“Since November of 2009, I’ve been exclusively an Android smartphone user,” Jason Perlow writes for ZDNet. “In that time I’ve gone from the original Motorola Droid to the Droid Bionic, and now the Galaxy Nexus. I’ve seen the Android OS improve considerably and continue to be impressed by the innovations that each successive version brings to the table.”
MacDailyNews Take: Our condolences.
“But at the same time, my tolerance for how Google loosely manages its ecosystem and has allowed the platform to mutate and fragment and permit its OEMs and Carriers to abandon its users by not providing timely updates to their handsets and tablets has made my blood boil,” Perlow writes. “I’ve come to the conclusion that in an ideal world, the idea of an Android OS, application and manufacturer ecosystem that is perfectly managed would indeed make it the strongest of all the mobile OS offerings. However, the reality is that we’re not living in an ideal world, and the flaws are seriously hampering qualitative advancements such as OS stability, overall platform standardization and maintenance, all of which ultimately have a negative impact on Android’s users and application developers.”
Perlow writes, “So I’ve decided that unless major improvements occur in the management of the Android ecosystem by Google in the next year, and if conditions for supporting handsets by the Tier 1 OEMs and main US wireless carriers do not improve dramatically, the Galaxy Nexus and the Droid Bionic are going to be my last Android smartphones. And I’ve also decided that until the support situation substantially improves, I am no longer going to recommend Android-based products to my friends, family and colleagues. I’ll point them towards Apple’s iOS and Microsoft’s Windows Phone instead. At least with these platforms, you’re guaranteed core OS updates and bugfixes for the length of your contract.”
Much more in the full article – recommended – here.
MacDailyNews Take: Perlow will be recommending the Windows Phone to whomever he doesn’t really like.
Whatever. Microsoft, with their raging case of AppLack™, can battle it out with Google’s Fragmandroid, Beleaguered RIM’s BlackBuried, and the other also-rans vying for Apple’s table scraps.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Fred Mertz” and “Edward Weber” for the heads up.]
Related article:
Nielsen: Apple’s U.S. iPhone market share surges as Android stalls – March 29, 2012
Apple’s thermonuclear war on Android – March 29, 2012
With 8.7% market share, Apple reaps 75% of mobile phone profits – February 3, 2012
Same old story.
Microsoft Windows, “loosely managed its ecosystem and has allowed the platform to mutate and fragment” also.
History repeats itself.
Uhhh… no
MS very tightly regulates windows, actually completely. (it is nearly completely proprietary and closed even down to the (NTFS) file system.)
OEM phone manufacturers will not keep up with any of the OS updates for one major reason, they want you to buy another phone! And even the newest phone won’t come with the latest in many cases for Android. They also add there own code making there phones incompatible with the standard Android OS updates. Just another way to keep you from updating.
Agreed with b9bot.
Most models of Android, particularly the low end cheaper phones come installed with system 2.3 and are completely none-upgradeable phones.
DDOP… dead day of purchase
so enjoy your “Slamdung” cel, basically good for about a 6 month term in a sea of confusion; sits numerous options of other models but nothing to offer greatness but the one true phone iPhone.
on the other hand, my iPad original, has seen several updates and still functions well. Some software will not install on it like iPhoto but that is understood. And progress will occur. Yet I am happy that the application just will not install frustrating the situation more. Apple make the choice and I accept – will not work will not download – simple. I do not feel the need yet to buy the new device – this device suits my needs still. Perhaps those who have a Slamdung phone — it too still satisfies them also but they are back in the days Google first arrived. 2.3.
He’s going to give them another year???? What a bafoon
he has to give another year – he’s locked in a contract – ha
bafoon: is that a cross between a baboon & a buffoon? 🙂
I dunno – I keep confusing Bafoons, Buffoons and Boffins. Leave the Baboons out of this, please! 🙂
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buffoon
But….. It’s open!?!
I thought that made everything better?!?
ha – open to opinion – yes
Open, as in open casket.
Better, for 13 basement-dwelling geektards, give or take a dozen.
Not very surprised to find out that “open” mantra was just that – a buzzword, cynically marketed by faustian threatware peddlers.
beautifully said – yes DDOP
a cheap phone needs a cheaper option
cremation or straight in to the dumpster
most those cheap Android phones are not open enough to satisfy the geektards – just ain’t got enough power in those basic phones – but as a phone they work
Open as in Buttcheeks™
“So I’ve decided that unless major improvements occur in the management of the Android ecosystem by Google in the next year”
Translation:- “I’ve been using the iPhone 4s since it’s release”.
