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Is stock Android really all that great?
- Thread starter strausd
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Visual appearance
Gestures like swipe to call/text, palm swipe,
Features like pop up video/multi window
Customisable toggle bar
I used to be a fan of stock Android but over the last few months I am starting to prefer the Samsung layout
Mainly due to the look of the apps, I hate the over bearing white that Google are now using and not giving options with things and I am not really enjoying the card interface apps are using
I like to have my data stored at Google as it covers almost everything, but Google's apps for me are going downhill very quickly (not just the Android side of them)
Mainly due to the look of the apps, I hate the over bearing white that Google are now using and not giving options with things and I am not really enjoying the card interface apps are using
I like to have my data stored at Google as it covers almost everything, but Google's apps for me are going downhill very quickly (not just the Android side of them)
It has changed with the Google Edition - but another downside previously was the lack of MHL compatibility ... You had to have TW in order to use it.
In my opinion, stock android isn't worth the hype. I do understand why others will prefer stock over a skinned android though. I'm currently using a HTC One and it's pretty minimalistic. It's the closest thing to stock and I believe it's the best OEM skin thus far. It's really up to preference. Updates is the reason to go stock android. I'm still stuck on 4.1.2 on my AT&T one so what do I know.
Same here. CM just has everything that I want put in a nice package that works. I never had as much luck stability wise with AOKP or PA. I do have to say though, I do love me the features on PA.
Oh I think stock android is still a wonderful thing. My first Android phone was a T-Mobile G2 - it was sold as a phone that ran "almost entirely stock" froyo and was quickly updated to gingerbread.
I didn't understand the comments around here about bloatware at all - the only apps I considered bloat were a couple of t-mobile apps that never did anything.
That was, until I bought a Galaxy Note 2. Holy bloatware batman! On the very first power up, it advertised dropbox (or box.net, I forgot), it advertised samsung's cloud syncing service, I think it advertised kies, and then it dumped me to the launcher - touchwiz gives you a ton of hints and feedback "Drag this here to unlock! Check here if you don't want to see this hint again"
...
And then it had like 40 icons on the launcher screens.
Compared to the G2 there were at least 20 apps that were completely worthless junk to me.
So yeah, phones with "stock android" have an out of the box experience pretty similar to an iPhone. Phones that use a custom rom, well, who knows.
I didn't understand the comments around here about bloatware at all - the only apps I considered bloat were a couple of t-mobile apps that never did anything.
That was, until I bought a Galaxy Note 2. Holy bloatware batman! On the very first power up, it advertised dropbox (or box.net, I forgot), it advertised samsung's cloud syncing service, I think it advertised kies, and then it dumped me to the launcher - touchwiz gives you a ton of hints and feedback "Drag this here to unlock! Check here if you don't want to see this hint again"
...
And then it had like 40 icons on the launcher screens.
Compared to the G2 there were at least 20 apps that were completely worthless junk to me.
So yeah, phones with "stock android" have an out of the box experience pretty similar to an iPhone. Phones that use a custom rom, well, who knows.
Stock android is becoming less important because of the way android is updating their framework services, and apps individualy. But I still prefer the stock look over something like TW. I think HTC did a great job with sense 5, but that is about the only skin I can stand. Samsung just tries to do too much with TW. If HTC can keep it up. Then stock android for me will keep being less important, but if HTC goes away because they go under. It will be right back to stock again.
I will always keep a nexus device because I want the updates first, and see what Google has to offer. But Sense 5 is good enough for me to be happy without stock.
I will always keep a nexus device because I want the updates first, and see what Google has to offer. But Sense 5 is good enough for me to be happy without stock.
I get annoyed when people try a touchwiz device and then write off android in general based on that experience like they know what they are talking about.
Yea it is a shame, but some people don't know any better. Not all of them know anything other commercials on tv. If you want to blame anything. Blame Samsung for a terrible skin.
Well, after one day with my new Nexus 7 I changed my mind: yes, stock android is that great and important, at least on tablets.
Before buying it I tried the Note 8.0 and Tab 3 8.0 and they performed much worse than the Nexus 7. This one is just so fast and fluid that everything else seems worst.
Before buying it I tried the Note 8.0 and Tab 3 8.0 and they performed much worse than the Nexus 7. This one is just so fast and fluid that everything else seems worst.
Hey now let's not legitimize delayed updates here
And yes kudos to HTC.
I hope Samsung don't mess up 4.3 on the S4. Stock android 4.3 on the S4 GE has many bugs that I hope are not on the touchwiz version when it arrives.
