| We don't know what Acer is thinking or if it's really the | | | | makers creating distinct UI for different versions like |
| Android OS limitation that an upgrade path is not | | | | the Sense on HTC Androids and the Cliq on Motorola |
| possible from one version to the next. There was a | | | | and they will simply vanish if and when a straight |
| time when all you needed was to download the latest | | | | upgrade is made. |
| OS version for your smartphone and it gets updated in | | | | Google's Android is doing a good job so far but behind |
| no time with all the sweet cool features of the new | | | | it, you now have the start of a fragmented market |
| OS. | | | | littered with handsets of different versions that can't |
| This may not be true anymore. It looks like a number | | | | run the same apps or get upgraded to the latest. |
| of Android users are stuck with an old OS like the 1.5 | | | | This seems to be the case of Android shooting itself |
| cupcake and the 1.6 Donut that can't get into the 2.0 or | | | | on the foot. |
| 2.1 Éclair so they can't enjoy the cooler homescreen | | | | Because of its open source quality, anyone can write |
| and apps like Google Maps navigation. It's not funny | | | | apps for which some handsets on the same OS |
| when you see newer smartphones unveiled at the | | | | version will run while others can't. This could be its |
| 2010 Mobile World Congress using the older versions | | | | downfall. It is repeating exactly the fragmentation |
| and you know there's already a new one but with no | | | | created by many Linux implementations that |
| clear upgrade path. | | | | accounted for why it failed miserably in the PC |
| This seems to be the case with the new Acer Liquid e | | | | markets. Android is following the same path with |
| announced during the event. It sports the new | | | | different versions, dissimilar core features and wildly |
| Android 2.1 Éclair and guess what, everything else is | | | | different apps from one version to the next and within |
| exactly as the earlier Liquid released in November. | | | | versions that is choosy on what implementation they |
| Couldn't a simple OS version update been enough? | | | | can run. |
| Why did they have to release a new handset that | | | | This accounts to why Acer had to come out with an |
| offers nothing more than a new OS? | | | | entirely new Acer Liquid e running the 2.1 Éclair as it is |
| Fragmenting the Market | | | | clear, a simple OS upgrade path does not exist to |
| The Motorola Droid running the new Android 2.0 was | | | | bring older Android versions to the latest one. You |
| released in December and you already have the 2.1 on | | | | won't even get it between a 2.0 and a 2.1. |
| Google's Nexus One enjoying a cool new app like | | | | What made Symbian the world's number one |
| Google Earth that can't run on the 2.0. There's no | | | | smartphone OS is its sheer number of implementation |
| assurance at all there will be an upgrade path. | | | | across a variety of hardware. It got there because |
| Worst, not all apps can work on different Android | | | | makers gave the consumers a clear update path to |
| implementation in even the same version. Android 2.0 | | | | the latest versions. Same with the iPhone OS and |
| has native multitouch capability and yet will not run on | | | | Windows Mobile. Too bad, that's not the case with |
| the Motorola Droid. In addition, you have various | | | | Android. |