Programming for Android Fragmentation
June 3, 2013
Google’s open approach to its mobile OS has long vexed those who prefer consistency. Mixpanel addresses Google Android fragmentation in its “Data Snapshot: The Big, Fragmented World of Android.” The article analyzes but two of the several differences between Android devices. It explains:
“The fragmented world of Android means [developers] have to work harder to reach consumers on that platform. The combination of different versions of the OS, screen sizes, screen densities, and resolutions presents developers with a matrix of variables and they have to decide what they want to support, knowing that wide support has a direct trade off in increased development time.
“This Data Snapshot takes a quick look at Android fragmentation by two of these variables: Device Model and Screen Resolution. The consumer activity by version of the Android OS chart on Mixpanel Trends gives insight into fragmentation at OS version level.”
Though Samsung dominates the Android device field (producing eight of the top ten), model fragmentation is still a big issue; analysts found the vast majority of activity is spread across the devices below the top ten. As for screen resolution, a hefty 63 percent of Android activity takes place in the top three resolutions (480×800, 720×1280, and 320×480, in that order.) However, it should be noted that a total of 11 resolutions are represented.
These are just a couple examples of the differences developers must contend with across Android devices. Google supplies some guidelines on dealing with these deviations here and here.
Cynthia Murrell, June 03, 2013
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
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