I posted The Verge's review yesterday, but I felt that reviewer was trying too hard to find reasons to dislike it, so I thought I would also post this more positive review for comparison — and I...
I posted The Verge's review yesterday, but I felt that reviewer was trying too hard to find reasons to dislike it, so I thought I would also post this more positive review for comparison — and I changed the title here to emphasize that.
It does also drill into the history and features in somewhat more detail. ETA: thanks to tildes' word-count feature, I just saw that it does so with 35% fewer words, too.
I found this thru /. and this user comment really surprised me. As I've mentioned, I've never used a "regular" Android nor Apple phone, so it's hard for me to compare.
Android users
... does your phone actually throw ads at you all the time? I assumed, of course, web ads in Chrome ... but does the phone itself serve ads regardless of what you're doing? And if so, my follow-up ... are you actually okay with that?
I've been using a Pixel phone for years, so I'm about as tied into the Android ecosystem as anybody. I don't see ads just popping up on my phone or anything like that. I'd assume that presumed...
I've been using a Pixel phone for years, so I'm about as tied into the Android ecosystem as anybody. I don't see ads just popping up on my phone or anything like that. I'd assume that presumed adware was from the phone's manufacturer; it's not inherent to Android. It's like with PC's. Just because someone buys a prebuilt computer and it comes with adware, that's not the fault of the PC ecosystem.
When it comes to ads on android handsets, it’s much like iOS; it will be served as part of an app. But generally your OS will be altered by the handset manufacturer to change some of the...
When it comes to ads on android handsets, it’s much like iOS; it will be served as part of an app. But generally your OS will be altered by the handset manufacturer to change some of the functionality and in some cases that includes ads e.g. on the Lock Screen. These are usually only on the cheapest devices as a form of subsidy.
IIRC that's largely a Samsung and bargain prepaid carrier phone thing. IIRC my OnePlus 8 had some app that basically pushed other OP accessories and whatnot, but that's the only thing I can think...
IIRC that's largely a Samsung and bargain prepaid carrier phone thing. IIRC my OnePlus 8 had some app that basically pushed other OP accessories and whatnot, but that's the only thing I can think of that comes close. I know my S8 did not, and other than those I've had Pixels and Nexuses for years, so I can't speak to the current experience on other OEMs.
I had Pixels and nexuses as well, with the exception of a Motorola Droid, a Galaxy S5, and now a Galaxy S21. The Galaxy S5 was one of my favorite phones. A great sweet spot between power,...
I had Pixels and nexuses as well, with the exception of a Motorola Droid, a Galaxy S5, and now a Galaxy S21.
The Galaxy S5 was one of my favorite phones. A great sweet spot between power, durability, and functionality. Removable battery, SD card, headphone jack. I'm still using it as an alternate device.
Starting from the Pixel 2, that line is excellent. The Pixel 3 being the peak IMO.
However, this Galaxy S21 is absolutely horrid, despite excellent hardware. Great cameras, durable as hell (dropped 10x or more on pavement with no case or screen protector and still no more than a paint scratch.
But the software drives me nuts. Especially the non-skippable system updates that reset a bunch of settings, with no significant patch notes to know what. I can change my payment provider from Samsung to Gpay, except for the phone gestures. Those can't be changed.
The Android ecosystem would be 10,000x better if it were mandatory for drivers to be open source and bootloaders unlockable. This phone without Samsung's UI would be astounding. If that were true we also could run Linux on any phone and merely run android apps in containers.
It's one of the things I miss about the brief stint Google had with the Google Play Editions of devices-- I remember the Galaxy S4 and a variant of the HTC One (can't remember if it was the M7 or...
This phone without Samsung's UI would be astounding.
It's one of the things I miss about the brief stint Google had with the Google Play Editions of devices-- I remember the Galaxy S4 and a variant of the HTC One (can't remember if it was the M7 or M8) coming in a version with stock Android. I definitely lusted after the S4 GPE since it had such a nice design plus no garbage Samsung software, seemed like the perfect balance and what the Galaxy Nexus should have been. (The One I was less excited about, because I still think HTC Sense was by far the best OEM skin over Android we've seen, whether then or since.)
