Just read the news that Google is planning to introduce Android 5.0 (Jelly Bean) in the third quarter of 2012, and while it is good to see Google developing and improving Android OS continuously; with majority of the phones yet to receive update for Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and only a handful of devices being sold with 4.0, one has to wonder, whether it is at all needed or warranted?
Because let’s face it, there is little to no point in releasing newer OS versions in the market, when the only ones seem to be running it are those buying the flagship Android cobranded phone or those installing custom ROMs on their devices, thereby losing warranty.
I believe, before anything else, Google needs to come out with its own update system, whereby Android users have the ability to update to newer version of Android, irrespective of the fact, whether or not their mobile phone manufacturer has released a model specific update and thus need not bother with a long winded technical process to run the latest Android version on their mobile phone.
Which also kinds of brings me to me pet peeve, uninstall able Android Apps from the mobile phone manufacturers, which serve little to no purpose and cannot be uninstalled, despite the fact that they are trivial or trial version which have expired and are now just hogging the memory.
Of course some might argue that such an update process may lead to Android being “less open”, but at the end of the day, it has to be Google’s responsibility and endeavor to ensure that end users get to see, feel and appreciate the improvements, Android Development Team has been working so hard on.
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