Android OS Coming To HP Slate 7, Not Windows 8 RT

If you remember HP's last tablet with webOS (TouchPad), it was something which was short lived and ended up with a fire sale which wiped out the supply very quickly. So, for HP's next tablet offering, one would assume that HP was going to be offering Windows 8 RT on their tablet. A logical expectation given that webOS had been moved to the Open Source arena and not part of HP's future plans. Rumors abound as to what is going to happen to webOS, but for now, the question of tablets for HP remains. But, the expected OS for HP's tablet is not Windows 8 RT, but rather Android.

That's right, Android on their latest 7 inch tablet, the Slate 7. They are bringing their new tablet into the very competitive 7 inch market space. The competition is much greater since Apple came out with the iPad Mini. It seems that things are getting very crowded and prices are being pushed downward. The Slate 7 will retail for $169 and undercuts the iPad Mini at $329. But the decision to enter at a much lower price point is not an easy one to make. And in so making it, they have to reduce costs so that it was affordable. Other than reducing some of the hardware components, the only thing left is the OS by moving to Google's Android. By taking Microsoft out of the picture and reducing some hardware components, they were able to drop the price down to where it is at.

By selecting Android, HP has found an easy to leverage OS to work on the Slate 7 and is easier for them to make changes to it. Much like the Android OS for smart phones, HP can add on their parts to the OS and make it theirs. And with the popularity of Jelly Bean (Android 4.2), there is a known interface that many are familiar with. Along with the Google name behind it, HP has partnered with a popular OS.

The question one has to wonder is whether HP is not happy that Microsoft has entered the hardware market. Given that HP has been struggling with retail sales for the past few years, making a cheaper product which has brand recognition may well help sales. And by bundling Android with their Slate 7, they have added more brand recognition to the product. For Microsoft, this is going to be another indication of their struggling tablet OS.



Microsoft is going to start feeling pressure with HP's decision and may cause some to think about other tablets not including the Surface Pro which they are heavily promoting. For HP, the decision to move to Android for their coming Slate 7 is going to make them stand out as being different from the Microsoft crowd and may be just enough to spur some additional sales to their latest tablet.


Given the lower price for the Slate 7, is this going to be one you might purchase?

Android Fragmentation - A Never Ending Problem

Google has posted the latest allocation of versions for their extremely popular mobile OS and it continues to show signs of continuing fragmentation. And it is really starting to look like the fragmentation is never going to go away. While many have talked about how bad it actual is and the impact to developers of apps, the very nature of the marketplace is continuing to contribute to the problem. One of the big issues for the Android OS is that it continues to improve and that improvement requires new and better hardware.

If you have an Android smart phone that is more than a year old, odds are you are running Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). And it is more than likely that you will not be seeing the newer release of Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). The next version is Android 5.0 (Key Lime Pie) and is expected to arrive in the 3rd quarter on a smart phone to be determined. And that is going to add to the fragmentation issues which exist and will continue to exist. Typically, Google ties the launch of the next Android OS to the launch of hardware, such as the Nexus smart phone or tablet.

The biggest problem that is going on right now is the number of devices still running Gingerbread which is showing as 45.6%. If you add up all the Android 2.x numbers, you get 46.9%. If you add up all the Android 4.x numbers, you get 42.6%. The fact that Android 4.x is not representing more than Android 2.x numbers is something of a concern. Part of the problem is low end phones still selling which are running Gingerbread because their hardware cannot support the needs of Android 4.x. And that is not going to change in the foreseeable future.

As manufacturers continue to produce phones which meet the needs of a variety of people and prices, we are going to continue to see Android Fragmentation. And when Key Lime Pie shows up, that is going to add to the problems of fragmentation. It is not going to take long for those who are eligible to upgrade to Android 5.0 and reduce the numbers for Android 4.x. It is a goal for most smart phone owners to have the latest Android OS on their phones. All of this is probably not going to change the majority representation which Gingerbread currently has and looks like they are going to continue to maintain.

Your Smartphone May Be the Best Weight Loss Tool You Own

That’s what we set out to prove with our latest guide, “Top Diet & Fitness Mobile Apps.” With the help of fitness expert Wesley Virgin, we highlight the most popular and cutting-edge apps for getting in shape.

In this era of tablets, smartphones and 24/7 online connectivity, we now have a new class of fitness tools not available to us just a few years ago. Many people don’t realize that iPhones and Android devices are powerful tools in the battle to stay fit and healthy.

