Getting the newest version of Android to every handset cannot be easy. With multiple manufacturers creating phones for multiple carriers, it takes multiple builds to get it right for all handsets. That can get a little frustrating if you’re using an older version of Android and there is a newer version — or perhaps multiple newer versions — already available on other handsets. That seems to be changing for the better. According to a recent post on the Android Developers blog, Froyo is now on the majority of Android handsets. Android versions 1.5 and 1.6 are nearing obsolescence. The two distribution charts below are pretty neat. The first is the simple pie chart depicting the OS breakdown. Froyo is the most common at 51.8 percent, while Eclair is down to 35.2 percent. Just imagine if Froyo was out for the Galaxy S lines. That would certainly move the graph in Froyo’s favor. For Androids version 1.5 (4.7 percent) and 1.6 (7.9 percent), look at the bottom chart. They’re also being phased out. Chances are we’re not going to see upgrades for any of those devices, or the people using them are the type who are inclined to upgrade. In other words, they’ll stick around until they scrap the handsets.
What’s going to be really interesting is how this shapes up when the first quarter data is recorded. There figure to be a number of handsets released in the next three months, and they’ll probably run 2.3. A number other devices will get 2.3 upgrades, while the Galaxy S, if there is any sanity in this world, will get a 2.2 upgrade. The whole chart evolution figures to be interesting this year, too. If 2.1 isn’t the size of 1.5 at this time next year I’ll be floored.
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