What's wrong with Android?

Until Android can solve these fragmentation/upgrade issues, it will continue to fall behind. [Link]

When I decided to start this program, there were no Android tablets to consider apart from the Dell Streak 5. The Streak 5 shipped with Android 1.6, got an update to 2.2 at the end of 2010 and was discontinued in August 2011. By contrast the iPad 1 shipped with iOS 3.2, got an update to iOS 4 in November 2010 and then iOS 5 in October 2011. It's still supported for security and functionality updates in the iOS 5.x line. Even if iOS 6 doesn't support the iPad 1, that won't be out until late 2012. That's a good 2 years of complete support, security updates and substantial feature enhancements.

Right now, the Android platform looks stalled in the marketplace at Android 2.x. Android 2, coupled with vague promises of future upgrades seems to 'good enough' for most carriers and OEM manufacturers. Even Sony just launched their Experia S phone with Android 2.3 and a promise to upgrade to Android 4 in Q2 2012 (we've heard that one before).

You're either buying into a platform or you're buying gadgets. The fundamental disconnect between the apprently solid Android engineering that's happening at Google and the actual packaging and deployment that's happening to end-users is turning into a real problem. To my mind, it's a dealbreaker for schools or anyone thinking beyond their next carrier subsidy.