Android Fragmentation – Some Numbers and Thoughts

By on February 22, 2010 in Android

Android Fragmentation

Android fragmentation is getting worse.  One of the greatest and worst features of the Android OS is it’s open source nature.  Open source means that anyone can take the software, write up some tweaks to it, add/delete re-write features and functions without worrying about stepping on anyone’s toes.  But, that brings along with it the trouble of trying to keep everything consistent within the Android world. 

Google has recently updated a number of their own apps to include new features such as pinch-to-zoom making those updates only available to Android 2.0+ users and just today we learned that they have finally released a Google Earth version for Android, that is only for Android 2.1+.  This means that within Google’s own little world, there are apps that won’t run on all the Android devices in the market.  This must be a pain for Google, let alone all those Android developers.

Love it or hate it, the Apple schema for a mobile phone OS seems to be a better choice for version control and consistency.  It does have it’s downfalls as well, but for the specific function of trying to make sure all your users are running the same OS and have the same basic functions, Apple has been doing a good job.

The post photo shows the visitor percentages at These are the Droids for the past month.  As you can see, there is quite a few different Android versions accessing the site.  Throwing out the bottom six, leaves us with four large groups.  2.0.1 is the biggest with over 50%, this would be the Verizon Droid users.  Next up are 1.5 and then 1.6 users, which include the HTC Hero, Moment, myTouch 3G, G1, etc.  Finally, last on the list at less than 10% are the Nexus One users, or those running a custom ROM with Android 2.1.  A good 25% of Android users cannot take advantage of the latest Android Market, Google apps such as the latest maps, browser etc.  and 90% cannot install Google Earth.  I know, we’ve all been told that much of these users, myself included, will be getting Android 2.1 within the first half of this year.  Let’s face it, 6 months is a long time in gadget time.  Android OS jumped from 1.6 to 2.1 within FOUR months (Android 1.6 was released 15 Sept 2009, Nexus One with Android 2.1 was out Jan 5th, 2010.)

I’m hoping that these giant leaps forward will begin to settle down for Android.  Not because I don’t like progress.  But, because I’d like to see the fragmentation ease up a bit.  Let’s get everyone on the latest OS before making the next big jump, and when it happens, please Google and partners, keep up with each other.  I know what I’m asking won’t happen, it’s just wishful thinking really.  If the leaps in the OS slow, making major updates at least 1 year apart, I think the carriers, manufacturers etc will have an easier time keeping up and ensuring that your next Android won’t be obsolete before you buy it.

UPDATE: And for those wondering about the 3.0 version above, it is probably just someone with a custom ROM who’s altered their version data.

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  • temp droid owner

    To download, search “Google Earth” in the Android Market. Since this is just for phones running Android 2.1, Droid users will have to wait until Motorola rolls out the long-awaited update. The company has promised that it will make its debut “soon.”

    @ Motorola: If you don’t roll out the update, I’ll be using a different phone…soon

  • temp droid owner

    To download, search “Google Earth” in the Android Market. Since this is just for phones running Android 2.1, Droid users will have to wait until Motorola rolls out the long-awaited update. The company has promised that it will make its debut “soon.”

    @ Motorola: If you don’t roll out the update, I’ll be using a different phone…soon

  • http://www.trevisol.com Ryan Trevisol

    Wow, look at that. I’m shocked at how many more people run 1.5 than 1.6! My boss has a G1 and it’s on 1.6, has been for months. MyTouch 3G’s have had 1.6 for the same amount of time . . . I wonder how many of those would be upgraded to 1.6 if they restarted their phones . . .

  • http://www.trevisol.com Ryan Trevisol

    Wow, look at that. I’m shocked at how many more people run 1.5 than 1.6! My boss has a G1 and it’s on 1.6, has been for months. MyTouch 3G’s have had 1.6 for the same amount of time . . . I wonder how many of those would be upgraded to 1.6 if they restarted their phones . . .

  • Droid

    Android 3.0, eh? Eric Schmidt, is that you?

  • Droid

    Android 3.0, eh? Eric Schmidt, is that you?

  • Alex

    I’d like to know who’s running Android 3.0 myself :)

  • Alex

    I’d like to know who’s running Android 3.0 myself :)

  • Magicdroid

    25% running 1.5

    I can’t believe that 25% of the Android devices are not capable of installing and running the latest applications on the Market.

    HTC should get off their @sses and update ALL their android devices to 2.1!

  • Magicdroid

    25% running 1.5

    I can’t believe that 25% of the Android devices are not capable of installing and running the latest applications on the Market.

    HTC should get off their @sses and update ALL their android devices to 2.1!

  • TOm TOm

    that 3.0 is interesting. Maybe thos HTC Supersonic rumors were true… 3.0 could be right around the corner

  • TOm TOm

    that 3.0 is interesting. Maybe thos HTC Supersonic rumors were true… 3.0 could be right around the corner

  • Dave

    I don’t think it’s possible for google to stop the fragmentation. Here’s a couple of obstacles that I see. First, each manufacturer makes adjustments to android in order to differentiate their offerings, so they need to adjust the code for each model before sending an update. Second, old phones may need their own tweaked versions of android since their hardware may have changed significantly. Manufacturers aren’t likely to invest the resources when they don’t own the platform and they aren’t incentivized with additional sales.

    At the root of the problem is that google needs software uniformity to attract top developers to the platform, but it’s manufacturer’s need differentiation to separate themselves from each other.

  • Dave

    I don’t think it’s possible for google to stop the fragmentation. Here’s a couple of obstacles that I see. First, each manufacturer makes adjustments to android in order to differentiate their offerings, so they need to adjust the code for each model before sending an update. Second, old phones may need their own tweaked versions of android since their hardware may have changed significantly. Manufacturers aren’t likely to invest the resources when they don’t own the platform and they aren’t incentivized with additional sales.

    At the root of the problem is that google needs software uniformity to attract top developers to the platform, but it’s manufacturer’s need differentiation to separate themselves from each other.