Database Users

nexus s to htc thunderbolt

new job is subsidizing my phone bill and requires me to switch to vzw, obviously I have nexus s and im on att, no data here but all places I go to I have wifi access so data was not required, but now they are paying for it I havent experienced android any other way and this is my first android phone, so is it worth to leave pure android for htc? I know htc did a good job skinning winmo but android by itself is pure awesomeness so need your help deciding... how is the super LCD vs S-AMOLED? 2.3 vs 2.2? how is htc with its updates in terms of fixes?
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

bump?? anyone..
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

Well i am failry new to the android thing (samsung G Tab on Nov 2nd 2010, and then the SNS bought 1.5 weeks back) but all carriers and manufactures hold their own delays on such upgrades to software (even not on android).
If your HTC is unlocked (unbranded) then you will get the HTC updates when they arrive, if it's branded - Not only will you have to wait for HTC, but then in turn you will have to wait for your carrier (and often this takes so long to do it does not happen by the time your on a new phone, if atall).
This SNS is the first ever phone i have turned on and seen "updates are ready" so that's a start.
...If only the update would not have killed the calling ability it would have been a positive thing hehe.
But hey if work pay for it, keep your SNS and have your HTC too (best of both worlds).
Hope that's of use and not stating the obvious too much.
Take care,

what's the best android phone on Verizon?
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/...&change=changed&zipcode=&state=AL&fd=&filter=
a quick search reveals only the Samsung Fascinate Galaxy S is worth while all the other ones suck
2nd choice
Samsung Galaxy Tab
last choice
DROID INCREDIBLE HTC

so the fascinate is more worth it than waiting for TB I mean I can wait till the TB comes out.. so the droid inc is horrible seeing its your 3rd recommendation...
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

the thunderbolt is definitely good choice, i'll put that in par with the Galaxy S
problem is the thunderbolt is not yet available
i doub't it'll be out before summer
ref: http://www.htc.com/us/products/thunderbolt-verizon#tech-specs

Fascinate no question. No way I would use a phone with Sense UI on it.

oh another concern that I forgot how about voice and data at the same time how does verizon handle it with tb?
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

iseedeadpeople said:
oh another concern that I forgot how about voice and data at the same time how does verizon handle it with tb?
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no one knows because the phone is not even out
even if you ask the guys over the fence at HTC they can only guess

iseedeadpeople said:
so the fascinate is more worth it than waiting for TB I mean I can wait till the TB comes out.. so the droid inc is horrible seeing its your 3rd recommendation...
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
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I'd say not a chance unless you happen to live where the LTE rollout is not present or will not be present for some time. Even then I'm not a huge fan of Samsung's build quality with the SGS phones (from a QA perspective) nor their long waits for updates. Verizon and HTC were found to be the best manufacturer/carrier for updates: http://www.readwriteweb.com/mobile/...turers-and-carriers-delay-android-updates.php for what it's worth.
iseedeadpeople said:
oh another concern that I forgot how about voice and data at the same time how does verizon handle it with tb?
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
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It's going to do simultaneous voice and data where EVDO coverage is present. Voice will go over 1x while you'll still be able to tx/rx data packets over the EVDO network. From a technology perspective it will "work" - we'll see how the real world experience is when it's released.
j0hnZ said:
Fascinate no question. No way I would use a phone with Sense UI on it.
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Click to collapse
While I'm no fan of Sense UI - you can install a stock launcher from the market or any alternative launcher (LP, Zeem, ADW).
AllGamer said:
the thunderbolt is definitely good choice, i'll put that in par with the Galaxy S
problem is the thunderbolt is not yet available
i doub't it'll be out before summer
ref: http://www.htc.com/us/products/thunderbolt-verizon#tech-specs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Best Buy is getting them in stock soon (Feb 21) but no street date is set in their inventory system. Current speculation is still Feb 24th. Verizon has said it's "coming soon". I can't imagine they are going to put their first 4G phone on hold until summer while every other carrier continues to push their new 4G phones and technology.

krohnjw said:
While I'm no fan of Sense UI - you can install a stock launcher from the market or any alternative launcher (LP, Zeem, ADW).
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Click to collapse
Sense is not just a launcher, it's a collection of apps that come with the phone that can only run on the Sense framework. Same goes for TouchWiz. You can hate the launcher all day but when you say you hate Sense or TouchWiz you shouldn't be saying it based on the launcher cause that much can be easily changed. Your not going to find a better video or music player on the market for free than you will on TouchWiz especially not with all the video codec's(until maybe VLC does SOMETHING).

