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apolloa

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Time, because it rules EVERYTHING!
The issue isn't instantly updating once the firmware version released its having the availability. Depending on the oem you have and the handset, it can be staggered. It still presents fragmentation issues across the entire android platform. I understand you seemingly don't mind but as an entirety of all android across the board I hope you can see the issues.

You are blinded by the Apple way of thinking with updates and patches, they ONLY ever release them as some big update periodically.
Android does not and you get periodic small updates to patch security vulnerabilities etc on their own, no waiting for the next major OS updates to receive them like with Apple. It's not fragmented.
 

Surf Donkey

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You are blinded by the Apple way of thinking with updates and patches, they ONLY ever release them as some big update periodically.
Android does not and you get periodic small updates to patch security vulnerabilities etc on their own, no waiting for the next major OS updates to receive them like with Apple. It's not fragmented.

Do you actually believe these words as you type them? Are you saying Android doesn't have annual major upgrades just like iOS? And that Apple doesn't release minor patches all the time?

It's not fragmented.

???? Look I am a huge Android fan. Hate iOS, but what fact to you have to back that statement?
 
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Truefan31

macrumors 68040
Aug 25, 2012
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You are blinded by the Apple way of thinking with updates and patches, they ONLY ever release them as some big update periodically.
Android does not and you get periodic small updates to patch security vulnerabilities etc on their own, no waiting for the next major OS updates to receive them like with Apple. It's not fragmented.

You do know Apple releases minor updates right? Like .01 or .1 types along with the annual iOS update. Doesn't android do the same thing? So nobody cared about jellybean, kitkat lollipop or marshmallow?

Apple has negatives but most would agree it's good with updates. And they can do that because they manage the hardware and software without carrier interference. Android updates except nexus devices have to be held up because the oems & carriers have to incorporate it into their skins and hardware. That's pretty fragmented to me. The fact that a Tmobile android phone might get the update sooner or later than a sprint, att or Verizon same model says a lot.

If you don't care about the fragmentation that's fine but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
 
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mrex

macrumors 68040
Jul 16, 2014
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SurfDonkey said:
Are you saying Android doesn't have annual major upgrades just like iOS?

annual release with android?

Version number Initial release date
Cupcake 1.5 April 27, 2009
Donut 1.6 September 15, 2009
Eclair 2.0–2.1 October 26, 2009
Froyo 2.2–2.2.3 May 20, 2010
Gingerbread 2.3–2.3.7 December 6, 2010
Honeycomb[a] 3.0–3.2.6 February 22, 2011
Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0–4.0.4 October 18, 2011
Jelly Bean 4.1–4.3.1 July 9, 2012
KitKat 4.4–4.4.4, 4.4W–4.4W.2 October 31, 2013
Lollipop 5.0–5.1.1 November 12, 2014
Marshmallow 6.0–6.0.1 October 5, 2015

as you can see, it has been "annual" only since jelly bean... but then there was also quite difference between the jb 4.1 and jb 4.3 before kitkat.
 
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cuzo

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Sep 23, 2012
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The Note 4 update to Lollipop destroyed the phone and killed the battery life, if you owned that phone this is a known fact.

To this day, that issue has not been addressed, you'd lose 25% battery overnight on standby.

The reality is Android updates are a crap-shoot, the less OS bloat the OS has, probably the better off the update will be.

I never heard a nexus user complained that update to so and so killed their phone, maybe because Nexus is a barebone OS but heavy skins like Samsung and LG have known issues.

I'm still waiting on my sprint m9 update, about 5 months have passed already since the nexus got it.



It is a issue, also factor in this...

Several phone have been reported not even to get the latest update (moto G) I think due to the manufactorer pulling the update.

This could be from capability or from poor sales, Sprint might pull the M9 update due to poor sales, who knows, Verizon is known to do this.

Don't compare Apple to android. Whatever apple does. they got it right. regardless of how barebones the os is, people like how they handle it.
 
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Tsepz

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Jan 24, 2013
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The Note 4 update to Lollipop destroyed the phone and killed the battery life, if you owned that phone this is a known fact.

