8 ms·

> Android is still ugly, but it’s much less ugly than it was a few years ago. It this opinion common? Trying friends' iOS devices, I can't say I've ever though

by lucian1900 14y ago

> Android is still ugly, but it’s much less ugly than it was a few years ago. It this opinion common? Trying friends' iOS devices, I can't say I've ever thought "gee, this is so much prettier than my Android phone".

benwerd 14y ago
Extremely. It's not so much that the iOS devices are prettier - although their UX simplicity is hard to argue with - but that Android's extra power and flexibility also comes with more interface complexity. People find it hard. To the point that my parents and girlfriend all have trouble placing phone calls with my Galaxy S2. I still love it, but it's got a way to go.
- rahoulb 14y ago
  It's not just the stock apps - there is a culture amongst Apple 3rd party developers to discuss, refine and push design and interaction forwards. The only time I've seen it amongst Android devs is for that alarm clock app [1], whereas it's a regular talking point about iOS apps (the latest being Paper discussing their colour-picker [2]). [1] http://dewith.com/2012/an-android-design-process/ http://dewith.com/2012/an-android-design-process/ [2] http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/31/3578672/paper-1-3-color-pogo-connect http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/31/3578672/paper-1-3-color-p...
  - fpgeek 14y ago
    http://www.androiduipatterns.com/ http://www.androiduipatterns.com/ Granted, the community is smaller and the starting point is substantially lower (e.g. getting developers of iOS ports to read the Android design guidelines in the first place), but it is the same kind of culture.
  - king_jester 14y ago
    There's been a lot more activity lately about app design and quality in the Android community. Google esp. has made a big push to start talking about these things in accessible formats, the most notable format being live streams, G+ hangouts, and youtube archives of said streams and hangouts: http://www.youtube.com/user/androiddevelopers http://www.youtube.com/user/androiddevelopers Things aren't perfect, but things are getting better and we are starting to see a community come together that wants strong, high quality design.
- jsight 14y ago
  Do they use iPhones? I'm not really sure how placing a call is harder on a SGS2 than on iOS.
  - leviathant 14y ago
    I really have no dog in this fight, but placing phone calls consist of about 1% of what I use my smartphone for.
- lucian1900 14y ago
  Interestingly, it took me a while to figure out how to call a contact from a friend's iPhone.
- Tyrannosaurs 14y ago
  I agree, I think it's got to the point now that it's a choice between two visions rather than better and worse. When I use Android it feels like it puts a lot of flexibility and choice in my hands, that I can probably do more with it that I can with iOS but that there's additional work involved in that, both in that customisation but also the small amount of additional drag that comes with the additional choices available. When I use iOS it feels like there's more simplicity but if I don't like that simplicity then tough. Don't like the iPhone? Tough. Want better integration between apps and services? Tough. Personally my position right now is that I want iOS (I have kids, a job, a house and a million other things that take time and I have no additional bandwidth to invest in getting something just so, even if there would be benefit in doing so). Ten years ago that wouldn't have been the case and I'd have found Android a more compelling choice and would have revelled in the flexibility, the handset options and everything else. But overall that choice seems good for all of us. Better two visions offering genuine options than two identakit versions of the same thing, or worse still one monopoly player and no choice.
duiker101 14y ago
It is because it's deep in people's mind like the hate for IE, it is much a better browser now but people are hard to change their mind. So is for Android, it has evolved a lot but people still think Android is the one that was on the G1. It is not, it moved on, it's nicer and much easier to use. I can't believe someone who says that he can't use it. If you have problems with (the latest versions 3+) Android, you will have problems with iPhone and even a toaster. If then you choose to hate it and keep your mindset than that's another discussion.
- emmapersky 14y ago
  This is so true. I hated android based on my experiences early on. Then I tried a Galaxy Nexus on ICS. Almost overnight I dumped my iPhone and switched.
veeti 14y ago
If we're talking about most Android devices out there I have to agree completely. Samsung's skin is especially hideous. The Nexus version of Android is what it should be. It looks great. It's clean. It's functional. It's even better than iOS is.
acdha 14y ago
Yes: if you use a Google-branded Android device or have rooted it, you have a good experience unshared by most Android users who are stuck with vendor-crippled UIs and, at least in the US, carrier-marred devices which are rarely improved after purchase. (yeah, yeah, you can probably jailbreak it: most people can't and many who can don't want a second job subsidizing their carrier's policies) If Android devices weren't blocked from receiving software updates and the stock Google experience was the default, Apple would have a much tougher fight.