j0hnZ said:
Sense is not just a launcher, it's a collection of apps that come with the phone that can only run on the Sense framework. Same goes for TouchWiz. You can hate the launcher all day but when you say you hate Sense or TouchWiz you shouldn't be saying it based on the launcher cause that much can be easily changed. Your not going to find a better video or music player on the market for free than you will on TouchWiz especially not with all the video codec's(until maybe VLC does SOMETHING).
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Click to collapse
Oh, I understand - I've owned phones with Sense for both Win Mo and Android.
My question is what is the beef with Sense outside of the launcher and the few modified apps (Phone, Contacts, Email, Calendar and Messaging). The phone comes with 768 MB or RAM, so the Rosie framework won't have a significant impact on memory usage compared to running an AOSP build on a phone with 512 MB of RAM. The most significant and polarizing difference is the launcher itself - hence the suggestion to simply replace the launcher.
Outside of that there are some apps added (Stocks, Weather) that like to sync automatically, but it seems that quite a few people like these (not to mention they are easily removed once rooted if you don't want them appearing in the sync menu or don't use them).
Where is the grand divergence with Sense that would prevent you from buying a phone with superior hardware simply because it ran sense?
Edit: for full disclosure I don't like sense one bit - but I wouldn't not purchase superior hardware based on it having sense when so many of the "additions" are easily disabled / removed.

krohnjw said:
Oh, I understand - I've owned phones with Sense for both Win Mo and Android.
My question is what is the beef with Sense outside of the launcher and the few modified apps (Phone, Contacts, Email, Calendar and Messaging). The phone comes with 768 MB or RAM, so the Rosie framework won't have a significant impact on memory usage compared to running an AOSP build on a phone with 512 MB of RAM. The most significant and polarizing difference is the launcher itself - hence the suggestion to simply replace the launcher.
Outside of that there are some apps added (Stocks, Weather) that like to sync automatically, but it seems that quite a few people like these (not to mention they are easily removed once rooted if you don't want them appearing in the sync menu or don't use them).
Where is the grand divergence with Sense that would prevent you from buying a phone with superior hardware simply because it ran sense?
Edit: for full disclosure I don't like sense one bit - but I wouldn't not purchase superior hardware based on it having sense when so many of the "additions" are easily disabled / removed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I personally don't need very advanced hardware, I don't play games and the tasks I use aren't that intensive. The UI layout of the apps in sense is what I don't like.
I actually got a MT4G instead of the Nexus at first cause it was just supposed to be a spare phone so me and the wife could be on the same upgrade cycle when we renewed because all of our attempts at changing our plan failed because we are on a flexpay plan. I rooted the MT4G and put CM7 nightlies on it, had it running for a few days and then booted up my Vibrant. Sitting side by side I couldn't stand looking at the MT4G anymore. So I unrooted it and took it back for the Nexus. Now I have all the hardware I wanted and why I liked the MT4G to begin with but it still feels lacking and I'm running the CM7 RC on it. So I guess in conclusion I can't stand to look at the Sense UI but without a manufacturer skin the phone is lacking imo. Along with the dreadful screen of course.
I don't have the time for the time intensive process of research it would require to port TouchWiz over myself. I have other time intensive projects I'm involved in along with school work which requires time intensive research.

Porting official Galaxy S Gingerbread ROM to Nexus S for Touchwiz

Hey guys.
As you already know, official Galaxy S Gingerbread ROM released.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1009177
That means we've got a "Gingerbread ROM with Touchwiz UI" !
So let's encourage developers to port it to Nexus S

That would be soooo awesome, but at this point the MT3G has more development than the Nexus...they even have honeycomb.

this topic made me smile .. Before the nexus s I owned a galaxy s .. lots and lots of people there want an aosp looking rom and want to get rid of touchwiz asap .. And now I ahve a nexus S with the aosp I have been wanting for so long and see a topic requesting touch wiz

