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Are they running a non-Google version of Android? Because in these market share charts what I really see is just Google vs. Apple

• eitally 11y ago
  As an app developer, that may make sense, but I don't think consumers see it that way at all. Perhaps that will change in the future, but the skins applied by HTC & Samsung, especially (Sony's & LG's aren't too overdone) make the UX completely different between brands, even if the underlying OS is the same. Add in the ability to use custom launchers and you very easily could end up with someone customizing their Android phone to the point where only they know how to use it.
  • ourmandave 11y ago
    I've been an Android user since forever but HTC's interface kept nagging me to configure the HTC Experience after every little update, even though I'd dismissed it over and over. It's like that pop-up wondering if you'd like to take a survey while you're entering your shipping address during check out. It finally drove me to a cheap Windows phone.
    • TsiCClawOfLight 11y ago
      Just get a Nexus or Sony. Vanilla Android is a much better experience. (or flash cyanogen)
      • paulgb 11y ago
        Sony's experience (at least the Xperia Z3) is far from vanilla and not in a good way. They replace pretty much every app and UI component with an inferior in-house version, and add a bunch of unremovable apps to try to sell you Sony stuff. I hear the Z5 is better though so hopefully they're getting the message.
        • dang 11y ago
          Boy do you have that right. I love how small that phone is and the hardware is good in general, but everything they've done with the software is cringeworthy. What are the options for wiping it completely?
      • danmaz74 11y ago
        Is Sony really so vanilla? I'm going to buy a new phone soon, and Sony looked good, I'm mostly worried about it not being vanilla enough :)
        • dagw 11y ago
          Not really at the moment (although not as bad as Samsung). They are however moving more and more towards vanilla. They've just released a limited test release of a basically vanilla install for the xperia Z3 and if rumors are to believed then the new Z5 will be much more vanilla than any previous release
      • totalrobe 11y ago
        Nah, get a Motorola. Stock Android plus some notification enhancements you will actually use.
        • talideon 11y ago
          Yup! And you can uninstall a good chunk of the Motorola-specific apps too. Motorola pretty much do the right thing as far as Android enhancements go.