Like most people, you probably have your phone with you at all times, every day. This “always-on” connectivity presents a huge opportunity for health and fitness information wherever and whenever you need it. You can make informed, healthy choices at a restaurant or when shopping at the grocery store.

You can download workout routines for the gym or your home designed by fitness professionals. You can learn how to properly perform exercises if you’re a beginner, or improve the efficiency of your workouts if you’re a fitness veteran. Try new exercises by watching video demos, design and schedule your own custom workout plan, analyze your progress and make adjustments, all from your phone. Today’s apps provide everything you need to reach your fitness goals.

Nutrition and diet apps can be your best friend when you’re alone. At the office wondering what you should eat for lunch, when out running errands and getting hungry, on business trips away from home; these are times when you’re most vulnerable. When trying to keep your diet on track, apps can keep you focused on what you should be eating.

Many of the apps also have social features that plug you into a community of like-minded fitness peers for support, inspiration and to challenge each other.

Aside from the great apps in featured in our guide, your phone can be part of your own support team, keeping you connected to family, friends or personal trainers so you stay motivated and progressing when away from home. Mobile devices can also keep you energized with your workout music and inspired with motivational messages and stories.

Too busy to workout? Can’t afford a gym membership or personal trainer? No support? Lack of information to make healthy food choices? Not anymore. There really are no excuses to getting in shape these days!

The guide will be on sale on Amazon.com next week, but our subscribers can get a copy for free by visiting this page: Top Diet & Fitness Apps

Top Weight Loss and Fitness Apps for 2013

Getting 2013 off to a healthy and fit start, we’re delighted to announce our compelling new mobile app guide, “Top Diet & Fitness Apps Guide: For Android & Apple Mobile Devices.” Our latest publication provides a unique take on diet and fitness in the smartphone and tablet era, perhaps revealing that technology may hold the key to overcoming weight loss struggles.

For most of us, getting in shape requires all the help and assistance we can get our hands on. In today’s day and age of mobile devices and 24/7 online connectivity, we now have a new breed of fitness tools not available to us just a few years ago. Our new guide features ten of the most effective health and fitness apps currently on the market for Apple iOS and Android devices.

However, a geek’s advice on weight loss may not go very far for some. That is why we teamed up with fitness guru Wesley Virgin to produce a guide that literally puts the power of better health in the palm of our hands.

Due to his highly acclaimed ‘7DayFitness’ weight loss program, Wesley Virgin has shot to fame as one of the most in-demand fitness celebrities in the U.S.

We’re thrilled to be partnering with Wesley for this guide. It teaches people that, with the right apps, you can download workouts for the gym or home designed by fitness professionals. You can learn how to properly perform exercises if you’re a beginner, or improve the efficiency of your workouts if you’re a fitness veteran. Try new exercises by watching video demos, design and schedule your own custom workout plan, analyze your progress and make adjustments, all from your phone.

The new guide will go on sale in the coming days on Amazon.com, however, for a short time readers of TechieDIY.com can get a copy of the guide for free by visiting this page:

Top Diet & Fitness Apps Guide

 

 

Apple Impacting The Future Of Android

We have been seeing Apple attacking the Google Android OS which is running on a majority of smart phones around the world. These attacks have not been directly against Google, but instead against the companies which are using the Android OS. And these continuing lawsuits for patent infringements are going to begin to have a chilling affect on the future for Android and smart phones. Up until a few months ago, we would have considered that Android was going to outlast all the Apple lawsuits, but it now appears that phone manufacturers are going to be getting other options presented to them. And one of those other options will come from Microsoft and Windows Phone 8.

The continuing lawsuits being filed from Apple are going to alter the long term future for the Android OS. There are a lot of you who would not agree with that statement, but given the legal costs and the reoccurring license fees when a company is forced to settle, it makes Android less attractive. Android gives away its Android OS and that is what has made it so attractive to handset manufacturers. The result is global market share for Android. But it is not really free as there are costs associated with defending your use of it. And those instances are growing.

We know that Microsoft charges license fees for the use of their Windows Phone OS. And with those fees, there is an expectation that you will not have to face the same situation which has come down on Samsung, HTC and others. We all know about the lawsuits around the world between Samsung and Apple. And the legal feeds for that alone is draining money from Samsung. We know that Apple offered Samsung a licensing deal at one point of $30 per phone and then be able to use all the iPhone patents. That is a healthy cost to put out there from Apple.

