Molly Wood: "Dear Android: This is your last chance"

[*LTD*]

Regardless of Molly's opinion, the problem is still what it's always been:

An uncontrolled ecosystem where there is no optimization will always provide an inferior User Experience (User Experience is *not* subjective) to a controlled ecosystem that is optimized in terms of synergy between hardware+software.

An ocean of phones (in the guise of "choice") vs. a simple lineup of one or two distinct, optimized models - whose software and hardware is controlled by the same source at all points, from cradle to grave.

This is why the iPhone does as well as it does, with one or at most two models. This is why even a lowly 3GS outsells newer Android models.

Google made the Moto purchase for a reason (hopefully to implement some control.) And we'll see just how serious they are about a little vertical integration goodness.

 

[boss.king]

The rebuttal to the dumbass known as Molly http://bit.ly/o2n278

Wow, that's quite a rebuttal indeed

I have to day, I've always liked Android, but only briefly owned a device running it. I love the OS, but I can see it has quite a few flaws (as does any OS). I think if Google were to put a bit more of a stranglehold on what manufacturers could do with it, and then focus on cleaning it up rather than just slamming in feature after feature it would be great. I'm excited to see ICS in action, and I hope Google has got some magic up their sleeves.

EDIT: Just saw that she writes for CNET. That should instantly take away much of the credibility of this article. They're in pretty much the same league as Gizmodo.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

Wow, that's quite a rebuttal indeed

I have to day, I've always liked Android, but only briefly owned a device running it. I love the OS, but I can see it has quite a few flaws (as does any OS). I think if Google were to put a bit more of a stranglehold on what manufacturers could do with it, and then focus on cleaning it up rather than just slamming in feature after feature it would be great. I'm excited to see ICS in action, and I hope Google has got some magic up their sleeves.

EDIT: Just saw that she writes for CNET. That should instantly take away much of the credibility of this article. They're in pretty much the same league as Gizmodo.

Come on do not insult Gizmodo by putting them in the same level as CNet. Gizmodo is crap but by far better than CNet.

 

[boss.king]

Come on do not insult Gizmodo by putting them in the same level as CNet. Gizmodo is crap but by far better than CNet.

Haha, true, at least Gizmodo have tidbits of information, Cnet just has opinions and specs

 

[ravenvii]

Come on do not insult Gizmodo by putting them in the same level as CNet. Gizmodo is crap but by far better than CNet.

It's funny, though - CNet used to be the best site to go to for tech reviews.

They've fallen pretty far.

 

[LethalWolfe]

An uncontrolled ecosystem where there is no optimization will always provide an inferior User Experience (User Experience is *not* subjective) to a controlled ecosystem that is optimized in terms of synergy between hardware+software.

Of course user experience is subjective.


Lethal

 

[Abstract]

My Samsung Galaxy II has a better, more useful OS than my iPhone. It may not be as "safe", or as "simple" (both benefits), but it allows me to do a lot more, choose any options I like, and arrange things the way I like it. There are things I can do on a Samsung that simply aren't possible on an iPhone today, or in the future. Doesn't matter if I compare my phone today with an iPhone 5, 6, or even 7.

Does my Android phone have flaws? Sure it does. My Android frustrates me in ways that an iOS phone never would. I had an app that was sapping all my battery power unexpectedly. Having said that, my iOS frustrates me by being flaccid and limp, unable to do simple things because Apple wants to lock it down.

I read a comment elsewhere from someone who is a serious IT person, but goes IOS for his phones. He said "I don't want to bring my work home."

Wow, it's been decided then.

 

[*LTD*]

Of course user experience is subjective.


Lethal

It isn't.

It doesn't simply vary from user to user. Apple is known for creating user-centric experiences. Everyone else is known for creating the opposite, or rather not to the level Apple does. Reputations don't happened by accident. Something gets reproduced consistently in the User Experience.

Vertical business model vs. horizontal business model. One model is ideal for a user-centric experience consistently, while the other makes it far more difficult to achieve consistently.

Put the pieces of the Apple puzzle together. Look at what's behind their success. It will be things the other players tend to lack.

