Usually the biggest issue are high end games. I don't have any examples for the S3 though. Normal apps typically work fine since there isn't much too them. With a device as popular as the S3 any apps in question will quickly be updated.
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Steve was right the truly build a phone 5 years ahead of its time
- Thread starter DenisAuermann
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Usually the biggest issue are high end games. I don't have any examples for the S3 though. Normal apps typically work fine since there isn't much too them. With a device as popular as the S3 any apps in question will quickly be updated.
iphone was and still is ahead of the competitors.
apple : simple UI , apps store , icloud , airplay , ipad and of course Siri ...
others: well...Aplle-like features/looks..
i don't know of any Android-like feature that Apple is immitating...do you?
...(let the flaming begins )
and about "fragmentation"... any half brained software designer would tell that : good/great softwares are customized to specific hardware !
the "openess" of Android os will be it's weakness unless google puts forth some kind of hardware restrictions... but that would be another Apple-like characteristic...oops there it is.
Steve was a true genious!
anyways...
to be honest : competitions is good for us, the comsumers...
the more "iphone killer"s = better iphone for me !
apple : simple UI , apps store , icloud , airplay , ipad and of course Siri ...
others: well...Aplle-like features/looks..
i don't know of any Android-like feature that Apple is immitating...do you?
...(let the flaming begins
)and about "fragmentation"... any half brained software designer would tell that : good/great softwares are customized to specific hardware !
the "openess" of Android os will be it's weakness unless google puts forth some kind of hardware restrictions... but that would be another Apple-like characteristic
...oops there it is.Steve was a true genious!
anyways...
to be honest : competitions is good for us, the comsumers...
the more "iphone killer"s = better iphone for me !
Are you really trying to spin the problem of Android's fragmentation as a non-issue and something that was created by the media? That's just ridiculous. Google THEMSELVES has said that it is a problem. This is not just "a way to bash a platform that individuals feel threatened by, or do not like", its the cold hard truth. Yes, manufacturers such as HTC and Motorola may have the option to choose what OS version they want on their device (which for the most part they choose the previous years out-of-date OS with a ton of bloatware added on, and topped off with a terrible skin), but that doesn't change the fact that Android is fragmented.
Froyo was released 3 years ago. It's still on more Android phones than ICS (although this might have changed since I last checked). Gingerbread was released 2 years ago. It's still on the majority of Android phones today. ICS was released last year. Under 10% of Android devices have ICS. Jellybean was released 2 weeks ago, and its on 2 devices (the Nexus 7 and Nexus Q). Even though Jelly Bean is now released, some manufacturers are still planning out their ICS updates.
If you don't think that's fragmentation, then you don't know the meaning of the word. Again, I'm not on either side, I'm just stating a fact. Android is fragmented. I owned the original Droid, the Droid 2, the Droid 3, the HTC Thunderbolt, and a SGS 2, along with my iPhone 4, so don't even assume that I'm trying to "bash an OS that I feel threatened by". There is just not defying the fact that fragmentation is a serious problem on Android.
P.S. Thanks for keeping this little discussion civil and not resulting to "OMFG YOUR A APPLE FANBOI!11!!!!!1!1!!1111!".
I don't think anyone's seriously denying that Android is fragmented, but it is something that feels blown out of proportion when the easiest and most obvious solution to that issue is to just get a Nexus device. If updates and developer support are that important, a little research will go a long way for the would-be Android user.
If anyone is seriously denying that Android is fragmented, well, you should probably stop listening to said person.
If anyone is seriously denying that Android is fragmented, well, you should probably stop listening to said person.
Before one can understand, it's important to work with facts, not what someone makes up because they hate a certain platform.Gotcha. So the availability of numerous phones available each running a different, old OS (the vast majority of which that can NOT run the latest and greatest out of the box) is a choice, not fragmentation... right.
The statement above says "availability of numerous phones available each running a different, old OS".
This comment is false. Each new Android phone shipped includes the latest version of Android the phone is capable of running. Not "old" as erroneously stated above.