I believe he's referring to the relatively broken support of SD cards in stock android. 4.3 brought changes to a particular permission required for write access in some apps. TLDR root is required for full SD card support, however its a very simple text edit change in a system file.
As far as the other bugs I'm not sure. I've read that the SD card change was intentional, if it is, that's BS, but I can believe it. I am loving my rooted stock GS4 GE though.
The GE roms for i9505 appear to have issues, I've read about inconsistent battery life. A full conversion to i9505g is still not possible so the experience between a flashed S4 and actual GE is likely different.
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ah. thanks. yeah, i don't use sd cards. though i might for photos. i'll have to research this. but google doesn't support sd cards anyway, right?
as for stock - other than the icons that need an update - it's cleaner looking and there's little bloat. i do think there are too many redundant google apps on it, but mostly it's a useful os and still customizable.
Exactly! I wish that the notification dropdown was just an app that could be easily replaced with the stock one. Maybe in the future...
Meh. Has there been any must have feature in any recent android releases. Not really. With android being so customizable it's not as big a deal as ios. Even if there is some new wiz bang feature that your device doesn't support, give it 2 weeks and there will be a crack, or app for it.
I would get a nexus if I was on a budget, and thats about it.
I would get a nexus if I was on a budget, and thats about it.
If Google keeps bringing new features for customization of more and more areas then this would be AMAZING. Maybe in the next updates they will allow customization of the notification center and all.
In 4.2 they allowed certain lockscreen customization with widgets. You can add weather, calendar, remote TV control, etc.
There was a rumor about themes coming in 4.4, so that could add more customization layers.
Sim lock often not working
HDR and other special camera modes not working with a broken / touch to focus in the camera
etc....
To tell you the truth I don't really know what the "true google experience" is. I see the same apps on Nexus and non-Nexus android powered phones. I just see a stock version of android that basically any themed android powered phone can get with a root and a rom.
I never got into the Nexus hype, not to mention themed versions usually have better battery life.
No offense to Nexus fans but a GS4 > Nexus by a mile imo
More useful features for day to day use
better battery life
better software for the camera
It's not really a contest, I think the Nexus is a developers phone for a small percent of android fans.
For the majority, it's not really a wise move. Sense-Touchwiz and even LG's crappy skin > Nexus
I think the G2 will destroy the Nexus 5 overall.
Don't bash, just imo
I never got into the Nexus hype, not to mention themed versions usually have better battery life.
No offense to Nexus fans but a GS4 > Nexus by a mile imo
More useful features for day to day use
better battery life
better software for the camera
It's not really a contest, I think the Nexus is a developers phone for a small percent of android fans.
For the majority, it's not really a wise move. Sense-Touchwiz and even LG's crappy skin > Nexus
I think the G2 will destroy the Nexus 5 overall.
Don't bash, just imo
I think Nexus phone make a great secondary phone if hardware is your emphasis. If software is your emphasis, then Nexus as the primary Android.
The prob is software can be fixed. Harder to fix or change hardware. If batt sucks, it sucks. If camera sucks, you are stuck with it and it will generally continue to suck.
Nexus phones are cheap though. They still have usefulness depending if software is mainly your thing. And I hate carrier branding/logos/bloatware. Buying a Nexus in the Google Play Store gets rid of that.
The rumored camera on the Nexus 5 sounds pretty cool. Just hope it takes decent shots and not just fast shots. There is not alot of hardware advantages from a Nexus phone. Many compromises to keep the price low.
Best bang for your buck when it comes to performance. But it truly is the vanilla ice cream or cheese pizza of the Android family without the toppings to give it that extra kick.
The prob is software can be fixed. Harder to fix or change hardware. If batt sucks, it sucks. If camera sucks, you are stuck with it and it will generally continue to suck.
Nexus phones are cheap though. They still have usefulness depending if software is mainly your thing. And I hate carrier branding/logos/bloatware. Buying a Nexus in the Google Play Store gets rid of that.
The rumored camera on the Nexus 5 sounds pretty cool. Just hope it takes decent shots and not just fast shots. There is not alot of hardware advantages from a Nexus phone. Many compromises to keep the price low.
Best bang for your buck when it comes to performance. But it truly is the vanilla ice cream or cheese pizza of the Android family without the toppings to give it that extra kick.
For those who don't want to root or hack AND want the latest and greatest from google then unfortunately Nexus is just about the only choice. I think it will be a great choice this year with few compromises.
Also, for those who want to buy off contract the Nexus is one of the best choices out there.
Also, for those who want to buy off contract the Nexus is one of the best choices out there.
