question about android

[XploitZ]

i have been using android for several weeks now since i bought my samsung i9003 so that means i am a newbie.
just a question that bothers me about android OS though
why does it take for other units/models/brands different OS update times?
gingerbread has long been released but not all brands or phone models have it updated.
isnt android like desktop OS (windows or linux) ? where we just reformat and update to new OS no matter what brand or model our desktop is?
i thought Operating Systems would just depend on the systems specs and just set aside the brand or models.

there should be a sticky about android facts with answers to questions like this. so people would be aware what android really is.

 

[takeshi]

No. Windows is a hardware abstracted OS. Android has to be adapted to each hardware platform.

 

[Martimus]

Fun fact: Android is actually based on the Linux kernel...

The challenge we frequently see with Android is that it's sometimes compared to another smartphone platform where updates are unified. This other platform tightly controls the hardware so any updates created only have to be tested on specific and limited hardware configurations. In a nutshell updates become easier because everything is the same.

With Android, Google offers it as a open system. In other words Google provides the operating system and source code to phone manufacturers and lets them install it on any platform that meets Google's defined minimum standards. The hardware manufacturers aren't forced to use specific chip sets or specific hardware designs. The hardware manufacturer has a team of programmers on staff who do the actual integration of Android to the hardware.

When updates are released the hardware manufacturers have to go back and re-visit their software to make sure that it doesn't break any features or functions within the OS. They make changes as needed. This code modification is what frequently takes the time needed between when Google releases the update and when we, as end users, receive the update.

Which methodology is better? Both! And in some cases neither! By doing things this way Google takes itself out of the hardware business and lets it's partners do what they do best... innovate! It also means that we, as end users, get choices when we shop for a phone. Want a large Android smartphone? A small Android smartphone? A fast smartphone? A cheap smartphone? In an open environment, we get to choose what's most important to us.

 

[dan330]

different manufactures use different parts/hardware. all designed differently.

each hardware needs a set of unique instructions to make that hardware work. these are called drivers.

each manufacture of the hardware part makes and designs the corresponding software driver.

Drivers work with hardware to communicate with the OS.

when the OS changes.. the driver must change.

google releases the new OS. Manufactures must rewrite drivers to work with it.

apple has full control of both hardware and software.


then you add in the carriers needs and requirements. which adds another layer of delays.
apple forces the carrier to do what they want.