In an interview with Mercury News Silicon Valley Magazine, the Google Developer Andy said Rubin on the update interval of Smartphone and NetBook operating system Android. Less common and at the same time more comprehensive versions work is to facilitate the device developers.

So far, new versions of Android in intervals of a few months saw the light of day. So was published most recently on 20 may “Froyo” (2.2), after in October last year, as well as on 12 January this year, which were provided under the name “Eclair” Guided Update 2.0 and 2.1. Between Android 1.1 of February 2009, and four different versions – “Froyo” total exist so those six.

For the next autumn, “Gingerbread” – to German there is also: gingerbread – in the wings. Thus the support to entering next to the new Linux kernel 2.6.33 or 2.6.34 the largely open operating system for Google’s video codec WebM.

Google determines the rhythm, the Smartphone manufacturer but can not keep the beat and dancing out of line: while you immediately can get the latest versions of Android the hotel’s own nexus one, this is not possible to other manufacturers on the basis of various adjustments. To complement including HTC, Sony Ericsson and Samsung the operating system on their devices to Alternatively designed surfaces, additional widgets or even in addition pre-installed applications. This must be associated with each major update of Android developers up to date.

Above all the customers of HTC and Sony Ericsson can testify to what impact this has. Several updates have been promised since autumn last year buyers of smartphones HTC hero, that so far none has been made available. Current rumors predicting an Eclair update in June or July. Sony Ericsson has recently brought even a based on Android 1.6 device with the own “UX” experience on the market with the Xperia X 10, an upgrade to Android 2.1 – not 2.2 or 2.3 at all – is provided for in the fourth quarter of 2010. The Motorola backflip in April puts even on Android 1.5 plus the developer interface Motoblur, while one already already has brought the in the fall of 2009 launched slider called milestone by giving up this Add-On to the (relatively) current state.

Android extension “HTC sense” against pure “Google aesthetics”

Andy Rubin takes in said conversation however manufacturers in protection and most of the blame on himself and his team: “For the developers, it’s hard to keep up.” “I would like to support the progress, not that they must prophesy innovations.”

Therefore, we would like to extend the interval for Android updates in the future. Currently, a cycle of six months was appropriate, soon this could be also in the annual rhythm, as Rubin. This could happen as soon as “The things which have reassured”. The rapid sequence of publications is due to the somewhat premature launch of androids. “To be honest: the product, which we published at the time, felt not like a 1.0 version of, but as a 0.8″. To eradicate problems and missing features to complement short-term updates were needed.