Next is the fact that "the latest & greatest is another false concept that applies to many types of products.
Here's an example. My iPhone running iOS ver 4.x.x delivered much better battery life than after it was upgraded to iOS 5.x.x. Therefore I returned it to 4.x.x. Also I found Siri totally useless for my workflow. Therefore while newer, iOS 5.x.x was not the greatest for my needs.
The reason I'm not bothered if it's not "the latest is that I don't derive my self worth via a certain OS, or Phone.
It's no different than the 2011 MBP's & MBA's I have rolled back to Snow Leopard 10.6.8. Highly optimized by me to run fast & very efficiently on SSD's.
It's the same reason I'm not advocating for either Android or iOS. I don't care what anyone uses. I'm simply helping to debunk a myth.
Yet that can't be done if people are close minded or not educated about the competition.
The reason people believe the fragmentation myth is true, is due to Apples overwhelming influence in the industry. They invented the App Concept as we know it today.
Therefore Microsoft and Samsung followed. After doing very well in it's short history Windows 7, is already being replaced with the App Centric Windows 8 patterned after the Apple App model.
It's that same Apple influence that convinced the entire industry that Android was "fragmented" made by Evil Google, and to be destroyed at all costs.
It's as simple as that.
If you read my posts, you'll notice at _no_ time did I say Android is not fragmented. Conversely what I _did_ say is the word fragmentation has been used to bash the Android platform in a way that's out of proportion simply because Apple wants Android destroyed.
You'll also notice at no time have I insulted anyone in this forum. I'm discussing the topic.
Whereas some people, like one member here, chooses to call me delusional because of some personal hatred that person has. It's a shame, responses like that are what gives Apple enthusiasts like myself a bad rap. But to each their own.
Many brand new Androids still ship with (and can't be upgraded without rooting) Gingerbread, a nearly 2 year old OS. I'm sorry if your definition of 'old' doesn't match that.
All this thread proves is that the iPhone 4s _already_ owns the spotlight, and the iPhone 5 will continue to own it once released. When everyone and their brother is struggling to proclaim that they've got something "better than the iPhone" the game is already over.
Face it....even if you own an Android, the iPhone still rules your world. You are obsessed with it. You can't stop posting here and comparing it to the iPhone.
And that's ok really...but you aren't telling we iPhone owners something we don't already know. The iPhone is the center of your world too...you just haven't accepted that yet.
Face it....even if you own an Android, the iPhone still rules your world. You are obsessed with it. You can't stop posting here and comparing it to the iPhone.
And that's ok really...but you aren't telling we iPhone owners something we don't already know. The iPhone is the center of your world too...you just haven't accepted that yet.
I won't disagree fragmentation is a problem. But most of us that have an Android device are rarely effected by it.
I have a Motorola Xoom, it was shipped with Android 3.0 Honeycomb. It was a tablet specific OS, it was very similar to ICS back a year and 3 months ago. Therefore according to this thread and fragmentation, barely any apps worked for it. This is incorrect though, there wasn't an app that DIDN'T work on it. When apps came out before the Xoom got ICS that were updated for ICS they still worked fine. Now that it has ICS apps that have never been updated from gingerbread still work fine and I expect the same when it gets JB in a few days.
So I agree there is a problem but also agree with the poster that said the problem is blown out of proportion.
When reading comments on google play I only notice issues on newer devices that the app hasnt been updated yet to work for. This is nearly always high end games.
I have a Motorola Xoom, it was shipped with Android 3.0 Honeycomb. It was a tablet specific OS, it was very similar to ICS back a year and 3 months ago. Therefore according to this thread and fragmentation, barely any apps worked for it. This is incorrect though, there wasn't an app that DIDN'T work on it. When apps came out before the Xoom got ICS that were updated for ICS they still worked fine. Now that it has ICS apps that have never been updated from gingerbread still work fine and I expect the same when it gets JB in a few days.
So I agree there is a problem but also agree with the poster that said the problem is blown out of proportion.
When reading comments on google play I only notice issues on newer devices that the app hasnt been updated yet to work for. This is nearly always high end games.
