“Google’s Android 7.0 is finally here! It looks smooth and makes several improvements, but does it actually matter? Most Android users won’t see this update for quite some time, as Android updates typically have a very slow adoption rate,” Kevin Fulmer writes for Seeking Alpha. “Half of Android users are running their devices on software from 2013 or earlier. Prior to 7.0, only 15.2% of users operate on the most current system, Marshmallow. ”
“On the other hand, Apple has been overwhelmingly successful in converting its users to software updates,” Fulmer writes. “As of August 15th, 87% of iOS users were on the latest iOS 9 update. Another 10% aren’t far behind and operate on iOS 8. Only 3% operate their devices on previous models.”
“Because Google has to pass through a middleman in the form of phone manufacturers, its software updates aren’t even available to many users for months after launch. As a result, five months after Marshmallow (6.0) was launched, a mere 2.3% of Android users had the update installed on their device,” Fulmer writes. “With so many people on so many outdated software models, Google has to devote significant resources towards developing updates and security patches to the outdated models. Not only does this divert resources away from growing the business and creating new technology, it’s impractical on a security standpoint.”
“This is the conclusion that Google came to. It announced in 2015 that it would no longer offer security fixes to anyone running 4.3 or earlier… This equates to 20.1% of Android users that are left to fend for themselves. Translation: 1/5 of Android devices are horrendously vulnerable to any new threats,” Fulmer writes. “Google’s problems are Apple’s catalysts… If just 4% of the fifth of users that are exposed end up switching to Apple as a result of a breach (and this would be a conservative estimate in my opinion), the result would equate to 15 million new Apple customers. Considering that Apple shipped 40 million iPhones in Q3, this would deliver a healthy increase in sales to the tech giant.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: We don’t call Fragmandroid “the gift that keeps on giving” for nothing.
If it’s a poor man’s iPhone, it’s a poor man’s iPhone.
Now to be fair, this is only because Android is an inferior product peddled to cheapskate tech illiterates who do not value their privacy and/or who are unable to recognize a half-assed knockoff from the revolutionary original.
Android is a BlackBerry clone that was hastily rejiggered by Google at the last minute to mimic Apple’s revolutionary iPhone. Obviously, mistakes were made and corners were cut.
So, the Android rush-job is a privacy and security nightmare. It’s a fragmented morass. It’s too many cooks in the kitchen. It’s crap-by-committee, lowest-common-denominator junk.
SEE ALSO:
‘Quadrooter’ security flaws said to affect over 900 million Android devices – August 8, 2016
Bad news for Fragmandroid: FCC and FTC launch inquiry over mobile security updates – May 10, 2016
Google’s flawed Android is essentially unfixable – May 2, 2016
Apple’s deep commitment to security – April 18, 2016
Apple: We have the ‘most effective security organization in the world’ – April 16, 2016
85% of mobile device failures occur on Android, with Samsung leading the way – February 23, 2016
More than 90% of Android devices are running out-dated, insecure operating system versions – January 27, 2016
Dangerous new zero-day flaw affects more than two-thirds of all Android devices – January 20, 2016
Android malware steals one-time passcodes, a crucial defense for online banking – January 14, 2016
New Android malware is so bad, you’d better off buying a new phone – November 6, 2015
Apple issues iPhone manifesto; blasts Android’s lack of updates, lack of privacy, rampant malware – August 10, 2015
New Android malware strains to top 2 million by end of 2015 – July 1, 2015
Symantec: 1 in 5 Android apps is malware – April 25, 2015
Kaspersky Lab Director: Over 98% of mobile malware targets Android because it’s much, much easier to exploit than iOS – January 15, 2015
Security experts: Malware spreading to millions on Android phones – November 21, 2014
There’s practically no iOS malware, thanks to Apple’s smart control over app distribution – June 13, 2014
F-Secure: Android accounted for 99% of new mobile malware in Q1 2014 – April 30, 2014
Google’s Sundar Pichai: Android not designed to be safe; if I wrote malware, I’d target Android, too – February 27, 2014
Cisco: Android the target of 99 percent of world’s mobile malware – January 17, 2014
U.S. DHS, FBI warn of malware threats to Android mobile devices – August 27, 2013