Land fill overload.

[Rapcom]

2 years ago I bought a Cruz reader tablet. Big waste of money. First I could only download 3 apps, the browser was slow, the screen response sucked, and the reader website has shut down and deleted all my books. 1 Year later I bought a Flytouch 7 tablet with android 2 something, and loved it then I began to notice the apps were becoming less available for my software. I now have a android Ice-cream 4.01 and I read that Google will soon no longer provide support for 4.00 versions and below.

Why can't Android or Google ( who ever is running the show. ) simply offer a upgraded down load with a fee. I love PC gaming and it would be nice to play these games on a Android. The developers inform me that it would cost to much time and money to cater to all the different versions and accommodate the various code issues. I know that hardware venders love the way thing are being done; but I think in time people will get fed-up with buying a new device just to keep up. If you guys don't figure this out my next tablet will be Windows 8 system. I hate windows but they seem to know how to provide software in a changing world.

 

[Hadron]

Hi Rapcom,

Firstly, we're not the "you guys" you want - androidforums is a discussion forum for android users, and has no connection to Google. We've no more influence in this than you have (i.e. we can both complain to Google, but that's it).

However, I can explain the problem. Android needs to be built for the specific hardware (the different mixtures of components used in each device need different drivers, for example). So it's the manufacturers who are responsible for providing updates, not Google. Google provide the android source, but if the manufacturers don't use it to provide an update (which usually means adding their own modifications as well as building it for their hardware) then you are stuck unless you have the knowledge and skills to build it yourself (which for a major update may require getting updated drivers from the manufacturer anyway) or can find someone else who can.

So the real problem here is that Flytouch have sold you the tablet, and don't get more money for providing you an update other than the possibility that it will generate enough goodwill that you'll buy another of their devices next time. It sounds like they've taken the decision that that isn't worth the cost (rightly or wrongly).

Assuming that you can't persuade Google to change their relationship with the manufacturers (Google have said several times that they'd like the manufacturers to provide more, and more prompt, updates, but haven't forced it), your best bet if you stay with Android is a Nexus. Those do get their updates directly from Google, so are the best bet for prompt updates over an extended period.

Unfortunately the cheaper budget manufacturers are also the people least likely to invest in updates (though other than Nexus a brand name is no guarantee of support).

 

[Rukbat]

Why can't Android or Google ( who ever is running the show. ) simply offer a upgraded down load with a fee.

Because older hardware can't handle the newer firmware. A phone with a total of 1GB of storage can't handle an operating system that takes up 8GB. We could have stayed with a 2.5" screen running Eclair, with almost no memory, storage or speed. But people want more storage, more memory (so they can run multiple windows), more speed, more hardware ...

Tell people to stop wanting more and better and the problem will be solved.

I know that hardware venders love the way thing are being done; but I think in time people will get fed-up with buying a new device just to keep up.

There's no reason to if you don't want to. My Gingerbread phone still works, and still runs the apps I have on it. I'll never get a KitKat update for it, and I probably can't run some of the newer apps (and that gets worse with every version), but the apps on it still keep working, and will as long as someone makes a battery for the phone.

If you guys don't figure this out my next tablet will be Windows 8 system. I hate windows but they seem to know how to provide software in a changing world.

Sure they do - and your Windows tablet will become garbage when either of 2 things comes to pass - either Android/Linux so far passes Windows that Microsoft is forced to use Linux as its base (and all old Windows apps become extinct, the way all old Mac apps are now) or Microsoft upgrades Windows 10 or 12 or something to the point that it won't run on your tablet. (I have a nice laptop that runs Windows 3.11. It can't run even Windows 95, because it doesn't have enough hardware.)

BTW, "you guys" are the same as you - we're users helping other users. The CEOs of Microsoft, Samsung, Apple, etc., aren't the ones posting here.