Rant - I am Beginning to Despise Android, WTF is wrong with Google?

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Agree 100% with "uninstall those apps" and get ones that do things the way that you like. Keep is much better than Evernote now (IMO) and I really like the stock Android keyboard now.

Keep:Evernote = butter knife:Swiss army knife

They aren't even competitors, because if all you need is a butter knife, a Swiss army knife is a little excessive. And if you need a Swiss army knife, a butter knife is woefully inadequate.

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I don't know. Seems like it is just more android noobs complaining because they don't know how android works, and just want it to work like iOS. On the other hand people that have been using android know how it works and prefer it the Android way.

I don't understand how after the first day or so this could even be an issue. If you get notifications you don't want, long press it and turn it off. Easier than going to some central location and scrolling around to find the app.

In the first few days, when you have a lot of new apps, you will see a lot of notifications. After you decide what you want to keep you it is a non-issue.
 
Correct me if I'm wrong... But is this Androids or Google's fault or the app developer? Just wondering... I would say developer

Sent From Another Galaxy.
 
I just don't understand the issue or reason to complain, change your settings and live your life.

Sent From Another Galaxy.
 
Thanks for all the great responses. BTW, in case everyone couldn't tell :D, I was irritated at the time I posted, and was purposely being over the top.

You can't make a legitimate reason about android with a Samsung TouchWiz device. You have to experience AOSP by either buying a SGS4 Google Edition, HTC One Google Edition, or one of the Nexus devices. OEM's are known to place their horrendous android reskins on their handsets. (Motorola is an exception since their new UX is almost vanilla android)
None of my complaints in this thread have anything to do with Touchwiz.

easy fix for you. Get an iphone, problem solved
No thanks, I much prefer Android. But I still want to see it improve.

It's not Google, it's Samsung. try a Nexus 4 and if you don't like it, simple solution- back to the iPhone.
See above, this has nothing to do with Samsung. I knew when I mentioned that Apple handles the issue of notifications better some people would assume I had an iPhone, but I didn't. I do own an iPad though so I'm familiar with how iOS handles notifications.

Except if you read his rant, it has nothing to do with Touchwiz but everything to do with apps, and how app notifications aren't centrally managed or not managed in any consistent way.
BINGO!

I think Google is slowly moving towards something like that, but we'll see.. In the meantime it's a mess, and while I'm not angry like the OP, I do agree that this needs to be cleaned up.

And IMO, this is why people still buy iPhones. They're not "clueless sheep who just buy iphones because they're stupid and buy what everyone else buys". Apple has actually thought these things through BEFORE releasing the product! Granted, some of their decisions are now getting obsolete and is limiting the OS, but they were strong design decisions initially. Meanwhile Google puts stuff out there and see how it evolves, that's why every Android version changes looks and functionality. Because Google didn't think it through before, they put it out there to see what people do with it THEN improve it. Both approaches have theor pros and cons obviously...
BINGO again! I don't think Apple has the perfect user experience either, but one thing I've noticed they are better at than Android and Windows is making sure developers can't irritate the hell out of users. I know some will correctly disagree since different users can be irritated by different things.

they made it easy to disable notifications.

If u get a notification, and don't want it from that app anymore, just long press the notification and hit app info, and unchecked the box.

Before you didnt really have an option unless it was in the app settings
Great info, I will try that.

Wanting Google to vet applications or force developers to do something a certain way isn't the solution.
They don't have to vet applications, all they have to do is create a workflow that stops the user from having to dig through settings to turn off notifications. For instance, when a new app installs, if the developer wants to give notifications, make the app pop up asking for permission to do so, same as it does for accessing the phones contacts/GPS etc. BTW, the press and hold setting someone just mentioned above is nice, but in the end it actually reinforces my point that they need to handle it better. 95% of users are never going to know that if you press and hold a notification it takes you to a setting where you can turn it off. So while that feature is good, they still need to make it better for the majority of users.

As for a notification catch-all setting, that's ludicrous. Why would I look anywhere besides the settings for an app to change the way that app notifies me? That's as far from intuitive as possible. Like turning off the circuit breaker to silence your alarm clock.
It's not ludicrous, and it's also not the only way it could be done. There are multiple different ways this could be handled more elegantly, that could allow for notifications to be accessed within the apps settings, but would also making the setting and turning off of them easier and more consistent. Just to give one simple example, the fact that different developers can name them different things is sheer idiocy. One developer calls it "notifications". Another calls it "tips and tricks". They could also be controllable from the apps as well as a central area.

