As I sit here using the Verizon Wireless DROID Incredible I can?t help but love Android. If not for the uncanny ability to multitask my applications at ease, but for the ingenious pull down notification alerts which give me total control over my smartphone. This is no longer just your average cell phone. Sure there is still a long way to go and I get my fair share of force close application warnings, but with each version of Android the improvements far exceed the bugs. It’s hard to believe that less than 2 years ago we began the Android journey and now code names such as Cupcake, Donut, Eclair and now Froyo are part of our vocabulary. The latter of those code names, Froyo, has the Android community on its heels for a possible two to five times increase in performance with our existing hardware compared to Android 2.1. While using the DROID Incredible has me excited about Froyo I can’t help, but wonder what if any future remains for devices like the G1, myTouch 3G and Hero. Has Android followed the path of Windows Mobile through select device updates and ultimately left some devices behind?
For all the reasons that I despise Apple’s iPhone there is one aspect I truly envy as an Android owner – worldwide synchronized software updates. With over 20 Android handsets in the world today and now four versions of Android, it is clear that a single update to Android which can be delivered worldwide is not possible. As more and more Android devices are released how much wider will the gap become in the release of Android updates. If we look back on Android 2.1 which was introduced with the Nexus One, it took 3 months for the Motorola DROID to receive the update and another 3 months for the Hero and Samsung Moment. It’s hard to tell whether Google is playing favorites with certain devices or if HTC’s Sense UI really requires additional handling to warrant delays. If Sense was really the culprit then why did the Samsung Moment receive an update around the same time as the Sprint HTC Hero?
My love hate relationship with Windows Mobile stemmed from a very similar situation where software updates were sporadic and the majority of update information came from leaks and forum posts. I left Windows Mobile for Android to escape the update nightmares and to enjoy the fruits of an open OS. Now that I’ve had nearly 2 years of experience with Android devices my biggest fear is that I will need to choose my next device based on whether or not I believe Google will prioritize it’s updates. As of today we know that the Motorola Droid will be updated to Android 2.2 in the coming weeks while the Desire and EVO will be updated in the second half of 2010. Does this mean that all Sense UI devices will be 6 months behind the Nexus One for all future updates? What happens to the Android legacy devices – is the G1 cursed?
I believe Android users deserve answers on the updates direct from Google and not dependent upon questioning PR teams for manufacturers. Fair warning is not too much to ask and if a six month delay is going to become typical because I enjoy Sense far more than the standard Android UI then I think it’s time Google considers purchasing the UI or at least incorporates some of the styling into the vanilla Android build. My question to fellow Android users is do you feel confident in the future of your device and how much would synchronized Android updates change your experience?
On a side note, while using the DROID Incredible and I’ve been thinking about upcoming Droid Incredible 2. I’m excited d about Froyo, but I can’t help but wonder what (if any) future remains for devices like the G1, myTouch 3G and Hero. It’s a bit scary out there for Android users these days, don’t you think?
