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Sense vs. AOSP

First off...I think I've come to the conclusion I'm a sense guy at heart.
I've used all the major sense ROMs for this bolt. BAMF, Virus (Airborne and Synergy), Chingy stuff, and DroidTh3ory's stuff. (I"m sure a few others I've forgotten).
I've also tried CM7 several times, OMFGB, and recently Th3ory's AOSP run.
I get smaller footprint, more customization, better battery life (I'm told, can't say I've left an AOSP on mine long enough to confirm/deny that personally).
I use my phone for 60% business/40% personal.
I know you can download an app or theme for just about everything...but at what point do you say enough is enough. I'm trying to make AOSP do what Sense already does?...most of the time for free.
Example... Sense 3.0 MMS...cleaner, nicer. Sense email client, way better than AOSP offering. I use Exchange for email. I know all about Touchdown, K9, moxier, Enhanced Email, etc. But on baked in AOSP email you can't even move an email to a sub folder??
The dialer is horrible, IMO. So I downloaded dialer one. I like sense's dialer, if you start typing a name or number, it starts pulling them up. Reminds me of how easy a blackberry is to use for dialing.
I like the people Widget, so I paid for launcher pro plus, their people widget as well as calendar/agenda widget is ok. It would be nice if the facebook pictures synced up properly with their people widget, but I've read this is a known AOSP issue. Again...buying/installing a 3rd party app for something that just works in Sense.
I'm not looking for a flame war. I know there's a HUGE majority of AOSP love out there...I get it. Just looking for opinions.... am I way off base here?
Now, AOSP is not all terrible. The ability to choose different launchers, change the number of home screens, how they rotate, different home dock icons, ability to change row/columns.... There are a lot of pluses for sure... so please don't think I'm kicking dirt on the AOSP guys. I appreciate good work from ALL the developers...it's a thankless and never ending job...

One of the main reasons I am sticking with Sense-based ROMs is the quick lookup feature.

I loved aosp on my Droid 1 and Droid x, when I got the t-bolt I had to deal with sense and now I can't go back to aosp.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA Premium App

On the CM dialer, you can hit the search key and type someone's name.

I like AOSP cause thats what I learned on. Sense pisses me off more than it helps- too many things that just dont work right for me. For example (and this is small stuff, but stuff that just bugs me), click on the address bar on the browser. Start typing something to search....click enter, aww crap, it automatically put a www. in front of it...back up...delete the www. and try again. I can visit Sense once in a while, but always end up back at AOSP. I dont like re-learning, my original HTC Nexus with AOSP was still the best phone I ever had.

I love sense. I came from a Droid X and after i got my TB i realized that 80% of apps and widgets and stuff that i downloaded was to make it look and operate like sense. Like a world clock, a stop watch and good calender widget, the sense clock...the list goes on. Yes there are some things i miss from launchers i used but overall sense is good. Very functional and its got the eye candy.

I dont get why you u cant just turn sense off in settings like you could on my htc imagio. Made it much easier for people who prefer one or the other.
Sent from my TBolt using my f***king thumbs...

I think the true answer lies somewhere in between, the beauty of the Android OS is customization. Personally, I am using an AOSP dailer with my BAMF Sense ROM.

My girlfriend loves cm7. I can't stand it. I tend to think of AOSP as Android for people that don't care how it looks or works. Android really isn't that elegant all by itself. It's a pig in need of lip stick. I just refuse to pay for something Sense gives me for free is another reason. That HTC clock is coming close to being an icon of Android itself. I personally think its time Google considered making their industrial modern art masterpiece into something pleasing to the eye and brain. I might give AOSP another go at some point. I'm pretty sure I won't like it because I like how Sense ties things together and it Just works. For free.

I've tried going back to AOSP as I loved AOSP on my OG Droid. I am a Sense-aholic now and I cannot go back. Especially running Sense 3.0 on das BAMF 4.9.

razzia17 said:
I loved aosp on my Droid 1 and Droid x, when I got the t-bolt I had to deal with sense and now I can't go back to aosp.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA Premium App
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+1, thats exactly how I was. I thought I was an ASOP only guy after my D1, but every time I try ASOP now I find myself missing some of the things that sense gives you.
Gingeritis 3D is the most stable GB Sense rom I have used yet, battery life is unexpectedly good.
I like the hardware that Motorola has been putting out with android, but Sense blows Blur out of the water...