Bandis710 said:
this topic made me smile .. Before the nexus s I owned a galaxy s .. lots and lots of people there want an aosp looking rom and want to get rid of touchwiz asap .. And now I ahve a nexus S with the aosp I have been wanting for so long and see a topic requesting touch wiz
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here. Go figure...
However, CM7 already has all it takes to make your phone look a lot like TouchWiz. It has the statusbar widgets, and the launcher can be customized to look a great deal like it. Is it the home widgets? Cause I'm sure there must be plenty of alternatives in the Market.
Heck, CM7 + ADW is even far more customizable. I don't see a reason why anyone would need TouchWiz at this point.

the reason people sold their Galaxy S to nexus S is because of the stupid touch wiz. and you want people to bring it ? i hate you from my heart

lfmmoura said:
Same here. Go figure...
However, CM7 already has all it takes to make your phone look a lot like TouchWiz. It has the statusbar widgets, and the launcher can be customized to look a great deal like it. Is it the home widgets? Cause I'm sure there must be plenty of alternatives in the Market.
Heck, CM7 + ADW is even far more customizable. I don't see a reason why anyone would need TouchWiz at this point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TW apps(camera, calendar, music player, video player), codecs...the launcher isn't a reason why people would want it imo.

ll_l_x_l_ll said:
the reason people sold their Galaxy S to nexus S is because of the stupid touch wiz. and you want people to bring it ? i hate you from my heart
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Click to collapse
I didn't, all this great hardware with crap apps to use. Doesn't even have zoom in the camera let alone 720p video recording.

ll_l_x_l_ll said:
the reason people sold their Galaxy S to nexus S is because of the stupid touch wiz. and you want people to bring it ? i hate you from my heart
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Click to collapse
Pretty sure it was because of gps..
Which still looks weak in the nexus

phonex1 said:
Pretty sure it was because of gps..
Which still looks weak in the nexus
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Click to collapse
Pretty sure it was Samsung's incompetence of releasing Android 2.2 in a timely fashion and ROMs basing off Samsung internal leaks with kernels that weren't open-sourced.
I personally don't care if someone ports TouchWiz. If they do, then great. I won't be using it but trying it out to play around with. There's a difference between requesting and something actually being done.

I would definitely like to have the choice of trying out Gingerbread TouchWiz. I've noticed that the Nexus S doesn't really have as much roms as I thought it would have. Maybe its because 2.3 is the latest software and it would defeat the purpose of putting 2.2 sense, 2.2 blur etc or its simply the fact that devs are holding out for dual core and quad core phones.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA Premium App

OuncE718 said:
I would definitely like to have the choice of trying out Gingerbread TouchWiz. I've noticed that the Nexus S doesn't really have as much roms as I thought it would have. Maybe its because 2.3 is the latest software and it would defeat the purpose of putting 2.2 sense, 2.2 blur etc or its simply the fact that devs are holding out for dual core and quad core phones.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA Premium App
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Click to collapse
Most likely because of 2.2 and 2.3. Porting another FrameWork takes a lot of work. It's not that easy to do especially to get it working as a daily driver

OuncE718 said:
I would definitely like to have the choice of trying out Gingerbread TouchWiz. I've noticed that the Nexus S doesn't really have as much roms as I thought it would have. Maybe its because 2.3 is the latest software and it would defeat the purpose of putting 2.2 sense, 2.2 blur etc or its simply the fact that devs are holding out for dual core and quad core phones.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA Premium App
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Click to collapse
Most people are obsessed with speed and latest and greatest, not what offers the most. They say TouchWiz is buggy but so is Gingerbread...obviously I could go on and on.

Why is there so much hostility with reference to Nexus S and development? Why do people consider the Nexus S inferior and not worthy of ROM development? It's a phone, people own it. If all you do is bash the phone and the community, what is your endgame? I say, the more ROMs the better, no matter what they are. And if development dies because of lack of interest, so be it, but let the natural course of the device play out.

zephiK said:
Pretty sure it was Samsung's incompetence of releasing Android 2.2 in a timely fashion and ROMs basing off Samsung internal leaks with kernels that weren't open-sourced.
I personally don't care if someone ports TouchWiz. If they do, then great. I won't be using it but trying it out to play around with. There's a difference between requesting and something actually being done.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not the issue anymore will those roms. Not to mention the only leg nexus has up the captivate is nfc and vanilla android. I like the touchwiz icons, maybe it is because i also use an iphone 4, but those stock app icons make me want to scream
And judging from the 2.3.3 has bricked my gps thread, i am getting less and less excited about owning a nexus s once it arrives with 850mhz 3g bands. Looks like samsung still cant get the gps right..now to see if they did something to the gs2.

