1.5/1.6/2.0/2.01...enough already!

[Turk 182]

Come on Google, enough with the different Android versions out there. I understand that there are different carriers and different devices and all the red tape that comes with that, but eventually you have to true it up and have only 1 version out there for everyone. I know it's not simple but ultimately that needs to be your goal here.

I'll give you an example using a terrible name but it sort of makes my point.

Microsoft.

(I know, I know)

They have 1 version of their latest OS our there. Granted it sucks, but there is one highest and best use version of it that anyone on any PC running Windows can download. Magically it works with Dell, Acer, Gateway, and HP. Now they may load a lesser version on PC's when they ship but you can always upgrade to the master version at any time.

This is how Google needs to distribute Android. Now look, I know Android is open and there are many developers and different devices, I get all of that, but for anyone to say that Google, my favorite company in the world mind you, cannot handle or make a single highest and best use version of Android available to all Android users, I will call serious BS. I can only hope it is in the works.

Wow just realized this is posted under the HTC Hero forum where I usually comment....feel free to move.

Turk 182

 

[Sosumya]

I tend to agree but once eclair is tested for all devices I think consolidation will happen naturally, and not soon enough. I have hero with the 1.56 and it irritates me I can't have apps like Goggles yet or even Sherpa which works on G1 and I had to use an external link cause the market won't allow it to index when I search for it.

 

[IFMISM]

sherpa works on 1.56. i have it on my hero now, but i do want goggles though

 

[Sosumya]

yes Sherpa works but you can not get it from the market with 1.56, the APK needs to be off-market to install.

 

[cooolone2]

Microsoft does NOT have one version of its OS out there... for the record it doesn't even work well either. The newest does work on older equipment and I don't even want to begin this path... but even its phone OS has different versions and don't work well either. Just a bad example (Microsoft)... imho.
So... what exactly are you trying to say? Apple probably is most stable but that is because it is only one system for one manufacturer, etc... very easy to be stable. Google and its Android OS have taken a page from Microsoft's book in making a platform and allowing others to participate... anyway, its in an infancy stage, I for one find it refreshing and hope it takes off and makes the world a 3 ring circus instead of just the 2.

 

[dcdttu]

Microsoft's install strategy is different from Google's install strategy. Windows comes with drivers that work on any machine that meets the minimum requirements, give or take a few models. Google's Android is tweaked specifically for certain devices, and does not have a 'universal install.' Also, things like Sense UI tend to further muck it up.

I do agree, the upgrade path for Android is a bit frustrating, with handset manufacturer involvement at every incremental update. Imagine having to call Dell every time Microsoft had a new version of Windows, or even a Service Pack, and wait months for them to even announce your computer was compatible with the new update, let alone provide you a custom version so it would work on your computer?

Not a good strategy if you ask me. The iPhone gets an update? Every phone made in the last 3 years is immediately able to receive it. Brilliant. Android gets an update? Only the Droid gets it first BY GOOGLE'S OWN DECISION, then others get it slowly by handset and carrier decision... Not brilliant.

 

[BiGMERF]

remember not all devices can run the new versions.. cant run windows 7 on a pentium 1.
but i do agree if your device does have the power to run it then you should have it

 

[Turk 182]

From a marketing standpoint they need to make the most recent version available to all Android users. From a technical perspective I am sure there are challenges. I imagine Google is on there way to truing it up and that will be nice. But if Android is to be the dominant mobile OS, and I believe it is and will be, they need to even it up.

 

[lekky]

We are assuming that the android version ran on phones on various different carriers has anything to do with google, it really doesn't (in most cases).

Google is developing an OS that can be run on phones. Phone manufacturers take this OS and develop a phone around it, what version the use isn't specified by google.

Hey Turk, its right of you to ask this question and express your feelings, but honestly this is the better case than the alternative. I mean if they had to put out one version a year, what would that truly mean?

It would mean:

Every phone out runs android 1.5 until next year, no updates, no google goggles or anything else the new version brings us for 1 year, even though devices release later could easily have this implemented.

 

[ari-free]

they need to start thinking of their Android phones as real mobile computers and not as featurephones++
This is also why we see phones with last-gen cpu's and custom UI's. Those are fine if all you do is twitter but once you really get into apps and live streaming video you need the latest OS and cpu.

 

[ER6BEN]

Come on Google, enough with the different Android versions out there. I understand that there are different carriers and different devices and all the red tape that comes with that, but eventually you have to true it up and have only 1 version out there for everyone. I know it's not simple but ultimately that needs to be your goal here.

I'll give you an example using a terrible name but it sort of makes my point.

Microsoft.

(I know, I know)

They have 1 version of their latest OS our there. Granted it sucks, but there is one highest and best use version of it that anyone on any PC running Windows can download. Magically it works with Dell, Acer, Gateway, and HP. Now they may load a lesser version on PC's when they ship but you can always upgrade to the master version at any time.

This is how Google needs to distribute Android. Now look, I know Android is open and there are many developers and different devices, I get all of that, but for anyone to say that Google, my favorite company in the world mind you, cannot handle or make a single highest and best use version of Android available to all Android users, I will call serious BS. I can only hope it is in the works.