benwerd 14y ago

Extremely. It's not so much that the iOS devices are prettier - although their UX simplicity is hard to argue with - but that Android's extra power and flexibility also comes with more interface complexity. People find it hard. To the point that my parents and girlfriend all have trouble placing phone calls with my Galaxy S2. I still love it, but it's got a way to go.

rahoulb 14y ago
It's not just the stock apps - there is a culture amongst Apple 3rd party developers to discuss, refine and push design and interaction forwards. The only time I've seen it amongst Android devs is for that alarm clock app [1], whereas it's a regular talking point about iOS apps (the latest being Paper discussing their colour-picker [2]). [1] http://dewith.com/2012/an-android-design-process/ http://dewith.com/2012/an-android-design-process/ [2] http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/31/3578672/paper-1-3-color-pogo-connect http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/31/3578672/paper-1-3-color-p...
- fpgeek 14y ago
  http://www.androiduipatterns.com/ http://www.androiduipatterns.com/ Granted, the community is smaller and the starting point is substantially lower (e.g. getting developers of iOS ports to read the Android design guidelines in the first place), but it is the same kind of culture.
- king_jester 14y ago
  There's been a lot more activity lately about app design and quality in the Android community. Google esp. has made a big push to start talking about these things in accessible formats, the most notable format being live streams, G+ hangouts, and youtube archives of said streams and hangouts: http://www.youtube.com/user/androiddevelopers http://www.youtube.com/user/androiddevelopers Things aren't perfect, but things are getting better and we are starting to see a community come together that wants strong, high quality design.
jsight 14y ago
Do they use iPhones? I'm not really sure how placing a call is harder on a SGS2 than on iOS.
- leviathant 14y ago
  I really have no dog in this fight, but placing phone calls consist of about 1% of what I use my smartphone for.
lucian1900 14y ago
Interestingly, it took me a while to figure out how to call a contact from a friend's iPhone.
Tyrannosaurs 14y ago
I agree, I think it's got to the point now that it's a choice between two visions rather than better and worse. When I use Android it feels like it puts a lot of flexibility and choice in my hands, that I can probably do more with it that I can with iOS but that there's additional work involved in that, both in that customisation but also the small amount of additional drag that comes with the additional choices available. When I use iOS it feels like there's more simplicity but if I don't like that simplicity then tough. Don't like the iPhone? Tough. Want better integration between apps and services? Tough. Personally my position right now is that I want iOS (I have kids, a job, a house and a million other things that take time and I have no additional bandwidth to invest in getting something just so, even if there would be benefit in doing so). Ten years ago that wouldn't have been the case and I'd have found Android a more compelling choice and would have revelled in the flexibility, the handset options and everything else. But overall that choice seems good for all of us. Better two visions offering genuine options than two identakit versions of the same thing, or worse still one monopoly player and no choice.

duiker101 14y ago

It is because it's deep in people's mind like the hate for IE, it is much a better browser now but people are hard to change their mind. So is for Android, it has evolved a lot but people still think Android is the one that was on the G1. It is not, it moved on, it's nicer and much easier to use. I can't believe someone who says that he can't use it. If you have problems with (the latest versions 3+) Android, you will have problems with iPhone and even a toaster. If then you choose to hate it and keep your mindset than that's another discussion.

emmapersky 14y ago
This is so true. I hated android based on my experiences early on. Then I tried a Galaxy Nexus on ICS. Almost overnight I dumped my iPhone and switched.

veeti 14y ago

If we're talking about most Android devices out there I have to agree completely. Samsung's skin is especially hideous. The Nexus version of Android is what it should be. It looks great. It's clean. It's functional. It's even better than iOS is.

acdha 14y ago

Yes: if you use a Google-branded Android device or have rooted it, you have a good experience unshared by most Android users who are stuck with vendor-crippled UIs and, at least in the US, carrier-marred devices which are rarely improved after purchase. (yeah, yeah, you can probably jailbreak it: most people can't and many who can don't want a second job subsidizing their carrier's policies) If Android devices weren't blocked from receiving software updates and the stock Google experience was the default, Apple would have a much tougher fight.