Vanilla Android: Why so prefered? - General Questions and Answers

I'm a big fan of the Samsung TouchWiz version of Android (never used AOSP), and that gets me thinking. Why is it that people diss Samsung for having a bad UI when vanilla Android/AOSP has nothing special at all? I don't really like the Google search bar that pops up when holding down the Home button. I just disable the app. Who really needs it when you have Chrome on android? But my main question: Why does the vanilla version of Android get so much more praise than custom versions?

I used to only be a touchwiz fan, now only cm and aosp, it's just lighter, less complicated, and it's pure and android, sometimes I'll use my wife's s5 and it's just so much extra nonsense on it, just my opinion.
Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk

sometimes I'll use my wife's s5 and it's just so much extra nonsense on it, just my opinion.
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I don't see any real difference between TouchWiz and AOSP, aside from different UI, more features and some bloatware. Now, LG's Android UX has very noticeable differences (an old LG G - Something.). Because I've never dealt with any Android AOSP version, I've never noticed performance differences. My Note 5 runs smoothly for me, and no doubt your S5 should too.

...Does anyone else care to view this...?

KSword007 said:
I'm a big fan of the Samsung TouchWiz version of Android (never used AOSP), and that gets me thinking. Why is it that people diss Samsung for having a bad UI when vanilla Android/AOSP has nothing special at all? I don't really like the Google search bar that pops up when holding down the Home button. I just disable the app. Who really needs it when you have Chrome on android? But my main question: Why does the vanilla version of Android get so much more praise than custom versions?
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It is preferred because it comes with no bloat, its clean, smooth and fast, simple.

no bloat, its clean, smooth and fast, simple.
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Touchwiz Marshmallow can run just as smooth as AOSP. And the term "bloatware" has become generalized to pre-installed software that users would rather disable or uninstall. By the way, multi-tasking for releases of stock Android has only just come out, while Samsung has had that since Lollipop, I believe.

KSword007 said:
Touchwiz Marshmallow can run just as smooth as AOSP. And the term "bloatware" has become generalized to pre-installed software that users would rather disable or uninstall. By the way, multi-tasking for releases of stock Android has only just come out, while Samsung has had that since Lollipop, I believe.
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Bloat actually refers to the software installed by manufacturers and carriers, including their UI(such as Sense or Touchwiz). Vanilla has none, its only straight Google Android with no extras.

Related

Sense vs. Stock Android

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
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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.
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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

[Q] OEMs putting stock Android on their phones

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.