Wow just realized this is posted under the HTC Hero forum where I usually comment....feel free to move.

Turk 182

Dude Seriously,

Instead of rambling on about what Google should do, you should be thankful that you have the opportunity to experience the wonderful and ever evolving OS that is Android.
Think of all of the people who would not have Android phones right now if we all had to wait for 2.0 . And further more, considering that 2.0 will someday be replaced with a better,faster version,if we used your rational we would all still be waiting.
Anyway....Android is great. If you want a slick looking OS that only evolves with a new piece of expensive hardware.....go buy an iphone.

 

[kabbie_mcfeely]

What I want to know is why so many people are whinning about 2.0+ ???

The first (in my opinion best) Android device, the G1 has been out longer than any other Android device. All non-rooted G1s are still at 1.6. You dont hear us complaining.

What every one needs to do is realize that an Android device is not an Iphone, BlackBerry or any other smart phone. This is new technology. You cant compare it to other smart phones. They dont even come close.

We all should be happy that we have a device as easy to customize as Adroid devices are. You cant do half the stuff on the other so called smart phones, that you can on an Android device.

Those that are not happy about it, why did you buy the phone to begin with ? Why didnt you research the device before you bought it ?

We will all get updates when or wireless companies, not Google or HTC, decide to send them out. Thats how it works. If people would do a little searching they would know that and wouldnt have anything to complain about.

 

[BiGMERF]

the general theory out there is that the g1 wont be able to handle 2.0 anyway.. 90 percent of those that would complain about it know this. thus the silence. the complaining is coming from users that have relatively newer phones that are capable

 

[kabbie_mcfeely]

the general theory out there is that the g1 wont be able to handle 2.0 anyway.. 90 percent of those that would complain about it know this. thus the silence. the complaining is coming from users that have relatively newer phones that are capable

I wish people would stop saying that G1s will not get 2.0. Some of us already have parts of 2.0...

v4.2.7
* Full OBEX FTP functionality thanks to Erin Yueh
* More low-level Eclair integration (performance)
* APN list update
* Kernel update (may solve various crashes)
* Busybox updated to 1.15.2

---- v4.2.6
* Update to AOSP-1.6r2
* More art from Eclair
* BT OBEX FTP fixes
* Revert some recent kernel changes that caused instability
* All locales available again
* Many many more bugfixes

---- v4.2.5
* Eclair/Blur animations
* Eclair Dalvik
* Wifi update from Eclair
* Kernel tweaks
* Tiny video player is back
* Update Phone mod from Cytown
* Contact list photos patch from Geesun
* Browser settings fix
* USB tether works thru wifi connection too now (thanks skyjumper)
* Apps that automatically change the wallpaper should be working again
* Other bugfixes and tweaks

Yes you have to be rooted to get this but it shows that the G1 can and will run Android 2.0.

 

[BiGMERF]

did i say you are not getting it? or did i say that was the theory? i personally saw a video of a g1 running 2.0

 

[kabbie_mcfeely]

did i say you are not getting it? or did i say that was the theory? i personally saw a video of a g1 running 2.0

I know what you said.

I was just saying I wished people (in general) would stop saying no.

 

[zoiko]

I will jump in here and comment my two cents worth...

My son is the one who got me into linux, then MAC and well the rest is history. He comes home from school every other weekend and he tells me about red had, ubantu, and a few others I can't recall right now... And I tell him that too many distros is a bad thing ...if they want to make it mainstream because one week you have this and the other week you get something else... ( that's just my opinion ).

I tell my son to leave my computers alone and to build and modify his ... LOL.

I walk in the next day and go to turn on my comp and wow I have a totally new screen.

Ok enough of me... I just know I like my hero, do I want 2.0 yes... Do I need it yet NO!!!

 

[stinky]

Google doesnt "need" to do anything. They can do whatever they want.

 

[mrqs]

What I want to know is why so many people are whinning about 2.0+ ???

The first (in my opinion best) Android device, the G1 has been out longer than any other Android device. All non-rooted G1s are still at 1.6. You dont hear us complaining.

no, i wouldn't be complaining either, but being stuck on 1.5 with no confirmation of any coming update (more the opposite) on the galaxy, i'm not a happy camper

dropping support for a year or two old device is all fine, but imo google should enforce updates for recent models
why google? because google is the only one with the power to enforce it on everyone

 

[detroid]

What I want to know is why so many people are whinning about 2.0+ ???

The first (in my opinion best) Android device, the G1 has been out longer than any other Android device. All non-rooted G1s are still at 1.6. You dont hear us complaining.

What every one needs to do is realize that an Android device is not an Iphone, BlackBerry or any other smart phone. This is new technology. You cant compare it to other smart phones. They dont even come close.

We all should be happy that we have a device as easy to customize as Adroid devices are. You cant do half the stuff on the other so called smart phones, that you can on an Android device.

Those that are not happy about it, why did you buy the phone to begin with ? Why didnt you research the device before you bought it ?

We will all get updates when or wireless companies, not Google or HTC, decide to send them out. Thats how it works. If people would do a little searching they would know that and wouldnt have anything to complain about.

AMEN to this!