Funny, the comment types here are the same as on Youtube:

  1. “I still run Android and it is totally fine, will never switch Android just got worse!”
  2. “Well, money”
  3. “Companies need to support phones longer”
  4. “I just use LineageOS on that device”
  5. Misinformation
  • MaggiWuerze
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    4 months ago

    But Googles decides, that that is possible. I fthey changed the structure to enforce a seperation there’s nothing that would keep Android updates from those devices. Put all hardware and device specific stuf in a seperate layer and have it accessible to the updatable system. And it’s not like these vendors have an alternative to go to

    • boredsquirrel@slrpnk.netOP
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      4 months ago

      Put all hardware and device specific stuf in a seperate layer

      Could you elaborate?

      Android uses Linux, a monolithic kernel. You cant just separate drivers.

      I also heard that OEMs write horrible drivers, which wouldnt work on a microkernel without maaajor porting issues.

      • MaggiWuerze
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        4 months ago

        And there are Linux distros with rolling releases, where the drivers stay where they are and the OS around them gets updated without issue. I’m sure the smart people at the Android team could do something similar

        • boredsquirrel@slrpnk.netOP
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          4 months ago

          The drivers are in the kernel, kept updated with every release. As I said, pixels at least boot with mainline kernel support, but the Android kernel is modded.

          And then manifacturer use out of tree drivers as core part of their kernel.

          • MaggiWuerze
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            4 months ago

            Yes I know the manufacturers do, but there’s no reason for the drivers to be replaced when the kernel is updated, you could hold them separately or reapply them after an update

            • boredsquirrel@slrpnk.netOP
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              4 months ago

              This doesnt always work as nonstable kernels (or even porting to a newer kernel) changes in their interface.

              Like, backportig patches to a 6 year or more old kernel is crazy! My 6a runs on 5.14 and that is a currently supported phone.