Google how this is possible?

GodLovesYou · Mar 10, 2016

Hey hey guys!

As you know Google released their new OS version, Android N, but if you think about this for a little you will see from statistics that, for example, 1.3% of Android devices are using Android Marshmallow and the older version of it(Lolipop - 5.1.1) still is being used from 18.4% of the devices.

What do you think about it? Do you think Google would stop developing new versions of their OS version?

Hadron · Mar 10, 2016

Google have announced a preview their new version and released test images (basically public betas) that people can install on some Nexus devices. It's not officially released yet (they've not even told us what "N" stands for), no devices are being sold with it installed, and no manufacturer is offering an update to it.

Do I think Google should stop offering updates? No, they only release one major version per year. A better question would be do I think manufacturers should be better at releasing updates? And don't forget that if you buy a phone through a carrier you will get the updates later because they will make their own modifications (i.e. add bloatware) and their own testing (allegedly

) before releasing the updates (so that's most phones sold in the US and UK, varies in other countries).

Remember also that not everybody bins their phone after 1-2 years, so there are a lot of older phones (which no longer receive updates) in use, as well as budget devices which never receive any sort of updates. You'll never get the majority of handsets in use to be on the latest version these days.

Slug · Mar 10, 2016

GodLovesYou said:
Do you think Google would stop developing new versions of their OS version?

Only if they want to kill off Android.

Think about it for a moment... your question makes no sense.

svim · Mar 10, 2016

I think you're blaming the source but not the actual problem. Google is releasing security updates and also newer versions of Android but a big part of the problem can be attributed to the cellular carriers. Updates and upgrades are available, it's just that the carriers don't pass them along in a timely fashion if at all.

Slug · Mar 10, 2016

The OP's question was

GodLovesYou said:
Do you think Google would stop developing new versions of their OS version?

Please restrict responses to this rather than drifting off-topic.

kate · Mar 10, 2016

Google will definitely continue to release updates to Android for the foreseeable future.

Phones are still being upgraded to Marshmallow, so the percent running Marshmallow will increase over the next 6-12 months.

Revenant Ghost · Mar 10, 2016

GodLovesYou said:
Do you think Google would stop developing new versions of their OS version?

No.

GodLovesYou · Mar 11, 2016

Slug said:
Only if they want to kill off Android.

Think about it for a moment... your question makes no sense.

What I meant to say is "Do you think Google would stop developing year by year a new version of their OS?"

GodLovesYou · Mar 11, 2016

kate said:
Google will definitely continue to release updates to Android for the foreseeable future.

Phones are still being upgraded to Marshmallow, so the percent running Marshmallow will increase over the next 6-12 months.

Yes I know. Companys like Samsung take too long to release their own updates and improves for their customers and this is not fair for Google.

MLSS · Mar 11, 2016

GodLovesYou said:
What I meant to say is "Do you think Google would stop developing year by year a new version of their OS?"

No, they will still release a new version every year.

MLSS · Mar 11, 2016

GodLovesYou said:
Yes I know. Companys like Samsung take too long to release their own updates and improves for their customers and this is not fair for Google.

It's kind of Google fault..... They are the ones who made Android open source and let the manufacturers do what they do to the OS.

zuben el genub · Mar 11, 2016

As long as the cellcos are running the services, they have a right to ask for apps that will separate their network from another if they wish to have a named service. With some roaming becoming LTE, this could be even more of an issue.
Not too many people look to see who they are logged into or sometimes even notice they are roaming. That doesn't help a carrier with its own connection issues or branding if no on cares or looks.

If Google wants total control, it needs to run its own network and a walled garden like the old Bells.

As for a new version every year - if that's the way to fix a bad security issue -----
If it's for change for the sake of change, who cares. As far as I'm concerned the OS stays in the background and runs my chosen apps. If apps run right, it's good.

mikedt · Mar 11, 2016

zuben el genub said:
As long as the cellcos are running the services, they have a right to ask for apps that will separate their network from another if they wish to have a named service. With some roaming becoming LTE, this could be even more of an issue.
Not too many people look to see who they are logged into or sometimes even notice they are roaming. That doesn't help a carrier with its own connection issues or branding if no on cares or looks.

Should realise that one is roaming, In my case I just stepped off an aeroplane from the UK.

An "R" indicator should appear, and also there is carrier branding or a name visible on some devices, here the red and white egg logo is for MTS in Russia on my Oppo.

Slug · Mar 11, 2016

zuben el genub said:
As for a new version every year - if that's the way to fix a bad security issue -----

Google how releases monthly security patches, so ideally these should be pushed out OTA by manufacturers asap to keep devices up-to-date without the time and effort needed to rebuild the entire OS.

dan330 · Mar 11, 2016

well.. if other cell phone OS developers .. release a new version every year.
Google can not stop.. or they will look ... uncompetitive.
in this market.. you have to innovate to stay in the game.

currently there are 2 many hands in the pot.. to make it easy.
google
manufactures
carriers

Hadron · Mar 11, 2016

GodLovesYou said:
Yes I know. Companys like Samsung take too long to release their own updates and improves for their customers and this is not fair for Google.

Well if this AndroidCentral article is correct then they may be doing something to address that. The suggestion is that in Android N there are changes that could imply a clearer separation between the base OS and the manufacturer (or carrier?) add-ons or skins, in principle allowing these to be updated separately (emphasis mine).

zuben el genub · Mar 12, 2016

I just realized that some of you are not from the US. Here we have phone wars between the cellcos, and those can get nasty at times. TMO is squawking about being last in last year's Rootmetric's survey. TMO fusses about being the 3rd or 4th position carrier, too. All of them want branded phones to lock in customers since 2 year contracts old-style are no longer the norm. I've been out of contract with TMO for over 6 years since I bought my own phones anyway. All I didn't get was wi-fi calling.

There will have to be some skins for the carriers so they can keep their identities. None of them want to be dumb pipes.

Crashdamage · Mar 12, 2016

The 1 year schedule for major releases is a good thing. Manufacturers can plan around them. And after a year of development it's usually worthy a version uptick anyway.

Davdi · Mar 13, 2016

But Google should at least make ongoung updates for the Nexus range. My 2012 N7 won't get official updates beyond 5.1.1, but it's unlocked ad rooted, so next up is CM or similar's take on Marshmallow (there's a tonne of them oferat XDA).

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