Android Disenchantment...

[chanchan05]

There's a whole bunch of early 2011 phones still waiting for ICS. There are entry level phones just recently released with HALF the specs if those 16 month old phones. They have ICS. So if you want to use profit as your argument go ahead. Don't use specs. As far as profit goes, all the other mobile OS will likely be making their own hardware next year.

I hope Samsung, Motorola, HTC all pay the piper for their greed when that happens.

Half the specs? Sounds like you don't know your specs. Those a 1Ghz phone from early 2011 is slower than a 1Ghz phone made in 2012 due to hardware technology advances. They're using different processors. Take for example the new SnapDragon S4 dual core chipset. Its dual core but the performance is equivalent to the Exynos 4412 QUAD core. For older phones, Samsung already announced that several won't be getting ICS because they're not powerful enough to run ICS+TW overlay together. And that users should just go get a custom ROM. As to how much different a clean Android ROM from Samsung is different from just loading a custom ROM, I have no idea. Which is also why I can't see the point in asking Samsung for a clean ROM when there are already several available. Plus Samsung is connected with the CyanogenMod team, so unlikely they'll release their own version IMO.

 

[Rxpert83]

Half the specs? Sounds like you don't know your specs. Those a 1Ghz phone from early 2011 is slower than a 1Ghz phone made in 2012 due to hardware technology advances. They're using different processors. Take for example the new SnapDragon S4 dual core chipset. Its dual core but the performance is equivalent to the Exynos 4412 QUAD core. For older phones, Samsung already announced that several won't be getting ICS because they're not powerful enough to run ICS+TW overlay together. And that users should just go get a custom ROM. As to how much different a clean Android ROM from Samsung is different from just loading a custom ROM, I have no idea. Which is also why I can't see the point in asking Samsung for a clean ROM when there are already several available. Plus Samsung is connected with the CyanogenMod team, so unlikely they'll release their own version IMO.

Ding ding ding. Not comparing apples to apples

 

[omnius]

Several dual core phones came out in q2 2011 with 1GB RAM and 16 GB internal storage. You could pick one up right now for around $200-250 brand new in box where I live.

OTOH the HTC One V just came out with single core, 512 MB RAM, and 4 GB storage. For $300.

I rest my case.

 

[chanchan05]

Several dual core phones came out in q2 2011 with 1GB RAM and 16 GB internal storage. You could pick one up right now for around $200-250 brand new in box where I live.

OTOH the HTC One V just came out with single core, 512 MB RAM, and 4 GB storage. For $300.

I rest my case.

Rest your case on what? HTC announced that it will not be upgrading phones with limited internal memory because upgrading it to ICS would mean a reordering of the internal memory system and reallocation, which basically means it will delete all data in the phone. HTC takes into account its users who aren't rooted as well who may lose important data in the process. There is more to updating devices than just slapping new software in there.

Basically you are making arguments based on your limited knowledge of the fact. Any phone with limited internal SYSTEM memory allocated cannot be upgraded to ICS without possible bad side effects.

 

[omnius]

Rest your case on what? HTC announced that it will not be upgrading phones with limited internal memory because upgrading it to ICS would mean a reordering of the internal memory system and reallocation, which basically means it will delete all data in the phone. HTC takes into account its users who aren't rooted as well who may lose important data in the process. There is more to updating devices than just slapping new software in there.

Basically you are making arguments based on your limited knowledge of the fact. Any phone with limited internal SYSTEM memory allocated cannot be upgraded to ICS without possible bad side effects.

There's so much comedy in being put in my place with a post like this. The reason it's so funny to be told to check my facts, told I have "limited knowledge " etc is because of how your hat is going to taste when you take what would have been a terribly easy trip over to see what version of android is on the One V. After all, it's ONLY the phone I named in the post you're replying to...
Funny in an ironic kind of way dontcha think? Oui? Non?

/guffaw.

 

[chanchan05]

There's so much comedy in being put in my place with a post like this. The reason it's so funny to be told to check my facts, told I have "limited knowledge " etc is because of how your hat is going to taste when you take what would have been a terribly easy trip over to see what version of android is on the One V. After all, it's ONLY the phone I named in the post you're replying to...
Funny in an ironic kind of way dontcha think? Oui? Non?

/guffaw.

That it (One V) is on ICS? I knew that. You could also throw the Desire C with its 600Mhz chip and ICS out of the box. Did you also know that if you update an HTC Desire HD to ICS via official route, it would get reformatted, leading to loss of data due to internal system folder and partition rearrangement required? Basically the reason why HTC announced that it won't be updating that model?

There is more to updates than just slapping on the OS. Ever wonder why many custom ROMs aren't as stable on release or have more non-working features compared to manufacturer ROMs? Because of lack of funding/manpower/time. They are competing with each other to get the ROMs as fast out as possible, whereas manufacturers can take their sweet time in getting the OS as optimized as possible to the device in addition to their own skinning of course.