So the people who buy the newest, most up to date devices are the ones having the most problems, but, since it only effects a few, it's not as big a deal as it's made out to be.
The truth is, practically ALL Android users are effected by it.
With the vast majority of Android users still using a 2-3 year old OS, developers have to limit themselves to that level and forgo any new options or abilities that may be available to them.
Not necessarily. It's not like iOS that alot of apps only work on the newest OS as a requirement. I can only think of one app off the top of my head that requires ICS (chrome) and that only due to google pushing it that way. There maybe some games, I don't know maybe not. So developers aren't really that limited when it comes to Gingerbread/ICS development. Previous versions of android yes, but the majority of Android users are gingerbread or ICS by a large margin.
Keep in mind iOS app devs dumb down apps to support older hardware too, like infinity blade on the 3GS isn't as graphically intense as it is on the 4S. Same applies to Android, however the games usually have a low medium high graphic setting (nice if you overclocked you aren't limited to the dumb version) so there is only one app for all devices instead of multiple apps for multiple devices.
As far as fragmentation on newer devices like I mentioned is blown out of proportion. Put it this way, name all the apps that don't work on the S3....if fragmentation is a terrible issue then this should be a long list.
(I didn't research the S3 so that statement might bite me in the ass lol)
That's exactly my point though. Developers are limited since they're forced to program for an old OS in order to ensure usability on the most devices.
Having apps work only on the newest OS as a requirement is a GOOD thing that gives programers more tools to work with and a better experience for us.
I don't understand all this iPhone hate lately. Does this happen on MacRumors every time a new iPhone is about to launch? I come here to read about iPhone, and all I see is stuff about Android. I don't remember if it was like this when the 4S launched or not.
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Yeah, I don't get it---My sister in law bought her Motorola Atrix because the salesman at US Cellular told her it was "better than the iPhone". Every time she sees me, she reminds me of that.
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Yeah, I don't get it---My sister in law bought her Motorola Atrix because the salesman at US Cellular told her it was "better than the iPhone". Every time she sees me, she reminds me of that.
Could just be some users are getting sick of their 9 month old phone
There is a very small percentage of smartphone users that view their phones as status symbols and 'playtoys' more than just communication devices. These make up a disproportionate % of the forum posters, however. So you'll see a lot of posts about how iOS has become "boring" because, to the ADD, it likely no longer holds the new shiny value to them that it once did. This same vocal minority will be chasing the iPhone 5 and all its shiny-ness and/or disparaging it in a mad attempt to stave off their insecurity about not owning the most popular phone at that time. Then the cycle will repeat itself ad-nauseum with the release of any new device in the phone world.
Just ignore them.....they really do get bored with stuff and go away on their own.
iPhone will possibly end up like RIM / BlackBerry, a once dominate #1 selling phone, and a few short years later, being outdone by the competition, due to staying stagnant and resting on their laurels, and dropping in sales substantially than they once had.
Right now Android 4.1 Jellybean is easily just as good, and in my opinion better than iOS6. The Galaxy S3 is also a great phone. And now Microsoft has their next generation Windows 8 Phones due this Fall, which look very solid. And will give both Google and Apple some serious competition next year.
The next generation Nexus due this Fall, and Windows 8 Phone also coming in the Fall, will be a very serious threat to Apple, not in sales, but just a change in mindset that the iPhone is not the be all, end all, only smartphone available. Heck the brand new Galaxy S3 is already selling like hotcakes all over the world, and stealing customers who are ready for an upgrade from their iPhone4 contract that is now up this Summer.
I used to like the early iPhone's, but in my opinion has become stale and outdated. I am open minded to going back to an iPhone, but want change; bigger screen, new design, Widgets, LED notification light like BlackBerry has always had. Or the cool UI that Windows 8 Phone has, is unique and fresh. Apple needs to radically update this phone already.
I understand the iPhone4 + 4S are HUGE sellers, and extremely successful now, but if they rest on that and always think they will remain #1, they will end up just like the BlackBerry.
