Tech Report: Google Takes Steps To Reduce Android Device Fragmentation

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) — CNET is reporting that Google is taking steps to reduce fragmentation on Android devices. It's been a real problem on both phones and tablets running the Android operating system, but there are a couple of different definitions of what exactly fragmentation is.

One of them is that there are typically multiple levels of operating systems out there. Google frequently updates Android, but it takes a while before carriers role out the new version, and until they do, people are stuck with the oldest version.

Some people have Jelly Bean, the newest version, while the older but more recent version is called Ice Cream Sandwich.

KCBS Tech Report:

Other issues include putting additional software on the device or even changing the interface. It sometimes frustrates me when I go back and forth between different Android devices and there are different icons. I find it annoying, but I don't think the average person changes phones as frequently as I do.

I think the idea is for handset makers and carriers to try to add value to their phones to try to distinguish them from all the other Android vendors, and while I can understand that from a marketing standpoint, I don't think that makes it easier from a user interface standpoint.

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