4 ms·

Who cares? Google make a good job maintaining API compatibility. The tools are also (mostly) the same from the very beginning (while with iOS you actually have

Who cares? Google make a good job maintaining API compatibility. The tools are also (mostly) the same from the very beginning (while with iOS you actually have to learn and adapt much more with each version change) ...but otherwise the graphs looks fine :)

JamesCRR 13y ago
I think in QA terms it is certainly harder to build apps for Android, that said I'm not sure whether moving from 4000 distinct devices to 12000 distinct devices makes much difference, either way you're just going to pick some representative ones for testing. What is interesting is just how diverse the smartphone market has become, that is arguably a strength not a weakness of Android.
- cube13 13y ago
  It's a problem if your app depends on functionality delivered after a certain patch level, though. For example, if my application depends on some feature delivered in 4.2, I need to be aware that my potential market is less than 5% of devices in the wild. On the other hand, if the app is 100% compatible with the 2.3.X line, I can count on the all of the devices working, but I also should regression test with the updated versions to make sure that they work.
jjindev 13y ago
There have been and will be problems, but it is probably safe to say Android "survived" fragmentation. This is success.
venomsnake 13y ago
But for various reasons (also known as carriers) google does crap job of pushing updates. The moment google wrestles back control from them and begins pushing updates chrome style we will live in a better world. Otherwise we will be in situations like a friend was cursing me yesterday about how I dare have android 4.2 (and wait for 4.3 rom) on my unlocked 2010 device and he is stuck on his HTC with 4.1 and no signs of incoming upgrade soon.
- Zikes 13y ago
  They've definitely still got some kinks to work out on their update pushing. I've got a Nexus 4 and a Nexus 7 and despite my checking for updates several times a day neither of them have received 4.3. I understand the necessity of the "rolling update" model in general, however in the case of Nexus machines it should not be necessary. At any rate, I should be able to opt out of the rolling update model and put myself at the front of the line without having to manually flash a factory image.
  - nly 13y ago
    Just side load it. You can download the official OTA ZIP which won't factory reset the device. You don't need any 3rd party mods for this because the ZIP is signed by Google. http://www.droid-life.com/2013/07/25/android-4-3-update/ http://www.droid-life.com/2013/07/25/android-4-3-update/
  - venomsnake 13y ago
    But at least they are pushing something. Abandoning top of the line devices while "hinting" to buy new is very annoying - which happens when ROMs are provided from 3rd party vendors/ carriers.
  - dnissley 13y ago
    Try clearing data on the 'Google Services Framework' app. that did it for me after I was offline on vacation all last week and couldn't get the update the past two days. Caution though, apparently this breaks app updates for some people, but all you have to do is add and remove your google account to get them to work again.
- mcintyre1994 13y ago
  They're making strong progress on this by making the Play services independent of the OS and with all their other apps on the store. Android is still much more modular than they're making it look though, and it'd be great to see their launcher, lock screen etc all as downloadable, individually upgradeable apps too.
- kin3tic 13y ago

JamesCRR 13y ago

I think in QA terms it is certainly harder to build apps for Android, that said I'm not sure whether moving from 4000 distinct devices to 12000 distinct devices makes much difference, either way you're just going to pick some representative ones for testing. What is interesting is just how diverse the smartphone market has become, that is arguably a strength not a weakness of Android.

cube13 13y ago
It's a problem if your app depends on functionality delivered after a certain patch level, though. For example, if my application depends on some feature delivered in 4.2, I need to be aware that my potential market is less than 5% of devices in the wild. On the other hand, if the app is 100% compatible with the 2.3.X line, I can count on the all of the devices working, but I also should regression test with the updated versions to make sure that they work.

jjindev 13y ago

There have been and will be problems, but it is probably safe to say Android "survived" fragmentation. This is success.

venomsnake 13y ago

But for various reasons (also known as carriers) google does crap job of pushing updates. The moment google wrestles back control from them and begins pushing updates chrome style we will live in a better world. Otherwise we will be in situations like a friend was cursing me yesterday about how I dare have android 4.2 (and wait for 4.3 rom) on my unlocked 2010 device and he is stuck on his HTC with 4.1 and no signs of incoming upgrade soon.

Zikes 13y ago
They've definitely still got some kinks to work out on their update pushing. I've got a Nexus 4 and a Nexus 7 and despite my checking for updates several times a day neither of them have received 4.3. I understand the necessity of the "rolling update" model in general, however in the case of Nexus machines it should not be necessary. At any rate, I should be able to opt out of the rolling update model and put myself at the front of the line without having to manually flash a factory image.
- nly 13y ago
  Just side load it. You can download the official OTA ZIP which won't factory reset the device. You don't need any 3rd party mods for this because the ZIP is signed by Google. http://www.droid-life.com/2013/07/25/android-4-3-update/ http://www.droid-life.com/2013/07/25/android-4-3-update/
- venomsnake 13y ago
  But at least they are pushing something. Abandoning top of the line devices while "hinting" to buy new is very annoying - which happens when ROMs are provided from 3rd party vendors/ carriers.
- dnissley 13y ago
  Try clearing data on the 'Google Services Framework' app. that did it for me after I was offline on vacation all last week and couldn't get the update the past two days. Caution though, apparently this breaks app updates for some people, but all you have to do is add and remove your google account to get them to work again.
mcintyre1994 13y ago
They're making strong progress on this by making the Play services independent of the OS and with all their other apps on the store. Android is still much more modular than they're making it look though, and it'd be great to see their launcher, lock screen etc all as downloadable, individually upgradeable apps too.
kin3tic 13y ago