But the link to OTA upgrades is spurious at best. There are many differences between the phones. Fixating reclusively on one as the cause for adoption rate? That's just idiotic or disingenuous.
The conclusions of this "research" are laughable. The reality is that their wasn't that much of an upgrade needed for iOS users as the previous version was working beautifully and had most of the features and functions that people wanted / needed. The remainder are probably jailbroken phones that make the new OS irrelevant until a new hack is produced. To conclude that this has anything to do with "over the air" updates is pure fantasy. They have no idea what they are talking about. Especially when you consider that when Apple posts an upgrade, it is available to everyone immediately. For Android, its when the carrier gets around to it.
Maybe, just maybe, OS 4 adoption by iPhone 3GS users MIGHT have been lower because early adopters found that the OS was significantly slower than v3.x was, and that there were some BlueTooth problems.
They just might have held out for v4.1...
Fully agree with you. Was dripping to upgrade to iOS4 on my iPhone 3G and then saw the negative echoes and suddenly recalled the LSA 101 : never upgrade an OS unless SP1 is out. So I basically held out until 4.1, which I might actually put on my phone this w/e - not having read any negative reviews so far.
Another reason could be that for the iPhone 3G the list of new features was a rather compact one. For me the only 'killer' thing that they packed into 4.1 is a full AVRCP stack, meaning that I can now fully enjoy the capabilities of my BT headphones...but other than that and the unified inbox the new feature set for the 3G is irrelevant.
IOW why bother...
Oh - one more thing : aren't the Android updates incremental as opposed to the fat deploy used by iOS ? I mean 300-500 MB OTA would make any network melt.....
1. Android 2.2 brings a very huge improvement over 2.1, pre 2.2 versions suck.
2. iPhone 3G / 3GS with iOS 3.1.3 run very fast.
3. Android users have to wait for a very long time for *announced* software update to 2.2, and many of them simply cannot upgrade to this version, thus increasing the desire for current eligible users to upgrade.
4. Geeky users tend to upgrade at once. There are no doubt more tech geeks in the Android platform than that of iOS.
5. Motorola Driod users bought their phones knowing that Android 2.2 was just around the corner. They probably had a list of feature updates in mind when they bought the phone. Many iPhone3GS users had owned their phones for a full year when the iOS4 update came out and were already satisfied...
That said, I wouldn't mind OTA updates in the future if it were offered. I just don't know if this article *means* much...
Yeah but OTA updates also have a higher chance of failing. And therefore bricking the phone. They are also reliant on carriers pushing out the upgrades.
iTunes performs checks that the file downloaded is sound then backs up then performs the upgrade. No backups for OTA. Apple also controls the upgrade so it's entirely up to the user to upgrade. Many hold off until the reports of issues roll in to see if the upgrade is worth it. Also others choose not to upgrade in order to keep their jailbroken phones jailbroken until an update is released.
Sorry but these sorts of data releases mean nothing.
great post
i would only add that many iphone owners got them as a gift AND SO their iphones are Just phones to these people .
Isn't Android 2.2 the first Android with Flash? Could be one reason for rapid adoption, although it may be a disappointing experience in reality if web reviews are anything to go by.
Android updates tend to be far more extensive/feature-laden than the average iOS update, and they seldom cause more problems than they solve, which isn't always the case with iOS updates of late.
Indeed. Many people refuse to upgrade their iPhone because doing so ruins so many aspects of their phones.
As an Android owner of a Motorolla Droid (can't use AT&T where I live, so no iPhone), I can tell you why I updated quickly to 2.2 when it was released: because the phone syncs certain things wirelessly and wirelessly only, it pushes its software updates over the air. And I can tell you, when something like 2.2 is available, the message that it is available with the prompt to download keeps coming every couple of minutes until you finally agree to do it. Essentially, they pestered me with it - rendering the phone unusable until I clicked "Install Later" until I finally broke down and installed it within the hour. If I understand correctly, for the iOs, you need to sync the phone to iTunes. If you don't, which many people don't have to do so often, you will not be prompted to upgrade. I almost had no choice if I wanted to be able to use my phone.
