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From a marketing standpoint it seems like a baffling decision on Google's part. I own a Pixel and while the hardware seems decent, I've had a buggy and annoyin

From a marketing standpoint it seems like a baffling decision on Google's part. I own a Pixel and while the hardware seems decent, I've had a buggy and annoying experience with Android, and it's been getting worse lately. Are Google so high on their own supply that they think people use their phones out of preference for the OS? Because frankly it's not very good. That's like Microsoft thinking people use Teams because of its merits. People buy Android phones because they can be had cheaper than an equivalent iPhone and because in spite of the buggy and inconsistent mess of an OS, you aren't beholden to Apple's regimented UX. Locking down Android will not give it a "premium experience"... It'll always just be "Temu iOS" at best.

StopDisinfo910 8mo ago
> Are Google so high on their own supply that they think people use their phones out of preference for the OS? Because frankly it's not very good Honestly having gone back and forth between iOS and Android every three years or so, both OS are the same. It's not like the grass is really greener on the Apple side. The UX is virtually identical for anything that matters. Personally I put material Android above liquid glass iOS. The alleged polish of the Apple UX was lost on me when I had my last iphone. The reason Google's moves are surprising has more to do with them embracing being a service player more and more with the arrival of Gemini and them having regulators breathing down their necks everywhere. I guess they did it after the truly baffling US decision in the Epic trial but it's very likely to go against them in the EU.
- tadfisher 8mo ago
  The rumors that I have heard (and one government document I read that was poorly translated from Thai) is that there are some countries who are pressuring Google on this to combat info-stealing malware. Apparently, account-takeover/theft is very prevalent in SE Asia where most banking is done via Android phones.
  - StopDisinfo910 8mo ago
    Maybe but lobbying is extremely strong in SE Asia. It's hard to distinguish from governments putting pressure for something and companies suggesting it would be a good idea.
gf000 8mo ago
> "Temu iOS" Come on, that's absolutely laughable. There are several topics where Android is significantly ahead to the point that iOS is just a toy, and there are areas where the reverse is true. And I say that as a recent convert, so it's not like I have a decade out of date view of any of the OSs. In my experience I had more visual bugs in case of iOS than android (volume slider not displaying correctly in certain cases when the content was rotated as a very annoying example).
- stackghost 8mo ago
  >Come on, that's absolutely laughable. It's not, though. Google phones are not going to suddenly become luxury devices. It's going to remain at the same level of polish (i.e. mediocre), except now without the major selling point of being able to run your own apps and have alternative app stores, etc. Back around Ice Cream Sandwich or thereabouts they got rid of "phone calls only mode" and forced us to rely on their half-baked "priority mode" that's an opaque shitshow. When my wife is on call she gets random whatsapp notifications dinging all night, whereas when I had an iphone I could set Focus mode and achieve proper "phone calls only". Android is not good. I use it despite its flaws, because of the trade-offs, not because it's better.
  - gf000 8mo ago
    I'm talking about the OS though.
    - stackghost 8mo ago
      Me too. The OS sucks.
  - malfist 8mo ago
    > Google phones are not going to suddenly become luxury devices Pixel Fold disagrees. > When my wife is on call she gets random whatsapp notifications dinging all night, whereas when I had an iphone I could set Focus mode and achieve proper "phone calls only". You can do that with do not disturb. > Android is not good. I use it despite its flaws, because of the trade-offs, not because it's better. That is your opinion. My opinion is different.
drnick1 8mo ago
Have you considered Graphene since you own a Pixel? It's a huge upgrade over the stock OS in terms of security, privacy and general reduction of bloat.
- stackghost 8mo ago
  Yep it's definitely on my list but my Pixel is on its last legs and I'm considering going back to iOS.
  - drnick1 8mo ago
    I urge you not too. iOS is fully locked down -- Apple won't allow you to exert control over the hardware that you bought and own, it's shocking.
    - stackghost 8mo ago
      I've owned iPhones before, they're fine.
      - drnick1 7mo ago
        If by fine you mean "they work," then sure. But since it is a closed platform controlled by Apple, you are always one law away from client-side scanning of your conversations, emails and any other content on your Phone. Of course, this will be done to "catch terrorists and protect the children," and Apple will obviously comply.
        stackghost 7mo ago
        I don't need a condescending lecture on software freedom, thanks.
  - microtonal 8mo ago
    Having just gone from an iPhone as my main phone to a Pixel with GrapheneOS, GrapheneOS is such a breath of fresh air. No constant push of AI, iCloud services, etc. plus I actually feel owner of my phone and not living on some feudal landlord's plot. GrapheneOS is great!

