So I decided to take the plunge and try out a stock Android rom. I'm a fan of Sense. I actually prefer all of the overlays from the various manufacturers but I decided to see what all the fuss was about with stock.
To me, stock Android just seems boring. Sense, to me, seems more polished. The widgets are nicer and more useful. The stock Android widgets are plain and boring.
I don't notice the speed difference, that people claim is so substantial, at all. In fact, the sense roms we have seen to be speedier.
So, my question is, why all the fuss over stock Android? I know people complain about Sense taking up a ton of resources, but I don't notice a dip in performance at all.
P. S. Remember, these are my opinions. You may not agree. Don't flame me for it.
Sent from my One X using xda app-developers app
SkizzMcNizz said:
So I decided to take the plunge and try out a stock Android rom. I'm a fan of Sense. I actually prefer all of the overlays from the various manufacturers but I decided to see what all the fuss was about with stock.
To me, stock Android just seems boring. Sense, to me, seems more polished. The widgets are nicer and more useful. The stock Android widgets are plain and boring.
I don't notice the speed difference, that people claim is so substantial, at all. In fact, the sense roms we have seen to be speedier.
So, my question is, why all the fuss over stock Android? I know people complain about Sense taking up a ton of resources, but I don't notice a dip in performance at all.
P. S. Remember, these are my opinions. You may not agree. Don't flame me for it.
Sent from my One X using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because it's a blank canvas. Check out mycolorscreen.com, justreveal.net for some examples of what I mean.
Also, if the stock Android ROM you tried was on this device...then you haven't really experienced stock Android yet. There are still lots of bugs and what not that are being ironed out which cause lags in performance and other issues, so it's not really fair to judge the experience if it did occur on the One XL.
I do strive for AOSP on all my devices, but Sense is the ONLY tolerable manufacturer "skin" as far as I'm concerned. I dealt with Sense right up until a couple days ago since having my device. When I had my Samsung devices, Touchwiz was gone ASAP.
nooomoto said:
Because it's a blank canvas. Check out mycolorscreen.com, justreveal.net for some examples of what I mean.
Also, if the stock Android ROM you tried was on this device...then you haven't really experienced stock Android yet. There are still lots of bugs and what not that are being ironed out which cause lags in performance and other issues, so it's not really fair to judge the experience if it did occur on the One XL.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah buy a nexus 7 or a galaxy nexus if you to experience aosp.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
I do agree that the Sense widgets are awesome and much better than what is available on stock, HD Widgets is pretty nice though but still prefer the Sense ones IMO. And I too like the Sense launcher, at least with 4.0, seems to be much improved upon HTC's previous Sense versions. I'm no developer, but if it was at all possible to port the widgets to stock ROMs and launchers, that would be incredible.
All-in-all though I think I still prefer stock ICS/JB to Sense (can't wait for new stable AOKP and CM10!). I think part of the reason many people prefer stock is that although Sense is very nicely polished in places, many tasks feel like they take more actions to complete than it would on stock. Another part would be customization, especially if you go with stock-styled launchers like Apex or Nova, you have more control. And finally I think simplicity plays a part, stock ICS and JB have a very simple, clean, but still aesthetically pleasing interface IMO.
This is also I think was really puts Android above iOS and WP, the choices. It's really what you want to make of it.
Honestly, Sense is the only reason why I own an android device. I tried to like TouchWiz or stock, but I just couldn't. To me it feels like using a powerful computer on windows xp, but sense to me is like being on windows 7. Don't know if this is understandable. Anyways, that's just my opinion.
Sent from my HTC One X using Xparent SkyBlue Tapatalk 2
I don't mind sense. Been using it over its various generations. Modern versions are far less resource-hogging than the older ones.
Stock android i find far more appealing bar a couple of things like the calendar widget, but i had replaced the android one with Pure Grid calendar anyway so I wasn't missing anything there
i love stock android, its a much cleaner platform to me than sense, but I still have much love for sense.
