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Slashdot Asks: Would You Pay For Android Updates? (theverge.com)
It's no secret that most Android OEMs could do better when it comes to seeding out updates for their existing devices. A report on Bloomberg earlier this week claimed that Google plans to publicly name and shame the OEMs who are too slow at updating their devices. An HTC executive who didn't want to be identified told Slashdot on Thursday that it is not the right way to approach the problem. But that's only one part of the problem. The other issue is that almost every Android OEM partner -- including Google itself -- only provides support to their devices for 18-24 months. Vlad Savov of The Verge in a column today urges Android OEMs to perhaps charge its users if that is what it takes for them to offer support to their devices for a longer period of time and in a timely manner. He writes: I've been one of the many people dissatisfied with the state of Android software updates, however I can't in good conscience direct my wrath at the people manufacturing the devices. Price and spec competition is so intense right now that there's literally no option to disengage: everyone's been sucked into the whirlpool of razor-thin profit margins, and nobody can afford the luxury of dedicating too many resources to after-sales care. The question that's been bugging me lately is, if we value Android updates as highly as we say we do, why don't we pay for them? The situation can't be fixed by manufacturers -- most of them are barely breaking even -- or by Google, which is doing its best to improve things but ultimately relies on carriers and device makers to get the job done. Carriers will most certainly not be the solution, given how they presently constitute most of the problem (just ask AT&T Galaxy S6 owners) -- so like it or not, the best chance for substantial change comes from us, the users. What I'm proposing is a simple crowdfunding operation. I'm skeptical about this, because I don't think it is in an OEM's best interest to serve its existing users for long -- how else they will convince customers to purchase their new devices? A newer software version is after all one of the ultimate selling points of a new phone. So I don't think an OEM will take up on such an offer. What do you folks think?
Considering I actively try to avoid the free ones, probably not.
Even Microsoft can make an OS that doesn't require the manufacturer's blessing to install updates. Google needs to fix the OS, not the OEMS.
"I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
QA takes money, and Android devices are sold with basically no margin. How are you going to pay for that team?
Answer: you aren't.
Apple's QA team has enough problems with its limited set of updates and devices, and Apple has a huge pile of money and presumably decent processes. Any android manufacturer would find it impossible to handle multiple update streams on multiple hardware platforms.
and get free updates. Thanks
In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
"only provides support to their devices for 18-24 months"
The problem is, in that 18-24 month period manufacturers aren't even updating their devices. Let's solve that problem first before we start talking about paying for longer term updates. And no, paying for an update while a device is still well within it's support window is not something I would do.
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Then, and only then, would I be willing to pay a reasonable (for me, not the money-grabbing vendor) for Android updates.
I already do pay for upgrades - they're called "new phones" in Android-world.
OS updates are security issue. Users cannot really apply updates to devices so manufacturers should be required by law to support and update devices for as long as the device exists.
Sure the manufacturer would really be better off selling you a new one. If they issued no updates you would have to buy a new device every month or three.
Look at car recalls, the same standard should be set for support of devices. If there is a system issue and a security update is needed the manufacture should be required to provide it no matter how old the device is. Shame on them for not making is safe/secure in the first place.
Also to avoid false fronts there should be a mandatory bond for 5 years of support should the "manufacturer" disappear. The bond price will be very low for real manufacturers.
Do the telecommunications companies need yet another reason to add a fee onto my bill? Doesn't my paying for this phone line and data plan already cover the insignificant (at scale) cost of testing and releasing the android system updates when they are published? Or maybe the phone company lied to me when I bought this phone, took my money, paid bonuses and provided raises to the already wealthy and overpaid execs? Bait and switch seems to be the business model for telecommunications companies in the US. We are always sold one thing, then when it isn't delivered it's not because they didn't get tax breaks or charge an exorbitant fee for the service, but they kept the profits and now need to raise prices to deliver half of what was originally promised.
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"I've been one of the many people dissatisfied with the state of auto industry recalls, however I can't in good conscience direct my wrath at the people manufacturing the devices. Price and spec competition is so intense right now that there's literally no option to disengage: everyone's been sucked into the whirlpool of razor-thin profit margins, and nobody can afford the luxury of dedicating too many resources to after-sales care. The question that's been bugging me lately is, if we value airbag recalls as highly as we say we do, why don't we pay for them? The situation can't be fixed by manufacturers -- most of them are barely breaking even -- or by Takata, which is doing its best to improve things but ultimately relies on automakers to get the job done. Dealers will most certainly not be the solution, given how they presently constitute most of the problem -- so like it or not, the best chance for substantial change comes from us, the drivers. What I'm proposing is a simple crowdfunding operation."
Support Right To Repair Legislation.
I realize that the logiphobic are going to have a problem with what I'm about to write, so if you have an aversion to logic and reason just skip to the next post.
Hopefully the kids in Hockey helmets are gone now.
Upgrading does not fix security holes, it replaces them. I have been working in IT Security for over 30 years and I have never seen an update that magically fixes everything. I have seen plenty that fix a particular problem but expose another, and sometimes more than one. Risk mitigation is the name of the game, and not doing everything you are told can be quite productive.
If you never connect to public wifi you don't have the same risk footprint as someone who does. If you don't use your phones web browser why do you need it patched exactly? Believe it or not, plenty of people use their smartphone as a phone and ignore the smart. Good for them by the way.
Fear mongering works on the weak minded, but there are people who don't fit that description.
-The wise argue that there are few absolutes, the fool argues that there are no probabilities.