Galaxy Note III Google Edition

This is my dream. Galaxy Note III or Note II with Google quick updates, like Nexus devices. Maybe some kind of petition to Samsung or Google will contribute for this?
Galaxy S4 Google Edition:
http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-s4-google/4505-6452_7-35761621.html
I can barely see this making sense on the S4, but I really don't think it'd make sense with the Galaxy Note series. If you strip away Touchwiz, you're left with a big screen, powerful hardware, and a S-pen that would have absolutely zero integration with the OS. I love stock Android, but being the Note is heavily centered around the S-pen, and S-pen is so deeply entrenched in Touchwiz, this is one case where I think I'd rather have Touchwiz.
Elsydeon said:
I can barely see this making sense on the S4, but I really don't think it'd make sense with the Galaxy Note series. If you strip away Touchwiz, you're left with a big screen, powerful hardware, and a S-pen that would have absolutely zero integration with the OS. I love stock Android, but being the Note is heavily centered around the S-pen, and S-pen is so deeply entrenched in Touchwiz, this is one case where I think I'd rather have Touchwiz.
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One of the reason I use Note series devices is S Pen. It perfectly and 100% works with CyanogenMod ROMs, why this will not work with official Google ROM??? For now I'm not using any of Samsung apps, and I find that Quill is perfect replacement for S Note. And there are many cool apps for just drawing like Drawing Pad, Doodledroid, AirBrush and others. Also Handrite is nice app. Besides Android 4.x and above have full support for wacom pen.
anonymous572 said:
One of the reason I use Note series devices is S Pen. It perfectly and 100% works with CyanogenMod ROMs, why this will not work with official Google ROM??? For now I'm not using any of Samsung apps, and I find that Quill is perfect replacement for S Note. And there are many cool apps for just drawing like Drawing Pad, Doodledroid, AirBrush and others. Besides Android 4.x and above have full support for wacom pen.
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Because SPen is native in touchwiz framework.. Not just in 3rd party spps that support a stylus. In TW it works in any browser on the keyboard in any app and the button can be set for lots of thing. Note with out at least option for TW is dumb. Any I have never used my note for "art".
How many ROMs have you actually used?
Sent from my TF300T using Tapatalk 2
TigerDNA said:
Because SPen is native in touchwiz framework.. Not just in 3rd party spps that support a stylus. In TW it works in any browser on the keyboard in any app and the button can be set for lots of thing. Note with out at least option for TW is dumb. Any I have never used my note for "art".
How many ROMs have you actually used?
Sent from my TF300T using Tapatalk 2
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Android itself support wacom stylus actions. It will fully work at clean Android as well as TW.
I used many different ROMs at Note and Note 2. CM\Paranoid\TW stock and custom and many others. My current ROM is in my signature.
Not really interested in AOSP ROM on Note devices - that's a downgrade as far as I'm concerned. For full functionality, it's de-bloated touchwiz based ROMs for me.
tuxonhtc said:
Not really interested in AOSP ROM on Note devices - that's a downgrade as far as I'm concerned. For full functionality, it's de-bloated touchwiz based ROMs for me.
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There are AOSP ROMS which do have S-Pen functionality. Try those. Eg. Liquid Smooth 2.4
I would better buying a nexus series phone rather than ruining my note 2 or 3. The samsung phones looks best with samsung adons. I used to hate touchwiz and only started using it since note 2 because of integrated features. So I will never have auch wish.
sent from: The New S-Pen
sanke1 said:
There are AOSP ROMS which do have S-Pen functionality. Try those. Eg. Liquid Smooth 2.4
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Do you, or anyone else, know if it's possible to get stock camera functions (like recording in high speed and slowmotion) in aosp-based roms?
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sanke1 said:
There are AOSP ROMS which do have S-Pen functionality. Try those. Eg. Liquid Smooth 2.4
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Yeah not exactly. Those that are dependent on touchwiz framework (eg. screenshot, airview) are not available on any AOSP ROM. S Pen is functional on most ROMs, AOSP or otherwise, that's besides the point - hence the "full functionality" part.
tuxonhtc said:
Yeah not exactly. Those that are dependent on touchwiz framework (eg. screenshot, airview) are not available on any AOSP ROM. S Pen is functional on most ROMs, AOSP or otherwise, that's besides the point - hence the "full functionality" part.
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True but now with the S4 around we could say it more a Touchwiz feature than a S Pen feature, things like pressure sensitivity work well with apps that offer compatibility. To be fair, would still use a custom rom, even when it ships with stock hehe. So yeah, can do that now already.