I've tested a few moto phones...and that being said, I can TOTALLY see the huge love of AOSP for those folks. It's what they're used to and what they know.
But I've owned a sense phone...and use it daily now since release.
I too, can't see spending time and a little money to make it work or trying to make it work like Sense Candy....

dajogejr said:
I've tested a few moto phones...and that being said, I can TOTALLY see the huge love of AOSP for those folks. It's what they're used to and what they know.
But I've owned a sense phone...and use it daily now since release.
I too, can't see spending time and a little money to make it work or trying to make it work like Sense Candy....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use Sense simply because I don't have time to experiment with all the other ROM options. But whenever I have started to try some other individual app options, I usually find something I like better. Sense weather animations are cool eye-candy, but there are much more functional weather apps when you need them--and you just don't need a weather app on all the time. The stock clock is ridiculously huge and some of the other optional Sense clocks are OK, but there are a million other clocks out there for free. Found a free calendar widget that is much more customizable and therefore nicer looking with my many backgrounds. Touchdown is better email app (but not cheap). One thing at a time, everything is getting replaced. Not sure what elements of Sense I'm still using!
Thanks, Robertus

I love asop. I love being able to use launcher pro and hide apps that i don't want to see. I love the speed. And every app works great on asop. I've tried to go back to sense but i only last a day at the most. I think the dailer on stock android is awesome.
Sent from my ThunderBolt using XDA Premium App

I started off with Sense and tried the ASOP mods.
ASOP is very minimalistic. BUT Sense is TOO MUCH.
Google needs a good clock and a better calender and better icons. If they fix that, ill be solid with ASOP.

I like rooting so that I can get to enjoy both sense and aosp. Both have pluses and minuses. Can we agree to that?
End of story.
Sent from my thunderbolt

khanam said:
Both have pluses and minuses. Can we agree to that?
End of story.
Sent from my thunderbolt
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Wow you clearly missed the point of the thread
Just looking for opinions.... am I way off base here
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Click to collapse
He was looking for opinions on Sense vs ASOP. He wants to know the pros and cons

I keep trying all the AOSP roms but keep going back to Das BAMF 1.8.6 because it's the most stable, has the least bugs, and the longest battery life. At least for me.

Its a personal preference, so there is no right or wrong answer. I definitely love AOSP. Just cleaner, every app works as intended, moddable.. most importantly (typically) ultra stable and fast.
I personally like the dialer, but usually people get hung up (no pun intended) on that. I love the fact that I can choose to dial, use favourites, have an easy to access call log, etc.. and if I can't manage to find someone in all that.. i can just hit the search key (you remember that little button on the bottom right side).
I do love some of the sense options but not enough to buy the farm. It would be nice to have a middle ground, but I guess i kind of do with AOSP and the mods.

I there any way to enable the quick lookup feature on AOSP? I mainly use quick lookup to easily translated web pages.

Sense/No Sense?

I have to say - After using my sensation with sense, then taking sense off using a ROM from PyramidHD. I have to disagree with alot of people that are saying they don't like sense.
Loving PyramidHD Blue Neon ROM (with sense)!
Many thanks to CDTdroid. Stay up man
-CoreyRay

Without sense I can't get on with Android

xaccers said:
Without sense I can't get on with Android
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Click to collapse
Sense is the main reason i switched from iPhone to Android

Sense with amazing sense skin =]

I used to like sense. Then i tried Cyanogenmod 6 and never went back until i was forced to with the sensation.
Sense is slow and ugly. I prefer minimalistic.

I'd keep Sense launcher if it let me change basic things, like screens number, or dock shortcuts, or add a gesture or two — anything!
But it's all "pre-tuned" in rock for casual users' bliss, and I don't consider myself one. So I'm on LP, and the moment Pyramid has AOSP I'll lose sight of all these idiotically glossy bars and icons completely.

Sofar i have stayed with Sense.
Seems alot of work to get NoSense to work. But maybe when i have sometime over i would take a more closer look into it.
But i like the clock from Sense where i can get into the timer and alarm easy.

htc sensation cant live with no sense,,,,,,,,

ADW EX - much faster, more configurable. Sense is fluff to me, too much overhead, too restrictive, too much useless animation. Just my perspective.

samnada said:
ADW EX - much faster, more configurable. Sense is fluff to me, too much overhead, too restrictive, too much useless animation. Just my perspective.
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Click to collapse
My Words!
No more sense for me, slow stuff
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using XDA App

No Sense bloat for me...I'm using Melvins Senseless Extreme rom & loving it!

