So I sit here on Google+ and twitter and watch people flash lollipop while others moan that their...

[G+_Daniel Charles]

So I sit here on Google+ and twitter and watch people flash lollipop while others moan that their ota hasn't happened yet. Yet Apple with an undeniable larger user base of their PURE OS is able to send the update to all users over the course of 24 hours or so it seems. My question therefore is why can't Google do this? Or why don't they want to do this?

[G+_L I]

Because Google doesn't control the hardware, only the software.

 

Apple controls software, hardware, and carrier relationships.

[G+_Jordan Palmer]

Did you see what happened with iOS 8 and the first update? It really screwed things up. Google's staged rollout system is to limit bugs and other fatal failures. It's an imperfect system, but that's how it is. I don't think it's a matter of Can Google do this? so much as Should Google do this? I'm in the camp that says their system is fine, just the way it is.

 

That's my two cents.

[G+_Joseph Cappellino]

I agree with Jordan Palmer?. Just because they can, doesn't mean they should.

 

That's why they made the images available. Anyone (with a little savvy) can flash it.

[G+_Joe Phelps]

Jordan Palmer Apple released a fix in about 24 hours. How long would it take Google/OEMs to issue a fix?

[G+_David L]

Android has a larger market share compared to iOS but I think Lionel D has it right.

[G+_Darrell Sluis]

Joe Phelps depends on the bug.

Apple managed a fix in 24 hours, this time! What if they next time they don't.

[G+_David Foster]

I feel all very enlightened now. It sounds like it can be done and it can be done well but it hasn't been done yet. I think what is frustrating is Google needs to be open about their rollout program.

[G+_SEEMIYAH]

Well, and the ordinary Apple user does not care for bugs as long as they look good.

[G+_Paul Tobeck]

At least Google hasn't rolled out an update that fried Wifi hardware for hundreds of thousands of users like iOS 7.1 did to the 4s.

Fast updates were a big deal when Android was really growing features, now people are screaming for what boils down to aesthetics.

[G+_Marlon Thompson]

So here are my thoughts on this, last year Google Developer  Dan Morrill came out and explained the update process http://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/1r1dz4/44_kitkat_has_started_rolling_out_on_the_n4/cdiwt6f so yes it takes a while but its a system that they has worked for them and slowly but surely your update will be coming. With the comparison to iOS every year that the update comes out the first thing that tech bloggers advise is don't update immediately or update at your own risk.(they even write articles http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/iosapps/should-you-update-ipad-iphone-to-ios-8-1-3495266/ and  http://www.gottabemobile.com/2014/11/13/7-reasons-not-to-update-to-ios-8-1-1/ )  My colleagues who have iphones are always very wary to update because of bad experiences, so yes they have access to the update but many of them don't update for at least 2 weeks to a month. Yet on Android blogs you find the converse, all of them are filled with tons of guides to update  to Android 5.0.

Finally with Android 5.0 we are officially in a new era for updates on the platform . Motorola and LG have already begun the process of updating their devices within 2 WEEKS of release, I say again 2 WEEKS. the Nvidia Shield tablet gets its update next week, versions of 5.0 have also been spotted for HTC, Sony and Samsung. As someone who had entered the Android ecosystem over 4 years ago and had to root and rom to get his updates this is a fun time to be in as this is slated to be the fastest roll-out ever