What would be great are the revealed sources of some prop hardware modules.
anonymous572 said:
This is my dream. Galaxy Note III or Note II with Google quick updates, like Nexus devices. Maybe some kind of petition to Samsung or Google will contribute for this?
Galaxy S4 Google Edition:
http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-s4-google/4505-6452_7-35761621.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do hope that they will put out a "Google Edition" too but I will most definitely NOT buy it.
I DO like VERY MUCH Samsung added mods, apps, services, widgets, settings and personalizations (minus the launcher which I replace with Nova Launcher Prime).
I deactivate, of course, the few things which I don't use so they don't affect me in the slightest. I would have to do the same even on a "stock Android" for a few things anyway, so no gain/loss here.
The reason I want a Note III "Google Edition" to exist is very simple: if I keep a Note III for longer than it gets official Samsung updates and a major new version of Android with killer features comes out I can always flash the stock Android ROM! :victory:
Or, for example, it could still be getting updates but not for the new Android versions. It has happened with my old Galaxy S: in the end it was still being updated (heck, it is STILL getting new ROMs!!) but it never got ICS, the new ROMs are still GB based.
So both things may in fact happen. I kept my OG Note for 15 months, for example, which is a not so short time in the smartphone and mobile operating systems world...
Fine, a Note 3 Google edition.
Better even (for me) a 5,9 inch superfast phone without pen and gimmicks.
First thing I do is install Nova so I can reach all my apps from the homepage and disable as much unwanted / unneeded stuff as I can. (My S2 looks the same as my Note 2 now) and use (g) mail, g calendar, news apps, browser(s) nav progs, FB, and some utils.
But I am not a S penner.
I just have the note for size and speed. No pen or touchwiz needed.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda premium
Omg shut up samsung, take my money and give me note3 nexus edition & it would be nice if its golden and active edition. Ill jiust wait for this every year now and then
_____________________
Via GT-N71OO using XDA_Elite_App
That idea of having a Google Edition I see as a downgrade compared to TW with Spen embedded in functionality almost everywhere, I just love the Spen, and make such an extensive use as I find it impossible now to do without it. As for a bigger screen, if they could manage to fit a bigger one on an size identical as GN2 that might be very tempting, if they decide to manage extra battery with a thinner body they already have my money, otherwise even if gn3 would be around by the time my gn2 will get broken, bcs it will, I would be buying again a gn2 if Samsung updates would continue.
Oh, I forgot, a plastic unbreakable screen, please that is just bs, unless the battery is flexible, the motherboard, etc etc, but who in their right mind would want to sell an indestructible device. Octa core, dodeca core, 24 core, lol, that is all bs to me, a Google edition 64 bit I would consider a real upgrade. But that might be some years away, maybe when GN5 would be around.
Peace.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2
I would buy a N3 Google Edition as soon as I possibly could. I love the options and no nonsense approach that AOSP has. Over the last couple versions, Nexus devices have always been a step down in the hardware compared to other Android devices.
OP I think you're missing the point. A Honda Accord can drive on dirt roads but doing so won't let you experience all the car has to offer. Yes, the SPen WILL work perfectly fine with out TW but not having TW will cause a loss of functionality, period.
TigerDNA said:
OP I think you're missing the point. A Honda Accord can drive on dirt roads but doing so won't let you experience all the car has to offer. Yes, the SPen WILL work perfectly fine with out TW but not having TW will cause a loss of functionality, period.
Click to expand...
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TouchWiz is a loss of functionality, speed and stability of normal Android ROM. There is no problem to port all S Pen features to clean Android ROM from Google.
The only reason I've not migrated to other custom ROMs is beacuse of the Spen integration in Touchwiz. I really dont like TouchWiz but i do use it.
anonymous572 said:
TouchWiz is a loss of functionality, speed and stability of normal Android ROM. There is no problem to port all S Pen features to clean Android ROM from Google.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What functionality are you referring to exactly, that Touchwiz lacks and AOSP has? I have had next to no lags on most Touchwiz ROMs - and they're stable too. Obviously stock, unrooted is a touch laggy (i.e. notification lag, but that's it), but it's no issue once you switch to a good touchwiz based ROM.

