meohman1
Newbie
Good read from ZDNet regarding Android updates - posted today.
Time for Google to take control of the Android update process | ZDNet
Time for Google to take control of the Android update process | ZDNet
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Good read from ZDNet regarding Android updates
- Thread starter meohman1
- Start date
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- samsung captivate
Copronymous
Member
I agree in principle. If Google put controls on on updates half the topics on this board wouldn't exist.
I don't know about Google's name being diminished, though. They seem to send out updates regularly.
I don't know about Google's name being diminished, though. They seem to send out updates regularly.
I think Android's name is in danger of being diminished.
speedfreak32
Well-Known Member
If manufacturers and carriers weren't so concerned with spamming these phones with their crap and bloat wear the process would probably run much smoother. I understand that att for instance loves to add apps that generate monthly revenue but all of them are already on the phone in free versions. Manufactures are no better with their crap filled corporate logo laden skins, graphics and worthless apps.
When I get a new lap top the first thing I do is remove every bit of crap that comes preinstalled on it. When our 2.2 update comes I will do the same.
Now back to some call of duty
When I get a new lap top the first thing I do is remove every bit of crap that comes preinstalled on it. When our 2.2 update comes I will do the same.
Now back to some call of duty
It already is.
I have now and always have had computer connectivity problems with this phone. Regardless of what I do, nothing works. Given the technology and software available now, there is no excuse for this type of problem. What really surprises me is the total lack of help and support from AT&T and/or Samsung.
It really is a shame because there is so much potential in Android, and it is being strangled by manufacturers and carriers.
I am really tempted to go back to WM.
Copronymous
Member
Totally understandable. But I don't think Android is the problem. It's AT&T, and even more it's Samsung. Android itself has been rock solid IMO.
Curiously, what kind of PC connectivity problems? Related to Kies or to mounting for drag/drop files?
It took less than three years for Windows Mobile to lose its status so don't be so bold to think Android is in any better position. Granted, they are actually updating their phones regularly but Android's footprint in the market is remarkably similar to Microsoft and Windows Mobile - pre Windows 7 Phone of course.
No real control over the hardware, no real control over carriers and manufacturers to provide OS updates. This creates fragmentation - yes, I said. While Apple has it too it still doesn't compare to what Android is dealing with today. WinMo still takes the cake but Android is not too far behind what eventually helped kill the WinMo market. MS learned from their mistakes - at least on the hardware side - and hopefully Google will learn from this as well and help guide Android to more consistency.
Curiously, what kind of PC connectivity problems? Related to Kies or to mounting for drag/drop files?[/QUOTE]
Most of the time my computer (laptop) does not even acknowledge a USB connection to my phone. If it does (which is VERY rare), I get the "USB device not recognized" message. I was able to get a connection once or twice in mass storage mode, but now I cannot even get that. I have installed Kies, but never used it.
I have tried both USB ports on my computer, I have installed drivers from the Samsung website, I have deleted the USB drivers from my computer (windows automatically reinstalled), and I have tried different USB cables.
All with the same results.
I never had this trouble with my older WinMo phones.
Frustrating.
Most of the time my computer (laptop) does not even acknowledge a USB connection to my phone. If it does (which is VERY rare), I get the "USB device not recognized" message. I was able to get a connection once or twice in mass storage mode, but now I cannot even get that. I have installed Kies, but never used it.
I have tried both USB ports on my computer, I have installed drivers from the Samsung website, I have deleted the USB drivers from my computer (windows automatically reinstalled), and I have tried different USB cables.
All with the same results.
I never had this trouble with my older WinMo phones.
Frustrating.
Android, as a phone OS is good, think we can all agree on that. But as a whole, Google needs to get control of what is happening with their OS distribution and maintenance. Here's an article on EPIC, makers of some of the best games on IOS and their concerns with Android. Fragmentation is a huge problem and will only get worse if Google doesn't put an end to it.
Epic Games reveals Android plans | Android Central
Epic Games reveals Android plans | Android Central
Ditto...
Never gonna happen. I agree with the article but I also know there is no possibility of google taking any more control of android or the update process than they already have. When something is free or people have control over it, the people getting it feel obligated to it so now it will just be harder for google to take back their own OS and start charging for it. Taking control of updates would mean taking control of the OS, no longer letting it be customized. There would have to be no more touch wiz or sense which manufacturers would hate. They would probably allow bloatware atleast like wp7 does.
I study business and all that matters is the numbers. Android is outselling the iphone, thats all google cares about. And also I bet only 15% - 30% of android users even understand what froyo or gingerbread is. My personal friends with android phones have no idea what eclair or froyo are and some of them still think all android phones are "droids" which they aren't.
What can we do as power users? Nothing but cast our vote by buying stock nexus branded android phones.