StopDisinfo910 8mo ago

> Are Google so high on their own supply that they think people use their phones out of preference for the OS? Because frankly it's not very good Honestly having gone back and forth between iOS and Android every three years or so, both OS are the same. It's not like the grass is really greener on the Apple side. The UX is virtually identical for anything that matters. Personally I put material Android above liquid glass iOS. The alleged polish of the Apple UX was lost on me when I had my last iphone. The reason Google's moves are surprising has more to do with them embracing being a service player more and more with the arrival of Gemini and them having regulators breathing down their necks everywhere. I guess they did it after the truly baffling US decision in the Epic trial but it's very likely to go against them in the EU.

tadfisher 8mo ago
The rumors that I have heard (and one government document I read that was poorly translated from Thai) is that there are some countries who are pressuring Google on this to combat info-stealing malware. Apparently, account-takeover/theft is very prevalent in SE Asia where most banking is done via Android phones.
- StopDisinfo910 8mo ago
  Maybe but lobbying is extremely strong in SE Asia. It's hard to distinguish from governments putting pressure for something and companies suggesting it would be a good idea.

gf000 8mo ago

> "Temu iOS" Come on, that's absolutely laughable. There are several topics where Android is significantly ahead to the point that iOS is just a toy, and there are areas where the reverse is true. And I say that as a recent convert, so it's not like I have a decade out of date view of any of the OSs. In my experience I had more visual bugs in case of iOS than android (volume slider not displaying correctly in certain cases when the content was rotated as a very annoying example).

stackghost 8mo ago
>Come on, that's absolutely laughable. It's not, though. Google phones are not going to suddenly become luxury devices. It's going to remain at the same level of polish (i.e. mediocre), except now without the major selling point of being able to run your own apps and have alternative app stores, etc. Back around Ice Cream Sandwich or thereabouts they got rid of "phone calls only mode" and forced us to rely on their half-baked "priority mode" that's an opaque shitshow. When my wife is on call she gets random whatsapp notifications dinging all night, whereas when I had an iphone I could set Focus mode and achieve proper "phone calls only". Android is not good. I use it despite its flaws, because of the trade-offs, not because it's better.
- gf000 8mo ago
  I'm talking about the OS though.
  - stackghost 8mo ago
    Me too. The OS sucks.
- malfist 8mo ago
  > Google phones are not going to suddenly become luxury devices Pixel Fold disagrees. > When my wife is on call she gets random whatsapp notifications dinging all night, whereas when I had an iphone I could set Focus mode and achieve proper "phone calls only". You can do that with do not disturb. > Android is not good. I use it despite its flaws, because of the trade-offs, not because it's better. That is your opinion. My opinion is different.

drnick1 8mo ago

Have you considered Graphene since you own a Pixel? It's a huge upgrade over the stock OS in terms of security, privacy and general reduction of bloat.

stackghost 8mo ago
Yep it's definitely on my list but my Pixel is on its last legs and I'm considering going back to iOS.
- drnick1 8mo ago
  I urge you not too. iOS is fully locked down -- Apple won't allow you to exert control over the hardware that you bought and own, it's shocking.
  - stackghost 8mo ago
    I've owned iPhones before, they're fine.
    - drnick1 7mo ago
      If by fine you mean "they work," then sure. But since it is a closed platform controlled by Apple, you are always one law away from client-side scanning of your conversations, emails and any other content on your Phone. Of course, this will be done to "catch terrorists and protect the children," and Apple will obviously comply.
      - stackghost 7mo ago
        I don't need a condescending lecture on software freedom, thanks.
- microtonal 8mo ago
  Having just gone from an iPhone as my main phone to a Pixel with GrapheneOS, GrapheneOS is such a breath of fresh air. No constant push of AI, iCloud services, etc. plus I actually feel owner of my phone and not living on some feudal landlord's plot. GrapheneOS is great!