Given the eventual creation of the Pixel line (and more applicable to the time, Google's then-acquisition of Motorola), it was a doomed project, but it's nice to think of what we could have had.
Sadly, I think if Google had tried to enforce standards like that on Android from the start, it would have never become the platform it is today (for both better and worse). I remember when the G1 came out, how so many companies were so opposed to even putting apps on an open-source platform that they refused to make Android apps (Facebook was one of the big ones, the Android version was simply a supremely crappy web wrapper until around when Android 1.6/2.0 came out) until marketshare more or less forced their hands. Elements of that attitude still linger today-- I find it beyond bonkers that I kept getting ads on podcasts for the Whole Foods app, which is apparently still limiting some online order features to the iOS version, even in 20-fucking-22, without any real technical justification as to why. And Amazon is a company that even maintains their own whole ass Android fork for their tablets, no less.
You're right about that. I was thinking from a legal/consumer rights perspective. A law which would also need to be adhered to by companies like Apple. Something akin to a combo of the GPL and...
Sadly, I think if Google had tried to enforce standards like that on Android from the start, it would have never become the platform it is today (for both better and worse).
You're right about that. I was thinking from a legal/consumer rights perspective. A law which would also need to be adhered to by companies like Apple.
Something akin to a combo of the GPL and right-to-repair/first sale doctrine. If the software can be updated (opposed to a ROM), consumers must be able to update it themselves with any version they choose.
I have only had one phone that did so, a very cheap phone whose manufacturer would occasionally push updates with ads in them. It was awful and I bought a better model as soon as I could afford it.
does your phone actually throw ads at you all the time? I assumed, of course, web ads in Chrome ... but does the phone itself serve ads regardless of what you're doing? And if so, my follow-up ... are you actually okay with that?
I have only had one phone that did so, a very cheap phone whose manufacturer would occasionally push updates with ads in them. It was awful and I bought a better model as soon as I could afford it.
Not ads in the traditional sense. But nearly any Android phone you get will have pre-installed or self-installing apps based on deals with the manufacturer or the carrier. Sometimes even as system...
Not ads in the traditional sense. But nearly any Android phone you get will have pre-installed or self-installing apps based on deals with the manufacturer or the carrier. Sometimes even as system apps, making them un-uninstallable. Sometimes one of those is Facebook or some Facebook component, very often it's some sketchy backdoor-type app like DT Ignite.
DT Ignite is the thing I would look up if I was interested in knowing more about this topic, as (while I believe it's always carrier-controlled) it's been accused of throwing sponsored ads in your notifications, installing apps without user notification or consent, and hauling off user data. It's constantly under fire for being controversial so has quite a few names it goes by. DT Ignite, Mobile Services Manager, and I believe Verizon App Manager is also just a fresh coat of paint over the same old thing.
I posted The Verge's review yesterday, but I felt that reviewer was trying too hard to find reasons to dislike it, so I thought I would also post this more positive review for comparison — and I changed the title here to emphasize that.
It does also drill into the history and features in somewhat more detail. ETA: thanks to tildes' word-count feature, I just saw that it does so with 35% fewer words, too.
I found this thru /. and this user comment really surprised me. As I've mentioned, I've never used a "regular" Android nor Apple phone, so it's hard for me to compare.
Android users
... does your phone actually throw ads at you all the time? I assumed, of course, web ads in Chrome ... but does the phone itself serve ads regardless of what you're doing? And if so, my follow-up ... are you actually okay with that?
I've been using a Pixel phone for years, so I'm about as tied into the Android ecosystem as anybody. I don't see ads just popping up on my phone or anything like that. I'd assume that presumed adware was from the phone's manufacturer; it's not inherent to Android. It's like with PC's. Just because someone buys a prebuilt computer and it comes with adware, that's not the fault of the PC ecosystem.
