Why the hell would Google promise seven years of updates?

Beyond the Alphabet(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)Beyond the Alphabet is a weekly column that focuses on the tech world each in and out of the confines of Mountain View.Apple just lately settled a category motion go well with in British Columbia, Canada, for slowing down older iPhone fashions with software program updates, a case that wasn’t all that totally different from the same lawsuit that was settled within the U.S. final summer time. However, it obtained me serious about how Google revealed that it might supply seven years of software program updates for the Pixel 8, and now I’m wondering if Google might finally go down the identical street as Apple.Without admitting something nefarious, Apple claimed this was being accomplished with units starting from the iPhone 6 as much as the iPhone XS Max. By slowing down sure fashions, Apple maintains that the purpose is to make sure that your gadget “operates as designed and internal components are protected.” Of course, Apple obtained its arms caught within the cookie jar, however I can not assist however really feel that historical past will repeat itself, simply on the Pixel aspect of issues.A number of of us have already written about what we take into consideration Google’s promised plans on the subject of Pixel software program updates. While I’m nonetheless a fan of the transfer and assume Google ought to’ve led the preliminary cost, I can not shake the concept that it does not actually matter in the long term, and this is why.(Image credit score: Statista)First, how many individuals truly preserve the identical telephone for seven years? A report by Statista printed in August 2023 revealed that the “average lifespan (replacement cycle length)” of smartphone possession is rather less than three years. And that is only for the patron aspect of issues, as the common drops even decrease for the enterprise market.Maybe Google was doing the correct factor all together with its three years of Android OS upgrades and 5 years of safety patches. Perhaps Google folded to the optics of Samsung and Apple providing longer software program assist for its units. Then once more, possibly not, and Google was simply ready to get its Tensor SoC in a “good place,” which appears to be the case with the Tensor G3.From the surface trying in, seeing an organization like Fairphone supply eight years of software program assist, paired with a five-year guarantee, does not look nice for Google, comparatively. The rapid counter to that is that Fairphone does not promote practically as many telephones because the Pixel, not to mention Samsung or Apple. Fairphone stands out from the pack, in additional methods than simply making their telephones simple to restore.This affords Fairphone a couple of luxuries when it comes to flexibility that even a large company like Google does not have in direction of a very area of interest viewers. Fairphone additionally serves a special subset of customers; those that desire a telephone that they will restore and do not have to fret about too many extra complications.The second level that I wished to the touch on is Android itself. Have we reached a state of software program stagnation? All of the “cool” and “new” options proven off at I/O for the previous few years have largely been boring, aside from the extra technical customers. The exception to this comes within the type of the assorted AI choices which might be being added.(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)Circle to Search is extremely helpful after I bear in mind it is there. Not to say the assorted digital camera options which might be making us query whether or not an image you are taking along with your telephone is definitely actual or not. Samsung even went the additional mile with its implementation of AI on the Galaxy S24 with issues like Live Translate, Chat Assist, and extra.But, outdoors of the Generative AI wallpapers paired with on-device theming, not a lot else has modified when it comes to what you are able to do on Android. Well, apart from Google slowly locking down AOSP and making a walled backyard of its personal.I’ve to marvel what Android will appear like seven years from now. Google is already locking options to sure units, which is sensible when evaluating the Pixel 7a and Pixel 8. However, it turns into a frustration when evaluating the Pixel Fold and Pixel 8 Pro.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)I haven’t got the technical acumen wanted to elucidate why these choices have been made. And it isn’t like Google is simply popping out and correctly telling everybody why. The entire charade makes me really feel as if that is simply the “new norm,” and letting individuals complain with out truly giving a crap.Maybe that is the purpose of all of it. Fundamentally talking, there actually is not a lot that must be modified in Android. It’s not excellent by any means, however the platform has form of peaked already. If you do not imagine me, simply attempt to discover the variations between Android 13 and Android 14. You will not discover many. Before you run to the feedback to inform me all about how none of this truly issues, that is the purpose. If it does not matter, why make an announcement? I imply, are you able to think about what would occur if the Galaxy S8 was operating One UI 6 with Android 14? It appears very doubtless that Android on the Pixel 8 in 2030 will most likely run like a steaming pile of TouchWiz. Nothing Google has accomplished has advised in any other case, apart from saying “Hey, look at us! We’re promising long software support,” with out actually telling us what which means.Not to say, there is a good probability that the very best telephones of 2024, doubtless will not have the ability to stand up to the pains of day by day life for eight years. If you want proof of that, simply take a look at what occurred to Namerah’s Pixel 6, or Nick’s Pixel 7 Pro.OnePlus appears to be the one firm not keen to observe Google, Samsung, and Apple.Kinder Liu, OnePlus president and COO, was just lately requested about why the OnePlus 12 was “only” getting 5 years of updates, as an alternative of following in Google’s and Samsung’s footsteps. Arguably, this single quote sums all the things up and places a little bit bow on my ideas:”Imagine your phone is a sandwich. Some manufacturers are now saying that the filling in their sandwich — their phone’s software — will still be good to eat in seven years’ time. But what they’re not telling you is that the bread in the sandwich — the user experience — might be moldy after four years. Suddenly a seven-year software update policy doesn’t matter, because the rest of your experience with the phone is terrible.”OnePlus is hardly the mannequin citizen on the subject of software program updates. But, I like the thought and unwillingness to “follow the trend” when it is apparent that it will not finish nicely for anybody.