… simple comment, devoid of overly emotional content, will do, MDN instead goes to the Dark Side. You can mention that MSFT has a dreary lack of Apps, that the Android platform is fragmented (so says the author) and that RIM is in trouble without getting snidely cutesy with it. Snide and cutesy are the tactics of LOSERS, and Apple hasn’t been that for a decade and more.
As for “vying for Apple’s table scraps.”, Apple is not one of the larger players in the field. They make the most money, certainly. Each of their models outsells all or most of the competing models, sure. But several companies have several models for each that Apple sells. Apple is solid, healthy, and not going away, but is not YET one of the major players in the field. Or, are we wrapping the iPad into the cell phone market?
“but is not YET one of the major players in the field”
What the hell have you been smoking!
BTW, I agree that the sophomoric comments made by MDN are a little tedious to say the least!
The market is iOS versus Android.
And, ofc Apple is the major player in there field.
No question.
Yeah the Android forums are so much more fair and balanced.
how dare he come here and think MDN is not bias
2ndmate
Two wrongs don’t make …………………………etc.
Hoo boy…Yeah, I think they’ve only got 30% of the market for smartphones on the planet and something like 45% in the US. But if they keep working hard I bet they can be a major player!
“Apple is solid, healthy, and not going away, but is not YET one of the major players in the field.”
Sheesh! What do you call “major”. Someone who gives away hundreds of rusty bicycles while his neighbor sells 10 Mercedes is NOT the major player.
“Apple is not one of the larger players in the field. ”
Apple makes the most money, has the highest selling smartphone, and has the highest marketshare of any vendor. If that doesn’t make them a major player in the smartphone field(let alone the major player), then what the hell does?
“Snide and cutesy are the tactics of LOSERS, ”
No. After numerous people declared that Android and Windows Phone would destroy the iPhone and send Apple reeling, MDN is most definitely allowed to gloat about its continued success and the continued failure of Android and WP to come anywhere even close to dethroning it.
Now if we’re talking about LOSER tactics, well, pleading with some relatively small news site about Apple to stop being snide towards poor old Android and WP…
“I’ll point them towards Apple’s iOS and Microsoft’s Windows Phone instead. At least with these platforms, you’re guaranteed core OS updates and bugfixes for the length of your contract.””
For Microsoft, maybe not so much. It’s worth noting that Windows 8 is only for PCs and tablets. Microsoft hasn’t announced Windows 8 for phones. At issue here is that Windows 8 and specifically WOA is in no way compatible with Windows Phone, even though they share the Metro “look”.
So while Android continues to have a fragmentation problem that’s exacerbated with tablets and Chromebooks, Microsoft has more like hard walls between PCs, WOA tablets and phones. A wall that will either mean continued incompatibility between phone apps and tablet (x86 or WOA) apps, or Yet Another Microsoft Mobile Platform making current Windows Phones as relevant and upgradeable as ‘Kins, Zunes, Sidekicks, Windows Mobile, or Windows CE devices.
TL;DR: iCAL my words, current Windows Phones will not be upgradeable to the next major Windows Phone release.
You should look at the latest builds of visual studio. They are targetting same source over multiple devices. Specifically windows 8, phone and xbox 360.
Metro apps are not native code (yet) so its not overly hard for MS to provide a matching API on differing platforms with a runtime layer
So true
I am just as much a apple fan as the next on here but whenever I read macdailynews take on it it’s SO one sided. I have used all platforms of phones and I agree blackberry is horrible and hasn’t innovated at all. Android is fragmented and I’m done using it as a work phone. Hopefully they fix this. Windows phone really isn’t that bad they just need the apps. There was a point where iOS had the same app count. I’ll always have a iPhone in my pocket but I also can admit its not right for everyone.
Right Phil and I am saving up to buy some MSFT stock, as that company’s upcoming products are sure to soak up market share like a Caribbean chicken-liver sponge. Can hardly wait to show off some Metro apps down at the wharf.
Phil; not to knock what you say, but I’m trying to understand what would make the other phones MORE right for everyone.
