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Switchback666

macrumors 68000
Nov 16, 2012
1,600
67
SXM
Damm at 8 bucks Google music might kick spotify butts ! And even better if you can login in different devices with no problem !
 

tjl3

macrumors 6502a
Mar 8, 2012
595
4
So why do OEMs even add their skins?

I'm sorry but all this does is fragment Android further - especially if its expanded. I doubt you'll see a ton of NEW users because of this, just cannibalization of the skinned Androids.

I disagree. How can fragmentation exist if these Google versions are being supported by Google themselves? Now it is on the OEMs to handle the responsibility of keeping their skinned versions up to date as well. I agree w/ others though, in that this does give us options. However, I agree w/ you in that I don't think we'll see a wide adoption of these Google versions because it is, for lack of a better term, a step backwards to get the pure Android experience.
 

onthecouchagain

macrumors 604
Original poster
Mar 29, 2011
7,382
2
How does more choices == less fragmentation? Would you be so kind as to elaborate on that? Thanks.

So what do you mean by fragmentation? I take fragmentation to mean people not getting immediate updates from Google, not having the latest operating system and its features, and therefore making things harder to develop for developers.

Not to mention, you people do realize, stock Android existed before today's announcement, right? It'll just be on one more device now. How is that fragmenting more?
 

bmac4

Suspended
Feb 14, 2013
4,885
1,877
Atlanta Ga
So why do OEMs even add their skins?

I'm sorry but all this does is fragment Android further - especially if its expanded. I doubt you'll see a ton of NEW users because of this, just cannibalization of the skinned Androids.

Really no way. Give people options. I don't buy skinned android because they mess with stock android. A lot of people like the skinned versions cause they need their hands held. Now I could buy a phone I like without worry about it not have stock android. That's if this trend continues. Options are always better.
 

matttye

macrumors 601
Mar 25, 2009
4,957
32
Lincoln, England
Don't forget to see the potential bigger picture: If this does well, imagine if every year Android OEMs develop a "Google Version" of their annual flagships.

: salivating :

Freedom of choice is a beautiful beautiful thing. Now, if people want a great camera, expandable storage (something you would NEVER get with a Nexus device), removable battery, a physical home button, LTE, but still want stock Android and Google updates, you can!

Again, immediate updates and fragmentation are becoming less and less of talking points against Android.

Fragmentation is an issue even with the latest phones, so not sure what you mean here. For example, I used to use a running/exercise app called CardioTrainer. The whole thing worked fine on my HTC Desire, but on both my GS2 and GS3 the music integration didn't work because I couldn't select a playlist to play when I start a workout. They may have fixed it now, not sure.

Just one example anyway. It's annoying when your favourite apps only work for some phones even though they're all on the same platform.
 

jrswizzle

macrumors 603
Aug 23, 2012
6,107
129
McKinney, TX
What?

So Google is able to make a deal with one of the (if not, the) flagship Android phone maker to give them the hardware while allowing Google to control the software and that's fragmenting the line even more?

What in the world?

People have the choice. If you're a tech-savvy enough person to know about and care about fragmentation, you now have the choice to pick an OEM flagship phone with stock Android software and immediate updates from Google (any of this sound familiar?) where apps can be brought up to speed with the latest Android at any given time. And this fragments the line more?

For those who don't know about fragmentation (or don't care) and want a carrier branded, bloated, and/or TouchWiz software (again, nothing wrong with this. Some people just don't care or know to care) they can continue walking into a carrier store to pick up the phone.

Freedom of choice. But somehow, this is worse.

Then imagine if this really takes off an we get OEMs creating "Google Versions" of their annual flagships, all sold by and directly updated by Google. This could be a massive answer to fragmentation!

And a massive answer to those clamoring about lack of immediate updates on Android.

How about reading the post I was referring to which stated that a "what if" regarding the rest of the Android OEMs doing this.

