Reddit details plans for official Android app, beta sign-ups start today
Reddit today posted plans to launch its own official native Android app. Reddit earlier acquired Alien Blue, naming it as Reddit’s first official app, but it’s unfortunately exclusive to iOS users.
In addition to announcing plans for an Android app, Reddit is allowing users to sign-up and express their interest in beta testing the new application today. The first sign-up stage will last until December 18, and just a couple of thousand people will be hand-picked to help test the official app when beta launches in just a couple of months.
Here’s the official word from Reddit’s Product Manager:
“As many of you know, the team here has been working hard to bring our official native Reddit app to Android for a while now. Now that we’re getting close to having something to share, we’d love to invite some redditors to participate in the beta to provide us with feedback and help identify those nasty bugs so we can squash them before wide release..”
Reddit is looking to launch the official beta in just a couple of months and will no doubt open it up for more users soon. Reddit has over 200 million monthly active users, and simply can’t invite them all to the beta because, well, it’s a beta, and things in beta tend to be extremely unstable.
For users that sign-up for the beta, a private subreddit will be opened where feedback and suggestions can be expressed.
source: Reddit, Reddit (Sign-up link)
Come comment on this article: Reddit details plans for official Android app, beta sign-ups start today
Final climate change deal keeps emissions in check, if it sticks
After weeks of work, the United Nations is on the cusp of reaching a deal to prevent climate change… hopefully. A just-published final draft agreement sets some clear targets that include a hefty amount of cooperation. The deal would limit the global temperature increase to “well below” 2 Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and reach a balance in greenhouse gas emissions (that is, as many offsets as there are emitters) by the second half of this century. There would be a progress review every five years, and developing countries would get a helping hand to the tune of $100 billion per year as of 2020.
They’re significant goals, and they’re likely to please island nations that face the threat of flooding as sea levels rise. However, this is assuming that the 195 countries involved both vote in favor of the deal and hold up their end of the bargain. You see, the pact isn’t completely binding. That’s a concession to make sure the deal flies in countries like the US (where the political right would block any mandatory deal), but a blow to anyone who wanted guaranteed progress. As it stands, there’s an exception for China, one of the biggest polluters — it had already set an emissions target for 2030, and won’t have to revisit its goals until 2020.
There’s also the question of whether or not the targets go far enough. While the under-2C temperature objective is meaningful, there’s a concern that increases above 1.5C could still lead to catastrophic changes in some parts of the world. And let’s face it, that mid-century emissions target is distant — a lot could happen in 35 years. The document may prevent the worst, but it may be far from ideal.
[Image credit: Chesnot/Getty Images]
Via: BBC
Source: United Nations
Swatch is piling up the patents
Swatch may not be the first vendor that comes to mind when thinking about wearables, but happens to own a large sum of patents related to the technology.
Bloomberg believes that Swatch owns 173 patents all in which relate to wearable technology. These include a variety of concept designs such as one’s with proximity sensors and data-transmitting batteries. Sources believe that the company is well capable of producing its own smartwatches unlike competitors who rely on others for sensors and parts.
Owning all these patents could eventually help Swatch significantly because of other manufacturers who will seek to incorporate their ideas into their own wearable devices. This has been well proven in the case of smartphones. It’s only a matter of time before the wearable market picks up. With that said, Swatch may be able to pick up some rightfully won cash from rivals down the road.
Source: Bloomberg
Come comment on this article: Swatch is piling up the patents
Best of Android 2015: Camera
What is Best of Android?
In Best of Android, we take the hottest devices of the moment and compare them in-depth. For this first edition, we picked up the following Android flagships:
- Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
- Nexus 6P
- Motorola Moto X Force
- Samsung Galaxy Note 5
- LG V10
- BlackBerry Priv
What about the Galaxy S6 or the HTC One M9 or the OnePlus 2, you ask. Those are all great phones. But, to keep this comparison manageable, we selected only the phones we feel are the most representative for the ecosystem right now.
Read more about Best of Android. Thanks for being a part of Android Authority!
The next section in our Best of Android 2015 series, where we put the latest and greatest Android phones through a series of tough tests, is our camera shootout. For a recap, we have the Blackberry Priv, LG V10, Galaxy Note 5, Moto X Force (Droid Turbo 2), Nexus 6P and the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium at hand, and we took them out for a spin around London’s Southbank to put the handsets through a selection of lighting environments and shooting scenarios.
