Android, too complex for its own good

[GURPS]

Android, too complex for its own good

Summary: Android has grown as a platform in a relatively short time. Unfortunately my experience with the Nexus 7 leads me to believe the platform has grown too complex for Google to maintain it properly.​

Android started as an immature mobile platform designed to handle smartphones. Google has added functionality to Android so it now handles tablets in addition to handling smartphones much better than that first version. Unfortunately, the growth of the platform has magnified a horrible update problem to the point that every update seems to break as much as it improves.

Take the Nexus 7, arguably the best tablet currently available for the price. When first introduced just a short while ago, Google made a big deal about how the Jelly Bean version of Android finally ran as smoothly as the competition.

I found those claims to be accurate when my Nexus 7 arrived, as the Project Butter initiative undertaken by the Android team at Google brought smooth operation to the platform at long last. Typical tablet operations such as scrolling was clearly better on the Nexus 7 than on any other Android tablet.

That only lasted a few months as Google pushed an update to the Nexus 7 that broke the smooth operation affecting all aspects of the tablet's performance. Scrolling is herky-jerky in all apps and for general system operation. The biggest improvement in Android since its inception has been broken by Google.

It was so bad that Google had to push out a quick update designed to fix the other update. Some Nexus 7 owners are happy to get smooth operation back but I'm not one of them. My Nexus 7 is still exhibiting laggy operation across the board. I'm not alone as I've heard from quite a few others in the same situation.

Some Nexus 7 owners have inherited other problems with the last update on top of the performance issues. I've heard from a number of owners who are experiencing multiple system reboots daily since the last Nexus 7 update.

 

[ylexot]

Our Nexus 7 is still smooth :shrug: Maybe its something else that the writer did/loaded. Maybe they are running a replacement launcher?

Also, the quick update was to fix the "December bug", not to fix lag.

 

[migtig]

Our Nexus 7 is still smooth :shrug: Maybe its something else that the writer did/loaded. Maybe they are running a replacement launcher?

Also, the quick update was to fix the "December bug", not to fix lag.

If anything, I'm able to run more apps now and have more ability to do more things. When I first got the tablet, apps available on that format of jelly bean were a little more limited.

 

[blazinlow89]

Funny his articles talking about Apple products is full of nothing but praise. Meanwhile anything else he critiques to a ridiculous point. Sounds like car and driver with the BMW M3, or any BMW for that matter.

I tried to help my friend jailbreak his Iphone, trying to find something as simple as the current version of iOS was extremely complicated. The menus bug the living hell out of me and having all of my apps as my "home screen" is just wacky. Sorry i prefer the ability to customize my device, customize the product to my needs and also choose the product from the company I desire. Not be force fed the "newest" thing only to have something come out a year later that fixes everything that was wrong with the last new one. Sorry Android meets my needs.

 

[GURPS]

Sorry i prefer the ability to customize my device, customize the product to my needs and also choose the product from the company I desire. Not be force fed the "newest" thing only to have something come out a year later that fixes everything that was wrong with the last new one. Sorry Android meets my needs.

who is Force Fed anything - I am still running 5.x on my iPhone 4s

I had no problem jailbreaking my phone ..

... if you [not yo0u specifically the royal you] are incapable of finding the iOS level, maybe jail breaking is not for you .... besides Abisinth 2.0 or redsn0w are usually updated with the latest jail break when it is available


they tell you right in the Cydia Store - Jail Breaking Help where to find the version



it is a matter of what you are used to - each phone has its pluses and minuses

 

[blazinlow89]

I will be honest the first time I picked up an Android phone (even after playing on other people's iPad's) I picked it up right away. Had no issues navigating menu's, changing features or customizing the device, it felt natural. I have had no issues rooting or installing custom ROM's on any Android device, have had no problems doing recovery after a soft brick (did this many times on my Droid 3 in my learning phase). Trying to do the jailbreak, I called a friend who does alot with the Apple stuff, he said use Redsn0w, the instructions are on the website. The menus felt hidden, clunky and unorganized. Like you said its all in preference, and each phone has it's pros and cons.

My comment about being force fed the newest thing was aimed at Apple's marketing scheme to over hype a product release without any substantial changes (4g, and changing the size of the screen was a major change for Apple, just do not understand why it took over 2 years to finally release a 4g handset). I will give them credit though the marketing scheme works wonders.

 

[ylexot]

My comment about being force fed the newest thing was aimed at Apple's marketing scheme to over hype a product release without any substantial changes (4g, and changing the size of the screen was a major change for Apple, just do not understand why it took over 2 years to finally release a 4g handset). I will give them credit though the marketing scheme works wonders.

Have you seen their latest commercial touting the fact that they have noise cancelling microphones?

 

[blazinlow89]

Have you seen their latest commercial touting the fact that they have noise cancelling microphones?

No, but the panoramic camera one just came on. I find that hilarious, Enjoy the new iPhone 5, comes with a new panoramic camera, in tiny letters at the bottom of the screen (also available on 4s).

 

[GURPS]

.... Enjoy the new iPhone 5, comes with a new panoramic camera, in tiny letters at the bottom of the screen (also available on 4s).

:shrug:

I bought an app that does panoramic pictures when I 1st got my 4s a yr ago

 

[migtig]

:shrug:

I bought an app that does panoramic pictures when I 1st got my 4s a yr ago

The phone didn't come with it standard?

