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Before anyone starts drawing conclusions and making claims about OS superiority based on this comment, it's an absurd comparison to make. iOS 7 adoption rates a
by dstaley 13y ago
Before anyone starts drawing conclusions and making claims about OS superiority based on this comment, it's an absurd comparison to make. iOS 7 adoption rates are measured across eight devices manufactured by one company. Android adoption rates are measured across thousands of Android devices made by countless manufacturers. The continuous return to the fact that Apple can get its latest OS onto a majority of its own devices faster than other manufactures can get another company's OS onto their devices completely ignores the fact that the Android and iOS ecosystem is fundamentally different.
- omni 13y agoThe reason why fragmentation occurs is irrelevant. The negative effects of fragmentation on developers and their user bases will still exist even if your platform is fragmented for "good" reasons.
- deleted 13y ago[deleted]
- melange 13y agoAnd that fundamental difference leads to some advantages - More devices to choose from, cheaper hardware, side loading. And some disadvantages - most users have an outdated operating system, and developers have to deal with fragmentation of OS versions and hardware platforms. The fact that Apple can get its latest OS onto a majority of devices ignores nothing. Apple can do this because of a strategy decision they made. Google cannot because they chose a different strategy that has different priorities. If you want an ecosystem where users have up-to-date system software, Apple has chosen correctly.
- dstaley 13y agoExactly. I just feel that some people look at the adoption rates and completely ignore the decisions that were made that allows Apple to achieve those numbers. At this stage in the game, and with the guiding principles of Android, achieving those numbers are impossible for Android. I just want people to understand that the comparison is more complex, for the exact reasons you've stated.
- vor_ 13y agoYou seem to be saying that it's not valid to compare adoption rates simply because there are reasons behind the fragmentation. People on HN already know why Android is fragmented. It's just a statement of fact to compare the adoption rates of the two operating systems and the effect it has on developers and users.
- melange 13y agoI don't think anyone's ignoring the decisions. Apple prioritized getting updates into the hands of customers. Google did not, since as you say their design decisions make what apple has achieved impossible for them.
- perlpimp 13y agoThat is the sole reason I chose iOS this time around is that the software is same across the board. Interoperability within apple ecosystem is bar none. I like standard Android OS from google and I don't know why vendors try so hard to gimmickify standard Google UI. There are things that they should be able to do. But they should be there upon request, not by default and with no obvious way to opt out of crappola of vendor modifications.
- melange 13y agoThey gimmickify it because they don't want to be just making commodity devices on Google's behalf. They want people to notice a difference between their handsets and others and to be deterred from switching to something that looks unfamiliar.
- deleted 13y ago[deleted]
- vor_ 13y agoIt's not relevant why Android fragmentation occurs when the point is that it occurs at all. After all, what good is an OS update that the majority of users never see?
- deleted 13y ago[deleted]
- megablast 13y agoIt does not make it ridiculous, it just makes it not so significant. And when Google get this figured out, it wont be a problem for Android. Right now they are moving important apps to the appstore, so they can be upgraded without changing android version.