Multiple features of Android split

By Andreas Constantinou from Visionmobile.com

| Translation of Echokou, Lordhong school. For more information, see the ifanr.com translation link. The article is from http://www.ifanr.com/42619.

There are many discussions about Android split, but few analyses mention the significance and impact of split.

In terms of definition, the API is not the best way to observe the split phenomenon, but the best way is the application. Let's take a look at the top 10 thousand apps (free and charged) in the Android Market. How many of them support all Android models?

For Google's Android team, splitting left them sleep all night. Splitting weakens the considerable application market, increases development costs, and may eventually become the most important factor that negatively affects developers.

Google's CTS (compatibility test specification) is expected to ensure that apps on the Android Market can run on every Android phone. The Android mobile phone must pass the CTS test to obtain the permission to use the private program code, as well as the right to use the trademark Market and Android. Android Market and Android are closely controlled by Google.
) That's right. Google will control the partner's changes to Android and addiction technology articles.
The statement is different.

Three sides of Android split

Many observers regard the emergence of split as an open source (APL2) Authorization attached to the Android public source code.
Result. In fact, the problem is more complicated. Android is split on three sides.

1. Codebase split.
With the permission of APL2, few companies use open Android Codebase. Google is too new (five important versions are available in 12 months, to keep up with the pace of Google's updates, we will have to pay a lot of money (the way Nokia splits Webkit is difficult, and I regret it later ).

China Mobile outsourced Android development to Borqs, a software company, and gave birth to a major branch of Android codebase. China Mobile is not very concerned about whether it can keep up with the latest features of the Android system. However, cheap fake mobile phones in China occupy a major market.

Mobile phone chip company Mediatek (Mediatek) uses 2-0.3 billion mobile phones each year. They intend to include Android in the Plan, which means another major branch. Cyanogen
And GeeksPhone
It is also the branch of the open codeline for Android, but it is targeted at the niche market-a small number of senior Android enthusiasts who know technology.

2. Split the release version.
Google released 5 major upgrades (1.5, 1.6, 2.0, 2.1, and the latest 2.2) in 12 months ). Every time a major function is updated, there are usually API changes. Compared with applications on the Android Market, apps on the 1.6 Mobile Phone are different from those on the 2.1 mobile phone. The forward compatibility is not good. The split of Release versions is the result of Google's rapid innovation. Andy Rubin also hinted that more important versions will be released in the next six months. For young and flexible Internet companies, this is a signal to let them know how to develop software better with time lag, the major Symbian version upgrade cycle is 12-18 months.

Due to the lack of automatic upgrade mechanism like the iPhone, the split problem of version release becomes abnormal. We call this phenomenon "runtime aging", which directly increases the development cost of applications. First-level network operators see that their Android mobile phones are running browsers that have been outdated for 1 to 6 years. This is also tricky for mobile content and software development companies.

Google also reported that Android users use mobile phones 1.5, 1.6, and 2.1 separately (at least for mobile phones using the Android Market ). The report for April middle May 2010 is as follows:

The split of the released version also appeared on the OEM Partner with Google. Google selects which OEMs can use private and private code based on business standards (and Michael Gartenberg
). Sony Ericsson's X10 (running Android 1.6) market time is later than Nexus One (Android 2.1.

3. Product Type Split
. Android is designed for smartphones with certain shipments. However, his arrival time is very suitable-the iPhone has just been released, and consumer electronics companies are studying how to develop interconnected devices. This has brought two unexpected effects to Google:

-All level-1 operators and many level-2 operators have taken a fancy to Android, hoping to develop similar iPhone devices at a lower cost and higher differentiation, which means that the operator is growing in Android (2008-2010) when they invest money, they want to use Android phones to provide high-end features at the price of smartphones.

-More than a dozen consumer electronics manufacturers now produce Android devices, from on-board systems to set-top boxes to tablets, and even DECT cordless phones and digital photo frames. The Archos Network Flat is just the beginning. The above devices have different requirements for the system and the platform specifications are also different.

The opportunity for Android to enter the market determines that its split implies two points:

First, Android codebase is not suitable for devices in the mass market (think about ARM 9 or ARM 11,200-500 MHz ). To enter the public market (more than 0.1 billion units per year), Google needs a second type of product to support the public's Android devices. This is "22 military rules (self-conflict)". As the second product to enter the mass market, it will also break the Android development model.

Second, each platform designed for different product types (vehicle-mounted, set-top box, and tablet) will generate different APIs, which are difficult to manage. This is also Google TV initiative.
And open Embedded Software Foundation (OESF)
Cause. However, even Google cannot quickly coordinate or manage dozens of different Android products and different hardware specifications.

In short, Android split will become more serious, hindering its own development. But are you willing to see the same (single codebase) application on your TV, phone, and car?

As a result, tool vendors have the opportunity to build bridges between each Split Version by providing porting tools, compatibility testing tools, and sdks. What do you think about splitting? Are there any feelings and stories about splitting? Please share with us.

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