And Samsung is not the only one. HTC has also been involved with a patent lawsuit with Apple and agreed to a settlement paying a fee of between $6 to $8 per Android phone sold. That will cut into what HTC can charge for their phones. These numbers are coming from unnamed sources and is not directly from Apple or HTC. HTC has been seeing declining sales over the past few years and with the lawsuits, it places a drain on the company. And these are not the only ones.

With all of this going on, companies are going to begin to look elsewhere for an OS to drive their smart phones. One is to develop their own, but that puts you out there by yourself in offering new features. Microsoft may be the wave of the future for phone as manufacturers look for an alternative to the Android OS. And with Windows Phone 8, the timing may fit well when making plans for next year. We are starting to hear of more companies looking to sell Windows Phone OS handsets next year.

There have been predictions for Microsoft to have a good foothold in market share by 2015, but it did not sound that reasonable. Looking at where things are at with Apple suing manufacturers, we might see a shift away from Android OS phones to Windows 8 OS phones. Apple may well be pushing manufacturers in that direction.

So much of this is speculation, but one has to wonder how long phone manufacturers can continue to defend themselves against lawsuits.

Mobile Phone Malware Is A Growing Problem

Malware on Android phones has now spread to the iPhone.

Malware for mobile devices has been a big problem, but it is expected to become an even bigger problem this year with the proliferation of smart phones. This has been the big problem for Android devices as the app store, Google Play, continues to serve up apps that are infected with Malware. Some of it is intentional and some is accidental. But what ever the case, the end result is the same for those who are infected as a result. All of this is becoming a much bigger problem as those who are doing this have a growing target market as the number of smart phones running Android continues to grow. It seems that the Android Malware problem just keeps rolling along.

According to a Tend Micro report, we can expect to see the growth of infected apps growing and they are predicting a "pandemic" by the end of year. And it is not just Google Play who is delivering these. Amazon's App Store for Android is another location where this happens, so you have to be very selective on what you pick to download. Even some reputable apps have been infected, but not by the developer, but others. It is making it tough to be downloading apps.

And if you think this is limited only to the Android OS, guess again. Apple is getting this problem as well. There are reports of a Trojan horse in the downloads from the app store. This was reported by well known security firm Kaspersky and was tied to an SMS app which has since been removed. Apple in the past has been known for not having malware and virus problems, but with this, it appears they have joined the rest of the world in having to deal with malware.

So, where does that leave you? The issues with mobile devices are not much different than with a computer. Know your sources of downloads. In the case of Google Play, that makes it very difficult because Google is supposed to be filtering out all the bad apps before the public downloads them. At the moment, they are still working to improve that situation. Things which are free to download are generally the ones where you might get malware on your mobile device. Purchased apps are generally far safer and are less likely to cause your problems. Note the "less likely" as developer apps sometimes get infected without the developers knowledge.

Give that Apple has suffered a Trojan horse issue from the app store, we can expect them to step up efforts to protect their customers even more. Google is going to have to really step up efforts. For that matter, any centralized app store which provides downloads is going to have to make them safe. Do not download apps from web sites that you are not confident in. Some are set up quickly solely for the purpose of infecting mobile devices.

Given events this year, we should start to see far more effort put into providing antivirus and malware software which can run on mobile devices. Once these are out in greater numbers, it will be up to the individual to download and install from reputable sources. Go with the well known names and not some company you have never heard of because it is cheap. Remember, you are protecting your information and with smart phones, more of it is being saved there. The Cloud is now coming into play to store your information from your mobile devices.

Things are changing fast, but malware is going to be around for a long time. Be prepared to protect yourself and your mobile device.

Are Wireless Carriers Responsible For Fragmentation?

Carriers release few updates for phones as compared to the OS updates created.

 
And it is the lack of updates being released which should be raising some big concerns amongst all the manufacturers of phones. While there is no empirical proof of the number of updates which smart phone owners never seem to get, there are enough examples of this which point out problems. The upgrade process for the OS on a smart phone should be multiple times over the course of a year and yet it seems that there is often only a single update. That is unless you have an Apple iPhone where they force these on wireless carriers and prevent them from adding their items to the puzzle. For Android devices, this is turning into a big problem which is not going to go away until some things change in the process.