I'm sorry but that is definitely fragmentation. Whether or not is good or bad is of no consequence to me. If you saw, I'd like to grab one of these GS4's and will likely do so when they are released.

Lol, chill Couch. I'm not attacking anything.....adding more versions of the same phone IS fragmentation. And, taking the GS4 "Nexus" as the example, the release of said phone won't necessarily add a substantial marketshare as has been suggested, but will likely cannibalize other Nexus and skinned Android sales.

Again, nothing bad about this....I never said there was. And if these Google versions end of being released for other major flagships and become popular, why did they ever release skinned versions in the first place?
 

Shadow Puppy

macrumors member
May 10, 2013
81
0
How does more choices == less fragmentation? Would you be so kind as to elaborate on that? Thanks.

If you're talking about the stock Android GS4, that actually does help. It would basically be treated as a Nexus device, thus would benefit from the same streamlined approach other Nexus devices benefit from. In other words, what happens to one, will happen to the other (as long as the hardware can handle it...so this may not apply a few years from now).
 

daneoni

macrumors G4
Mar 24, 2006
11,844
1,579
What?

So Google is able to make a deal with one of the (if not, the) flagship Android phone maker to give them the hardware while allowing Google to control the software and that's fragmenting the line even more?

What in the world?

People have the choice. If you're a tech-savvy enough person to know about and care about fragmentation, you now have the choice to pick an OEM flagship phone with stock Android software and immediate updates from Google (any of this sound familiar?) where apps can be brought up to speed with the latest Android at any given time. And this fragments the line more?

For those who don't know about fragmentation (or don't care) and want a carrier branded, bloated, and/or TouchWiz software (again, nothing wrong with this. Some people just don't care or know to care) they can continue walking into a carrier store to pick up the phone.

Freedom of choice. But somehow, this is worse.

Then imagine if this really takes off an we get OEMs creating "Google Versions" of their annual flagships, all sold by and directly updated by Google. This could be a massive answer to fragmentation!

And a massive answer to those clamoring about lack of immediate updates on Android.

It answers those clamoring for lack of immediate updates but it doesn't address fragmentation because what you essentially have now is GS4 Google edition and GS4 Touchwiz edition. One will be running the latest and greatest from Mountain View whilst the other might be months behind. One app may work here but not there. A feature may be present here but not there.

Fragmentation still exist.
 

YourAvgUser

macrumors member
Jan 19, 2013
45
0
What?

So Google is able to make a deal with one of the (if not, the) flagship Android phone maker to give them the hardware while allowing Google to control the software and that's fragmenting the line even more?

What in the world?

People have the choice. If you're a tech-savvy enough person to know about and care about fragmentation, you now have the choice to pick an OEM flagship phone with stock Android software and immediate updates from Google (any of this sound familiar?) where apps can be brought up to speed with the latest Android at any given time. And this fragments the line more?

For those who don't know about fragmentation (or don't care) and want a carrier branded, bloated, and/or TouchWiz software (again, nothing wrong with this. Some people just don't care or know to care) they can continue walking into a carrier store to pick up the phone.

Freedom of choice. But somehow, this is worse.

Then imagine if this really takes off an we get OEMs creating "Google Versions" of their annual flagships, all sold by and directly updated by Google. This could be a massive answer to fragmentation!

And a massive answer to those clamoring about lack of immediate updates on Android.

EDIT:
Not to mention, you people do realize, stock Android existed before today's announcement, right? It'll just be offered on one more device.

Just got done reading another one of your threads. I found myself kind of surprised now that you use an HTC One, knowing that it is vastly inferior to Touchwiz. Touchwiz is more feature filled, more capable than Sense, yet you choose to use an inferior interface. Preference is key, but just realize you are using an inferior Android interface. Also, while you tout the pure Android experience, you realize it is also inferior to Touchwiz, because you can prefer to not do things one way (S-features), but you have to admit that it is the inferior way of doing things.
 

fatboyslim

macrumors newbie
May 15, 2013
14
0
So what do you mean by fragmentation? I take fragmentation to mean people not getting immediate updates from Google, not having the latest operating system and its features, and therefore making things harder to develop for developers.