phonex1 said:
That's not the issue anymore will those roms. Not to mention the only leg nexus has up the captivate is nfc and vanilla android. I like the touchwiz icons, maybe it is because i also use an iphone 4, but those stock app icons make me want to scream
And judging from the 2.3.3 has bricked my gps thread, i am getting less and less excited about owning a nexus s once it arrives with 850mhz 3g bands. Looks like samsung still cant get the gps right..now to see if they did something to the gs2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know what you've heard but GPS works perfectly for me...
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA Premium App

lfmmoura said:
(...)
Heck, CM7 + ADW is even far more customizable. I don't see a reason why anyone would need TouchWiz at this point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I couldn't find a Touchwiz like CM7 theme? Is there any?
ll_l_x_l_ll said:
the reason people sold their Galaxy S to nexus S is because of the stupid touch wiz. and you want people to bring it ? i hate you from my heart
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because I'm bored with default Android. I just want to try different things.
And yes Touchwiz is stupid, I hate it when I first saw that, especially lock-screen. But theme looks great.

the only think i'll be looking forward in a port from SGS to SNS are the mkv codecs and hardware play

phonex1 said:
That's not the issue anymore will those roms. Not to mention the only leg nexus has up the captivate is nfc and vanilla android. I like the touchwiz icons, maybe it is because i also use an iphone 4, but those stock app icons make me want to scream
And judging from the 2.3.3 has bricked my gps thread, i am getting less and less excited about owning a nexus s once it arrives with 850mhz 3g bands. Looks like samsung still cant get the gps right..now to see if they did something to the gs2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try the MIUI rom I think it's the rom that you're looking for.
@allgamer: in cm7 the hardware encoding actually works. 720p I smooth but no audio is being outputted. That's the only thing that needs to be fixed. Regular videos are fine.
Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk

ll_l_x_l_ll said:
the reason people sold their Galaxy S to nexus S is because of the stupid touch wiz. and you want people to bring it ? i hate you from my heart
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only reason I hated TouchWiz was because of bloatware, and Samsung's closed source issue which hindered development. Other than that, the UI looks great to me. The blue accents are nice and is easier to view than the gloomy green of the NS. Codecs are a major plus. The launcher is acceptable. My reason for moving to the NS is for CM7 as well as Google updates. Therefore, I'm all for porting the Galaxy S Gingerbread ROM.

zephiK said:
Try the MIUI rom I think it's the rom that you're looking for.
@allgamer: in cm7 the hardware encoding actually works. 720p I smooth but no audio is being outputted. That's the only thing that needs to be fixed. Regular videos are fine.
Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
that's great news! as that's the only thing that is really missing on the Nexus S at this point
being able to play back with hardware instead of software codec

Would you pay for android updates to get them in a timely manor?

Ok what if google can get updates out like apple does to its devices. Notice sprint does not even have ics yet for the nexus s since sprint is launching the galery nexus soon so I bet sprint just only,let a few phone get the ics update as a beta if you will as then user would not buy the newer ics phone. So if google charged a small update fee provided your phone meets the requirements. Or why does google even allow all these add ons like sense and touchwiz. Why not have the pure google non skinned version for like a few dollars and if you want the custom sense then wait for htc samsung to release it a year later.... cough cough fryo.... cough cough gingerbread....
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium

Well to answer your question, nope, since we got amazing devs here to satisfy our quench for updating XD
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium

Fire n mage said:
Well to answer your question, nope, since we got amazing devs here to satisfy our quench for updating XD
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
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True for people who are rooted but what about the average non xda type of user who waits for offical ota?
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium

Defiantly not, why should we? You don't pay Apple for updates.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

samsungd700 said:
True for people who are rooted but what about the average non xda type of user who waits for offical ota?
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
those average non xda people dont even know root or the latest software means it more of a phone to call and text and browse internet. they dont care if their phone has the latest and greatest updates.