To this day, that issue has not been addressed, you'd lose 25% battery overnight on standby.

The reality is Android updates are a crap-shoot, the less OS bloat the OS has, probably the better off the update will be.

I never heard a nexus user complained that update to so and so killed their phone, maybe because Nexus is a barebone OS but heavy skins like Samsung and LG have known issues.

I'm still waiting on my sprint m9 update, about 5 months have passed already since the nexus got it.



It is a issue, also factor in this...

Several phone have been reported not even to get the latest update (moto G) I think due to the manufactorer pulling the update.

This could be from capability or from poor sales, Sprint might pull the M9 update due to poor sales, who knows, Verizon is known to do this.

Don't compare Apple to android. Whatever apple does. they got it right. regardless of how barebones the os is, people like how they handle it.
I have had a Note 4 since launch. The 5.0.1 update did ruin parts of the phone, I was very vocal about it, but 5.1.1 fixed the battery life in my experience.
 

epicrayban

macrumors 604
Nov 7, 2014
6,517
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I'll just chime in a bit on the whole update thing. I haven't been following the thread that closely so maybe some of this has already been said. I'm not here to argue what is right or wrong. I just want to put a few things on the table.


Yes, Apple does updates the fastest. But their model of updating isn't without flaw. Firstly, not all updates are the same for every device that is updated. Older devices may not get certain features (sometimes the main feature) of an OS update. Older devices have reportedly been slower or suffered other issues with the latest update. Universal roll out has also backfired at least once before. Last year, the update bricked a number of iPhones. So yes it's nice that Apple can accomplish a widespread roll out of a software update, but all these things considered, it's not always as perfect as everyone (especially Apple) makes it out to be.

Google is a different company with a different business model. They do not control (as of yet) hardware and software. Even for their Nexus devices, they stagger the update rollouts. So, you can have a Nexus device and actually not be part of the first wave of software updates. I've read people waiting as long as a few weeks, maybe more. Google believes in rolling them out slowly to address any glitches/issues as they arise. If no issues arise, they continue the roll out to more and more people. It sounds safer, but it's definitely slower. Also, unless I'm mistaken, most, if not all the features come with the update usually.

Also -- and I think this is key -- it's been said (I forget where I read this) that in order to do a widespread update, it costs money. And in order to keep Nexus device prices lower than the competition, part of the way Google can save money is to save money on these software updates. Rolling them out a few waves at a time allows Nexus devices to be sold at very competitive prices.

Now, if you want to discuss carrier specific devices, things get even weirder and more complicated. This is near inescapable given the relationship between Google, OEM, and the carriers (remember, neither Google nor Samsung nor whoever are Apple; they simply do not have the same clout as Apple does). These updates have to go through many channels of approval. There is simply no way around this. The best we can hope for is OEMs keeping their word of an update timeframe. Given the nature of how complicated the process is, I think three months is more than fair. And Motorola, HTC, Sony, and I think even in some rare cases, Samsung, have hit their target promises. But there has also been instances where they've missed their promise dates. I think this is when I get annoyed. I'm a reasonable guy and can understand if it takes some time. But if you promise a date, you have to make it.

There's also one more important thing. Google's specialty is software. And so to combat all of this, Google has been moving their core apps to the Play Store and have been updating their stuff through there. And it's worked very well. Their core apps are regularly updated throughout the year. And when I say regularly, I am not being hyperbolic. Any combination of Gmail, Hangouts, Google Maps, Keyboard, Calendar, and more are constantly rotating on my queue of apps that auto update from the Play Store.

I think it's important to realize that updates in the Android world will likely never catch up to Apple's model of updating. It just simply isn't feasible when the two companies have such different business models and have such different relationships with the carriers.

The bottom line is, if you want support for the longest time, and at the quickest rate, no one does it better than Apple. Not only do they control the hardware and software, they have the clout to dictate the terms to carriers. However, this choice limits you to just iOS.