Not to mention, you people do realize, stock Android existed before today's announcement, right? It'll just be on one more device now. How is that fragmenting more?

Fragmentation is more that that...lots of different devices with different screen resolutions and OS. That's just the phones. And now we have same Galaxy phone with 2 fragmented OS.
 

jrswizzle

macrumors 603
Aug 23, 2012
6,107
129
McKinney, TX
Just got done reading another one of your threads. I found myself kind of surprised now that you use an HTC One, knowing that it is vastly inferior to Touchwiz. Touchwiz is more feature filled, more capable than Sense, yet you choose to use an inferior interface. Preference is key, but just realize you are using an inferior Android interface. Also, while you tout the pure Android experience, you realize it is also inferior to Touchwiz, because you can prefer to not do things one way (S-features), but you have to admit that it is the inferior way of doing things.

Please tell me you're kidding.....
 

onthecouchagain

macrumors 604
Original poster
Mar 29, 2011
7,382
2
How about reading the post I was referring to which stated that a "what if" regarding the rest of the Android OEMs doing this.

I'm sorry but that is definitely fragmentation. Whether or not is good or bad is of no consequence to me. If you saw, I'd like to grab one of these GS4's and will likely do so when they are released.

Lol, chill Couch. I'm not attacking anything.....adding more versions of the same phone IS fragmentation. And, taking the GS4 "Nexus" as the example, the release of said phone won't necessarily add a substantial marketshare as has been suggested, but will likely cannibalize other Nexus and skinned Android sales.

Again, nothing bad about this....I never said there was. And if these Google versions end of being released for other major flagships and become popular, why did they ever release skinned versions in the first place?

I just fail to see how this causes more fragmentation. Maybe you're using the wrong word? Maybe you mean it might cause more "confusion"?

I'm using the word fragmentation to mean what people constantly knock Android about.. no immediate updates, not having the latest features, not having the latest APIs to update apps, etc.

Remember, stock Android existed before this day. All that changed today is it's on one more device (which makes said device arguably better by bringing it closer to Google and their software).

Again, maybe you mean confusion.

As for sales, yeah, who knows how well it'll sell. I have no prediction.
 

bmac4

Suspended
Feb 14, 2013
4,885
1,877
Atlanta Ga
It answers those clamoring for lack of immediate updates but it doesn't address fragmentation because what you essentially have now is GS4 Google edition and GS4 Touchwiz edition. One will be running the latest and greatest from Mountain View whilst the other will be several months behind. One app may work here but not there. A feature may be present here but not there.

Fragmentation still exist.

So would you guys just prefer android to only offer stock android? That be bad for people that love skinned versions.
 

jrswizzle

macrumors 603
Aug 23, 2012
6,107
129
McKinney, TX
I just fail to see how this causes more fragmentation. Maybe you're using the wrong word? Maybe you mean it might cause more "confusion"?

I'm using the word fragmentation to mean what people constantly knock Android about.. no immediate updates, not having the latest features, not having the latest APIs to update apps, etc.

Remember, stock Android existed before this day. All that changed today is it's on one more device (which makes said device arguably better by bringing it closer to Google and their software).

Again, maybe you mean confusion.

As for sales, yeah, who knows how well it'll sell. I have no prediction.

I've always thought of fragmentation in Android as the HUGE number of display resolutions, sizes, software skins that cause a less optimized experience when compared to something like iOS.

So we are obviously using the term differently (though I take issue with you saying I'm using it "wrong"). I understand what you're saying through your definition.