Photography results can be pretty subjective, so we sent the pictures around the office for everyone to vote on their favorites. There are some split opinions on some and consensus on others, but in the end we have been left with a clear winner.
A quick note on the pictures before we jump in. Each of the phones was left on their default settings, but we made sure to set each phone to Auto HDR, with the exception of the Z5 Premium which has Auto HDR always on. We also shot each of the pictures in a 4:3 aspect ratio because for some reason a 16:9 option was missing on the BlackBerry Priv until a recent update, which didn’t come in until after our tests. Manual modes were not used, this is an “out of the box” test.
Daylight Shots
With that out of the way, let’s take a look at the pictures. Starting from top left, we have Z5 Premium, and moving right, we have Nexus 6P, Moto X Force, then on the bottom left we have LG V10, then right we have Note 5, then finally on bottom right we have the BlackBerry Priv.
#gallery-1
margin: auto;
#gallery-1 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%;
#gallery-1 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-1 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
We’ll start off with some daytime shots on a typically English overcast day, which offers a tough challenge for our phones to balance the bright skies with darker details on the ground. Right off the bat there’s a notable blue tint to the LG V10, Nexus 6P and Z5 Premium’s images, while the Priv, Moto X Force, and Note 5 have a warmer tone. There’s certainly no lack of detail in any of the pictures, but the Note 5 and X Force seem to produce the brightest results from this scene.
#gallery-2
margin: auto;
#gallery-2 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%;
#gallery-2 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-2 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
Moving on to a different picture in similar lighting conditions, we can see some softening on the images produced by the Moto X Force and Xperia Z5 Premium, although the Premium’s colors really do pop in this picture. A closer look at the Note 5 reveals some sharpening on the building details that is considerably stronger than on other phones.
The best looking results come from the LG V10, Priv and Nexus 6P, but each seems to have judged the picture worthy of slightly different exposures. The V10 loses some detail in the brighter clouds, while the Priv is perhaps a little too dark and is slightly off with the color temperature. The Nexus 6P produces a good all-round result, with details and exposure holding up well in the clouds, the foreground and background, without any distracting noise or sharpening.
#gallery-3
margin: auto;
#gallery-3 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%;
#gallery-3 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-3 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
With a close up focal point, we picked the “International Brigade” plaque, and we can again see each phone exposing the pictures quite differently and overexposure in the background is a key thing to look out for here.
The Z5 Premium is the standout phone in this regard, managing to retain detail and color in the clouds and background trees. However, the subject is lacking some detail. The Moto X Force performs reasonably well, but the image is very soft, verging on blurry as soon as we look beyond the plaque.
The Note 5 seems to have again over sharpened the image to try and bring out foreground detail, but this worsens the look of the background and both it and the Nexus 6P struggle with the bright sky. The LG V10 produces a lot more detail on the statue than these phones without the sharpening problems. The Priv also offers excellent detail, albeit with a very different color tone to the picture, but the Priv’s results are quite impressive.
#gallery-4
margin: auto;
#gallery-4 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%;
#gallery-4 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-4 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
For our fourth daylight shot we are trying to capture the distant detail of Big Ben across the river. The Priv really isn’t as clear this time around, there’s a distinct lack of focus when we crop down the image for a closer look. The Moto X Force is sharp and contains some additional detail over the LG V10. The foreground and sky color is lovely with the Xperia Z5 Premium, but Big Ben, our focal point, just seems a tad less detailed than with the Moto X Force. You can see this more clearly in the cropped images below.
#gallery-5
margin: auto;
#gallery-5 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%;
#gallery-5 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-5 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
The Note 5’s sharpening is better in this picture, although perhaps it’s still a little heavy, and there’s still a notable warm color shift. The Nexus 6P offers up some finer detail thanks to its sharpening, and has a better color balance and nice exposure.
#gallery-6
margin: auto;
#gallery-6 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%;
#gallery-6 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-6 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
A modern camera shootout wouldn’t be complete without a selfie and we aren’t surprised to see that these front facing sensors can’t keep up with the main rear cameras.
The Moto X Force is incredibly blurry, while the Priv and the Premium have this fuzzy noisy look about them and highly overexposed backgrounds. Here the 6P is better, but also suffers from an overly bright background.
