Here's a bit of good news for Android enthusiasts: as of December 1st, 83% of Android devices are now running OS version 2.1 or higher. The numbers, which come directly from Google's developer analytics, show the progress the Big G is making in getting the wide-variety of handsets in market updated to newer code. As you can see from the above chart, the majority of handsets are now running Google's latest mobile OS version, Android 2.2. While the nature of the mobile market will always be prohibitive to 100% of in-market devices on a single OS version, it is nice to see the lion's share of handsets on a more recent, modern code — a favorite party-line of Android detractors is to call the platform "fragmented." Hit the read link to check out the full article.
I wish you would have released this later in the day. Not enough of the idiot fanboys are awake yet to flame this into oblivion.
I also wanna add this is still kind of sad considering just about every android device came out only a year ago from around this time last year…except for the G1. So like it or not that is kind of fragmented, but I blame manufactures and carriers, not android or google.
In the world of tech you cannot generalize a year with a standard deviation of a "few months." The Mytouch 3G came out at the end of Summer for god sake. 3 months in tech is a decade in other product categories because of how quickly products peak and die. Android moves even more quickly than most tech products.
Besides, HTC had a considerable army of android devices out there already (albeit most of them were less popular) a year and a few months ago. And, many companies had their devices far down the assembly line by this time last year.
That article states "is based on the number of Android devices that have accessed Android Market within a 14-day period ending…. 12/1/10". The method of collection, while somewhat useful, still does not give a good statistical sample or accurate method of measuring.
On the other hand, people accessing the market are the ones that most developers are building for.
I agree with you. For google and many of the carriers to actually get upgrades to the users and upgrade these devices is amazing. Is this the new normal for smartphones? It used to be that you got a phone and that was it for the life of the device. Now I cannot wait for the upgrade.
I am highly suspect ofg these numbers. Up here in Canada there are still a ton of devices where 2.1 isn't even available yet.
That IS fragmented. I would bet 90% of Apple users are on iOS 4.
Did somebody drop you on your head?
Hmm what about all the fragmentation caused by Blur, Touchwiz, Sense etc.
That is a great point. As a former Samsung Behold 2 owner, who got whizzed on by samsung with an unupgradable device because of the touchwiz, I personally am not fond of the add on's.
I wonder where SonyEricsson users stand in that breakdown? Bwahahaha!
I'd rather Google take more ownership of the OS, and model the releases like Apple does.
Just a nitpick: 43.4% is not a majority.
Just a nitpick of your nitpick: the article said Android 2.1 or HIGHER, which would imply Android 2.1 and 2.2 – which combined are about 83%.