mark8503 said:
Defiantly not, why should we? You don't pay Apple for updates.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
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Click to collapse
You buy the phone from apple, and they also make the software. We buy the phone from Samsung, and Google makes the software. Big difference. You seriously wouldn't shell out like 5 dollars to get ICS like 4 months ago, fully working and smooth? Gonna call bs on that.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA

mark8503 said:
Defiantly not, why should we? You don't pay Apple for updates.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't pay Apple for anyting. Lol
/trollface
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium

mark8503 said:
Defiantly not, why should we? You don't pay Apple for updates.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure you do its called OS/X.... which is i-os is somewhat based on...
muyoso said:
You buy the phone from apple, and they also make the software. We buy the phone from Samsung, and Google makes the software. Big difference. You seriously wouldn't shell out like 5 dollars to get ICS like 4 months ago, fully working and smooth? Gonna call bs on that.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well i disagree on that one as Google does also makes phones called the Nexus and the Motorola Mobility line as Google no owns Moto Mobility. And from what i understand its the stuff like touchwiz and sense that make it harder to get the updates a quickly since the carriers must test everything for like 90 days or more and if it fails then they start the process from the beginning.
I say google should only have one uniform look to android like how apple does with i-os. (i however do not like apple as too expensive for the rich people) If you want a custom launcher like go you can download it but it would not be apart of any official rom from the maker / carrier.

thomasskull666 said:
I don't pay Apple for anyting. Lol
/trollface
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
Lol I don't either. Meaning we don't buy it. PERIOD!!!!

samsungd700 said:
Sure you do its called OS/X.... which is i-os is somewhat based on...
Well i disagree on that one as Google does also makes phones called the Nexus and the Motorola Mobility line as Google no owns Moto Mobility. And from what i understand its the stuff like touchwiz and sense that make it harder to get the updates a quickly since the carriers must test everything for like 90 days or more and if it fails then they start the process from the beginning.
I say google should only have one uniform look to android like how apple does with i-os. (i however do not like apple as too expensive for the rich people) If you want a custom launcher like go you can download it but it would not be apart of any official rom from the maker / carrier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have to say; it looks like youve just taken random sentences and thrown them together here.

austin420 said:
i have to say; it looks like youve just taken random sentences and thrown them together here.
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Click to collapse
+1
And for real there is a Galery Nexus coming soon? I will compare it with the Galaxy Nexus to check which one is better.
And back to the thread. I won't pay, but there is people which pay to others for root their phones, so I think they will pay.
Sent from my Epic 4g with CM9

csmasn said:
+1
And for real there is a Galery Nexus coming soon? I will compare it with the Galaxy Nexus to check which one is better.
And back to the thread. I won't pay, but there is people which pay to others for root their phones, so I think they will pay.
Sent from my Epic 4g with CM9
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i would pay for official updates if it means they come as soon as google releases them. perhaps google should not release any updates until all carriers and manufacturer are ready to push them to all phones that meet the requirements. Do what microsoft does and they just push them to all phones at the same time so the carriers dont have a say in the matter... sort of like windows update on the pc. just check for the update and then install... carriers and manufacturer have too much power to decide who gets what...

I'd love to have mine done in a timely manor. I hear it's nice this time of year!

NO way wouldn't pay! Plus its totally unrealistic considering the different devices and bloatware! Apple has one device line to update! But don't forget Apple owns the software! You get caught messing with it they "Kill" your phone!
MTD (EL30)
BLENDED CLEAN GB 1.12 With Various mods
SHADOW V3.0
(in the voice of lil john)
YAAAYUUUUUHH!!!!

Robalboa said:
NO way wouldn't pay! Plus its totally unrealistic considering the different devices and bloatware! Apple has one device line to update! But don't forget Apple owns the software! You get caught messing with it they "Kill" your phone!
MTD (EL30)
BLENDED CLEAN GB 1.12 With Various mods
SHADOW V3.0
(in the voice of lil john)
YAAAYUUUUUHH!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well how does microsoft do it then with windows phone 7 and with the pc's? As long as if the phones meet the minimum requirements then good to go. This would work simply because it would get rid of the custom interfaces from the makers like htc sense or samsung touchwiz. If you want those they would only be available as a download apk from the market like how go launcher and adw desktop are. Google needs to take a stand on the custom overlays and how they devalue android with lack of updates as the makers think somehow that sense or touchwiz add somesort of value to the phone when in fact it does not. android 4 is perfect interface and with android 2.x and 3.x its good enough or download some aftermarket one like go launcher. Otherwise i would pay for updates like how i do on my laptop. they can also make money off the updates as well like $25 per phone again as long as it meets the requirements. and now google owns motorola mobility so google is now just like appple. So goolge / Moto Mobility does control the hardware and software

