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Speaking at an investors meeting on Tuesday, Intel’s CEO, Paul Otellini, talked a little bit on a subject us Android users are all too familiar with. Fragmentation. Otellini compares what Google is going through right now with Android, to what Microsoft faced with Windows in its early years. He goes on to compare Apple’s business model more along the lines as having “order” with Apple having full control over end-user experience and pricing.
Now, before you run and grab your pitchforks, he continues to say that he believes fragmentation on Android is something that will be rectified over time as Google tries to impose stricter guidelines for OEM’s in regards to compatibility with older hardware. This is something we saw Google address this year at Google I/O when they announced partnerships with key manufacturers to keep their phones up to date with the latest versions of Android.
Fragmentation is a very real issue and while it’s one that has helped the OS grow so quickly over a short period of time, its definitely something Google will have to gain control of in the future. What do you guys think? Is the Android ecosystem as “chaotic” as Paul Otellini describes? How do you think Google should handle Android’s “f-word”?
[Via CNET News]
Hopefully Ice Cream Sandwich will solve most of this. It looks to be the main focus of Google’s right now. Plus the commitment to upgrades for 18 months* will he. That * is important though. If carrier/manufacturers get into this “the phone can’t handle it” crap they did with Gingerbread then it will just be words and nothing more.
That was just something they announced. When they were pressed on for more details regarding the manufacturers commitment, they essentially said, “we dont know how we’re going to do it”
Story of googles life: announce/release something early, maybe get around to fix it later down the road or just let it die
I Think so nothing going to be the top all the time
it just matter of time
How is the CEO of Intel qualified to discuss the state of smartphone OS’es? They have nothing that will run in a smartphone, and their only venture involving smartphones was the Nokia/MeeGo fiasco.
Smartphones in general are still in their infancy or at least in their toddler stage. But I much rather have the chaotic fragmentation of Android over the Nazi rule of Apple!
The iPhone is like the Toyota Corolla of smartphones. It’s solid and reliable but boring as f#ck!!!
He talks about fragmemtation despite the company’s plans to realease CPU’s for Android handsets using a different architecture to the current crop of CPUS?
Crazy!
That’s a good f’in point.
He’s not knocking android or google- he’s only saying android OS is in a growth stage. He’s right!
I’ve been an Android user since Day 1. I still use my G1 and I wish it could run all of the games and applications that are available in the Android Market. But, I don’t consider its a big problem. Do think there is fragmentation? Yes, of course I do. But, with Android, you get what you pay for. If you want a cheap phone that can go online and do basic surfing, texting, and etc, there’s an Android for that. If you want the cream of the crop, super phone, there is an Android for that as well. Yes, the hardwares vary quite a bit, which make it harder to manage compatibility and updates. However, I do think that the variety of Android OS’s has allowed for the masses to have internet access at their fingertips. Therefore, I think that fragmentation is a good thing.
I wish more people saw it this way, seems like I’ve been saying this forever. One man’s fragmentation is another’s freedom of choice.
You’re speaking as a consumer, not a developer….it’s the developers that have the biggest problem with Androids fragmentation issues, for obvious reasons
lazy developers who complain about fragmentation can whine all they want, talented companies like netflix, angry birds will find a way to work around/with it. Facebook has not stopped developing an app for android because of fragmentation issues have they ? it is mostly the lazy useless developers who want easy money who whine about fragmentation and give fragmentation as an excuse for not developing.
So I’m lazy because I can’t hire a development team the size of those employed at Netflix, Rovio or Facebook? Isn’t it the small developer who provides real solutions? Or would you rather deal with Motorola and their solutions. Think Sandeep. _Any_ barrier that can be quantified slows adoption of a given ecosystem. In this case the barrier is fragmentation, the ecosystem is Android. The result is frustration behind the scenes and fewer solutions for the public.
But something tells me I trying to make a point to someone whose blinders are too opaque… Care to buy my new T-Shirt: “Lazy Android Devs should stop whining”
Ok so what super duper apps have you developed that requires a large development team for interoperability? Please enlighten me so I can check them out myself.
dude, sure there is fragmentation, but there are positive things too, no ‘content’ censorship on android market, look at positives too, not just negatives. Pay 25 dollars and get your app on market today, contrast with iOS system, they will review your app for weeks together and they might reject it on any ground, if you are a small developer, your case won’t be picked up by media, nobody will bother about you. On Android, barriers to entry are lower.
