Look, downvotes, I know that all platforms eventually cut off older hardware. But with Android the inconsistency in support for the market and OS updates are a notable part of the fragmentation concern.
The fact that hardware under a year old has been cut off is a cause for concern. The fact that hardware is launching without the market and/or will be launching with third party market apps is a cause for concern. Device numbers are bandied about in the general sense -- x-gajillion devices per month! -- but no context is available as to how many of those can access the store or got the last OS update, let alone how many will get the latest. That's a cause for concern.
I'm not suggesting Android's a bad or flawed platform. I'm just not willing to pretend that it's all roses either.
We're honest when we say "Going iOS can make you a ton of money, but the gravy train is always a subjective-review away from coming to screeching halt."
So what exactly is wrong with pointing out that this fragmentation thing isn't something we can just hand-wave away?
Cause not developing for Android cause of non-Market accessing devices and the fact that some 10% of devices are below 2.1 is like not developing for Apple cause a certain number of people never update their phones and the looming app rejection. It is a real problem, but it is really kinda something you have to handwave away if you are going to be realistic about doing business on a platform.
Who said it was a reason to not develop? No-one's making that argument.
I'm arguing in favor of being realistic.
And part of that includes admitting that there are causes for concern. And because of them, you might invest efforts into an app only to find yourself in 2012 facing the most-popular android devices shipping with only a carrier- or manufacturer-specific markets installed by default, each with their own hoops.
And, no, even that situation won't be a blanket argument against developing for Android.
But it also won't mean fragmentation was something that is a non-issue so long as you have a good coder.
The fact that hardware under a year old has been cut off is a cause for concern. The fact that hardware is launching without the market and/or will be launching with third party market apps is a cause for concern. Device numbers are bandied about in the general sense -- x-gajillion devices per month! -- but no context is available as to how many of those can access the store or got the last OS update, let alone how many will get the latest. That's a cause for concern.
I'm not suggesting Android's a bad or flawed platform. I'm just not willing to pretend that it's all roses either.
We're honest when we say "Going iOS can make you a ton of money, but the gravy train is always a subjective-review away from coming to screeching halt."
So what exactly is wrong with pointing out that this fragmentation thing isn't something we can just hand-wave away?