samsungd700 said:
well how does microsoft do it then with windows phone 7 and with the pc's? As long as if the phones meet the minimum requirements then good to go. This would work simply because it would get rid of the custom interfaces from the makers like htc sense or samsung touchwiz. If you want those they would only be available as a download apk from the market like how go launcher and adw desktop are. Google needs to take a stand on the custom overlays and how they devalue android with lack of updates as the makers think somehow that sense or touchwiz add somesort of value to the phone when in fact it does not. android 4 is perfect interface and with android 2.x and 3.x its good enough or download some aftermarket one like go launcher. Otherwise i would pay for updates like how i do on my laptop. they can also make money off the updates as well like $25 per phone again as long as it meets the requirements. and now google owns motorola mobility so google is now just like appple. So goolge / Moto Mobility does control the hardware and software
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Click to collapse
who is to say that custom launchers are devaluing android? if anything, they bring more to the table. i think a lot of the people here would say that they prefer some of the asthetics and options that touchwiz includes. i cant speak to sense or motoblur as i havent used them.

No. Just like I would not pay extra for gas to have someone else come out and pump it for me. In both cases we already pay too much, for gas, for the phones, service and insurance. If all phones were free I would think about it. But you pay more for a better phone, it damn well better be updated in a reasonable timely manner.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium

The manufacturer should be providing timely updates as part of buying the phone. We should expect new versions of the OS until at least the EOL and then bugfixes and security updates for another two years past that as a minimum.
Now that we're done with fantasy land, I wouldn't mind paying a nominal charge for a version update provided that they have a stable bug-free version of the current OS. IMHO Samsung never got there with the Epic.

samsungd700 said:
True for people who are rooted but what about the average non xda type of user who waits for offical ota?
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
The average non-xda user wouldn't know what 'stock' android is, and frankly, they probably wouldn't be impressed with it for this reason right here
--vvv---
austin420 said:
who is to say that custom launchers are devaluing android? if anything, they bring more to the table. i think a lot of the people here would say that they prefer some of the asthetics and options that touchwiz includes. i cant speak to sense or motoblur as i havent used them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't used Sense, but from my limited experience, Blur is horrid. TW smokes it by a mile. I enjoyed some of the features of Touchwiz, no joke.
And OP, while Google may now own Motorola Mobility, it doesn't mean they own all the hardware. It just means they kind of do with Motorola. They still don't with Samsung, HTC, LG, Sony, etc etc etc.
I'm still a firm believer the biggest reason Google bought Moto was for the patents, not to try and complete with Apple by owning both hardware/software.
EDIT: For the record, I think the number one way to go about the issue is this: all android phones, stock, come with their own skin out of the box by default. However, the user has the ability to go with stock Android upon bootup or something like that. Maybe a tutorial that guides users stating what that skin brings to the table. Maybe something saying here's what you'll have with the skin vs without it, and list off apps and features associated with it.
This way, us android-heads can get any phone we want with stock android, and the average user still has the same options as today.

