Android for SAPS

[Vince]

WHAT ABOUT CHROMEBOOKS?

Ask typical folks for the names of today's home computer giants, and many will tell you "Apple" and "Microsoft." But they need to include "Google".

As the owners and operators of Android, Google is the world's #1 operating system. Their Chrome browser is the most popular internet browser. Their Google search engine gets almost 90% of all internet searches. And they have one of the leadership positions in building high-end smart phones.

And, Oh, Yeah, Google owns the Chrome operating system. Its approximate 2 1/2% of internet use........Well, Yeah, it is owned and operated by Google.

 

[Vince]

Ten years ago, Chromebooks "expired" five years after the date of manufacture--NOT FIVE YEARS AFTER THE DATE OF PURCHASE. They still worked, but you no longer got upgrades. And Walmart was having a sale on budget Chromebooks that were two years old, so I bought one.

The speed at which it started was amazing--you opened the lid and you were online. The kids loved how well it streamed live soccer games, and there were several good free games. After three years, though, it expired. It still worked fine, but I no longer received upgrades.

Another five years have passed, and it still surfs the web with no problems. But it began deleting my games until I had none left. It won't let me download anything. The battery lasts less than a minute, so I have to plug it in when I use it.

On the other hand, how many Windows computers still go online after eight years of use?

 

[Vince]

Today's Chromebooks expire ten years after manufacture, instead of only five. And they can run many Android apps. And they cost much less than Windows and Apple laptops. And, through a slightly complicated process, they can usually use Windows printers.

They are often used by school systems that require all students to buy a Chromebook that gives them access to textbooks. And they are beloved by technophobic people who want to keep in touch through e-mail without having to learn how to operate a computer. Plus, you don't have to deal with a bunch of wires connected to the back.

My advice? If ALL you want to do is surf the web, a Chromebook is probably your best choice.

 

[Vince]

HEARD ANY GOOD RUMORS LATELY?

It's usually done the same way:

At a technology conference, two employees will be talking to a small group, far away from the stage. One of them asks the other what secret projects the company is working on. The second one briefly discusses some major top-secret project. It gets onto the forums, giving the company free publicity. The "leak" is staged, most of them are false, and the rest are exaggerated.

Folks, they've been doing that for decades.

Today's hottest rumor: A short time ago, one Google executive asked another, in front of a small group, what was their company secretly working on. The second one said that Google is working on a new operating system that will blend Android and Chrome, and then it will be able to run on phones and laptops.

So, now you know. Actually, you don't.

 

[Vince]

What are some good, free Android sites you can visit?

ALL of the most successful technology magazines and internet sites are heavy with descriptions of the hottest, most expensive, new products, but they sometimes include useful articles. Be aware when reading these sites that top-of-the-line expensive smart phones do little that middle of the road phones won't do.

My favorite is Android Central, and #2 is Android Police. There are a lot of other good sites, and if you prefer any, feel free to post about them here.

 

[Vince]

What direction are prices going?

Decades ago, desktop computers steadily increased in power while decreasing in price. When laptops had dropped to around $1,000 US, manufacturers desperately kept adding more features to hold the prices up, but eventually off-brand companies broke the price barrier.

Smart phones have not been so fortunate. While power has increased, the most expensive models have increased in price, while middle-of-the-road phones stayed about the same.

But cheap, high-quality Chinese phones are bringing the prices down. The more money you spend on a smart phone today, the more likely you are to see better ones come along at a lower price before your phone wears out.

 

[Vince]

This information comes courtesy of Microsoft:

Here are some facts about Android :

Android's creator is Andy Rubin.

Android Inc. developed Android operating system and Google bought it in 2005, with a huge amount of $50 million.

Prior to Google, an offer was given to Samsung to buy Android Inc. but they find Android uninteresting and reject the offer.

Initially, Android was developed as an operating system for digital cameras but later on, it focuses on Smart Phones.

Currently, more than 2 billion smart devices use Google Android OS as their operating system.

The sale of Android devices is more than the combined sale of Microsoft Windows, iOS, and Mac OS devices.

Microsoft earns around $2 billion yearly in patent royalties, from the sale of Android devices.

 

[SailorWriter]

But as for home computers--By its very nature, Linux cannot run complex programs. Linux games are about equal to 1990's Windows games. And while Linux enthusiasts constantly invent new programs, Windows usually has better ones that were invented decades ago.

Back in the day it was the case, proven how people have to do many insane hoops and loops with their Linux distro to play a simple game that runs well on Windows. Nowadays, with the help of Wine, Proton, and Valve, nowadays you can play almost all games as long they don't have kernel level anti-cheat systems or totally unable to play on other OSes.

 

[Vince]

This just in:

Google lost another court case yesterday, as the US government claims that Google is violating anti-monopoly laws in the way it runs the Google Play Store.

A federal court had ruled that Google must ease restrictions on vendors who want to sell their apps on the Play Store. Google currently charges a 30% commission on anything these vendors sell, raising the price so that users are more likely to buy Google apps. Google has stalled emplacement of government regulations by appealing different aspects of the court's decision.

Yesterday, a federal US court ruled that Google must begin allowing customers who purchase non-Google apps to pay the vendors directly, instead of paying Google. This will lower prices and also allow buyers to establish accounts with vendors other than Google. The order must be implemented within the next couple of weeks, and the courts have refused to grant Google a delay while it appeals.

