This is a question that some of us may ask ourselves when we start to use our new Android based phone. More specifically, why is my new phone running an operating system that is a year or more old and does not have the latest functionality and in more recent cases, why can’t I install certain applications?
So here’s my take, and opinions on what happens, how we should deal with it broken down into components:
Multiple handsets, multiple manufacturers – Google provides a working operating system. The device manufacturer has to configure the operating system to work with each handset. This is time consuming. I am told that the process takes 3 to 4 months for each new OS version. At the rate at which Google releases updates, the cost/benefit of continuously updating mature handsets with new software does not divvy up.
Competing product offerings by the same manufacturer – Let’s face it. When it comes to electronics or more broadly technology, most people want the latest and greatest. If the Mytouch did everything that the Nexus One does (except for clocking at faster speeds), then what incentive would most people have to buy the Nexus One over the Mytouch? Remember the iPhone 3G’s launch was a non-event for this reason. Handset makers are reluctant to update operating systems to avoid cheaper, older handsets competing with latest and greatest handsets.
Over the airwaves (OTA) update deployments – Currently, the only way for users to update their operating system (unless your phone is rooted) – is for the carrier to push the new operating system to you over the airwaves. There is not much incentive for the carriers to do this and it costs time, resources, and money to deploy updates and they get nothing in return. Remember, phones will work even without the latest and greatest OS. Not to mention, customers are tied to their carrier through contracts for subsidized phones that can only be broken if customers are willing to incur the hefty early termination fees.
With all this being said, I think the way to solve this problem is as follows:
Google needs to deploy an operating system update mechanism easily accessible and easy to use by most people like the update functionality in iTunes and insist that hardware manufacturers turn over their driver information (code that allows the hardware to talk to the operating system and visa versa) so that third party developers could create fully functional versions of the latest operating systems for all android based devices. I mean the operating system is open source but the handset is not?
We need free access to driver information and technology in order for us to truly own our handsets and do what we want with them. The Android operating system was the big win for us free society consumers but not a complete solution to use our handset as we’d like to, when we’d like to.
Accces to driver information and an easy to use update mechanism would:
- keep existing carrier customers happy that they have the latest functionality on their handset,
- keep existing handset owners happy with the Android platform and continue to embrace it the long run,
- help to maintain handset brand loyalty as the handset owners experience would remain positive over the life of the device
In addition, the update as you like approch is consistent with Android’s primary competitor Apple which, so far, allows all current and past handsets to be updated with the latest OS releases.
Us Android based handset owners have an effective relationship with our operating system provider. We now need to establish (demand really) a similar relationship with our handset manufacturer in order for us to be in total control of our devices. I think the way to achieve this relationship is for consumers to become educated and buy only handsets like the Nexus One, that are truly open (don’t forget bootloader/carrier unlocked).
Google is not going to advertise or speak openly about this subject because it sours (ruins) their relationship with handset manufacturers which right now is their primary distribution source. It is up to us, the Android community, to actively promote handsets like the Nexus One and to educate handset owners who own “closed” handsets to convert to open handsets and refuse to buy closed handsets in the future.
If we, the Android community, can create this open handset movement and it creates a consumer shift to open handsets we, as the consumers, are in control and we as the handset owner wins. Game over get out of my office wins!
To be honest I was somewhat skeptical of this article based on the introductory paragraph but I really like the conclusions you are drawing here!! The one problem I see is the comparison to the iPhone in terms of the. The iPhone has a distinct advantage in that Apple controls both the hard and software. In other words it is a closed (source) ecosystem. You suggest that this could be circumvented by finding common hardware and driver standards, however, there are two problems with this:
1. As the hardware diversifies you will need more and more drivers to support it; these drivers need space, which in a PC setting, for example, is no big deal; on a cellphone however we are still operating with very limited space.
2. Going beyond point 1., Android is being adapted across much more than just cellphones. Already there are concepts for home-phones, alarm clocks and microwaves floating around. As the diversity of applications increases so will the need for drivers to support it.
To be honest I was somewhat skeptical of this article based on the introductory paragraph but I really like the conclusions you are drawing here!! The one problem I see is the comparison to the iPhone in terms of the. The iPhone has a distinct advantage in that Apple controls both the hard and software. In other words it is a closed (source) ecosystem. You suggest that this could be circumvented by finding common hardware and driver standards, however, there are two problems with this:
1. As the hardware diversifies you will need more and more drivers to support it; these drivers need space, which in a PC setting, for example, is no big deal; on a cellphone however we are still operating with very limited space.