Sense suckss
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA Premium App

Both are cool IMHO, but Sense looks a little too kitch for me, alternatives launcher like ADW is better for me .

I'm using the rooted stock ROM and stripped the hell out of it. Removed/replaced everything I could.
I don't even have the Rosie or Sense Lockscreen anymore, it's completely gone!

I know...its the sense-ation but I prefer vanilla Android.
It is a beautiful overlay, but such a resource hog.

mrbkkt1 said:
I know...its the sense-ation but I prefer vanilla Android.
It is a beautiful overlay, but such a resource hog.
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I think this is an example of how US carriers trash the phones.
Sense on my UK O2 isn't a resource hog at all, and is fast and smooth.

CoreyRay said:
I have to say - After using my sensation with sense, then taking sense off using a ROM from PyramidHD. I have to disagree with alot of people that are saying they don't like sense.
Loving PyramidHD Blue Neon ROM (with sense)!
Many thanks to CDTdroid. Stay up man
-CoreyRay
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless you flashed one of the unstable AOSP ROMs, you've never used a ROM without Sense on your Pyramid.

xaccers said:
I think this is an example of how US carriers trash the phones.
Sense on my UK O2 isn't a resource hog at all, and is fast and smooth.
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Click to collapse
Not sure TMO US actually trashed the Sensation. There are some apps added and some removed, but without some acutal evidence it's not clear they modified Sense itself. Sense runs fine on my phone, but I have no use for fancy widgets, animation, or 7 home screens. Supporting all the useless graphics does use more resource than necessary, so in that sense it's a resource hog regardless of how smooth it is. With ADW I can set the phone up just the way I want. It's a shame HTC doesn't allow that level of customization.

I absolutely love sense. I will only lose it for miui. When that happens
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using xda premium

samnada said:
Not sure TMO US actually trashed the Sensation. There are some apps added and some removed, but without some acutal evidence it's not clear they modified Sense itself. Sense runs fine on my phone, but I have no use for fancy widgets, animation, or 7 home screens. Supporting all the useless graphics does use more resource than necessary, so in that sense it's a resource hog regardless of how smooth it is. With ADW I can set the phone up just the way I want. It's a shame HTC doesn't allow that level of customization.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use fancy animations, widgets and have seven full homescreens and I am on tmobile. Sense is smooth and zippy and I experience no lag or stutters.
Resource hog.... Wake me up when there's something I want to do on my phone but can't. Until then the resource hog statement has little value. Just like qudrant benchmarks for judging "performance"
Now people out there may have a situation where they are unable to do something with their phone, and if they removed sense and setup the exact same situation they'd be able to do it. Not hypotheticals. Actual instances tested and verified on both sense and nosense. But that's not what you usually read on the board.
What you usually read on the board are many many parrots with a few owls.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using xda premium

CM7 vs. ARHD

I've been debating about this over the weekend since I installed ARHD on my Sensation.
I know CM7 is still on Alpha, but I'm wondering if it's worth switching over the CM7. I used to run CM when I had my Nexus, and it was awesome. I don't know why but Sense is just so appealing to look at and the Eye Candy is just awesome, so I'm kind of debating on whether or not I should make the switch to CM7 or not. Also, how's the battery life on CM7 in Alpha? ARHD is giving me pretty much 10-12hours of usage with everything on and fairly heavy usage.

I was using revolution HD for a while on my sensation. I did the XE with beats 3.6.0 upgrade too, and it was nice... although I wanted to give cm7 a try. I am very impressed... for alpha, it is incredibly stable. Camera is nicer, it's nearly instantaneous (where revolution still had a 1-2 second delay between launch and home) boot is faster, battery is better... all sorts of neat things.

Basically you're going to be giving up your Camera, HTC keyboard, Video Recording, Sense Dialer. I tried it and went back to LeeDROiD, because I couldn't handle the camera and missed the keyboard.

nothing in the world beats htc keyboard >>

Spekko said:
nothing in the world beats htc keyboard >>
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Click to collapse
ehh, swype much?

RussianBear said:
ehh, swype much?
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+1
I can't live without Swype
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e

If you don't need the eyecandy... go with CM7.
If you do need the eyecandy... go with MiUi.
If you need HTC stuff... stay with Sense. Otherwise CM and MiUi rape Sense on performance.

