Android is open source in name only. It depends on tons of closed source firmware from hardware manufacturers. It’s a lot of work to integrate them all, you can’t just download Android from the repo and expect it to work on your phone. The reason updates stop after a few years because manufacturers stop maintaining all these closed source bits.
I agree. My point still stands. How will a 100% FOSS firmware and software make any difference to a normal user? Wouldthey really still be maintained of they were open firmware?
As much as I don’t like Apples’s overall products, their relatively long software update durations shows that even normal people adapt to this. Yes some people still tend to replace their devices regularly, but there is a larger secondary market and more family internal hand-downs of still functional Apple devices compared to cheaper Androids.
Again you are completely missing the point. I don’t like Apple either, so no point in repeating all the crap they do, but running old apps on newer OS is mostly irrelevant to normal users as the apps they use get updated through the appstore anyways. Rather the opposite is the problem… i.e. apps get updated and stop working on older Android versions.
No, we are talking about two totally different things. Realistically speaking iPhones are used longer than Androids, as even the older models offer an experience similar to the new models due to continued OS upgrades that Apple provides.
Even if in theory you can still use an Android 2.2 device, while you can not as well do so with an simlarly aged unsupported iPhone, no one really does that as the usability, security and new app compatibility is so bad with the old Android. On the other hand, a still supported older iPhone is perfectly usable with new apps.
I can use a very old laptop because most Linux distros support old hardware. I assume it would be similar. If the closed source firmware issues are solved, then installing Android into old devices become as easy as installing Linux to a laptop.
I understand that someone can do that. I do something similar.
I’m saying that I think most people won’t. Not because they are unable, but because it’s not something they will even think of doing, or its not the easy option (buying a new phone is more expensive but requires no installation), or its a technical process they aren’t comfortable with.
Maybe this point is more relevant in countries with a strong consumerist culture like the US?
Android is open source in name only. It depends on tons of closed source firmware from hardware manufacturers. It’s a lot of work to integrate them all, you can’t just download Android from the repo and expect it to work on your phone. The reason updates stop after a few years because manufacturers stop maintaining all these closed source bits.
I agree. My point still stands. How will a 100% FOSS firmware and software make any difference to a normal user? Wouldthey really still be maintained of they were open firmware?
As much as I don’t like Apples’s overall products, their relatively long software update durations shows that even normal people adapt to this. Yes some people still tend to replace their devices regularly, but there is a larger secondary market and more family internal hand-downs of still functional Apple devices compared to cheaper Androids.
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You are missing the point completely… this is not about app compatibility, but OS security (and feature) updates.
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Again you are completely missing the point. I don’t like Apple either, so no point in repeating all the crap they do, but running old apps on newer OS is mostly irrelevant to normal users as the apps they use get updated through the appstore anyways. Rather the opposite is the problem… i.e. apps get updated and stop working on older Android versions.
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No, we are talking about two totally different things. Realistically speaking iPhones are used longer than Androids, as even the older models offer an experience similar to the new models due to continued OS upgrades that Apple provides.
Even if in theory you can still use an Android 2.2 device, while you can not as well do so with an simlarly aged unsupported iPhone, no one really does that as the usability, security and new app compatibility is so bad with the old Android. On the other hand, a still supported older iPhone is perfectly usable with new apps.
I can use a very old laptop because most Linux distros support old hardware. I assume it would be similar. If the closed source firmware issues are solved, then installing Android into old devices become as easy as installing Linux to a laptop.
I understand that someone can do that. I do something similar.
I’m saying that I think most people won’t. Not because they are unable, but because it’s not something they will even think of doing, or its not the easy option (buying a new phone is more expensive but requires no installation), or its a technical process they aren’t comfortable with.
Maybe this point is more relevant in countries with a strong consumerist culture like the US?
They don’y have to. Once the capability exists, someone can do it for them. (like the vendor that sells the phone to them)
That’s a good point, I hadn’t thought of that.