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Why do you think people aren't buying the "pure" Android experience?
- Thread starter GKDAIR
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Well actually, no you cant, not until a developer like CM creates a AOSP port for the specific hardware. This is not as easy as people would have you think. The trouble CM were having making the port for the S4 was crazy, go and check out XDA.
Most of the CM ports are first done by individuals over at places like XDA. And they use ASOP as a sloppy starting point. That's how some devices get a alpha release of the newest version of Android in the first two weeks.
CyanogenMod IS ASOP with extra features and tweaks. The problems came from the hardware and drivers that Samsung uses in their ROM.
Yes i know, but you cant just use AOSP code and whack it on a Samsung S4 and have it work out of the box, like you said getting the drivers to work correctly is the hard part. This is why in the S4's case, its great that Samsung and Google are getting the drivers all working correctly so devs like CM can use it as a base to create a stable aftermarket rom.
pure google devices are used by google to deliver the newest OS rev. It's not meant to be over-speced. It is meant to be the proof of concept of how the hardware and software upgrade should meld together to make a device. Most consumers don't care about the purity that is Android, they want screen size, specs, and facebook sync with contacts (a feature that was removed from pure google many moons ago).
The hardware isn't going to be any different. It's the same device, just with the ASOP rom. You could easily just root it, make a backup in CWM, and then restore it to another S4.
If a phone is based on the same hardware as another, you can easily interchange ROMs. Doesn't matter for the most part. I run a CM10.1 ROM on my phone that is meant for a device with a much bigger screen.
Im not really sure where you are trying to go with this lol. Aosp roms, at least on samsung/exynos based phones, require some ugly hacks to get them working right since Samsung uses proprietary drivers, the devs basically have to write code from scratch and this takes months. Even then there are some things that aren't fully functional. That is why the Google edition S4 is so great for the Dev community as Samsung know the proprietary driver better then any Dev and can get Vanilla Android running flawlessly on the Samsung Hardware.
Google edition = ASOP
Once someone gets ahold of the S4 with the Google experience ROM, all it takes is a root, installation of CWM, and a backup. Plus a simple post of it to XDA.
Then anyone with a rooted S4 can simply flash that with no problem.
Yes i agree totally. I think we were talking about different things
I was talking about getting an AOSP based rom like CM running on the standard S4 without the help of the S4 google edition.
Yes i agree totally. I think we were talking about different things
No problem.
Another reason why I won't buy a "pure" Android phone is that they're all the same. Besides Google Wallet support and the different cameras there's nothing different to them once you load another ROM in. The build, sure, but it's something you keep in your pocket.
In fact, I have even made a commitment to myself to never buy another mid range or high end Android phone once my 5S breaks (it will after a year, trust me
) and I need another mid-contract device. I'm really enjoying my low end right now, and while most people are complaining about the horrible battery life on their 4G devices, I'm enjoying all-day battery life with heavy usage, I'm enjoying my overclocked CPU, and I'm really digging CM10.1. And that's coming from a S2 Skyrocket with a MUCH bigger screen and beautiful 8MP camera! 
No problem.
Another reason why I won't buy a "pure" Android phone is that they're all the same. Besides Google Wallet support and the different cameras there's nothing different to them once you load another ROM in. The build, sure, but it's something you keep in your pocket.
In fact, I have even made a commitment to myself to never buy another mid range or high end Android phone once my 5S breaks (it will after a year, trust me
I think the google edition s4 ( or a aosp flashed sd600 gs4) would give you even better battery than your phone you have now and would perform much better. There will obviously be touchwiz ports for it as well if you want variety for ROMs.
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Yeah as long as its a snapdragon one. Exynos people are SOL. Luckily like 90% of the s4s sold world wide are the snapdragon version.
What is the definition of a pure android device, and a locked android device? I'm confused.
As everyone said it's a combo of bad marketing. But also ppl wanting that pure android exp. and willing to pay a premium for it. But what would be the point of buying a nexus, if you could buy most android phones on contract and slap a custom rom with pure android on it? That is the route I'd go if I owned an android.
There are a few reasons why people would want to buy a nexus over a normal "locked down" android phone and slap an AOSP rom on it.
1. The low price and the fact it's not locked into a contract.
2. Pure Android is made to run on Nexus devices, it is rare to find an AOSP based rom that runs flawlessly on Phones like the Samsung Galaxy and the HTC range. The new Google edition phones are an exception.
3. For people that don't want to root their phones a Nexus device receives the latest Google updates way before the skinned phones get them.
Except for waiting longer after an OS source release for the community builds to become stable and the complete lack of warranty support for software issues?
Carriers don't want people to know about the pure Android phones because they are unlocked. They don't want you to be able to travel on vacation and buy a local SIM card. They want you to spend a lot of money on roaming charges.
T-Mobile don't mind selling the Nexus 4. They just don't tell you it is unlocked or if you ask about it being unlocked, they will tell you it isn't.
They could also just not know it is unlocked.
I am actually excited for this.. I will have another "Nexus" on Verizonwireless.
This is an easy question.
1. The devices are never the latest and greatest. With the possible exception of the Galaxy Nexus, the nexus phones have never been released with the fastest processors, nicest displays or largest around of memory.
The Nexus S was released right around the time that Samsung put out the Galaxy S II.
The Galaxy Nexus was the top android phone for a few months... but Google seriously screwed up its release. It was a delayed Verizon exclusive for many months. By time the unlocked HSPA+ version was available in the USA, the Galaxy S3 had been released.
2. Subsidies usually don't exist for the Nexus phones.
3. There aren't Nexus commercials
4. It is extremely difficult to get your hands on a Nexus phone to decide if you want to buy it. I don't know about you, but I don't usually spend hundreds of dollars on an item that I will use everyday that I cannot put my hands on first.
I have to agree with the marketing issues though... First tablet I ever purchased was a Galaxy Tab for my girlfriend, because of hearing about all the stuff that can be done with them and the SD card(which I later found out was crap).
The only reason I purchased a Nexus 7 was because I happened across THIS, and decided I must have it in my Cougar. That having been said I LOVE my Nexus and my next android tablet will be whatever the successor to the Nexus 7 is.
The masses think android and a "droid" phone are the same thing.
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There actually are, but they only get played during big events.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgO3TQRCZC0
thats the first time I have ever seen that.. reminds me of an apple commercial