates into a huge opportunity for monetization. If Windows manages to achieve this and gains significant marketshare, they would be a in a similar situation as Apple where they carry significant clout and could tell the carriers to piss off if they try and garner control over updates for the sake of pushing bloat from third parties in exchange for dividends.


For the sake of clarity, I am not defending but trying to look at it from a realistic POV. As a Nexus owner, I think it is ridiculous that I have to jump through hoops because of some asinine agreement between the carriers and Google.

True. But at least with Windows the consumer reaps some of the subsidy benefit.

It's really about having the cloud to stare down the carriers (and the willingness to see control as a greater benefit than subsidies). Samsung could do it. It's hard to envision any major carrier deciding not to have Samsung products.
 

JaySoul

macrumors 68030
Jan 30, 2008
2,629
2,865
Yep 10% of devices only on Lollipop after nearly a year is sad, they need to make Android M significant to the 90+% of people who likely will never see it.

Nearly a year? More like half a year, surely.
 

MRU

macrumors Penryn
Aug 23, 2005
25,370
8,952
a better place
Nearly a year? More like half a year, surely.

I see my mistake, announce in June 25th 2014, but didn't appear on any device till November 2014 .... It make it feel like its been around longer than it actually has.

But still 6 months and still only 10% is worst than windows Vista ....
 

JaySoul

macrumors 68030
Jan 30, 2008
2,629
2,865
I see my mistake, announce in June 25th 2014, but didn't appear on any device till November 2014 .... It make it feel like its been around longer than it actually has.

But still 6 months and still only 10% is worst than windows Vista ....

Oh yeah, totally.

And although this isn't a defence of the poor adoption rate, once Samsung and LG have a few months under their belts, I'm sure the % will be a lot higher.

Also, this is the overall worldwide adoption rate, including £50 tablets and Samsung Galaxy Ace IIIII Mk 2.3.6.66666 2013 Edition in Crimson Red etc. So it will probably be this low for the next few years to come.

Us lot here are predominantly flagship types, but the rest of the world generally couldn't care less as long as the phone works OK.
 

gotluck

macrumors 603
Dec 8, 2011
5,717
1,260
East Central Florida
Yea I wish they could improve the android update experience, but I am losing hope that any real improvements will happen.

And yes, the budget market is killing the adoption numbers too, I doubt the one and done software phones are going anywhere.
 

LIVEFRMNYC

macrumors G3
Oct 27, 2009
8,878
10,987
They should at least focus more on the flagship/premium devices. My Note 4 T-mobile, upgraded to Lollipop just a week before I decided to get the S6 Edge. Not much time with the upgrade on that.
 

tbayrgs

macrumors 604
Jul 5, 2009
7,467
5,097
They should at least focus more on the flagship/premium devices. My Note 4 T-mobile, upgraded to Lollipop just a week before I decided to get the S6 Edge. Not much time with the upgrade on that.

Well then, I'm sure Samsung considers that a success since you bought another piece of hardware from them. ;)

/s
 

LIVEFRMNYC

macrumors G3
Oct 27, 2009
8,878
10,987
Well then, I'm sure Samsung considers that a success since you bought another piece of hardware from them. ;)

/s

The only reason I upgraded the Note 4 to lollipop, was cause I already planed on getting the S6 Edge and give the Note 4 to my mother. I would have stayed with KitKat otherwise.

But yea, I get your /s. LOL
 

epicrayban

macrumors 604
Nov 7, 2014
6,517
5,353
Not sure if this has been posted yet or not, but sounds good: http://www.phonearena.com/news/Andr...AM-usage-focus-on-better-battery-life_id69675

Android M rumored to cut down on RAM usage, focus on better battery life


----------

And even more projected features for Android M: http://www.phonearena.com/news/Andr...pected-and-most-probable-new-features_id69647

Most probable Android M features

1. General OS polishment
All things considered, it seems Google won't be jumping "all-in" once again - major, groundbreaking new features or a visual revamp are highly unlikely. Whatever it ends up being called, we expect Android M to be everything that Lollipop isn't.