I guess I can see how in the developing world, where people have no computer and no wired internet connection, OTA updates might be necessary. But for people who have a computer and who have a wired Internet connection, I think a computer-based OS upgrade approach is clearly preferable for both cost and reliability reasons.
I didn't upgrade to 4.0 on my 3GS because I knew that it wasn't really designed for the 3GS. And my concerns were realized when performance issues were reported by upgraders. Don't know if that's a factor, but it was why I refrained from upgrading. And my mom never upgraded her iPod Touch because Apple charged money for the OS updates. So there.
Well - you're simply missing out on a great OS - your loss (but needn't be)
If it was a comparison of all android phone devices vs iPhones - I would see a point.
Besides, with a pushed OTA carrier update, shouldn't that mean all droids are automatically updated regardless of the users actually looking to upgrade or not? I presume the first thing alot of users knew of the 2.2 upgrade is when the phone asks them to confirm the upgrade (kind of like how firefox updates) - or am I wrong?
Sure, iTunes does a period check on an iPhone when syncing, but I know people that go months before syncing their iPhone, and simply charge it from a wall socket beside their beds overnight. My wife wouldn't have a clue about which os her iPhone was running if I didn't upgrade it for her ("why do I have tiny little pictures in boxes on my screen" was the reaction to folders).
Also, a more telling point - a large amount of 3GS users were upgrading to the iPhone 4 at the time of ios 4 release, so I doubt they would have cared much about upgrading their now unused phone in a hurry - this would have pushed the upgrade figure lower:
As an Android owner of a Motorolla Droid (can't use AT&T where I live, so no iPhone), I can tell you why I updated quickly to 2.2 when it was released: because the phone syncs certain things wirelessly and wirelessly only, it pushes its software updates over the air. And I can tell you, when something like 2.2 is available, the message that it is available with the prompt to download keeps coming every couple of minutes until you finally agree to do it. Essentially, they pestered me with it - rendering the phone unusable until I clicked "Install Later" until I finally broke down and installed it within the hour. If I understand correctly, for the iOs, you need to sync the phone to iTunes. If you don't, which many people don't have to do so often, you will not be prompted to upgrade. I almost had no choice if I wanted to be able to use my phone.
Thanks for sharing. Your comment on syncing is probably quite pertinent.
Comments
But the link to OTA upgrades is spurious at best. There are many differences between the phones. Fixating reclusively on one as the cause for adoption rate? That's just idiotic or disingenuous.
Maybe, just maybe, OS 4 adoption by iPhone 3GS users MIGHT have been lower because early adopters found that the OS was significantly slower than v3.x was, and that there were some BlueTooth problems.
They just might have held out for v4.1...
Fully agree with you. Was dripping to upgrade to iOS4 on my iPhone 3G and then saw the negative echoes and suddenly recalled the LSA 101 : never upgrade an OS unless SP1 is out. So I basically held out until 4.1, which I might actually put on my phone this w/e - not having read any negative reviews so far.
Another reason could be that for the iPhone 3G the list of new features was a rather compact one. For me the only 'killer' thing that they packed into 4.1 is a full AVRCP stack, meaning that I can now fully enjoy the capabilities of my BT headphones...but other than that and the unified inbox the new feature set for the 3G is irrelevant.
IOW why bother...
Oh - one more thing : aren't the Android updates incremental as opposed to the fat deploy used by iOS ? I mean 300-500 MB OTA would make any network melt.....
Maybe it was because Android 2.1 sucked, so users can't wait to get something better?
LOL - brilliant.
Possible reasons:
1. Android 2.2 brings a very huge improvement over 2.1, pre 2.2 versions suck.
2. iPhone 3G / 3GS with iOS 3.1.3 run very fast.
3. Android users have to wait for a very long time for *announced* software update to 2.2, and many of them simply cannot upgrade to this version, thus increasing the desire for current eligible users to upgrade.
