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Is it a Nexus line device? Is it running stock Android? No to both? -- Do not buy. Why is it so difficult for hardware manufacturers to refrain from putting

Is it a Nexus line device? Is it running stock Android? No to both? -- Do not buy. Why is it so difficult for hardware manufacturers to refrain from putting their poor attempts to improve stock android on their devices. Do they not realize they'd actually be able to more effectively differentiate themselves if they just left it stock?

ericb 14y ago
> Is it a Nexus line device? Is it running stock Android? Why not install stock Android yourself on any unlocked device you like? That way you have your choice of many hardware options.
- kbuck 14y ago
  It's unfortunately not that easy. Many phones require proprietary drivers and tweaking to get working. For a while, Cyanogen on my phone (Samsung Vibrant) didn't have the ability to dial 911 due to missing software. I still don't have GPS support.
viraptor 14y ago
There are modifications and modifications. Some of them are almost useless (Samsung hubs, their own store, etc.), while others are pretty good actually (UI). I know many people don't like it, but I actually prefer their UI to the stock Android one. I haven't actually heard anyone saying why exactly they don't like the Samsung version though.
- andybak 14y ago
  Yeah. I've switching from stock Android to Touchwiz versions and Touchwiz really isn't that bad. Better in some ways. You can always use a ICS-style launcher such as Nova or Apex.
- darklajid 14y ago
  One easy reason: A bad excuse to take ages for 'porting' new versions of Android.
e40 14y ago
This is the deciding factor for me. I won't do a non-Nexus device again. I'm currently on Verizon, and the jury is still out on whether I actually have a Nexus in name only, or not. We'll see. It's more than 5 months since I got my device and still no 4.0.4 update (4.0.2 came out on launch day and it has bugs). Next time, I might go GSM w/T-Mobile (if they're still around in 1.5 years) so I can get a true Nexus device that is updated directly from Google's servers.
huggyface 14y ago
No to both? -- Do not buy. Good for you. Why is it so difficult for hardware manufacturers to refrain from putting their poor attempts to improve stock android on their devices In the <Android 2.3 era those skins were critical in making the operating system usable. I would argue that they still offer huge value for an average consumer. There is a world of hundreds of millions of smartphone users who are not like the people who visit HN. Who appreciate when they have a camera and information on the lockscreen, a quick selector in the drag down, and on and on. Little things added first in skins, improving the Android experience. That isn't me or you, but good god the boring "stock Android or GTFO" comments need to stop. They are ignorant and detached from reality.
- fossuser 14y ago
  I would argue that the skins hurt the average consumer far more than they help them. They delay updates (sometimes permanently) they caused noticeable performance issues - especially early on. The changes made to apps (with HTC's sense in mind) ruined a lot of the design of the default applications and made it hard to use different android devices. While the giant glossy widgets and laggy animations may have impressed some, the overall damage caused wasn't merely bad for the power users - but everyone. What made this issue worse was that until the Nexus line it was essentially impossible just to run stock android on a modern phone. Cyanogen is cool, but in practice it has it's share of problems (gps not working, radio issues, having to unlock, root and flash the phone).

ericb 14y ago

> Is it a Nexus line device? Is it running stock Android? Why not install stock Android yourself on any unlocked device you like? That way you have your choice of many hardware options.

kbuck 14y ago
It's unfortunately not that easy. Many phones require proprietary drivers and tweaking to get working. For a while, Cyanogen on my phone (Samsung Vibrant) didn't have the ability to dial 911 due to missing software. I still don't have GPS support.

viraptor 14y ago

There are modifications and modifications. Some of them are almost useless (Samsung hubs, their own store, etc.), while others are pretty good actually (UI). I know many people don't like it, but I actually prefer their UI to the stock Android one. I haven't actually heard anyone saying why exactly they don't like the Samsung version though.

andybak 14y ago
Yeah. I've switching from stock Android to Touchwiz versions and Touchwiz really isn't that bad. Better in some ways. You can always use a ICS-style launcher such as Nova or Apex.
darklajid 14y ago
One easy reason: A bad excuse to take ages for 'porting' new versions of Android.

e40 14y ago

This is the deciding factor for me. I won't do a non-Nexus device again. I'm currently on Verizon, and the jury is still out on whether I actually have a Nexus in name only, or not. We'll see. It's more than 5 months since I got my device and still no 4.0.4 update (4.0.2 came out on launch day and it has bugs). Next time, I might go GSM w/T-Mobile (if they're still around in 1.5 years) so I can get a true Nexus device that is updated directly from Google's servers.

huggyface 14y ago

No to both? -- Do not buy. Good for you. Why is it so difficult for hardware manufacturers to refrain from putting their poor attempts to improve stock android on their devices In the <Android 2.3 era those skins were critical in making the operating system usable. I would argue that they still offer huge value for an average consumer. There is a world of hundreds of millions of smartphone users who are not like the people who visit HN. Who appreciate when they have a camera and information on the lockscreen, a quick selector in the drag down, and on and on. Little things added first in skins, improving the Android experience. That isn't me or you, but good god the boring "stock Android or GTFO" comments need to stop. They are ignorant and detached from reality.

fossuser 14y ago
I would argue that the skins hurt the average consumer far more than they help them. They delay updates (sometimes permanently) they caused noticeable performance issues - especially early on. The changes made to apps (with HTC's sense in mind) ruined a lot of the design of the default applications and made it hard to use different android devices. While the giant glossy widgets and laggy animations may have impressed some, the overall damage caused wasn't merely bad for the power users - but everyone. What made this issue worse was that until the Nexus line it was essentially impossible just to run stock android on a modern phone. Cyanogen is cool, but in practice it has it's share of problems (gps not working, radio issues, having to unlock, root and flash the phone).