Maybe I'm missing something. People talk about The Google Experience a lot in this forum. For me that sounds like saying "I don't install programs on my PC because I like the pure Windows experience."
I guess for me, the Google Experience just means that AT&T doesn't get to molest my phone with their apps, weird settings or worst of all, imprint their name indelibly on the front of my phone. To a much lesser extent, it means that I don;t have to worry about TouchWiz.
Is there more to it than that? What does it mean to you?
For me, it means Android as Google designed it, rather than how manufacturers think it should be to separate their phones from the competition and it means an unlockable boot loader out of the box without having to register with the manufacturer. It also means no carrier pre installed apps except stuff necessary for the phone to operate on their network.
When you buy a PC, you don't get manufacturer customized versions of Windows. You get the same Windows no matter what system you buy, so manufacturers compete on hardware, extras, etc. Sure, manufacturers pre load apps on Windows installations, but the fundamental UI remains the same.
Unfortunately the only way to get Android the way Google designed it is to either get a Nexus, or get some cheap budget Android device that uses the stock UI because its hardware can't handle anything more than that.
It's a shame that for each new major version of Android, Google needs to issue a Google-experience de ice to showcase the raw vanilla UI, but alas that's reality.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
You mean pure Android Experience.
But I agree with you on most counts.
Pure Google experience is just that, pure.. Foundation for customization. Everything is built on top, if you strip any android phone down to the bones you''ll get get pure android, AOSP sitting on top of the Kernel. Some like it, some don't, some prefer something else. That's the way I look and understand it maybe I'm wrong in thinking this way.
Most of the replies have focused on the Android experience. I think the Google experience can also mean that you use many of the Google services (search, reader, drive, gtalk, voice, etc). Using all of this is easier on an Android phone vs iOS because of the apps and single sign on.
Simply put, not only do carriers install apps and themes, such as their custom interfaces (touch wiz sense); but they go further into the operating system. They edit and tweak various code in the underlying OS (framework kernel mods), block stock features like AT&T removing the option to install non market apps. Install tracking software however invasive you allow yourself to believe it to be (carrier iq). Ultimately these developers for the carriers and manufacturers might not be as good as the Google developers. Having used a phone both with and without having carrier iq installed (og epic) i know it performed significantly faster sans the carrier code. Pure google is just that, the code and features that Google released, not touched by outside developers which a majority of its code is still in every spin off to be found. The question is does your potential rom enhance that experience or hinder the phone from what it performed stock.
Sent from my Sprint Galaxy Nexus
-Everything i post is opinion based on my experiences and should be taken a such.
dreamsforgotten said:
Simply put, not only do carriers install apps and themes, such as their custom interfaces (touch wiz sense);
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Carriers do not install custom interfaces, the OEMs do. The carriers can decide the layout, color scheme, and features of the interface, but the skins and overlays are all on Samsung, HTC, Moto, etc. There was a regional carrier that had a phone with the stock Google experience on a device that was skinned on other carriers, so the carrier can also specify to remove the overlays as well.
As for what Google Experience is, look at stock ICS and that is the Google experience. Nothing on the phone that isn't coded by Google,except for a couple items from VZW on their Nexus, which are easily disabled and removed with no change in functionality. All apps come from Google that are installed, and if you want more features or functionality, you choose it from the market or elsewhere. You don't use other services if you don't want to, and you aren't forced to have them either.
Its more of a minimalist philosophy. Simplistically having nothing but the core functions I use, which happen to be a load of Google apps, is what its all about. Then having all that extra ram resources not wasted on crap and fully available to my usage needs only. Its the less is more theory, elegant yet functional on the basic core stuff.
RogerPodacter said:
Its more of a minimalist philosophy. Simplistically having nothing but the core functions I use, which happen to be a load of Google apps, is what its all about. Then having all that extra ram resources not wasted on crap and fully available to my usage needs only. Its the less is more theory, elegant yet functional on the basic core stuff.
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This is pretty right on. I think you will find, generally, that the people who like stock Android like it because they subscribe, as Google does, to the design philosophy that less is more. Therein lies my problem with custom Android implementations, both at the OEM and open source level. So many of them throw in everything AND the kitchen sink. I find that pointless.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Archpope said:
Maybe I'm missing something. People talk about The Google Experience a lot in this forum. For me that sounds like saying "I don't install programs on my PC because I like the pure Windows experience."