This leaves us with the V10 and the Note 5, which are far better exposed. However, the Note 5 seems to have added some bizarre skin softening “make-up” effect which just looks weird, leaving the V10 as the winner, despite not quite offering optimal detail.
Lowlight Shots
Low light is where small smartphone camera sensors have historically struggled. We’ll be keeping a keen eye out for decent exposure and low noise in the next series of tests.
#gallery-7
margin: auto;
#gallery-7 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%;
#gallery-7 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-7 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
Our first low light test reveals a considerably darker picture with the BlackBerry Priv than all the others, followed by the Z5 Premium. The Moto X Force and Note 5 look ok, although don’t quite offer up the full color and details we can see in some of the other pictures, with the latter looking oddly foggy compared with the rest. The LG V10 and Nexus 6P are the best performers in this shot, with excellent colors, but the detail and depth on the wooden floor captured by the 6P really is a cut above the field.
The next set of shots are quite tricky as there are several light sources, lots of color and the sky in the background to try to balance correctly. We took this shot twice, first with the darker background bush as the focal point and then again by selecting the four foreground lights.
#gallery-8
margin: auto;
#gallery-8 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%;
#gallery-8 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-8 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
Beginning with the lights as the focal point, we can see that the Xperia Z5 struggles with the exposure, resulting in too much bloom from the lights. The Moto X Force suffers from the same problem, although not quite to the same extent, and we see some slight blurring on closer inspection. The Galaxy Note 5 performs better, but again we see a warm color tint and some very distracting sharpening on the leaves behind the lights, which really ruins the depth of the picture. The Priv handles the lighting much better but the picture is too dark, washing out much of the color. The crops below provide a closer look.
#gallery-9
margin: auto;
#gallery-9 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%;
#gallery-9 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-9 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
Again the LG V10 and the Nexus 6P are the top two performers in this low light shot, with the V10 providing excellent detail, colors and just the right amount of sharpening. However, the Nexus 6P offers up an even better exposure, which may be a little darker but still retains an incredible amount of detail and contrast.
#gallery-10
margin: auto;
#gallery-10 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%;
#gallery-10 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-10 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
Taking the picture with the focal point on the dark spot behind the lights sees many of the cameras correctly adjust their exposures. However, the Z5 Premium and the Moto X Force produce much the same result as when focusing directly on the light source.
The results here are much closer, but there are similar trends as before. The Priv looks a little washed out, while the Z5 Premium again seems to struggle to hit the right exposure. Here the V10 could use a bit more contrast, while the Moto X Force’s picture is perhaps a little too dark. The Nexus 6P again shows the best detail and contrast out of the bunch.
#gallery-11
margin: auto;
#gallery-11 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%;
#gallery-11 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-11 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
We have another tough test for our handsets with this very dark night shot of a carousel. The movement of the carousel is a real test of our camera’s ability to quickly capture light in these night shots and again it’s the Nexus 6P which comes out ahead, this time by quite a way, with the Note 5 probably coming the closest to matching it.
The Z5 Premium and Moto X Force produce much softer results with this moving shot, while the LG V10 seems to suffer from some major flare from the lights. The Priv really isn’t bad, but has overexposed the main light source a little.
#gallery-12
margin: auto;
#gallery-12 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%;
#gallery-12 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-12 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
It was starting to get a little chilly by this point, so we had a sit down by a fire and decided to see how well each phone could capture color and movement. There’s quite a difference in how the phones have lit the picture, with the Priv a little on the dark side and the Note 5 really washing out the colors. It’s tough to call due to the motion in the image, but the Nexus 6P seems to offer up the most detail without too much exposure and blurring of the flames.
#gallery-13
margin: auto;
#gallery-13 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%;
#gallery-13 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-13 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
Here’s another picture with plenty of different light sources, so keep an eye out for flare and focus. This time around, the Nexus 6P is not the best performer, as its lack of image stabilization leads to some notable blurring across the light sources and even in the foreground. The Moto X Force produces a similarly softened result in the lower half of the picture, while the Note 5’s orange tint crops up yet again and there’s notable flare on the right too.
The Xperia Z5 Premium and BlackBerry Priv do an excellent job of taming all those light sources. Both produce some nice colors in the sky, but are perhaps a little too dark and there is some very noticeable noise in the Priv’s sky. The LG V10 produces a warmer, brighter picture and there is the least amount of noise present across the image and plenty of detail in the lower half.
