Obviously in conjunction with the announced Android Marketplace, there should be a uniform system to update apps through the marketplace, but that's not what I'm asking about here.
What I want to know is if there are plans to support updating Android to later versions as new features and APIs are crafted. I think this is the single most important feature for Android. If the first phones don't have a simple and easy way to upgrade, then it doesn't matter how many great features are added into Android later, you will always have these old phones with ancient features not capable of running your program. I really hope Android will update from the beginning. Then Apps simply have hardware requirements (needs GPS, compass etc) and a single minimum android version requirement, and any Android phone with the right hardware can be updated if need be. This takes the sting off all the recent dropped feature announcements. It becomes OK because we know they'll be available in later versions of Android and if updating is easy enough, all the phones will be up to date. I think, as a developer, what scares me the most isn't a 1.0 Android release that is missing the Bluetooth functions that were critical to the app I was writing, it's the fact that the Android platform may never have 100% support for them. Launching a new mobile phone platform is a difficult task which is why it doesn't upset or shock me much that Android is losing many of its promised features. But it will be a real disappointment if Android apps have to list which Android phones they will run on because the lack of Updating. I think getting the entire phone right on 1.0 is impossible. But if every Android phone released can be updated to the latest software it will happen for sure. I follow the Windows Mobile team blog where the phones curiously have a Windows Update system setting, that doesn't seem to actually get used. They also have an explanation for why, essentially, Windows Mobile doesn't update. The iPhone doesn't seem to be prevented from receiving regular, easy to install system updates as the WM engineers seem to imply is impossible. If Android gets pushed around by the carriers on various issues, I think the one it should push back the most on is a system update that comes from Android directly to ensure the base platform on all handsets can be kept current. Of course it may prove tricky to update the base underneath an handset provider's custom home screen etc. Which is why I'm worried Android won't be able to update. The moment Android says "well it's too hard, there'll be too many different devices, we can't do an Android update. But hey! don't worry handset providers will be able to push their own updates to the phone" is the moment Android phones will never be up to date and bug free. The handset manufacturers have no incentive to release updates for their phones. Perhaps a few flagship phones get an update here or there, but the majority receive no updates. There's just no money in it for them. And what do you have now in Windows Mobile? If I told you I had a Windows Mobile phone, and an application written for "Windows Mobile" (and I don't say what version of either, picking just one at random). The chances the app will run on the device without issues is very low. I just can't stress how important I think this is. There is only once chance to release this on the very first phones. After they ship without the capability to update, that's it. I really think even if a bullish approach needs to be taken, it's the better route. Say an Android version 1.1 comes out, handset manufacturers have 90 (or some # agreed to by the OHA) days to take the update and include any updates to their own software layer to make it fit with the new android update. Then when owners of these phones update, they get the Android update and the manufacturers update. If these days elapse and no update is provided, or if the handset manufacturer elects to not submit anything for their handset. The android phones can get the update anyways even if it breaks compatibility with whatever handset manufacturer bloatware came with the phone. What does everyone else think? I just am willing to accept missing features if I know all the phones will be able to get them later on down the road, and I don't have to tell people they have to have an Android phone with software version 1.1.56 build 6 or better to run my app. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Android Discuss" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-discuss?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
