http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/Jun 1st 2010 5:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/Jun 1st 2010 5:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/
Google playing damage control.

If things weren't fragmented, they would have pushed for more unified updates across all devices and across ALL carriers. Leaving it up to the handset distributors to update the software, and playing a game of favoritism towards certain hardware specs -- while completely ignoring others -- sure sounds like a heavy case of fragmentation to me.

Can you believe there are still people out there running versions of Android > 1.6? I certainly find that a bit ridiculous.
]]>Jun 1st 2010 5:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/
....What? It's not that much. Handsets are simply going out of date faster than usual. It's like the computer gigahertz race x1000.

And the phones that are prevented from being updated due to manufacturer issues can still be updated, albeit without the nice skins.

Very little fragmentation. Just a super speed of development, which will eventually level off.]]>Jun 1st 2010 5:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/Jun 1st 2010 5:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/
Sorry, I meant < 1.6]]>Jun 1st 2010 5:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/the only reason u may THINK android is fragmented is because manufacturers dont take the time to update them after they launch. all phones are capable of running the latest version of android, even the g1/dream. ]]>Jun 1st 2010 5:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/Jun 1st 2010 5:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/
Agreed. If someone doesn't realize that they're playing with 1.5, they most likely will love their new featurephone.

However, if they say, "Ehhh, this is pretty basic" and then go on to another phone with, say 2.1, and say "Perfect," it really won't matter, will it?]]>Jun 1st 2010 5:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/
Yeah, my mistake on the typo. It's situations like that where I really wish Engadget would implement an "edit" feature for its comment system, to avoid situations of possible confusion.

Maybe in the next iteration? A guy can dream, can't he?]]>Jun 1st 2010 5:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/Jun 1st 2010 5:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/
An edit button? Thou asketh too much!!! Away with thee! lol

Maybe a website that doesn't crash mobile safari and make my netbook's fans start up just to load?]]>Jun 1st 2010 5:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/Jun 1st 2010 5:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/
lol, yeah the code isn't very stable in Opera mobile either. A few times I've tried to load the comments, only to have the browser lock up and then crash.

On a more related note, just because I have this opinion on Google's software business mentality does not mean that I am not still stoked to pick up my Evo 4G in a few weeks. It softens the fragmentation aspect a bit to know that they'll at least support the hardware with a 2.2 update some time down the road. I just hope the hardware remains relevant over the next couple years, so we don't run into another G1 debacle.]]>Jun 1st 2010 5:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/Jun 1st 2010 5:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/
Yes, just like Sith can't be rearranged to spell Shit
...Oh Wait]]>Jun 1st 2010 5:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/
Except it's really not the hardware's fault. Most of the hardware can support 2.2. In fact, some of the older hardware that couldn't support 2.1 can support 2.2 due to the speed increases and less memory usage.

It's really the manufacturer's fault. More manufacturers should switch their phones to Google Experience phones. That should be the standard that most manufacturers strive towards in order to keep the updates coming quickly and easily.]]>Jun 1st 2010 5:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/
Oh yeah, I forgot about how much more efficient Froyo is in regards to memory and system resource usage. All the more reason that these hardware manufacturers need to get their shit together and actually take Android seriously as a mobile platform -- not just a selling point for their half-baked handset designs.

"Look at us! We have Android! You buy NAO!*"

*except we'll take our sweet ass time getting you the proper software support you as a paying customer should be entitled to.


So in reality, it's only partially Google's fault. The two entities (Google and each respective manufacturer / carrier) need to work together better to push these updates out the door at a more efficient pace, IMO.]]>Jun 1st 2010 5:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/Jun 1st 2010 5:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/]]>Jun 1st 2010 5:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/
Less Google's fault, more manufacturer's. But I agree with every other point.

My logic? Google's done an awesome job taking a hands off approach to the implementation of Android. They deserve a medal for furthering open source and causing greater competition in the marketplace.

Google cares that people have a good Android experience. Manufacturers just want to get their product out the door and milk it for all the money it's worth. Some, like HTC, eventually roll out the updates.....but it's a little bit slower. Not that bad, but slower.]]>Jun 1st 2010 5:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/
If you buy a computer... and 6 months later a new version of Windows comes out... you can upgrade to the newer version of Windows.

The problem is... someone could buy an Android phone now... and 6 months later a new version of the Android OS comes out... and it won't work on that device.

That's the fear of Android's fragmentation.]]>Jun 1st 2010 5:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/Here's the problem: what do you actually mean by "fragmentation"? That is the main issue. And what you mean determines how much it affects consumers/developers and if it actually matters that much in the grand scheme of things.

You can argue that fragmentation exists in every single platform out there today (even the iPhone OS). But what is the actual impact?

Today it is mostly thrown out there as FUD word against Android.]]>Jun 1st 2010 5:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/]]>Jun 1st 2010 5:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/
Glad we see eye-to-eye on this and can maintain a civilized discussion on the matter. Up-rank to you, good sir :)]]>Jun 1st 2010 5:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/
We get it, Drago. You think there's tons of fragmentation and that it's a huge issue. Please stop repeating yourself so that we can actually have a real conversation without resorting to calling people trolls.

Duh fragmentation exists. As long as you have any product with multiple versions of software that don't require the user to update to continue functioning there's going to be fragmentation. There are still people using Windows XP for crying out loud!]]>Jun 1st 2010 5:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/
We get it, Drago. You think there's tons of fragmentation and that it's a huge issue. Please stop repeating yourself so that we can actually have a real conversation without resorting to calling people trolls.