“… whenever I read macdailynews take on it it’s SO one sided. I agree blackberry is horrible and hasn’t innovated at all. Android is fragmented and I’m done using it as a work phone… Windows phone really isn’t that bad they just need the apps. ”
MDN’s take is SO one sided? But… You… Just agreed with every single one of its points.
Phil,
If it wasn’t one sided it would be called PhoneTabletSlateMobileDesktopDailyNews.
As it’s called MacDailyNews, I think you should expect a bias towards Apple products.
MAJOR ERROR MDN:
Carriers control Windows Phone updates, just like with Android (and unlike Apple)
And, not surprisingly, carriers, don’t bother rolling them out
Even Enderele is getting annoyed, it’s so bad
http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/windowsphone75/att-continues-harm-windows-phone-users-142664
Please correct this severe error in your MDN take – don’t let the MS hype machine get away with this misrepresentation
Ah, 2007, good times
There’s no chance that the iPhone is going to get any significant market share. No chance. It’s a $500 subsidized item. They may make a lot of money. But if you actually take a look at the 1.3 billion phones that get sold, I’d prefer to have our software in 60% or 70% or 80% of them, than I would to have 2% or 3%, which is what Apple might get.
Steve Assclown Ballmer
I can tell you all first hand how bad the Android ecosystem (if there really is an ecosystem) really is.
I went with an Android Eris because I was on Verizon and the iPhone was not yet available. I have since upgraded to an Android Incredible. Major reasons are that these devices are easily rooted (similar to jailbroken) and can then be used as unlimited data WiFi hotspots.
I have since gotten one daughter moved from her Eris to a 4S, and the other daughter and wife are moving from their feature phone and Incredible this weekend. I’ll be waiting for the following generation iPhone since I want 4G LTE with my unlimited data plan.
I’ve observed the Eris go from VZW supported with OS upgrades to totally unsuported, and then the same happen with my HTC Incredibles. Fortunately there exists a hacker community ready to port the latest Droid OS these phones (and without VZW bloat). But VZW leaves the owners of older phones in the dust, only willing to support the latest (keeping you on contract).
I’ve also dealt with fragamentation, it is a real thing.
I can live with all this, but will very willingly give it up for an iPhone 5 4G whatever they call it in October.
By the way, I will keep the Androids for use as WiFi hotspots. I would rather switch the service when I need a hotspot than risk jailbreaking a perfectly good iPhone.
Windows Phone for recommendation? LOL, great you just lost that brief 15 min of credibility.
The friends he likes, he will recommend iOS, and the ones he secretly hates, and his relatives, he will recommend Windows phones. He himself will carry one of each as dude has a love/hate relationship w/himself
lol, bipolar I guess.
What’s worse than being Apple’s bitch? Having an Android device that pimps you out to Google, the OEM, and wireless carrier.
There may be an impressive jump of Android users to Window 7 users…this will be interesting to watch.
When you buy low cost electronics…where the manufacturer views it as a throw-away product & expects the consumer to buy a new product every year…and learn new ‘features’ (some would say bugs)…well…you are selling crap.
Apple’s 3GS works just fine thank you. And you can get one with a contract now and little or no additional charge for the iPhone. That is value.
Consumers are NOT stupid.
“Consumers are NOT stupid.”
A kind, positive and affirmative thought — but I’m not sure it’s accurate.
At the risk of seeming overly cynical, I’d suggest:
– Huge amounts of what is sold in the marketplace is crap.
– Huge amounts of what people buy is peripheral – unnecessary.
– People will go deeply into debt to buy crap or unnecessary products.
– And people who can afford it will buy quality products they can barely use – e.g. top end skis, performance cars, cameras, golf clubs and more.
I’d call all of that “stupid”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PT_Barnum
And in a perfect real world the iPhone would be perfect and would still win.
“I’m sick to death”
Sorry I can’t make the funeral.
I have to, um, ah, wash my hair. Yes, that’s the ticket. I have to wash my hair.
Have a good death. See you on the flip side.
My words of wisdom:
“What android users want, is just what Apples got”
“I’ve come to the conclusion that in an ideal world, the idea of an Android OS, application and manufacturer ecosystem that is perfectly managed would indeed make it the strongest of all the mobile OS offerings.”
That’s a faulty conclusion based on flawed assumptions. No one familiar with the history of Linux (on which Android is based) is surprised by Android’s fragmentation, as there are myriad versions and flavors of Linux – different UIs, different kernels, different update methodologies, different tools, etc.