 

[glhs837]

who is Force Fed anything - I am still running 5.x on my iPhone 4s

I had no problem jailbreaking my phone ..

... if you [not yo0u specifically the royal you] are incapable of finding the iOS level, maybe jail breaking is not for you .... besides Abisinth 2.0 or redsn0w are usually updated with the latest jail break when it is available


they tell you right in the Cydia Store - Jail Breaking Help where to find the version



it is a matter of what you are used to - each phone has its pluses and minuses

It's odd, some people seem to take naturally to IOS, and some people just dont. Me, I'm not bad with technical stuff, I do okay, but for some reason the way Apple devices operate just don't make sense to me, its hard for me to operate them.

Not sure what the deal is, I'm the go-to guy for a lot of folks for almost anything under the sun, even stuff I havent really had exposure to, I can pick up pretty quick, but not anything with fruit on the box. I thought maybe it was the computers, way back in say 2001-2002, trying to operate the studio quality video setup we had in my old job, just was a bugger. then we got the kids Ipods a few years later, and those things gave me shivering fits with the syncing and playlists. Never did get the hang of them, and the Iphones no better. Was able to replace the boys cracked lcd/digitizer easy enough, it's not the mechanical side, just me an IOS are not compatible.

 

[blazinlow89]

The phone didn't come with it standard?

It was added in one of the recent software updates.

My Bionic came with one, and I had several camera apps to do different things (all free, I have an ad blocker through my ROM toolbox and do not see adds in apps or online).

Funny though my old Env Touch had a panoramic camera, it is about 4 years old and I took some really nice pictures of the beach from our balcony in Myrtle Beach. Also got some nice pics in the mountain.

The point is not that it is as simple as buying an app, but the commercial makes it seem like some new and exciting feature never before seen on a phone.

 

[migtig]

It was added in one of the recent software updates.

My Bionic came with one, and I had several camera apps to do different things (all free, I have an ad blocker through my ROM toolbox and do not see adds in apps or online).

Funny though my old Env Touch had a panoramic camera, it is about 4 years old and I took some really nice pictures of the beach from our balcony in Myrtle Beach. Also got some nice pics in the mountain.

The point is not that it is as simple as buying an app, but the commercial makes it seem like some new and exciting feature never before seen on a phone.

Oh, I am totally not tech saavy. If I had to go find apps and download them it wouldn't happen. Ask my husband. But I do have the ability to shoot panoramic on my phone. I just thought it was standard. Actually, my phone's camera is so good I hardly ever use a real camera anymore.

 

[Chasey_Lane]

Siri told me she wouldn't walk my dogs for me the other day.

 

[ylexot]

It's odd, some people seem to take naturally to IOS, and some people just dont. Me, I'm not bad with technical stuff, I do okay, but for some reason the way Apple devices operate just don't make sense to me, its hard for me to operate them.

Not sure what the deal is, I'm the go-to guy for a lot of folks for almost anything under the sun, even stuff I havent really had exposure to, I can pick up pretty quick, but not anything with fruit on the box. I thought maybe it was the computers, way back in say 2001-2002, trying to operate the studio quality video setup we had in my old job, just was a bugger. then we got the kids Ipods a few years later, and those things gave me shivering fits with the syncing and playlists. Never did get the hang of them, and the Iphones no better. Was able to replace the boys cracked lcd/digitizer easy enough, it's not the mechanical side, just me an IOS are not compatible.

Ditto here. I just don't understand Apple products. They are not intuitive to me.

 

[GWguy]

Siri told me she wouldn't walk my dogs for me the other day.

There's a lot of people that think Siri's voice should be changed to that of Morgan Freeman.

 

[blazinlow89]

There's a lot of people that think Siri's voice should be changed to that of Morgan Freeman.

Miri?

That would be awesome.

I have one of the android versions of siri, does everything the same. So far it seems like more of a novelty than something useful.

It is funny but one of the guys has an iPhone on Sprint, which we call the sometime maybe in the future network. He will ask Siri a question in the shop and nothing happens, as soon as he walks outside it starts talking.

 

[ylexot]

Miri?

That would be awesome.

I have one of the android versions of siri, does everything the same. So far it seems like more of a novelty than something useful.

It is funny but one of the guys has an iPhone on Sprint, which we call the sometime maybe in the future network. He will ask Siri a question in the shop and nothing happens, as soon as he walks outside it starts talking.

I've loaded several (and also have Google Now) and just don't use them. The latest one (utter!) seems like it could be pretty powerful once you get it set up the way you want. The best feature (IMO) is that you can set it to continuously listen while it is plugged in. So, get in your car, plug it in, and start giving commands.

But again, I just don't use voice command apps. Android has had voice commands and speech to text since...Froyo? Maybe even Eclair? I just rarely used it other than as a novelty.

 

[GWguy]

But again, I just don't use voice command apps. Android has had voice commands and speech to text since...Froyo? Maybe even Eclair? I just rarely used it other than as a novelty.

Same with my old phone. It just feels strange telling it commands out loud, especially when others are around and the command is rejected. You look like a fool....

 

[GURPS]

Actually, my phone's camera is so good I hardly ever use a real camera anymore.

unless you are getting a SLR form factor Digi - why bother for kids school plays to downsize and post right on Facebook anyway