The whole version thing has really become obsessive. Even in the old days, before versions were given cute nicknames (thank you, Apple), people were aware of which software version they had. Today it’s become obnoxious.
Computer software has traditionally come out with version numbers. They were designed internally, for the programmer nerds, so that they could keep track of various program releases out in the wild.
“Oh? You have version 3.1.17? That version had a lot of bugs, so we fixed things and the current version is 3.2.09. Let me tell you how to upgrade.”
That’s how a nerd would explain things to someone who used their program back in the old days. Well, except for the last sentence.
The version numbers, or officially release numbers, took greater hold when personal computer software was distributed through consumer channels. At first, the numbers didn’t matter, but with MS-DOS version 4, Microsoft suddenly realized that there was money to be made by releasing new software versions.
A lot of people upgraded from MS-DOS 3.3 to version 4, and subsequently to version 5. That’s the moment in history when new software releases arrived on everyone’s radar. Honestly, before then — and I’m referring to the early 1990s — I don’t believe anyone cared about software versions.
Fast forward to the present, where suddenly the Android operating system version has become important. That because — as has always been the technological tradition — having the latest version is considered the best.
Of course, the version number issue for Android is compounded by Google’s tradition of naming the version numbers after desserts. You can read my summary here.
The problem for the typical phone user is that the cute dessert nickname doesn’t currently show up when you ask your phone or tablet to tell you which Android version you’re using.
To see which version you’re using, open the Settings app. Choose the last item on the Settings screen, which is About Phone or About Device or About Tablet. On the next screen, there is an item titled Android Version, which lists the version number for the installed Android operating system.
Of course, all that number tells you is which Android version you have, not which dessert it’s called.
To add to the frustration, unlike computer software, you’re unable to manually update your phone or tablet’s operating system. That task is left to your cellular provider or hardware manufacturer. The updates are distributed over the Internet and, as far as I can tell, there is no predictable order or pattern that lets you know whether an update is available or when your gizmo gets that update.
Now you can manually update some devices. You have to “root” the device and then find an Android image to install. But that’s an underground way of doing things, and a method that may void your cellular contract. So I don’t recommend it.
