Mobile OSs iOS Fragmentation gets larger with iOS7

[jrswizzle]

What an entitled world we've become......

Apple releases a NEW iPhone with NEW features and we complain that because some of those new features can technically run on the old device, we are somehow entitled to that new feature in an already FREE OS update....

Seriously?

And regardless of whether or not the feature can work on an older handset, said feature is part of what makes the new phone a new phone. ANY company can AND SHOULD do this (and they do - why Apple gets grief for it is beyond me).

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Oh yeah.......

Maybe I need to remind some people that Android 4.0 (released almost two years ago) still has more features than the newly announced iOS 7?

Airdrop? 4.0 introduced Android Beam, but it already had Bluetooth and Wi-Fi transfers available since way before, so.........

Control Center? 4.0 had a widget with power toggles: Wi-Fi, BT, GPS, etc. So...

Better improved multitasking in iOS 7? Android had that since.... Gingerbread or Froyo? So...

No app limit in folders in iOS 7? Oh my I can't even remember when this was introduced in Android... Gingerbread or Froyo again?

So in the end people stuck with Gingerbread or Ice Cream Sandwich are still on top of the 2013 iOS 7.

So yeah... fragmentation...

lol - which is why Android was leading the world in marketshare back during the Gingerbread and Froyo days.....

Oh wait, it wasn't. It was a laggy mess that no number of features could fix. And how about the fact that only recently has Google added reminders and alarm functionality that Siri has had for 2 years. How about adding a Game Center that iOS has had for multiple years. How about dev tools that iOS has offered for years.....

This goes both ways. A list of features means nothing. It is the implementation of said features that matters. If I had implemented a 17-step process to cut-&-paste 10 years before anyone else had done it should I be bragging that I had c-&-p before anyone - despite the fact that these people now implement a simple tap and select process that blows my 17-step process out of the water?

 

[strausd]

Assault has me ignored anyway, and I'm trying to turn over a new leaf but......

This has got to be one of the WORST and most TROLLING posts on MR. Why is this posted in the Alternative section? It's purely about iOS?

I'd hoped the mods would take care of this kind of drivel. It was clearly posted by someone who has no interest in iOS other than to belittle and mock it and anyone who prefers it.

If you wanted to have a discussion about iOS fragmentation, it should be done in the iOS forum by people who actually want to dicuss the pros/cons and issues.

The OP is not such a person, and having this discussion in this sub-forum only incites more nonsensical bickering.

That's kind of what he does.

Why are people arguing here? The common user doesn't care about fragmentation. For everyone else that does, all anyone has to say regarding Android fragmentation is:

Google Play Edition. Nexus line.

The end.

Lol, only 3 options in a sea of hundreds? None of which actually marketed to the mass public or even sold in carrier stores? I'm not sure you can really say "the end" to that.

 

[iHailCaesar]

Why people talks without knowing?

There is a chart in this thread that tells it all. There are a good amount of people that are on Froyo and Eclair. Thats funny!

 

[Dontazemebro]

What an entitled world we've become......

Apple releases a NEW iPhone with NEW features and we complain that because some of those new features can technically run on the old device, we are somehow entitled to that new feature in an already FREE OS update....

Seriously?

And regardless of whether or not the feature can work on an older handset, said feature is part of what makes the new phone a new phone. ANY company can AND SHOULD do this (and they do - why Apple gets grief for it is beyond me).

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lol - which is why Android was leading the world in marketshare back during the Gingerbread and Froyo days.....

Oh wait, it wasn't. It was a laggy mess that no number of features could fix. And how about the fact that only recently has Google added reminders and alarm functionality that Siri has had for 2 years. How about adding a Game Center that iOS has had for multiple years. How about dev tools that iOS has offered for years.....

This goes both ways. A list of features means nothing. It is the implementation of said features that matters. If I had implemented a 17-step process to cut-&-paste 10 years before anyone else had done it should I be bragging that I had c-&-p before anyone - despite the fact that these people now implement a simple tap and select process that blows my 17-step process out of the water?

While I don't agree with much of that as gingerbread was a mess, if someone is hell bent on upgrading their software, you'll be hard pressed to find any android device that can't be rooted & rom'd to the latest software. Even my original G1 can run jelly bean.

 

[Oletros]

There is a chart in this thread that tells it all. There are a good amount of people that are on Froyo and Eclair. Thats funny!

Please, firs inform how Android features are updated and developed, then you can write another hyperbolic comment like the first.

 

[jrswizzle]

While I don't agree with much of that as gingerbread was a mess, if someone is hell bent on upgrading their software, you'll be hard pressed to find any android device that can't be rooted & rom'd to the latest software. Even my original G1 can run jelly bean.

Very true.

But again - the quality of the EXPERIENCE could be greatly affected. Implementation, not just specs/features. A great smartphone experience relies on specs, ecosystem, apps and integration. There isn't one equation for a great experience - for instance my iPhone 5 offers a great user experience (IMO) with middle-end specs, tight integration/high optimization and a great ecosystem. Android also offers a great user experience (through flagships) with high end specs, freedom of implementation and a variety of options.

