Fragmentation costs Android developer attention, study shows

20 March, 2012
Android's fragmentation could be a potential time bomb for Google as developer's interest shrinks.

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  • D
  • AnonD-45871
  • YTJ
  • 21 Mar 2012

Hmmm I have some doubts how could a pc os can run apps inspite of different chips and resolutions I love droid but it isn't as clear cut and defined as ios and wp droid needs some minimum requirements like thing so that it gets solved and I would love to see apps running at lower resources than requiring dual core quad core etc

    • A
    • AppDeveloper
    • 470
    • 21 Mar 2012

    Crucify, 20 Mar 2012You should be the one to get real. Know your stuff first be... moreWhat do you mean that no one developes for winxp, etc... There are still mountains of business / military applications running large organizations across the country. Heck there are still many programs written in VB6, LOL. Funny the Apple zombies.

      • x
      • x0rag0n
      • wHr
      • 21 Mar 2012

      "Android is definitely outselling iOS, but developers will definitely have an easier time of it with iOS. How that plays out for Android in the long term remains to be seen, but these early indicators aren't encouraging for Android or indeed its users. Not that a bit of slippage in developer interest spells the death knell for Android, but it could mean that we see fewer app ports or indeed just some apps that don't make it to Android at all." -the register

      therefore, the cause of this decline? multiple platform, multiple hardware, hard to choose where to focus for the devs. and that is FRAGMENTATION

        • V
        • Verbal_Criminal
        • 9La
        • 21 Mar 2012


        For me, Fragmentation has it's pros and cons. I don't know the real reason why google prefers this but on my own opinion it is some sort of a "create-observe-recreate" method. Google makes the versions, put it in public, make observations, took note of observed areas to be improve, create another version w/ added improvements, put it in public and so on and on and on. also...thru fragmentation... they would also be able test new hardwares in line w/ their current OS versions, plan for future improvements and innovations.

        quite tedious i say, but then again...this is my assumption.

        i would like to hear blueglue's say on this.

          • D
          • AnonD-34258
          • ut6
          • 21 Mar 2012

          Android u do not really know about symbian os so don't spread scams about symbian......
          Symbian has got less virus less malware than ur android.......android mobile diffrent manufacter is coming with diffrent types of chip and hardware thats a issue.....just ask developer about their interest and don't be z android lover or a Android fu(ker



          icurrently own Samsung s2

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • kg3
            • 21 Mar 2012

            Microsoft with Windows 8 and Windows Phone will take over Android. Fragmentation is getting worst for Android.

              • T
              • TDMaster
              • S0C
              • 21 Mar 2012

              as an Android Developer i must say its True..
              too many Layouts,screen size and densties...
              Google needs to change it and fast..

                • S
                • Samsung
                • KSf
                • 20 Mar 2012

                Android fall begins, I still remember Steve commenting on this potential problem android could have, way back 3 years when it was launched.

                  • C
                  • Crucify
                  • Q}m
                  • 20 Mar 2012

                  Just to make things clear, I forgot to mention that it is easier to code on Windows because the developers on have to deal with a different version of OS. But on Android they have to deal with the different OS version plus the different Chips that manufacturers are using. Imaging Coding for 4 different chips on 4 different OS versions and tell me if you would still want to do that when you can just go to IOS and code for 1-2 different versions of OS and no difference in chips.

                    • C
                    • Crucify
                    • Q}m
                    • 20 Mar 2012

                    getreal, 20 Mar 2012Firstly, it doesn't say how many so called 'developers' wer... moreYou should be the one to get real. Know your stuff first before you comment like a die hard fanboy. NO ONE is coding for windows 2k, ME, XP anymore. There are alot of apps because Windows is used by 75% more or less by people who uses a computer. Dont compare android to windows because they use a completely different architecture and it is very fragmented as opposed to windows since its easy to port apps from older versions to the current ones but its not on android due to manufacturers using different chips for different devices. You dont know this stuff coz your not a developer. Just admit that android is fragmented like everyone already did android fan or not. I am an android fan and what is said in here is true. enough said..

                      • D
                      • AnonD-44270
                      • v$D
                      • 20 Mar 2012

                      Anonymous, 20 Mar 2012The scary thing about catching a virus is not even knowing ... morelet me say that my nokia c6 does not lag and after all I am not such a noob to not know how the phone would behave after catching a virus. After all , viruses are much much more prevalent among android devices than in symbian devices.Lol !

                      BTW, you still did not accept your mistake in saying that and I quote "symbian has most virus". It is absolutely baseless,nonsense and false statement.

                        • C
                        • Crucify
                        • Q}m
                        • 20 Mar 2012

                        FanDroid, 20 Mar 2012Wow. iOS propaganda. 'nuff saidSure this can be seen as an IOS propaganda to some people but you still cant deny the fact that what is stated in the article is true. If I was a developer I would also be hesitant to code for android because of fragmentation. I have a samsung galaxy s2 and even the samsung market has alot of fragmentation, lots of games optimized only for the SGS1 and some are SGS2 which the SGS1 wont be able to use which is retarded. On Google play on some apps you would see people commenting on apps that doesnt work right depending on the phone they use, which is again because of fragmentation.

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • 3LV
                          • 20 Mar 2012

                          AnonD-44270, 20 Mar 2012hey, your comment just shows that you have no knowledge of ... moreyes you are right and belle is fast and secure no lagg anymore either on newer nokia 701 and upcoming 808

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • 3LV
                            • 20 Mar 2012

                            open-source devs, 20 Mar 2012i dont care about ios having 10% more apps, android is my n... morewindows phone is good

                              • D
                              • AnonD-26870
                              • 0C1
                              • 20 Mar 2012

                              Anonymous, 20 Mar 2012how is android different the pc market yet pc devs dont com... moreYou don't have the same apps on mobile/tablet as on the pc, it's all about optimisation. Comparison is stupid and useless or this probably is a fanboy comment(like: I don't care to have less for the same amount of money)

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • IWQ
                                • 20 Mar 2012

                                AnonD-44270, 20 Mar 2012hey, your comment just shows that you have no knowledge of ... moreThe scary thing about catching a virus is not even knowing you've caught it for the last 2 years. I don't know but i had enough of symbian and it's lag. Been using Nokia phone since i first had a mobile and 10 years on i almost jump to iPhone until the Galaxy phone came out.

                                  • t
                                  • thegolden
                                  • wMH
                                  • 20 Mar 2012

                                  Anonymous, 20 Mar 2012Fragmentaion is what ruined it for me with android. I do li... moreDo u even know what fragmentation is?... By the way u talk u don't..

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                                    • open-source devs
                                    • LHf
                                    • 20 Mar 2012

                                    i dont care about ios having 10% more apps, android is my next choice

                                      • G
                                      • GDT
                                      • Hkq
                                      • 20 Mar 2012

                                      alka, 20 Mar 2012Bada 2 is very cool and developer friendly bada developers... moreYes i hav used wave2 n yeah i know dat it has a blazingly fast n pretty stable os but again the lack of apps n updates is a big drawback. I think if sammy cud sumhow attract the developers n spend a bit of research funds on bada os updates then maybe it cud b a descent competetor. Until then bada os remains in the shadows.

                                        • F
                                        • Fish
                                        • mvx
                                        • 20 Mar 2012

                                        The android fragmentation problem is a well known problem so that is not really news. However, at this moment customers still buy the android phones so it does not seem to hurt the Android OS too badly. Not yet anyway.

                                        Will be interesting to see how WP will handle the OS upgrade issue now when it has increased its market share. Nothing has been stated officially from Microsoft as far as know.