I guess for me, the Google Experience just means that AT&T doesn't get to molest my phone with their apps, weird settings or worst of all, imprint their name indelibly on the front of my phone. To a much lesser extent, it means that I don;t have to worry about TouchWiz.
Is there more to it than that? What does it mean to you?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google Experience:
GSM Quad/Pentaband
Completely Unlocked (fastboot oem unlock)
No bloatware or custom skins
Instantly getting the newest Android version
----
This is basically what defines the "Google Experience"
There are also many specific things about the phone that add to the Google Experience.
oldblue910 said:
This is pretty right on. I think you will find, generally, that the people who like stock Android like it because they subscribe, as Google does, to the design philosophy that less is more. Therein lies my problem with custom Android implementations, both at the OEM and open source level. So many of them throw in everything AND the kitchen sink. I find that pointless.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
It actually goes with Google's whole design. Ever notice how most Google services like Gmail are functional but not really flashy so much and sometimes a tad bland, like Gmail for many years in the beginning. More about simple to use rather than fancy and fully loaded. This is slowly changing though.
In my opinion, having a Nexus device is a much better experience than using a device that has had an AOSP ROM ported or kanged. I can't remember which phone(s) it was but I remember a carrier adding apps to an AOSP ROM as well as another one themeing their overlay to look like it AOSP. Lame.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
DeezNotes said:
In my opinion, having a Nexus device is a much better experience than using a device that has had an AOSP ROM ported or kanged. I can't remember which phone(s) it was but I remember a carrier adding apps to an AOSP ROM as well as another one themeing their overlay to look like it AOSP. Lame.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
The HTC G2 (great phone BTW) and LG G2X both ran stock Android builds, but they were loaded up with T-Mobile bloatware. Maybe those are the phones you were thinking of?
Google Experience to me:
Turning a phone on without having to see a app draw full of apps that are trial versions or just plain bloat (Verizon loads Tunewiki on my Thunderbolt by default, I will never touch this app but unless I root there is absolutely no way to remove it, it will inevitably launch and eat up my resources, not cool).
Not seeing some OEM skin. I like android's stock look, I like that I can get different launchers to change it up a bit but stock android is still the best to me. If I need extra features there is always the Play store, where I can download what I WANT, not be forced to have widgets out of the ass that I will never use.
I really feel like I could go on forever but I will stop there and just get to the point, when I turned on my Nexus I saw an open canvas, there was nothing on it but I could see the potential. If I wanted to keep it to only a few apps I could, if I wanted to load it with features and apps and go the whole 9 yards I also could. Basically to me the "Google Experience" is choice. Being able to turn the phone on and just do what I want with it without being told you have to use this skin or you have to have these apps preinstalled. Yes I know I can root (And always do) to remove the bloat but that doesn't remove the OEM skin (Unless I install a kanged AOSP ROM which almost always have a bug or two) but why should I have to? This is my phone, right? I just payed up to $700 to own it, I should be able to do what I want with it from the get go, and make it mine.
Sadly, not enough people see Android for what it is. The see bloated up phones, that run slow 2 months down the road, they see 4 different "Versions (OEM skins)" of Android and don't know which is which. They don't experience Android as it was meant to be experienced, which to me is way better than any iProduct could ever be.
For me the Pure Google Experience means being a good 'lil soldier and using my phone in such a way that adds useful info to their databases.
My Google Experience :
US first
Rest of the world : months later
I just ordered the 7. I will want to root it, but I have some questions.
Right now I have a rooted Nexus 4, and got a notice for a system update. I looked on CM and can only find nightlies for download.
I'd prefer the stable version. What are CM ROM are people downloading and how stable is it as a nightly? Is there another ROM that might be suitable for a plain jane reference library?
I see about the same for the 7 - No stable version, but a lot of people running some form of CM.
The camera, speed, removable battery and the SD card are the main reasons, plus the carrier (TMO) is switching 2G to LTE and upgrading a lot of other towers, so I will need LTE eventually.
I usually remove most of the entertainment, social apps and widgets. I have a fairly extensive information library - all apps purchased, and all with rather large databases. Every update seems to increase the memory used, so I'd love the extra. I also use the camera.
