Motorola Droid Bionic "Targa" XT875 pre-release thread - Part 2

[ronaldheld]

I can see both sides of the UI argument better. With an unlocked/unencryted bootloader the UI/native OS arguments become less relevant.

[GRTK_Brandon]

Vanilla Android is build just from AOSP source android and most all custom ROMs and Kernels are much closer to AOSP than most of the manufacturer builds I am quite sure.

I'm with you on the unlocked bootloader and caring less. I just think Moto, Samsung, LG, or HTC would be doing themselves a favor by embracing the Google open idea a bit more and basically mimic the Nexus model with all their devices. Contribute to the AOSP and everything rather than trying to build their own little walled kingdoms. If they all did, that would be extremely awesome, but just one doing it would probably really put a hurt on those that resisted as I am sure google would show preferential treatment to those who opened up to their cooperative model most.

You are missing the point. Most custom roms are tweaked for performance, and a lot of them are themed as well. Yes, SOME are close to ASOP, but others (MIUI) aren't. You talk about wanting an open source platform, but you want to restrict all OEM's to vanilla.

You make some informative posts sometimes, but these aren't it. Could you elaborate on what type of HUGE benefits we'd receive? What you are describing is Windows Mobile. Same software on all devices, with little to differentiate between OEMs. I have a very hard time distinguishing between all the WinMo phones. I don't think it's a bad platform, but we Android users like freedom. Like I said, just keep my bootloader unlocked. Do what you will to build up an identity, but let me actually own the hardware/software I buy.

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[Sailorcancer]

What you are describing is Windows Mobile. Same software on all devices, with little to differentiate between OEMs.

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Don't all WP7 devices run on the same hardware? Like they all run SnapDragon CPUs?

I think the only differences are with screens and what not. Or stuff like the HTC Surround with that huge speaker.

[nb2six]

I will never buy another htc product.
My girl has an epic on sprint. Its a piece of ****. Won't stay charged for longer than 3-4hrs even dies in the middle of the night after a full charge. Android is better than the phone itself.

The Epic is made by Samsung not HTC...
I have many friends and colleagues who have EVO's and haven't had single issue.

[Ark6]

Never in my life would I figure that people would say that vanilla android sucks. Unbelievable...

I'll tell you my reasoning.

Vanilla android lacks a lot of features that is rather common to most skinned UIs....and this is stuff that even the iPhone and other mobile OS have that stock Android lacks.
Did you knot that Vanilla Android lacks these features?

• Better an smoother UI animations/elements
• HDMI out (and HD mirroring to an extent)
• Being able to see all your home screens at once
• A music player that isn't pure garbage (Having an equalizer + presets and FLAC support would be a bonus)
• A camera that allows you to mess around with the settings beyond the basic stuff
• Being able to clear individual notifications, instead of a Clear all type deal
• A central inbox for email (I hope you like Gmail)
• Can't take screen captures directly form the device without root and an app...

There's more things, however that's most of the glaring examples. So most of those fancy features that you see advertised....You can't use them on stock Android! While there is a lot of stuff that stock Android can do (And maybe the list will shrink if Ice Cream Sandwich is that good), IMO it misses some of the basic things that I use on a continuous basis, that I wouldn't want to use stock Android, or I'd have to download a crapton of apps to even get the functions that I use on say...Blur or Sense on a continuous basis.

[rkeller62]

...When a few people with more simplified mostly stock code bases for MANY MANY devices can release new stable builds of the latest AOSP release WAY sooner than manufacturers in their SPARE TIME, it is obviously a more efficient way to do things.

This statement shows a complete lack of understanding of the convoluted, complex process of writing, testing and releasing software in the corporate world. It also completely overlooks the myriad bugs that also plague pretty much every custom ROM out there.

Don't get me wrong now, I love the developer community and the work that they do, but their stuff is just as bug prone, if not more so since they lack a standardized testing regimen, than the manufacturer/carrier releases.

[jasaero]

You are missing the point. Most custom roms are tweaked for performance, and a lot of them are themed as well. Yes, SOME are close to ASOP, but others (MIUI) aren't. You talk about wanting an open source platform, but you want to restrict all OEM's to vanilla.

