8 ms·

93% of iPhones are on the latest major OS version. Compare this with the mess that is Android versioning. There is a sizable cohort all the way back to 4.4, w

93% of iPhones are on the latest major OS version. Compare this with the mess that is Android versioning. There is a sizable cohort all the way back to 4.4, which significantly complicates app development and testing. https://fossbytes.com/most-popular-android-versions-always-updated/ https://fossbytes.com/most-popular-android-versions-always-u...

mrmondo 9y ago
When you’re managing a decent sized wireless network all the out of date Android devices are a right pain in the ass, so often I find devices that aren’t just out of date (usually Samsung’s) but also devices trying to connect to dodgy BitTorrent and P2P networks - furthermore when I speak to the user(s) involved 99% of the time they genuinely didn’t know their device is running dodgy software such as malware with P2P connections OR that it’s a potential security issue that they haven’t or often can update their OS. Most of the time the devices look quite modern too, it’s not like its people running really old devices.
- dx034 9y ago
  Why P2P? Are they used as seedboxes? Isn't storage usually quite limited on older androids? Using them for P2P sounds unsual. Or is it just used to spread malware?
  - cybrjoe 9y ago
    Isn't Popcorn Time using Bittorrent? I'm guessing it's apps not participating nicely in P2P networks.
- problems 9y ago
  I highly doubt anyone torrenting on their phone doesn't know what they're doing. It's not exactly a common malware C&C method, most likely users pirating stuff and playing dumb. Keep in mind, Android also has apps like Popcorn Time available fairly readily.
on_and_off 9y ago
Heh I have been writing Android apps for a long time and versioning has very rarely been a hard problem. The support lib makes sure that you have a unified API in front of you. It can be a big bother for some very specific apps like a camera (I have never written one though, I can only say that camera 1 vs 2 looks painful from afar). Most of the time you just access the APIs from the support lib facade and either : -the support lib (re)implement for you. -it fallbacks gracefully if something minor can't be backported
- rahkiin 9y ago
  But if you wanted to use Java 8, which has been available since 2014, on Android you need to target at least Android 7.0, skipping out on 4.4-6 which is a huge market. On iOS however, you can use Swift on many more devices, even the latest version of Swift.
  - Bilal_io 9y ago
    Don't forget that many apps from the ios app store stop working for old os and force you to either upgrade your os or you can't use the app. I remember that back in ios 4 and 5 when Skype doesn't work and forces you to upgrade. Not sure if that's how many devs are or it was only Skype.
    - colejohnson66 9y ago
      The difference with Android being that you can’t always update your OS. iOS 10 was supported on everything back to iPhone 5. That means iPhones 5, 5c, 5s, 6, 6s, SE, and 7. iPhone 5 was released back in September 2012; That’s literally 5 years ago.
    - Pulcinella 9y ago
      I believe now the iOS App Store lets you download the latest version of the app that will still work on your phone (though I suppose for a service like Skype that still may not be helpful if the service provider cuts off access to older apps).
  - 9y ago
loxs 9y ago
WTF, 4.4 is even growing :D
- abraham 9y ago
  > 4.4 is even growing No it's not. The arrow is wrong. August 4.4 is 16%, September 4.4 is 15.1%.

mrmondo 9y ago

When you’re managing a decent sized wireless network all the out of date Android devices are a right pain in the ass, so often I find devices that aren’t just out of date (usually Samsung’s) but also devices trying to connect to dodgy BitTorrent and P2P networks - furthermore when I speak to the user(s) involved 99% of the time they genuinely didn’t know their device is running dodgy software such as malware with P2P connections OR that it’s a potential security issue that they haven’t or often can update their OS. Most of the time the devices look quite modern too, it’s not like its people running really old devices.

dx034 9y ago
Why P2P? Are they used as seedboxes? Isn't storage usually quite limited on older androids? Using them for P2P sounds unsual. Or is it just used to spread malware?
- cybrjoe 9y ago
  Isn't Popcorn Time using Bittorrent? I'm guessing it's apps not participating nicely in P2P networks.
problems 9y ago
I highly doubt anyone torrenting on their phone doesn't know what they're doing. It's not exactly a common malware C&C method, most likely users pirating stuff and playing dumb. Keep in mind, Android also has apps like Popcorn Time available fairly readily.

on_and_off 9y ago

Heh I have been writing Android apps for a long time and versioning has very rarely been a hard problem. The support lib makes sure that you have a unified API in front of you. It can be a big bother for some very specific apps like a camera (I have never written one though, I can only say that camera 1 vs 2 looks painful from afar). Most of the time you just access the APIs from the support lib facade and either : -the support lib (re)implement for you. -it fallbacks gracefully if something minor can't be backported

rahkiin 9y ago
But if you wanted to use Java 8, which has been available since 2014, on Android you need to target at least Android 7.0, skipping out on 4.4-6 which is a huge market. On iOS however, you can use Swift on many more devices, even the latest version of Swift.
- Bilal_io 9y ago
  Don't forget that many apps from the ios app store stop working for old os and force you to either upgrade your os or you can't use the app. I remember that back in ios 4 and 5 when Skype doesn't work and forces you to upgrade. Not sure if that's how many devs are or it was only Skype.
  - colejohnson66 9y ago
    The difference with Android being that you can’t always update your OS. iOS 10 was supported on everything back to iPhone 5. That means iPhones 5, 5c, 5s, 6, 6s, SE, and 7. iPhone 5 was released back in September 2012; That’s literally 5 years ago.
  - Pulcinella 9y ago
    I believe now the iOS App Store lets you download the latest version of the app that will still work on your phone (though I suppose for a service like Skype that still may not be helpful if the service provider cuts off access to older apps).
- 9y ago

loxs 9y ago

WTF, 4.4 is even growing :D

abraham 9y ago
> 4.4 is even growing No it's not. The arrow is wrong. August 4.4 is 16%, September 4.4 is 15.1%.