android Google changes how it measures Android version adoption, sees uptick in Jel

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Google changes how it measures Android version adoption, sees uptick in Jelly Bean devices

Google routinely gives monthly numbers breaking out the adoption of various versions of Android, but the company has now changed the way it calculates those numbers ? providing a distinctly different portrait of the Android ecosystem in the process. As outlined on the Android Developers site, Google now uses the data collected when users visit the Google Play Store; under the previous system, any check-in to the store by the device would have been incorporated into the results, user-generated or not. The new system went into effect starting with this month's results.

The change essentially skews the results towards those users who are actively visiting the Play Store. Google says as much on the page itself, noting that the new system "more accurately reflects those users who are most engaged in the Android and Google Play ecosystem." To be fair, however, it is those same users that Android developers should arguably be focusing on in the first place, since they're more likely to discover or purchase an app.

Unsurprisingly, the new data collection tactic results in a landscape of Android users that are more current than what was described just one month ago. Jelly Bean accounts for 25 percent of the devices out there ? up from 16.5 percent in March's results. The other numbers saw less dramatic shifts; Ice Cream Sandwich was on 29.3 percent of devices in the new figures (up less than a percentage point from the prior month), while Gingerbread users dropped from 44.2 percent to 39.8 percent.

While adoption of new versions of Android has been on the rise ? last month Android 4 variants overtook Gingerbread for the first time? it's not clear whether the change in the Jelly Bean numbers here is sheer adoption, the change in the way the data is calculated, or a combination of both. Future numbers should provide additional insight, but one thing is certain: the days when the Android ecosystem was reliant on version 2.3 appear to finally be fading away.

Source: The Verge

[AlexMagik]

The sad part is actually the manufacturers that don't send much updates. the whole point of using android, except the sharing of an App store, was to be upgradeable by google as it's standard code. instead end up the same as a closed source OS that got stuck on that device until you trash and get a new one.

We could talk about rooting it, but the majority of the people don't even know what's that, nor they would even bother doing it, so it's not a real option.

[TheLegendOfMart]

It's great that Android is open source but its only hurting the OS in the long run, there are brand new phones being released today with low resolution, slow cpu and gpu, hardly any memory still running Gingerbread, I don't like closed platforms but there is something to be said about how Microsoft and Apple run things, their phones have a guaranteed level of performance and quality.

[thealexweb]

So now they are checking active users vs all users?

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

It's great that Android is open source but its only hurting the OS in the long run, there are brand new phones being released today with low resolution, slow cpu and gpu, hardly any memory still running Gingerbread, I don't like closed platforms but there is something to be said about how Microsoft and Apple run things, their phones have a guaranteed level of performance and quality.

And a nice price tag to boot (Apple anyway).

[fusi0n]

And a nice price tag to boot (Apple anyway).

True..

Look at the Nexus 4 from google.. Straight Android for only $300 =)

[Growled Member]

I've read that Google made this change for the developers.

[dead.cell]

The sad part is actually the manufacturers that don't send much updates. the whole point of using android, except the sharing of an App store, was to be upgradeable by google as it's standard code. instead end up the same as a closed source OS that got stuck on that device until you trash and get a new one.

We could talk about rooting it, but the majority of the people don't even know what's that, nor they would even bother doing it, so it's not a real option.

Still stuck with 4.0.4 thanks to Sprint on my GSII. Planning to root my phone but I barely have time for anything as it is. They promised an updated at the end of December, then pushed to February, then March... then LATE March. Now it's April lol...

I love Android and probably wouldn't switch to anything else, but this is friggin stupid.

[techbeck]

Still stuck with 4.0.4 thanks to Sprint on my GSII. Planning to root my phone but I barely have time for anything as it is. They promised an updated at the end of December, then pushed to February, then March... then LATE March. Now it's April lol...

I love Android and probably wouldn't switch to anything else, but this is friggin stupid.

Nexus devices. Always updated first.

[Growled Member]

Still stuck with 4.0.4 thanks to Sprint on my GSII. Planning to root my phone but I barely have time for anything as it is. They promised an updated at the end of December, then pushed to February, then March... then LATE March. Now it's April lol...

You get a few more features and such with 4.1 but for me it's wasn't that big of an upgrade. Got a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 running 4.1.2

[Sandor]

Still stuck with 4.0.4 thanks to Sprint on my GSII. Planning to root my phone but I barely have time for anything as it is. They promised an updated at the end of December, then pushed to February, then March... then LATE March. Now it's April lol...

I love Android and probably wouldn't switch to anything else, but this is friggin stupid.

HTC/Bell Canada have left my device on 4.0.3

Probably going to cut both the phone (and Bell) in the summer and buy a WP8 device outright.