Android fragmentation goes from valid concern to anti-Android red herring

HapticSimian

HapticSimian

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90% of all droids are now on 2.1+, Froyo reaches 57.6%

Google published their monthly report on the Android platform versions distribution and revealed that 90% of all droids now run 2.1 Eclair or later. January saw 2.2 Froyo rise to 57.6%, while 2.3 Gingerbread still struggles to make an impact.

Compared to December, Froyo gained another 5.8% of market share, which also makes it the currently fastest growing version. The Google Nexus S-exclusive Gingerbread doubled its market share, but that only took the OS version up to a share of 0.8%.

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It was Android 2.1 Eclair that took the biggest hit in the first month of 2011, slipping by 3.8% to a market share of 31.4%. The long outdated 1.5 Cupcake and 1.6 Donut too lost some ground and now account for 3.9% and 6.3% of Android devices respectively.

We are expecting the Android 2.2 Froyo share to reach its peak in February, after which will probably start shrinking to make way for the Gingerbread that should hopefully hit more and more devices.

Based on current rates 1.5 Cupcake and 1.6 Donut should become extinct in about 3 months. we highly doubt they will fully go extinct as Motorola and T-Mobile US just canceled the promised Motorola CLIQ XT 2.1 update, which leaves it stuck at v1.5. You can follow Motorola's software upgrade path here but we would take it with a pinch of salt from now on. Way to go, Moto! Who needs users trust anyway!

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Doesn't really seem like such a big deal, does it? There are probably more older iPhones in use still stuck on an outdated OS than what there are 'droids. :rolleyes:
 
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Being one or two versions behind is hardly a big deal. Takes a while for apps to take advantage of the new features. Doesn't make a real difference to most users.
Fact of life is that is costs money to update phones, Android needs to be tailored to the different hardware with new drivers.
 
enigma243 said:
Doesn't really seem like such a big deal, does it? There are probably more older iPhones in use still stuck on an outdated OS than what there are 'droids. :rolleyes:
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I hated the HUGE & constant iPhone updates.

With my iPhone 3G the last iOS 4.2 update came in at 309MB, but first you had to update iTunes as well, that was another 80MB. Basically swallowed almost half my monthly Vodacom HSDPA data bundle. :mad:

The poor iPad owners must download almost 600MB.

So glad I'm now using Android and could escape the whole Apple eco system. My Desire HD is running Android 2.2 & I'm in no hurry to update to 2.3 - Froyo rocks!! :)
 
It seems (app & games wise) that if you're on 2.1 or above you should be fine, personaly i'm not concerned, i'll flash my X10 with a custom 2.3 ROM when it comes out of Beta if things get desperate. I think fregmentation mainly effects those on Android1.x which is a VERY SMALL share, this whole fregmentation issue is realy being blown out of proportion.
 
Maddmatt said:
Being one or two versions behind is hardly a big deal. Takes a while for apps to take advantage of the new features. Doesn't make a real difference to most users.
Fact of life is that is costs money to update phones, Android needs to be tailored to the different hardware with new drivers.
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from what i read, the was a vast difference from 2.1 to 2.2 ito performance. can't really remember the transition much myself.
 
Oh yeah. It's got a JIT-compiler. 3-5x the speed. Huge difference in performance.
 
OK, let me flame suit up here - I root for Android over everything except anything Nokia (excluding Series40 cause that does not count). Speaking of which and completely OT, I'm buying a 2700 today and looking forward to playing with it for one day before passing it on to my mom.
 
LOL - I think its time for a drive in my LOLS Royce now :D I'll slip in a CD of enigma&leroux with the chart dropping hit "Troll Boat 7" ;)
If WP7 does not amount to much at least they'll still have Symbian and Meego (or they could be dead by then).

I am pretty tempted to try out a droid of sorts - if only for a little while.. Guess I'll keep an eye on BoB listings for droid phones.
 
Nokia and WM7... as that Google person said, two Turkeys do not make an Eagle. Having owned a couple of Samsungs and still having my Omnia... I am never ever ever going to use Windows Mobile again. Its thats simple. I dont even use my Omnia. Its a glorified mp3 player now.

Never, ever, ever again.
 
ocleroux said:
Gently down the stream! Merrily Merrily Merrily....WP7 is nothing but a dream!

Darnit!!! Now that song is gonna stick in my freakking head the whole bloody day!!!!!!!!!! tsk
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It's a small world after all... it's a small world after all... :D

What do you guys think will come first? An Android emulator for WP7 or WP7 emulator for Android?
 
w1z4rd said:
Nokia and WM7... as that Google person said, two Turkeys do not make an Eagle. Having owned a couple of Samsungs and still having my Omnia... I am never ever ever going to use Windows Mobile again. Its thats simple. I dont even use my Omnia. Its a glorified mp3 player now.

Never, ever, ever again.
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Just remember that WP7 is a completely different beast. It's not comparable to old WM in the least...
 
Apple's success is largely because of its eco system... everything integrates, and for the most part it all simply put... works.

Microsoft is a lot bigger than Apple. What if they create the same kind of eco system, except using Nokia devices. I think the possibilities could be quite interesting

thoughts?
 
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