I love both. Sense for me is just easier to use though. But if a fully working CM10/AOKP build came out, I would definitely switch.
I use to have a SGS and I hated the TW. Nova was my default launcher.
But I kind of like Sense. The only think I don't like are the Dialer app ( very ugly... I use exDialer instead ) and messaging app ( using jellybean Aosp)
Other than that widgets are pretty cool. They are all themed and they change when you switch to another theme.
Good job on that HTC... But really Phone app is horrible.
Personally, I am loving AOKP/Stock for a few reasons. Note that I'm going to try to keep this to Stock-specific things, since I know AOKP adds a bunch of cool (but non-Stock) functionality.
1. Accurate signal quality, rather than AT&T's bull**** "4G" icon (this is a small one, I know)
2. Stock multitasking (both interface and performance). I don't know why HTC changed the multitasking interface with Sense, because seeing one app at a time is a lot less efficient than seeing 4-5. I use the multitasking switcher a lot more sense installing a stock ROM.
3. This is related to #2, but things generally seem to "work better". I think this is due to the Sense skin's over-ambitious task killing, but for example, in Sense, sometimes my background Pocket downloads would randomly get stuck. Same with Store app updates. Haven't had this problem on Stock yet. Also, Stock didn't seem to want to kill RunKeeper while I was in the middle of an activity, so that was nice.
4. The general "feel" is more consistent, because apps that use the Holo interface are designed to "blend" better with Stock Android. I also prefer the transition animations in Stock. Overall, Android just feels more "right" because this is how it's intended to be used. It's hard to explain beyond that.
Those are the big things. Notice there aren't all that many, and it's (mostly) about personal look-and-feel preferences...that's because Sense really isn't bad, and there are even some things I prefer, like social network integration and (of course) the camera. If I was forced to use Sense, I would still love this phone, because really, we're splitting hairs at this point. This is an amazing piece of hardware, whether it's running Sense or Stock.
Of course, its hugely a matter of personal preference, especially as far as aesthetic differences go. But XDA folks seem largely in favor of AOSP ("vanilla") ROMs versus manufacturer skinned versions of Android like Sense. On older devices, this was largely understandable. On those devices, Sense looks nice, but leads to huge lag. But with the One X, you don't really have that. Maybe some minor lag in a few places, like opening the app drawer, but really its not significant. The hardware has finally reached a point that it can handle Sense smoothly (plus HTC's streamlining of Sense with version 4). There has also been the argument that Sense takes up too much memory. But that seems largely solved with 4.0.4.
Sense has some nice widgets and apps. But while some may see these as a "pro", other may see it as a "con". If you don't use them, they can be seen as bloatware. Personally, many of the widgets and apps are superior to what you can get on the Play Market. More functional, and the fact that they are themed to match the overall UI is very nice. Getting Stocks and other apps/widgets from the Market for use on AOSP ROMs just makes it feel like a messy mish-mosh. One thing I am continually shocked about is that AOSP ROMs don't have a built-in timer and stopwatch. Seems like a no-brainer to have these integrated into the clock, just like alarms. When I've been on AOSP ROMs, it was always a bummer to have to use 3rd party stopwatch/timer apps. Even though there are dozens of choices, they are all fugly and clumsy compared to what HTC has integrated into the clock.
Again, it all comes down to your own preference. The great thing is that the devs give us a variety, and let us choose whatever we like better!
I used to be all about aosp roms, customizing them is easier, on older devices they were noticeably snappier. However, on this hoxl, and specifically sense 4.0, I have been converted. Customization is less, true, but sense 4.0 really adds quite a bit to our phone that I can't seem to let go.
I've tried many roms here on xda, aokp, cm9, cm10, clean rom, three different roms from xsmagikal, and I discovered with the aosp roms that I missed fully working roms, and many features from sense roms and would flash back within two days.
I did the ota, and honestly, after being on stock (rooted, unlocked, but bone stock 2.20 ota) for five days or so, I almost think I could stay stock through the next year,and I would be satisfied with my phone.