This doesn't have to be difficult. The whole "it varies from person to person" is a nice and diplomatic thing to say, but it completely ignores basic social psychology. Apple's success with user-centric design is the most reproducible from user to user in the industry. It's why they're known for it.

 

[boss.king]

It isn't.

It doesn't simply vary from user to user. Apple is known for creating user-centric experiences. Everyone else is known for creating the opposite, or rather not to the level Apple does. Reputations don't happened by accident. Something gets reproduced consistently in the User Experience.

Vertical business model vs. horizontal business model. One model is ideal for a user-centric experience consistently, while the other makes it far more difficult to achieve consistently.

Put the pieces of the Apple puzzle together. Look at what's behind their success. It will be things the other players tend to lack.

This doesn't have to be difficult. The whole "it varies from person to person" is a nice and diplomatic thing to say, but it completely ignores basic social psychology. Apple's success with user-centric design is the most reproducible from user to user in the industry. It's why they're known for it.

The value of the user experience is subjective though. Not everyone finds a certain layout to be of exactly equal usefulness and intuitiveness. Also, what does " Apple's success with user-centric design is the most reproducible from user to user in the industry" actually mean? How is it more reproducible than any other OS design? That's just a string of gibberish.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

The value of the user experience is subjective though. Not everyone finds a certain layout to be of exactly equal usefulness and intuitiveness. Also, what does " Apple's success with user-centric design is the most reproducible from user to user in the industry" actually mean? How is it more reproducible than any other OS design? That's just a string of gibberish.

you need to remember LTD gave up having any mind of his own a long time ago. He believe Apple tells him what is best.

 

[SevenInchScrew]

Been away from this section of MR for a while. Good to see it's still the same dozen or so people here mindlessly blathering about why their platform of choice is best, and choosing something else is simple ignorance.

*Edit* - I'm just going to -1 myself, to keep things going as usual

 

[LethalWolfe]

It isn't.

Um, yes it is.

It doesn't simply vary from user to user.

Sure it does.

I think you are falsely assuming that if enough people like something some sort of critical mass is reached and their collective opinion somehow turns into a fact.

Maybe an analogy will help clear this up.

Coke is the besting selling soda in the US is an objective statement. It can be proven looking at sales numbers.

Coke is the best tasting soda in the US is a subjective statement. It can't be proven that Coke tastes best because it boils down to personal preference. Which soda tastes best is an opinion.

The fact that Coke is the best selling soda (objective) doesn't mean that it's the best tasting soda (subjective).


Lethal

 

[Tilpots]

^^Coke FTW! A million people can't be wrong.

A couple of objective statements:

1. Apple owns 50% of the mobile handset maker PROFITS.
2. Apple just sold over one MILLION phones in a 24 hour period. (See above Coke reference )

 

[Abstract]

LethalWolfe just made too much sense.

 

[*LTD*]

Um, yes it is.


Sure it does.

I think you are falsely assuming that if enough people like something some sort of critical mass is reached and their collective opinion somehow turns into a fact.

Maybe an analogy will help clear this up.

Coke is the besting selling soda in the US is an objective statement. It can be proven looking at sales numbers.

Coke is the best tasting soda in the US is a subjective statement. It can't be proven that Coke tastes best because it boils down to personal preference. Which soda tastes best is an opinion.

The fact that Coke is the best selling soda (objective) doesn't mean that it's the best tasting soda (subjective).


Lethal

This is not about a food item.

There are objective standards (implied, unfortunately) that exist for usability in terms of interface design and software/hardware ecosystem.

You compare a fleshed out, mature horizontal business model to a fleshed out, mature vertical business model, and it's no contest. Vertical integration is the superior system from a usability standpoint.

Personal preference does not play into this.

 

[roadbloc]

Personal preference does not play into this.

It sort of does thought doesn't it? Hence why some people prefer OS X over Windows or Android over iOS.

"Whatever works for the user" which is posted many many times by many many posters sort of implies that personal preference does play a massive part in what tech people choose.

You're (sort of) implying that them who don't choose iOS devices don't have an opinion. In fact, that's a lie, I have no idea what you're trying to prove that personal preference in tech doesn't exist.

 

[*LTD*]

It sort of does thought doesn't it? Hence why some people prefer OS X over Windows or Android over iOS.