Honestly I don't see it as greed on their part. With HTC's argument, I could respect that. I won't want to plug in my device to my computer to hit update, to only find out that it would wipe everything. Not everyone roots their phone and makes Nandroid backups. A lot of people don't. Possibly even the majority. Sending an update like that could cause a disaster.

Or perhaps you were referring to greed as the part where they don't seem to do research for an update at all (yes LG and your Optimus 2X, where is ICS?). Considering that LG isn't really doing well on sales, this should be expected. They got no money to spare on doing research for devices that did not rake in money. Only HTC, Samsung and Sony are making update releases, mainly because they have the cash to spare. Its not greed IMO. Its a business. No one in his right mind will throw money at a device that lost money. They need to compete with the devices out now, and wasting money on old devices isn't exactly the way to compete better. Its a way to hasten yourself to bankrupcy.

So yes, I am saying you have limited knowledge in asking for updates willy nilly. Its not just simply about whether a phone or not is capable of getting an official update based on specs. There's more to it that. But then the beauty of Android is that you can always get a clean custom ROM of the latest version if you want it.

 

[rui-no-onna]

- Automatic brightness doesn't work. Had to get a 3rd party app (Lux) to get this functionality. It didn't work worth a damn with the Droid X either. Whey have this option if you aren't going to put any effort into making it work?

Admittedly wonky implementation on some devices. The screen on my Live Walkman flickers whenever my fingers pass over the light sensor.

- Home screen doesn't rotate. WTH? This seems pretty basic and yet here we are today - after multiple versions - and it still doesn't get-r-done. Another 3rd party app to the rescue - this time Ultimate Rotation.

At least you have 3rd party apps you can use to get this working on Android. On iPhone, you'd have to jailbreak.

- The built in alarm clock. Another basic function that should "just work" but doesn't. No matter what I've tried I cannot get the snooze to work on it. Here again another 3rd party app was required - Alarm Clock Extreme.

Working fine for me.

- Wifi settings - Keep Wi-Fi on during sleep... Forget it... doesn't seem to do anything... Tasker to the rescue here...

Working fine here, too.

I don't know. I've never been a big fan of Apple's paradigm, but after feeling like I've paid a fair chunk of change the last couple of years to be nothing more than a Google software beta tester, I'm starting to wonder...

Apple's okay if you want something simple and can work within the limitations of the OS. However, it does lose a lot of the flexibility Android offers (unless you jailbreak).

 

[JoeCanuck]

I agree with the opening poster 100%...and snotty, 'just buy and iphone then' replies are infantile. Like the OP, I'm above average tech savvy...but when I buy something, I actually expect the built in features to work. If they don't work, don't claim they do.

I have a half a dozen browsers that will stream a show front to back only if I'm very lucky. Some dialogue boxes work...some don't. Yahoo mail and even Gmail won't let me reply in rich text...if at all. I am unable to fill the subject line on yahoo mail without cutting and pasting.

Instead of childish retortes, maybe consider for a second that people point out the flaws in Android in the hopes that they will get fixed. It's not a matter of bitching for its own sake. I have rooted and installed new software on one of my devices and while pretentious wankers may deride my efforts...it was a pain in the butt to just discover where to look for information...and a whole new set of pains to get instructions on how to install it.

What's wrong with admitting there are things actually not working with Android? There are also things that don't work with ipads and iphones as well...but istuff is smoother and more reliable...right out of the box.

Yes, I have tried both...and actually discuss devices with others...so I do know of what I speak...though it is from my perspective.

Frankly, neither works nearly as well as my crappy 6 year old pc running xp. Both my phone and my tablet have hardware specs better than that pc yet I only need 1 browser which does everything on my pc...and I need 6 which won't do everything on my phones and tablet.

Streaming...how hard is that? Reply boxes...why the inconsistency?

I know...I know...if I don't like it, just get an iphone...what a clever, innovative, well thought out solution that is. That attitude is sure to make Android infinitely better lickety split.

Most people who buy an Android device don't even know about rooting...they haven't heard of it, don't care about it and will never be interested in it. They are the vast majority of consumers...and if they have to spend a lot of their own time and effort just getting their device to do what it claims it can right out of the box...they will go elsewhere next time.

That's what killed windows me and Vista...and cost microsoft billions. It just didn't work. XP eventually did work and 7 does work...which is what people want.

The number one thing people do online is browse...right up there is stream. No Android browser does either consistently. To beat windows and IOC in the long run, it will have to, otherwise it will end up relegated to the bargain bins with other Linux distros that were once heralded as the next windows killer.

 

[swbca21]

I haven't had as many problem with Android as you, but iPhone is too locked up. I bought one for my wife, great quality, but I couldn't live with it myself. iPhone doesn't even have ring profiles.

