It still seems that each hardware manufacturer has to confirm that the new update won't mess up their specialized UI candy coating, and that if this is the case, that Android is still splintered, though artificially so. Truly, other *nix platforms face similar issues, e.g. KDE, GNOME, and others could be negatively impacted by some update/change to the Linux kernel, but the onus to resolve any impact probably falls only on the desktop environment community, not on the Linux kernel community. Granted, if the kernel update contains a bug, that falls on the kernel devs, but I think it is clear what I'm saying here.
We have some flexibility with Android due to the Android Open Source Project making the code, and many tools available to everyone, and due to key players in the community being able to build distributions for a variety of devices, with and without MotoBlur and HTC Sense. Those willing/able to root their devices have the choice to install just Android, or Android plus a UI add-on. However, there is still an artificial barrier to fresh updates for most users because only their carrier can push updates to their devices, and users cannot pull updates directly from the Open Handset Alliance. The terms of the Apache license allow for all this, but I wonder whether the current model of carriers pushing updates to devices will be sustained, or whether there will come a point at which people expect updates to come directly from the OHA (or from Google, since many people seem to think Google is the sole party behind all of Android). D On Tue, Aug 10, 2010 at 12:41 PM, Dianne Hackborn <[email protected]> wrote: > A system update *is* a patch. It may be small (fix one vulnerability in web > kit) or large (update everything to Android 2.2). > > On Tue, Aug 10, 2010 at 12:23 AM, perumal316 <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Hi All, >> >> I am just wondering how does Android do patching? For example how do >> they push down software patches to solve security vulnerabilities etc? >> Or it is only system upgrade. Like from 2.1 to 2.1 update 1 to 2.2. So >> is there is no patches pushed down in the interim period. >> >> Thanks In Advance, >> Perumal >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Android Security Discussions" 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-security-discuss?hl=en. >> > > > > -- > Dianne Hackborn > Android framework engineer > [email protected] > > Note: please don't send private questions to me, as I don't have time to > provide private support, and so won't reply to such e-mails. All such > questions should be posted on public forums, where I and others can see and > answer them. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Android Security Discussions" 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-security-discuss?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Android Security Discussions" 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-security-discuss?hl=en.
