From the Android version OpenSignalMaps found nearly 4,000

If you look at all the different ways people can modify their Android software and all the various kinds of hardware and operating systems, do you know how many different platforms you’ll find? Apparently, there are nearly 4,000 “distinct” Android devices in the wild right now. You read that right – four thousand. You think iOS has that many?

 

That data came from a company called OpenSignalMaps, which has collected information from 681,900 Android devices through its app. So what this means is that of those 680,000+ devices, there are 3,997 that are unique. The most popular one, for example, is the Samsung Galaxy S II, with 61,389 people owning that phone and running the same version of Android.

So how are there so many? “One complication is that custom ROMs can overwrite the android.build.MODEL variable that we use for the device model,” the company noted. As a matter of fact, “A staggering 1,363 device models appear only once in our database.” If you drill down to the main factor, the main version number, Android seems to be more fragmented than ever. The most common version of the OS is Gingerbread, but even as the #1 version, it’s only powering 55.4% of devices.

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Activision: Settlement of the lawsuit over 'executive leave from EA

The settlement announced Wednesday in Los Angeles does not end the war between Activision and dozens of former "Call of Duty" developers who claim they have been cheated out of millions in bonuses for the game.

Activision had sought $400 million from Electronic Arts, claiming the company met secretly with Jason West and Vincent Zampella while they were still under contract to work on "Modern Warfare" projects.

No details on the settlement were revealed, with the companies releasing only a joint statement that they "have agreed to put this matter behind them."

Activision fired West and Zampella in January 2010 after the release of "Modern Warfare 2," and they formed a new company, Respawn Entertainment LLC, which is developing games for Electronic Arts. The pair sued Activision in March 2010 seeking more than $36 million in bonuses, but the Santa Monica, Calif., gaming company said the pair were fired for insubordination and handed over company secrets to Electronic Arts.

West and Zampella were high-ranking executives at the Infinity Ward studio that produced several successful "Call of Duty" games.

Activision has sought access to details about Respawn's work for Electronic Arts on a new game that has not been revealed. Activision claimed the pair had discussed creating a science-fiction shooter intended to challenge the "Halo" franchise, but instead of delivering that game gave it to Redwood City-based Electronic Arts.

The settlement does not affect the upcoming trial over claims by West, Zampella and 40 other developers over the "Modern Warfare 2" bonuses. Activision has indicated the potential damages could exceed $1 billion.

Robert M. Schwartz, an attorney for West and Zampella, said Activision's claims against Electronic Arts only comprised about 10 percent of the issues to be raised at trial.

Superior Court Judge Elihu Berle on Wednesday refused a request by Activision to delay the trial on the developers' claims, which is scheduled to begin May 29.

Attorney Beth Wilkinson, who was hired to lead Activision's case earlier this month, had requested a monthlong delay to prepare for the trial, which will feature dozens of witnesses and thousands of pieces of evidence.

Wilkinson told the court Tuesday that Activision has paid $42 million in bonuses to "Modern Warfare 2" developers suing the company but that did not constitute a settlement.

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Issue: Google working on Music deauthorization

Over the past couple of days, Google Music users discovered that they once they hit the 10 device authorization limit they were restricted from removing devices. Users quickly found out that Google had changed the deauthorization number to four devices a year, bad news for those who frequently flash ROMs or move to different devices. Now Google has issued a statement regarding the change, saying they’re working on the problem.

Google acknowledges that the new method is an issue for people who are authorizing and reauthorizing the same device, but the service treats new ROMs and wiped software as a new device. At the same time, the change comes after a request from the record labels “in an effort to limit abuse.” The company goes on to say that it’s working on a method that will hopefully satisfy both music partners and users.

In the meantime the “old” policy is in effect, so you can deauthorize as many devices as you want until Google works around the problem. Right now there’s no time frame for when Google will update its policy on the matter, but it notes that the support page will be updated with more information when it becomes available.

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