Linked by Thom Holwerda on Tue 4th Dec 2012 09:50 UTC
"For a seventh consecutive month, the Samsung Galaxy S III is the most popular smartphone in the United Kingdom. The data compiled by uSwitch is based on live searches, pre-orders, as well as postpaid sales. Curiously, Apple's current smartphone flagship is not even second. The iPhone 5 is outperformed by its predecessor, whose lower price and improved contract offers helped it remain appealing. The Samsung Galaxy S II completes the quartet at the top. The rest of the top ten smartphones is entirely an Android party. It includes the Google Nexus 4, who entered the rankings a solid fifth. The second half of the top ten includes the Samsung Galaxy Ace, Samsung Galaxy Note 2, Sony Xperia U, HTC One X, as well as the Samsung Galaxy Ace 2." This is getting ridiculous, and it's not good for the market. For the love of Fiona, people, buy something that's not Android. I don't want to live in an Android-dominated smartphone world.
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RE[2]: Please list what's wrong with Android...
by Thom_Holwerda on Tue 4th Dec 2012 17:10
in reply to "RE: Please list what's wrong with Android..."
Member since:2005-06-29
Honestly?
1) The Play Store has apps that are as bad as any malware you might want to find on the internet. They literally use all of the old malware tricks (install extra apps/short cuts, tell you there is a virus on your device.)
1) The Play Store has apps that are as bad as any malware you might want to find on the internet. They literally use all of the old malware tricks (install extra apps/short cuts, tell you there is a virus on your device.)
Never encountered any of these, neither have my Android-using friends. Doesn't mean they don't exist - but it does *usually* mean the problems are overblown - like antennagate.
2) Android 4.2, despite the hype can be choppy at extremely unreliable.
3) Battery life is a joke. The OS still has a hard time managing the battery.
4) Background tasks are a mess. If you don't constantly manage your apps and background tasks you battery is toast in a few hours. Apps install background tasks like crazy.
I could go on, I won't.
3) Battery life is a joke. The OS still has a hard time managing the battery.
4) Background tasks are a mess. If you don't constantly manage your apps and background tasks you battery is toast in a few hours. Apps install background tasks like crazy.
I could go on, I won't.
Not only are these all disputable, they've got nothing to do with the Play Store.
RE[3]: Please list what's wrong with Android...
by henderson101 on Tue 4th Dec 2012 17:25
in reply to "RE[2]: Please list what's wrong with Android..."
Member since:2006-05-30
Never encountered any of these, neither have my Android-using friends. Doesn't mean they don't exist - but it does *usually* mean the problems are overblown - like antennagate.
Oh, doubtless you need to trawl for them, but they exist. I've seen them with my own eyes. "Virtual nose surgery" was one (yeah, I wasn't impressed that she installed it, but I gave her a level of trust that has now had to be revoked.)
Not only are these all disputable, they've got nothing to do with the Play Store.
It wasn't a rant about the Play Store though. They OP asked what was wrong with Android.
RE[2]: Please list what's wrong with Android...
by gan17 on Tue 4th Dec 2012 17:41
in reply to "RE: Please list what's wrong with Android..."
Member since:2008-06-03
While I don't disagree on you about Android domination being a bad thing, as a user of both Android and iOS, I have to disagree with some of your points
1) The Play Store has apps that are as bad as any malware you might want to find on the internet. They literally use all of the old malware tricks (install extra apps/short cuts, tell you there is a virus on your device.)
Yes, there's a lot of crap on the Play Store (seriously, how did anything to do with that Santorum idiot get through the vetting?) and there are some apps that will social engineer you into a world of inconvenience , but most of these "malware" reports are seriously overblown, imho. I haven't even encountered anything bad, despite side-loading a couple of times. Then again, I suppose I know what I'm doing; meaning I actually check online when an app catches my interest, though the main reason I do that is because of device fragmentation (wanting to make sure something works on my device) not security.
2) Android 4.2, despite the hype can be choppy at extremely unreliable.
Not sure about older hardware, but on my Nexus 7 it's been a peach. Sure, there's some lag here and there, but I could say the same for my gf's iPad2. iOS is still generally a smoother experience, but the gap ain't that big now. On older hardware Android 4.2 would probably suck a tad, but iOS 6 on an iPhone 3GS or iPhone 4 ain't all sunshine either from what I've heard, despite Apple disabling new features on old handsets.
