Database Users

Google risks OEM wrath for unified Android UI plan

Come on Ginger http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/06/20/google_android_oem/

boogieTilt said:
Come on Ginger http://forum.xda-developers.com/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=557
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whats with the link for a new thread????

I think you pasted the wrong link there...

Oh my gosh! That's interesting!
somehow..

Link Fail >.>

cheddie said:
whats with the link for a new thread????
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http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/06/20/google_android_oem/

Nice find. personaly i think that the sensui makes the phone slower. But can't wait to see gingerbread

I dont think its really going to change much..its just going to make the decision for getting a custom UI more difficult since google is improving androids stock UI. Also, from what I've read they should be doing updates through the market after gingerbread so wouldnt that make it easier for the custom UI'ed phones to stay updated?

I read that article this morning and it just annoyed me. First of all, Google aren't going to stop manufacturers applying their own skins, I can still see HTC using sense and maybe motoblur/TouchWiz (eurghh) but there's still going to be a hell of a lot of phones/devices out there running stock UI that will benefit from this, including us Nexus users...
Secondly the author shows a lack of knowledge in saying that Microsoft couldn't do this because of Sense on Mobile 6.5 - are they aware that Windows Phone 7 is not allowed to be skinned?
Hopefully part of this UI refresh will focus on making Android work on tablet sized devices, as stock looks a bit odd on such large screens.

mingoid said:
I read that article this morning and it just annoyed me. First of all, Google aren't going to stop manufacturers applying their own skins, I can still see HTC using sense and maybe motoblur/TouchWiz (eurghh) but there's still going to be a hell of a lot of phones/devices out there running stock UI that will benefit from this, including us Nexus users...
Secondly the author shows a lack of knowledge in saying that Microsoft couldn't do this because of Sense on Mobile 6.5 - are they aware that Windows Phone 7 is not allowed to be skinned?
Hopefully part of this UI refresh will focus on making Android work on tablet sized devices, as stock looks a bit odd on such large screens.
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I agree, looks like the author is more interested in making a bigger deal out of this that it really is. He is really stretching it too trying to compare Apple and their closed system vs Google improving their UI to make make it more user friendly

boogieTilt said:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/06/20/google_android_oem/
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I stopped reading when the author stated that Google was trying to maintain "Apple-style control" over the user interface. That's nonsense.

uansari1 said:
I stopped reading when the author stated that Google was trying to maintain "Apple-style control" over the user interface. That's nonsense.
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no pun intended?

I stopped reading that crap when the article said "programmers risk being 'Motoblur' programmers or 'Sense' programmers. I'm pretty sure if he had any knowledge of the Android OS, he'd know its all ANDROID!!! What the **** is wrong with these iPhone fanboys

It's ridiculous how easily things are misenterpreted and misreported.
What was actually said:
"We're gonna focus on making gingerbread pretty and cohesive"
How it was taken:
"We're gonna actively prevent mfgs from adding their own UI's, we're gonna lock down android, and we're gonna start stealing babies"

jcopernicus said:
it's ridiculous how easily things are misenterpreted and misreported.
What was actually said:
"we're gonna focus on making gingerbread pretty and cohesive"
how it was taken:
"we're gonna actively prevent mfgs from adding their own ui's, we're gonna lock down android, and we're gonna start stealing babies"
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Click to collapse
FOUR HUNDRED BABIES. WE WILL STEAL FOUR HUNDRED BABIES.

minus a few widgets, a pretty wallpaper, and a different launcher.... sense is (and all other blur's and wiz's) basically the same as the "vanilla" android experience... isnt it?
Dont see how this is going to change much. Except for making android more pretty... which sounds good to me!

Sense runs pretty deep.

i must be one of the only one's who dont get all the complaining about the android UI is inconsistent and not cohesive etc. i just dont see that. for example, no matter what app you go into the settings screen looks identical all the time. a long black list with checkbox options for on and off. how is that inconsistent?

Android UI really does need a refresh. Just all the grey boxes, lack of nice gradients, neon greens and bad shapes and no transparency or reflections or anything to make it look 'shiny' really make the platform appear dated. Sense has a go at fixing these things but it only does a good job on the surface and they are still all there as soon as you open something not built for sense. I'm hoping Gingerbread fixes all this!

JCopernicus said:
Sense runs pretty deep.
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Exactly. That's what Google is trying to stop, these deep reaching UI and OS overhauls. Motoblur, the AT&T Backflip aside, isn't as invasive and therefore doesn't have the same problem. How many apps don't work because of Sense? 5-10% of my apps (aside from Launcher Pro) have some kind of warning against sense issues.
I don't think this will extend to launchers, as those are fairly easy to swap out, and the article stated that wasn't the point. I hope this means we'll actually get some official skinning support, so we don't have to deal with stuff like flashing themes or metamorph. Make it easy, make it modular, make it open. Isn't that the open source goal?