4. Geeky users tend to upgrade at once. There are no doubt more tech geeks in the Android platform than that of iOS.
5. Motorola Driod users bought their phones knowing that Android 2.2 was just around the corner. They probably had a list of feature updates in mind when they bought the phone. Many iPhone3GS users had owned their phones for a full year when the iOS4 update came out and were already satisfied...
That said, I wouldn't mind OTA updates in the future if it were offered. I just don't know if this article *means* much...
Yeah but OTA updates also have a higher chance of failing. And therefore bricking the phone. They are also reliant on carriers pushing out the upgrades.
iTunes performs checks that the file downloaded is sound then backs up then performs the upgrade. No backups for OTA. Apple also controls the upgrade so it's entirely up to the user to upgrade. Many hold off until the reports of issues roll in to see if the upgrade is worth it. Also others choose not to upgrade in order to keep their jailbroken phones jailbroken until an update is released.
Sorry but these sorts of data releases mean nothing.
great post
i would only add that many iphone owners got them as a gift AND SO their iphones are Just phones to these people .
9
Possible Reason:
Android updates tend to be far more extensive/feature-laden than the average iOS update, and they seldom cause more problems than they solve, which isn't always the case with iOS updates of late.
Indeed. Many people refuse to upgrade their iPhone because doing so ruins so many aspects of their phones.
Maybe it was because Android 2.1 sucked, so users can't wait to get something better?
Maybe.
Got any support for that as a possibility?
Indeed. Many people refuse to upgrade their iPhone because doing so ruins so many aspects of their phones.
Maybe.
Got any support for that as a possibility?
(Newtron/DaHarder -- same-troll marriage?)
Maybe.
Got any support for that as a possibility?
I'm thinking of jailbroken phones, which are ruined by Apple's updates. I am under the impression that there are many jailbroken phones out there.
I may be incorrect.
I didn't upgrade to 4.0 on my 3GS because I knew that it wasn't really designed for the 3GS. And my concerns were realized when performance issues were reported by upgraders. Don't know if that's a factor, but it was why I refrained from upgrading. And my mom never upgraded her iPod Touch because Apple charged money for the OS updates. So there.
Well - you're simply missing out on a great OS - your loss (but needn't be)
(iPhone 3GS, iOS 4.1)
If it was a comparison of all android phone devices vs iPhones - I would see a point.
Besides, with a pushed OTA carrier update, shouldn't that mean all droids are automatically updated regardless of the users actually looking to upgrade or not? I presume the first thing alot of users knew of the 2.2 upgrade is when the phone asks them to confirm the upgrade (kind of like how firefox updates) - or am I wrong?
Sure, iTunes does a period check on an iPhone when syncing, but I know people that go months before syncing their iPhone, and simply charge it from a wall socket beside their beds overnight. My wife wouldn't have a clue about which os her iPhone was running if I didn't upgrade it for her ("why do I have tiny little pictures in boxes on my screen" was the reaction to folders).
Also, a more telling point - a large amount of 3GS users were upgrading to the iPhone 4 at the time of ios 4 release, so I doubt they would have cared much about upgrading their now unused phone in a hurry - this would have pushed the upgrade figure lower:
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles..._upgrades.html
As an Android owner of a Motorolla Droid (can't use AT&T where I live, so no iPhone), I can tell you why I updated quickly to 2.2 when it was released: because the phone syncs certain things wirelessly and wirelessly only, it pushes its software updates over the air. And I can tell you, when something like 2.2 is available, the message that it is available with the prompt to download keeps coming every couple of minutes until you finally agree to do it. Essentially, they pestered me with it - rendering the phone unusable until I clicked "Install Later" until I finally broke down and installed it within the hour. If I understand correctly, for the iOs, you need to sync the phone to iTunes. If you don't, which many people don't have to do so often, you will not be prompted to upgrade. I almost had no choice if I wanted to be able to use my phone.
Thanks for sharing.