“Fragmentation on the device side is not a huge problem, but Steve is absolutely right when he says that there are more challenges for developers when working with Android. But that’s fine, developers will figure out how to work any given ecosystem and as long as it doesn’t cause physical pain, it’s ok;-).”
this is what Peter Vesterbacka of Rovio says, he says in kinder words that developers who stop development because of fragmentation issues are lazy.
After owning many androids,I have fallen for apples strict ecosystem. All the apps look and feel integrated with the OS. All the apps actually work, I stopped bothering to search androids market about a week after I got my g1 and I didn’t search again, not on my mt3g, not on my nexus one and not on my vibrant because 90% of the apps for android are either apps that literally don’t do anything or tip calculators. I still have my nexus one but its an absolute pleasure to pay $.99 for an app that looks, feels and works like its supposed to rather than save a dollar and ft. Crappy looking bugged version of the same app on android. I’m not saying people must like android or must like apple, personally I prefer androids features and apples stability. The point is that I’m a consumer and our point of view is that we have grown up paying for things, only a child would prefer a vibrant to an iPhone 4. Because they don’t need GPS, which is broken on the vibrant anyway (I had 3 replacements and none worked) and they don’t have money for apps so they are happy without glitch ridden free android apps. Every android I’ve owned has had some glaring deficiency, sometimes hardware and sometimes software, my iPhone doesn’t even have a “force close” window in its programming. I have friends with iPhones and friends with androids, they are both awesome phones but the tight apple ecosystem absolutely improves the user experience so long as the user is an adult. I forget why I started typing….I’m typing on my nexus Anyway so I can’t really go back and read what I’ve already typed, it just jumps around when I try navigating the text box. ThBks android
No one forces you to develop for every handset, it’s your choice. Too bad you chose to whine.
Have you used the Facebook app lately? That POS crashes everytime you click on someones name. Its been doing that for a LONG ass time and they still haven’t fixed it. When the major app players cant focus on fixing it, there’s a huge problem. Most apps on iOS get bug fixes immediately, especially from Facebook, twitter etc.
Maybe it’s you. I’ve yet to have the FB app crash on me.
I have a Nexus S. Look at the latest review of it in the market. It’s shit. And has been that way for a long time.
Developers should look at Android’s fragmentation as an opportunity. Sure, its easier to develop for the iPhone, but with Android, you’re not developing for one or a handful of phones, your developing for hundreds of phones. Moreover, only minor changes need to be adapted for the apps to work on this vast number of devices. Having the diversity and sheer number of devices means a larger market and consumer base, you know, more people to download your app. Plus, its free to get into the Android Market and theres no approval process. Apple may be easier to develop for, but you have to jump through hoops just to get your app on the market. Besides, no one said you had to make your app work with everyone’s device from the start. Start small with the most popular devices and as revenue comes in, use those earnings to expand development. If you don’t make enough revenue, well your app really isn’t in demand anyways so no need to expand. It is what you make it. Smart developers see it as room to grow and expand their audience where as others complain about the challenges of the system.
What you’re saying about more devices is common sense and I imagine most developers understand that. Despite that, Android is still 2nd in priority for most developers.
No, developers have a choice of what devices they can support; they can choose their own baseline of what hardware/OS version to run on. Just as iOS devs can choose between two tablets, 4 phones and 4 ipods and multiple iOS versions.
Excellent point and this is the very reason Android has grown so quickly. There’s a device for every type of user. The crappy, lazy devs will not like it. The better ones will have little issues. Honestly, I can do without the crappy devs as there are more than enough good ones to go around.
Eventually anyone with half a brain will realize that in the very near future, with the powerful hardware trickling down to the lower end devices, there’ll be less and less OS differences as time goes by. It’s an evolution that will take time.
Apple is order and Android is chaos the same way that China is order and America is chaos. Freedom is chaotic. Deal with it.
Well, America seems to become more “closed” by the day, unfortunately.
Is it more closed than China though?
Not yet. We value freedom too much to ever let it get to that point. When it starts heading that way you get large groups loosely organizing to protest the things that are disagreeable…hey….wait a minute….
I agree with 155 :-)
Apple is order and Android is chaos… sounds like this Otellini would have a great time throwing a tea party for Hitler and Stalin.
Couldn’t be more right…it is so obvious.
Ok let see, android is chaos, apple is order and Intel is nowhere to be found. Hmm what position would I rather be in? Intel is talking a lot because there is nothing they can do to stop the exudes from people not buying as many PC’s and doing almost everything on their phones.
Sure Intel I’ll pay close attention when you make somewhere headway with meego. Oh wait that ain’t working out for ya.
first thing popped into my head was dungeons and dragons’ alignment thing. but then remembered it’s Lawful, not Order.
