Google is learning the hard way something Microsoft has already experienced with Internet Explorer: nobody ever updates their software.
Android 4.0, which we refuse to call “Ice Cream Sandwich” because it’s cloying, has been out for eight months and it has achieved a grand total of 10% market penetration. The vast majority of Android devices, 64%, are still using version 2.3.
Why? Because people don’t update their software. This is for various reasons, but mainly because software updates still terrify the crap out of people, first of all, so they’re likely to hit “Ignore.”
Secondly, they may not be getting an update anyway — companies love Android because they can just find a version, break it to their will, and then refuse to update it until the user tosses out their phone in two years to get a new one.
Android is likely stuck on this two-year cycle. It won’t surprise us if sometime around next year Android 4.x sees a sudden huge bump while 2.3 sees a sudden huge drop. The fact of the matter is people view phone software as a permanent part of the system. This is largely because, well, it was, and still is for any platform other than Android.
Combine that with update fear and, well, Google had better get used to people clinging to the obsolete.
(Image courtesy Google)
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actually ice cream sandwich WAS the newest one. 4.1 Jelly Bean just came out so about 2% of android should have that
As an owner of an original droid incredible, I would love to update to 4.0 but since HTC won’t push it out to my phone I can’t. What percentage of Android phones in circulation now could even handle 4.0?
You’d be surprised. Before I sprung for another phone my Incredible was running 4.0 pretty well. Of course I didn’t get it from HTC/Verizon…
I think you have the cause of the lack of updating ordered wrong.
It isn’t that people aren’t updating their software, it is mainly that carriers and OEMs are not releasing new versions to update to. You can clearly see the difference when Apple releases a new version of iOS a huge percentage of people update to it quickly as shown by this single piece of anecdotal evidence which obviously means it is true: [david-smith.org]
I was pissed to find out the Droid 3 wouldn’t be getting ICS. Bull sheeyet.
I have 2.3, If I try to update it says I’m up to date. Doesn’t seem like there’s much I can actually do about it.
While it shouldn’t have to come to this, rooting your phone will open it up to, among other things, updated versions of Android. It’s how I’m running 4.1 right now. Methods vary by phone, but sites like XDA and rootzwiki have tons of very specific guides on how to do it.
I have the Bionic and I love it but I’m on 2.3.4 and I cant upgrade. Who’s mercy am I at regarding this? Verizon? Motorola?
Both, its a joint decision. For instance, I have an HTC Inspire on ATT. HTC is releasing ICS for the Desire, which is the exact same phone on a different carrier. So, seems like the Inspire should get it too, since its the same build, but somewhere in the talks with ATT on what they are going upgrade, the Inspire doesnt get it.
Flexhead is right. Actually, saying that people don’t want to update their software is pretty much wrong. Most Android users WANT to update their software, badly, but the manufacturers are so slow to come out with updates that they end up waiting forever (or just never get the update). This is mostly due to manufacturers wanting to put their own custom UI (e.g. Motoblur, Sense, etc.) on top of the existing OS.
Exactly. It isn’t the users’ fault (who by and large want the update), but the phone manufacturers and phone companies. For Droid Razrs and Razr MAXXs, Motorola didn’t begin the ICS rollout until 2Q12 (i.e., April), and I just got the ICS update Sunday morning. Anyone who hasn’t rooted their phone (which I’m sure is the vast majority of users) is beholden to Motorola/HTC/Verizon/AT&T/etc. to get the new OS updates.