Off topic, but I went from Galaxy S to Nexus S then to Galaxy S3. Google could learn a lot from Sansung in my opinion. It is a great relief to get back to improved built-in interfaces, apps and better video format support provided by Samsung. I have had it with plain Andriod . . . but really like the Galaxy S3.

 

[Rxpert83]

Streaming issues are most likely the result of your carriers

 

[JoeCanuck]

Nope...not using carriers...wifi only....with very good signal strength. The last time was this morning sitting 4 feet from the wireless router.

Works fine with a win 7 machine...same site, same program.

 

[!on]

In my experience early roms were'nt that great. Couldn't wait for the update to fix my problems so rooted & custom rom. Many of the custom roms have extra functionality like changing the auto brighness sensor settings. The things the OP said not working sound like a bad rom, they work normally for most people.

I get the impression many of the devs have bettered the stock roms, but what we need to remember is we're getting a lot more in a smartphone today than we used to get with the original BB, SPV, pocket PC or Symbian devices.

 

[omnius]

I agree with the opening poster 100%...and snotty, 'just buy and iphone then' replies are infantile. Like the OP, I'm above average tech savvy...but when I buy something, I actually expect the built in features to work. If they don't work, don't claim they do.

I have a half a dozen browsers that will stream a show front to back only if I'm very lucky. Some dialogue boxes work...some don't. Yahoo mail and even Gmail won't let me reply in rich text...if at all. I am unable to fill the subject line on yahoo mail without cutting and pasting.

Instead of childish retortes, maybe consider for a second that people point out the flaws in Android in the hopes that they will get fixed. It's not a matter of bitching for its own sake. I have rooted and installed new software on one of my devices and while pretentious wankers may deride my efforts...it was a pain in the butt to just discover where to look for information...and a whole new set of pains to get instructions on how to install it.

What's wrong with admitting there are things actually not working with Android? There are also things that don't work with ipads and iphones as well...but istuff is smoother and more reliable...right out of the box.

Yes, I have tried both...and actually discuss devices with others...so I do know of what I speak...though it is from my perspective.

Frankly, neither works nearly as well as my crappy 6 year old pc running xp. Both my phone and my tablet have hardware specs better than that pc yet I only need 1 browser which does everything on my pc...and I need 6 which won't do everything on my phones and tablet.

Streaming...how hard is that? Reply boxes...why the inconsistency?

I know...I know...if I don't like it, just get an iphone...what a clever, innovative, well thought out solution that is. That attitude is sure to make Android infinitely better lickety split.

This.

One thing I've noticed in these kinds of threads is that there are several apologists who will go to great lengths to make excuses for companies they don't even work for (presumably), or will flat out plunk their head in the sand.

I'm as confused as you are. What motivation is there to drive someone to make excuses or deny a shortcoming rather than wanting to improve or fix it, thereby improving their own experience if it were to be addressed? I see this backwards mentality on every platform's tech forums. Is it just fanboyism? I don't know.

Some of the replies to the OP are just infantile as you said. I'm not the OP but I've even had someone put words I never said into my mouth, then proceed to tell me I didn't know what I was talking about. I'm not even sure if its me they're talking to or their virtual projection of me that they find more suitable. Maybe some people just need to be "right on the interwebz" no matter what.

 

[zuben el genub]

I look at Android as a form of Linux. (Which it is)

Which means "run it your way" after you get rid of carrier bloat.

Started using Ubuntu 2 years ago, and love the freedom. There are at least 3 Office programs, and I didn't want any, so I can delete them. (I found Abiword.) There were at least 6 or more video editing programs to play with, etc. The usual browsers. Everything worked except one Canon scanner.

Ubuntu isn't making decisions on how I use it. I can pick and choose the programs that work my way.

I am now spoiled. I don't want what Apple or Microsoft calls an "experience." My idea of an "experience" usually doesn't coincide with any mfg. The phone is just a tool to deal with information requests, etc. and to do what I ask it to.

The SGS4G got rooted to get rid of social media. I have categories and people with separate ringtones - if the caller isn't in the phone book, I hear "Cocaine"

I'll buy another Nexus. Even then it will get rooted to get rid of any social crap.

I never wanted the phone to do any of my work or anticipating what I might want. I read all fora, and expected glitches. Usually there's an answer.

 

[Azma]

I don't have an Ice Cream Sandwich device - mine runs Gingerbread - but I have never seen any of the issues you mention at all. Nor has my girlfriend, who uses a rooted Galaxy S II.

To me, it sounds like you've been given a faulty phone, and should tell you carrier, OR your carrier messed the OS up. It's open source, after all. If they want to add things to it and make it unstable, they can. Mine "just" added memory-clattering apps and gave them the same status as system apps like Phone or Calendar, so I can't uninstall them. Yours could have easily done worse, and done a few "whoops" fails along the way.

