While the Pixel 6 ushered in three years of major Android OS version updates and an additional two for security patches, that’s still nowhere near the longevity of the iPhone. Google hopes to change that on the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro with noticeably more OS updates.
Looking at the mobile Android landscape, three years of OS updates – which was also the case on Qualcomm-powered Pixel phones from 2017-2021 – is less than Samsung’s promise of four, which started last year with the Galaxy S21, S22, Flip 3, and Fold 3 and continued through devices released this year, including some of the company’s more affordable releases.
[…]From what we’re hearing, Pixel 8’s update promise should surpass Samsung’s current policy on flagships and meaningfully match the iPhone. Of course, the devil is in the details, especially in those later years. For example, the Galaxy line has, in the past, adopted a quarterly approach towards the end. Even a bump to just five years of OS updates for Pixel would be enough and let the Google phone be at the top of the ecosystem, with anything beyond that squarely going after the iPhone’s record.
The situation has definitely been improving – finally – but I’d still like this to be platform-wide, and not just individual manufacturers making promises. To reduce e-waste, make devices more secure and ensure longer lifespans, I’d like to see 10 years of full software support. The tech industry has a long history of garbage support and low quality – especially when it comes to software – that we would not tolerate from any other industry.
It’s time the tech industry grew up and joined other industries that offer far longer and more comprehensive support.
We tolerate from no other industry? Are you sure? How long is the warranty on your microwave? How many years of support updates do you get for it? Washing machine? Thermostats?
Let’s look at the computer industry itself. What WiFi router do you use? For how many years after you bought it do you believe firmware updates are going to be made available? Your printer? Laptop?
Actually, what consumer products with firmware in them are you getting 10 years of updates for? Anything?
The iPhone is a total anomaly really. Apple does not even provide updates for their MacOS computers that long.
Take into account the potential security flaw of a microwave, a washing machine, a thermostats, a printer, a laptop.
A laptop or a smartphone are subject to run a software that was not bundled with and certified by the manufacturer.
A microwave, a washing machine, a thermostats, a printer are mostly “off the grid” and run a closed firmware that is not subject to change. Even though some of them may have a firmware update or two during their lifetime (my Brother printers did, because new protocols and Wifi connection subject to hijack).
So please don’t put everything into the same bag.
While I tend to avoid such things, I have relatives that have fridges, thermostats, vacuums, and security cameras that are all online. I bet none of them get firmware updates for more than 3 years. Security concerns? Well, the cameras are obvious. With an Internet enabled thermostat, is it possible to remotely burn my house down? I think a Nest will tell you if I am home. My Internet connected garage door opener will let you in. It is not getting any updates so I hope it does not have the kind of exploit your printer had. Maybe my dryer, washing machine, or toaster is going to catch fire at the end of the UNIX epoch unless it gets a firmware update. Who knows?
You say your printer was subject to hijack which is kind of my point. Will you get an update if a similar vulnerability appears 9 years after sale? My printer is on my WiFi network. I am pretty sure it is has some kind of Internet printing capability. I do not think I am using it but honestly it may surprise me. I just looked and there have not been any firmware updates since it was three years old.
I mentioned WiFi routers as certainly nothing is more Internet enabled than that. Again, I just looked and my router has a firmware update from 6 years after it was released. So, not too bad but it would still shock me if I see any active support for that thing anywhere close to 10 years.
Windows is also an anomaly and a famously long-lived and backwards compatible one which is why I mentioned MacOS. I would suggest that the only reason Windows the consumer product sees the support lifetime it does is because of the enterprise nature of Windows overall.
“Please dont’ put everything into the same bag” is actually the request I am making. My point is that the “every other industry” comment makes it sound like we ( the consumer ) demand and receive continued product updates everywhere but smart phones. In fact, outside of SOME computer operating systems, vehicles, and the iPhone, I do not see consumer products being maintained after sale anywhere close to 10 years. That kind of support is not the norm. It is the exception.
Putting firmware ( software ) and, even worse, connectivity into more and more products is a real problem. I guess my core point is that more and more of these products are appearing in industries and being sold to consumers that we do not think of as being “tech”. When Thom says that the “tech” industry is getting away with less accountability than we demand elsewhere, I do not see that. In fact, we are creating an absolutely massive problem with IoT as we demand very little long term support or accountability for the consumer products that pretty much any industry OUTSIDE of tech creates. Websites like OSnews exist to expose and pressure the makers of devices like smart phones precisely because we see them as “technology”. In my view, the bigger problem is that nobody is paying attention at all to the the makers of the “smart chain saw” or the Internet-enabled and temperature controlled bed.
tanishaj,
Kochise was responding to your earlier comment where you did not specify internet enabled appliances: “We tolerate from no other industry? Are you sure? How long is the warranty on your microwave? How many years of support updates do you get for it? Washing machine? Thermostats?”
If you intended for your examples to be internet enabled, it changes the attack surface for sure and you can make the case they ought to be supported for longer. But as Kochise points out the majority of appliance in the home are not internet enabled. You’d have to go out of your way and pay a premium for one of those. Unless they have a defect/safety recall of some sort, normal off grid appliances generally don’t get new features and don’t require firmware updates.
tanishaj,
I want to add that I do agree with you that support on internet devices can be problematic. Beside potential security vulnerabilities, dropping support can leave us with devices that are unfit for purpose. I personally despise engineering around vendor locked services. It’s only a matter of time before these are discontinued.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/apr/05/revolv-devices-bricked-google-nest-smart-home
The ideal solution is providing the community with all the resources we need to support ourselves when manufacturer calls it quits. However for the majority of hardware available to consumers this is not the case. We’re left at the mercy of manufacturers and their proprietary products.
MS windows 10 Will have 10 years of updates.
In fact computers bought with Windows have a potential unlimited lifespan, as you can always update to the next Windows version as long as your hardware fits the minimum requirements. (Ok so technically it’s not unlimited, but indefinite.)
Agreed. And I can put Linux on it and use it for decades.
That is not exactly “10 years of support” from the manufacturer though. How many BIOS or your seeing on that Windows machine ( ok, UEFI — I am old )?
tanishaj,
With x86 computers, consumers aren’t restricted the OS shipped by the manufacture. People regularly upgrade their computers in the field without manufacturer permission or support and it’s not even that difficult to do 10-20 years later.
With ARM mobile devices, we’ve become far more dependent on manufacturers for updates. Once the manufacturer drops support, that’s it for most mobile device. Mobile devices have evolved to be hostile to self-support and this is why mobiles can’t even come close to the longevity of average off the shelf computers.
Tell that to all the people who can’t move to 11 out the box. Tragic.
Take into account the potential security flaw of a microwave, a washing machine, a thermostats, a printer, a laptop.
A laptop or a smartphone are subject to run a software that was not bundled with and certified by the manufacturer.
A microwave, a washing machine, a thermostats, a printer are mostly “off the grid” and run a closed firmware that is not subject to change. Even though some of them may have a firmware update or two during their lifetime (my Brother printers did, because new protocols and Wifi connection subject to hijack).
So please don’t put everything into the same bag.
TO BE DELETED