[Q] Devs ?

So do we have any Devs, lined up to start work on this once it's out?
I'm getting bounty/donation $$$ set aside. ( would really be interested in sense on this, IMO seems better integrated with android then touchwiz, and not a big fan of the iphoney look i see in the pics)
Also looking to dump Bing & VZ navigator ASAP

I also am very curious about the likely level of dev support for this phone. All the negative reviews (e.g. Engadget and Gizmodo) seem to only really find fault with samsung's TouchWiz software and having Bing as the only search option. So I am ready to pull the trigger if it appears likely that upcoming CM6 ROM for the vibrant will be ported to the Fascinate. I refuse to live with bing on a freakin' Android phone
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App

[q] what is the big deal about gingerbread

Ok i know a few will agree and many will not but i don't see what the big deal is with Gingerbread.
I looked at the visual interface and it's nothing new....No New interface( ui )
looked into the app drawer and nothing new there either..
the on;ly thing i see different is the Keyboard.....
Htc Sense is a real achievement when you're looking for something New and fresh...
Miui also is something BUG and NEW ( I don't feel like Gingerbread has lived up to all the expectations.... BUT I CAN BE WRONG . LOL )
So i've opened this thread to get some insight on what you all are really so hype up about......

Find out by urself, its pretty nice.

Here
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=difference+between+gingerbread+and+froyo

Ugh....wrong section go to q&a

Another thing... This is Android development!!! Not "Q&A" google whats new on Gingerbread 2.3! www.google.com

This thread is poop. Sense is Over rated, MIUI is amazing as an iOS UI copy, Stock 2.3 is clean and to the point.

http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-android-2-2-froyo-and-android-2-3-gingerbread/

For starters its much faster and smooth. This comes from tighter organization of resources from what I have read, and this also helps with battery performance. and even if nothing else, this alone makes it a good upgrade. I mean even if you think of it as Android 2.2 just with better battery and seamless performance it is a very desirable thing.
But mainly it seems that the upgrades are in the background of the OS and not to the UI. Although that is not the most exciting thing the effect was immediately perceivable by me when I picked it up in Best Buy, which I was happy with.
And finally, I guess this is personal preference, but for those that like vanilla Android this a nice upgrade. Even the Froyo 2.2 that came on my Nexus One had some spamware in it (Amazon MP3, Facebook, Twitter, etc) but this comes with strictly Google apps, which is great. I have found that I personally dont get along with Sense or any of the other skins. Personally I havent found anything superior to Vanilla android with Launcher Pro (except CyanogenMod , which wont install on my Nexus One b/c I dont want to void the warranty )

IndivisibleP said:
For starters its much faster and smooth. This comes from tighter organization of resources from what I have read, and this also helps with battery performance. and even if nothing else, this alone makes it a good upgrade. I mean even if you think of it as Android 2.2 just with better battery and seamless performance it is a very desirable thing.
But mainly it seems that the upgrades are in the background of the OS and not to the UI. Although that is not the most exciting thing the effect was immediately perceivable by me when I picked it up in Best Buy, which I was happy with.
And finally, I guess this is personal preference, but for those that like vanilla Android this a nice upgrade. Even the Froyo 2.2 that came on my Nexus One had some spamware in it (Amazon MP3, Facebook, Twitter, etc) but this comes with strictly Google apps, which is great. I have found that I personally dont get along with Sense or any of the other skins. Personally I havent found anything superior to Vanilla android with Launcher Pro (except CyanogenMod , which wont install on my Nexus One b/c I dont want to void the warranty )
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Atleast this guy isn't a smartass..
he responded to the Question that the OP of the thread needed.

Thank you for your grateful opinion.
Sent from my HTC Desire HD using XDA App

So you followed me here with you no useful information . Live and change a life
Sent from my HTC Desire HD using XDA App

hahaha great!

Why do you use a custom ROM on your SGS2?

