The title is a bit mis-leading. Google MUST get on the ball with updates... as an Android user - I am not pleased with how updates are rolled out... scratch that, I'm VERY pissed OFF!
This sort of control DOESN'T effect the ability for openness or allowing other to root their own phones.
I just checked for updates on my OCT-2010 Samsung Galaxy. "No updates".
I bought this damn phone with Android 2.1, thinking 2.2 is out and should be available ANY time. Nope. at&t, nothing. Go to the Samsung website - NOTHING! Just their CRAPPY useless USB driver and sync software that DO NOT WORK. DOES NOT WORK!!
Where is 2.2 much less 2.3? It fixes the GPS glitch which has messed me up when going to other cities. It improves the battery life, I hope it improves the interface a bit. After using a friends WP7 phone - I would like to see something more like that... these TINY iphone close buttons are a bit too small. I only had 2 choices at that time, SONY with 1.6 (which has had 2.2 support for a while) or the Samsung with the better screen.
I just bought an iPad specifically because Samsungs / Google's issue with their ability to update. I plug the sucker in, and guess what - there is an OS update - it does its thing for a few minutes and that's it. I still hate iTunes and I kill that sucker from doing updates.
So yeah, Google needs to make some RULES: To use our FREE OS, YOU must #(^@#$ update your phones within XXX days or you're kicked out of the party.
If a company, like Samsung CANNOT do such a simple thing as providing me with updates directly and have software that works - they should get out of the phone business. (I love their monitors and TVs, a different division)
So I will have to ROOT my phone and install 2.2 or 2.3 myself. Thank you - Samsung for making it a shitty experience. What should be a single button press for a PHONE, requires me to do research, install various tools, hope I don't frack-up my phone or that at&t never cares because of crap support.
Google : Time to stop the launch-partners with new OS releases. Seriously, I bought an iPad1 (wish I could have gotten the iPad2 - but needed it now for business) because of the issues above. Its been a joy to work with compared to my own phone.
Google : Seriously - you guys need to overhaul the entire GUI for Android phones. I'd rather have bigger ICONS/buttons on the home screen (like 3x3) - I and others have made our main screens bare so we can easily click on WHAT we need the most. That is: Call / Contacts / Messaging / Camera / email / browser. Off by a bit on these tiny buttons - and you have to try again and again to make something happen. Make it a choice.
I don't like MS and WP7 is too restrictive for my needs, but I do love its interface. I can't say that about Android - but I'll deal with it. And that, is NOT good for business.