One of the biggest problems that Google is facing right now with Android is getting manufacturers and mobile carriers to push the latest versions of Android to devices. In most cases, manufacturers are slow in this, and this is a burden both to users and Google itself, as it undermines the efforts to widen the usage of its mobile software. So the only real solution is for the mothership to get serious in policing these manufacturers to make sure they’re doing their jobs.
What Google is doing is using both threats and benefits in its campaign to make manufacturers follow their initiatives. First up, Google is highlighting the value and benefits of being updated with Android – this includes accelerated and regular security updates, technology and feature rollouts that are only available on the latest versions, fixes and workarounds, and reduced phone testing requirements.
But there’s a flipside to this – manufacturers who don’t keep up will be presented in rankings that could put some brands to shame, hoping that this will produce better behavior. This “carrots and sticks” approach show that k Android fresh and unified is becoming very crucial to Google – seeing as this is how it generates profits in an increasingly mobile world.
Fragmentation is a real thing, and unification only works when phone makers and wireless carriers update their devices to newer – or even the newest – versions of the operating system. If it happens, this will be a plus both for consumers and Google itself.
VIA: Bloomberg
I hope this gets Samsung off their ass with updates! Android N though; I like Nougat or Neopolitan, but since we already had Ice Cream Sandwich I believe Nougat would be better.