#gallery-14
margin: auto;
#gallery-14 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%;
#gallery-14 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-14 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
A longer distance lowlight shot shows off what the Xperia Z5 Premium and BlackBerry Priv are capable of, given the right conditions. The sky, colors and lights stand out on both these phones and the Z5 Premium boasts some excellent contrast and sharpness. The tree in the Moto X Force and Nexus 6P shots is less well defined, while the Note 5 sharpening filter has completely taken over in this one. The V10 just looks washed out by comparison.
#gallery-15
margin: auto;
#gallery-15 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%;
#gallery-15 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-15 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
Moving on to some closer shots we are looking to see how clearly the wording comes out from this sign. The BlackBerry Priv comes through very clearly, as does the Galaxy Note 5. The only notably poor performer here is the V10, which doesn’t seem to have quite focused the image properly, despite boasting laser autofocus technology.
#gallery-16
margin: auto;
#gallery-16 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%;
#gallery-16 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-16 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
With even less light it’s the Note 5 that manages to bring out the most detail, while the BlackBerry’s image becomes much darker. The Nexus 6P also made the most of this very dim environment, but there’s some notable lens flare, which also appears with the Z5 Premium, the Moto X Force and especially the LG V10.
#gallery-17
margin: auto;
#gallery-17 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%;
#gallery-17 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-17 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
To wrap up our extensive selection of lowlight pictures, here are some longer distance building shots. The trends that we’ve spotted in previous picture remain the theme here, with the Moto X Force really struggling to focus with the distant light sources. The Nexus 6P and Z5 Premium are the noisiest of the remaining phones, but it’s between the 6P and Note 5 for the best detail in the distance.
#gallery-18
margin: auto;
#gallery-18 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%;
#gallery-18 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-18 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
Interestingly, the Nexus 6P and LG V10 both produced darker pictures when focusing on this bright light source in the distance. However, this does allow the two, the 6P in particular, to actually pick out the minute details inside the store. An impressive feat given the distance and lighting environment. The Note 5 sits somewhere in between the two exposure extremes.
#gallery-19
margin: auto;
#gallery-19 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%;
#gallery-19 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-19 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
We haven’t neglected the front facing cameras in our low light test. We have another adorable set of selfies for you, which sees a number of the front facing cameras really struggle in this scenario. The Priv is just awful with very little detail and the V10, Z5 and Note 5 all offer up smudged looking images.
The Moto X Force does better in this test, although there is some noticeable noise in the darks. The Nexus 6P knocks this one out of the park, with superior detail, no blur and all round good lighting.
Panorama Mode
If you’re into your landscapes, then you’ll probably be interested in Panorama mode performance too. We a shot across the Thames in both daylight and lowlight environments, with the rippling water and moving boats providing a real test for the software’s stitching algorithms.
#gallery-20
margin: auto;
#gallery-20 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%;
#gallery-20 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-20 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
In daylight, the 6P offers a good balance of color and exposure, although you can spot a slight stitching error on the railing on the bottom right. The V10 also performs well, although the image is a little darker and there’s a seam on the water too. The Galaxy Note 5 offers up some nice warm colors and distant detail, and is definitely the most well balanced picture.
The Xperia Z5 Premium’s Panorama Mode is very blurry, likely down to the movement of the camera. The Priv has a different problem, as the image appears warped and bent, and there’s a misalignment on the right hand bridge. The Moto X Force has the most obvious software issues though, as there’s a strange series of lines streaking down the picture and the resolution is very poor.
#gallery-21
margin: auto;
#gallery-21 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%;
#gallery-21 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-21 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
In the lowlight pictures, the Moto X Force is an even worse performer, with notable blurring across the image. But it’s the Z5 Premium that completely falls apart here, producing major smearing that is quite ridiculous. This wasn’t a one off fluke either. The Priv is much better, but also shows some smudging on the left and is far too dark.
The Note 5, V10 and 6P are the best performers. Image quality holds up reasonably well across all three and they even handle the distant lights quite well. The Nexus 6P is definitely the brightest and clearest image, but this comes at the expense of some heavy noise in the clouds.
Wrap up
You probably won’t be surprised to hear that the Android Authority staff tally awards the best camera to the Nexus 6P. It offers a very competitive daylight performance, but it really shines in low light pictures thanks to its HDR+ capabilities. The software does an excellent job at piecing multiple exposures together and adds just the right touch of post processing to bring out some superb detail.