The nexus in and of itself is proof that google doesn't care about getting the updates to the end user as long as android phones continue to sell. I haven't seen one commercial for the nexus s or n1 on tv but yet i can't watch an hour of tv without seeing 5 htc evo commercials, 5 mytouch 4g commercials, and a verizon android commercial or two. I bet that the same amount of android users who know what froyo or gingerbread is know what the nexus s is. The nexus one was google's first ground up smartphone and it had no commercials and wasn't even sold in stores. WTF google? I will be trying my hardest to get a nexus phone when my contract is up if the nexus ever comes off t-mobile and not months later when its already outdated as the nexus one did with at&t. If not I will probably try to get an iphone or wp7. A jailbroken iphone is basically in the same league as an android phone for openness.
On the other hand, the first generation of mainstream android phones that came out in 2009 could just be considered a test run. It's debatable that all of the android superphones (1ghz+ processor and 480x800+ resolution) since the nexus one have had reasonable upgrade times or were launched with froyo except the galaxy s line and maybe some others like the sony x10 but I don't know its history. The incredible, droid x, evo, and mytouch 4g all run froyo.
I study business and all that matters is the numbers. Android is outselling the iphone, thats all google cares about. And also I bet only 15% - 30% of android users even understand what froyo or gingerbread is. My personal friends with android phones have no idea what eclair or froyo are and some of them still think all android phones are "droids" which they aren't.
What can we do as power users? Nothing but cast our vote by buying stock nexus branded android phones.
The nexus in and of itself is proof that google doesn't care about getting the updates to the end user as long as android phones continue to sell. I haven't seen one commercial for the nexus s or n1 on tv but yet i can't watch an hour of tv without seeing 5 htc evo commercials, 5 mytouch 4g commercials, and a verizon android commercial or two. I bet that the same amount of android users who know what froyo or gingerbread is know what the nexus s is. The nexus one was google's first ground up smartphone and it had no commercials and wasn't even sold in stores. WTF google? I will be trying my hardest to get a nexus phone when my contract is up if the nexus ever comes off t-mobile and not months later when its already outdated as the nexus one did with at&t. If not I will probably try to get an iphone or wp7. A jailbroken iphone is basically in the same league as an android phone for openness.
On the other hand, the first generation of mainstream android phones that came out in 2009 could just be considered a test run. It's debatable that all of the android superphones (1ghz+ processor and 480x800+ resolution) since the nexus one have had reasonable upgrade times or were launched with froyo except the galaxy s line and maybe some others like the sony x10 but I don't know its history. The incredible, droid x, evo, and mytouch 4g all run froyo.
Simba501
Android Enthusiast
Ditto! If wp7 hadn't revamped so dramatically in a bad way (imo), I would've been back already.
Endoran
Android Enthusiast
Android (google) is the root of the problem. If google controlled their updates like every other OS (or even a tiny bit of control, rather than ZERO), manufacturers and carriers wouldn't have a chance (or much less so) to poison the pool so to speak or downright dry it up. Much can be done on googles end and who knows maybe they are trying to pressure their vendors to update. It's easy to blame Samsung and AT&T because that's how the system works, they are suppose to be giving us updates, but remember that it's google that set that system up. And how is that system working out for the end-user?? Awesome, good, OK, fair, bad, or shitty?? I'd definitely say shitty.
As I've said before..I don't understand why there isn't a market for unlocked, unbranded android devices on the same order as what Nokia puts out on it's symbian platform. Won't many of us be willing to shell out the bucks for a device like the N8 on Android? It would eliminate the need for rooting, for one and be a totally open device for the owner. Makes sense, but would probably be resisted by the operators, as they would lose that subsidy revenue. However IMO it would be a very small % of people that would opt for that. For me, this Captivate is the first branded phone I've bought in about 8 years..probably the last as well
Aatos.1
Android Enthusiast
I agree 100%.
Android is not the problem whatsoever.
When one chooses a smartphone, it's their own responsibility to spend a little time to become familiar with the various operating systems and choose the one that suits you.
iPhones are extremely popular because a very large segment of our population are irresponsible people. They want to get angry and blame others instead of taking personal responsibility. What does this have to do with smartphones? Everything.
Apple provides a simple, closed & locked down smartphone. The user has almost no ability to customize the phone to his or her preferences. Everything is proprietary like the huge 30pin dock connector. No mini or micro USB, no expansion card slot.
The new Pentalobe screws were designed to prevent anyone other than Apple from gaining access to the inside of the phone. This insures their greed is fulfilled since only they can replace the captive battery. No other manufacturer of any product I'm aware of has ever gone to this length to lock out the customer.
Furthermore it's Apple's relentless bashing of Android that has promoted the "fragmentation concept". Apple is paranoid, controlling, dictatorial and closed.
