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from the avoided-Betteridge's-Law-of-Headlines dept.
I've been an Android user since Froyo, over several devices. I'm beginning to think that there must be a better way.
First, although I liked Android, especially the part that was Open Source, I'll suggest that the whole Android ecosystem represents a dead end.
At a minimum, it seems like madness to rely on two or more layers of outside partners to deliver software patches and updates. It's just not reasonable or safe for end users to wait for months or years until device makers and wireless carriers deliver patches from Google - if they ever do.
That there's no way a user can update their system without their cooperation is just not acceptable today.
Second, even if an update or patch does arrive, it brings with it the likelihood that some feature or application that you have been using will be hobbled, eliminated, or just plain be made unusable by Google. Services provided by Google are subject to changes that, depending on your circumstances, make them significantly less usable. (Gmail being a prime example) Standalone apps like Reader or MyTracks may just stop working one day if Google loses interest.
Finally, there's the Play store, and the millions of apps available to users. I think that most people would agree that trying to find a usable app for a specific purpose is an exercise in frustration.
[Continues...]
The current system pretty much requires you to guess on a search term to find an app, then wade through dozens or hundreds of possible results.
App ratings are filled with obvious astroturf, or one word disses - neither of these help you tell if an app actually works. Without someone actually moderating the ratings system it is pretty much of no value.
There's no practical way to tell if an app is a finished product, or an abandoned half-baked pastime. Our only option, even with paid apps, is to install it and find out if it works.
There is speculation that Google may be preparing to abandon Android, but will a new Google OS really be any better for end users?
The problem is that Android has more or less become the only game in town, so what alternative will we see emerge?
Obvious notes:
a) Cyanogenmod - been there, done that. Not a realistic option for the vast majority of end users. And honestly, I just don't have the time and inclination to root and install it these days.
b) iPhone - actually owned a Powerbook for three years as my primary machine. Gave it my best go, but just don't like the way Apple machines do things. YMMV.
c) BlackBerry - actually really loved the BlackBerry, except that it REALLY didn't play well with Google contacts, and they refuse to support either Linux, or individual end users.
c) Linux - yup. Guess I'm spoiled. Stuff generally doesn't break, and if I need a specific tool or function — someone, somewhere has almost always created it.
(Score: 2) by Capt. Obvious on Wednesday September 14 2016, @05:58AM
Lightning is better than USB because its a solid core in a slot. YOu can swing the phone by the cord and it won't disconnect. It's also why I like 3.5mm headphone/line plugs. USB have thing pieces in the middle of the connector that break off. It's not that the cables go bad, it's the connectors on the devices. miniUSB was fine, it was pretty secure because its center piece had enough thickness for structural stability. microUSB has too many thin parts that break. And USB-C is based on microUSB, so I assume will have the same issues.. You're right that open is good. And ubiquitous is good. But Apple is big enough that any adapter they choose is/becomes ubiquitous. I do wish they would open it up. But anyone can make the vable. And a cable is a cable. They're the same price as USB cables (cheaper if you factor in lifetime)
It most certainly is, or at least a matter of taste. I like a large bezel. When the screen goes to (or wraps around) the edge, it feels worse to me. I understand that the tradeoff is either a bigger phone or a smaller screen. Frankly, since I like a big phone, adding a bezel around a screen not a cost for me. What I hear is "the battery will be larger and the phone bigger, also the phone less ugly." What you hear is "the screen will be smaller". I have a hard time thinking your point of view is correct, but it could be.
Once I can no longer see the pixels, yes. More pixels incur more cost, and unless you're strapping it to your head as a cheap VR solution (and probably even then) the iPhones already have a pixel density that may as well be infinite for all the extra resolution you can perceive..
The cost isn't entirely financial/battery. There is a limited amount of GPU cycles. Producing more pixels lowers the average number of cycels per pixel. This can mean worse graphics per pixel (or lower framerate). Sometimes, it's clearly worth that to up the resolution. But I would argue that improving beyond the iPhone is most certainly not
Again, I would want AMOLED screens.
Maybe I was wrong about which model. Certainly, I bucket (esp. for this conversation) Samsung built Android devices and Apple built iOS devices. I don't really care which one we're talking about, because we're talking about design philosophies. But I will say when a line has issues, it casts a pall over the whole similar product lines - esp. unless it can be shown why those phones won't suffer the same fate.
Random aside, of the devices I have used today, there have been an equal number of iOS/Android/Windows/Other machines (discounting work machines). I'm not in love with Apple. I always assumed I would like an open-source solution. But I'm constantly disappointed with Android devices.