Support for older devices - 1: 0 in favor of iOS

Disputes on iOS and Android systems are often based on a basic analysis of the market share. This is useful not only for ordinary citizens, but also for analysts that this approach greatly simplifies the process of comparing the competing platforms. But the market share - that is only one side of the issue.

A more detailed analysis of the benefits and popularity of each platform should take into account other indicators, such as the new version of the OS functionality on older devices. It is in this respect far ahead of iOS Android.

Located on the lower chart shows the extent to which continues to support iOS iPhone model, previously released in different years. For sharp contrast, note that many of today's Android-device hit the shelves with versions of the OS, which at the time of sale have time to become obsolete for a generation.

Moreover, if some model two years ago, it will be installed on the system -2-generation All Android-devices have begun to produce (with respect to the most recent version of "Android"). And if a particular model devaysa first went on sale three years ago, then it is almost guaranteed to be a system of 3-or 4-th generation.

Very different things from iPhone. For example, the launch of 3GS models was held in June 2009, but it remains compatible with all iOS versions followed, until iOS 7, which was published this summer. The bottom line is that when you purchase ayfon you can be sure that for a few more years on your device will work function and improve future versions of iOS (at least partially). On similar benefits offered by smartphones Apple, Android-devices, for its part, simply have nothing to offer.

Company Fidlee did some research on this subject, taking for analysis 16 iOS- and Android-smartphone, and at the same time pointed out a few interesting facts:

• None of the 16 devices was discontinued by a year after its launch.
• Six of the 16 units have never worked on the current version of Android.
• Four of the 16 units are no longer download updates in less than a year after its launch.
• All 12 units have ceased to receive updates two years after issue (excluding the first four devaysa, which receive updates in the future is planned).
• During the two-year contract for all 15 devices (except Nexus 4, which in the two-year "marathon" is still left to live 11 months) were produced at least one major update.
• During the two-year contract for 13 of the 15 units were produced at least two major updates.
• During the one-year contract for eight of the 16 units were produced at least two major updates. Galaxy Nexus lasted to the current version of Android the longest - 1 year and 10 months.

Functions, features and functions again - this results in a mad ecstasy of a whole category of Android users. But it is this feature at the same time makes it almost impossible to translate the existing user base at the latest and a more functional version of the system. And this is still a problem including through mobile operators, under whose brands are produced technically outdated devices that do not receive the proper software support, and are not physically able to work on new versions of the software software.

Meantime, Apple has no equal in the ability to quickly translate the vast majority of its users to the latest version of iOS. For example, only on iOS 7 September passed more than 50% of the owners ah devices.

It is noteworthy that this study was conducted in October 2011, and since then things have iOS and Android have not changed.

— The material TUAW.