3) Battery life is a joke. The OS still has a hard time managing the battery.
Again, not on the hardware I have. With the apps I run, my Nexus 7's battery life seems comparable to my partner's iPad 2 (which runs an even less diverse set of apps), give or take 1/2 an hour. If it's constant browsing, then the iPad2 edges it, but not by much. Yes, Android isn't as energy-efficient as WinPhone or iOS, we all know that, but it doesn't suck as much as it used to.
4) Background tasks are a mess. If you don't constantly manage your apps and background tasks you battery is toast in a few hours. Apps install background tasks like crazy.
While I'm sure some apps misbehave or just like working too much for their own good (I'm looking at you, Google Currents), in my case I've hardly had to manage background tasks all that often. Only time I actually double check what's running is after the odd game or two, partly because one game I played had a habit of staying open till an update fixed it. Android memory management still isn't great, though.
Do I like Android? F*ck no!! I think it's Crippled-Linux the same way I think OS X is Crippled-BSD, I still don't trust Google with my info, and the amount of turd in the Play Store makes even Arch's AUR seem like a golden prairie, but it's not as terrible as you make it out to be at this point in time, on newish hardware at least.
Edited 2012-12-04 17:53 UTC
RE[3]: Please list what's wrong with Android...
by henderson101 on Wed 5th Dec 2012 10:26
in reply to "RE[2]: Please list what's wrong with Android..."
Member since:2006-05-30
.... but most of these "malware" reports are seriously overblown, imho. I haven't even encountered anything bad, despite side-loading a couple of times. Then again, I suppose I know what I'm doing; ...
and therein lies the problem. You and I know what we are doing. You and I will at least check the reviews (and the second review in the UK Play Store on "Virtual Nose Surgery" clearly states that is is malware. My 7 year old daughter or 70 year old Dad won't. I doubt many of my non-tech savvy friends would.
on my Nexus 7 it's been a peach.
My Nexus 7 has awful battery life. Not usage per se - that is about the same. Standby. I leave it sleeping (i.e. press power button, so that the screen turns off) it will still deplete the power at the same rate. I can easily lose 10 - 15% in 2 or 3 hours. This is with Location off and Wifi on. My iPad 2 will sleep for 2 or 3 weeks with similar levels of battery usage. Why does Android consume so much battery whilst supposedly on standby? Answer that and I'd agree with you.
Again, not on the hardware I have. With the apps I run, my Nexus 7's battery life seems comparable to my partner's iPad 2
Absolutely... in daily usage, the life can be comparable - though not as good. It's standby I have an real issue with. Seriously, standby is where wars are won and lost.
Google N7 and power management issues. This is a common issue on various forums.
While I'm sure some apps misbehave or just like working too much for their own good (I'm looking at you, Google Currents), in my case I've hardly had to manage background tasks all that often.
More apps misbehave than behave. I generally only use Currents, Facebook, Twitter, Gmail and Chrome. But open any random app and they will often create a process that backgrounds.
Android memory management still isn't great, though.
It's awful.
Do I like Android? F*ck no!! I think it's Crippled-Linux the same way I think OS X is Crippled-BSD, I still don't trust Google with my info, and the amount of turd in the Play Store makes even Arch's AUR seem like a golden prairie, but it's not as terrible as you make it out to be at this point in time, on newish hardware at least.
I agree with most of what you are saying. OS X can be needy with regards to resources, but I find it is also pleasurable to use. I don't really mind Windows 7 all that much any more. I really with I could video some of the issues I have. I'm tempted to wipe and start again from scratch or install Ubuntu on my Nexus 7.
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Member since:
2006-05-30
Honestly?
1) The Play Store has apps that are as bad as any malware you might want to find on the internet. They literally use all of the old malware tricks (install extra apps/short cuts, tell you there is a virus on your device.)
2) Android 4.2, despite the hype can be choppy at extremely unreliable.
3) Battery life is a joke. The OS still has a hard time managing the battery.
4) Background tasks are a mess. If you don't constantly manage your apps and background tasks you battery is toast in a few hours. Apps install background tasks like crazy.
I could go on, I won't.