I need to play less role playing games.
Google is working on this now, but I believe its more policy than technology. Waiting for Ice Cream Sandwich to resolve? May as well wait until Zinger, Zagnut, or whatever ‘Z’-named dessert get released.
Fragmentation is a real issue, but you don’t get world-wide adoption at the current rate by being restrictive. Get them addicted to the crack first, change the rules later. We are now at the ‘later’ phase, and I don’t believe it was accidental. Will have to see what policies Google imposes to ensure consistency and timeliness of platform and upgrades.
Separately, I’m wondering where Intel’s mobile [phone] processor is…
Choice is key surely, you want Apple, you get 1 choice, you want Android…take your pic of what device suits your needs and budget. Microsoft tried the Apple approach with Windows 7 Phone and that sank like a stone so it’s plain to see where people want to go….freedom of choice
I wouldn’t count out windows phone 7 out yet. Sure it hasn’t gotten traction yet but I believe it poses a greater threat than apple to the android Eco system, specially when windows 8 gets released on arm.
You don’t have as much choice as you think you do. You only have as much choice as Google will let you have. iOS and Android are both closed in that sense. One is just more than the other. And there are pros and cons to both approaches. But I wouldn’t expect you to understand simple ideas like that.
“One is just more than the other”
Well duh that’s exactly what the op is stating.
Apple has fragmentation issues also. Will all apps run on older iPhones? No! Is there a difference between software for the Power PC and Intel based Mac’s? Yes!
It isn’t as bad as Android but there is fragmentation.
I don’t expect every piece of software to run on every phone. But I do wish there were standards set by Google so for instance all of the front facing cameras would work the same.
Yes I do see it as chaotic.
Macs and PCs use Intel (Core iX, C2D, etc) CPUs. Android (Tablets and Smartphones) uses Qualcomm’s, Texas Instruments’, NVidia’s, Samsung’s, etc CPUs. It’s obvious to make defense to its market share.
Um, the iPhone doesn’t have an Intel processor either.
I just hate the fact that Paul Otellini is in Google’s board of directors. If anything they should have the ARM CEO there, or Nvidia’s CEO or someone who is more compatible with the future of Android. How did Intel help Google so far? By making Google TV set top boxes more expensive than they should be? The cost of their Atom CE CPU alone must’ve been like $100, which would translate to about $200 from the final price.They also added a nice price to the Chromebooks as well, which would’ve probably been like $250-$300 if they had ARM chips.
Google shouldn’t support Intel at all. By doing that they only make room for Microsoft later on to come into their businesses.
Any idea if and when google tv and and chrome will be powered by arm?
Am I the only one who thinks Android is not honestly that fragmented? It isn’t any more fragmented then Windows Mobile was back then, but because of Androids popularity EVERYONE feels the need to say fragmentation lawl.
But Keep in mind that the Phone producer had to deliver updates and build the update themselves always.
With all the time people complain about fragmentation those updates could be delivered.
No. You’re not the only one.
Right now Android is sort of like a buffet, one that serves everything from sea food to steak and ribs and yeah there is a bit of cheap Mac N Cheese floating around too, but I think they are taking good steps to make their Lobster, Steak and Ribs taste better all the time. Right now their buffet has too many options, but a menu can be refined.
Apple on the other hand is like a restaurant that opened with only one menu option. And while that menu option, home made vanilla ice cream, and its the best vanilla ice cream that you have ever had. But they when someone suggests that they make a chocolate ice cream, or maybe a strawberry, they say that it will take away from their vanilla. Yeah they keep tweeking their vanilla flavor to make it better and better, but their is only so much you can do with vanilla ice creak. And eventually, you get sick of eating the same thing over and over.
Ah pro Apple comments, fastest way to way to get me to not buy your products. Thanks for being there for me AMD.
Oh so true AMD does wonders for my lap top, intels never functioned quite the same.
Consider the source. This is a company which is launching their own open source Linux-based smartphone OS.
When you lose market share because your company’s chip architecture is know were to be found on any phone and your core business model is eroding faster the you can say OUCH, then yes you must say something to your investors to make them NOT believe the SUPER GROWTH RATE of ANDROID. Other wise they would fire you.
Paul Otellini you should resign now while you can come out with a great package.
Other wise if you try to hold the ship together any longer your compensation will be zero and the investors may request a refund for the last three years when Android came on the scene because you told them Android will go away. And that your CPU architecture is rock solid. NOT! You are FIRED! Your vision of the future has faded to a puff of smoke.
