Thoughts From a Clicker
By Tiny Ruisch
Lately I’ve been doing research for my “About Android” workshop. I’ve been an Android user since June of 2013 when I bought a Samsung Galaxy Note 2. I probably would have never bought it if Windows Mobile hadn’t started becoming a terrible operating system. Since then, I’ve owned several Android phones and tablets, I’ve used products from Samsung, Google, HTC, LG, Motorola and many other companies.
One of the greatest problems with the Android OS hasn’t changed since it was first released in 2008. The market has always been fragmented. Android is open source software. Essentially, this means that anyone can modify it to fit their needs.
This is why the market has become so fragmented. Phone manufacturers modify the OS and add in their proprietary applications and other things that a user may or may not want. On my Samsung tablet, the Operating System is listed as “Samsung Experience”. Other companies do the same type of thing.
Most end users buy their phones through one of the cell carriers. In turn, these companies add more programs and bloatware. These often include apps for finding your family, chatting and texting, news feeds, roadside assistance, etc. For most users, these apps aren’t needed, use up storage space and slow down their phones.
Another thing that contributes to Android fragmentation are updates. Google releases a monthly security patch. Before your phone can be updated, the manufacturer has to incorporate it and make it available for downloading. Many stop doing this after a year or two. If it is a carrier phone, the security patches have to go through another layer of updates before they can be installed on phones. It isn’t hard to figure out why many phones don’t have the latest updates.
It’s not unusual for updates to take three or four months to get incorporated by manufacturers and cell phone carriers. Some companies are faster than others. Others just help to increase the fragmentation.
One last problem with Android fragmentation is the problems that application developers find when they create new programs. It can be difficult for them to make sure their app work on every device. Don’t believe me? Look at almost any app in the Google Play Store and there will be restrictions on devices and Android Versions. Read reviews for almost any app and you will find comments that the app doesn’t work on a particular device.
So what can you, the user, do to avoid the problem of Android Fragmentation? Unfortunately, not much. Do a little research before you buy a new device and check the manufacturer’s update polices. Buying an “unlocked” phone instead of a carrier phone will eliminate one step in the update process. If you are adventurous, you can find instructions on the internet for installing your own Android OS.
Thanks for reading and keep on clicking.