That would be nirvana! To be able to choose the features/options on first boot up.
I know there are some ROMs like that now that brings you though a menu and you can pick and choose the features and options you would like to have.
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Who's using touchwiz on new S6/edge
- Thread starter The Game 161
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I know there are some ROMs like that now that brings you though a menu and you can pick and choose the features and options you would like to have.
If only Samsung and LG released their relevant software as an separate app then we could easily wait for a good ROM on XDA and re-flash. Then just pick and choose what options you want direct from the OEM via the play store.
You do have options. You don't have to use TW. You can change all you want. Dialer, calender,etc. If it was pure Android you can do the same and I have because some pure Android things can be better just as some iOS things can be better.
The only thing I don't use on TW is the launcher. The rest I don't mind and I like some added features that you don't get with pure Android.
I didn't used to use the TW message app but its better now so I use it for those that I don't have on Hangouts.
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Certainly it's more available and a lot of folks enjoy Samsung's stock apps - however over the last few years there has been very much a March towards more stock aesthetics. Indeed the likes of Motorola and Sony are utilising many stock android apps as well as following the design ethos of android.
Samsung in its own ideal world would of course love us all to purchase music, films and apps via its dedicated store where it would gain a percentage - however it's stores haven't been hugely popular. It has replaced music store with Samsung Milk service and Chat On has been retired in most territories.
The fact that Samsung has been almost forced to retire some of its apps like watchon and replace them with standardised apps like Peel, certainly means that it's closer to googles vision of android than ever it has been.
However it's still probably the furthest away compared to other manufacturers.
Stock android devices themselves for many years were restricted to Nexus devices and these were sold in very few territories - even today the Nexus would still be considered a Niche product due to its limited availability compared to other devices. But what we are seeing alongside the likes of Moto & Sony embracing near stock experiences is that new manufacturers in growing territories such as India & China pushing out devices with pretty much stock android. The problem though with these cheap devices is many are a generation old when it comes to software.
But saying all that - certainly many Samsung users do buy Samsung over others because they have grown a familiarity with Touchwiz.
TW is not perfect. Could use a few tweaks and slimming down. Make some of the features an additional free DL from Samsung. But it is hands down more feature rich and pleasant to use than vanilla Android.
TW aesthetically just looks awful. And most of the features the "layman" really won't use. I love new features but even I thought the eye scrolling feature was dumb..
I have never used the eye scrolling. But I use the voice feature to take pictures on my Note 4 all the time. I wish my iPhone had that feature as well. It is quite useful to take pictures by just saying "shoot".
Stock Touchwiz here. Tried other launchers, message apps, whatever but in the end i tend to revert back to stock TW.
I find little endearing about the vanilla android experience, and if that is the route Samsung took I probably would never buy another Galaxy phone and would just stay with Apple.
I find little endearing about the vanilla android experience, and if that is the route Samsung took I probably would never buy another Galaxy phone and would just stay with Apple.
Everyone does.
Touchwiz isn't just the launcher, it's the entire fork of Android that Samsung uses.
Samsung changes just about everything google provides in Android, but does it JUST enough to still be official Android and support google services.
So far, I don't think there are any custom, non-touchwiz roms for the S6. Though i'm sure they'll come eventually (They better).
I personally cannot stand touchwiz and the changes Samsung has made. the second Cyanogen is out for the s6, I'm switching. It's not so much lag (there's a little noticable if youv'e come from a nexus device). But the changes to the UI of Touchwiz frustrate me to no end.
The Notification drawer is ugly, and wastes 1/2 your available display real-estate because of the pulldown for quick toggles. (Stock Android has a different gesture to bring down quick toggles, leaving your notification space 100% for notifications)
the rounded buttons also don't fit the rest of the Material Design theme. The Options menu is more convoluted, and options are burried behind more clicks. the Lock screen is dumbed down and doesn't display Album/media art from whatever media player you are using. You cannot change several default apps, such as what clock Touchwiz defaults to using. The flipboard style page on the default launcher has a 2-3 second lag when switching back to your homescreen. There are default apps you cannot remove at all, or disable.
