And that fundamental difference leads to some advantages - More devices to choose from, cheaper hardware, side loading.
And some disadvantages - most users have an outdated operating system, and developers have to deal with fragmentation of OS versions and hardware platforms.
The fact that Apple can get its latest OS onto a majority of devices ignores nothing.
Apple can do this because of a strategy decision they made. Google cannot because they chose a different strategy that has different priorities.
If you want an ecosystem where users have up-to-date system software, Apple has chosen correctly.
Exactly. I just feel that some people look at the adoption rates and completely ignore the decisions that were made that allows Apple to achieve those numbers. At this stage in the game, and with the guiding principles of Android, achieving those numbers are impossible for Android. I just want people to understand that the comparison is more complex, for the exact reasons you've stated.
You seem to be saying that it's not valid to compare adoption rates simply because there are reasons behind the fragmentation. People on HN already know why Android is fragmented. It's just a statement of fact to compare the adoption rates of the two operating systems and the effect it has on developers and users.
Apple prioritized getting updates into the hands of customers. Google did not, since as you say their design decisions make what apple has achieved impossible for them.
That is the sole reason I chose iOS this time around is that the software is same across the board. Interoperability within apple ecosystem is bar none.
I like standard Android OS from google and I don't know why vendors try so hard to gimmickify standard Google UI. There are things that they should be able to do. But they should be there upon request, not by default and with no obvious way to opt out of crappola of vendor modifications.
They gimmickify it because they don't want to be just making commodity devices on Google's behalf. They want people to notice a difference between their handsets and others and to be deterred from switching to something that looks unfamiliar.
And some disadvantages - most users have an outdated operating system, and developers have to deal with fragmentation of OS versions and hardware platforms.
The fact that Apple can get its latest OS onto a majority of devices ignores nothing.
Apple can do this because of a strategy decision they made. Google cannot because they chose a different strategy that has different priorities.
If you want an ecosystem where users have up-to-date system software, Apple has chosen correctly.