It seems that wireless carriers are at odds with the largest OS provider in Google's Android OS. Recently, there has been some finger pointing between AT&T and Google which in this case made AT&T look bad. This is all over the problems with the slow roll out of Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0). The slow roll out is a big problem for Google right now as they only have 4.9% of Android devices on the latest OS for all active Android phones. Given that Android 4.0 has been out since November on the Galaxy Nexus, it makes one wonder exactly what is going on.

This seems to point squarely at wireless carriers for the delays, though manufacturers of smart phones are to blame as well. They all seem to want to add their pieces to the Android OS and that slows things down. There is the development time and then testing for each step along the way. If a problem is discovered in testing, it goes back to development for a fix and then a repeat of the process. If this process were to be changed so that the stock Android 4.0 was used and no other changes to the OS were done other than to support the individual hardware, that would significantly speed up the process. Or would it.

In a post from Gotta Be Mobile by Adam Mills, he is relating his experiences with his Galaxy Nexus which he purchased from Verizon 5 months ago. Since he purchased the phone, he has not seen an update from Verizon. Not one. He is currently running Android 4.0.2 which came with the phone when he purchased it. Since that time, Android 4.0.3 and Android 4.0.4 has been released. Android 4.0.4 started rolling out to Galaxy Nexus phones, but only for the GSM version. To date, there has been no release of the latest version of Ice Cream Sandwich at Verizon since the Galaxy Nexus was launched. This is a very bad sign.

I owned a Blackberry Storm for a time which I purchased from Verizon back in January of 2009. This was a few months after the 9530 model was released and it had a number of reported bugs associated with the phone which could be easily fixed by a software update. Ever 3 or 4 weeks, there was another updated OS from Blackberry to fix problems, but these were never released by Verizon. This seemed to continue for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, in October 2009 came the official word that Verizon was releasing the 5.0.0.328 OS update for the Blackberry Storm. This was great to download and fix problems, but that was the last update for the phone that I ever saw.

This is not to pick on Verizon as all the other wireless carriers in the US have probably done the same thing at one time or another. And it is probably more widespread than we would all like to believe. The pattern that I am seeing is that you get one significant software update and that is it. You are done until you purchase your next phone. I am sure I am blowing this out of proportion, but then again maybe I am not. In an article about Android Orphans, the number of devices which are one or more versions behind is not how it should be. I am sure that you can find other examples of this by doing some searches on the web.

The idea of only getting a single OS update on a phone is very discouraging and something must change. If not, people are going to start looking elsewhere for a phone where they are able to get multiple updates over the course of the year. And a phone where they get a major update close to an annual basis. At the moment, Apple is the only one that has been able to fulfill that and Google had better take notice. I am not an iPhone supporter and prefer the Android OS, but the idea of only getting a single update from my wireless carrier is discouraging.

Have you had a similar experience of only getting a single OS update to your phone?

Android Fragmentation: Finger Pointing Begins For ICS

AT&T implies Google is to blame for slow roll out of Android 4.0

 
The battle to get Android 4.0 rolled out in order to upgrade existing smart phones has now turned to finger pointing as to exactly who is at fault. This has been building for a time, but has suddenly emerged into the spotlight based on recent comments from AT&T this week. There have been hints of this growing trouble over the past few months as to where the real problem lies in getting the latest version of the Android OS cleanly and quickly rolled out. It is those comments regarding "negotiated agreements" which seemed to have caused some problems.

Stephenson said, in response to a question from the audience. "Google kind of determines what platform gets the newest releases and when. Often times that's a negotiated arrangement, and so that's something we work at hard. We know that it's important to our customers."

A negotiated arrangement has been responded to by Google and a negotiated arrangement does not exist. So, the question comes up as to where the problems really lies with the Android fragmentation. The most recent reports are showing disappointing growth for Android 4.0 and the numbers are showing it is going to take a long time to get upgrades rolled out. Jean-Baptiste Queru is part of the Android Open Source Project (ASOP) and is in the know as to what is going on. From his Google+ page under "15 minutes, and 8 months" he lays out the waiting game to get things rolled out for a new Android OS. This is just the reality in the industry.

Now starts another 8-month waiting game. In over 10 years working on the software side of the cell phone industry, I've learned that it takes about 8 months between getting the software ready and seeing it widely deployed. Edit: Meaning, deployed on new devices.

