On: Android's Overblown Fragmentation Problem Revisited

[barumrho]

Nearly everything but the kernel is auto-updated to the latest version on all Android devices, even if they're several OS versions behind.

This benefits users, but not developers. Developers still need to code and test against old API levels.

[nopayne → barumrho]

This is only partially true. Google has started distributing some APIs automatic updates as well via Google Play Services.

http://developer.android.com/google/play-services/index.html

These features are made available on older releases of Android.

[millstone → barumrho]

If almost everything is auto-updated, why do developers need to test against old API levels? Wouldn't the frameworks be updated as well? Or are the frameworks covered by the "nearly" qualifier?

[_khhm → barumrho]

The overblown problems that the Apple-zealot bloggers are always bringing up are 100% user issues, not to do with developers.