Android is shit, most of the time

[SMOKEU]

I'm getting really fucked off with the bloated POS OEM Android distros out there. My last 3 phones, Galaxy S Plus, Galaxy S2 and HTC One X all had the most horrid OEM OS installed, even with the lastest official updates. All of those phones had a dreadful UI that is slow and cumbersome to use, with little way of changing it to make it better. For example;

1. The One X has MTP only mode, and no USB mass storage. Why should I have to use third party bloatware to transfer data to and from my devices, instead of using the (very reliable), tried and true method of copy and pasting data that works on almost every modern desktop OS?
2. No adjustment possible to the quick settings panel on the One X.
3. All have a horribly bloated UI that is a real pain to navigate.

I hate all the bloatware apps that these devices come with, and there's no easy way to remove them, at least not without root. On all of these devices, I found the stock UI to be basically unusable. I put up with the stock OS on the One X for 3 days, and after that period I was mentally drained. Even the most basic task like sending a txt makes me use all my mental strength to not throw the fucking thing out the window. On the Galaxy phones I didn't last any more than literally 5 minutes before I had to research on how to put Cyanogenmod on.

I shouldn't have to unlock the bootloader (if required), flash a custom recovery like CWM, root, then flash a Cyanogenmod port and Gapps just to get the new device into a usable condition, while voiding the warranty in the process.

I've got a 2012 Nexus 7 with the stock Google Android 4.4.2, and it's such a nice OS that I haven't felt any need to put on a custom ROM. It's smooth, fast, very easy to use and has little bloatware on it, just Gapps, most of which I don't use but it doesn't worry me since it's all quite unobtrusive. I think I'm going to stick with Nexus devices from now on. What's wrong with plain, simple Android?

[bogan]

There's an app for that....






What is difference between nexus and other devices though? I got a nexus 10 and it's pretty sweet.

[Gremlin]

Been happy enough with an S4, stock standard with no root. I was actually used to a green battery symbol until Kit Kat took it away. Only thing that annoys me is it starting Apps I've never used. Still, it's company provided and I need to keep it the same as users with them so I can walk them through any issues. Only been using Kit Kat for less than a week, so not sure yet if it's better on battery.

In general, Android is similar to Windows OS for desktop. Anyone can take it and modify it, giving different user experiences, fragmenting the OS and potentially having compatibility issues.

On the flipside (myself included) hate Apples complete control of the OS. You can't have it both ways.

[mashman]

WTF are you using it for? It's a phone. If you're too lazy to learn a couple of menu clicks or to RTFM, then use the voice function. Failing that, write your own OS and stun the world with an exceptionally user friendly UI that will WOW everyone into wondering how they ever got on without it.

Most of all though, it's a phone.

[tigertim20]

fuck me its a phone, does it text and make calls? whats the problem then!!

[Big Dog]

I wish I had a serviceable android. :'(
I feel bad not being grateful for company iPhone, but if I could afford to buy an android I'd give it back.

There are so many things I used to use android for that cannot be done on iPhone because Apple does not want to share toys.


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[awa355]

Yea, wot mashman said. I have a smartphone ( whatever that is ) I can make a phone call, I can send a text, even take a photo.

Does everything that I would expect a ph to do. Anything else, I have a laptop. :facepalm:

[AllanB]

Mines cool - nice clean 4.2.2 Acatel onetouch something with a zillion things I have not used yet. Makes phone calls too :Punk:

[mashman]

Does everything that I would expect a ph to do. Anything else, I have a laptop. :facepalm:

Music, don't forget the music.

[skippa1]

I wish I had a serviceable android. :'(
I feel bad not being grateful for company iPhone, but if I could afford to buy an android I'd give it back.

There are so many things I used to use android for that cannot be done on iPhone because Apple does not want to share toys.


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Funny aye, I went from Samsung s4 to Apple and loved apple over android

[Big Dog]

Funny aye, I went from Samsung s4 to Apple and loved apple over android

Depends what you use it for eh? Biggest disappointment with iPhone is that tools like network analysers are really locked down. Which is a bit shit when your trying to fix a poorly documented wireless setup.


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[Big Dog]

Funny aye, I went from Samsung s4 to Apple and loved apple over android

Does that mean you have an unwanted s4? :whistle:


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[skippa1]

Does that mean you have an unwanted s4? :whistle:


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Company hardware

[SMOKEU]

I'm just pissed off at why the phone manufacturers have to come up with the most complicated solution to the simplest problem, and fuck with the properly functioning stock Android till they fuck it completely and make it almost unusable as a daily phone. They should just leave it with the plain Android straight from Google, or put Cyanogenmod on. It's just that everything on these phones is way more bloated than it needs to be, which also chews up the battery life and reduces performance.

[oneblackflag]

Exactly why I only get Nexus.

[SMOKEU]

Exactly why I only get Nexus.

I'm probably going to do that from now on, as I don't like not having a valid warranty. I could always flash back but that's a bitch. With some of the Samsung phones you actually need a special tool the reset the flash counter as well.

[Big Dog]

Company hardware

Lol, suspected. Can't blame a trier.


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[bogan]

Lol, suspected. Can't blame a trier.


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Speaking of smartphones, you dingleberries know you can turn that shitty "sent from my douche canoe using tapatalk" off completely right?

[Big Dog]

Speaking of smartphones, you dingleberries know you can turn that shitty "sent from my douche canoe using tapatalk" off completely right?

Aye, but typing on the iPhone is so bad I assumed this would count as an apology if a couple of auto carrots slop out.

E.g not bragging. Humble apology.


