JackNo matter where you look online on the topic of version fragmentation in Android, you'll always get people talking about how it's such a big issue that most Android devices aren't on the latest version. It isn't.
The reason devices in 2015 are still running Gingerbread isn't because of Google's lack of resolve, it's the manufacturer. People have to understand that it isn't Google's job to update phones that they don't create. If people buy a dodgy, $20 phone from Walmart and expect it to be updated consistently, they're delusional. Those who blame Google insist that they should keep a firm grip on their OS upgrades, often times comparing them to Apple's high adoption rates of the newest iOS. There is one key difference here. All iOS devices are owned and manufactured by Apple.
When an upgrade to Android is released by Google, there is many steps it must go through to reach your phone. If your phone has a custom skin over Android such as Samsung's Touchwiz or HTC's Sense, that manufacturer must adapt their skin to work over the new version, as well as bug test. Once it's confirmed to work, if you buy your phone from your carrier, the carrier will distribute the updates instead of the manufacturer. This creates an even bigger delay. (See: Your 'Free' Smartphone Isn't Free, and Why You Should Buy Unlocked.)
In Google's defense, it is trying to get a hold on various parts of the OS so it can upgrade them without going through the manufacturer or carrier. Google is achieving this by separating key elements of Android from the core OS, and making them separate apps that can be updated through the Google Play Store. Examples of this include Google Keyboard and Google Now Launcher.
If you want a phone that is updated consistently, get one that is promised that. Google's own Nexus line is always the first to get the latest and greatest Android versions, because Google makes them. Major flagships from Samsung, HTC, and LG are almost always updated for up to two years. The point is, it isn't Google's problem that manufacturers aren't updating their devices.
I think the title misrepresents the article a small bit: I think fragmentation is a problem from a security perspective. However, I do fully agree, it's not Google's fault, and people should also consider phones such as the Moto G or Moto E if they cannot afford a high-end flagship to get timely updates. Otherwise, I think Google made the right choice making almost all of the elements of the OS updatable in the Play Store. Never will an iOS user see "Apple's Stock Calandar needs an update" from the Apple Store as a notification.
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