I also get rid of most of Google. The only Google app I need is Play Store. I don't socialize and do personal info like banking on the phone.
I also won't use the built in apps. I dislike widgets and prefer folders. Yes, I do need a smart phone to run these apps. I run ADW Launcher.
Right now the Nexus 4 is on Android 4.3 and I like it. I usually only update for security. How would I find an equivalent ROM and keep it?
I see differences in battery use and a few other areas.
I also see it is almost identical to the new LG in size - can I use a case for that phone? Like one poster, I want a holster case.
With the sound player - I didn't see the play specs. I assume it does do MP3, but how about AAC and MID?
Thanks
there are a lot of 3rd party ROMs that are stable enough, only have a few non threatening bugs to iron out. Depending on the ROM, it is pretty easy to stay updated with it as they usually have a built in update manager. Look in the 7a forum as most of the builds are unified across the 7a/7s.
The audio question you have is in regards to codecs, not hardware. I haven't personally played those file types, but you shouldn't have a problem.
opie546 said:
there are a lot of 3rd party ROMs that are stable enough, only have a few non threatening bugs to iron out. Depending on the ROM, it is pretty easy to stay updated with it as they usually have a built in update manager. Look in the 7a forum as most of the builds are unified across the 7a/7s.
The audio question you have is in regards to codecs, not hardware. I haven't personally played those file types, but you shouldn't have a problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So where is a unified sticky or post that discusses all ROMS? I do like CM. I'd like to read through it.
Hi,
I have little knowledge of android and Roms development, but I understand it was very difficult to develop for aftv given amazon restrictions.
Now, given the accomplishments in unlocking the boot loader, what prevents from a bunch of new Roms to appear? I live outside the us, so amazon ROM is quite useless, very slow, prevents me from having a decent UI (I know I could use xposed modules, but I don't think they solve the issue of the system being quite overloaded by useless stuff).
I was wondering why don't we get at least some clean aosp images to play with. TechVendetta is making a very nice experiment with cm12 on lollipop, but he also runs in the issues of this system being quite new. Can't we get anything based on 4.4.4? That's mature and stable now I guess. Is the issue just in having a decent TV UI?
Sorry, I know I could start studying and do this myself, I am not blaming anybody, just trying to understand better
Thanks!
i agree with you. TV UI is nice, but also having a clean decent 4.4.4 rom or even 4.2.2 would be very helpfull.
Quite a lot launcher can be controlled (after setting up with mice) via remote. I'm also in the beginning of ripping useless Amazon Stuff off my aftv (do a backup of recent System Apk's via titanbackup and then afterwards uninstall them). If we might get a Clean 4.4.4 than even a cool launcher might be usefull
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.theatreinabox.android.codered
So if there are any other dev's outside, or someone knew one he might ask them in jump on AFTV
Hello all,
I may get teased a little bit for this one - but I am a bit of a traditionalist. Even as an IT guy, I tend to shy away from custom, enhanced or otherwise modified ISOs of windows. Not because I am afraid of them... I just like the "stock" look. I would like to stick to the same thing on my phone.
I am still running the stock version of my ATT firmware, 4.x.x. I like it just fine, and it suits my needs for the most part - (Other than the ATT bloatware that crashes constantly for several minutes upon reboot)
However, my device is beginning to slow down and I find myself using Chrome more and more because the older stock browser does not seem to want to render some sites very well. I expect it is only a matter of time before I start running into "sorry, you cannot run this app" type of issues.
So on to my questions....
1. Will upgrading to 6.x or 7.x improve the performance on my device?
2. If so, I see there are a ton of apps to choose from. Is there one specifically that is "less modified" or at least enables some sort of "gotta-have-it" functionality?
3. Can you elaborate on why you chose to move from the stock rom? I understand there are alot of "testers" on this forum who like to play with things. However, my phone is used heavily for work purposes. Simplicity and Stability remain key drivers for me.
Changing to a custom ROM may improve some areas of performance while decreasing in others such as battery life, camera, and stability.
By apps, I assume you mean roms. I can't make any recommendations as I have not had a note 2 for a few years but I have found that custom ROMs based off a stock rom are pretty stable. I always like to start with a very bare-bones ROM and add functionality via apps as needed.
