5 ms·

Given that Apple are still managing to roll out operating system updates to iPhones that are 5 years old, a potent question is why Google and Android device man

Given that Apple are still managing to roll out operating system updates to iPhones that are 5 years old, a potent question is why Google and Android device manufacturers are either unable or unwilling to attempt to do the same. Planned obsolescence isn't just an attack on your customers, it's also environmentally irresponsible.

kllrnohj 7y ago
Apple does also cut features when they roll out those updates though. Not all iOS versions are equal. It is a shame Android's update story is bad, but realistically it also doesn't matter much. Non-enthusiasts tend to not even want major updates in the first place (it's a chore - especially if anything changed on them). It sucks for app developers a lot more than it matters to the majority consumer.
- megaremote 7y ago
  > Apple does also cut features when they roll out those updates though. Not all iOS versions are equal. Only when the hardware does not support the features.
  - panpanna 7y ago
    It is widely established that Apple selectively disables features on previous generations to force people buy new ones. Example: with ios7 siri was disabled for some devices. Worked just fine on jailbroken devices.
penagwin 7y ago
It's because of how updates work. A good overview is here [0] Basically for an android phone to get an update, Google, the Carrier, the Manufacturer, etc. all have to update the OS for that specific model, of which there are hundreds/thousands of models of phones. Apple doesn't let the carriers configure the OS, and is also the manufacturer. They also have only like a dozen models. So they basically get to skip all of the parts that slow down updating your IOS version. [0] https://www.xda-developers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/HTC-Anatomy-of-an-Android.jpg https://www.xda-developers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/HT...
- bscphil 7y ago
  That's just an excuse. The Nexus 5X got updates directly from Google, but it was discontinued a year after it was released. ~1 year after the last 5X was sold, it received the last feature update (Android 8.1). ~2 years after the last 5X was sold, it received the last security update.
  - dgacmu 7y ago
    Google doesn't make the CPU or hardware components that need firmware updates. Apple has far more control.
    - kalleboo 7y ago
      There's no way that hardware firmware on the CPU(?!) is what's holding back Android updates.
      - ansible 7y ago
        Yes and no. If you're not getting updates from the chip vendor, you're going to have a hard time moving to later version of Linux, for example. It would cost a lot of money to port new software to the platform, and then the question is... who's going to pay for it? If everyone still using a Nexus 5X chips in $50 USD to fund continued development, then maybe that could continue. But it is easier at some point to just buy a new phone.
        mrguyorama 7y ago
        The phone originally sold for $400. Is that really not enough money to fund software development for 4 years or more?
        penagwin 7y ago
        And more to your point - The iPhone 7 is currently 450$ brand new and is nearly 3 years old. Not only has it received feature updates for those 3 years, but all it's predecessors down to the 5S have been receiving feature updates (ends this year unfortunately) - we should be able to expect the iPhone 7 to at least get another year or two of feature updates.

kllrnohj 7y ago

Apple does also cut features when they roll out those updates though. Not all iOS versions are equal. It is a shame Android's update story is bad, but realistically it also doesn't matter much. Non-enthusiasts tend to not even want major updates in the first place (it's a chore - especially if anything changed on them). It sucks for app developers a lot more than it matters to the majority consumer.

megaremote 7y ago
> Apple does also cut features when they roll out those updates though. Not all iOS versions are equal. Only when the hardware does not support the features.
- panpanna 7y ago
  It is widely established that Apple selectively disables features on previous generations to force people buy new ones. Example: with ios7 siri was disabled for some devices. Worked just fine on jailbroken devices.

penagwin 7y ago

It's because of how updates work. A good overview is here [0] Basically for an android phone to get an update, Google, the Carrier, the Manufacturer, etc. all have to update the OS for that specific model, of which there are hundreds/thousands of models of phones. Apple doesn't let the carriers configure the OS, and is also the manufacturer. They also have only like a dozen models. So they basically get to skip all of the parts that slow down updating your IOS version. [0] https://www.xda-developers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/HTC-Anatomy-of-an-Android.jpg https://www.xda-developers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/HT...

bscphil 7y ago
That's just an excuse. The Nexus 5X got updates directly from Google, but it was discontinued a year after it was released. ~1 year after the last 5X was sold, it received the last feature update (Android 8.1). ~2 years after the last 5X was sold, it received the last security update.
- dgacmu 7y ago
  Google doesn't make the CPU or hardware components that need firmware updates. Apple has far more control.
  - kalleboo 7y ago
    There's no way that hardware firmware on the CPU(?!) is what's holding back Android updates.
    - ansible 7y ago
      Yes and no. If you're not getting updates from the chip vendor, you're going to have a hard time moving to later version of Linux, for example. It would cost a lot of money to port new software to the platform, and then the question is... who's going to pay for it? If everyone still using a Nexus 5X chips in $50 USD to fund continued development, then maybe that could continue. But it is easier at some point to just buy a new phone.
      - mrguyorama 7y ago
        The phone originally sold for $400. Is that really not enough money to fund software development for 4 years or more?
        penagwin 7y ago
        And more to your point - The iPhone 7 is currently 450$ brand new and is nearly 3 years old. Not only has it received feature updates for those 3 years, but all it's predecessors down to the 5S have been receiving feature updates (ends this year unfortunately) - we should be able to expect the iPhone 7 to at least get another year or two of feature updates.