2. Improved Material Design looks
Material Design is great-looking and all, but even Google itself did not follow its own guidelines to the fullest, as certain design inconsistencies in its stock apps are not uncommon, even now. A further improved and polished Material Design look, with an even flatter and minimalistic "quantum paper"-inspired UI.

3. Better performance
Call this a no-brainer, but the next version of Android will most likely feature even better performance, RAM usage, reduce activity when the device is asleep, and reducing app wake-ups.

4. Multi-window functionality
Samsung does it, LG does it, Sony does it, why can't Google do it as well? Multi-window is among those features that certain Android phones come with, but those running pure Android are not among them. Well, according to certain AOSP commits, a multi-window-like feature might be coming to the next iteration of Android.

5. Universal quick reply in the heads-up notifications
This feature is supported by Android at the moment, yet it's not universal - developers might allow users to quickly reply to message notifications or interact with them in other ways, but this has to be exclusively baked into the app in question. Native, universal support (like the one in iOS) is yet to come.

6. Voice controls
Google is most probably aiming to adorn the next Android flavor with improved voice controls, allowing you to do even more things hands-free, most certainly with the aid of an improved Google Now.

7. Native fingerprint authentication
The major players on the market already have a number of devices that have a fingerprint scanner on board. This security-centric functionality evolved from mostly a gimmick to an actually useful and convenient feature that is seemingly regarded highly by both users and manufacturers. Thus, it was logical that Google might consider baking in native support for fingerprint scanners.

8. Proximity-based communication
According to certain rumors, the next version of Android might be sporting a feature dubbed "proximity-based communication", which will reportedly allow Android phones to discover other nearby-situated Android devices. We can only speculate as to what Google has in mind with this, but we suspect that it might have a lot to do with Google's home automation tech that will certainly make the rounds at Google I/O.

9. Android for Work
Google also seems poised to reach to the enterprise market even more with its next Android iteration. As per the already-leaked info, Android M will be "bringing the power of Android to all kinds of workplaces". What's more, considering the allegedly coming fingerprint functionality, which will further make Android more secure, and thus, more appealing to enterprise customers.

10. Android Pay
Android Pay was already confirmed by Google a few months ago. It will be a new API written from scratch, yet still compatible with the existing payment solution of Google, Google Wallet, and will enable users to make use of both in-store and in-app payments. As a refresher, bothApple and Samsung already have similar payment systems.
 

bahndoos

macrumors 6502
Jul 9, 2010
345
197
M is for MUFFIN!

sheesh, my wife would probably switch to android if that happened...

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Well.....looks like Milky Way after all!

They're displaying various arms of the Milky Way galaxy in the Google I/O intro video.
 

epicrayban

macrumors 604
Nov 7, 2014
6,517
5,353
"Google is pulling improvements that OEMs made in their custom builds and putting it in the main Android build."

Nice. Hope this means some of those nifty TouchWiz features.
 

Vegastouch

macrumors 603
Jul 12, 2008
6,185
992
Las Vegas, NV
Wow

So boring.

Is that all?

lol, i watched 5 minutes. Turned it off when talking about watches. I just dont care about that. I do like that the power plug will now be universal instead of one way. I still havent ever bought a wireless charge pad.

And Android pay? Is that going to be different from Google Wallet?
 

nviz22

Cancelled
Jun 24, 2013
5,277
3,071
I feel like Android M is like follow Apple's stuff to improve the user experience where it should've been improved ages ago w/ Fingerprint APIs and user permissions. As for Android Pay, Apple really forced companies' hands. Android M should be Android Meh.
 

Vegastouch

macrumors 603
Jul 12, 2008
6,185
992
Las Vegas, NV
I feel like Android M is like follow Apple's stuff to improve the user experience where it should've been improved ages ago w/ Fingerprint APIs and user permissions. As for Android Pay, Apple really forced companies' hands. Android M should be Android Meh.

Yeah, ....i dont see it that way. Google Wallet has been around for years and im not sure what Android Pay will bring unless they are just changing the name.
 
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