Android ITSELF is going to be a launcher? GAMECHANGER!

[Xtremeyouth1]

According to the boys over at Androidpolice (who do a great job tearing through code) Google apparently has big plans going forward.

One of users biggest issues with Android has always been updates, getting manufactures to issue updates is hard enough but when you add carriers on top of that (mankind's closest approximation to pure evil) it becomes an incredible headache to get ANY update.

Google solution: cut them both out of the loop. Here's how... Several years ago they began decoupling the core pieces of Android so they could be updated outside of interference from the Playstore. Apps such as Calendar, YouTube, Gmail, Google+, etc. What this does is it allows Google to update and iterate much faster. There have been several major updates to Google+ and YouTube for example in just the last 9 MONTHS. It looks like that trend will continue as even more pieces will be decoupled in a few weeks (Dialer, messaging, Camera, and gallery) but that Android itself will be decoupled as LAUNCHER.

GAME. CHANGER.

Now understand there is still underlying base code that if Google wanted to change would either have to be submitted or just rolled out with new phones but Google has positioned themselves to make that irrelevant. What people care about is the front facing, user EXPERIENCE. What we see when we are using the phone itself. THIS is what Android is to most people.

If this can now be changed independent of interference, if user interface changes can be tweaked and modified on Google's timetable now instead of someone else's, if users will have the ability to run "Stock" Android on any phone then this is not hyperbole it really is a game changer.

Thoughts?

http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/1...re-some-things-we-are-expecting-to-see-in-it/

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Gekko]

this is nice but no panacea. skins and bloatware will still be resource hogs underneath whatever Launcher you try to hide them with. and they always delay OS updates. hardware buttons can also interfere/conflict with the pure Android UI. hence - i always choose Nexus.

 

[Xtremeyouth1]

I think you may have missed one of the main points. Google is aiming at making OS updates a thing of the past.

Both of our experiences with Android depend on what we see and touch when we look at the phone. How does the notification panel look? How do folders look? What do I have to do to change something? Etc.

The underlying base of code or the MANUFACTURORS skin is the only thing that will have to updated in the future. The actual "Google Experience" will be updated through the Google playstore. Interestingly enough that is the terminology Google is adopting.... "Google experience".

The underlying code will still be useful for something like framerate optimizations like project butter or battery optimizations but when was the last time someone asked about those things. Useful? Absolutely! But those can be placed in as each new phone rolls out initially each year.

What matters to users is interface.

You make a good point about buttons which is mentioned in the article and that will be interesting to see how Google solves

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Gekko]

my point is that the experience will always be hampered by manufacturer skins and bloatware hiding underneath whatever launcher you install - chewing up processing power, RAM, storage space, and battery life - not to mention the hardware and UI inconsistencies - and timely OS updates/features. these are real world considerations. again, the Google Launcher is nice, but it won't turn your phone into a Nexus. not even close.

 

[bigdaddytee]

It may be naive of me, but wouldn't it be even better if Google required manufacturer skins to be offered as standalone apps, rather than added in code?

Sent from the (4.2 updated) redheaded stepchild of the Nexii

 

[anon(5743667)]

I actually prefer capacitive buttons. Samsung, HTC, and LG added buttons to make their phones more user-friendly.