On Tue, Sep 25, 2012 at 5:55 PM, whiterabbit <whiterabbit32@gmail.com> wrote:
My understanding is that if a phone is fragmented, it means that the latest OS can be installed on all the iPhones/iPads except in the case of those that have been phased out. Just because some of the features work on one and not the other, from my understanding, doesn't mean the iPhone is fragmented.
The rub is the definition of 'phased out'. I'm sure those still using the earliest phones don't consider them phased out since they are actively used.
With the Android, I don't know how true this is, but I've been reading that there are some low end phones being sold by cellular companies that can't be upgraded to Jelly Bean. Is there any truth to this?
I think it's more the fact that the carriers/manufacturers are not going to spend additional time after the product launch to upgrade to the next version, especially if the version (in this case, Jelly Bean) requires more hardware than they put in the phone. A low-end phone means a smaller profit margin, so not a good driver to spend more money, after the fact. There is a thriving community at xda-developers.com that works on putting the 'generic' version of Android (Android Open Source Project or AOSP) on many different phones. Not all phones, just the ones on which the volunteer developers are willing to spend time.
I do not like the idea that a cell company, such as VZ, can delay sales of Androids just to put their advertising on the phones they sell.
They delay to test the phones and certify them to use on their network. I'm sure a similar process happens between Apple and the carriers, it's just less visible to the consumers since Apple has better control through negotiated requirements. I've used Blackberry devices since before they were phones and they too always deal with carrier validation.
Jim H.
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