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I live in both the iOS and the Android worlds, and I have seen how utterly frustrating it is for both users and developers alike that they have no idea what the
by teilo 16y ago
I live in both the iOS and the Android worlds, and I have seen how utterly frustrating it is for both users and developers alike that they have no idea what they are going to get when a new Android device comes out.
The carriers and handset manufacturers are not interested in a common Android user experience. They each, individually, want to be the iPhone competitor. They do not want to be a Dell or HP running the same Windows as everybody else.
This is very bad for Android as a whole. It's bad for the users, developers, and the success of the platform. If the carriers want to distinguish themselves they should do it with service quality, hardware features, and apps.
If the user wants to replace the UI, the launcher, etc., fine. Let them. If they want to build a custom firmware image, that's awesome. Let them! But don't let the carriers force their own Android vision down their customer's throats and fragment the UI.
This is not about bait and switch. This is common sense. I hate the fact that my iPad is a walled garden, but I hate even more being forced by a carrier to swallow their own idea of how my phone is supposed to operate. So, yeah, from a carrier standpoint Google is cracking some knuckles. But as a user and developer, this is all about freedom.
- danilocampos 16y ago> But as a user and developer, this is all about freedom. You know, humans will form tribes around anything. And so of course they have around iOS and Android. But come on. The only freedom this is about is Google's freedom to make a shitload of money on advertising on mobile. This is why they want to be able control outside partners. This business of Android phones shipping with Bing set up as the default search? Not okay with them. Facebook getting in on the action, potentially able to serve way better, targeted ads than Google ever will? Definitely no okay with them. The big difference between Apple and Google here is that Google is kinda full of shit with how they describe their platform goals. The thing I can respect about Apple: They make no attempt to bullshit anyone on their goals. They're here to make absurd amounts of money. They have some basic philosophies about platform control that they're going to use to get there. In exchange, I get a predictable experience, outstanding long-term support for my devices and a solid ecosystem to develop in. I can make a decision based on these positions whether or not I want to participate. Google's running their mouths endlessly about how "open" they are, trying to leverage a religious, OSS fervor, but they're exactly the same, just trying to own the next big chunk of the web so they can serve their ads alongside it. I'll go with the guys who aren't trying to bullshit me.
- r00fus 16y agoSo it's all about taste. I trust Apple's taste, and Google's as well. I'll add Palm (HP) to this list. Verizon? AT&T? You'd have to force me.