You make some informative posts sometimes, but these aren't it. Could you elaborate on what type of HUGE benefits we'd receive? What you are describing is Windows Mobile. Same software on all devices, with little to differentiate between OEMs. I have a very hard time distinguishing between all the WinMo phones. I don't think it's a bad platform, but we Android users like freedom. Like I said, just keep my bootloader unlocked. Do what you will to build up an identity, but let me actually own the hardware/software I buy.

Sent from my Droid using HowardForums

First off I am not saying "restrict" them to Vanilla. I just think some should "choose" to only sell Vanilla versions of Android as a way to differentiate and offer something other than Nexus on networks and such other than where Nexus is available. They could save money on software development and invest it in hardware development and optimization or unique hardware capabilities.

I am 100% fine with some manufacturers or even most having their own UI's, but I think it would be smart for one or some to move to a model more directly tied to where ever google is trying to take things so they can always be the first with latest versions of android and such. Also, in taking up this model to tie into google more directly could help contribute to the AOSP and make it easier to get custom builds running well on their devices by making sure minimum manipulation of the AOSP base is required for a build to run well on their devices. I am pretty CERAIN such a model would be very successful, but NOBODY is even TRYING it.

You are reading into what I am saying in a way that I am not really meaning it at all. I would just like at least ONE or a few manufacturers to be more open with the software development they do do and to try to work more directly with google and in the AOSP itself. But also to spend less in general in these efforts other than to make sure it's massively simple to start with AOSP and get builds of it running on your device. Do less proprietary random crap to try and wow customers with pomp and circumstance and more to make Android work well for anyone trying to develop for your devices.

[G_Raph]

really wondering what time zone omie is in if he still plans on posting those afternoon pictures...

[jasaero]

This statement shows a complete lack of understanding of the convoluted, complex process of writing, testing and releasing software in the corporate world. It also completely overlooks the myriad bugs that also plague pretty much every custom ROM out there.

Don't get me wrong now, I love the developer community and the work that they do, but their stuff is just as bug prone, if not more so since they lack a standardized testing regimen, than the manufacturer/carrier releases.

Totally missed my point! Obviously getting things done with software development in the corporate environment is infinitely more of a pain than some random code junkies on the internet coding with each other. That's the reason they should scale back their efforts in what they try and code special for the devices and focus on the stuff already mostly coded and get it working really well on their devices. My reason for pointing out the developer community is that they spend far far less man hours than the average manufacturer I am guessing yet get builds running QUITE WELL for more devices SOONER than the manufacturers. And beyond the lack of corporate processes and complications a big part of the reason is that they don't try and upkeep too many very unique additional code bases working and integrated with stock android. The more of this they do the slower the stable releases and less the likelyhood everything will ever fully work or be as fast and smooth(MIUI).

And I can almost guarantee Android will get to a point in the next couple releases where it's really tough to justify these proprietary code branches that the manufactures keep, but I can also guarantee these yahoo's will try and justify them anyhow just to justify the existence of all the employees that upkeep them.

[DroidCLH]

And this entire conversation reminds me of something that happened back in part one....

[rkeller62]

And this entire conversation reminds me of something that happened back in part one....

And therefore I will not continue to feed the fire...

[Cvballa3g0]

Beat ya Preach =]
http://www.androidcentral.com/sneak-...-299-price-tag

[Mylasthope]

The Epic is made by Samsung not HTC...
I have many friends and colleagues who have EVO's and haven't had single issue.

Had an evo myself. Great phone. Absolutely no problems and a huge dev community.

Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk

[jroc74]

Beat ya Preach =]
http://www.androidcentral.com/sneak-...-299-price-tag

Aaww hell! Prices?? Release is soon!!

Thanks for getting us back on track balla!! lol

[bsweetness]

And this entire conversation reminds me of something that happened back in part one....

I guess completely off-topic rants and arguments tend to start happening frequently when everyone gets so desperate for information on a device.

Beat ya Preach =]
http://www.androidcentral.com/sneak-...-299-price-tag

Definitely encouraging news on the launch potentially being in the new future.