The Galaxy Note 5 came in second place, followed very closely by the LG V10. Both of these handsets put in consistently good performances across the majority of our tests, but just couldn’t keep up with the 6P’s low light results. That said, any of these three smartphones are a sure to see you capturing some great looking snaps.
Best of Android 2015
Don’t miss:
Tomorrow we will be taking a look at the user experience offered by our six contenders. Come back on December 13 at 10AM EST for Best of Android 2015: UX!
Credits
Post by Rob Triggs Video by: Krystal Lora
Series Contributors: Rob Triggs, Gary Sims, Lanh Nguyen, Joe Hindy, Krystal Lora
Series Editors: Nirave Gondhia, Bogdan Petrovan, Andrew Grush
Become a beta tester for Reddit’s official Android app
Reddit announced yesterday that it has been developing an official native Android app for its massive online community, and they want your help in building it.
A post made by “ahiggz”, who is the Product Manager for native mobile at Reddit, shares little to no detail about the upcoming Android app. However, it does include a link where you can sign up for the private beta. The sign up form asks users questions regarding their frequency of usage, whether they’ve accessed Reddit on mobile before, etc. According to the post, the motive behind asking these questions is to have different types of users in the private beta, to be able to draw more accurate conclusions and better develop the app.
See also: Pixel C team fields Reddit’s questions, fails to answer the important ones
The post clearly states that signing up for the private beta does not guarantee a seat. Reddit has 200 million monthly active users, whereas the private beta will only accommodate a few thousand, at least for the first round. A private subreddit will be opened and shared with all the users who get selected as beta testers for the Android app.
Reddit users took to comments to express their woes as many fear that the company might shut down their open API. That would undoubtedly lead to the death of all 3rd party Reddit apps for Android. Speaking of which, some of the better Reddit apps are Reddit is Fun, Now for Reddit, Reddit Sync, and the list goes on.
Are you an active Redditor? Which app do you use to access Reddit from your Android device? Let us know in the comments below!
Android 6.0 broke the system clock for some users, Android 6.0.1 fixes it
Did you by any chance notice that your Android device’s clock started running slower and got out-of-sync? Chances are that you missed it. Chances are that you aren’t running Android 6.0 Marshmallow on your Android device. But in case you are, the good news is that the new Android 6.0.1 update, pushed out earlier this week, appears to fix the system clock sync bug.
If you hit the source link, you’ll find that many users have reported facing this issue. In fact, there are over 450 responses to the thread, which was originally opened on October 13. Since the device clocks were going out of sync after upgrading to Android 6.0, users could no longer rely on their phones for alarms, event or meeting reminders, and other similar activities.
Read Next: Android 6.0.1 adds power button camera shortcut and next alarm DND mode
It’s not like the time drift is 1 or 2 minutes, but it stretches to 15 minutes after just 12 hours of receiving an OTA. The time drift keeps on increasing, and in case you don’t notice it, you might just end up missing a few meetings.
A temporary solution to fix the time drift is to switch your networks from 4G to 3G, forcing the device to sync with the network time. Alternatively, one can reboot their phone and the device will automatically fetch the network time after starting up.
Do let us know if this fix works for you. Otherwise, you’ll just have to wait until you receive the Android 6.0.1 OTA notification.
Food for thought: Does the average user care about Android versions? Should they?
Cupcake. Donut. Eclair. Frozen Yogurt. Gingerbread. Honeycomb. Ice Cream Sandwich. Jelly Bean. Kit Kat. Lollipop. Marshmallow. This isn’t a litany of looks Derek Zoolander is going to unveil on the silver screen next year. Google fans know these are the tasty treats Mountain View has chosen to name its major Android builds after. The question, however, is just who else knows this.
Android fans typically express outrage and disgust upon learning their device in question (1) isn’t being updated, (2) is going to have to wait for an update, (3) isn’t the first to be updated, or (4) hasn’t had an update announced period. This makes perfect sense given that the tech-savvy often make an active effort to stay on top of the latest developments and releases. They actively check sites like Android Authority, or many others, to stay informed and educated.
On the other hand, the general public, the mass majority who comprise the vast totality of Android users, don’t really pay attention to these things, assuming they even know or care about them period. While some might look down on such perceived “ignorance”, remember that not everyone can be, or is good at everything, nor do they necessarily want to be. It’s important to respect these individuals for what they are, as they provide the core constituency of end users, and it is for them that companies ultimately make mass-scale products.