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2
Related
I have been an Android user for a year now. I started with a Nexus One. I really enjoyed the whole experience and flashed a lot of ROMS. I was a Cyanogen devotee. I really enjoyed stock Android.
I have found from using my various android phones, Nexus One, Vibrant, G2, MyTouch 4G, that each of these UI's have their good points.
Honestly, Stock android is boring. Let's all be honest with ourselves, CyanogenMod is not stock Android any more than MySense is stock android, or MotoBlur.
The reason we flash different roms is because we are looking for functionality that we need for our daily usage. People bicker and argue over what rom or what UI is the best, but that is like arguing that chocolate is better than vanilla.
My opinion on stock android is that it is a great platform to begin with, but it lacks features that everyone wants and needs. If stock android was so great then you wouldn't any additional apps and there would be no android market.
Any way, my rant is over, so vote on what is your favorite UI.
So far this version of Sense "MySense" or whatever, on the MyTouch 4G is my favorite UI.
I've tried MIUI and while I like certain pieces of it (speed mainly), it was too Iphone-like for me. I don't really like having all my apps on every home screen, and if you have a lot of widgets it is a pain to navigate to the widgets you want to put using the editing screen. IMO if you slap LauncherPro on top there's really not much point in using MIUI, might as well use Cyanogen.
My favorite of the non-Sense ROMs was always Enom's for Nexus One. It had the combination of stability, features, and speed (those are the order of importance for me) that I liked and had enough theming out there to customize it.
I've also tried the Desire port (what I'm currently running on my N1), Cyanogen, and a few others.
But like I said, of all of them, this UI on the MyTouch is my favorite, love the Dialer, love the quick change of themes, the outline of app icons are easier on my eyes, Sense Widgets, Media Room, etc.
BTW Gr8gorilla, I've used one of your N1 themes in the past. It was quite a while ago but it was a sweet theme.
I got the phone last night, charged it up and started playing with it. My last phone was the G1, rooted, Sparksmod Froyo ROM.
My personal opinion:
1. While I like stock Android, for me the Sense UI is quite nice. It looks nice, it's smooth, the widgets are beautiful, it just feels polished overall.
2. If Sense is all about personalization and making it your own, I wish HTC and Tmo would actually let you truly customize it, such as allowing you to choose whatever icon you want on the dock, having multiple docks (like Launcher Pro), multiple size widgets, etc. without having to root.
3. I don't like the bubbles around the app icons, but I do like that it makes the icons look symmetrical.
4. MyModes is cute, but once again, you're quite limited in what you can select when creating a custom mode. If you give me the opportunity to make a custom mode, then please let me select the things I want to customize. However, this is not something you find in stock UI, so hats off to HTC for this.
5. The media room is fantastic, but again, I wish it would let me customize which app to put in there. While the stock video player it came with was nice, I use ArcMedia. It would be nice to be able to add that in the media room app. Same thing with Pandora. Wish I could add that alongside Slacker. But again, it's more than stock UI had, so props goes to HTC again for that.
Overall though, the system looks very nice out of the box, and for 99.99% of the users out there this is perfect. For the Android savvy or techies, it may feel too gimmicky, but as an intermediate Android user, this is actually very polished and very presentable (especially when you're showing it to the iphony fanboys).
So, what do my fellow MT4G'ers think of mySense? Love, hate, indifference?
Coming from TouchWiz, I must say I deplore mySense. I seriously don't understand why people rag on TouchWiz and claim Sense is amazing -- my experience says otherwise: I absolutely loved TouchWiz. Then again, most of this is subjective to personal preferences; so cast your vote and let us know how you feel!
Can you add an option for "I haven't seen it since day one"?
Sense was great on WinMo because the alternative was horrid. I'm not a fan on Android, but I have to say the day I got it I played with it and it's not as bad as full blown Sense IMO.
