The open nature of the Android Market is adversely affecting the overall quality of apps and causing users to return large numbers of Motorola devices, according to the company's chief executive, Sanjay Jha.
With anyone able to upload applications to the Android app store, and Google only checking to ensure no malicious code makes it through, there's a huge potential for badly written, inefficient software to make it onto Android mobiles and tablets.
"For power consumption and CPU use, those apps are not tested. We're beginning to understand the impact that has," Jha said in a webcast presentation at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch global technology conference yesterday.
He claimed that 70 per cent of all the Motorola Android devices that are returned by users are sent back because of poor application performance. Presumably owners freak out when an app crashes and their device resets, or they have to charge their device ten times a day.
Jha suggested that, in future, the Motoblur interface could be used to warn users when it detects that an application will consume a large amount of power or otherwise be detrimental to system performance. Motoblur already collects data about how customers' use of apps affects devices.
Android purists hoping that Motoblur would disappear could well be left disappointed. Jha's comments suggest Motorola will continue to develop its tack-on interface as much for the sake of performance diagnostics as for tweaking the standard Android interface.
We agree that open platforms, for all their advantages, do tend to allow plenty of dross in. That said, while closed systems like Apple's App Store may ensure improved app performance, that's not always a guarantee of actual quality -- iFart anyone?
Nvidia's top dog has already bemoaned a lack of software richness on Android. There's no shortage of demand for apps among users but, with so many developers clamouring to get their apps noticed, finding high-quality software is a challenge.
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Comments 11
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Anonymous 3 June, 2011 13:34
I think a new Android app store should be created that only allows open source apps. That way the quality could be ensured since the staff of the app store will check the quality of the code and anyone else can also report apps with low quality code. I think only GPL v3 apps should be allowed on this new app store.
Jed McInnes 3 June, 2011 14:48
I really like the idea of getting notifications for high demand apps, could be very useful. there is no doubt there are a lot of them in the appstore. hopefully it will make its way to android or HTC Sense, as i dont think i would buy a motorola phone...
deepsukhwani 3 June, 2011 16:11
First see the quality of Post Sales service you give to your customers.
Customers are literally treated as if they have fallen in the trap of being a Motorola Customer..
See the popularity you have gained recently on various social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, etc. Don't blame others, rather improve your standards.
Naryan 3 June, 2011 18:29
Is that supposed to be a smile from boss man up there? He looks like he's just smelt something disgusting.
All these companies that are dying because they didn't fully invest in Android from the start are going to blame Google, their companies are dying and they know it. I'm not so fussed if they die off the market. They should have taken a leaf out of HTC's book when they had the chance. Stick to Google and stick close.
Anonymous 4 June, 2011 22:34
Ok, the thing is 'android purists' hate motoblur. Ok, so what? They're not gonna return their phone!! They're gonna root it and install software of their choice ie custom roms like cyanogenmod 7. The people who are going to return it are noobs who don't have a clue about android or how it runs. Therefore, they will not mind motoblur, because they don't know how much it sucks. It's actually good for Motorola because all the noobs' problems will be handled manually (by motoblur) and all the people who have other software (custom roms) will know about android, and therefore mod the app or uninstall it. They have probably tested alphas where YOU DO NEED TO CHARGE IT 10 TIMES A DAY AND IT DOES FORCE CLOSE APPS AND REBOOTS EVERY 1 HOUR OR SO. good call moto
Anonymous 4 June, 2011 22:37
'I think a new Android app store should be created that only allows open source apps. That way the quality could be ensured since the staff of the app store will check the quality of the code and anyone else can also report apps with low quality code. I think only GPL v3 apps should be allowed on this new app store.' (first comment)
If the apps were open sourced then there would be no paid apps, hence Google cannot make money from the Android OS (because they take 30% of all the paid apps profit, and their OS is open sourced so it doesn't cost to put on any device). Therefore, this would be impractical.
ace9988 5 June, 2011 16:50
"Ok, the thing is 'android purists' hate motoblur. Ok, so what? They're not gonna return their phone!! They're gonna root it and install software of their choice ie custom roms like cyanogenmod 7."...
Just to let you know the atrix bootloader is locked...even though xda can install custom roms they can't install custom kernels which get the best out of those custom roms. It was the same case with the US Droid X superphone.
It's a shame and what doesnt help is when a big company like motorola goes on twitter and says
"@tdcrooks if you want to do? custom roms, then buy elsewhere, we’ll continue with our strategy that is working thanks." ( I sense alot of pride that'll make them fall hard)
Secondly rooting isn't for everyone, there are people who buy android phones just as an alternative to the iPhone, not because they want to spend their time fiddling with it.
I would offer motoblur because we know the normal people who just want a phone will keep it, while people like me who'd like to root it would put whatever we like...keeps everyone happy since motorola phones like the atrix have some amazing specs
Grace Aldena 6 June, 2011 05:38
Motorola must first see itself that what quality products are they manufacturing, when the charger breaks down, are they able to replace even when in the warranty period. They have to work a lot on them selves bfore pointing others.
valerie 6 June, 2011 11:33
Well i think Motorola's reason for returning of product seems to be vague and illogical......it would have been apps ,that made the Motorola handset returned.....it would also have affected other android handsets .. it would be better for Android to concentrate on the product quality and sales services.... Such a illogical statement cannot be expected from head to the First mobile producing company......
Anonymous 6 June, 2011 11:45
welll...i dnt agree with what Mr Jha is saying....if Andriods applications are bad, they have to be bad with any make and model not only Motorola...isnt it? HTC does not face that issue o why only Motorola?
one cant really blame the Android apps if there own phones are faulty...
Anonymous 7 June, 2011 09:26
Please a update Motorola Flipout 2.2 Froyo