We’ve all experienced it at one time or another. First the shock, then disbelief quickly moving to annoyance and possibly anger. Then the sad resignation. I’m talking about Android discrimination.
Lack of Android acceptance seems to be everywhere I look, from public transit apps, to specialized products, to services. The mobile edition of the Toronto Star is called the iPhone edition. Want to play with a NASA lunar rover? Sorry, iPhone only. Even our beloved Nook, a device that runs on a version of Android isn’t available to the Android mobile-toting masses. Why is there so little Android love?
Let’s consider the factors:
Time
It can’t be ignored that iPhone has the advantage of time. Though the iPhone has been available for purchase only about a year before Android, they’ve had what feels almost like years longer to market their product and to develop the OS. For a long time they were the only smartphone with a dedicated market.
Fragmentation
For the uninitiated, fragmentation refers to the segment of devices running a particular version of Android. This is important because while Android is one OS, it’s versions, especially when comparing 1.5 to 2.1, can feel worlds different. And this can potentially make a difference to the people developing the apps who want to create the best product possible to reach the widest audience possible. This has already proven to be an issue with the recently released Google Earth and news of Flash 10.1 being available on only the most current devices. As of 1/4/10, more than three quarters of Android owners are running a version less than 2.0. As we all know, these aren’t all old phones; many newer models are still shipping with 1.x versions. Fragmentation has been a long standing issue, and parties from all sides have been hesitant to claim responsibility for upgrades.
The winds of change
When Android first came out, it was widely considered to be a good OS but still needing some improvement. The recent releases of the Moto Droid and Nexus One have proven Android is capable of being a fast and polished system. In 2008, Android had just a 0.5% market share; one year later Android shot up to 3.9% and is on track to keep moving up, and it’s not just consumers that are paying attention. Integrasco, a firm that monitors social media trends is reporting Android relevant buzz claimed the lead with a whopping 40% share (Apple came in at 7%). Both HTC and Motorola, traditionally focused on Windows Mobile devices, have found new life in the green guy. Adopting the Android platform has led to a significant increase in buzz for both manufacturers in 2009.
Left behind no more
For months now there has been discussions and vague answers from manufacturers and service providers on who should be responsible for updates. Early adopters were left feeling frustrated that they would never see an update to 2.0. I’m so happy to report that debate has ended and every U.S. Android will be moved up to 2.1 starting in Q2, a huge step towards Android being one synchronous unit in terms of firmware.
The Market
Sure iPhone likes to boast they have over a 150,000 apps, but what individual user will download even a 1% of that? And how many hundreds of redundant apps are there? With an iPhone, you have to pay them to develop, pay them to submit, and you’ll most likely pay again to use an app. Android as we all know loves the word free. Developing apps is free, submissions are cheap, and it’s more than likely that you won’t have to pay since Android market is 57% free. In just one month between December and January the Android market grew by 15%.
Looking ahead
It’s been said before, and is undeniable now, Android is going to be huge. With devices of all kinds slated to come out this year from manufacturers big and small as well as phones being available on all majors carriers, Android is very close to having a brand imersion on par with iPhone, which will lead to greater accessibility. How exciting.
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love this article. it is so real. and for androis OS being released to all users in the near future, this wioll be a revolution and if not a real boom for google. wonder what Steve job will be up to in order to allow the iphone and ipad to live. he will have to step up his game i think.
love this article. it is so real. and for androis OS being released to all users in the near future, this wioll be a revolution and if not a real boom for google. wonder what Steve job will be up to in order to allow the iphone and ipad to live. he will have to step up his game i think.
love this article. it is so real. and for androis OS being released to all users in the near future, this wioll be a revolution and if not a real boom for google. wonder what Steve job will be up to in order to allow the iphone and ipad to live. he will have to step up his game i think.
love this article. it is so real. and for androis OS being released to all users in the near future, this wioll be a revolution and if not a real boom for google. wonder what Steve job will be up to in order to allow the iphone and ipad to live. he will have to step up his game i think.
love this article. it is so real. and for androis OS being released to all users in the near future, this wioll be a revolution and if not a real boom for google. wonder what Steve job will be up to in order to allow the iphone and ipad to live. he will have to step up his game i think.
I have a HTC Hero that I got 2 months ago (Australian release) and it’s running Android 1.5. Quite outdated. I am looking forward to the Android 2.1 with Sense UI. It’s taking HTC quite some time to release this. I installed a program called BlueTooth File Transfer and it tells me my device is not supported as it requires at least Android 2.0. Many other apps require Android 2.x. I want to go with the official HTC ROM as others seem to be half baked. BlueTooth is a major deal for me. Even my old SE W810 lets transfer files via BlueTooth.