This is true.

It is also true that not everyone can tell an Amontillado from sherry.

 

[LethalWolfe]

This is not about a food item.

If you have a 4S I suggest you ask Siri what the meaning of "analogy" is.

There are objective standards (implied, unfortunately) that exist for usability in terms of interface design and software/hardware ecosystem.

Just because something is designed on objective standards doesn't mean that the end result is not judged in an subjective manor.

Personal preference does not play into this.

Sure it does. Just because Apple makes an ecosystem doesn't mean that everyone will like it.


Lethal

 

[MorphingDragon]

If you have a 4S I suggest you ask Siri what the meaning of "analogy" is.

An Analogy only works when the two objects are related.

Food >< Technology is a rubbish analogy.

... There is also lots AND LOTS of research going into formally verifying and testing the interface for software. Soon it will be possible to objectively judge HCI components in programs.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

An Analogy only works when the two objects are related.

Food >< Technology is a rubbish analogy.

... There is also lots AND LOTS of research going into formally verifying and testing the interface for software. Soon it will be possible to objectively judge HCI components in programs.

expect in this case it does. It was comparing was based on personal taste. In this case it was a perfect analogy.

 

[MorphingDragon]

expect in this case it does. It was comparing was based on personal taste. In this case it was a perfect analogy.

Food is essential, Technology isn't.

The statistics are also rubbish. The overview doesn't account for the skew from some places only having Coca-Cola products available. In a lot of shops, events and dairies Coca-Cola products are the ONLY choice, regardless if one prefers Pepsi to coke.

 

[LethalWolfe]

An Analogy only works when the two objects are related.

Food >< Technology is a rubbish analogy.

... There is also lots AND LOTS of research going into formally verifying and testing the interface for software. Soon it will be possible to objectively judge HCI components in programs.

The analogy centers around the idea of personal preference, what two things are being compared is not relevant. If you don't like food then see my ergonomics analogy.

You can put as much science, as much objective measurement into something as humanly possible but the minute you walk up to someone and ask "Which do you think is better?" you are in the land of personal opinion which is subjective.

Why does it seem so hard for people to tell the difference between a provable fact and an opinion?

Food is essential, Technology isn't.

The statistics are also rubbish. The overview doesn't account for the skew from some places only having Coca-Cola products available. In a lot of shops, events and dairies Coca-Cola products are the ONLY choice, regardless if one prefers Pepsi to coke.

How is the fact that Coke sells more than Pepsi in the US rubbish? If Coke is more widely available than Pepsi that could be part of the reason why Coke is the number 1 sell but that doesn't impact the fact that it is the number one seller. I'm not saying Coke is better and that's why it's the number one seller I'm just stating the fact that it's the number one seller.


Lethal

 

[MorphingDragon]

The analogy centers around the idea of personal preference, what two things are being compared is not relevant. If you don't like food then see my ergonomics analogy.

You can put as much science, as much objective measurement into something as humanly possible but the minute you walk up to someone and ask "Which do you think is better?" you are in the land of personal opinion which is subjective.

Why does it seem so hard for people to tell the difference between a provable fact and an opinion?

How is the fact that Coke sells more than Pepsi in the US rubbish? If Coke is more widely available than Pepsi that could be part of the reason why Coke is the number 1 sell but that doesn't impact the fact that it is the number one seller. I'm not saying Coke is better and that's why it's the number one seller I'm just stating the fact that it's the number one seller.


Lethal

The statistics in the analogy are flawed, therefore the analogy itself is flawed.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

The statistics in the analogy are flawed, therefore the analogy itself is flawed.

To me it seems you are attacking the analogy more because you hate android and proves LTD entire argument is flawed. Fact that you have not gone after LTD and this little post below from another thread shows volumes.

iOS > WP7 > Android.

I loathe everything about Android. Its UI. Its Development tools. I couldn't care for the phones. The fact that to restore a Android phone isn't a simple task is a major deal breaker for a developer.

Still waiting for the Nokia WP7s.

 

[boss.king]

Food is essential, Technology isn't.

Water is essential. Coke is not. Coke is a luxury just like a phone is a luxury, the analogy fits perfectly.