In this piece, we will attempt to define what the “mainstream” consumer is, examine why they don’t care about things like OS updates, and try to find a half-way point to rectify the situation.
The “mainstream” tech user
Customers at a Beijing Samsung Store.
For the purposes of this piece, a sample profile of the average, unassuming mainstream tech user has been created. Five different categories have been established:
Device Knowledge Customers who actively purchase products from a set company know which device they have. Customers who look for “the cheapest” product or “the newest” or “the best deal” often do not know the name of the product, or even who makes it, as they are only interested in superlatives from within the entire spectrum.
Software Knowledge The average customer has no idea what software version their product is running, or many times, that their product can be updated period. Unless there is a visible reminder constantly nagging or else an automatic process involved, most people don’t evenn know how to update their phone, tablet, or computer.
Feature Knowledge The average customer isn’t aware of the vast array of software or hardware features included in their device. To this day I encounter people who don’t know their iPhone has TouchID, or at times even Siri. Given the supreme simplicity of Apple products, the prospects of advanced Android knowledge is even less likely.
Rooting and Modding Knowledge The average customer has no clue whatsoever about rooting a phone. They don’t know what it is or how to do it. In the event they have heard of such feats before, they are likely to be unaware of what the process itself entails and why one might do it.
Product Knowledge The average customer does not follow product release cycles and therefore is most likely to be unaware of a pending launch. Typically this type of consumer will be seen purchasing a device when their own personal situation dictates it (i.e. their current one breaks) and react in surprise should they learn that the same company has already announced a follow-up to their new purchase.
Granted any individual’s position on the spectrum of tech knowledge may vary, suffice to say that if you make it a point to ask random people on the street, family, or even friends that aren’t “in the know”, chances are you will arrive at a profile similar to that which has been described above.
To given an illustration of the type of user being discussed here, consider the following scenario: Person X wishes to create a widget on their device’s Home screen. Not knowing how to do so, they proceed to ask someone. Despite how simplistic this task might sound to some, ask a random person “How do you put a widget on an Android home screen?” and a puzzled look may be the only response.
On the other side of the fence…
Hop on any random Android form however, and there will be rampant discussion about flashing ROM X or asking for Build Y to solve problem Z. Just a quick stroll into an XDA Developers form is probably enough to scare the heck out of a casual user. (Heck, even a Google search for “How do I put a widget on the home screen?” is too much for some to take in). Clearly some people know their stuff, and they know it often times, at expert levels.
Just looking at some of the feedback and comments we get on features like “How to enable Developer Options” or “How to clear the search history in the Google Play Store” is proof positive that what one might feel is intrinsic, basic common sense, another person will be totally absorbed and appreciative of teaching them something inherently new.
Does this imply there is something wrong with either side? No, not at all. Obviously tech-oriented people will typically be more familiar with certain things, and those that only see devices and hardware as utilitarian purposes to fit their needs will never need to know how to flash something using ODIN.
The important thing, however, is to keep our expectations in check. When people rant and rage about their product not getting the latest Android version, it can come across as somewhat one-sided. If a Company A or Carrier B don’t have a specific need to update their devices to Marshmallow for example, and they know full well that 99% of the customer using the product won’t even be aware of such a decision in the first place, why would they make the effort? Granted the remaining piece of the pie will be as angry as a hornet, but “dems the breaks.”
Security Protocol
While the idea of having the latest build of Android might be a prerequisite for some user’s happiness, it is often the security aspects that create a more tangible, pressing need to have an update. With problems like the Stagefright exploit making major headlines around the world, everyone is united in their fears and feelings for fixing. For better or worse, however, Google has inadvertently broken the bridge.
In recent months, Google has introduced a monthly Android security patch update for Android devices. This patch is separate from the actual AOSP build itself, and Samsung’s recent decision to make a note of it spells the problem out quite clearly: Suddenly it doesn’t matter if a device is running Marshmallow or Ice Cream Sandwich so long as their device can receive the security patch.
While this is most certainly a good thing in terms of keeping devices secure and safe, it ironically means carriers and OEMs are under even less pressure to update their devices beyond these monthly patches. No longer is it an issue of “we need Android X.Y to solve this security problem” and indeed the manner in which Google itself has orchestrated these patches period seems to reflect the very update problem itself.
