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Google's Android Now Powers More Than 2 Billion Devices (cnet.com)

Posted by msmash on from the aggressive-expansion dept.

At Google's developer conference IO 2017, CEO Sundar Pichai said Android is now running on more than two billion active devices. The milestone, Pichai said, Google achieved this month. CNET adds: It took three years for Android to double its user base, having disclosed that it had 1 billion active devices at its developer conference in 2014. In 2015, Google said that it had 1.4 billion active users on Android. While phones make up a bulk of its devices, it's starting to see a proliferation of other gadgets running on the software.

11 of 30 comments (clear)

  1. Google IO 2017 Keynote by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 2

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

  2. Google needs to step it up on the updates by DeplorableCodeMonkey · · Score: 2

    Now is the time not just for modularization, but for the big Android players to tell the carriers that the era of them deciding when OS updates get to devices is over. It would be really, really bad PR for Verizon or AT&T to be seen fighting a party composed of Google, Samsung, LG and Motorola over what amounts to "we demand the right to help our users maintain the phones you sell them." They'd fold pretty quickly because T-Mobile would immediately declare itself on the side of the Android vendors because John Legere would never miss such a golden PR moment to stick his boot up the ass of his competition.

    1. Re:Google needs to step it up on the updates by known_coward_69 · · Score: 1

      It's not going to happen because Apple has to go through the same carrier certification and not after what Apple did to AT&T all those years ago with buggy iphones polling the network all the time.

      But when the day comes when all the android makers stop relying on the carriers for retail and warranty services, you might get your wish.

    2. Re:Google needs to step it up on the updates by TheRaven64 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      It's convenient to blame the carriers, but I've owned three android devices (two phones, one tablet), all of which I've bought directly from the manufacturer. All three were different manufacturers (Motorola, HTC, and Asus) and not a single one of them received security updates either in a timely fashion or for anything approaching the lifetime of the device.

      The problem is that there are no incentives. If you buy an iPhone, the same company responsible for pushing the updates takes a cut of all app store revenue. If a phone stops being able to run the latests apps, then their revenue from that user drops. If you buy an Android phone, the company that has to pay the cost of providing the updates just makes it easier for Google to make money from that customer. Worse, if your Android device stops getting updates then you'll probably buy a new Android device, so they have an incentive not to provide updates.

      --
      I am TheRaven on Soylent News
    3. Re:Google needs to step it up on the updates by SeaFox · · Score: 1

      Now is the time not just for modularization, but for the big Android players to tell the carriers that the era of them deciding when OS updates get to devices is over.

      You think it's the carriers that are holding updates back? I'm sure it's also the "big Android players" you're talking about -- trying to get people to upgrade their handsets to inflate their quarterly sales numbers.

    4. Re:Google needs to step it up on the updates by jezwel · · Score: 1

      I received an update to my Samsung Galaxy S5 in the last week. That handset was released 3 years ago. Either your providers are not bothering to pass on updates, or the manufacturer isn't releasing updates.
      In your case it sounds like the manufacturer is at fault - so good work telling us which ones to avoid!

  3. Arguing by ArhcAngel · · Score: 1

    And half of them are housed in a warehouse arguing with each other over which one of them is a robot.

    --
    "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K
  4. Powers? by yodleboy · · Score: 1

    That's interesting, when I pulled the battery out of my Android phone just now, it failed to power up. I can't even google for a solution now.

  5. Java still has them beat by MonteCarloMethod · · Score: 3, Funny

    Java has been running on 3 billion devices seemingly since its inception. Android finally got to 2B?

    1. Re:Java still has them beat by nult · · Score: 1

      HA! I was waiting for a java joke!

  6. Re:Better headline by uM0p+ap!sdn+ · · Score: 1

    only 28%, i'll take it !!

    windows 10 takes the rest of the 72%