I don’t like them but intel has very good intel into making money.
It’s Hellraiser vs. Nighbreed all over again. And once again, I’m on the side of Nightbreed.
All that is true and 10 years ago (before linux really started going) Apple had maybe MAYBE 5% of the desktop market and Windows had the rest. Apple’s business plan is unchanged from the 70s. They haven’t learned anything in my book. Sorta like Hitler should have studied Napoleon before entering Russia.
Apple has begun to diminish and will fade in time. Its the only result to the closed business model Steve Jobs loves.
Not every business model has to be open just to appease a numb-nut like you. There is no basis that only “open” companies succeed more than “closed” companies. My guess is you haven’t extensively studied in any business school and analyzed different business cases.
Apple has begun to diminish? They’re the most valuable tech company in the world you idiot. That didn’t just happen because you think they are a fad.
Did I touch a button? I see how you cleverly deflected bringing your “business school” experience by using inflammatory insults and plain rudeness. What you have done though is blatantly show your complete ignorance of Apple’s computer business of the early 80s. I was there and saw IBM vs. Apple. I can only imagine you weren’t born then. How is it that the IBM PC, a substandard computer model was able to grab the huge desktop market of the 80s, 90s, etc? Using a retarded OS from microsoft, no less. The Apple and later Mac was superior in every way. It comes down to how each company decided to produce and market the systems. Apple wanted so much conttrol (developers even had to pay Apple to make peripherals) they went to the PC.
Call me whatever name you like. I find the people who devolve to name calling and shouting etc are one who are just to dumb to hold a reasonable conversation.
Actually I was there, and have studied that period quite a bit.
You’re the one that’s insisting Apple is “diminishing” and will “fade in time” because you believe they are a “closed” system. Can you cite other tech companies with a closed system that just faded away after leading the industry? What I’m asking you is on what basis can you say that? The fact that they are the most valuable tech company in the entire world tells you they’re doing quite a few things right.
Steve Jobs “closed” system has created an ecosystem and products whose users are extremely fond of and have loyalty towards. That’s Apple’s business model. They aren’t concerned with flooding the market with their hardware and software. They cater to a smaller market than most tech companies do, and what they do, they do well. That is evident by how they have been doing as a company over the past decade. Not every company has to be “open” to succeed. Being “closed” is no guarantee of failure either.
So you do have civility. Every thing you said is true and I can understand your point. I will have to think about that. What Apple does have today they didn’t in the 80s is a much larger user base. It nearly ruined them back then because personal computers were too new. Now there is enough too support them.
Android Choas? Really? This coming from the biggest CPU provider in the World? WTH do you call the Windows PC market, multiple os versions, fragmentation galore, security issues galore? Is that not “Choas”? If you look at the pc market as a base line it looks like “Chaos” has been pretty damn profitable for Intel.
[Flame suit on] Okay, I’m sure I’ll catch some flak for this, but fragmentation being a problem is the developers fault (note: I said “being a problem” not “existing”). There. I said it. I know it is an unpopular idea, but STOP SUPPORTING 1.5 and 1.6!!!! There comes a point when you have to stop supporting legacy devices/versions. I’ll buy the argument about 2.1/2.2/3.0, but I keep seeing my the changelogs in my apps struggling to improve support for 1.5/1.6. Let it go! Legacy devices have to be ditched at some point. People will either upgrade for $50-200 or probably not care enough to get it. 2.1/2.2 is the biggest issue of the bunch. Make your app scalable until Ice Cream Sandwich and 3.0 is loosely dealt with, at least temporarily.
Alright, let me have it, Phandroidians
I think a thoughtful person would agree regardless of what phone they are reading this on. I have an iPhone but I’ve an Android phone since the g1, I had a vibrant and now a nexus one. Life with my androids is hectic, not just is fragmentation but my androids all had/have bugs and glitches honestly (just typing this on my nexus one with stock gingerbread. Compares ro my i4 is pure hell i cant even see where im typing much less place the cursor where i want to type (thats a new topic all together, typing in comments sections via any android ive owned is like writing cursive with my elbows, i love androids extensive featire set but the os needs tons of work.) that basically mean none of my 5 androids were as reliable as my iPhone 4. I say operating system stability is as much if not more of a problem than fragmentation. And I’ve used android and iPhone extensively and I haven’t done much last basic Tom flashing so my point of view is similar to that of every iser
Google should not handle that “f-word” at all.
Creativity and innovations comes from chaos, not from order.
I don’t want to be a unified drone, which can choose between all green and all white. I want rainbow colors and unicorns flying in the sky.