What does it mean…
At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that while we may have a passion for all things Android, the mainstream customer isn’t so inclined. To many, phones and tablets are just tools by which they can accomplish basic tasks such as placing telephone calls, browsing the web, checking social media, watching movies, and listening to music. These types are not interested in custom mods, are not interested in disassembling their phone for sport, are not interested in flashing Nightlies, are not interested in who makes their phone, and least of all not interested in which Android version they are running.
How to approach the problem
While it’s certainly possible a customer can be made aware of any of the issues listed above, or ones not for that matter, it’s safe to say their life will probably not be affected in any way, shape, or form, if they lack such knowledge. While trying to force tech insight or knowledge down their proverbial throats might never work, it is perhaps all of the “informed’s” duty to promote the most basic concepts of OS updates. It is very similar to the manner in which politicians break down complex issues so that every day people can see how it might affect them.
“The Marshmallow update will help you better manage privacy and control over your own phone” sounds better than “Marshmallow will finally allow granular app permissions.” Likewise, “You should check for updates and download them to make sure your phone is always running the best it can.” sounds a lot more understandable than “You need this update patch because it will fix a software bug that would previously drain the battery while the phone is in sleep mode.”
We hear you
Do keep in mind however, that we understand your frustrations with carrier crap and OEM-related uncertainties. It is frustrating when a relatively new device is suddenly put out to pasture, and all those who purchased it are instantly deemed irrelevant in terms of future updates. It is annoying when it takes months and months to put out a single version change while some have been using it from the first month.
We would like to hear your thoughts on this issue. Arguably, the general public does not understand or care about Android updates. They might feel confused as to why we are upset, or why companies aren’t living up to the expectations customers have about such things. To this end, we have created two surveys we invite you to take. After that, please share your comments or criticisms in the comments section below!
(function ()
var opst = document.createElement(‘script’);
var os_host = document.location.protocol == “https:” ? “https:” : “http:”;
opst.type = ‘text/javascript’;
opst.async = true;
opst.src = os_host + ‘//’ + ‘www.opinionstage.com/polls/2315642/embed.js’;
(document.getElementsByTagName(‘head’)[0] ());
(function ()
var opst = document.createElement(‘script’);
var os_host = document.location.protocol == “https:” ? “https:” : “http:”;
opst.type = ‘text/javascript’;
opst.async = true;
opst.src = os_host + ‘//’ + ‘www.opinionstage.com/polls/2315644/embed.js’;
(document.getElementsByTagName(‘head’)[0] ());
Ben Heck’s DIY Novena laptop
Felix and Ben meet up with Bunnie and Sean, the creators of the open source computing platform, Novena! With the Novena laptop kit, Ben and Felix begin setting up and building an open source laptop with Linux, FPGA and any other hacks and hardware they can think of adding. You can discuss your thoughts on the Novena laptop build and what you would do with it, with the team on the element14 community.
ICYMI: Smartphone picture printer, AR app for all and more
Today on In Case You Missed It: A case designed to print the pictures that normally just stay on your smartphone is out, just in time for Christmas. Researchers at MIT are doing their best to connect all the smart appliances and gadgets within your home for easy control with a clever app called Reality Editor. And Tokyo’s police are forming an anti-drone squad that will use large UAVs with nets to capture smaller drones.
If you’re catching up on the week’s headlines, definitely don’t miss the research about using periods over text message.
If you see any interesting science or tech videos, please share with us! Just tweet us with the #ICYMI hashtag to @mskerryd.
Recommended Reading: The story of ‘The Father of Video Games’
Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology and more in print and on the web. Some weeks, you’ll also find short reviews of books that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read.
How a WWII Refugee Became the Father of Video Games
Arthur Molella, Slate
If you’ve read up on video game history, you know that Ralph Baer widely regarded as “The Father of Video Games.” What you may not know is Baer was a World War II refugee who came to the US in 1938. He fled persecution with his family before bringing games to our television screens decades later.
|
Google and Facebook Race to Solve the Ancient Game of Go With AI Image and pattern recognition isn’t the only thing AI is good at. |
Multiplayer-Only Games Shouldn’t Cost $60 If you don’t think multiplayer-only games aren’t worth the same as their campaign-based counterparts, you’re not a lone. |
[Image credit: Kris Connor/ Getty Images]
AIVAnet 