Google I/O

[tjl3]

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.

As long as devices do receive the updates, I can understand not getting immediate updates. I mean, if Google has release date X, it is understandable for OEMs to have release date Y, as long as Y is not never!

Oh look, Siri features for Google now like location based reminders

EDIT: Have to say though, looks cool.

Even if there is overlap in Google products and Apple products, it is nice to see missing features get added and optimized, and it goes both ways!

 

[Shadow Puppy]

perfect. We don't use rooms just all add each other

Basically, all you have to do is tap the faces of the people you want to add to the chat. Once you have selected a person/people, it will give you a choice at the bottom of the screen to either message them, or video call them. It's really very easy and feels quite intuitive starting a group chat or video call.

 

[matttye]

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.

But all right!

Same principle applies. X is better than Y. It's always someone's opinion, but you're going around saying that even if people prefer iOS they should admit it's inferior to Android.

That's silly logic.

 

[gmanist1000]

Aww, I wanted to use those new Google Now features on the browser today. Oh well, they'll have to perfect it.

 

[jrswizzle]

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

: backs away slowly :

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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.

Haha - I plan on selling my N4 & accessories....hopefully that'll be enough to cover about half the price of the device.

I really only was keeping my N4 because its unlocked and offers stock Android. I've been wanting to check out Samsung's hardware, but couldn't stomach spending money with my hatred of touchwiz.

This'll offer the best of both worlds.

 

[Michael Goff]

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

Except it's lowering the amount of Android Fragmentation. Some people were buying the S4 for the hardware. Now they can get the hardware without having to worry about Touchwiz. More people will be on stock, which will mean that there will be more people who get updates and that can use the more recent API.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Same principle applies. X is better than Y. It's always someone's opinion, but you're going around saying that even if people prefer iOS they should admit it's inferior to Android.

That's silly logic.

All right. Fair enough. I haven't used TouchWiz much, if at all, but if what they're saying is true, then I'm using an inferior Android version. Nothing wrong with admitting that. See how easy that was? I would love to have Sense have some of the features TouchWiz has.

 

[matttye]

Except it's lowering the amount of Android Fragmentation. Some people were buying the S4 for the hardware. Now they can get the hardware without having to worry about Touchwiz. More people will be on stock, which will mean that there will be more people who get updates and that can use the more recent API.

The way to truly lower fragmentation issues would be to only offer one device - the S4 - and allow Touchwiz or stock Android (and perhaps other skins) to be selected on a single device.

But as it happens, you have to choose one or the other. Someone could write software for the S4 Touchwiz edition but not the S4 Google edition or vice versa. That is fragmentation.

 

[2298754]

This is awesome. Im kind of pissed the S4 didn't launch with stock Android, but this is good for S4 owners. XDA will start to port over the stock firmware to the regular S4s really quick.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Now, where is that Nexus 7 announcement?

 

[matttye]

All right. Fair enough. I haven't used TouchWiz much, if at all, but if what they're saying is true, then I'm using an inferior Android version. Nothing wrong with admitting that. See how easy that was? I would love to have Sense have some of the features TouchWiz has.

Nothing wrong with admitting that if it's what you actually think.. your opinion is what matters, not what others are saying.

 

[jrswizzle]

Now, where is that Nexus 7 announcement?

And so far nothing about 4.3?

 

[matttye]

And so far nothing about 4.3?

It's not being announced. Some Google guy confirmed it.

http://www.techradar.com/news/phone...lime-pie-being-announced-at-google-io-1150977

 

[onthecouchagain]

But as it happens, you have to choose one or the other. Someone could write software for the S4 Touchwiz edition but not the S4 Google edition or vice versa. That is fragmentation.

Sorry for my ignorance, but is that really how it works? Developers develop apps for certain skins? I thought they just aim for the latest APIs that comes from Google, and gets them out. If stock Android is more available, doesn't this make things easier for them?

Why wouldn't an app created for stock Android run on TouchWiz that has the same exact hardware and screen resolution?

All genuine questions.

 

[YourAvgUser]

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

: backs away slowly :

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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.

Don't get me wrong, I love Google for working w/ Samsung and giving us this choice. This is one of the reasons I think Android is great, choices, and no one device HAS TO fit the user.

However, I was just pointing out the hypocracy in your arguement that iOS is inferior b/c it can't do the things Android can. And even if you choose not to use some of those functions iOS is still inferior. You can make the same argument with the GS4 versus the One and Google GS4.

 

[jrswizzle]

It's not being announced. Some Google guy confirmed it.

http://www.techradar.com/news/phone...lime-pie-being-announced-at-google-io-1150977

Gotcha....

 

[ChazUK]

If today was underwhelming for some of you, have you all already forgotten the Nokia and RIM keynotes yesterday?

 

[onthecouchagain]

Wasn't there also a whole bunch of new developer-friendly ... things... for developers? I was only half listening during the beginning of the keynote. Won't this help with fragmentation?

To be honest, I'm quite ignorant about the issue. As an end-user, I don't see the big fuss is about fragmentation, but as a developer, I can understand it would be frustrating.

 

[matttye]

Sorry for my ignorance, but is that really how it works? Developers develop apps for certain skins? I thought they just aim for the latest APIs that comes from Google, and gets them out. If stock Android is more available, doesn't this make things easier for them?

Why wouldn't an app created for stock Android run on TouchWiz that has the same exact hardware and screen resolution?

All genuine questions.

Right, and the Google version will get the latest version of Android long before the Touchwiz version does. It will also, in all likelihood, get more versions.

I could be wrong but I think that apps can be targeted for actual devices too. An app might want to take advantage of features/apps in the Touchwiz version not available in the Google version.

 

[walie]

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

This is the EXACT same scenario with the Nexus 4 and LG Optimus G. There were no issues there, people knew what phone they were getting

 

[jrswizzle]

I love it when Google uses an iPad for their tablet demonstrations....

 

[matttye]

This is the EXACT same scenario with the Nexus 4 and LG Optimus G. There were no issues there, people knew what phone they were getting

And?

 

[jrswizzle]

Is it just me or does this seem EXACTLY like an Apple keynote....were other I/Os presented like this?

 

[siurpeeman]

dynamic re-routing coming to google maps. it's about time.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Don't get me wrong, I love Google for working w/ Samsung and giving us this choice. This is one of the reasons I think Android is great, choices, and no one device HAS TO fit the user.

However, I was just pointing out the hypocracy in your arguement that iOS is inferior b/c it can't do the things Android can. And even if you choose not to use some of those functions iOS is still inferior. You can make the same argument with the GS4 versus the One and Google GS4.

I readily and happily admit that Sense is the inferior Android compared to TouchWiz. Not sure what hypocrisy you're talking about. I would love if Sense had the features TouchWiz had. I personally haven't used TouchWiz but if that's what you're saying, I believe you. Ultimately, they're both the same platform. It's a bit of different story when it comes to iOS vs Android.