[Q] Is it just me?

Or are the Samsung stock versions awful?
snafu7x7 said:
Or are the Samsung stock versions awful?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TouchWiz is horribly bloated. I understand the idea behind giving the buyer as many features as possible, but most of them are pointless and only serve to slow down the phone. The higher-end the device, the more features, so better hardware doesn't always mean better performance. They should let the user decide what features they want to install (they can still limit cheaper devices to fewer features).
And then there's the settings menus...especially the Galaxy S5. Holy hell what a clusterfrak.
They're sluggish, but I actually like the look of TouchWiz. I use a TW based ROM called S3Rx where all the bloat is removed.
Touchwiz isn't aimed at us. It's designed for the average customer who has no experience with a phone.
Because sadly, we are about 8% of their customer base. On a positive day.
Yes, TW is a nightmare. It's ugly , restrictive and a resource hog. However, 90% of Samsung's users don't even notice it.
They're not getting rid of it any time soon. I asked. They laughed.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk 2
don't think so
I find the TouchWiz on custom roms a bit more smooth than stock, I'm not the biggest fan of TouchWiz but I don't hate it...
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA Free mobile app
New user is ok with touchwiz.
But when you use other drive or pure google phone it better than touchwiz.

Why we kill our Galaxy S4 !!!!

first , hello to all xda members even the guests
we know every android device has it's own senses and look , Nexus devices is google look only with the pure android version
HTC is HTC because it's UltraPixel Camera and the xenon flash , and it is HTC because the main launcher features and senses
Samsung is SAM because the TW and the especial smart features
but , why we always try to kill the device look by downgrading it's features (the words now about the Galaxy S4)
S4 will not be S4 without the Camera app and the Smart Features smart scroll , pause , stay , AirView , gestures ...... etc ...
but when we use any pure android version on our S4 , then , we are killing the device , whatever what I gain from the update as long as it's pure
without the smart features S4 will not be even S3 because some S3 TW roms contains the Smart Scroll , and Pause
as I said whatever I will get from the update , even if it's Android 5 Lollipop , because the update will not make my S4 camera be 16 mp , or my CPU be
2.5 instead of our 1.9 or my RAM be 3gb like the N9005 , etc ... so I will get more performance more stability as the developers say (I guess it's wrong) because whatever the developers
tried will never ever make an stable rom without any bugs like the official release , so all is useless
the developers are in war , one makes CM12 as 4.0 , and other makes 5.0.1 etc why that ??? they must focus on the TW roms because it will upgrade really the S4 to be like S5 or N4 , but any pure version only will kill the S4 and makes it like an only Nexus 1 , etc ......
I really like the TW developers , especially (Tamirda and Slim08) because they are very professional and gave us super features that make the S5 users say how come , it was bad idea when I bought S5 or upgraded my S4 to S5 especially when I let him see my PhoeniX or Imperium's Notification panel , etc ... so thanks alot for the two stars
so getting the latest android version unofficially is very bad especially when the device officially doesn't get the last android version , example : i9300 it's final android version
is 4.3 so if I use any custom rom based on 4.3 , about 90% stable , but if I get custom rom based on 4.4.2 the rom be very unstable with buge especially the bug which made the s3 users forgot all the 4.4.2 base roms and the bug is (when the phone is turned off and I connect the charger the phone always powered on) this bug is terrible and that bug is in all 4.4.2 based rom
I repeat in all the 4.4.2 roms ex:Glamour s5 v 7 , s5 sensation 7 , etc ... and S3 can use CM roms because it hase no smart features , but S4 with pure roms will be ****
S4 with TW 4.4.2 or 4.4.4 is very well because the two versions is out for S4 officially with it's official kernel , and anyway android 5 for S4 is on the way and anyway it will be very nice as we sow the Sammobile video review , and the TW developers will upgrade their roms to be as android 5 after the official release the source code
if I was wrong , somebody correct me , anyway thank you and sorry for the long
In the long run there will be no touchwiz for further development, especially considering how 5.0 is likely the final update the S4 will receive officially. After then perhaps only the Google play edition S4 will receive updates (one more than the original possibly), and by that point there will not be a touchwiz rom beyond 5.0 unless it is a port.
That made no sense and gave me a headache trying to read it
I will tell you why.
Becasuse of speed and most important - STABILITY.
I only tried stock rom for 4 hours.
Then I tried omega rom, many versions, but there always appeared some bugs. In the beggingng after installing for like one month everything okay, then lags appeared, FCs, etc.