I had a Samsung captivate on att. It had touchwiz 3.0. I found it to be very usable... particularly because of how well it mimiced iOS which I just switched from. I liked the slide contact to call feature. And although the samoled was rich, I find this screen to be sharper... almost on par with iPhone 4.... but definitely washed out. I am surprisingly liking he UI on this phone. I haven't even bothered to perm root it yet. I like the fact that it all just works.
On the captivate I ran launcher pro. On this phone I have no real desire to change launchers.... and the sense clock and weather widget is frikkin sweet.
I don't find the UI to be intrusive and some of the added features are the best I have seen on a phone... in particular the copy context menu where you can look up anything your browsing is better than iOS. Hands down.
My smartphone acquisition disorder has been quelled.... for the moment.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App
I saw on your "what rich colors" thread you mentioned your love for touchwiz.
I think if manufacturers were to make their UI an app instead of implementing it on their devices it would speed the updates. And they could sell them on the market for $2 make some money and please a lot more people than they are now. Just my opinion.
I'm impartial, would prefer Vanilla android though.
mySense is growing on me, I'm starting to love it.
I like it so far..
Sent from my HTC Glacier using Tapatalk
Adw launcher + mysense framework = bliss
Sent from my anti titanic
Only thing I can say I TRULY hate about it is the blocks around the icons on the desktop and in the application drawer...
Other than that I have no problems with it!
I've used vanilla 2.2 (N1) and TW (Vibrant) and I can say that MySense isn't bad at all... do away with those blocks and it's golden - definitely better than TW.
Been using it for about 20 mins now and HATE it. Theres a reason my buddies on the Hero and Aria (that i flashed with cm6) dont miss that crap, because its just that, crap.
I'll pray every night for a vanilla rom until its available.
I have been a vanilla android user since my G1 (then N1). The mysense is starting to grow on me. There are some good functions that aren't on vanilla android.
thelamacmdr said:
Adw launcher + mysense framework = bliss
Sent from my anti titanic
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i just downloaded ADW from the market and im deff loving my phone more with this launcher, altho i must say, its a bandaid fix at best.
Im a Keep It Simple STUPID!!!! type of guy and dont like the thought of one launcher overlayed over the sense launcher thats running in the background.
only used sense for the first day then downloaded and upgraded to launcherpro plus!! amazing!!!!
I'm gettin use to it. used launcher pro plus for a min, but came back.
DarkAgent said:
So, what do my fellow MT4G'ers think of mySense? Love, hate, indifference?
Coming from TouchWiz, I must say I deplore mySense. I seriously don't understand why people rag on TouchWiz and claim Sense is amazing -- my experience says otherwise: I absolutely loved TouchWiz. Then again, most of this is subjective to personal preferences; so cast your vote and let us know how you feel!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is tmobile version of sense....not a true rep of the HTC sense~
it's ok to me...coming from a vanilla G1 and vanilla G2
Up in the air
I'm not sure what to think about the UI. There's elements of Sense that I like and there are those that I could do without.
I wish I could have the ADW Launcher with the Sense widgets since I hate the boxes around every icon and the mySense Launcher is kinda weak.
The theming idea is cool for those that don't want to run custom ROMs... maybe CM will port some of the goodies over.
What I would REALLY want is the ability to use HTCSense.com... Here's to the Sense port team!!!
It's ok with me for now. The MT4G has more than enough memory to support it, so the whole "slow" factor is irrelevant really. If it had a proper bluetooth stack so I could use my wiimote I would be much happier.
I like it better than vanilla Android but not a big fan of the launcher or app drawer
I'd like the original Sense UI personally
- White MyTouch 4G -
Permaroot + S=Off
I thought it ran pretty good! Installled launcher pro after a day. I just like the look alot better now.
Its not true sense but espresso or mysense or whatever they are calling it. I really don't like it tbh. I hate the fact that I have to choose a theme, which I think all look like crap. I love Launcher Pro and that gets rid of most of the sense ui. Just waiting for CM6.1.