You're also assuming I'm using the word negatively. Only stating it will add to fragmentation. I never said choice was bad.
 

onthecouchagain

macrumors 604
Original poster
Mar 29, 2011
7,382
2
Just got done reading another one of your threads. I found myself kind of surprised now that you use an HTC One, knowing that it is vastly inferior to Touchwiz. Touchwiz is more feature filled, more capable than Sense, yet you choose to use an inferior interface. Preference is key, but just realize you are using an inferior Android interface. Also, while you tout the pure Android experience, you realize it is also inferior to Touchwiz, because you can prefer to not do things one way (S-features), but you have to admit that it is the inferior way of doing things.

Uhms. Okay. Please reread my posts. Good luck.

: backs away slowly :

----------

I've always thought of fragmentation in Android as the HUGE number of display resolutions, sizes, software skins that cause a less optimized experience when compared to something like iOS.

So we are obviously using the term differently (though I take issue with you saying I'm using it "wrong"). I understand what you're saying through your definition.

Likewise. Mutual understanding. I'd only add that this is still a great thing. Any lover of stock Android, any hater of carrier bloatware/OEM software skins, this is a great thing.

It's ironic that you might pick it up, while I might pass on it. :) I'm just excited about the potentials and what this means for Android going forward.
 

daneoni

macrumors G4
Mar 24, 2006
11,844
1,579
So would you guys just prefer android to only offer stock android? That be bad for people that love skinned versions.

More choice is always good but with Android there will always be an acquired downside of fragmentation, even more so the more iterations of choice made available. Unless they go the Microsoft route.
 

TheHateMachine

macrumors 6502a
Sep 18, 2012
846
1,354
Fragmentation is more that that...lots of different devices with different screen resolutions and OS. That's just the phones. And now we have same Galaxy phone with 2 fragmented OS.

Do not think resolution makes much of a difference considering how Android handles scaling and resolution changes. Also how is stock Android fragmented?
 

sentinelsx

macrumors 68010
Feb 28, 2011
2,004
0
So why do OEMs even add their skins?

I'm sorry but all this does is fragment Android further - especially if its expanded. I doubt you'll see a ton of NEW users because of this, just cannibalization of the skinned Androids.

What? This is a great thing to beat fragmentation. I applaud google for taking the initiative.
 

onthecouchagain

macrumors 604
Original poster
Mar 29, 2011
7,382
2
It answers those clamoring for lack of immediate updates but it doesn't address fragmentation because what you essentially have now is GS4 Google edition and GS4 Touchwiz edition. One will be running the latest and greatest from Mountain View whilst the other might be months behind. One app may work here but not there. A feature may be present here but not there.

Fragmentation still exist.

Never said it eliminates fragmentation. Fragmentation will exist inevitably (it exists on iOS, too). But those that care about it now have yet another option to minimize it.

And again, the bigger picture: as stock Android becomes more pervasive, developers will have their hands on latest APIs more quickly to update their apps.

Please remember, everyone: stock Android existed before today. Nothing has really changed except it's given people another option to address their Android concerns.


----------

Also how is stock Android fragmented?

Thank you.
 

matttye

macrumors 601
Mar 25, 2009
4,957
32
Lincoln, England
Never said it eliminates fragmentation. Fragmentation will exist inevitably (it exists on iOS, too). But those that care about it now have yet another option to minimize it.

And again, the bigger picture: as stock Android becomes more pervasive, developers will have their hands on latest APIs more quickly to update their apps.

Please remember, everyone: stock Android existed before today. Nothing has really changed except it's given people another option to address their Android concerns.

It actually adds to the fragmentation, because now you have Galaxy S4 Touchwiz edition and Galaxy S4 Google edition.
 

onthecouchagain

macrumors 604
Original poster
Mar 29, 2011
7,382
2
His post is just like some posts you made in another thread I just had the 'pleasure' of reading. :p

My posts are about Android vs iOS. Not Android vs Android. All the things he's stating about which Android is better than the other, more power to him, but those are exactly the points and freedoms I make against iOS.

In other words, he's sort of arguing half my point for me.

But all right!
 
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