Then tried S5port Echoe. Again, after installing, felt like new pgone - everything great. One month passed and again random reboots when rotating or just using phone - but no lags.
GPE 5.0 finally stable and no REBOOTS !!!
Also, nearly all smart functions except air view and smart notification (vibrate after picking up phone with notification) are unusable, or not needed at all.
Maybe I'am transforming into apple user, but yeah, i would never say that but for now, with AOSP 5.0 Im the happiest during my android usage.
@didoop: It's funny you mention stability. I've only had one instance (so far) where my S4 became unstable, and that's when the NV memory became corrupted at the same time the SIM card tray failed. The former was caused by my attempting to add extra LTE bands to the phone, while the latter was just dumb luck.
As for Touchwiz itself, I'm running a stock ROM where the only modifications made to it were to debloat it. It's been rock solid, though I found the Touchwiz launcher to be a pain and quickly replaced it with Google Now. Realistically, the only feature I likely would miss switching to an AOSP/AOKP/CyanogenMod ROM would be the camera software. The Google version, while it includes Photosphere, just doesn't appear to be laid out as well as the Touchwiz camera.
What I will do after the S4 stops receiving official updates I haven't decided on. There are many choices available in the development section, and it'd be pointless to make a decision now, especially with 5.0 or 5.1 coming down the pike.
What's the point of this topic? If you don't like custom roms based on AOSP, don't use them... it's a matter of choice, for me and for many other people the S4's "Smart Features" are a complete useless trashy gimmick that samsung added only cause they had nothing else that was actually useful...
As i said, it's a matter of personal preference. Don't like it, don't use it, it's that simple. Now, bashing devs that try their best to bring the latest versions of Android and add their own features to improve users experience by saying their software turns our phone into crap... That's just plain ignorant and offensive.
DSA said:
That made no sense and gave me a headache trying to read it
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Indeed
-Ric- said:
What's the point of this topic? If you don't like custom roms based on AOSP, don't use them... it's a matter of choice, for me and for many other people the S4's "Smart Features" are a complete useless trashy gimmick that samsung added only cause they had nothing else that was actually useful...
As i said, it's a matter of personal preference. Don't like it, don't use it, it's that simple. Now, bashing devs that try their best to bring the latest versions of Android and add their own features to improve users experience by saying their software turns our phone into crap... That's just plain ignorant and offensive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This was directed at the OP, right? I know I mentioned using a stock ROM, but I didn't mention it with the purpose of bashing anyone. It was hard to tell since you posted after me and didn't mention who you were talking to. In any case, this was a rant. It was done in a hurry, and the OP was either clearly frustrated or a Touchwiz fanboy. Regardless, his wall of text was difficult to read, which makes it difficult for me to take him seriously.
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
This was directed at the OP, right? I know I mentioned using a stock ROM, but I didn't mention it with the purpose of bashing anyone. It was hard to tell since you posted after me and didn't mention who you were talking to. In any case, this was a rant. It was done in a hurry, and the OP was either clearly frustrated or a Touchwiz fanboy. Regardless, his wall of text was difficult to read, which makes it difficult for me to take him seriously.
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Yes, it was directed at the OP, i honestly still cant figure the point of this topic at all lol, if he likes touchwiz, sure, why not, but why bash AOSP devs? Nonsense lol
Well, the point was to troll for responses really. We're giving them too.
thanx really for everyone who participated in this thread
may I was wrong , because from 4 months a go I used dual roms on my i9505 using dual boot switcher , primary as TW , secondary as AOSP base
so that was very nice , and I think hat solves my problem , and if android 5 supports the dual boot . it will be very great and sorry again for my first long post
forgive me
Sorry OP, but its gotta be said, you talk a lot of ****. No offence.
According to you, if I have an s4 without those rubbish gimmicky features like smart pause, then its not as good as an s3 with touchwiz.
I don't need those gimmick features. I have an s4 instead of an s3 because it has a more powerful processor, a more powerful gfx processor, more RAM, an infinitely better screen, a better camera, 4G, and it looks nicer.
Touchwiz is the biggest lot of crap. I'll stick with stock android, or a custom ROM close to it. There's lots of good features in custom ROMs that are actually useful, instead of just 'something cool to show to your friends' (but you don't actually ever use it, or you try to but it doesn't work half the time and you could have just done it yourself faster anyway).