Where did these features go in ICS? They used to be under the Clock app in Froyo/GB. Any help appreciated
I am on Kwiboo's ICS ROM v2
Hmm, i haven't seen those in the clock app except on sense. I always just downloaded the stopwatch & timer app from the market.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G running CM7/franco.Kernel
Well that would explain. It. I came over from the EVO4g a few weeks ago and today was the first time I needed a countdown timer.
Off to the market I go!
Wow... I'm exactly like you. Coming from the incredible, I feel like this Nexus is a piece of crap. Clock app sucks compared to sense, as does the dialer. And dont even get me started on Android widgets vs sense ones. Nothing replaces that sense news widget...
gerodive said:
Wow... I'm exactly like you. Coming from the incredible, I feel like this Nexus is a piece of crap. Clock app sucks compared to sense, as does the dialer. And dont even get me started on Android widgets vs sense ones. Nothing replaces that sense news widget...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nothing replace the amount of RAM Sense is taking neither ;-)
Stock Android lead the way !
kooskoos1814 said:
Nothing replace the amount of RAM Sense is taking neither ;-)
Stock Android lead the way !
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Click to collapse
TOTALLY worth it IMO. I find new things I can't do in stock that I was taking for granted with my Sense DInc almost every day. Plus phones today come with so much absurd ROM and processing power that the chunk sense takes is virtually meaningless.
gerodive said:
TOTALLY worth it IMO. I find new things I can't do in stock that I was taking for granted with my Sense DInc almost every day. Plus phones today come with so much absurd ROM and processing power that the chunk sense takes is virtually meaningless.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sense, and others like it, are the reason phones need that much rom, procesing power. Pure android is way better then all that other crapp.
Sent from my Nexus S using xda premium
p.pavljasevic said:
Sense, and others like it, are the reason phones need that much rom, procesing power. Pure android is way better then all that other crapp.
Sent from my Nexus S using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What you said makes no sense (no pun intended). You admit phones now come with adequate ROM and processing power to handle Sense (yes, perhaps because of the strenuous requirements of it), but then claim stock is better anyway? So I'm assuming you believe it's better to run Windows 95 instead of Windows 7 on a modern computer because even though the tech is up to handling the better stuff, sparing system resources is the only thing that counts?
gerodive said:
What you said makes no sense (no pun intended). You admit phones now come with adequate ROM and processing power to handle Sense (yes, perhaps because of the strenuous requirements of it), but then claim stock is better anyway? So I'm assuming you believe it's better to run Windows 95 instead of Windows 7 on a modern computer because even though the tech is up to handling the better stuff, sparing system resources is the only thing that counts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you look at the talk about the samsung galaxy not being updated to ics because of not having sufficient memory while the ns already got it altough the two phones are almost identical....well it speaks for it self that all that bloatware kills off a good phone.
Nowhere in my comment did i mention stock i reffered to pure android as it comes from google and since i dont like rooting ( read have company software installed on my phone) i am stuck to stock.
I like to have some hardware to spare instead of running on the edge.
But Micro$oft, come on......
Sent from my Nexus S using xda premium
Coming from the HTC Desire Z, which in Dec 2010 was a new and high-end device, ive gotta say my Galaxy Nexus (really wish I could say Nexus Prime) definitely blows it away. I know the RAM and cpu differences are huge, but even so. The thing struggled to run sense without slowing to a crawl after getting to around 30 apps installed. Switching to GOLauncher helped for a while but that was just a bandaid solution. I love the phone but HTC really needs to streamline things. Also, I do miss the clock app, which is how i stumbled upon this . Having it be oem and not third party pleased me.
How did a "where is the timer?" thread turn into a "sense vs stock" thread?
Sense is nice. If a phone can run it smoothly, then why not have it? It's really just a matter of preference and OPINION.
Though granted, my opinion is that I like stock Android better =p but hey, the option is nice.
One of the reasons that vanilla Android is feature light is to promote growth in the Market. If Android were released with every function that you can imagine, and they were all perfect, there would be little need for a Market and devs would go elsewhere.
