14 DAY TRIAL // Google's Android operating system, the fastest growing mobile platform currently on the market, has some big problems with fragmentation due to a number of four OS versions running on devices at the moment. Yet, it seems that the Mountain View-based company aims at solving this with future Android flavors, namely Froyo and Gingerbread. While users now enjoy either Android 1.5, 1.6, 2.0 or 2.1, depending on the carrier, the manufacturer or the market they live in, things are set to change in the future, offering all Android phone owners out there the possibility to enjoy the same features on their handsets.
According to a recent article on Engadget, the move towards addressing the fragmentation issues in Android is set to begin with the roll-out of the next major platform version, Froyo, and will continue with the release of the Gingerbread flavor. How exactly Google is set to solve the problem seems to be quite simple. Basically, it will take many Android standard app and components off the core and offer them for download via the Android Market, in a manner similar to the way in which the Google Maps and new updates for it are available.
“In all likelihood, this process will take place over two major Android versions, starting with Froyo and continuing through Gingerbread. Notice that we said apps and components, meaning that some core elements of Android -- input methods, for instance -- should get this treatment. This way, just because Google rolls out an awesome new browser doesn't mean you need to wait for HTC, Samsung, or whomever made your phone to roll it into a firmware update, and for your carrier to approve it -- almost all of the juicy user-facing stuff will happen through the Market,” Engadget notes.
At the same time, the news site says that there are great chances that Android may finally reach its development maturity as soon as Froyo is here, something that will mark a switch of focus towards applications and features. Moreover, this means that there will be fewer major releases from Google, something that will also eliminate the situation in which manufacturers cannot keep up with the newer versions of Android. However, how Google will put these plans into practice still remains to be seen, so keep an eye on this space for more.