And resources it takes up are just pathetic. fresh, brand new S6 takes approximately 1.7GB of RAM of the 3GB. in comparison to Stock nexus which is < 1gb. for filespace, Touchwiz uses 6gb of your storage, stock uses <3 gb
simply put, Even though 5.0 touchwiz is a dramatic improvement over look/feel of the 4.4 variant, it is still a ridiculous, bloated, laggy mess that in no way accurately represents Google's own Android.
Touchwiz isn't just the launcher, it's the entire fork of Android that Samsung uses.
Samsung changes just about everything google provides in Android, but does it JUST enough to still be official Android and support google services.
So far, I don't think there are any custom, non-touchwiz roms for the S6. Though i'm sure they'll come eventually (They better).
I personally cannot stand touchwiz and the changes Samsung has made. the second Cyanogen is out for the s6, I'm switching. It's not so much lag (there's a little noticable if youv'e come from a nexus device). But the changes to the UI of Touchwiz frustrate me to no end.
The Notification drawer is ugly, and wastes 1/2 your available display real-estate because of the pulldown for quick toggles. (Stock Android has a different gesture to bring down quick toggles, leaving your notification space 100% for notifications)
the rounded buttons also don't fit the rest of the Material Design theme. The Options menu is more convoluted, and options are burried behind more clicks. the Lock screen is dumbed down and doesn't display Album/media art from whatever media player you are using. You cannot change several default apps, such as what clock Touchwiz defaults to using. The flipboard style page on the default launcher has a 2-3 second lag when switching back to your homescreen. There are default apps you cannot remove at all, or disable.
And resources it takes up are just pathetic. fresh, brand new S6 takes approximately 1.7GB of RAM of the 3GB. in comparison to Stock nexus which is < 1gb. for filespace, Touchwiz uses 6gb of your storage, stock uses <3 gb
simply put, Even though 5.0 touchwiz is a dramatic improvement over look/feel of the 4.4 variant, it is still a ridiculous, bloated, laggy mess that in no way accurately represents Google's own Android.
i would love it.
I'm of the mindset, that I bought the hardware. I OWN IT. not samsung, apple, HTC. I sshould have the right to choose exactly what software and OS i install to that hardware.
If I want to install Windows? Unix? Android?
I should have that right, as long as the software can support that hardware.
I could not agree more! When did that change? I mean it is my hardware. I have means to prove ownership. why can't I do with it whatever i want? with it. If I break it and it no longer works on their network. Oh well I am outta luck then.
But isn't that actually still the case? If the boot loader can be cracked/unlocked and you can than subsequently install different firmware or another OS, what's stopping you now? I understand OEMs are doing their best to lock this all down and it's certainly there prerogative to do so, isn't it? These restrictions are basically a condition of the hardware they're selling you--if you don't like it, you don't have to purchase that particular piece of hardware. If you can crack their software and want to modify it to your heart's content, what's stopping you (save maybe any licensing on your software of choice)?
The rights you seek concerning the software applies in both directions, doesn't it? Don't the OEMs have a right to put in place the specific software they see fit to run on that hardware? Again, nobody's forcing you to buy your hardware from them. If you don't like the hardware/software combo, you're certainly free to assemble your own hardware and run whatever software you deem fit.
You're right it can be done now. But thye make it very hard to crack or find exploits to do so. I understand their reason and have no objections to them locking down all devices. It provides a level of security we all can enjoy these days.
But I also want them to provide a direct path to unlock those security measures if I so choose. It is my device and i paid for it. If i want unlock it and void my warranty then I should be able to do that. I mean I can go to the OEM/carrier site and agree to the terms and conditions.
I would love to have CM on my N4 on Verizon.