I've always preferred a 'lite' ROM that you can then add to as you see fit. Want a Stopwatch/Timer? Choose from any one of dozens found on the market today. You have so much choice that you can find one you prefer and use that, rather than having to use one that you had no choice in, and can't get rid of because it was on the phone when you bought it. It's easier to add what you want than it is to remove the bloat that you don't.
http://www.slashgear.com/htc-ville-caught-on-video-with-sense-4-0-31211379/
I don't like it. HTC must have been high out of their minds to take Sense this far. The animations are unnecessary.
I agree, Im not really liking it. The dockbar, IMO, looks like garbage. All those animations seems like it lags the UI as well
the animation is nice. but i don't like the launcher, sense's 3.xx launcher is better that.
I like the animations. The dock and the actual device are ugly. Sucks. HTC messed up on this one. For sure il be getting the amaze instead now. I rather have sense 3.0 on android 4.0.
coupetastic-droid said:
I like the animations. The dock and the actual device are ugly. Sucks. HTC messed up on this one. For sure il be getting the amaze instead now. I rather have sense 3.0 on android 4.0.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why if you can just root it an hopefully downgrade lol
i honestly do like thgis sense. i mean sure the launcher is a bit iffy but i like it and if it gets ported to our phone i wont mind using it as a DD
O__o what happened????
Software: it doesn't even look like Sense anymore...
i agree, the animations, while nice, look like they hog a bunch of memory, and aren't necessary... if it lags on a device like that, imagine how it would run on our Glacier..LOL
Hardware: reminds me of the Galaxy Nexus, specially from the side lol
it doesn't look as pro and nice as the Sensation... i mean.. wow.. single LED light? the Sensation has two...
much rather get the Sensation instead.
quite disappointed... hope HTC changes it before the official release.
Eww ugly
I'm a Rom Flip Flopper
I was concerned that Sense 4.0 would look too much like previous versions and not allow enough of ICS' great UI to show through. The leaked video was a pleasant surprise!
I like the new status bar, clock/weather widget, and dockbar. All three are a nice change from previous versions which were pretty close to identical going from the Cupcake version of Sense that came out on the Hero all the way up to Sense 3.5 on the Runnymede and Rezound. Finally something different!
Like most people I did not at all like the needless animation in the Settings window, but I'd still be interested in running 4.0 on the MT4G or any future device.
Not a big fan of Sense in general, but it does seem HTC has gone overboard with this one. The phone itself looks pretty sleek though, wonder how cool it would be running AOSP ICS.
I haven't seen the video yet, I'm throttled, but judging by the comments. It's possible that it's just a beta or something, I'm just guessing.
If I helped, give thanks, if you please.
........Death before dishonor........
Team MS
I actually like it, it sure looked like a beta to me. There is no way HTC is going to release something that laggy
Sent from my HTC Glacier using xda premium
I think it looks pretty good. I definitely like the new launcher. I hated the rosie dock.
I thought it looked pretty cool. Cant wait to see a finished product
I could care less about the lag; it's the UI itself that annoys me. This has resource hog written all over it. And, Sense got uglier. All this resource rape is unnecessary; people have made exact replicas of Sense using images and other widgets, and it uses a ****lot less resources than Sense's framework (not to mention, the framework is modded to hell). HTC is just getting unnecessary now.
I think HTC should of just watered it down, a lot. Keeps beats and add universal support. Animations are nice so keep those, and have HTC Widgets, and apps and that's it. Stock ICS with minor tweaks.
sent from my Virtuous Unity
GazaIan said:
I could care less about the lag; it's the UI itself that annoys me. This has resource hog written all over it. And, Sense got uglier. All this resource rape is unnecessary; people have made exact replicas of Sense using images and other widgets, and it uses a ****lot less resources than Sense's framework (not to mention, the framework is modded to hell). HTC is just getting unnecessary now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm gonna have to disagree with that. Sense has so many little touches are throughout the UI...far too many to list. There's no way to replicate the Sense experience with themes and widgets.