Oh, and I'm using a beta ROM right now that is fast as hell and has been absolutely rock stable since I flashed it.
I used to own an S4, so let me say this...
Touchwiz, aka sh*twiz, is the most bulky, counterintuitive Android UX to date. Case in point, people with NOTE 4s report lag. Have you seen the spec sheet of the note 4? It should eat anything it throws at it. My cousin owns one and it jitters from time to time.
Removing touchwiz is actually, if you want to be technical, MORE beneficial. Constantly beating on the processor, memory and ram with features that require the specs of a small computer decreases device life. Also, constantly having to charge the battery decreases the life of the battery as well (one of the causes of battery swelling). TW is only accepted because the MAJORITY of Android users are oblivious to rooting. So, you, among others, can say that a Samsung isn't a Sammy w/o touchwiz, but a true Android enthusiast is going to equally support the opposition with facts that stand behind them.
P.S. - you can get TW features without the TW ROM. Sammy could easily detouchwiz their software, much like HTC did with Sense, but they do it to be rebellious in my opinion, and the same features can be implemented without the skin in a stock ROM. Remember, touchwiz is a FORK of AOSP. The look of TW is purely by choice, and its a bad one
mingolianbeef said:
I used to own an S4, so let me say this...
Touchwiz, aka sh*twiz, is the most bulky, counterintuitive Android UX to date. Case in point, people with NOTE 4s report lag. Have you seen the spec sheet of the note 4? It should eat anything it throws at it. My cousin owns one and it jitters from time to time.
Removing touchwiz is actually, if you want to be technical, MORE beneficial. Constantly beating on the processor, memory and ram with features that require the specs of a small computer decreases device life. Also, constantly having to charge the battery decreases the life of the battery as well (one of the causes of battery swelling). TW is only accepted because the MAJORITY of Android users are oblivious to rooting. So, you, among others, can say that a Samsung isn't a Sammy w/o touchwiz, but a true Android enthusiast is going to equally support the opposition with facts that stand behind them.
P.S. - you can get TW features without the TW ROM. Sammy could easily detouchwiz their software, much like HTC did with Sense, but they do it to be rebellious in my opinion, and the same features can be implemented without the skin in a stock ROM. Remember, touchwiz is a FORK of AOSP. The look of TW is purely by choice, and its a bad one
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Click to collapse
I think between you and me, we've covered the main points.
Would debloating the stock ROM and replacing the Touchwiz launcher improve the situation? Obviously it wouldn't be as good as going with AOSP but it should make a difference, shouldn't it?
You could make a difference yes, but you'd be far better just getting rid completely of that TW crap.
knuckles1978 said:
I think between you and me, we've covered the main points.
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Lol I believe so [emoji2] [emoji2]
---------- Post added at 07:55 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:51 AM ----------
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
Would debloating the stock ROM and replacing the Touchwiz launcher improve the situation? Obviously it wouldn't be as good as going with AOSP but it should make a difference, shouldn't it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On the flip side (playing devils advocate) I did use stock TW ROMs where the dev did a superb job with minimizing the TW footprint to the best of their ability. However, it was never enough. TW is just too ram hungry at its core to be considered a smooth Android experience.
Does TW Lollipop use ART by default like its supposed to??
We won't know that until ROMs start appearing, which won't be for a little while yet. The S5 owners will get Lollipop first.
In regards to lag, I haven't noticed any. But my experience is probably unusual.
What's the point? If you are so allergic to custom ROMs, I doubt you are at the right place....
The point is, am TOTALLY BORED by Samsungs UI & want something more "customizable". As for your mention of the hardware, if I DO change the ROM, on the flipside, the Camera won't be downgraded to 5 Mpx, isn't it? besides it's always good to have choices
regards,
Achyut.
P.S. --> A complete "no-point-to-be-made-random-chit-chat-going-nowhere" thread.
No hard feelings.
The only thing I hate is the camera and the sound....everybody else is ok, i love this phone.
--
Believes in Christ and you and your family will be safe of the Great day of Jehovah's wrath
I9505 Powered with Phoenix Rom v9.4 - Tamirda
GoogyMax Kernel v1.1.5 - Googy_anas
Philz touch Recovery - Philz
S5's S-view Cover service - Karkasss
Jehovah's Thunder Bootanimation - Pas2001
Bootanimation sound - Me
A lot of mods and stuff - Xda community
Thanks to all of you...

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