One obvious fragmentation issue is that Android Gingerbread is not optimized for Tablets, and while Honeycomb is, it isn't meant for handsets. Ice Cream Sandwich seems to be solving that issue and from the leaks, they seem to have done so...I'm not saying it's the nicest looking interface I've seen (Not sure how user friendly it'll be for the masses to be honest), but they have indeed solved it.
Another issue in terms of Fragmentation is for the developers who optimize an app for a particular OS, only to have Google release a new OS version which means it's back to the drawing board to make their app compatible (Android went from Android, Cupcake, Donut, to Eclair in just 2 years...wtf!).
To make matters worse, with the Android market not being as profitable as Apple's due to little app control and piracy, the constant change in OS upgrades are making some developers lose the incentive to make better apps. Google has since addressed the OS upgrade issue, following Apple's "One a Year" OS release cycle, which has always been favored by developers, only doing minor updates, last year being Gingerbread (with minor updates like 2.3.1, 2.3.2, 2.3.3, similar to iOS 4, 4.1, 4.2 etc). Another issue solved..or at least...slowly being resolved....as for the piracy problem? Couldn't find much online about Google trying to resolve that...hopefully that time will come if Google intends to stay serious and keep its developers coming back to work on their platform.
To make matters worse, with the Android market not being as profitable as Apple's due to little app control and piracy, the constant change in OS upgrades are making some developers lose the incentive to make better apps. Google has since addressed the OS upgrade issue, following Apple's "One a Year" OS release cycle, which has always been favored by developers, only doing minor updates, last year being Gingerbread (with minor updates like 2.3.1, 2.3.2, 2.3.3, similar to iOS 4, 4.1, 4.2 etc). Another issue solved..or at least...slowly being resolved....as for the piracy problem? Couldn't find much online about Google trying to resolve that...hopefully that time will come if Google intends to stay serious and keep its developers coming back to work on their platform.
But what about fragmentation in terms of handset OS? I doubt you'll see that being resolved any time soon. With so many handsets running Android, it's hard, almost nearly impossible to have them all fully upgradable to the latest Android OS. The problem? 2 Problems I think.
1) Too many handsets with custom skins, handset makers have to make different skins to accomodate different handsets, the Galaxy S, with it's variants, though looked the same, had to be slightly tweaked for their touchwiz interface to work, you just can't take an Gingerbread OS for Galaxy S, and expect it to work on Vibrant even though they technically are the same phone made for a different country.
2) Hardware...not all Android Handsets are "Super phones" that can handle the latest version of Android.
1) Too many handsets with custom skins, handset makers have to make different skins to accomodate different handsets, the Galaxy S, with it's variants, though looked the same, had to be slightly tweaked for their touchwiz interface to work, you just can't take an Gingerbread OS for Galaxy S, and expect it to work on Vibrant even though they technically are the same phone made for a different country.
2) Hardware...not all Android Handsets are "Super phones" that can handle the latest version of Android.
With regards to point #2, as one user mentioned, it's the same reason why iOS 5 is not compatible on the iPhone 3G (3GS is the oldest model that can run iOS5)...you can't put new software into slow running hardware and expect it to work like the latest handset. The pros of having an iPhone is that when you get one, you can be certain it will be upgradable to the latest OS for at least another 2 years...such as the 3GS (but of course, don't expect your 3GS to be fully equipped with iOS5's offerings), and while a lot of Android handsets can't give you that same security, it certainly can offer you the latest build on device that's twice, maybe even three times less than the price of an iPhone, like Babe's HTC Cha Cha which runs the same build as mine is at the moment, but is $0 on all phone plans on Singtel except for the $15/mth plan. But of course don't expect gaming to be a blast on the phone...as mentioned, you get what you pay for.
The beauty of Android is that because it can be put into different handsets, it caters to a lot of people, especially those who can't afford an iPhone, Symbian or Blackberry, it's smart phone for the masses, which is clearly seen based on how fast it's increased it market share just last year alone (2.8% in early 2009 to 56% just last month). And while not contented with just the mass public, Android is even stepping into the realm of "Super Phones" such as the Galaxy SII, HTC Sensation etc.
However, this is where it struggles...unlike Apple which focuses one just one product to work on, Android has to be able to fit into all sorts of "Super Phones"...and although you don't get full integration the same way you'd get out of any Apple product, it's certainly has done a good job trying to keep up with it's competitors in terms of OS. Hardware wise, it has to depend on handset manufacturers to bring out the full potential of it's operating system...with regards to that matter, so far HTC and Samsung seem to be doing a pretty slick job too.
Where was I? Gosh I've strayed a little. Oh yes...fragmentation...will fragmentation be solved in terms of handsets running the same OS? Perhaps, but even I'm not keeping my hopes up...but with Google now slowing it's major release cycle down to once a year, and Ice Cream offering a more unified platform for tablets & handsets, you'll be sure to see a lot less fragmentation among Handset OS as compared to the past.
Oh and speaking of which, Android 4.0 is releasing tomorrow, let's see what changes Google has decided to make to their OS. As for the Nexus Prime, have you seen the digital renders? Gosh I hope the front isn't as fat as that.
Oh and speaking of which, Android 4.0 is releasing tomorrow, let's see what changes Google has decided to make to their OS. As for the Nexus Prime, have you seen the digital renders? Gosh I hope the front isn't as fat as that.
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