That's why <either company releases> or <both companies release> new updates every half a year or earlier.

[Tony_M]

The example is mine.

- Apple and Google are the biggest players in the market of mobile operating systems. The competition between them is severe; that's why either company releases new updates every half a year or earlier.
What would you take "either" to mean in this sentence?
Does "either" mean both = one and the other here?

 

[SoothingDave]

"Both" means both.

"...that's why both companies release..."

 

[Tony_M]

"Both" means both.

"...that's why both companies release..."

What would "either" mean in this context?

 

[SoothingDave]

Either means one or the other, but not both. It's not the word you want.

 

[probus]

Using "each company"would avoid the problem.

 

[Tony_M]

Either means one or the other, but not both. It's not the word you want.

Oxford Dictionary:
each of two

• The offices on either side were empty.
• There's a door at either end of the corridor.

 

[SoothingDave]

As usual, English contains contradictions. Best to avoid when "both" or "each" are not ambiguous.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/either

1
: being the one and the other of two : each


2
: being the one or the other of two

 

[Tony_M]

As usual, English contains contradictions. Best to avoid when "both" or "each" are not ambiguous.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/either

The first meaning is both.

1. flowers blooming on either side of the walk
2. plays either instrument well

 

[SoothingDave]

Context matters. Every teacher here is telling you to choose a different word, in order to be perfectly clear.

Which is the first definition listed is not relevant.

 

[Tony_M]

Context matters. Every teacher here is telling you to choose a different word, in order to be perfectly clear.

Which is the first definition listed is not relevant.

A different word will not help me understand how to use this one.

 

[probus]

Either means one or the other but not the two of them. Both means the two of them.