I wanted to put something of worth within this thread as a conversation topic, but it has become rather vexing trying to pick apart the compilation of sentences that the OP's has been using lol, though me saying I mean no offense would not help I don't think heh.
In regards to paying for an upgrade, it does occur in iOS when the next incremental upgrades come to the iPod Touch Line, for iPhone's a user is guaranteed that update due to being on a monthly plan with their device unless that device is gradually replaced in which case it goes no further upgrade wise as there is a new iteration close to it in price and internal size, if iPad's are affected in the same way being on carrier/off carrier I'm unaware, I also haven't upgraded my iPod Touch in a long while either to test the validity of that, so I'm open to correction. Though iOS has been on 5.x for a bit anyways.
In this case.
Android lacks something iOS does in this case, uniformity, which is how Apple portrays their control over their platform and why it's so popular and simple to use, they limit what can be used and what is used and set a basis forward to keep compatibility in the long run. The Nexus Line is controlled by Google and their partner in each step of the way, more by Google however because they essentially get to pick and choose what they want which works well in the whole grand scheme of things, which means timely updates are to come. They don't have control over LG, HTC, Sony, or Samsung for that matter in their other endeavors in Android and what "crap"(lack of more proper word) that's proprietary they decide to put within the platform for the sake of bragging rights, they're their own entities which for the most part have added to the overall disconnection of Android across the board. Buying out that specific aspect of Motorola was a play for patents to avoid lawsuit not a play for control.
Saying you'd pay money for an update to Android on your phone becomes problematic, in our case, ICS. If you paid $10 because you to have the update when it came out, in the following months it'd be very likely it'd have problems, and you'd be the prime benefactor of said problems. You paid $10 for an update, now what about the update to address that issue? Or the update following that update to address the following issues? Or what if you paid for an update and never got an update in the long run, just for the sake of not having one?
Would those be paid as well? I'm only throwing forth baseless scenarios, because this arrives to the entitlement aspect of things. Paying to get an update makes you entitled to said update, when a company can G.A.F less about an older piece of hardware having support when they've devices in their minds which are twice as good as last years model. I understand where you're going with this thread but, paying for your update in software wouldn't make the fact that your phone is aging any better, nor would it make Android any more uniform, it'd only make it more annoying of a platform due to it. It's not a better alternative than just waiting it out on what you're currently using until you can upgrade your line to something new. Spending more money to have your phone officially supported is rather foolish. In my opinion though.
/endrant
And essentially the Epic isn't EOL/EOS. It just happens to be on it's last legs. So whether it's last update is stable or not won't matter at that point.

I hate the Touchwiz

Stuck with an unrooted Verizon sg3 for now and can't for the life of me figure out why the f these Asian manufacturers think we need their crappy overlay. HTC included. Vanilla ICS and GB are so smooth and pretty why ruin it? Someone tell these idiots to leave the OS alone and concentrate on the hardware. Ughhhh... Ranting and venting early morning, sorry
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium

How are you stuck with it?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

loveubuntu said:
Stuck with an unrooted Verizon sg3 for now and can't for the life of me figure out why the f these Asian manufacturers think we need their crappy overlay. HTC included. Vanilla ICS and GB are so smooth and pretty why ruin it? Someone tell these idiots to leave the OS alone and concentrate on the hardware. Ughhhh... Ranting and venting early morning, sorry
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Manufacturers like to make their phones different, otherwise they'd all be the same phones just with different hardware, and normal consumers typically don't pay attention to hardware. So they have to advertise new features that they have in the software, like S Voice and stuff.
Sent from my iPhone

Samsung, that same manufacturer, realizes this, and offers an alternative called the Nexus....

punzada said:
Samsung, that same manufacturer, realizes this, and offers an alternative called the Nexus....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
samsung doesn't offer the nexus because it realizes people dont like touchwiz...

I like Touchwiz personally. So I guess they make it for people like me . I have had this the international version and both versions of the One X (all rooted) and the out of the box lte galaxy s3 has been the best for me. Different strokes for different folks I guess.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

OP why didn't you get the Nexus? No one forced you to get the S3. This why Samsung offers so many models....choices.

So install apex/nova launcher and get that vanilla ics feeling

Good thing we've got AOKP on our Galaxy S3s now.

Lol.... you dont need to be stuck my friend!
Enter the world of ....Custom Launchers!
:thumbup:
I'm. Surprised you don't know this.
For a more clean/ aosop feel go with apex. I personally LOVE go launcher ex.
Just go to market search launcher
Themes a few good ones people really like: apex, nova , go launcher, ???
PS.....no root needed!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

I think all OEMs should give options. Vanilla or their overlay. I have an S3 but I really like Sense 4.0 from HTC. While the HOX was nice...It just was not for me over all.
But that option may be hard for OEMs to do.

