我们不要将Android 碎片(Android fragmentation)与硬盘碎片或任何其他存储问题混淆。正如你们大多数人所知，硬盘(Hard)碎片是散布在整个存储设备上的文件位，因此任何操作系统都难以收集这些位并将它们呈现给您。Android碎片化更多地与Android版本和设备上运行的应用程序版本之间的差异有关。
Android 分片定义
我在网上找到的最接近Android碎片化的定义：(Android)
Android fragmentation refers to a concern over the alarming number of different available Android operating system (OS) versions in the market. The main issue is potentially reduced interoperability between devices of applications coded using the Android Software Development Kit (Android SDK).
Android碎片问题
上面对Android(Android)的定义涵盖了所有内容，但使用了一些繁重的语言。简而言之，在不同的机器上运行着多个版本的安卓(Android)——在任何给定的时间点。JellyBean、Ice Cream、Honeycomb等是一些比较知名的。
同样，为Android开发的应用程序适用于不同的版本。开发应用程序的程序员这样做是为了最新版本。这会产生不兼容的问题，因此某些Android用户无法使用这些应用程序。其他问题之一是使用为旧Android版本编写的恶意软件来利用手机数据。
谈到为Android开发的软件，我们也可以假设谷歌(Google)通过其提供Android更新的手机软件。如果手机软件是为Android 4.0开发的，它很可能不支持为Android 4.2设计的应用程序。以下来自TruTower的图表显示了(TruTower)Android(Androids)的百分比。
另一个方面是每台机器都有定制。如果您使用的是 LG 手机，您将获得定制的Android体验：LG 想要为您提供的体验。相同的操作系统 ( Android ) 将为您在三星(Samsung)手机或平板电脑上提供不同的体验，因为三星(Samsung)将为其设备定制它。在这种定制中，Android的统一性有些丢失（例如，菜单和选项可能会有所不同）。
换句话说，就是应用版本、手机基础软件、安卓(Android)版本的差异问题。人们可能会滥用这种差异来闯入您的手机或平板电脑。因此，Android Fragmentation Problem实际上更多的是安全和隐私问题，而不仅仅是不兼容。
Google如何解决Android 碎片化(Android Fragmentation)问题？
根据趋势科技(Trend Micro)[3]，谷歌(Google)将更新推送给手机制造商。然后，手机制造商有责任升级他们的手机软件，以保护您的设备。然而，与设备制造商的更新相比， Android的更新速度要快得多。(Android)这就是产生可能导致最新版本应用程序出现故障或无法使用的问题的原因。
这是趋势科技(Trend Micro)的图表，解释了Android 更新(Android Updates)的过程。趋势科技(Trend Micro)还明确表示，旧机器卡在无法更新的早期版本的Android上，因此无法使用Play中可用的更新、更好的应用程序。
它进一步指出，Android Fragmentation Problem可能会引入恶意软件，因为旧版本的Android没有足够的保护，因此容易受到利用。
概括(SUMMARY)
应用程序与您机器上的Android(Android)操作系统版本不兼容会导致Android Fragmentation Problem。尽管谷歌(Though Google)能够解决这个问题，但它必须依赖第三方（设备制造商）才能将更新提供给最终用户。目前，谷歌(Google)无法直接更新单个机器上的操作系统。
由于这个问题，不仅可能发生应用程序故障，您的设备也容易受到恶意攻击。为了保持安全
- 定期更新手机软件
- 使用(Use)好的移动安全产品。也有免费的 - 例如诺顿移动(Norton Mobile)和趋势科技(Trend Micro)
想看看微软是如何通过安卓赚钱的吗？(Want to see how Microsoft makes money from Android?)
Android Fragmentation Definition, Problem, Issue, Chart
Let’s not confuse Android fragmentation with hard disk fragmentation or any other storage problems. Hard disk fragmentation – as most of you know – are bits of files spread all over the storage device thereby making it difficult for any operating system to gather the bits and present them to you. Android fragmentation is more related to differences between the Android versions and the apps’ versions running on the device.
Android Fragmentation Definition
The closest definition of Android fragmentation that I found on the Internet:
Android fragmentation refers to a concern over the alarming number of different available Android operating system (OS) versions in the market. The main issue is potentially reduced interoperability between devices of applications coded using the Android Software Development Kit (Android SDK).
Android Fragmentation Problem
The above definition of Android covers it all but employs a little heavy language. In simple terms, there several versions of Android running on different machines – at any given point in time. JellyBean, Ice Cream, Honeycomb, etc are some of the better-known ones.
Likewise, the applications developed for Android are for different versions. Programmers who develop apps do so for the latest version. This creates a problem of incompatibility due to which some Android users cannot use those applications. Among other problems is the exploitation of the phone data using malicious software written for older Android versions.
Talking about software developed for Android, we can also assume the phone software through which Google delivers Android updates. If phone software is developed for Android 4.0, chances are high it won’t support apps designed for use with Android 4.2. The following chart from TruTower shows the percentage of Androids.
Another aspect is that with every machine comes customization. If you are using an LG phone, you will get a customized Android experience: one that the LG wants to offer you. The same operating system (Android) will give you a different experience on a Samsung phone or tablet as Samsung will customize it for their devices. Among this customization, the uniformity of Android is somewhat lost (For example, the menus and options may differ).
In other words, it is the problem of differences in versions of apps, basic phone software, and Android. This difference can be misused by people to break into your phone or tablet. Thus, Android Fragmentation Problem is actually more of a security and privacy issue than just incompatibility.
How does Google address Android Fragmentation?
According to Trend Micro [3], Google pushes the updates to phone manufacturers. Then, it becomes the responsibility of phone manufacturers to upgrade their phone software so that your device is protected. However, the pace with which Android is updated is much higher compared to the updates by device manufacturers. This is what creates the problem that may lead to malfunctioning or usage inability for the latest versions of apps.
Here is a chart from Trend Micro that explains the process of Android Updates. Trend Micro also makes it clear that older machines are stuck with previous versions of Android that cannot be updated and hence cannot use the newer, better apps available in Play.
It further states that the Android Fragmentation Problem may invite malicious software as the older versions of Android do not have sufficient protection and thus, are vulnerable to exploitation.
SUMMARY
Incompatibility of apps with the version of the Android operating system on your machine leads to Android Fragmentation Problem. Though Google is able to address the problem, it has to depend on a third party (device manufacturers) for making the updates available to the end-users. Right now, there is no way Google can directly update the operating system on individual machines.
Due to this problem, not only application malfunctions may occur, your device is prone to malicious exploitations. To stay safe
- Update your phone software regularly
- Use good mobile security products. There are free ones available as well – such as Norton Mobile and Trend Micro
Want to see how Microsoft makes money from Android?