I got my S2 yesterday and so far, am very pleased with it. Before it, I had a ZTE Blade, which was my first smart phone.
With the blade, I was still on 2.1 when 2.3 came out, my network provider put a load of garbage on the phone that really slowed it down, not to mention taking up valueable space. Bascially, there was an endless list of problems that needed addressing. As a consequence, I started trying out custom ROMs almost as soon as I got the phone.
With the S2 however, I ditched the standard launcher, put on ADW EX, switched in a number of apps instead of the Samsung defaults, but I can't say I've found any significant bugs yet that make me thing I need to go custom.
Everything just works (let's hope it stays that way!), which is a world away from where I was with my old Blade.
With that in mind, why do you use a custom ROM? I think it can be split into two areas, bug fixes, and nice additions. From my reading so far:
Bug fixes:
Shutter lag on the camera?
Nice additions:
Bettery battery life through new kernals
ICS! (ok this is a big one, if Samsung is slow with their update and there's a custom ROM that works well, that will probably be enough to tempt me)
Notification lights (I don't understand why all phones don't have this by default, I fell in love with it on my old Nokia 6300 and the blinking red light is ever present on my work Blackberry)
Deeper theming - I do miss my circular battery indicator
I'm sure you guys will help me add to the list. The thing is, what is the cost? With my Blade, I craved a phone that was fast and reliable. I seem to have that now, and if the custom ROMs introduce their own bugs or decrease stability, I don't think it will be worth it for me.
Let me know your thoughts, I'm not trying to start a flame war. This community is a lot bigger with so many more projects and ROMs going on, I'm struggling to get a handle on it all. Hopefully this will help!

I wouldn't buy Android if it wasn't for customisation through roms...that's what makes Android special!
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App

If we had not way to change roms, probably I had not bought an Android's phone.
I like to do it, i'm curious like every us!

Same as the answer i gave to the same question six months ago .
I want what i want not what you want on my phone .
Why is a question and therefore in the wrong forum .
jje

JJEgan said:
Why is a question and therefore in the wrong forum .
jje
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Well, it's not a technical how do I do X question, but more of a general one, so I thought it was best here. I'm sure a mod will move the thread if they disagree with me.

To get
Better GPS performance.
Better general performance.
Better battery life.
No double click voice control.
No battery charge sound.
More animations.
Another theme.
It's like getting a new phone.

because I can

Because some freaking genius creat them from what the fcuking idiots from samsung made.

Because RACEPHONE!
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium

Just a few months ago I bought myself an iPod touch... I was thrilled with it! it was my first "real" mp3 player since my sony NW-HD5...
I Jailbreaked it... but it wasnt enough..
I waited to see how the iPhone 4S would come along.. and when it did I suddenly realized something..
People who buy Apple products are often ready to feel their products are outdated the next year...
Sure enough, Apple's hardware specs are "inferior" than most of the high end android devices.. but as we know their iOS is optimized to squeeze the most juice out of it.. until it gets unsupported...
So thats one of the main reasons I bought and Android phone, and customize it to its fullest... Today my hardware works.. OK.. but in the future, with better ROMS, more optimized to the specific hardware.. my device will be more alive than ever..
So basically... Apple devices just get worse with time... Instead.. Android can only get better.

Gnarfsan said:
To get
Better GPS performance.
Better general performance.
Better battery life.
No double click voice control.
No battery charge sound.
More animations.
Another theme.
It's like getting a new phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
most of the mods in your list can be achieved by jkay super awesome work. You dont need an entire rom for it. I can understand a kernel affecting battery life but how does a rom do it? (apart from swapping a few apks out?)

trungdaika said:
Because some freaking genius creat them from what the fcuking idiots from samsung made.
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really? what do you think these custom roms are based on? leak from samsung only

The voice of reason finally shouts at the general populace.
$1 gets you a reply

watsa said:
most of the mods in your list can be achieved by jkay super awesome work. You dont need an entire rom for it. I can understand a kernel affecting battery life but how does a rom do it? (apart from swapping a few apks out?)
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Click to collapse
You can do all of the tweaks that you can think of without a custom ROM. But the beauty of using a ROM instead of doing it yourself is that you get a full package of what the developers could think of and all the feedback from the users. So its a base to proceed your modding from. You also don't have to deodex the ROM yourself for easier modding.
Regarding battery life, it comes from bloatware and excessive logging that has been removed. Often ROM makers will also replace some of the stock apps with more battery efficient ones. For instance swapping apps that through a bug keeps the phone awake.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App

I get bored with stock Android and I was looking for something new. Since SGS2 is still the best phone available, I flashed custom roms and I am sorry I didn't do that before - it is much better now.

watsa said:
really? what do you think these custom roms are based on? leak from samsung only
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I said the create the best custom roms from stock roms full of sh!t that Samsung put in.

trungdaika said:
I said the create the best custom roms from stock roms full of sh!t that Samsung put in.
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i fail fo understand what do you find ****ty in a samsung rom?
yes they could have made it more customizable like sense but thats about it. All custom rom chefs do is customize the sammy rom more. look at the features
mms removed from logs - i am sure most of us dont want it but there are some who use it. Understand samsung is creating this to please everyone.
I can give more examples. Moral of the story is lets credit the super devs here but lets not take credit away from samsung. They have done a decent job with this phone in all departments.

good question

I use custom roms on my SGS2 simple because I can...
Choice is an Android Thing

Because I want a change once in a while. It's like a getting new phone everytime.

[Q] TouchWiz Launcher for nexus 4?

