Google has announced that it will no longer support its Google Play Services for Gingerbread and Honeycomb devices from early 2017. The updated version 10.2.0 from Google will support the Play Services to only those Android mobiles which are running on at least Ice Cream Sandwich version.
For those who don’t know what Google Play Services are exactly, it is an API package which distributes the timely updates and services developments to the Android mobiles. At present, the Google Play Service 10.0.0 version supports all the devices that run on OS versions starting from Gingerbread. It was introduced way back in 2012.
The next update of the Play Service called as 10.2.0 is scheduled for early 2017 which is will suspend the support for Gingerbread and Honeycomb OS. The minimum software requirement for Google Play Service will be Android 4.0.1 Ice Cream Sandwich. The minimum API level for the latest version will also be increased from 9 to 14.
In justification of discontinuation, Google has mentioned on its developer blog post that the Gingerbread platform is more or less six years old now. Numerous Android app developers have already halted the support for Gingerbread in their apps. By doing this, the developers are able to build better apps which could make use of the newer potentials of the Android platform.
By discontinuing the support for Gingerbread and Honeycomb platform on Play Service will allow the company to provide more vigorous collections of tools for Android developers with superior speed.
The Google Play Service 10.0.0 version and Firebase will keep on working with the Gingerbread devices as it has in the past. Google further described that the apps which still have a major number of users on older OS such as Gingerbread and Honeycomb operating system could develop multiple APKs to support those specific devices.
In case you own a smartphone which runs on Gingerbread or Honeycomb OS, then it is always good to adopt the latest technology. The smartphone that is running on older OS version is obviously lacking in some extents. Nowadays, 4G technology is making buzz and after Reliance Jio’s launch, the demand for 4G VoLTE mobiles has drastically increased.
Here’re the best 4G smartphones for every budget:
Budget Mobiles (Under Rs 10,000)
- LeEco Le 1s Eco
- Asus Zenfone Max 2016
- Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus
- Coolpad Note 3
- Moto G Play
- Samsung Galaxy On7 Pro
- Moto E3 Power
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 3
4G Smartphone Under Rs 15,000
- Samsung Galaxy On8
- Moto G Plus
- Lenovo Vibe K5 Note
- Lenovo Zuk Z1
- LeEco Le 2
- Lenovo Phab 2 Plus
- Asus Zenfone 2
- Moto X Play Turbo
4G Smartphone Under Rs 20,000
- Samsung Galaxy On Nxt
- Lenovo Z2 Plus
- Xiaomi Mi Max Prime
- LeEco Le Max 2
- OnePlus 2
- Apple iPhone 5s
- Samsung Galaxy J7 2016
- Honor 7
4G Smartphone Under Rs 30,000
- OnePlus 3
- Apple iPhone 6
- Honor 8
- Asus Zenfone 3
- Moto X Force
- Xiaomi Mi 5
- Samsung Galaxy A7 2016
- LG G4
- Moto Turbo
- LG Nexus 5X
Premium 4G Smartphones
- Samsung Galaxy S7/Galaxy S7 Edge
- Apple iPhone 7/ iPhone 7 Plus
- Nexus 6P
- Moto Z
- Samsung Galaxy Note 5
- LG G5
- HTC 10
- Huawei P9
- Google Pixel