Newb questions

[Coeus82]

Ok, I'm new to the Android and I have a couple of questions that I hope the community can answer.

1. How do OS upgrades work. Can any android device easily upgrade from 1.5 to 1.6 or even 2.1? or are these issued by the manufacturer, thus we have to wait until they're ready?

2. Are android apps compatible with all android devices? I've heard that Archos 5 doesn't support all android apps and the Camangi device has its own app market (Camangi Market - Apps). Would apps from the official android market work on any android device? What's the point of Camangi having it's own app market?

Thanks

 

[vincentp]

You either have to wait until the update is released or (in some cases) root your phone and install a custome update created by other users. For most people, you will have to wait until an update is approved and pushed over the air by your carrier/manufacturer.

Some apps are compatible with all devices. Some are not. Different OS versions and minor differences between phones mean that developers may have to add additional code to make apps run smoothly between platforms. For the most part, things should work across the same version of Android. If it works on 1.5 on one phone it should work on a different model with 1.5, but may have problems with 2.0, for instance. That's not universal, obviously.

 

[mjschmidt]

@Coeus82: Where are you located? Which country?

 

[Coeus82]

Thanks for the help. I am a web developer so I would be comfortable trying out custom updates.

It's unfortunate that there are so many parties interfering with an update. I just read the thread about Rogers and HTC. Why does one who owns that device have to rely on Rogers or HTC for an OS upgrade. I wish this was more like a PC. I don't need to contact or wait on Dell (if I owned a Dell) to install Ubuntu or upgrade Windows. I can do that on my own.

I'm in Canada