If you want something similar on the Android side, you have to get a Nexus device, or at the least, a device from a reputable OEM that has proven they can keep their promised update times. Motorola comes to mind especially because their version of Android is near stock already anyway. Either way, the rollouts for Nexus devices are a bit slower, but also a bit safer. It also means devices are more affordable. The good thing is, you'll also still get monthly security updates from Google, and all the core Google apps get updated independently regardless through the Play Store. However, if you stick to only Nexus or Nexus-like-experience devices, it limits your choices when there are so many different ones for Android.

Which leads to the third and final choice. If you want whatever advantages an Android OEM brings to the table -- be it hardware or software advantages -- then you have to accept that these devices likely do not get the longest support, and are usually the slowest to get updates thanks to all the complicated approval processes. This is unlikely to change anytime soon. At least not without dramatic changes in the industry.

Personally, like I said, I'm willing to accept a few months (3 max is very reasonable, I think) of wait time for the latest software updates. It allows time to work out any glaring glitches and kinks. And until then, my device still works very well. And, as mentioned, Google updates so much of their stuff through the Play Store throughout the year that it helps make the waiting easier. The tradeoff for timely software updates is that I get to enjoy the extra features or advantages that a particular OEM brings to the table that neither Apple nor Google can/will. If you're really asking me, I'd go even as far as to say I think immediate software updates are overrated. It's a great thing to have, but at the end of the day, it's not going to be a deciding factor. I much rather have the software/hardware advantages afforded to me by Android and their OEM partners. These are advantages that I experience and use everyday. That, to me, is more important.

That's not to say Google, Samsung nor anyone else shouldn't strive to continue to provide updates as quickly and bug-free as possible. It's definitely something that Apple does well that is worth aspiring to. But it's also not a deal breaker as long as your promised update timeframe is reasonable, and the promise is met.

Choice is a wild thing, but if you do your research and know what you want, you can make a great decision.
 
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apolloa

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Oct 21, 2008
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Time, because it rules EVERYTHING!
Do you actually believe these words as you type them? Are you saying Android doesn't have annual major upgrades just like iOS?

Yes I fully believe in the words I typed, and no I in no way stated Android does not get major updates. You seem to have read that into my post rather then me saying that.

You do know Apple releases minor updates right? Like .01 or .1 types along with the annual iOS update. Doesn't android do the same thing? So nobody cared about jellybean, kitkat lollipop or marshmallow?

Apple has negatives but most would agree it's good with updates. And they can do that because they manage the hardware and software without carrier interference. Android updates except nexus devices have to be held up because the oems & carriers have to incorporate it into their skins and hardware. That's pretty fragmented to me. The fact that a Tmobile android phone might get the update sooner or later than a sprint, att or Verizon same model says a lot.

If you don't care about the fragmentation that's fine but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

Again you had read something I did NOT type. I did not state in anyway that Android does not get big updates, I was challenging your argument of fragmentation based on updates on Android.

Apple does release 'some' incremental updates, but not as often as Android, especially now Google has set up it's monthly security updates scheme which some of the OEM's also follow. Thus providing updates a lot more regularly.
And also, Apple releases updates yes but it also releases updates with very obvious bugs and that also cripple older hardware, it downloads the update and then you are constantly reminded to update, even if your device is old and will run slower with the update, and then you can't remove the update if it is too poor after what 2 day's of it's release? Because they close the singing servers.
Yes Apple is good to support older hardware, but it's also very bad on doing it to play a numbers game and forcing people into not being able to go back to the older version if it ran better, this is something they seriously need to stop.
 
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sracer

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Apr 9, 2010
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Surf Donkey

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Yes, you can poke fun at a graphical flub at a DEVELOPER conference, but please do wake me when Apple just slides it in at one of their conferences that they have been developing custom machine learning chips for over a year now.... just out of nowhere. Pretty cool stuff.

“We’ve been running TPUs inside our data centers for more than a year, and have found them to deliver an order of magnitude better-optimized performance per watt for machine learning. This is roughly equivalent to fast-forwarding technology about seven years into the future (three generations of Moore’s Law),”

https://cloudplatform.googleblog.co...-machine-learning-tasks-with-custom-chip.html
 
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