Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Blogs Google Watch
    • Blogs
    • Google Watch
    • Search Engines

    Is the Android Update Alliance Working Yet?

    By
    Clint Boulton
    -
    September 7, 2011
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      At Google I/O back in May, executives for Google’s Android platform proudly announced they were working on a way to provide regular platform updates for Android smartphones for 18 months — when the hardware makes it possible.

      Android Product Manager Hugo Barra said the group was formed to “create guidelines for how quickly Android devices will get updated after new platform releases.” Here are the members on a slide from Google I/O:

      Four months later and if there’s been any progress, we don’t know about it. Android And Me wrote a long, critical blog post on this effort, for which Google doesn’t have an official update and declined to provide a comment.

      The Android enthusiast blog calls it the Android Update Alliance, but as far as I can tell, the publication made the name up. Google hasn’t even disclosed a name for it.

      How confusing is the operation of this group? Enough that Android And Me assumes it is functioning, but is clearly vexed by the inconsistency shown by Android OEMs and carriers regarding updates:

      “We have seen a lot of devices getting updates lately, so we can reasonably assume that the Alliance is, in fact, doing what it has set out to do … for the most part. There are a number of devices released early this year that are still running outdated versions of Android. Some are even being released now with outdated versions.“

      For example, check out this Android device dashboard stat graphic. Android 2.2 “Froyo” remains on half of the phones and it’s over a year old. Gingerbread is second at 30 percent, which is a lot better than it was even a month ago:

      Why the bump in Gingerbread share? HTC, as usual, is quickest to upgrade its phones, with 13 running Gingerbread.

      There is the success of the Samsung Galaxy S II devices, which sold over 5 million units overseas.

      We also know that AT&T — purportedly a member of this group — in July pledged to update its Android handsets to Android 2.3 “Gingerbread.” Was that a result of the Google-created group?

      Does the fact that most Android handsets launched since the Google I/O pledge run Gingerbread mean the group is operating up to spec?

      We just don’t know what this super group has done, if anything, to help facilitate the Android upgrade scheme. Does anyone know what’s going on with the group?

      Meanwhile, Android And Me asks the right questions:

      • Is Google working with the manufacturers and carriers to get these updates out the door? Or is Google merely setting forth a guideline and expecting adherence?
      • Are devices released before this announcement that are still within this 18-month update time frame intended to be a part of this agreement?
      • Are there any guidelines relating to how long it should take for devices to receive an update after a new version of Android is released?
      • Are minor version updates (which often include important security fixes) intended to be released as part of this agreement?
      • Who determines if a device is capable of receiving an upgrade?

      One other thing. If Google really worried about this, why didn’t it set forth guidelines at launch? Surely it had to expect this current Wild West of rampant Android builds and disparate device and application support.

      Everyone else did.

      Clint Boulton

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      Alteryx’s Suresh Vittal on the Democratization of...

      James Maguire - May 31, 2022 0
      I spoke with Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, about the industry mega-shift toward making data analytics tools accessible to a company’s complete...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×