Android is NOT fragmented. It's simply a young OS that is being rapidly developed. An open system that offers the user choices. As I see it, there's little point in comparing it to iOS, but people do because they're both smartphones.
Make no mistake, I'm not bashing Apple, just sharing my observations, knowledge, and personal experience as an Apple customer of over a decade. As a hi tech professional I work in a cross platform environment where I use Android, iOS, WP7, and Symbian. On the desktop I use Windows 7, OS X, Linux and Unix. Thus, my point is simply that I understand these systems and they all have their pros & cons.
I have yet to own the perfect phone, laptop, desktop, etc.
Bottom line? I prefer Android over any other mobile OS by a wide margin. HTC is one of the best Android handset makers and their sense UI, is outstanding.
Yet I also have a Captivate and I'm very happy with it. The battery life is quite good considering the heavy usage it gets as I (or any of the smartphones I carry daily) do so much traveling. Being used during the week as a laptop substitute when I'm away from a place to sit & use my ThinkPad, my smartphones get a workout.
A little patience goes a long ways, just wait till you see what happens in six more months. Android's maturity will make it a really great choice for those who enjoy having a fast, stable, very flexible smartphone.
Won't matter. It is the manufactures and service providers, and since google has left it up to them to do as they may, it will never be good for the end user. The slower the manufactures and the providers are to upgrade older devices the better for them. This slow process increase demand for their newer devices with the newest platform. Its business 101. Yes the end user ends up losing out. Always has always will.
Sounds like what Apple was saying about Microsoft early on during the Windows 3.1 era...
And, we see the end result of that: Open application development leads to more applications, which leads to more innovation in products available. Open hardware specs leads to widespread adoption, which leads to more innovation.
How long did it take Apple to jump onto the EIDE bandwagon? Or, the x86 architecture?
Remember what happened to IBM's PS2 MCA bus? Remember the cards with the blue tabs?
Anybody who thinks a locked-down architecture will win over the market is seriously mistaken. Apple has been well known to lead in flashy new products which generate lots of hype at first (Remember the 1984-esque commercial?), but by and large, ends up failing in the end to capture a significant market share.
I did not mean to sound like an open system would not be better in the long run. Just that the providers and manufactures will put their time and effort on the next new harware. To be honest it is not in their best interest to upgrade older handsets. They want you to buy the next hardware. Look at Apple, upgrading iPhones every year. Leaving the older 2g and 3g out with no updated software. Its all about hardware and making end users pay up for new hardware not software.
PaulMcCartney
Android Expert
Why can't Android just be a little more like Microsoft Windows? 
Manufacturers provide the hardware drivers and the OS has them all built in. That way, the latest version of Android can be installed on release day. You know, like Windows on PC.
Manufacturers provide the hardware drivers and the OS has them all built in. That way, the latest version of Android can be installed on release day. You know, like Windows on PC.
Have you ever looked for an updated driver for PC hardware? It's the same case there. The only difference is the PC market is a bit more advanced, and standards have been settled on (To a point).
But, take a 3 year old PC. Chances are, there is no PCIe slot on it, and chances are you can not buy a new AGP card.
Or, since the push towards laptop devices, you can kiss any chance of buying a new battery, upgrading the optical drive, or pretty much any hardware from the manufacturer after about 2 years.
Again, a mature market makes it a little less of an issue, but it's still widely prevalent.
Why can't Android just be a little more like Microsoft Windows?
Manufacturers provide the hardware drivers and the OS has them all built in. That way, the latest version of Android can be installed on release day. You know, like Windows on PC.
Because Android is open, and Windows is not. The code is out there for anyone to grab, customize, and use.
It's like asking why all devices running Linux don't all act the same. Linux is open, and OEM's are free to grab it, and customize it. They just need to return the modifications to the community.
sremick
Android Expert
As someone who has been installing Windows on thousands of PCs since the days of Windows 2.0, I can assure you: it does not have "them all built in". Quite frequently you must go to the manufacturer's website and download video, network, sound... sometimes even SATA drivers just to get the thing set up.
In the limited storage space on these portable devices, I can't imagine it being possible to support every combination of CPU, video, sound, etc of every Android device ever created every time a new version of Android is released. That's where the vendors come in. Google releases the core OS, the vendor then incorporates any device-specific drivers necessary for it to work on each device they bake a version of it for.
As it is, it's an imperfect world, especially with custom ROMs. For example, every single person using an I9000-based Froyo ROM on their Captivate is lacking the necessary drivers to utilize the Captivate's unique Audience voice-processing chip (noise reduction, etc). So they're missing out on a feature of their device. But it seems so few people actually use their phone as a phone these days that not many people notice.