Personally I use both. I like both and have always been loyal to the CM roms on all my phones. The I lovethe speed of this rom however I do like ARHD. The What ever I feeling that week I run. I keep nandroids of both and keep them up to date and restore when needed.
Sent from my Sensation using XDA App

Spekko said:
nothing in the world beats htc keyboard >>
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I much prefer Swiftkey X.
But, the camera and lockscreen are two significant reasons I always end up coming back to a Sense rom.

nrvnqsrxk said:
Basically you're going to be giving up your Camera, HTC keyboard, Video Recording, Sense Dialer. I tried it and went back to LeeDROiD, because I couldn't handle the camera and missed the keyboard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You lose all these things? You can't use the camera or record video?
For me I'd say Swype > HTC Keyboard
I have no idea what the Sense Dialer is, but I'm sure the alternative is that you can still dial and call people. =)

I agree I have the beats theme with the alien lockscreen. I know many are not impressed with the beats Software however my music sounds great. I use SwiftKey x as well. I just wish there was a bigger selection of skins.
Sent from my Sensation using XDA App

relic419 said:
I much prefer Swiftkey X.
But, the camera and lockscreen are two significant reasons I always end up coming back to a Sense rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah SwiftKey is the nuts. Just because you have a sense rom doesn't mean you have to use it. Plenty of launchers out there. I'm uprooted using lp+ and the phone is flying. Really tempted to go with arhd though.
Sent from my brain

n0oblettz said:
You lose all these things? You can't use the camera or record video?
For me I'd say Swype > HTC Keyboard
I have no idea what the Sense Dialer is, but I'm sure the alternative is that you can still dial and call people. =)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He just means HTC's version of each.
In my opinion MiUi is the best ROM. I think it beats out CM for total functionality and the themes and eyecandy are endless. It's CM taken to the next level. I even used to run the Swype keyboard on it with my HD2, haven't tried with the Sensation.

RussianBear said:
ehh, swype much?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
personally, i hate swype with a passion

What about a Rom that mixes the best of both worlds?
Sent from my HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio using XDA App

Cm7 alpha 7 as the option to launch up to 4 apps from the lockscreen... That's why we love cm nightly... Updated every night! And we're not even in the official nightly yet
Hi my name is DloBrown and Im A nightly addict who've been sober for too long!!!

There might be too many bugs in CM7 at the moment for me to just jump on to it. How easy is it to keep updating nightlies? Will all my apps stay from each update to update? Helping with the alpha and providing issues may be something that would make me switch over.

using CM7 alpha 7 right now. Loving it. The only thing I missed was the lock screen and alpha 7 has a similar one to sense, so i'm good now. 1080p recording still not active but will be. Also
one other thing I miss about sense was the face book to contacts sync. CM7 can sync them but not as good. I have some contacts under nicknames that sense used to match with my face book friends. But overall I prefer CM7, much smoother and more customizable.
Sent from my Sensation using XDA Premium App

I have Android Revolution 3.60. im on Bell and haven't flashed the recommended radio. Im scared to do so, as my other phone- moto dext would overwrite my existing radio with tmob's if i updated it. Im used to flashing roms with no radio. My battery really sucks it drops like mad and have to constantly charge

CM7 all the way, but...
I have been using CM7 for a couple of weeks, and I can say that even in alpha, this rom is great. The bugs are not that significant (at least for me) and it is extremely fast. I am not big in the eye candy thing, so for me I prefer a simpler rom than one with more bells and whistles.
That being said, ARHD is the best Sense rom out there, especially because it was the first one with full access to the dual core processor. Mike1984 has done a great job with the rom, it is extremely stable and the add-ons are nice. I have to be honest and I don't think that there is a camera app that can beat the Sense one. I am talking about basic functions, meaning taking pics and recording video, as there is no 2-3 seconds delay after pressing the shutter button.
I don't think that CM7 is for everybody (not right now), so if you just want your phone to work flawlessly, I will say go with ARHD.
P.S.: I personally don't like MIUI, it is too iphonish for me, but I would agree with another person in this forum, who says that it is the evolution of CM7. I do like the performance of the rom, just not the look of it, I hope that they bring back the app drawer.

[Q] MIUI vs Sense 3.5?

What you think is better and more stable? I was using Sense 3.5 but yesterday i install the MIUI one and it look so cool! but i see in DS forum that most of users use the Sense one.

Must .. resist .. temptation .. to .. troll .. >_<
Sense 3.5 all the way.

