Android (operating system): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:24, 10 June 2025

Revision as of 21:10, 10 June 2025

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|[[Android 16|16]]

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Google provides annual<ref>{{cite web |first=Peter |last=K. |title=We'll get a major Android release every year from now on: Android M tomorrow, Android N in 2016 |url=http://www.phonearena.com/news/Well-get-a-major-Android-release-every-year-from-now-on-Android-M-tomorrow-Android-N-in-2016_id69709 |website=PhoneArena |date=May 27, 2015 |access-date=March 13, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313214349/http://www.phonearena.com/news/Well-get-a-major-Android-release-every-year-from-now-on-Android-M-tomorrow-Android-N-in-2016_id69709 |archive-date=March 13, 2017 }}</ref> Android releases, both for factory installation in new devices, and for [[Over-the-air programming|over-the-air]] updates to existing devices.<ref>{{cite web |title=OTA Updates |url=https://source.android.com/devices/tech/ota/ |website=Android Source |access-date=March 13, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225095155/https://source.android.com/devices/tech/ota/ |archive-date=December 25, 2016 }}</ref> The latest major release is [[Android 1516]].

The extensive variation of [[computer hardware|hardware]]<ref>{{cite web |first=Casey |last=Johnston |title=Android fragmentation: one developer encounters 3,997 devices |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/05/android-fragmentation-one-developer-encounters-3997-devices/ |website=[[Ars Technica]] |publisher=[[Condé Nast]] |date=May 16, 2012 |access-date=March 13, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314063422/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/05/android-fragmentation-one-developer-encounters-3997-devices/ |archive-date=March 14, 2017 }}</ref> in Android devices has caused significant delays for software upgrades and [[Patch (computing)|security patches]]. Each upgrade has had to be specifically tailored, a time- and resource-consuming process.<ref>{{cite web |first=Alex |last=Dobie |title=Solving the impossible problem of Android updates |url=http://www.androidcentral.com/solving-impossible-problem-android-updates |website=Android Central |publisher=Mobile Nations |date=January 18, 2014 |access-date=March 13, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303061348/http://www.androidcentral.com/solving-impossible-problem-android-updates |archive-date=March 3, 2017 }}</ref> Except for devices within the Google Nexus and Pixel brands, updates have often arrived months after the release of the new version, or not at all.<ref>{{cite web |first=Antonio |last=Villas-Boas |title=The latest Android delay is why I'm sticking to iPhone |url=http://nordic.businessinsider.com/nexus-6-android-70-nougat-update-delayed-2016-9/ |website=[[Business Insider]] |publisher=[[Axel Springer SE]] |date=September 14, 2016 |access-date=March 13, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314063958/http://nordic.businessinsider.com/nexus-6-android-70-nougat-update-delayed-2016-9/ |archive-date=March 14, 2017 }}</ref> Manufacturers often prioritize their newest devices and leave old ones behind.<ref name="alliance">{{cite web |first=Andrew |last=Cunningham |title=What happened to the Android Update Alliance? |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/06/what-happened-to-the-android-update-alliance/ |website=[[Ars Technica]] |publisher=[[Condé Nast]] |date=June 28, 2011 |access-date=March 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312063530/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/06/what-happened-to-the-android-update-alliance/ |archive-date=March 12, 2017 }}</ref> Additional delays can be introduced by wireless carriers who, after receiving updates from manufacturers, further customize Android to their needs and conduct extensive testing on their networks before sending out the upgrade.<ref name="alliance" /><ref>{{cite web |first=Chris |last=Hoffman |title=Why Do Carriers Delay Updates for Android But Not iPhone? |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/163958/why-do-carriers-delay-updates-for-android-but-not-iphone/ |website=How-To Keep |date=May 25, 2013 |access-date=March 13, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312225544/https://www.howtogeek.com/163958/why-do-carriers-delay-updates-for-android-but-not-iphone/ |archive-date=March 12, 2017 }}</ref> There are also situations in which upgrades are impossible due to a manufacturer not updating necessary [[Device driver|drivers]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Andrew |last=Cunningham |title=Why isn't your old phone getting Nougat? There's blame enough to go around |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/08/why-isnt-your-old-phone-getting-nougat-theres-blame-enough-to-go-around/ |website=[[Ars Technica]] |publisher=[[Condé Nast]] |date=August 31, 2016 |access-date=April 3, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403194841/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/08/why-isnt-your-old-phone-getting-nougat-theres-blame-enough-to-go-around/ |archive-date=April 3, 2017 }}</ref>