Past the Alphabet
Past the Alphabet is a weekly column that focuses on the tech world each in and out of the confines of Mountain View.
Apple just lately settled a category motion swimsuit in British Columbia, Canada, for slowing down older iPhone fashions with software program updates, a case that wasn’t all that completely different from an identical lawsuit that was settled within the U.S. final summer season. Nevertheless, it obtained me fascinated with how Google revealed that it might provide seven years of software program updates for the Pixel 8, and now I ponder if Google could ultimately go down the identical highway as Apple.
With out admitting something nefarious, Apple claimed this was being accomplished with gadgets starting from the iPhone 6 as much as the iPhone XS Max. By slowing down sure fashions, Apple maintains that the objective is to make sure that your system “operates as designed and inner parts are protected.” In fact, Apple obtained its fingers caught within the cookie jar, however I can not assist however really feel that historical past will repeat itself, simply on the Pixel facet of issues.
A number of of us have already written about what we take into consideration Google’s promised plans on the subject of Pixel software program updates. Whereas I am nonetheless a fan of the transfer and suppose Google ought to’ve led the preliminary cost, I can not shake the concept it does not actually matter in the long term, and this is why.
First, how many individuals really preserve the identical telephone for seven years? A report by Statista printed in August 2023 revealed that the “common lifespan (substitute cycle size)” of smartphone possession is rather less than three years. And that is only for the patron facet of issues, as the typical drops even decrease for the enterprise market.
Possibly Google was doing the correct factor all together with its three years of Android OS upgrades and 5 years of safety patches. Maybe Google folded to the optics of Samsung and Apple providing longer software program help for its gadgets. Then once more, possibly not, and Google was simply ready to get its Tensor SoC in a “good place,” which appears to be the case with the Tensor G3.
From the skin trying in, seeing an organization like Fairphone provide eight years of software program help, paired with a five-year guarantee, does not look nice for Google, comparatively. The fast counter to that is that Fairphone does not promote almost as many telephones because the Pixel, not to mention Samsung or Apple.
This affords Fairphone just a few luxuries by way of flexibility that even a large company like Google does not have in direction of a very area of interest viewers. Fairphone additionally serves a distinct subset of customers; those that need a telephone that they will restore and do not have to fret about too many extra complications.
The second level that I wished to the touch on is Android itself. Have we reached a state of software program stagnation? The entire “cool” and “new” options proven off at I/O for the previous few years have largely been boring, apart from the extra technical customers. The exception to this comes within the type of the varied AI choices which might be being added.
Circle to Search is extremely helpful after I keep in mind it is there. To not point out the varied digicam options which might be making us query whether or not an image you are taking together with your telephone is definitely actual or not. Samsung even went the additional mile with its implementation of AI on the Galaxy S24 with issues like Dwell Translate, Chat Help, and extra.
However, exterior of the Generative AI wallpapers paired with on-device theming, not a lot else has modified by way of what you are able to do on Android. Nicely, apart from Google slowly locking down AOSP and making a walled backyard of its personal.
I’ve to marvel what Android will seem like seven years from now. Google is already locking options to sure gadgets, which is sensible when evaluating the Pixel 7a and Pixel 8. Nevertheless, it turns into a frustration when evaluating the Pixel Fold and Pixel 8 Professional.
I haven’t got the technical acumen wanted to clarify why these choices have been made. And it is not like Google is simply popping out and correctly telling everybody why. The entire charade makes me really feel as if that is simply the “new norm,” and letting individuals complain with out really giving a crap.
Possibly that is the purpose of all of it. Essentially talking, there actually is not a lot that must be modified in Android. It is not excellent by any means, however the platform has form of peaked already. In the event you do not consider me, simply try to discover the variations between Android 13 and Android 14. You will not discover many.
Earlier than you run to the feedback to inform me all about how none of this really issues, that is the purpose. If it does not matter, why make an announcement? I imply, are you able to think about what would occur if the Galaxy S8 was working One UI 6 with Android 14? It appears very seemingly that Android on the Pixel 8 in 2030 will in all probability run like a steaming pile of TouchWiz.
Nothing Google has accomplished has steered in any other case, apart from saying “Hey, take a look at us! We’re promising lengthy software program help,” with out actually telling us what which means.
To not point out, there is a good likelihood that one of the best telephones of 2024, seemingly will not be capable of stand up to the trials of each day life for eight years. In the event you want proof of that, simply take a look at what occurred to Namerah’s Pixel 6, or Nick’s Pixel 7 Professional.
Kinder Liu, OnePlus president and COO, was just lately requested about why the OnePlus 12 was “solely” getting 5 years of updates, as a substitute of following in Google’s and Samsung’s footsteps.
Arguably, this single quote sums all the things up and places somewhat bow on my ideas:
“Think about your telephone is a sandwich. Some producers at the moment are saying that the filling of their sandwich — their telephone’s software program — will nonetheless be good to eat in seven years’ time. However what they are not telling you is that the bread within the sandwich — the consumer expertise — is likely to be moldy after 4 years. Abruptly a seven-year software program replace coverage does not matter, as a result of the remainder of your expertise with the telephone is horrible.”
OnePlus is hardly the mannequin citizen on the subject of software program updates. However, I like the thought and unwillingness to “observe the pattern” when it is apparent that it will not finish nicely for anybody.