It's sort of like generic cola...it tastes ok and a little like real Coke, but there's no way to duplicate genuine ice-cold Coca-Cola Classic (or Pepsi ).
TeeJay3800 said:
I'm gonna have to disagree with that. Sense has so many little touches are throughout the UI...far too many to list. There's no way to replicate the Sense experience with themes and widgets.
It's sort of like generic cola...it tastes ok and a little like real Coke, but there's no way to duplicate genuine ice-cold Coca-Cola Classic (or Pepsi ).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+100%
you're absolutely right.
people may have made "replicas" of it, but nothing beats the real thing.
just like how those people in China make those fake Android phones/iPhones and sell them
Looks great, but I'll always trade the looks of sense for the responsiveness and better battery life I get from an AOSP or CM build.
After looking at this, if sense REALLY turns out to be that way, I'm hoping some smart guy will make a rom for it without all the needless animations and resource hogging things.
I was really dissapointed that Touchwiz phones were more popular than Sense phones for 2011. I thought HTC would learn from that, but it seems they've gotten worse. I've been kind of excited for a Sense 4.0 rom but now im just probably gonna use my core droid 3.5 rom til my contract is up. If a nexus phone doesnt come to T-mobile... I will be forced to buy the only thing i see good enough....... a galaxy S 3 phone.
btw: I just saw this video today so im late XD.
Guys I've be wondering...why do OEMs always skin up their UI in a way so that it becomes disgusting to use...
Many custom ROMs sure only exists just to bring the native Android feeling like on the Nexus devices to those phones, right?
I myself own a Galaxy Note, and the day I bought it I feel its system was so crapped over with all that Touchwiz bs and Samsung Apps that nobody is going to use but still runs in the background.
So, if OEMs start building 'stock' Android firmwares and only add the essential features (like S-Pen Apps), wouldn't that be awesome for its users and for the OEM, due to not having to port everyting over once a new Android version arrives, which maybe means lower costs and faster updates?
I know that it would be making phones harder to differentiate, and marketing those would be harder, but they could make two production lines or two software versions and let the users choose which they want to update to...
Maybe I am just too naive lol, but I've been searching for a phablet with as much stock UI as possible and eventually I gave up
Any answers appreciated
This already started during Gingerbread and I think even before, back then Android looked hideous and the phone manufacturers actually did a decent job back then like HTC with it's 'Sense'. I think the manufacturers are still stuck in their old habits, and trying to differentiate themselves from competitors just like before. However Android started to look beautiful from ICS and on and most of these skins now look ugly and outdated.
I think the manufacturers have to step up their game just like google did with ICS, with either improving their skins or just remove their custom skins all together.
If you want the AOSP look, buy a nexus device or flash a ROM. You will just have to trust me when I say the masses like things the way they are. Stock Android is getting pretty good, but Sony's UI I just love, and I can see a lot of things which Sony and other OEMs bring to their skin a whole version before Google does
I for myself hate Touchwiz, but if you say so
You may dislike touchwiz UI (join the club) but the fact is Samsung has a lot of closed source features not available on stock AOSP.
As mentioned before it is just brand differentiation.
Sent from my SGH-I747
Sense is my custom skin, and I honestly don't mind Touchwiz, but stock jb or ICS is beautiful.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
Bull_Moose said:
Sense is my custom skin, and I honestly don't mind Touchwiz, but stock jb or ICS is beautiful.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
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While it would be nice to have the option of choosing Stock or Skin at setup, it would be difficult because their software is completely different. I personally like Stock Android and would rather not go back to any skin for that matter.
You could also just use a launcher (and de-bloat if it's an issue for you) to get a "look".
On my phone, I only use a launcher so that I can get T-Mobile's native WIFI-calling that's TW-only. I really didn't mind TW and there were some things I really liked - but the dealbreaker was lack of customisation - little changes that I wanted to make that made the phone go from good to awesome.
If you just want the look, try Apex or Nova launcher - you don't even necessarily need root.