2. Going beyond point 1., Android is being adapted across much more than just cellphones. Already there are concepts for home-phones, alarm clocks and microwaves floating around. As the diversity of applications increases so will the need for drivers to support it.
Acer provides updates for the Liquid as executable packages of update BIN files combined with the fastboot and adb components required to perform an update. All the user has to do is down load the update, connect the phone tothe PC and double-click on the update file. Ten minutes later the update is done and dusted.
OK, I need to have a Windows PC around to run the actual update……but you can do everything else (fastboot / adb) on Linux.
Acer provides updates for the Liquid as executable packages of update BIN files combined with the fastboot and adb components required to perform an update. All the user has to do is down load the update, connect the phone tothe PC and double-click on the update file. Ten minutes later the update is done and dusted.
OK, I need to have a Windows PC around to run the actual update……but you can do everything else (fastboot / adb) on Linux.
People cant complain about this really when you buy an item like a new computer you have choices Budget middle and Performance……This is what android is coming too when you buy the basic Android for 100 bucks do you expect to get the best device out there???? No pay for the better Android if you want all the bells and whistles right away or just wait and hope your cheaper product gets the updates and can run all the apps.Thats the bottom line there we have choices to make read up on the phone you are gonna buy and see if it is the right one for you.
People cant complain about this really when you buy an item like a new computer you have choices Budget middle and Performance……This is what android is coming too when you buy the basic Android for 100 bucks do you expect to get the best device out there???? No pay for the better Android if you want all the bells and whistles right away or just wait and hope your cheaper product gets the updates and can run all the apps.Thats the bottom line there we have choices to make read up on the phone you are gonna buy and see if it is the right one for you.
With we are finding out that life on the other side of the fence reveals that the grass really is not that much greener than with the iPhone.
I have run both for a while, the experience still draws me to the iPhone although Android is a compelling experience. I like both, but also see that certain manufacturers (such as Samsung) have little desire to keep their handsets up with the latest Android OS. Instead, they see it as entirely reasonable that customers will buy the next and newest model when it is released. Possibly that is fine elsewhere but in the UK [at least] where the customer is tied to the contract such renewal is not financially viable. Buying SIM-free in the UK is not a mainstream proposition, yet.
Looking at the two handsets in front of me, the iPhone 3GS and the Google Nexus One, there is little to choose from in terms of capability and performance. But will this be the case when Apple’s rumoured OS X 4.0 arrives? Will there be an Android response (why always a response and not take a lead)?
Reading comments above, Acer seem to have the right idea, all credit to them. Will they keep it up, make it the norm?
I’ve always maintained that with the iPhone it is the overall “experience” that is the big plus, the huge pull. The Android community needs to at least replicate that, if not better it. The closest I have seen is Cyanogen with his CM Updater app and ridiculously frequent updates for the OS. That should be the model that manufacturers follow. And if their Finance Directors are wondering what is in it for them – the simple answer is brand loyalty, that is a two-way street.
Manufacturers have got to keep us interested – the old model no longer applies. Apple realised this, Google itself may, but will the mainstream Android handset makers?
With we are finding out that life on the other side of the fence reveals that the grass really is not that much greener than with the iPhone.
I have run both for a while, the experience still draws me to the iPhone although Android is a compelling experience. I like both, but also see that certain manufacturers (such as Samsung) have little desire to keep their handsets up with the latest Android OS. Instead, they see it as entirely reasonable that customers will buy the next and newest model when it is released. Possibly that is fine elsewhere but in the UK [at least] where the customer is tied to the contract such renewal is not financially viable. Buying SIM-free in the UK is not a mainstream proposition, yet.
Looking at the two handsets in front of me, the iPhone 3GS and the Google Nexus One, there is little to choose from in terms of capability and performance. But will this be the case when Apple’s rumoured OS X 4.0 arrives? Will there be an Android response (why always a response and not take a lead)?
Reading comments above, Acer seem to have the right idea, all credit to them. Will they keep it up, make it the norm?
I’ve always maintained that with the iPhone it is the overall “experience” that is the big plus, the huge pull. The Android community needs to at least replicate that, if not better it. The closest I have seen is Cyanogen with his CM Updater app and ridiculously frequent updates for the OS. That should be the model that manufacturers follow. And if their Finance Directors are wondering what is in it for them – the simple answer is brand loyalty, that is a two-way street.
Manufacturers have got to keep us interested – the old model no longer applies. Apple realised this, Google itself may, but will the mainstream Android handset makers?
[...] which Google releases updates, the cost/benefit of continuously updating mature handsets with new software does not divvy up.Competing product offerings by the same manufacturer – Let’s face it. When it [...]