Linked by Thom Holwerda on Wed 26th Sep 2012 02:57 UTC
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RE[2]: Phones and data gathering
by flypig on Sat 29th Sep 2012 12:18
in reply to "RE: Phones and data gathering"
I know this is an old story now, but I thought it was worth coming back to explain what I meant by 'utterly unusable'.
Hardly shocking, I'd say, when the exact single thing that tells Android from AOSP is that it's integrated with all the Google services, and yet most OEMs are licensing Android rather than going with AOSP.
I agree, it's obvious from Google's point of view, but not from mine. There's no reason most of the Google installed apps (maps, calendar, free apps on Google Play, etc.) need a Google account.
I wouldn't call it "utterly unusable", though, but you do miss a lot.
The new tablet I received recently wouldn't allow access to any of the Google services, including maps and calendar. This might sound obvious, but there's no reason why this should have been the case. I couldn't install any new software, even free software. Some of the third party applications that came with the device, such as Glowball ( http://www.tegrazone.com/games/glowball ) required a Google account. Why does a graphics tech demo require a Google account?!
Polaris Office and the web browser worked and are useful (without the ability to install Flash, of course). So, I agree 'utterly unusable' is hyperbole, but frankly there was no point me keeping the device unless I was going to sign in to Google (or install a different OS). No ordinary person would keep such a device without logging in.
Apologies for returning to such an old thread.




Member since:
2007-03-06
Hardly shocking, I'd say, when the exact single thing that tells Android from AOSP is that it's integrated with all the Google services, and yet most OEMs are licensing Android rather than going with AOSP.
I wouldn't call it "utterly unusable", though, but you do miss a lot.