That's a bit condescending don't you think....
My confusion lies in the whole "fragmentation of the OS". And more specifically, how that relates to updates for phones running Sense. I've read in a couple of places that as google moves into this direction, it will be less of an issue for users to get new updates whether they are running stock or Sense. This is what really doesn't make sense to me.
The current OS is responsible for a whole variety of application to manging the battery life, browser, camera functions, bluetooth, keyboard, e-mail exchange, wallpaper, voice search and all that other. look bellow for all the updates from 1.5 OS to current 2.1 OS:
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1.5 (Cupcake)
Based on Linux Kernel 2.6.27 On 30 April 2009, the official 1.5 (Cupcake) update for Android was released.[30][31] There are several new features and UI updates included in the 1.5 update:
Ability to record and watch videos with the camcorder mode
Uploading videos to YouTube and pictures to Picasa directly from the phone
A new soft keyboard with an "Autocomplete" feature
Bluetooth A2DP support (which in turn broke Bluetooth connectivity with many popular cars and headsets. This has still yet to be fixed as of December 2009)[32]
Ability to automatically connect to a Bluetooth headset within a certain distance
New widgets and folders that can populate the Home screens
Animations between screens
Expanded ability of Copy and paste to include web pages[33]
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1.6 (Donut)
Based on Linux Kernel 2.6.29[34] On 15 September 2009, the 1.6 (Donut) SDK was released.[35][36] Included in the update are:
An improved Android Market experience.
An integrated camera, camcorder, and gallery interface.
Gallery now enables users to select multiple photos for deletion.
Updated Voice Search, with faster response and deeper integration with native applications, including the ability to dial contacts.
Updated search experience to allow searching bookmarks, history, contacts, and the web from the home screen.
Updated Technology support for CDMA/EVDO, 802.1x, VPN, Gestures, and a Text-to-speech engine.
Support for WVGA resolutions.
Speed improvements for searching & the camera.[34]
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2.0/2.1 (Eclair)
Based on Linux Kernel 2.6.29[37] On 26 October 2009 the 2.0 (Eclair) SDK was released.[38] Among the changes are:[39]
Optimized hardware speed
Support for more screen sizes and resolutions
Revamped UI
New browser UI and HTML5 support
New contact lists
Better white/black ratio for backgrounds
Improved Google Maps 3.1.2
Microsoft Exchange support
Built in flash support for Camera
Digital Zoom
MotionEvent class enhanced to track multi-touch events[40]
Improved virtual keyboard
Bluetooth 2.1
Live Wallpapers
On 3 December 2009 the 2.0.1 SDK was released.[41]
On 12 January 2010 the 2.1 SDK was released.[42]
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Ask yourself what if they strip bare of the OS across several different phone from first G1 phone to the Droid Incredible. No camera function. No e-mail support. No keyboard. That would probably leave you a home screen, a tab menu, and probably just a setting function. At best guess, this "newer" OS would better able to handle CPU in your phone or has some new fancier User Interface. Or perhaps you can rotate your phone screen in any orientation. This would probably be the bare minimum that almost all android phones can handle.
Okay now that you have that, let's add functions to the phone. Let's say you want to add a camera application. The newer android phones can probably record 1080p videos (we can only hope) and a phone like the Android G1 can only barely do 480p. Okay, we have 2 phones and obviously the same application cant work as great on 2 different generation of phones. So i would guess the developer would create an application that would disable functions for 1080p for the G1 phone and enable 1080p for the newer phones. So G1 phone would install a modified camera application. You may say it's still fragmented. Hmm...not really. Both cameras can still rotate their screen in any directions and handle the CPU better. This is what Google is trying to do. Instead of installing a whole new OS to just have better camera functions, we only have to update the camera application through android market. And you can apply this theory to other applications, eg. the stock e-mail handler. Which doesnt integrate calendar. Ask yourself, what if google could just release a new application for the stock e-mail instead of rolling out a whole new OS? wouldnt that be easier? wouldnt that cause less fragmentation?
I think this is the best thing that any OS developer could do for our smartphone since our technology is rapidly growing faster compared to PC. Google is looking towards the future to solving this problem. This is why i think Apple will develop problems. It has to hold a press conference to tell the world of each OS update. Look we got cut and paste! look we got bluebooth! look we got multitasking!! Apple has been slow at rolling out these updates compared to the Android. That's why i dont think Apple OS dominance will not last unless they change their methods.