You don't seem to get it. Android is NOT a threat. Microsoft is the threat.
RIM couldn't make it because they don't have a desktop platform. Windows and Mac have millions of users to leverage and connect with the desktop.
Android doesn't have that and Google is being sued by multiple companies with an aggregate valuation of a trillion dollars.
You opinion is fine but in now way linked with the reality that sits before us all.
Not everyone puts an object as the center of our world, you shouldn't either.
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My iPhone/Android/Blackberry were always connected to my desktop using gmail, Google Calendar and Dropbox. Never used any Windows servives or iCloud.
Google isn't being sued by multiple companies, only Oracle sued and lost badly.
iphone was and still is ahead of the competitors.
apple : simple UI , apps store , icloud , airplay , ipad and of course Siri ...
others: well...Aplle-like features/looks..
Android: Customizable UI, Google Play, Google Drive, Widgets, Downloadable Launchers, Google TV (I don't use it, i'm just saying), and Google Now
i don't know of any Android-like feature that Apple is immitating...do you?
...(let the flaming begins
Notifications, Safari Tab Sync, Facebook/Twitter integration for starters.
and about "fragmentation"... any half brained software designer would tell that : good/great softwares are customized to specific hardware !
I'm not sure about that...
the "openess" of Android os will be it's weakness unless google puts forth some kind of hardware restrictions... but that would be another Apple-like characteristic
Google lets its OEMs do what they want, and lets the free market decide what is preferred. For example, HTC pushed out the Droid Incredible and it blasted them into the android foreground. Three years later, HTC has been replaced by Samsung. If Samsung starts poorly implementing the android OS, sales numbers will show it.
Steve was a true genious!
He was a smart man, but a lot of people went in to reviving Apple.
anyways...
to be honest : competitions is good for us, the comsumers...
the more "iphone killer"s = better iphone for me !
Agreed on this. However, we haven't seen the full effect of competition yet as Apple has never been beaten. More people now believe that Apple has been stagnant in iOS 6. Somewhere down the line I feel Apple's hand will be forced, and iOS will really progress again. Just not yet.
comments in bold
Really, you think that people working on the new iPhone and iOS6 just go about their merry day ignoring Android and just worrying about WP8? Each company will have strategy departments trying to predict what the other is doing and what the next big feature will be.
I think everyone knows that Android does have fragmentation and that isn't great, but Apple's unified approach has caused them problems before. Ever tried installing iOS 4.0 on a 3G? It made the phone almost unusable.
I do feel that Apple have lost some of their lustre in terms of design, and I really am crying out for a 4.5" screen and a new design of UI, so that's why I've just moved to a Galaxy S3. Apple didn't look like they were going to give me the experience I want, I may be wrong but why lock yourself in to one system?
Really?
http://www.androidauthority.com/fujifilm-motorola-patent-lawsuit-101309/
&
http://www.fosspatents.com/2012/07/companies-worth-1-trillion-are-suing.html
Again. Apple and Microsoft are well insulated because they have a crapload of patents. Google does not.
The three android devises I used pissed me the hell off,
Why to make fake apps and other junk in the app market. Its way to open.
they phones have all bad batt life. less then 6 hours. (WTF)
Im fine with a 24 hour batt why because I plug my phone in every night. so I know its going to be around the time to charge it any ways
Androids have to much ui going on, they need to keep it basic and simple
The only thing I like about android was the shutdown buttion, and it prompts "restart, airplane,off"
Android is still a mess and lots of stuff is hidden from normal sight and its anoying to dig to turn stuff off.
Why to make fake apps and other junk in the app market. Its way to open.
they phones have all bad batt life. less then 6 hours. (WTF)
Im fine with a 24 hour batt why because I plug my phone in every night. so I know its going to be around the time to charge it any ways
Androids have to much ui going on, they need to keep it basic and simple
The only thing I like about android was the shutdown buttion, and it prompts "restart, airplane,off"
Android is still a mess and lots of stuff is hidden from normal sight and its anoying to dig to turn stuff off.