I installed Apex Launcher, stacked all my apps and absolutely love it. Not having to scroll through screens is awesome.

freakboy13 said:
Lol.... you dont need to be stuck my friend!
Enter the world of ....Custom Launchers!
:thumbup:
I'm. Surprised you don't know this.
For a more clean/ aosop feel go with apex. I personally LOVE go launcher ex.
Just go to market search launcher
Themes a few good ones people really like: apex, nova , go launcher, ???
PS.....no root needed!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm pretty sure what the OP is referring to can't be solved by a simple launcher since touchwiz goes deep. Nonetheless he should've known what he was getting into and should've stuck with a nexus device
Sent from my SPH-L710

IMO it's really pathetic to complain about TW especially since it's practically Vanilla with some really good enhancements, now if it were as bad as say Sense, then I would maybe agree, now that is one hideous "skin"

I have a galaxy note with sgs3 app ports and I couldn't be more satisfied. I've had Motorola and HTC android phones and this experience is by far the best as far as overlay of OS is for me. Whatever floats your boat tho.
from my big a$$ phone

I've really been trying to figure out what's so great about vanilla ICS. Is it just the visual theme? In which case that's just a matter of preference, or is it some feature that you prefer? It seems like Touchwiz has almost all of the same features, and you can install the default apps from vanilla ICS if you prefer them.

cgardnervt said:
I think all OEMs should give options. Vanilla or their overlay. I have an S3 but I really like Sense 4.0 from HTC. While the HOX was nice...It just was not for me over all.
But that option may be hard for OEMs to do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with you. My favorite UI is Sense 4.0. I would've gotten the One X, if Verizon had it.
---------- Post added at 01:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:32 PM ----------
CitrixLemon said:
I've really been trying to figure out what's so great about vanilla ICS. Is it just the visual theme? In which case that's just a matter of preference, or is it some feature that you prefer? It seems like Touchwiz has almost all of the same features, and you can install the default apps from vanilla ICS if you prefer them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am also wondering the same thing about Stock ICS. But I think that maybe its because its less intrusive than other UI's, and functions smoothly, just like google intended it to perform. Again I think its preference, some people like Stock and others prefer something other than stock. Personally I like all UI's but if I had to pick it would be the Sense 4.0.

Lol @ OP buying a phone that comes with a UI over AOSP android and then *****ing about the UI.
Did you not know the sgs3 had touchwiz and htc has sense? Did you try a different launcher? Was this thread really needed? Stop whining and trade it for a nexus. Then read before investing in a phone.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium

ratchetjaw said:
I like Touchwiz personally. So I guess they make it for people like me . I have had this the international version and both versions of the One X (all rooted) and the out of the box lte galaxy s3 has been the best for me. Different strokes for different folks I guess.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think "one man's trash is another man's treasure" may be more applicable.

Sense 4 is light but touchwiz is even lighter at least the silly colored boxes around applications are gone. B

S4 with Stock Android?

I don't know if you guys were watching Google IO... Google now through the Play Store has released the Galaxy S4 with Stock Android.
Do you guys think HTC will tag on as well? Making this a new way for oems to cater to both Android purist and the ones held down by carriers or tw/sense lovers?
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2

tazb said:
I don't know if you guys were watching Google IO... Google now through the Play Store has released the Galaxy S4 with Stock Android.
Do you guys think HTC will tag on as well? Making this a new way for oems to cater to both Android purist and the ones held down by carriers or tw/sense lovers?
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dont worry, we have CyanogenMod

tazb said:
I don't know if you guys were watching Google IO... Google now through the Play Store has released the Galaxy S4 with Stock Android.
Do you guys think HTC will tag on as well? Making this a new way for oems to cater to both Android purist and the ones held down by carriers or tw/sense lovers?
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
won't be out until june 28

I don't really see the point but it will attract people because you can mostly disable sense or touchwiz and install cm or custom launchers to give you the pure android experience but with pure android it's very hard to get the extra touchwiz or sense features. Anyway I am sure it will make some folks on xda happy.

All the manufacturer has to do is release the drivers... You could be stock... With this the S4 has an easier time going stock.

Even tho I love sense, and Sense is one of the reasons I stick with HTC(had SGSII some time ago and I hated touchwiz, so I went stock), it would be still nice to have the option going on pure stock. If HTC would go and with all their phone they would release bootloader and drivers so we could flash stock, I believe it would have bigger part of xda-community.. .but thats my wild guess, I may be wrong

HTC is committed to Sense, so they definitely won't be doing this.
You'd be mad to lose Zoe, IMO. I'd also miss the IR blaster.
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app

don't really see the point in it in all honesty. you would be better to wait until october & get the next nexus. most people who buy samsung do so for the features, which will surely be missing on this new s4?

Its a Google thing, for some reason they choose Sammy over Samsung. All the same I doubt HTC will ever do this.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium