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Can anyone cite an example of a situation so far where replacing any of the Google apps has been good for the user? It seems to me that Google should work real

by Zak 16y ago

Can anyone cite an example of a situation so far where replacing any of the Google apps has been good for the user? It seems to me that Google should work really hard on having its apps be must-haves for most users, then use them as a lever to discourage undesirable behavior like replacing built-in functionality such as tethering with paid services.

Kevin_Marks 16y ago
Being able to swap out the phone dialer with a SIP client means my Droid can make and receive calls when I'm on Wifi in Europe, where it's CDMA network doesn't exist.
- Zak 16y ago
  I'll give this one partial credit: there's no doubt that it's useful. I don't think, however that it meets the parameters of my original question. I think the dialer is part of the open-source Android distribution, and it isn't one of "the Google apps" I had in mind. More importantly, this is a replacement done by the user. Being able to customize your own OS is always (in principle) a benefit. I'm talking about things like AT&T hiding Google Navigation on some of its Android phones to encourage the use of its own paid navigation app.
  - Kevin_Marks 16y ago
    Fair point; I think a lot of the US carrier customisations have been detrimental. What I was getting at in the original post was that we're going to see a lot of things running Android that we didn't expect, and that aren't on Google's roadmap. Avoiding the BizDev tax by replacing some of the Google proprietary apps will come too. For all I know, this is already going on in Asia.
ZeroGravitas 16y ago
It seems like the consensus view is that HTC's Sense (and equivalents to a lesser extent) was a definite improvement over stock 1.5/6 but has become less so over time as stock improves. Even as of 2.3 though some stock apps, e.g. the media player are a bit basic, so it's only overall better, not a point-by-point victory. There's also the fact that Samsung could create "tablet" versions of apps without waiting for Google, manufacturers having to replace Google apps on non-phone devices, and ROMs going their own open source way. You could also argue, in a game theory kind of way, that the potential for replacement has aided Android in general (and therefore Android users) even if any particular replacement has been negative.
- beoba 16y ago
  In support of that consensus view: I found that running Android 2.2 with HTC Sense on my Droid Incredible caused it to be noticeably less responsive than running a stock 2.2 rom (without HTC Sense), even though I wasn't using any of the Sense widgets/applications.
beoba 16y ago
The android market is already used as a 'lever' to establish (relatively loose) requirements on phone specs. Your device must be certified before you may include the Market: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/03/android-devices-crave-googles-attention/ http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/03/android-devices-crave... However, I doubt you'll find much help from Google when it comes to tethering, given their recent history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_Market#Banned_applications http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_Market#Banned_applicati... (The tethering apps were apparently later unbanned, but that at least gives you an idea of their current stance)

by Zak 16y ago

Kevin_Marks 16y ago

Being able to swap out the phone dialer with a SIP client means my Droid can make and receive calls when I'm on Wifi in Europe, where it's CDMA network doesn't exist.

Zak 16y ago
I'll give this one partial credit: there's no doubt that it's useful. I don't think, however that it meets the parameters of my original question. I think the dialer is part of the open-source Android distribution, and it isn't one of "the Google apps" I had in mind. More importantly, this is a replacement done by the user. Being able to customize your own OS is always (in principle) a benefit. I'm talking about things like AT&T hiding Google Navigation on some of its Android phones to encourage the use of its own paid navigation app.
- Kevin_Marks 16y ago
  Fair point; I think a lot of the US carrier customisations have been detrimental. What I was getting at in the original post was that we're going to see a lot of things running Android that we didn't expect, and that aren't on Google's roadmap. Avoiding the BizDev tax by replacing some of the Google proprietary apps will come too. For all I know, this is already going on in Asia.

ZeroGravitas 16y ago

It seems like the consensus view is that HTC's Sense (and equivalents to a lesser extent) was a definite improvement over stock 1.5/6 but has become less so over time as stock improves. Even as of 2.3 though some stock apps, e.g. the media player are a bit basic, so it's only overall better, not a point-by-point victory. There's also the fact that Samsung could create "tablet" versions of apps without waiting for Google, manufacturers having to replace Google apps on non-phone devices, and ROMs going their own open source way. You could also argue, in a game theory kind of way, that the potential for replacement has aided Android in general (and therefore Android users) even if any particular replacement has been negative.

beoba 16y ago
In support of that consensus view: I found that running Android 2.2 with HTC Sense on my Droid Incredible caused it to be noticeably less responsive than running a stock 2.2 rom (without HTC Sense), even though I wasn't using any of the Sense widgets/applications.

beoba 16y ago

The android market is already used as a 'lever' to establish (relatively loose) requirements on phone specs. Your device must be certified before you may include the Market: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/03/android-devices-crave-googles-attention/ http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/03/android-devices-crave... However, I doubt you'll find much help from Google when it comes to tethering, given their recent history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_Market#Banned_applications http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_Market#Banned_applicati... (The tethering apps were apparently later unbanned, but that at least gives you an idea of their current stance)