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It's also missing the point that others are free to design their own UI on top of Android and indeed the big players are. Sense (HTC) is really rather nice and
by danudey 17y ago
It's also missing the point that others are free to design their own UI on top of Android and indeed the big players are. Sense (HTC) is really rather nice and definitely doesn't feel like it was designed by a committee.
But this can be a downside as well. You say 'Android' and people associate the one with the other, but there are a multitude of 'Android' devices which are either inherently incompatible (http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20002508-1.html http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20002508-1.html) or whose basic interfaces are different enough because of that customization that it can be confusing to initial users.
Also, the fragmentation of Android by hardware leads to fragmentation by software. Software designed for too large of a screen might not work on smaller screens. Software designed with a hardware keyboard in mind might not work on the onscreen keyboard.
People are still selling Android phones with version 1.6 on them, which won't run software requiring newer versions (which software won't show up in the marketplace at all, confusing users).
Customization is great, but by not mandating any sort of rules, the market is getting fragmented in a lot of different ways, and people are just going to get more confused, presented with an overwhelming list of options. This one has a hardware keyboard, this one has better GPS, this one has newer software, this one is faster, this one has a higher-resolution screen. The very purpose behind Android - customization, distinguishing yourself from the competition - is what fragments the market.
Apple's approach, however, is very simplistic. Here's the iPhone. How much storage do you want? 16GB? Ok, here you go. Apps will work. Accessories will work. Cables will work. Cases will fit. There's little to no confusion for the user.
That seems to be what the original article is suggesting. Simplicity and ease of use that starts before you even make your purchase.
- jarek 17y agoI would quantify that: "Software badly designed for too large of a screen might not work on smaller screens. Software badly designed with a hardware keyboard in mind might not work on the onscreen keyboard." Semi-earnest question: I don't understand why fragmentation on Android is apparently a massive downside, but on iPhone and iPad it's suddenly a great opportunity. Are the different resolutions not fragmentation? Can the iPad not use an external hardware keyboard as well as the touch keyboard? Is compass-less iPhone 3G being sold alongside the 3GS not fragmentation? Will the AR apps work?
- notauser 17y agoPeople are still selling Android phones with version 1.6 on them, which won't run software requiring newer versions (which software won't show up in the marketplace at all, confusing users). This is the same for the App Store and firmware upgrades, and is a good deal more sensible than the alternative option of letting people buy/install software that won't work.
- irons 17y agoIt's not remotely the same. All iPhones made to date run the current OS, and are prompted to upgrade to it when users activate their phones or sync their music libraries or back up. Android's OS is upgraded by the carrier; most carriers aren't even a little bit interested in doing it; the few that are interested spend more time dithering than Google spends cooking up each new release. Meanwhile, iPhone OS 4 will support all phones except the first generation (even if the second-gen phones won't support multitasking, they'll still run the third-party apps). No comparable statement can be made about any Android OS release, referring to handsets of any age, from any vendor.
- tomjen3 17y agoTrue, but the best alternative would be to show a "cannot install please upgrade your software sign" otherwise, how are people to know that their phone is out of date?