3 ms·

> While my 1st iPhone SE will get iOS 14, my Nexus 5X is still on Android 8. Google has improved this in the Pixel line, with three years of updates. https://s

by Andrex 6y ago

> While my 1st iPhone SE will get iOS 14, my Nexus 5X is still on Android 8. Google has improved this in the Pixel line, with three years of updates. https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/4457705 https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/4457705 My original Pixel (2016) received Android 10 last year. That's pretty good.

jamesgeck0 6y ago
Three years of updates is better than it used to be, but iOS devices average around five years of support, and I'm not sure that's enough either. Hardware devices should receive security updates until they start physically failing.
- GeekyBear 6y ago
  The original iPhone SE is about to start it's sixth year of OS and Security updates. That's less than $70 per supported year.
- AdamJacobMuller 6y ago
  > Hardware devices should receive security updates until they start physically failing. That's just entirely unreasonable. I recently dug my original iPhone (now 13 years old) out of a box and it still works fine, but, you can't expect Apple or Android to support 13-year-old devices.
  - pabs3 6y ago
    It is reasonable to not support 13-year-old operating systems but there shouldn't be any reason current operating systems can't support old devices. Certainly Linux based operating systems manage to do that.
  - jamesgeck0 6y ago
    Consider that Windows 10 still runs on some 13 year old devices. macOS supports devices almost eight years old. That's MUCH longer than the average mobile support period. Desktop/laptop users can also switch to Linux after the support period ends to extend the life of their hardware further. If mobile vendors can't do that, then they should limit support to the expected life span of a the battery under average daily usage conditions, starting on the date that device sales are discontinued. That's certainly less than 13 years. Alternatively, the manufacturer could just unlock the boot loader after the official support period ends and provide the community with the resources they need to support the device. Some people will continue to use their device until it is no longer functional. Either they can't afford frequent upgrades, or they're trying to reduce electronic waste, or whatever. It's wrong to strand those users on an unsafe platform.

by Andrex 6y ago

jamesgeck0 6y ago

Three years of updates is better than it used to be, but iOS devices average around five years of support, and I'm not sure that's enough either. Hardware devices should receive security updates until they start physically failing.

GeekyBear 6y ago
The original iPhone SE is about to start it's sixth year of OS and Security updates. That's less than $70 per supported year.
AdamJacobMuller 6y ago
> Hardware devices should receive security updates until they start physically failing. That's just entirely unreasonable. I recently dug my original iPhone (now 13 years old) out of a box and it still works fine, but, you can't expect Apple or Android to support 13-year-old devices.
- pabs3 6y ago
  It is reasonable to not support 13-year-old operating systems but there shouldn't be any reason current operating systems can't support old devices. Certainly Linux based operating systems manage to do that.
- jamesgeck0 6y ago
  Consider that Windows 10 still runs on some 13 year old devices. macOS supports devices almost eight years old. That's MUCH longer than the average mobile support period. Desktop/laptop users can also switch to Linux after the support period ends to extend the life of their hardware further. If mobile vendors can't do that, then they should limit support to the expected life span of a the battery under average daily usage conditions, starting on the date that device sales are discontinued. That's certainly less than 13 years. Alternatively, the manufacturer could just unlock the boot loader after the official support period ends and provide the community with the resources they need to support the device. Some people will continue to use their device until it is no longer functional. Either they can't afford frequent upgrades, or they're trying to reduce electronic waste, or whatever. It's wrong to strand those users on an unsafe platform.