Big difference between Android Central and iMore

[Ry]

But 'Google's Android' doesn't include major UI framework overhauls and modifications to near every element. It's a bunch of stuff you can get from the play store.

You can take a Nexus and, with just root access, roll back everything Google included and make it straight AOSP. You CAN'T do that with touchwiz, or sense... Their changes are compiled into Android, overwriting countless files with their own code. And the more they change, the worse off the end result. THAT'S bloat.

Sent from my LG-D851 using Tapatalk

That doesn't mean my statement about Nexus being Google's Android is untrue.

 

[codyoehl]

That doesn't mean my statement about Nexus being Google's Android is untrue.

But Google makes android so whatever they put on their phones should be stock, because Google defines the OS itself
Are you saying the Nexus has a skin on top of it, making it not vanilla android?

Posted via Android Central App with my Samsung Galaxy S5

 

[UJ95x]

But Google makes android so whatever they put on their phones should be stock, because Google defines the OS itself
Are you saying the Nexus has a skin on top of it, making it not vanilla android?

Posted via Android Central App with my Samsung Galaxy S5

It's not stock, if you want to get technical. It has Google's suite of apps (Gapps/services). It does have a skin. The Nexus 5 uses the Google Now launcher. "Pure" Android is AOSP, which no device that I know of ships with.

 

[dctokyo]

Oh, I'm not implying that these companies shouldn't make money of their hard work... I am only pointing out that the Apple slaps on a disproportionately large mark-up on the iPhone.

It depends on the country, here in Japan all of my Iphones have cost me $0, that`s why Japan has over 80% apple users, when you sign a new contact the phone will cost 0 yen when you buy the basic model

 

[Ry]

But Google makes android so whatever they put on their phones should be stock, because Google defines the OS itself
Are you saying the Nexus has a skin on top of it, making it not vanilla android?

Posted via Android Central App with my Samsung Galaxy S5

I'm saying the Google Now Launcher is not "stock Android".

Lancher3 is the current default Android launcher. It's basically the Google Now Launcher without Google Now integration.

I can take the Launcher3 source and build it myself if I wanted to. I can't do that with the Google Now Launcher.

I'm saying that Nexus is Google's take on Android. It's not about skins.

Posted via Android Central App (Moto X)

 

[codyoehl]

I'm saying the Google Now Launcher is not "stock Android".

Lancher3 is the current default Android launcher. It's basically the Google Now Launcher without Google Now integration.

I can take the Launcher3 source and build it myself if I wanted to. I can't do that with the Google Now Launcher.

I'm saying that Nexus is Google's take on Android. It's not about skins.

Posted via Android Central App (Moto X)

Why don't any phones ship with stock android though?

Posted via Android Central App with my Samsung Galaxy S5

 

[UJ95x]

Why don't any phones ship with stock android though?

Posted via Android Central App with my Samsung Galaxy S5

Because it is a pita to use
Try a ROM with no gapps. I don't think a phone like that would be very successful.

 

[codyoehl]

Because it is a pita to use
Try a ROM with no gapps. I don't think a phone like that would be very successful.

So if essentially no phone has stock android on it, then why does touchwiz on a samsung lag more than Google's Android on a nexus?

Posted via Android Central App with my Samsung Galaxy S5

 

[UJ95x]

So if essentially no phone has stock android on it, then why does touchwiz on a samsung lag more than Google's Android on a nexus?

Posted via Android Central App with my Samsung Galaxy S5

I don't see how those two statements have anything to do with each other

Anyway...TouchWiz lags more because it is a resource hog. Why? Because Samsung has tons of unnecessary bloat and because they suck at optimizing their software.

 

[codyoehl]

I don't see how those two statements have anything to do with each other

Anyway...TouchWiz lags more because it is a resource hog. Why? Because Samsung has tons of unnecessary bloat and because they suck at optimizing their software.

Oh ok, that make sense

Posted via Android Central App with my Samsung Galaxy S5

 

[JeffDenver]

So if essentially no phone has stock android on it, then why does touchwiz on a samsung lag more than Google's Android on a nexus?

This is a nerd argument that has been going on forever.

To most people Stock Android + Google Apps = Stock Android. Some purists want to argue semantics saying that Google Apps are the same thing as bloat (they're not). When people say "Vanilla Android" or "Stock", they will almost always mean Stock + Google Apps (Play store, Gmail, ect).

This drives the Android purists nuts. It really annoys them. But it is what it is. People associate Google with Stock, right or wrong.

Skins like Touchwiz are not simply changing launchers...they have additional under-the-hood code that you cannot remove. It runs in the background whether or not you install new launchers/dialers/whatever. To them, this is an asset, because it is giving you additional options. The problem is that it also sucks up resources (which is why there is lag) and you cannot remove it without rooting. And, of course, Samsung and HTC do not want you rooting, so they will throw roadblocks in your way to make it as difficult as they can. They do not want you uninstalling their skin.

 

[JeffDenver]

But Google makes android so whatever they put on their phones should be stock, because Google defines the OS itself

Correct.

The reason there is a difference is that Android is open source. No one really owns Android. You yourself could put Android on a toaster and sell it, and even modify the code, and Google could not do anything to stop you.

Google Apps are different...they are modifications to Android that Google themselves made. So Google does actually own them, and can prevent people from using them. The apps include basic stuff like the Play store. There is no single "official" store for Android...anyone can make their own store. Google's is just the biggest and most used. Since google owns the Play store, they can dictate who has access to it, who gets to install it, who can upload apps to it, ect... Google's own apps are not open source...only Android itself is.

That being said, yes, except for these semantics, Google apps are basically stock Android. When you say "stock" most non-nerds will assume you mean Stock + Google Apps.

 

[Ry]

Nothing said so far disproves my statement that Nexus is Google's Android experience.

 

[Johnly]

This thread has had a good run. The OP has been discussed and we have moved on with new topics. If you want to debate the OS, feel free to create a thread or jump in one already going.