But does it have to be. Once Google (or Microsoft) rolls out an updated OS, it first goes to the manufacturers so that they can make the necessary changes to the OS to support the chip set on the mobile device. That is to be expected and does take a certain amount of time to make sure it works correctly under testing conditions. It is after this point when things start to break down. Various manufacturers then add their pieces to the OS, such as a customized interface or other software add ons. Once they have finished with that, it is turned over to wireless carriers who then add their pieces to the puzzle as interface changes or added software to the mix. All of this take a lot of time to be done. Especially as the OS gets more complicated beyond the pure Ice Cream Sandwich released by Google.

All of this takes time and apparently is understood by Jean-Baptiste Queru as part of the process. There are some things which could be done in an effort to speed up the process, such as what Microsoft has done to move things forward quicker. But Android is Open Source and there in lies part of the problem. Manufacturers and wireless carriers are free to do pretty much anything they want to OS, all of which take time. So, why is AT&T pointing fingers at Google in the roll out process?

AT&T may be doing this as part of a bigger strategy to deflect blame away from the carrier which in the end is not really going to change public opinion. They have been trying to blame the FCC for their recent price hikes because of the failure of the T-Mobile deal. The reality is they probably would have raised their prices anyway and this is a smoke screen to deflect blame. The same thing applies to the slow Android roll out. The manufacturers are the first barrier to the roll out and then the wireless carriers are the second barrier to the roll out.

What would happen if the manufacturers and wireless carriers did not change or add to Android 4.0? We probably would not have the level of fragmentation we are seeing today.

Android 4.0 ICS Numbers Increase

ICS numbers increase from 1.6% to 2.9%.

Since Google announced their most recent version of the Android OS, the numbers do not seem to reflect what one would expect to see given all the features which are included in Ice Cream Sandwich. In the latest report from the Android Developers site, they are providing the current distribution numbers for all Android versions as of April 2nd and represent the previous 14 days of active mobile devices running which version of the Android OS. You can view the information for yourself at Android Developers site

Last week, I talked about the Android fragmentation which continues to be a problem with Google and all the various version of the Android OS which are operating out there in the world. The numbers are staggering when you look at Android 2.2 and 2.3 with an understanding that Ice Cream Sandwich has been out since October. That 5 month window makes things questionable regarding the roll out of Android 4.0. That is even if you assume that it really was not moving to market until the end of November because of delays.



While the increase from 1.6% to 2.9% is a notable increase, it makes one wonder what those numbers really represent. Given that Google has announced Android 4.0.4 last week, we can assume that things may not be all that great. It seems that there are a large number of Galaxy S2 owners who are unhappy with having to wait to see Ice Cream Sandwich released 3 months after the Galaxy Nexus arrived. Some are still waiting while some are getting the upgrade.

So what do this numbers actually represent. With all the new phones which are being purchased, in particular the Galaxy Nexus, how many are new phones versus upgrades to existing phones. We know that the Galaxy Note is still waiting for Ice Cream Sandwich and it is supposed to arrive in Q2 after previously being promised in Q1. Obviously the collection method is not breaking out the actual devices and if they did, might reveal a much different picture than what this looks like on the surface. If this is 50% new phones, then the upgrades to existing phones is very poor.

Another question is whether this is an official release from a manufacturer or instead a rooted upgrade from leaked source which people are using. While a lot of Android users have the ability to install an unofficial version of Ice Cream Sandwich, there is a good size group who do not have the ability or do not want to take the risk. There is no way to know at the moment just how much of the numbers represent mobile devices running an unofficial version of Android 4.0 on a manufacturer's device. That will probably never be known. But for many, it is the only way to get Ice Cream Sandwich installed in a timely manner. For some, they may never see an official upgrade to Android 4.0.

All of this is troubling to see and is what I would consider a very slow roll out of Android 4.0. Google's model of Open Source is a good one, but the time to get an upgrade to smart phones is one that has people complaining about the longevity of their phones. If we assume that recent reports of it taking up to 8 months to get a complete roll out, it potentially means some people will only see a single upgrade of Android before they decide to trade in the phone. That is because the requirements for newer OS's from Android require much better hardware which quite often is not supported. That is the case right now for a large number of mobile device owners.

Google is approaching a cross road where they are going to have to make some decisions as to how they are going to improve the roll up of updates so they happen far more frequently than they do. If we assume the 8 month roll out being reported, a new Ice Cream Sandwich phone purchase in April is not going to see Android 4.0.4 for potentially 8 months. With the rumors of Jelly Bean coming out in Q3, that would mean they potentially would not see Android 5.0 until 2013. That is just too long and if Google cannot resolve this situation, they are going to lose market share to other phone OS's who can roll things out much faster.