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[awa355]

Wont start another thread for my mob ph, so here's my problem.

My Motorola Defy is about four years old and has never missed a beat - until now. When texting, the screen has begun to shutdown after a few taps on the keyboard. Every other operation works fine, the screen timeout is set for 10 minutes and the battery ( original ) still lasts for days. Anybody else had this hassle?

I did buy a new phone 3 months ago but have given that to the wife as I had a gutsfull of trying to learn to use it.

[Akzle]

Wont start another thread for my mob ph, so here's my problem.

My Motorola Defy is about four years old and has never missed a beat - until now. When texting, the screen has begun to shutdown after a few taps on the keyboard. Every other operation works fine, the screen timeout is set for 10 minutes and the battery ( original ) still lasts for days. Anybody else had this hassle?

I did buy a new phone 3 months ago but have given that to the wife as I had a gutsfull of trying to learn to use it.

git r phone with buttinz.

[sugilite]

My kids have nexus 10's, that their elder brother bought for them from overseas only 1 week after their release, awesome tablets running standard google OS (kit kat now). I'm pretty happy with my Alcatel phones (on my second one now), they run pretty much standard google OS, as in largely unmolested. They just work :yes:

[vifferman]

My poor orphan phone (Nokia N8) runs on simian or symbian or like that there. I blame Elop for fucking up Nokia so Microsoft could get all its patents for a song. Dick.
Not that it really matters; I bought it as a cameraphone, and use few of the smarts. Heck, I'd be lucky if I make a couple of calls a week.:facepalm:
But I use it twice a day to stream music to my Sena headset so the trip to-from work is more tolerable. Oh - so it's really a MusicPhone rather than a cameraphone, I guess.
Whatever...

[Gremlin]

My Motorola Defy is about four years old and has never missed a beat - until now. When texting, the screen has begun to shutdown after a few taps on the keyboard. Every other operation works fine, the screen timeout is set for 10 minutes and the battery ( original ) still lasts for days. Anybody else had this hassle?
I've never had a mobile for 4 years, so I can't tell you how they behave after that long. It probably should have broken a while ago. :crazy:

I might be able to squeeze two days out of a battery when the mobile battery is new and light use, but for a regular day there isn't enough left for a second day...

[Big Dog]

Wont start another thread for my mob ph, so here's my problem.

My Motorola Defy is about four years old and has never missed a beat - until now. When texting, the screen has begun to shutdown after a few taps on the keyboard. Every other operation works fine, the screen timeout is set for 10 minutes and the battery ( original ) still lasts for days. Anybody else had this hassle?

I did buy a new phone 3 months ago but have given that to the wife as I had a gutsfull of trying to learn to use it.
Back up your data.
Factory reset.
Restore your data.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[SMOKEU]

My kids have nexus 10's, that their elder brother bought for them from overseas only 1 week after their release, awesome tablets running standard google OS (kit kat now). I'm pretty happy with my Alcatel phones (on my second one now), they run pretty much standard google OS, as in largely unmolested. They just work :yes:

Fucking good tablet! I'd love one, even though they're old skool they're still mint.


Back up your data.
Factory reset.
Restore your data.


+1.

[badlieutenant]

re the bloatware. I wanted certain specs for my work phone. Reasonably good camera. large screen (as a builder reading pdf's on my s2 suked) Quad core processor or better. Fairly late version of google. Less than 800$. I took a risk (no warranties that I could possibly ever use) and went with a chinese phone. Zopo 998. Octo core (equivilent in cpu and gpu to a s4) 1080p screen (it is meant to be 401ppi but antutu reports 480ppi) 14mp front camera and 8mp back. gorilla something glass. oh and the camera has a f stop of 2. :D seems to take ok photos with no flash in low light (typical of all phones tho is the "noise" does start to pick up in those situations).
Best part is its got zero bloatware. I had to install a shitload of apps.

Oh and dual sim and fairly good battery life (2400mah). If i play candy crush hard out for 5 hours it will have to be charged that night tho. (i fucking hate candy crush)
from what Ive been able to glean from the interweb the screen is in fact made by sharp and the camera cmos is a sony product .

The downside is the gps. its ok but about the same speed to pick up the satellites as my s2. They are working on it with updates tho. (kitkat coming later this year.)
You can buy them in nz for 370 i think. Even better are some of the other brands that are sub 200$ with quad core. If you drop those and break them its not to big an issue.

[awa355]

Back up your data.
Factory reset.
Restore your data.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.


Did that, it worked, Cheers.

[Big Dog]

Did that, it worked, Cheers.

If you really have time and the inclination, my defy works so much better "rooted" with a few if the less useful things disabled or deleted. Wife has it now. Work put me on iPhone.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Big Dog]

I'd rather have an android but beggars can't be choosers.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[SMOKEU]

I just flashed my One X with the latest CM11 snapshot ROM a few days ago, and I'm getting at least 20% better battery life (if not more) compared to the stock ROM, or the previous CM11 snapshot. Why couldn't they do this shit from the factory FFS?! I always wipe batterystats.bin after flashing too.

Now I can get 2 days out of a single charge compared to the previous 1.5 days at the very most. All on stock CPU settings too.

[Swoop]

My Motorola Defy is about four years old and has never missed a beat - until now. When texting, the screen has begun to shutdown after a few taps on the keyboard. Every other operation works fine, the screen timeout is set for 10 minutes and the battery ( original ) still lasts for days. Anybody else had this hassle?
Glad you got it sorted! I lost my Defy last year but managed to get another brand new (difficult tracking one down however). The bonus was it was only 1/3 of the original price!
Good phones!