Both have their weaknesses (less choice on iOS, more fragmentation/less optimization on Android) - but the weaknesses many times don't outweigh the overall experience - which IMO can be great using both OSes.

 

[Dontazemebro]

Very true.

But again - the quality of the EXPERIENCE could be greatly affected. Implementation, not just specs/features. A great smartphone experience relies on specs, ecosystem, apps and integration. There isn't one equation for a great experience - for instance my iPhone 5 offers a great user experience (IMO) with middle-end specs, tight integration/high optimization and a great ecosystem. Android also offers a great user experience (through flagships) with high end specs, freedom of implementation and a variety of options.

Both have their weaknesses (less choice on iOS, more fragmentation/less optimization on Android) - but the weaknesses many times don't outweigh the overall experience - which IMO can be great using both OSes.

Can't argue with that and while I do prefer android as my everyday driver. I also enjoy a lot of the features available on iOS. Having the best of both worlds is truly the way to go.

 

[jrswizzle]

Can't argue with that and while I do prefer android as my everyday driver. I also enjoy a lot of the features available on iOS. Having the best of both worlds is truly the way to go.

Amen!

 

[Shanghaichica]

Oh yeah.......

Maybe I need to remind some people that Android 4.0 (released almost two years ago) still has more features than the newly announced iOS 7?

Airdrop? 4.0 introduced Android Beam, but it already had Bluetooth and Wi-Fi transfers available since way before, so.........

Control Center? 4.0 had a widget with power toggles: Wi-Fi, BT, GPS, etc. So...

Better improved multitasking in iOS 7? Android had that since.... Gingerbread or Froyo? So...

No app limit in folders in iOS 7? Oh my I can't even remember when this was introduced in Android... Gingerbread or Froyo again?

So in the end people stuck with Gingerbread or Ice Cream Sandwich are still on top of the 2013 iOS 7.

So yeah... fragmentation...

I've got Jelly bean on my android phone (galaxy note) and I can't do beaming or transfer via NFC, because my phone doesn't have NFC. When my ipad and iPod get updated I'll be able to use airdrop.

 

[asthamapheo]

at the end of the day, apple wants to make as much money as possible, so, this is not a bad thing for the "business"

 

[cynics]

There might be some truth to Apple limiting what older devices get. The 4S had better noise cancelation so while it work on the 4 the user experience may not be up to par. Plus the 4S had Siri servers overloaded for months, add the the overwhelming amount of 4's at the time and it would have been a huge mess.

They SHOULD have left out 3D flyover on the iPad 3. Its a laggy mess!

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I've got Jelly bean on my android phone (galaxy note) and I can't do beaming or transfer via NFC, because my phone doesn't have NFC. When my ipad and iPod get updated I'll be able to use airdrop.

Kind of a moot point.

iPhones that were released at the same time the galaxy note (oct 2011) was will not be getting airdrop.

 

[b166er]

This is just my opinion. I feel that if you're going back two generations (or in most cases, two years) it's ok to leave out features. I know Apple often neglects even their most previous generation in some ways, but for the most part Apple has supported older devices significantly. Not 100% but more than most companies would.

From Apple's perspective, this isn't even fragmentation. They tend to look at the mere numbers. How many users are on the latest iOS? That's what they usually focus on, and while it doesn't tell the entire story, it is a very important talking point when you are in front of a crowd of devs or at a board meeting. Devs don't want to still be developing/issuing updates for the iOS 5 version of an app when iOS 7 is around the corner.

I feel this is where Apple is usually coming from when they bring up fragmentation. It's not necessarily what features were left out on which devices, but whether or not the device supports the latest iOS at all. In that battle, they have always prevailed over Android and they probably will continue to do so.

 

[mib1800]

I've got Jelly bean on my android phone (galaxy note) and I can't do beaming or transfer via NFC, because my phone doesn't have NFC. When my ipad and iPod get updated I'll be able to use airdrop.

You don't beam via nfc but wifi direct / bt . You can still do it without nfc. Nfc makes it easier without needing to go thru setting up the connection steps.

 

[maxosx]

Instead of the overused misunderstood choice of the word fragmentation, that's been flung around to bash Android, a better word is prejudice.

Especially since Android haters have made fragmentation synonymous with the phone they fear. When indeed it was a matter of prejudice against competition.

Now that fragmentation is being associated with iPhone, the roar of criticism has become a whimper.

Nonetheless it's still an inappropriate word when the facts are, outside in the real world it's about choices.

Finally Apple has released its death grip on a single model of iPhone. This is exactly the right move to increase their sales volume. Why they resisted this long simply reveals how toxic and limiting their past leaders narcissism was and how deeply it infected the company.

I'm very happy to see Apple step out of its comfort zone by offering two phones this year. I have every confidence they will be very successful.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Instead of the overused misunderstood choice of the word fragmentation, that's been flung around to bash Android, a better word is prejudice.

