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Funny that the way to compete with Apple seems to line up with copying their strategy for making more money. I used to be able to buy eBooks direct through the

Funny that the way to compete with Apple seems to line up with copying their strategy for making more money. I used to be able to buy eBooks direct through the Kindle and other apps until Google decided to force all payments through them. That was a great feature of Android I liked.

freedomben 3y ago
Very much agree. That was so blatantly and obviously a copy of Apple's strategy, and was very un-Googley, and it has very negatively affected UX. Not only that but it's stupid, because they torched a very real long-term competitive advantage for a short-term cash grab. They should reverse that immediately. Related Pro-tip: You can sideload the Audible app version 3.18.0 from right before they removed the purchase option, and Audible keeps things stable enough that it still works perfectly. If you can't find a copy, let me know
loudmax 3y ago
Really wish some manufacturer would copy Apple's strategy of providing long term software support for their phones.
- goosedragons 3y ago
  Samsung has been offering four or five years on a bunch of their devices since 2019. Google is offering 7 for the Pixel 8.
  - nicce 3y ago
    Just security updates (on Samsung), and for some flagship products. Eventually some WhatsApp or banking application will change so much, that it wants later Android version and refuses to work. (has happened already) While Apple has provided full software updates for at least 6 years.
    - goosedragons 3y ago
      Not just security updates and not just flagship products. Plenty of lower end devices on that list like the A series. WhatsApp will also run on Android 5 from 2014. The latest version of WhatsApp. It's not the only Android app to do that. Many big popular Android apps only require versions 5 or 6. With iOS you have to be much closer to the latest version of iOS to run anything. A Samsung Galaxy S4 from 2013 can run the latest version of WhatsApp. An iPhone 5S cannot despite all those years of updates. Security updates are just useful for security updates. A device has to be really old before it's typically dropped.
      - nicce 3y ago
        Actually the support for Android 5 just ended: https://www.sammobile.com/news/whatsapp-stop-working-some-galaxy-phones-by-next-month/ https://www.sammobile.com/news/whatsapp-stop-working-some-ga... But WhatsApp maybe was bad example. Banking applications are bigger pain, since they even force users to mobile over web page these days. > With iOS you have to be much closer to the latest version of iOS to run anything. Which does not actually matter, since you have usually the possibility to update to the latest version.
        goosedragons 3y ago
        I think it actually went from 4.1 to 5.0. Google Play Store lists 5.0 and so does the official WhatsApp website and that change supposedly happened a few weeks ago. https://www.whatsapp.com/android https://www.whatsapp.com/android
    - Tade0 3y ago
      It's four years of updates and four years of security patches for flagships: https://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-android-updates-1148888/ https://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-android-updates-114...
      - nicce 3y ago
        That article is from last month, not from 2019, if we stay on the context.

freedomben 3y ago

Very much agree. That was so blatantly and obviously a copy of Apple's strategy, and was very un-Googley, and it has very negatively affected UX. Not only that but it's stupid, because they torched a very real long-term competitive advantage for a short-term cash grab. They should reverse that immediately. Related Pro-tip: You can sideload the Audible app version 3.18.0 from right before they removed the purchase option, and Audible keeps things stable enough that it still works perfectly. If you can't find a copy, let me know

loudmax 3y ago

Really wish some manufacturer would copy Apple's strategy of providing long term software support for their phones.

goosedragons 3y ago
Samsung has been offering four or five years on a bunch of their devices since 2019. Google is offering 7 for the Pixel 8.
- nicce 3y ago
  Just security updates (on Samsung), and for some flagship products. Eventually some WhatsApp or banking application will change so much, that it wants later Android version and refuses to work. (has happened already) While Apple has provided full software updates for at least 6 years.
  - goosedragons 3y ago
    Not just security updates and not just flagship products. Plenty of lower end devices on that list like the A series. WhatsApp will also run on Android 5 from 2014. The latest version of WhatsApp. It's not the only Android app to do that. Many big popular Android apps only require versions 5 or 6. With iOS you have to be much closer to the latest version of iOS to run anything. A Samsung Galaxy S4 from 2013 can run the latest version of WhatsApp. An iPhone 5S cannot despite all those years of updates. Security updates are just useful for security updates. A device has to be really old before it's typically dropped.
    - nicce 3y ago
      Actually the support for Android 5 just ended: https://www.sammobile.com/news/whatsapp-stop-working-some-galaxy-phones-by-next-month/ https://www.sammobile.com/news/whatsapp-stop-working-some-ga... But WhatsApp maybe was bad example. Banking applications are bigger pain, since they even force users to mobile over web page these days. > With iOS you have to be much closer to the latest version of iOS to run anything. Which does not actually matter, since you have usually the possibility to update to the latest version.
      - goosedragons 3y ago
        I think it actually went from 4.1 to 5.0. Google Play Store lists 5.0 and so does the official WhatsApp website and that change supposedly happened a few weeks ago. https://www.whatsapp.com/android https://www.whatsapp.com/android
  - Tade0 3y ago
    It's four years of updates and four years of security patches for flagships: https://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-android-updates-1148888/ https://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-android-updates-114...
    - nicce 3y ago
      That article is from last month, not from 2019, if we stay on the context.