4 ms·

While unlimited data leaves something to be desired. I had to flash Galaxy SII with a more recent Android OS without all the AT&T crapware just 20 mins after bu

While unlimited data leaves something to be desired. I had to flash Galaxy SII with a more recent Android OS without all the AT&T crapware just 20 mins after buying, it was simply unusable. What begs a question, how can cellular phone providers even think, that their team of 12 underpaid code monkeys capable of producing software that's on par with google? AT&T places, map searching apps, etc are utter crap and you can't even get rid of them unless you flash the OS. Unfortunately this problem isn't tied only to cellular phone providers. Network card manufacturers for Windows (yes, I'm looking at you Intel) come with their own crapware utilities who think their monitoring app is better than default windows wifi manager. Similarly, consumer routers that race to offer more and more features DMZ, QoS, etc but have millions of bugs because they're not software shops and still refuse to use DD-WRT or Open-WRT which are clearly better and have been developed, used and supported by thousands of professional.

RobAtticus 14y ago
We have very different definitions of "unusable." I don't like the crapware, and I eventually did root my SGS2 and removed the crapware. However, my phone was definitely usable, and the main benefit I got from removing the crapware was that my app drawer was less full, which is nice but not a deal breaker of a feature.
- makecheck 14y ago
  Well as an example, on a Sprint HTC phone the crapware auto-started itself not only when the phone powered on, but apparently several times a day (despite using an app-killer). This wasn't just 1 or 2 apps, it was like 10. So my idle battery was draining away in part because I couldn't stop this phone from running things I never intended to use. I have never been happier since switching to the iPhone from that broken ecosystem.
  - RobAtticus 14y ago
    I didn't mean to imply that all Android phones are fine; my point was specifically about the SGS2. Even with its crapware, it is in no way unusable out of the box. Having used a Motorola Backflip before this, I certainly know the perils of crappy phones crippled with crapware. I just don't think the SGS2 is one of them.
    - MrVitaliy 14y ago
      Our versions of usability are different. When I purchase a smartphone, I expect to have more than just an ability to make a phone call. Smartphone means email, web, gps, maps, etc and also means doing those things well (this isn't year 2001 anymore). Perhaps being a software engineer I have a spoiled sense of what it means to do thing well. The native AT&T apps don't just fail to do things well but clearly have a message "We don't give a damn about you nor this phone. This is our crapware and you have no choice but to use it".
protolif 14y ago
For a while I hated my Motorola Defy. T-Mobile was really behind on releasing Android updates, and all the bloatware really slowed it down. Finally, CyanogenMod 7 came out with Defy support, and I was amazed by how snappy it was, and how much longer my battery lasted. My girlfriend's jealous of how awesome my phone is compared to hers, even though the hardware is identical and we're on the same plan.

RobAtticus 14y ago

We have very different definitions of "unusable." I don't like the crapware, and I eventually did root my SGS2 and removed the crapware. However, my phone was definitely usable, and the main benefit I got from removing the crapware was that my app drawer was less full, which is nice but not a deal breaker of a feature.

makecheck 14y ago
Well as an example, on a Sprint HTC phone the crapware auto-started itself not only when the phone powered on, but apparently several times a day (despite using an app-killer). This wasn't just 1 or 2 apps, it was like 10. So my idle battery was draining away in part because I couldn't stop this phone from running things I never intended to use. I have never been happier since switching to the iPhone from that broken ecosystem.
- RobAtticus 14y ago
  I didn't mean to imply that all Android phones are fine; my point was specifically about the SGS2. Even with its crapware, it is in no way unusable out of the box. Having used a Motorola Backflip before this, I certainly know the perils of crappy phones crippled with crapware. I just don't think the SGS2 is one of them.
  - MrVitaliy 14y ago
    Our versions of usability are different. When I purchase a smartphone, I expect to have more than just an ability to make a phone call. Smartphone means email, web, gps, maps, etc and also means doing those things well (this isn't year 2001 anymore). Perhaps being a software engineer I have a spoiled sense of what it means to do thing well. The native AT&T apps don't just fail to do things well but clearly have a message "We don't give a damn about you nor this phone. This is our crapware and you have no choice but to use it".

protolif 14y ago

For a while I hated my Motorola Defy. T-Mobile was really behind on releasing Android updates, and all the bloatware really slowed it down. Finally, CyanogenMod 7 came out with Defy support, and I was amazed by how snappy it was, and how much longer my battery lasted. My girlfriend's jealous of how awesome my phone is compared to hers, even though the hardware is identical and we're on the same plan.