Especially since Android haters have made fragmentation synonymous with the phone they fear. When indeed it was a matter of prejudice against competition.

Now that fragmentation is being associated with iPhone, the roar of criticism has become a whimper.

Nonetheless it's still an inappropriate word when the facts are, outside in the real world it's about choices.

Finally Apple has released its death grip on a single model of iPhone. This is exactly the right move to increase their sales volume. Why they resisted this long simply reveals how toxic and limiting their past leaders narcissism was and how deeply it infected the company.

I'm very happy to see Apple step out of its comfort zone by offering two phones this year. I have every confidence they will be very successful.

Too bad not different phone screen sizes, though. :T Baby steps, I guess.

 

[Technarchy]

Instead of the overused misunderstood choice of the word fragmentation, that's been flung around to bash Android, a better word is prejudice.

Especially since Android haters have made fragmentation synonymous with the phone they fear. When indeed it was a matter of prejudice against competition.

Hardly. Unless you own a Nexus (Or GPE device) you can pretty much expect your device to be abandoned by the manufacturer or not get updates for months, or possibly even years after Google does a major release.

Between, Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, and Jelly Bean not only are their significant improvements related to performance and stability that you might never get, but then there are the security issues that will never be addressed.

People are talking about 3 features on iOS7 that arent going to be on a device from 3 years ago.

We can't even hope to try and count the countless number of full blown foundations to the OS itself that a device from even 6 months ago will NEVER see with android.

I'm at the point where I don't really care all that much in my own purchases because I know I'm buying a new phone next year anyway. By the time Samsung launches KLP for the GS4, I'll be buying the GS5 and it will be a non-issue.

 

[Sensamic]

SGS2 (released two years ago along iPhone 4): received updates 4.0 and 4.1. Received all major and minor features, like Google Now, offline voice recognition, etc.

IPhone 4 (released two years ago, same period as SGS2). First update it got, iOS 5, got all except Siri. Next update, iOS 6, didn't get Flyover and turn by turn directions. Now it won't get AirDrop and so on.

What is better you say?

 

[Shanghaichica]

SGS2 (released two years ago along iPhone 4): received updates 4.0 and 4.1. Received all major and minor features, like Google Now, offline voice recognition, etc.

IPhone 4 (released two years ago, same period as SGS2). First update it got, iOS 5, got all except Siri. Next update, iOS 6, didn't get Flyover and turn by turn directions. Now it won't get AirDrop and so on.

What is better you say?

But it will get ios7. The s2 is unlikely to get updated again.

 

[daveathall]

I'm at the point where I don't really care all that much in my own purchases because I know I'm buying a new phone next year anyway. By the time Samsung launches KLP for the GS4, I'll be buying the GS5 and it will be a non-issue.

This to me is the crux of the whole issue, IMHO, most people update their phones after 2 years (Nope, got no evidence or link), who needs updates for any longer when a free update phone is available with the latest and greatest features. As far as I'm concerned fragmentation is a non issue.

 

[jrswizzle]

This to me is the crux of the whole issue, IMHO, most people update their phones after 2 years (Nope, got no evidence or link), who needs updates for any longer when a free update phone is available with the latest and greatest features. As far as I'm concerned fragmentation is a non issue.

IMO fragmentation only comes into play as far as app quality is concerned. The OS thing is definitely overblown, but the fact Android devs have to accounts for 28 different screen sizes ALONE from Samsung proves theres really no way to get the kind of optimization iOS offers.

And Android devs/Google has done a great job making it as good as it can get as the app experience really isn't lacking in the way of smartphones.

But the simple fact there are hundreds of different devices running a bunch of different versions of Android with a bunch of different skins - its a wonder Android is as smooth as it is! Google has come a long way.

 

[DGPMaluco]

SGS2 (released two years ago along iPhone 4): received updates 4.0 and 4.1. Received all major and minor features, like Google Now, offline voice recognition, etc.

IPhone 4 (released two years ago, same period as SGS2). First update it got, iOS 5, got all except Siri. Next update, iOS 6, didn't get Flyover and turn by turn directions. Now it won't get AirDrop and so on.

What is better you say?

Gs2 -> 4.1.2
iPhone 4 -> iOS 7

 

[Skika]

Tell me specifically what does not work on the S4. I have mine sitting beside me right now and I can test it out.

Tell me which of the million versions of the S4 do you have?

 

[daveathall]

Tell me which of the million versions of the S4 do you have?

I too would be interested in your answer to his question, I have a SGS4 (GT-i9505) running Android 4.2.2

 

[Skika]

I too would be interested in your answer to his question, I have a SGS4 (GT-i9505) running Android 4.2.2

My question was the answer.

 

[Assault]

Tell me which of the million versions of the S4 do you have?

I do love how some people always give a negative connotation towards options and choice... Probably because Apple doesn't have much of either. As the great Morpheus once said, "Free your mind."