This should be posted on the Q&A section.
Mods please move this thread.
My answer: i dont know, im not using either of it.
Sent from my HTC Desire S using XDA App

There are about 5 different Sense 3.5 ROMS each of which provide a different level of experience.
MOD: move thread.

It's apples and oranges, Sense (in general, not just 3.5) allows customization, useful widgets, a beautiful homescreen and some great apps. Lockscreen is great too.
Miui is more about speed and performance, and a LOT of theming, you can customize the hell out of it, it's much faster than sense.
Matter of choice.

Sense 3.5 UI is indeed great, but I personally think it also puts unnecessary burden on battery. Many services in sense rom keeps on running even if you close them.
On miui if closed once they are down for good(almost)
Sent from my HTC Desire S using XDA App

I am going to try MIUI today.

the only thing i miss in sense roms is the INTERNET PASS-THROUGH feature(allows phone to use PC internet via usb)
still wonder why Miui has not been able to add this feature

Miui and sense 3.5 are both very nice in their own different ways.
If I use miui though, i greatly miss the functionality of sense 3.x.
So I use Sense, and miui just for fun to test
Sent from my HTC Desire S using xda premium

I think sense 3.5 is better, cause I like android better than iPhone style.
Sent from my Desire S using XDA Premium App

You just have to try both. That's the best way.
MIUI is not just a pretty face BTW.

lynxnoon said:
the only thing i miss in sense roms is the INTERNET PASS-THROUGH feature(allows phone to use PC internet via usb)
still wonder why Miui has not been able to add this feature
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Internet pass through works very well on sense roms. Please check one out to see for yourself. Try hyperion if you have doubts.
Beamed from far far away using xda premium.

enigmaamit said:
Internet pass through works very well on sense roms. Please check one out to see for yourself. Try hyperion if you have doubts.
Beamed from far far away using xda premium.
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Click to collapse
what i meant was this internet pass through only works on sensed based roms,
no one seems to be able to add it on other roms like miui or cm7

I love Sense, it's fast and stable on my phone. MIUI looks great too, but I've read it's not stable at all yet.
Endymion ROM (with Sense 3.5) is so far the best one I've tried.

Dense has more features than MIUI IMHO
Sent from my HTC Desire S using XDA App

Miuiiiiiiiiiiiii!
I just flashed MIUI last night, previously only knew Sense 3.0 and more recently the 3.5 version. I love the speed and layout of MIUI - BUT, and this is a major but... the email implementation is not up to par with how I like to use my android phone. Since this is the only issue I've run into so far, below is a list of what I personally thought could be done better.
MIUI Email Pitfalls:
- "Corporate" email, sucks because the only option is the super secure version that would be nice for corporations who own the phone - but lets get real, what percentage of MIUI users fall into this category (0% maybe)? The Exchange email implementation should be like the Sense version in that you don't have to give up access to your phone and abide by "Exchange" rules governing your entire phone experience IMHO.
- Ability to quickly change email filters, e.g. unread, flagged, attachments, etc - loved this ability in Sense and really miss it so far.
There's my relatively short list. I'm sure there are mods that can alleviate these pitfalls, but hey this is just day two. =)

[Q] Even Sense already release 4.0, what other feature HTC should implement?

Even Sense already release 4.0, what other feature HTC should implement? What other smart or care feature you think HTC should provide?

There is too many feautures from normal ICS, that are not implemented by HTC. With no reason.

hexen88 said:
There is too many feautures from normal ICS, that are not implemented by HTC. With no reason.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Such as?
10char

hey, honestly, when I had hd2 I hated sense...I tried miui, ics, and sense was so...simple...
now after some months I love sense, and I understood that is simple but you have everything
yes, maybe a little more personalization could be better, but...we have the best framework with amazing widgets and cool ui...everything works GREAT...
deeply....we don't need nothing more

throcker said:
hey, honestly, when I had hd2 I hated sense...I tried miui, ics, and sense was so...simple...
now after some months I love sense, and I understood that is simple but you have everything
yes, maybe a little more personalization could be better, but...we have the best framework with amazing widgets and cool ui...everything works GREAT...
deeply....we don't need nothing more
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree.
I see how people can hate Sense, seeing as the AOSP ROMs run very very fast, but at the end of the day if custom ROMs are about usability then the widgets included in Sense win me over. AOSP doesn't have task manager, no proper clock app and more.