Hi i was wondering if anyone has ported the launcher from the note 2 or s3 to our phone?

currently no, lack of interest also, because all samsungs features is in the touchwiz framework, just like htc sense

what are you missing from touchwiz?

Why would we need touchwiz it's beyond awful
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

mediavieja said:
Hi i was wondering if anyone has ported the launcher from the note 2 or s3 to our phone?
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If you want it that bad, you can use Nova/apex launchers with the touchwiz theme.
Sent from my Galaxy Ace.

adil_ said:
If you want it that bad, you can use Nova/apex launchers with the touchwiz theme.
Sent from my Galaxy Ace.
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I think that he's more interested on the multiwindow ...
Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk

batna.antab said:
I think that he's more interested on the multiwindow ...
Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk
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Uh, it will take a lot more than a launcher to get multi-window. Maybe the CM team or some uberdev will build a multi-window setup that works. That is about the only thing I want on my N4.

estallings15 said:
Uh, it will take a lot more than a launcher to get multi-window. Maybe the CM team or some uberdev will build a multi-window setup that works. That is about the only thing I want on my N4.
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+1 for multi-window.
Sent from my Galaxy Ace.

Yeah well multiwindows for once and also the interface, i didnt know that feature from nova launcher to use a touchwiz theme. ill try it today

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2101204
Here you go.. No multi window unfortunately
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

multiwindow
you can use floating browser from google play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gpc.myweb.hinet.net.PopupWeb&feature=also_installed
and for video multiwindow https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gpc.myweb.hinet.net.PopupVideo&feature=more_from_developer#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEwMiwiZ3BjLm15d2ViLmhpbmV0Lm5ldC5Qb3B1cFZpZGVvIl0.
hope this helped im planning to get a nexus 4 but idk maybe you can anwser me this id the onscreen button take up screen size from the 4.7 or not ?:good::good::good:

I'd LOVE the smartalarm from touchwiz
Everything else was kinda crap

okay why does it matter why he wants to have the touchwiz launcher? You guys are seriously going to question why he wants it like its any of your buisness, he likes touchwiz, its his choice of liking a different os. Its really stupid for you guys to question and put him down with negativity in comments instead of finding a link and if you dont like it? KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO YOURSELVES. Thanks to those who provided the link.

Shadowfox993 said:
okay why does it matter why he wants to have the touchwiz launcher? You guys are seriously going to question why he wants it like its any of your buisness, he likes touchwiz, its his choice of liking a different os. Its really stupid for you guys to question and put him down with negativity in comments instead of finding a link and if you dont like it? KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO YOURSELVES. Thanks to those who provided the link.
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I was just Googling some touchwiz launcher stuff for N4 and came to this thread.
Your comment is something that I have always wondered here at XDA. If you are in a particular device's forum, it means you are married to that phone and shall not praise/desire features and stuff which other phones have. It isn't like ditching your current device, XDA is all about development, so if someone seeks features from other phones, I think people should help (if you can) rather than criticizing. And when it comes to likings, everyone has his own preferences... who r we really to judge WHY he is liking this.. Why NOT he likes that.. etc etc. I know a lot of people do not like TW but many do. I ask the TW haters, if you don't like TW then what are you doing in this thread? Why replying? Why bother sneaking in? Just mind your own bloody damn business.

estallings15 said:
Uh, it will take a lot more than a launcher to get multi-window. Maybe the CM team or some uberdev will build a multi-window setup that works. That is about the only thing I want on my N4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you start making your own distributions of Android behaving in such fundamentally different ways, I suspect we are going to need to start doing things to prevent you from impacting our app ecosystem. I'm not sure what, but I could imagine things such as restricting how users can interact with Market apps on these devices (not allowing reviews or such).
We have let a lot of things in this area slide -- for example to be allowed to include Market on your device you are supposed to fully pass CTS. However, if you start really diverging from the core Android platform (I would argue this takes you well into the realm of a fork rather than a customization) then some deep issues are going to come up about how we handle these custom builds.
We have been putting a lot of thought and work for a number of years into how to let Android applications run on increasingly diverse and dynamic screens. Doing this correctly, without impacting our app developers in a negative way, is a really challenging problem. I also think it is something that needs to be done at the mainline platform level, not as a customization, because doing it right is going to require new well defined interfaces with applications for them to interact with it, possibly starting with just a facility they need to use to opt in to it.
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googles (dianne hackborns) response when cyanogenmod was about to merge a multiwindow feature (cornerstone).
if its a smaller cm-fork or rom, cornerstone is open source waiting to be cherry-picked - although discontinued and buggy from what i hear.
can't imagine google is very happy about samsung doing it, but they might be too powerful a foe to upset.
another small observation, dianne herself introduced something like per app dpi to jellybean which seems related, still dormant. we might see it one day implemented as a real feature.