I have a HTC Hero that I got 2 months ago (Australian release) and it’s running Android 1.5. Quite outdated. I am looking forward to the Android 2.1 with Sense UI. It’s taking HTC quite some time to release this. I installed a program called BlueTooth File Transfer and it tells me my device is not supported as it requires at least Android 2.0. Many other apps require Android 2.x. I want to go with the official HTC ROM as others seem to be half baked. BlueTooth is a major deal for me. Even my old SE W810 lets transfer files via BlueTooth.
I have a HTC Hero that I got 2 months ago (Australian release) and it’s running Android 1.5. Quite outdated. I am looking forward to the Android 2.1 with Sense UI. It’s taking HTC quite some time to release this. I installed a program called BlueTooth File Transfer and it tells me my device is not supported as it requires at least Android 2.0. Many other apps require Android 2.x. I want to go with the official HTC ROM as others seem to be half baked. BlueTooth is a major deal for me. Even my old SE W810 lets transfer files via BlueTooth.
I have a HTC Hero that I got 2 months ago (Australian release) and it’s running Android 1.5. Quite outdated. I am looking forward to the Android 2.1 with Sense UI. It’s taking HTC quite some time to release this. I installed a program called BlueTooth File Transfer and it tells me my device is not supported as it requires at least Android 2.0. Many other apps require Android 2.x. I want to go with the official HTC ROM as others seem to be half baked. BlueTooth is a major deal for me. Even my old SE W810 lets transfer files via BlueTooth.
I have a HTC Hero that I got 2 months ago (Australian release) and it’s running Android 1.5. Quite outdated. I am looking forward to the Android 2.1 with Sense UI. It’s taking HTC quite some time to release this. I installed a program called BlueTooth File Transfer and it tells me my device is not supported as it requires at least Android 2.0. Many other apps require Android 2.x. I want to go with the official HTC ROM as others seem to be half baked. BlueTooth is a major deal for me. Even my old SE W810 lets transfer files via BlueTooth.
In most countries, Android availability dates from mid to late 2009. The G1 was available in the US, UK and Canada and almost nowhere else. Only with the launch of the HTC Magic and Hero did a greater chunk of the world get see an Android phone…..and even now the ‘REAL’ Android phones like Nexus One and Acer Liquid have only been on the market 2 and 3 months respectively.
It is still very early days for Android.
In most countries, Android availability dates from mid to late 2009. The G1 was available in the US, UK and Canada and almost nowhere else. Only with the launch of the HTC Magic and Hero did a greater chunk of the world get see an Android phone…..and even now the ‘REAL’ Android phones like Nexus One and Acer Liquid have only been on the market 2 and 3 months respectively.
It is still very early days for Android.
For the longest time I’ve been among those believing that Android was overhyped, that it had lots of potential but wasn’t living up to its iPhone-killer reputation. However, with the newer pieces of hardware coming out (Nexus One in particular, looking forward to that being on Verizon when I’m up for my next renewal) and with multi-touch as part of Android 2.1, I feel it’s finally moving up to that level. I’m still not confident it will destroy the iPhone, but I feel Google is rapidly taking the mantle of the only company whose products can even try.
For the longest time I’ve been among those believing that Android was overhyped, that it had lots of potential but wasn’t living up to its iPhone-killer reputation. However, with the newer pieces of hardware coming out (Nexus One in particular, looking forward to that being on Verizon when I’m up for my next renewal) and with multi-touch as part of Android 2.1, I feel it’s finally moving up to that level. I’m still not confident it will destroy the iPhone, but I feel Google is rapidly taking the mantle of the only company whose products can even try.
For the longest time I’ve been among those believing that Android was overhyped, that it had lots of potential but wasn’t living up to its iPhone-killer reputation. However, with the newer pieces of hardware coming out (Nexus One in particular, looking forward to that being on Verizon when I’m up for my next renewal) and with multi-touch as part of Android 2.1, I feel it’s finally moving up to that level. I’m still not confident it will destroy the iPhone, but I feel Google is rapidly taking the mantle of the only company whose products can even try.
For the longest time I’ve been among those believing that Android was overhyped, that it had lots of potential but wasn’t living up to its iPhone-killer reputation. However, with the newer pieces of hardware coming out (Nexus One in particular, looking forward to that being on Verizon when I’m up for my next renewal) and with multi-touch as part of Android 2.1, I feel it’s finally moving up to that level. I’m still not confident it will destroy the iPhone, but I feel Google is rapidly taking the mantle of the only company whose products can even try.
For the longest time I’ve been among those believing that Android was overhyped, that it had lots of potential but wasn’t living up to its iPhone-killer reputation. However, with the newer pieces of hardware coming out (Nexus One in particular, looking forward to that being on Verizon when I’m up for my next renewal) and with multi-touch as part of Android 2.1, I feel it’s finally moving up to that level. I’m still not confident it will destroy the iPhone, but I feel Google is rapidly taking the mantle of the only company whose products can even try.
or if you live in a country like New Zealand, currently no cell phone network sells android phones, the magic was available for a while on vodafone nz but it is now outdated and no longer for sale. The Nexus One is “not available in your country”.
The only way we can buy a android phone is through parallel importers. Until that changes android can have no future in New Zealand. It doesn’t matter how good the OS or hardware is if its not in the customers faces they wont buy it.
I’m sure New Zealand isn’t alone in this regard.
Nope you aren’t alone Cousin. Cant get a decent Android here in Australia either. seems we don’t matter in the global scheme of things. Mind you I blame our own telco’s. they are well experienced in wringing the most out of us
DC
Nope you aren’t alone Cousin. Cant get a decent Android here in Australia either. seems we don’t matter in the global scheme of things. Mind you I blame our own telco’s. they are well experienced in wringing the most out of us
DC
Nope you aren’t alone Cousin. Cant get a decent Android here in Australia either. seems we don’t matter in the global scheme of things. Mind you I blame our own telco’s. they are well experienced in wringing the most out of us
DC
Nope you aren’t alone Cousin. Cant get a decent Android here in Australia either. seems we don’t matter in the global scheme of things. Mind you I blame our own telco’s. they are well experienced in wringing the most out of us
DC
or if you live in a country like New Zealand, currently no cell phone network sells android phones, the magic was available for a while on vodafone nz but it is now outdated and no longer for sale. The Nexus One is “not available in your country”.
The only way we can buy a android phone is through parallel importers. Until that changes android can have no future in New Zealand. It doesn’t matter how good the OS or hardware is if its not in the customers faces they wont buy it.
I’m sure New Zealand isn’t alone in this regard.
Nope you aren’t alone Cousin. Cant get a decent Android here in Australia either. seems we don’t matter in the global scheme of things. Mind you I blame our own telco’s. they are well experienced in wringing the most out of us
DC
This is one of the most original articles I’ve read in a while, good job. This is great content =D
This is one of the most original articles I’ve read in a while, good job. This is great content =D
This is one of the most original articles I’ve read in a while, good job. This is great content =D
According to Google’s CEO in Feb 2010, 60,000 Android cellphones are now ship every single day. There are 26 models to choose from. It is supported by 60 carriers in 49 countries. U.S. alone has 10 different locked models for 3 major networks (will be all 4 major networks this coming week). Two different U.S. industry research firms are predicting 68 million units of Android devices to outsell iPhone, Win Mobile, and Blackberry by 2013. One predicted 2012.
With all these I’m amazed by what is happening to down under (specifically Australia and New Zealand). Looks like consumer in these two countries are the mercy of their networks (service provider).
Lack of Android acceptance here sounded more like it is being controlled by the few ‘in charged’. People there need to bring some attention to their provider who are probably sound a sleep.
ANDROID brand recognition is simply a big problem. None of the Android phones carry the ‘Android’ logo on any of their phones. Cellphone manufacturers are resistant in doing so because they are more interested in pushing their own name on it. To make things worst, Google never advertised about Android outside of its Google services. I’m amazed to see how some people who owns an Android phone don’t even know that their phone runs on Android. A few thought that the only Android phone out there is the Motorola DROID phone while the ‘Nexus One’ phone is the ‘Google phone’. Here because Motorola use the word DROID on their phone.
I have traveled to the South East Asia recently (just north of Australia). Android brand recognition is not evident there as well. Not many are aware of Android but people are aware of the iPhone. This is the same mentality in Russia and many former Soviet block countries.
With so many Android phones flooding the market, I’m sure it will not take too long for someone to finally notice it.
According to Google’s CEO in Feb 2010, 60,000 Android cellphones are now ship every single day. There are 26 models to choose from. It is supported by 60 carriers in 49 countries. U.S. alone has 10 different locked models for 3 major networks (will be all 4 major networks this coming week). Two different U.S. industry research firms are predicting 68 million units of Android devices to outsell iPhone, Win Mobile, and Blackberry by 2013. One predicted 2012.
With all these I’m amazed by what is happening to down under (specifically Australia and New Zealand). Looks like consumer in these two countries are the mercy of their networks (service provider).
Lack of Android acceptance here sounded more like it is being controlled by the few ‘in charged’. People there need to bring some attention to their provider who are probably sound a sleep.
ANDROID brand recognition is simply a big problem. None of the Android phones carry the ‘Android’ logo on any of their phones. Cellphone manufacturers are resistant in doing so because they are more interested in pushing their own name on it. To make things worst, Google never advertised about Android outside of its Google services. I’m amazed to see how some people who owns an Android phone don’t even know that their phone runs on Android. A few thought that the only Android phone out there is the Motorola DROID phone while the ‘Nexus One’ phone is the ‘Google phone’. Here because Motorola use the word DROID on their phone.
I have traveled to the South East Asia recently (just north of Australia). Android brand recognition is not evident there as well. Not many are aware of Android but people are aware of the iPhone. This is the same mentality in Russia and many former Soviet block countries.
With so many Android phones flooding the market, I’m sure it will not take too long for someone to finally notice it.
According to Google’s CEO in Feb 2010, 60,000 Android cellphones are now ship every single day. There are 26 models to choose from. It is supported by 60 carriers in 49 countries. U.S. alone has 10 different locked models for 3 major networks (will be all 4 major networks this coming week). Two different U.S. industry research firms are predicting 68 million units of Android devices to outsell iPhone, Win Mobile, and Blackberry by 2013. One predicted 2012.
With all these I’m amazed by what is happening to down under (specifically Australia and New Zealand). Looks like consumer in these two countries are the mercy of their networks (service provider).
Lack of Android acceptance here sounded more like it is being controlled by the few ‘in charged’. People there need to bring some attention to their provider who are probably sound a sleep.
ANDROID brand recognition is simply a big problem. None of the Android phones carry the ‘Android’ logo on any of their phones. Cellphone manufacturers are resistant in doing so because they are more interested in pushing their own name on it. To make things worst, Google never advertised about Android outside of its Google services. I’m amazed to see how some people who owns an Android phone don’t even know that their phone runs on Android. A few thought that the only Android phone out there is the Motorola DROID phone while the ‘Nexus One’ phone is the ‘Google phone’. Here because Motorola use the word DROID on their phone.
I have traveled to the South East Asia recently (just north of Australia). Android brand recognition is not evident there as well. Not many are aware of Android but people are aware of the iPhone. This is the same mentality in Russia and many former Soviet block countries.
With so many Android phones flooding the market, I’m sure it will not take too long for someone to finally notice it.
According to Google’s CEO in Feb 2010, 60,000 Android cellphones are now ship every single day. There are 26 models to choose from. It is supported by 60 carriers in 49 countries. U.S. alone has 10 different locked models for 3 major networks (will be all 4 major networks this coming week). Two different U.S. industry research firms are predicting 68 million units of Android devices to outsell iPhone, Win Mobile, and Blackberry by 2013. One predicted 2012.
With all these I’m amazed by what is happening to down under (specifically Australia and New Zealand). Looks like consumer in these two countries are the mercy of their networks (service provider).
Lack of Android acceptance here sounded more like it is being controlled by the few ‘in charged’. People there need to bring some attention to their provider who are probably sound a sleep.
ANDROID brand recognition is simply a big problem. None of the Android phones carry the ‘Android’ logo on any of their phones. Cellphone manufacturers are resistant in doing so because they are more interested in pushing their own name on it. To make things worst, Google never advertised about Android outside of its Google services. I’m amazed to see how some people who owns an Android phone don’t even know that their phone runs on Android. A few thought that the only Android phone out there is the Motorola DROID phone while the ‘Nexus One’ phone is the ‘Google phone’. Here because Motorola use the word DROID on their phone.
I have traveled to the South East Asia recently (just north of Australia). Android brand recognition is not evident there as well. Not many are aware of Android but people are aware of the iPhone. This is the same mentality in Russia and many former Soviet block countries.
With so many Android phones flooding the market, I’m sure it will not take too long for someone to finally notice it.
According to Google’s CEO in Feb 2010, 60,000 Android cellphones are now ship every single day. There are 26 models to choose from. It is supported by 60 carriers in 49 countries. U.S. alone has 10 different locked models for 3 major networks (will be all 4 major networks this coming week). Two different U.S. industry research firms are predicting 68 million units of Android devices to outsell iPhone, Win Mobile, and Blackberry by 2013. One predicted 2012.
With all these I’m amazed by what is happening to down under (specifically Australia and New Zealand). Looks like consumer in these two countries are the mercy of their networks (service provider).
Lack of Android acceptance here sounded more like it is being controlled by the few ‘in charged’. People there need to bring some attention to their provider who are probably sound a sleep.
ANDROID brand recognition is simply a big problem. None of the Android phones carry the ‘Android’ logo on any of their phones. Cellphone manufacturers are resistant in doing so because they are more interested in pushing their own name on it. To make things worst, Google never advertised about Android outside of its Google services. I’m amazed to see how some people who owns an Android phone don’t even know that their phone runs on Android. A few thought that the only Android phone out there is the Motorola DROID phone while the ‘Nexus One’ phone is the ‘Google phone’. Here because Motorola use the word DROID on their phone.
I have traveled to the South East Asia recently (just north of Australia). Android brand recognition is not evident there as well. Not many are aware of Android but people are aware of the iPhone. This is the same mentality in Russia and many former Soviet block countries.
With so many Android phones flooding the market, I’m sure it will not take too long for someone to finally notice it.