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Google will place some restrictions on handset manufacturers
SOFTWARE DEVELOPER Google will clamp down on mobile operators and device manufactures over the tweaking of Android operating system releases.
Google's Android has seen explosive growth in the past year, however users have had to put up with different versions of the operating system on the multitude of devices. The version fragmentation among Android devices has been made worse by some manufacturers being unwilling to update devices to the latest version of the operating system, leaving users stranded with deprecated software. Now, companies that want early access to Android will have to seek approval from Google's head of Android development, Andy Rubin.
Google has presented Android as an operating system that will allow handset manufacturers, operators and even users to tinker with it. It's a tactic that has worked well as handset manufacturers such as Motorola and Samsung have modified the stock user interface to generate interest in their devices. However, as we predicted last March, it has also led to fragmentation, with manufacturers blaming the time taken to make modifications as a reason for not releasing software updates.
The problems of devices running on various versions of Android have become so great that device makers have started to advertise what version of Android their phone or tablet runs. Yesterday, Sony Ericsson took the step of putting a little Android holding up a placard with 2.3 on it to symbolise that its new Xperia Play smartphone runs the latest version of the operating system in a newspaper advert.
Such a move may be welcomed by those who keep track of Android versions but for the vast majority of the public, buying an Android phone should result in uniform feature set regardless of what handset they purchase. That's the type of experience that has proven so successful for Apple in presenting the Iphone to consumers.
Google's decision to require device manufacturers' and operators' plans for Android pass through Rubin is likely to be criticised only if there are significant restrictions on what they can do with the software. It would be surprising if Google was to limit the plans of companies such as HTC, Samsung or LG. Instead it is far more likely that Rubin will look for assurances that they can deliver updates to users in a timely manner.
A totally free and open development environment would work in an industry that was not so competitive. Obviously mobile operators and device manufacturers need to make money and while some might view Google's actions as turning its back on Android's roots, the operating system's recent history shows that some rules are required.
It's hard to imagine Google taking the authoritarian stance of Apple with its IOS, however placing some demands on device makers and mobile operators should enable Google to better protect the Android brand and its customers. µ
Tags: Google
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I am glad Google is forcing its developers to keep up with Google. Why should the Samsung customer have to wait for Samsung to make its own modifications to an operating system that has been updated for months? This will make the manufactures accountable for releasing software to the customer that Google has released to the world.
Also, @Mr. Anderson HOW!?!? Just because Google is asking their manufactures to release the software in a timely matter doesn't mean that it is going to take an iron grip over all things that are Android powered.
Google = New Apple
If I wanted restrictions I would have bought iCrap!
Thank you Google, At Last!
Now if we can at least get standardization of the order of the 4 Android Buttons (Home, Back, Search, Menu). Its so frustrating to look at phones from Moto or Samsung and HTC and see that the buttons aren't even in the same order. Maligned as WP7 is least it defined a reference specification which includes the button order.
I think the issue is that those companies have their own propriety crap added that they won't update, and I expect they do it on purpose to sell people new model phones and there's more profit in that.
meanwhile 'authoritarian' Apple(!) keep making 50% of ALL the profit and users seem very happy (highest user satisfaction).
So its crappy software for the cheapskates and iOS for the rest of us.
Cool.
It's a -good- thing that new Android editions are released at short intervals compared to operating systems like Windows. It puts new features into the hands of new users.
It's a good thing that new products advertise their updated functionality, or even just version number egotism like having the latest annually-changed car number plate series.
It's a good thing when older hardware can receive upgrades, but sometimes new software isn't compatible with older processors (A6 < A7 < A8 I assume). Paaradoxically, it would help if there was even a small fee for the upgrade: that would pay somebody to do the work of adapting the software for each device. It also would motivate phone companies to deliver something to sell.
It's good when a software title runs on several successive versions of hardware and software, but that isn't possible either. But the older Adndroid editions don't cease to be a viable market just because they are superseded. The installed base doesn't disappear, and may even continue to grow for a while.
I have to wonder if everything I read today is an April fools joke, so I'm hesitant... but this does not seem too crazy to not be true...
A level of control does need to take place or the fragmentation will eventually ruin Android as a brand. When I'm looking at phones or tablets it has gotten to the point where I want to know what version of ANdroid it is running and when it will be updated, or if it will. Maybe these headset companies need to stand out by adding hardware features and speacial apps that take advantage of those features instead of UI. They can work with Google to enhance the UI together.
Now that I think about it, Sony has a good idea in that they will have apps that will take advantage of the new PS Phone technology. Maybe they are changing the UI, but the use of interesting hardware IMHO is the key.
Its about time fragmentation, real fragmentation not subversions.
Every distro i can think of has sub versions hey have to support at a time.
What we need is a fork in the road.
We need an android fork that 1 makes new code and 2 integrates code from the original and contributes code back to the original.
They should be made to be apk compatible.