rc#x vs. firmware v.x

[constellanation]

Correct me where I'm wrong, but the rc stands for little fixes/patches, mostly pertaining to security and functionality. Where as the firmware would be major changes in the operations of the system. Is this even close to accurate?


And assuming that its close, wouldn't it make since that google would rush to fix the rc's, but put some of its resources (say the world's best data mining and search services) to eventual release something that is aimed better at what the people want/need then releasing a motorockr (or some other flash in the pan device?)

Just curious

[Priz]

Let's use Firefox as an example to explain this easier, ok?

So they have Alphas (really early versions) first, then Betas and then Release Candidates. When they feel the software is almost there, just about ready to release, they do the first Release Candidate. They know it won't be perfect, but it's stable enough to release and for people to use. It gives you an idea for the final product.

People submit bug reports/fixes/etc. and they incorporate those into it and release another release candidate. People either submit other major bugs found or if it's all minor stuff, they fix those and then release it as a final. So for Firefox 3.0, it went alpha, then a few betas, then RC1, RC2, RC3 and then 3.0... after it's releases, fixes and such become point releases. So it's at Firefox 3.0.4 now I believe.

There's probably some site that explains this much better, but this is just off the top of my head. :)

[Lukster]

Great example priz. I was thinking gmail, but ff is a good ex :P

[constellanation]

Ahh, thank you.

That all makes sense.

So does anyone else think that google might just be using its datamining capabilities to aim at the biggest issues (read complaints) about android?

[jmejiaa]

Firmware usually changes the way the actual hardware behave or interacts with the os, patches only mess with the software. I firmware upgrade can let the os see bigger storage cards or make the speaker sound louder for example.