Duh fragmentation exists. As long as you have any product with multiple versions of software that don't require the user to update to continue functioning there's going to be fragmentation. There are still people using Windows XP for crying out loud!]]>Jun 1st 2010 5:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/
And to you, good sir. We don't have to call each other trolls. We recognize that fragmentation exists and say that it really isn't that big of a deal due to XDA and other hacker forums. It's the manufacturer's fault.

However, that in no way means that I'm for more control by Google. They don't need to be another Apple. They simply need to stay the course, and try to get manufacturers on the boat of "Google Experience Phones". Users should look for this branding like they do the "Vista Capable" sticker on computers and such. The manufacturers that don't should be branded as outsiders.]]>Jun 1st 2010 5:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/
I envy you the new hardware, I think the EVO is everything I've been wanting on Sprint for ages - large screen, slim design, fast processor, flash for the camera...]]>Jun 1st 2010 6:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/Jun 1st 2010 6:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/
Google it.

This popular Android game runs smoothly on the Droid yet it lags on the Nexus One.

Fragmentation ∎]]>Jun 1st 2010 6:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/Jun 1st 2010 6:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/Jun 1st 2010 6:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/2.0 came out in the September time frame]]>Jun 1st 2010 6:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/
the problem as i see it is that you have two options - having control over your OS (like apple) and thus creating a very smooth and homogeneous platform available to only one company. or to have a dynamic and open platform open to everyone thus creating the various versions (fragmentation).

my opinion? i'll take the open platform any day. if it means that my cheaper hardware ends up being behind, so be it. innovation is my co-pilot. ]]>Jun 1st 2010 6:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/Jun 1st 2010 6:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/Jun 1st 2010 6:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/
"Agreed. If someone doesn't realize that they're playing with 1.5, they most likely will love their new featurephone.

However, if they say, "Ehhh, this is pretty basic" and then go on to another phone with, say 2.1, and say "Perfect," it really won't matter, will it?"


It will matter to the manufacturer of the 1.5 phone - a LOT]]>Jun 1st 2010 6:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/
"Google cares that people have a good Android experience. Manufacturers just want to get their product out the door and milk it for all the money it's worth."

Once the release cycles settle down, i think we'll see more reasonably timed updates and less "fragmentation" / "legacy" issues. We all expect a little too much for our cash sometimes.... You can't have killer hardware, regular updates and a low price (outright purchase based... not the price on a plan you guys have in the states).
]]>Jun 1st 2010 6:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_(operating_system). 1.6 came out in september, 2.0 came out in October.]]>Jun 1st 2010 6:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/Jun 1st 2010 6:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/Perfectly Worded...Upranked..
I got a dell laptop from 2006 that runs Windows 7 just fine.

Why are these cell phone manufacturers so friggen LAZY when it comes to product support and updates? Samsung is the WORST of them all, especially considering the whole Galaxy fiasco -- can't believe they actually promised an OTA update in a video nonetheless, and then pulled the video and changed their minds. That to me is one of the scummiest things a company can do...

But what people don't realize is -- this isn't Google's fault...what are they supposed to do, force Samsung \ LG \ etc to provide updates?
Not going to happen.]]>Jun 1st 2010 6:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/If you use that example you are describing hardware fragmentation. The iPhone which Asphalt 5 was originally made for uses the same PowerVR graphics chip that the Moto Droid used later. Gameloft is just to damn lazy to optimize the code for Android and they are using their own store instead of the Android Market to screw Android owners over.]]>Jun 1st 2010 6:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/Still, advanced custom ROM (like Cyanogen) could be installed even on earliest Android devices.]]>Jun 1st 2010 6:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/
Yes, but they are all running the *same* 11 month old version. You know, the one targeted by all developers. Many android developers target 1.6 or 2.0 (or even 2.1). Four major version behind in only a few months sounds pretty fragmented to me.]]>Jun 1st 2010 6:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/Jun 1st 2010 7:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/It sure doesn't feel lie Google wants people to have a happy Android experience. What it feels like is that Google wanted to play catchup and pass Apple as fast as possible, so they fast tracked the OS upgrades from their side, and didn't really care what the handset manufacturers did.

As long as the latest and greatest handset came with the latest (or almost latest) version of Android when it launched, that was a good deal for Google. However, when you have handsets launching with Android 1.6 at the same time that 2.2 is out, that's not anything close to a good Android experience.

I look forward to them finally slowing down the OS cycle and concentrating on making sure their partners are covered.]]>Jun 1st 2010 7:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/Jun 1st 2010 7:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/Jun 1st 2010 8:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/01/google-fragmentation-is-a-boogeyman-a-red-herring/
Well nice try from Google but no cigar. I really expected Google to put forth some solid solutions on how to deal with this fragmentation instead of trying to pull wool over consumers' eyes. They think they can simply "persuade" hardware companies to follow their diktat. Well good luck! - just look at Nokia which was a single hardware manufacturer with gazillions of product lines and even there fragmentation occurred. Now consider what will happen when those gazillions of product lines are in control of gazillions of different manufacturers. Google really needs to learn from the harsh lessons Nokia suffered instead of pretending that the problem does not exist!]]>Jun 1st 2010 8:28PM