Google is tackling version fragmentation with initiatives such as Project Treble, a major rearchitecting of Android resulting in a separation between the Android OS framework components and the vendor HAL components, extended Linux kernel LTS, mandatory security patch updates for 2 years, and Android Enterprise Recommended. At Google I/O 2019, the company announced its latest initiative to speed up security updates: Project Mainline for Android Q.
A fairly detailed look at how this new initiative works. Sadly, as always, this only affects Android Q devices or devices that get updated to Android Q – the vast install base of earlier versions see no benefit at all.
And I’m still waiting for Pie on my Moto.
Isn’t the “give away the software, sell the hardware” model (often proposed for open source funding) grand? Microsoft has a vested interest in making sure your laptop is upgradeable to latest Windows, to the point they post ridiculously low minimum requirements, Motorola (and Google, now that they are a phone manufacturer) have a vested interest in selling you a new phone. And yes, I do think that Microsoft not following the same model with Windows Phone and breaking their promise for consistent upgrades had a role in the downfall of the platform.
Ummmm It sounds like you think open source has something to do with phones not getting proper update support which of course is wrong. Google and some other OEM have no problem updating their devices. Doesn’t Google have a vested interest in selling you another phone? Moto and company should care about their consumers just like Microsoft but they simply don’t so one should not be buying their products. How did you group Moto with Google?
Microsoft managed to get themselves in an unique position to be the dominate OS on desktop PCs that just didn’t happen on mobile devices. Google realized the real money was going to be services and the store NOT the OS itself.
We also need to recognize phones are not PCs. A phone just doesn’t need support as long as a PC as it doesn’t hold up physically in most consumers hands. I would say 3 years of support is reasonable but one could argue 4 or 5 years BUT not 10 like with Windows. We can mention carriers who really have a vested interested in selling you a phone to keep you on a monthly plan and on their network which is the main way users buy phones (in the US).
Google provides updates and upgrades for a shorter amount of time compared to Apple. Yes open source leads to forks and fragmentation which makes upgrading and updating a pain.
So? I address that in my comment. Android being open source has little to do with the fragmentation. Android is very modular so apps are isolated from the OS (unlike iOS) while we have Project Treble and soon Project Mainline. It is not hard to provide updates to Android if an OEM really wanted to do it.. Again, OEMs and carriers have an interest to sell new phones (which you agree with). I can add most Android OEMs release a dozen or so phones a year while Apple releases 2 or 3. Should we mention Qualcomm not providing support for their older chipsets for newer versions of Android makes 5 years of support impossible. Maybe someday Google will make their own SoC like Apple bu that is not the situation now..
My point there is a lot of factors that makes longer term and quicker Android OS and security updates problematic but none have anything to do with it being open source.
Personally, I prefer the PC model where the hardware is open and one can install any OS they like but that is not how the mobile industry evolved. Between a choice of phones with different OS flavors (even if all Android) and Apple’s one size fits all closed garden I choose Android.
BTW this will be good news if it ever becomes a reality. Nobody is legally obligated to give you free upgrades, but having 2 or 3 year old phones running unpatched versions of the OS is a disaster waiting to happen and a major blow to customer rights. Shouldn’t these devices be recalled? I guess it depends on the definition of what is a defect that could cause harm.
I know quite a few people with phones older than that and none of them have encountered any disasters. There has been so much FUD over the risk of using “unpatched” phone OSes that I don’t think people make any distinction between what is *technically possible* versus the conditions necessary or likelihood of `being hacked` in the real world. Companies want you to shit your pants and people are all too willing to oblige.
I’m not suggesting security isn’t important. Clearly being updated with the most recent security patches is preferable. However, there’s very little chance the sky is going to fall if you aren’t. If your phone is your most important possession with your entire life saved on it and paying $1000 (or whatever) every couple years makes you sleep better at night, go for it. I decided a while ago that I’m not buying another phone until security patches aren’t dependent on my provider, or I’m forced to for some reason. Fingers crossed somebody with the right skills and right tools isn’t around me at the right time and under the right conditions to hack my phone and steal my Facebook password!!