Re:Two-year-old Nexus 4 issue status changed to obsolete
by danieldk on Thursday January 01, 2015 @09:03AM
(#8822931)
Sure, I expect my stereo, dishwasher, iron, dryer, electric shaver, alarm clock, and blender to work for more than two years. But how many of those devices would receive an update (or recall) to fix a bug that prevents the use of a single minor feature?
But we are not talking about such devices. We are talking about something that is nearly a general purpose computer and could have its software updated on millions of devices any time Google wants.
The problem is that there is an incentive for vendors to start ignoring devices when they are not sold anymore. First of all, it reduces maintenance costs. Secondly, it encourages people to buy a new device. However, one could question if this ethical in a time where there is scarcity and where we have to care for the environment. Especially for a device that is still perfectly capable (as I said in another comment, this is a device that is better spec'ed than the currently massively popular Moto G).
It's a bit unfair to pick on Google here, since they are at least providing Lollipop. There are many other two year-old phones that are still stuck on Jellybean. But I think that in general it is an issue that should concern us. I am hoping that at some point the EU will require vendors to provide at least security updates for some period (e.g. three years).
But we are not talking about such devices. We are talking about something that is nearly a general purpose computer and could have its software updated on millions of devices any time Google wants.
The problem is that there is an incentive for vendors to start ignoring devices when they are not sold anymore. First of all, it reduces maintenance costs. Secondly, it encourages people to buy a new device. However, one could question if this ethical in a time where there is scarcity and where we have to care for the environment. Especially for a device that is still perfectly capable (as I said in another comment, this is a device that is better spec'ed than the currently massively popular Moto G).
It's a bit unfair to pick on Google here, since they are at least providing Lollipop. There are many other two year-old phones that are still stuck on Jellybean. But I think that in general it is an issue that should concern us. I am hoping that at some point the EU will require vendors to provide at least security updates for some period (e.g. three years).