I don't know about yours, but my carrier directly handles the warranty. That screen rotation wouldn't work... That can't be a "normal" bug of Android. Well, at least, my Gingerbread has no issue. I see no reason why they would, of all things, add bugs with the update to Ice Cream Sandwich.

Really, it has to be that: your phone was made with errors, or your carrier bugged the OS. And since you had issues with your previous Gingerbread phone... I think the carrier is at fault. How about trying another?

Oh, and to add about Apple products... It's worse than anything you have experienced with Android. I never had an iPhone; however I've had an iPod Touch for a little over a year, which runs on the same operating system as iPhones.

-Device is fragile. Drop it once on solid ground and the screen will be in pieces and powder, with cracks all over.
-The battery's life reduces by over 50 % in a year, especially consumption on standby (hello? not a phone and not connected to wi-fi ~ shouldn't that much)
-The user interface is counter-intuitive and annoying in almost every way (and it can't be about what I'm used to - I had the iPod before I even tried Android)
-The Music app crashes relatively often (may I remind you that playing music is an iPod's primary function?)
-The Calendar app often crashes, and it also often bugs, so you open it and it tells you today is January 0, 2000.
-The Contacts app often crashes when trying to add or edit a contact, making you lose all modifications.

So if anything, Android just isn't perfect, not free of faults and godly. However iOS is way below. And thing is, with iOS, if it doesn't work as you'd like, you just deal with it. Customisation of iOS devices is extremely limited.

 

[iowabowtech]

I look at Android as a form of Linux. (Which it is)

Which means "run it your way" after you get rid of carrier bloat.

This very point has made me somewhat change my view on Android over the last few years. I agree with what you said and in fact I think its downright integral to have at least temporary root access to any Linux system, Android included. Sudo anyone? I don't care what distro you're running, at some point you're going to have to run a chmod or chown.

Android utilizes the beauty of a Linux system and then we get smacked on the hand with a "goodbye warranty" warning when we make the...check this out...yep I'm sayin it...NECESSARY AND COMPLETELY NATURAL BY DESIGN move to obtain superuser status.

I used to think root was just a personal decision and those of us who partook could scurry off to our all things root forums and hobnob with other like minded folk as we discussed ways to tweak our devices while having fun along the way. And non-rooters could just enjoy their shiny new Android phone and while they might miss out on a few novelties we enjoy everyone would live happily ever after. Not so sure that's my view anymore. There are just too many things that can go wrong when you're following all the rules with an unrooted phone and there is often limited to zero recourse to fix them while in that state. On the flip side, most anything shy of a straight up hardware failure can be fixed with SU access. Even though the stock software is tested, there are always some glitches. Developers end up finding the source of the issue, modify the code and thanks to some great minds, we end up with flashable patches or roms/kernels that resolve any out of the box shortcomings. Not only that but sometimes to resolve issues on a specific device, you just need to have access to the inner workings, if only for a short while. Tons of frustrations are eased. We can back up our entire system. We can backup all our apps and their data. Its sad to me that we have to be in "renegade" mode to perform these highly productive and even common sensical activities.

These are not problems with Android proper however. They are limitations primarily derived from carriers and in some cases aided by phone manufacturers. I like what HTC has done in recent times with their HTC Dev system that provides a key at the users request to unlock the bootloader. Its a step in the right direction but even it doesn't go as far as I'd like to see it since a security flag is still present which limits what can be flashed. And that can still make for a long road when certain problems arise to the end user. But that does raise questions of liability I must admit.

Long story short, I feel like a person needs to be almost lucky to run unrooted android phones year after year and never run into problems or at least annoyances that could be solved under different circumstances. These phones were made to be rooted...literally. I've just decided I no longer have the desire to sugar coat this belief. So until a better system of accountability can be achieved as it relates to carriers > manufacturers > end users, I will continue to take my chances with warranty issues in order to keep my phones running smoothly and with all options on the table that this system provides by its very design.

 

[omnius]

While I agree with the spirit of your post, in practice you can be in a really bad place if your phone doesn't happen to be a darling of the developer community. I'm still using my Motorola Atrix, and they really F'd this phone up with 2.3.6. Luckily I have mine running 2.3.4. I will tell you this much though, the bootloader unlocking procedure for this phone sucks a lot compared to phones which are more popular with developers, and the amount of attention paid to it these days is pretty scarce.

 

[iowabowtech]

While I agree with the spirit of your post, in practice you can be in a really bad place if your phone doesn't happen to be a darling of the developer community.

Very true. Which is why it would be nice if the idea of allowing su access would be more widely adopted so there could be less reliance on developers and hackers to get root. Sure, we would look to the dev community for code work but at least if we can get under the hood in the first place, we have a chance to fix some things on our own too.