When it comes to ads on android handsets, it’s much like iOS; it will be served as part of an app. But generally your OS will be altered by the handset manufacturer to change some of the functionality and in some cases that includes ads e.g. on the Lock Screen. These are usually only on the cheapest devices as a form of subsidy.
IIRC that's largely a Samsung and bargain prepaid carrier phone thing. IIRC my OnePlus 8 had some app that basically pushed other OP accessories and whatnot, but that's the only thing I can think of that comes close. I know my S8 did not, and other than those I've had Pixels and Nexuses for years, so I can't speak to the current experience on other OEMs.
I had Pixels and nexuses as well, with the exception of a Motorola Droid, a Galaxy S5, and now a Galaxy S21.
The Galaxy S5 was one of my favorite phones. A great sweet spot between power, durability, and functionality. Removable battery, SD card, headphone jack. I'm still using it as an alternate device.
Starting from the Pixel 2, that line is excellent. The Pixel 3 being the peak IMO.
However, this Galaxy S21 is absolutely horrid, despite excellent hardware. Great cameras, durable as hell (dropped 10x or more on pavement with no case or screen protector and still no more than a paint scratch.
But the software drives me nuts. Especially the non-skippable system updates that reset a bunch of settings, with no significant patch notes to know what. I can change my payment provider from Samsung to Gpay, except for the phone gestures. Those can't be changed.
The Android ecosystem would be 10,000x better if it were mandatory for drivers to be open source and bootloaders unlockable. This phone without Samsung's UI would be astounding. If that were true we also could run Linux on any phone and merely run android apps in containers.
It's one of the things I miss about the brief stint Google had with the Google Play Editions of devices-- I remember the Galaxy S4 and a variant of the HTC One (can't remember if it was the M7 or M8) coming in a version with stock Android. I definitely lusted after the S4 GPE since it had such a nice design plus no garbage Samsung software, seemed like the perfect balance and what the Galaxy Nexus should have been. (The One I was less excited about, because I still think HTC Sense was by far the best OEM skin over Android we've seen, whether then or since.)
Given the eventual creation of the Pixel line (and more applicable to the time, Google's then-acquisition of Motorola), it was a doomed project, but it's nice to think of what we could have had.
Sadly, I think if Google had tried to enforce standards like that on Android from the start, it would have never become the platform it is today (for both better and worse). I remember when the G1 came out, how so many companies were so opposed to even putting apps on an open-source platform that they refused to make Android apps (Facebook was one of the big ones, the Android version was simply a supremely crappy web wrapper until around when Android 1.6/2.0 came out) until marketshare more or less forced their hands. Elements of that attitude still linger today-- I find it beyond bonkers that I kept getting ads on podcasts for the Whole Foods app, which is apparently still limiting some online order features to the iOS version, even in 20-fucking-22, without any real technical justification as to why. And Amazon is a company that even maintains their own whole ass Android fork for their tablets, no less.
You're right about that. I was thinking from a legal/consumer rights perspective. A law which would also need to be adhered to by companies like Apple.
Something akin to a combo of the GPL and right-to-repair/first sale doctrine. If the software can be updated (opposed to a ROM), consumers must be able to update it themselves with any version they choose.
I have only had one phone that did so, a very cheap phone whose manufacturer would occasionally push updates with ads in them. It was awful and I bought a better model as soon as I could afford it.
Not ads in the traditional sense. But nearly any Android phone you get will have pre-installed or self-installing apps based on deals with the manufacturer or the carrier. Sometimes even as system apps, making them un-uninstallable. Sometimes one of those is Facebook or some Facebook component, very often it's some sketchy backdoor-type app like DT Ignite.
DT Ignite is the thing I would look up if I was interested in knowing more about this topic, as (while I believe it's always carrier-controlled) it's been accused of throwing sponsored ads in your notifications, installing apps without user notification or consent, and hauling off user data. It's constantly under fire for being controversial so has quite a few names it goes by. DT Ignite, Mobile Services Manager, and I believe Verizon App Manager is also just a fresh coat of paint over the same old thing.