Android Fragmentation Growing Worse With ICS

Expectations for Android 4.0 to ease fragmentation are not working

Fragmentation for Android has been a much discussed topic in recent years as Google continues to roll out newer versions of their mobile OS and quite often leaving existing mobile device owners behind with no upgrade path. Not all of the problem is directly tied to Google as they must rely on wireless carriers and manufacturers to update their recent versions to operate correctly on the devices and on the networks. Manufacturers want to put their interface on top of what Google has developed and wireless carriers want to add their customization as well. This delays the entire process by a few months to not happening at all. Yet, Apple's iOS and Microsoft's Windows Phone OS seem to have overcome most if not all of those delays.



While some may believe Android fragmentation is not all that bad, the reality is that it makes it very difficult for consumers and developers a like. In the above chart from Google showing a 14 day period ending on March 5th, you can see the big fragmentation which Android is facing. Android 2.3 is commanding a huge 61.5% of the Android market as showing in the related listing below. Given that Gingerbread has been out for more than a year, this is disturbing information. The fact that Ice Cream Sandwich has only 1.6% makes things even worse.

Google has been releasing SDK versions to developers rather frequently so that they can be developing apps for mobile devices and then released to manufacturing companies. While some believe that apps are not critical to a mobile device OS release, it keeps being demonstrated as developers get copies of the OS months prior to its release so they can develop up to date versions of their apps. Here is a list of the SDK releases to developers over the years for major Android versions and the information comes from WikiPedia with release of the latest OS to the public a few months later:

• Android 1.0 (Beta) - Sept. 2008


• Android 1.1 - Feb. 2009


• Android 1.5 (Cupcake) - April 2009


• Android 1.6 (Donut) - Sept. 2009


• Android 2.0 (Eclair) - Oct. 2009


• Android 2.2 (Froyo) = May 2010


• Android 2.3 (Gingerbread - December 2010


• Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) - Feb. 2011


• Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich - Oct. 2011


• Android 5.0 (Jelly Bean) - Estimated Q2/Q3 2012

As you can see, they are putting out new versions at the rate of 2 per year. Ice Cream Sandwich arrived on the Galaxy Nexus in December 2011 at Verizon, but the upgrade of existing smart phones and tablets has been extremely slow to be done. The new Galaxy Note was rumored to arrive with ICS, but ended up with Gingerbread (Android 2.3.5) in February. It is supposed to have gotten Android 4.0 in Q1, but now that has been delayed until some time in Q2. The same situation exists for many other phone and tablet manufacturers over 90 days after the first device received ICS. While there are some receiving it this month, that list is rather small as compared to the Android market.



There are growing rumors that Google is going to be releasing Jelly Bean (Android 5.0) in Q3 which is going to further muddy the water and make things even more less clear as to what the upgrade paths are for mobile device owners. As an owner, it makes it far more difficult in 2012 to know whether an Android device is the way to go because of all the fragmentation and upgrade limitations. While Android can be considered a much better OS than others, the current ICS upgrade path and delays brings that into question.

There are other reports showing the adoption rate of iOS 5.1 from MacRumors indicating a quick pick up in upgrades. Based on the general information, adoption of iOS 5.1 seems to be at 50% within the first 5 days that it was out and available. Part of that is due to Apple's ability to control the marketplace and not let wireless carriers make changes to Apple's iOS. Apple also has end to end control of the entire process which Android does not have. That is a big advantage and why they can provide backward compatibility to the iPhone 3GS. Android OS upgrade paths do not even come close to that backward compatibility.

Even Microsoft is having a far better time with fragmentation than Google is with their Android OS. Windows Phone 7 updates are not happening near as fast as Apple's iOS, but are far better than Google's Android OS. With their upgrade to Mango, 30% of Windows Phone 7 devices had Mango installed within 16 days after it was made available to owners. Since Microsoft has not been in the market that long, this is a great number.

Google needs to start making changes as to how things are done for handling updates to their OS on all the mobile devices which are out there. The adoption rate for Ice Cream Sandwich can be considered as horrible by just about any standard you want to apply. If Microsoft is able to get a good adoption rate in less than 30 days, why is it that Google can not?