I have moved to custom ROMs in the past when apps won't run on the phone's stock rom.
I've run my note 2 on DN3 for a number of years. You can still find a link to the thread in this forum and you will need to root your n2.
Not hard. 1 advantage is you can remove the bloat and it's still a rom that runs well on our device since it was built for our device in it's prime.
If you have any questions send a PM. Happy to help.
wisem2540 said:
Hello all,
I may get teased a little bit for this one - but I am a bit of a traditionalist. Even as an IT guy, I tend to shy away from custom, enhanced or otherwise modified ISOs of windows. Not because I am afraid of them... I just like the "stock" look. I would like to stick to the same thing on my phone.
I am still running the stock version of my ATT firmware, 4.x.x. I like it just fine, and it suits my needs for the most part - (Other than the ATT bloatware that crashes constantly for several minutes upon reboot)
However, my device is beginning to slow down and I find myself using Chrome more and more because the older stock browser does not seem to want to render some sites very well. I expect it is only a matter of time before I start running into "sorry, you cannot run this app" type of issues.
So on to my questions....
1. Will upgrading to 6.x or 7.x improve the performance on my device?
2. If so, I see there are a ton of apps to choose from. Is there one specifically that is "less modified" or at least enables some sort of "gotta-have-it" functionality?
3. Can you elaborate on why you chose to move from the stock rom? I understand there are alot of "testers" on this forum who like to play with things. However, my phone is used heavily for work purposes. Simplicity and Stability remain key drivers for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
rooted/magisk samsung S21+ ...stock rom
stock version of google maps removed with titanium backup.
trying to install many different old versions (in the 9.x and 10.x range) just says 'app not installed' ...what the hell is going on here?
Android 11 scoped storage perhaps.
Try coping it off another device running on R with ApkExport then transfer it to the victim device.
11 just sucks elephant balls bad
scoped storage? sounds like got some searching to do.. i also have a rooted LG V30 that i could maybe grab stuff off of. thatd be my only other play to make though..
sraenn said:
scoped storage? sounds like got some searching to do.. i also have a rooted LG V30 that i could maybe grab stuff off of. thatd be my only other play to make though..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're stuck with scoped storage with/after Android 11. It's not fully active on Android 10, at least with older apps. My old copy of WPS office app runs fine on Q. I will continue to test my N10+/Q vs my N10+/PIE variant to see it's effects if any. So far it hasn't raised its ugly head on the Q variant, but I have played with it more then a few hours.
If you could use a rom version of Q or Pie that be best.
Workarounds for it on 11 exist to some extent but without apps coded well with special permissions it will make them useless. It's already causing issues with photo apps (even on Pixels), file explorer apps, any apps that needs access to large user databases.
Do a Google search for scoped storage sucks.
Let me know how Android 11 works for you, good or bad.
Typical battery life on my Pie variant are as follows with a 4300 mAh battery:
7-12%@hrSOT typically 8% for browser and 11% for web vids.
>.5%@hr with tap on AOD at night with cell/internet not disabled.
The Q variant seems to be better or similar but haven't ran it long enough to really know for sure. It's running cool though and not using excessive CPU cycles. Both are optimized almost the same including a package disabler. Q seems a bit snappier, but it's a fresh load vs a 1.5year old load with heavy use.
crap. that kinda sucks. honestly the battery life on my phone is doing well, granted i dont have much on it and the heaviest use it sees is watching youtube (vanced of course). maybe its time to look around for a good android 10 rom, eh..
sraenn said:
crap. that kinda sucks. honestly the battery life on my phone is doing well, granted i dont have much on it and the heaviest use it sees is watching youtube (vanced of course). maybe its time to look around for a good android 10 rom, eh..
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Click to collapse
If you can find a good Android 10 rom, flash it, not losing hardware functionality. That's a tall order. The cam and display firmware will likely be the most troublesome aspects as the stock rom was built on Android 11.
After you clean up the bloatware Samsung usually builds good stock roms. Problem is Google only gives so much leeway to vendors modifying whatever base Android version it's running on.
Android 11 is a mess, Samsung had limited options and couldn't clean it up completely without disabling major "improvements" that are core elements of that OS.
The base Android OS is off the rails, dragging down Samsung with it.