 

[Vince]

Well, Folks, I've run out of important things to say. I'll still post occasionally, and anyone with a courteous idea is welcome to post as well.

Thank you for sticking with me.

 

[Vince]

Welcome back! I can't believe this scam is still in operation!

Decades ago, when RAM chips were expensive and low-powered, con artists sold software that "maximized" your RAM. The programs simply helped you shut down unnecessary background apps, thus freeing up RAM for other uses. Windows allowed you to do the same thing for free.

The scam improved to "Download Free RAM!", which is physically impossible. One site falsely claimed that it would teach your computer's memory to do what RAM chips do. Many were practical jokes, and some installed malware on your computer.

And then, last night, while researching Android, I discovered ads for installing free RAM on your smartphone.

No, you cannot download free RAM onto your smartphone. Yes, you can maximize your smartphone RAM by shutting down unnecessary apps running in the background.

 

[Vince]

Microsoft recently ended support for Windows 10, and the world hasn't collapsed yet. One Linux distro claims over 100,000 downloads in the first two days, but I can't verify that.

But does this also happen to Android? Does Google give free upgrades to the next operating system, or do you have to pay for the upgrade? Do your security updates cease after a while?

We'll be combining "Artificial Intelligence," "Tips on how to buy a cell phone," and "Who Really Controls Android?" in order to answer these questions.

 

[Vince]

You have to understand that Microsoft (which owns and operates Windows) has a vast internet communications set-up. They are able to send upgrades to vast numbers of computers, sell programs and apps online, and help their customers with support. They support Windows operating systems for ten years AFTER THE OPERATING SYSTEM COMOES OUT, not for ten years after the date of purchase. As a flexible operating system designed for a very wide variety of manufacturers, with a very wide variety of hardware, Windows is usually able to do this.

Android, however, is not as flexible as Windows. And Google (which owns and operates Android) does not have a communications system as vast as Microsoft does.

 

[Vince]

It is a major event when a new Windows operating system comes out, with plenty of free news media publicity. And, most of these new systems are major improvements over the current OS.

But Android's new operating systems aren't that big of a deal. Their improvements do exist, but a common complaint is that nothing really changed. Google tries to release a new OS every year, and the news gets little free publicity outside of technology websites.

And while you need a license from Microsoft to manufacture a Windows device, and Apple does not allow its OS on any device Apple itself didn't manufacture, anyone who wants to manufacture a device for the free Android system can do so.

Now, add it the fact that Android is not as flexible as Windows, and what do you get? A new OS that Android is unable to send out to its customers.

 

[Vince]

Because Google cannot control manufacturers of Android devices, and because Android is not as flexible as Windows, Google CANNOT send out upgrades to Android.

So, it doesn't.

Google sends its new operating systems, and its security upgrades, to the manufacturers and lets them do whatever they want.

Because they know what's going on, Google is pretty good at sending upgrades to its own line of high-quality phones. Samsung comes in second place, sending four years of upgrades to its high-end phones, and two or less to its low-end phones. Motorola has sent out a few upgrades. Walmart has sent out a few security upgrades to its ONN devices, but has never sent out an operating system upgrade. Most low-cost off-brand manufacturers never send out any upgrades at all.

And because the manufacturers don't have a vast internet presence, some upgrades don't arrive until nine months have passed.

 

[Vince]

HOW TO DEAL WITH ANDROID UPGRADES

Before you buy any device, you need to ask yourself "What do I want to do?"

Here in Mexico, I can't get license plates or file my US income tax online, unless I own a cellphone. So, I bought a cheap smartphone, and it does what I want.

I was surprised to learn that the kids at the orphanages where I volunteer LOVE playing games on my smart phone (I play a few, but I prefer Windows), so I bought a cheap Android tablet, and the kids think it is great.

Why do I need an upgrade? BEFORE you buy any device, research it on the web, and then buy what you need. If you buy what you currently need, then you won't need an upgrade.

Tomorrow: AI botches a rescue!

 

[Vince]

This is a very loose definition of AI:

It remembers what you tell it, and it adds information from the internet without your permission. Then it analyzes your situation (without your permission) and gives you advice without being asked. And if you do ask for specific advice, it searches the web faster than you can and actually gives good advice--most of the time.

Don't be repelled by Microsoft's past failures to create friends (such as Clippy and Microsoft Bob) who had less ability than you do--they weren't AI.

I told Co-Pilot (the AI on Windows 11) the types of devices I have, and it actually has given me good advice, as well as providing me better information than I could have found as quickly. And then it gave me unasked for advice on changing my buying habits for devices...

 

[Vince]

Co-Pilot told me that I should buy a smartphone in the $400 range, explaining that this is the very bottom of mid-range smartphones. It also told me that in the US, the smartphone I had bought costs around $80.

So, if I spent five times as much, would the $400 phone:
1) Last five times as long? No
2) Remain as up-to-date as a cheap smartphone that I would buy every couple of years? No
3) Provide me necessary services that my cheap phone doesn't already supply? No

Co-Pilot gets its information from searching the web, and the information it provided is bad. That's why I'm writing this series.

That's all for now, Folks! I'll see you later if I find anything else worth writing about.