I get where you are coming from. I just got here from using iPhone and I think settings and notifications in Android are the biggest mess I've ever seen.
My only problem is, I don't know what I CAN turn off without it messing other things up. Like AT&T locker? what the hell is that? Can I turn it off?
I can't be certain but I Think my phone is being backed up in like 6 places... no idea....
It's an absolute mess.

A more apt analogy would be like having a central remote control which you can use to manipulate every single device in your house, but it is located in quite an inconvenient location (but then you only need to be in one place to control everything). Vs having an individual remote for every single device (can be more convenient for the small stuff, but juggling with so many remotes can get tedious fast).

It has its pros and cons either way.

IOS consolidates most settings in one central app. This makes it easy for when you are trying to change a similar setting for multiple apps simultaneously (such as deciding which apps you want to receive notifications from, what sort of alerts and how many all at one go), as opposed to having to go into 10-20 different apps to achieve the same result. It is also a catch-all that allows me a bird's eye view of what apps I have which allow for notifications, which are on/off and so on.

On the flip side, this also makes it quite cumbersome for certain other settings which I may want access to on a more regular basis. For example, chrome lets me enter private browsing mode right from the app itself; but for mobile safari, I have to go back into settings itself to turn this function on and off. If I want to change the default font for the notes app, I have to do so from settings (should be available from the app itself).

IMO, there is no one best solution. What I would like to see from both platforms is for the developers to sift out the settings which I likely won't need to touch as often and would benefit from being able to manipulate all at one go (like notifications, privacy settings, sync preferences etc), and consolidate them all into one settings location. More common toggles should be left within the app itself.

That would really be the best of both worlds.
GREAT post and I agree there is no "one" proper answer, I just know there is a "better answer" :D.

I don't know. Seems like it is just more android noobs complaining because they don't know how android works, and just want it to work like iOS. On the other hand people that have been using android know how it works and prefer it the Android way.
I knew there would be a few koolaid drinkers :p would be dismissive and try to make this be about being a noob or "wanting it to be like iOS" so if that floats your boat, go for it :p.

I don't understand how after the first day or so this could even be an issue.
It's an issue because I care about good user design and want to see Android get better. I also know that most users won't ever change the settings, which means most users won't be able to take advantage of notifications in a meaningful way since they'll be inundated with them. So it's in Google's interest to improve it. I'm far from the first one to comment on this, I've read tons of complaints about it, but since I hadn't upgraded my Android phone in over 2 years I didn't realize just how bad it had become.
 
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I just really loved there was so much control in the notification setting on my iPhone. That's the only thing I could properly customize lol.
 
I knew there would be a few koolaid drinkers :p would be dismissive and try to make this be about being a noob or "wanting it to be like iOS" so if that floats your boat, go for it :p.

.

Well, the basic complaint lacks merit. There is no digging involved. Get a notification, decide you don't want more from that app, long press the notification, unclick the notification box.

You still respond to me this way after several other posters told you how to do this.

Instead of saying. "Oh, I didn't know you could do that, that is great", instead you continue on your rant about google settings being a mess. It clearly is a case where you are used to a different system.

The sad part, when someone tells you how it works, you ignore it and go on with your rant.

My advice to you is to come off your own apple kool-aid high and realize that the apple way isn't the best way and the way things are done in android could possibly be there fore a reason and may be easier than you think. You just need to become familiar with the OS just like any change in OS.
 
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Correct me if I'm wrong... But is this Androids or Google's fault or the app developer? Just wondering... I would say developer

Sent From Another Galaxy.

Are they violating any app development guidelines set by google? If not, then the issue is possibility more with google's liberal design boundaries.

Apple is more particular about this sort of stuff, so apps are usually more standardized in their layout and settings locations.
 
@Richard Fenyman,

I think given the responses and comments made in here you will have to agree that iOS and Android are two different animals. Any platform for that matter. With that comes much adapting when switching to a new platform/OS. I'm not going to stand here and say that Google is perfect and everything is how it should be, thats far from the truth but they are making great strides to improve the overall OS and the common apps that accompany it on a daily basis.
 
@Richard Fenyman,

I think given the responses and comments made in here you will have to agree that iOS and Android are two different animals. Any platform for that matter. With that comes much adapting when switching to a new platform/OS. I'm not going to stand here and say that Google is perfect and everything is how it should be, thats far from the truth but they are making great strides to improve the overall OS and the common apps that accompany it on a daily basis.

Agree, there have been some monster updates to the GApps in recent months and especially since IO and as more developers get on board with design standards, etc. we can have great expectations for the future. The point they want to drive home is that the device and the apps need to get out of your way. This is very different than iOS, where the apps are the point. When you want to check your e-mail, you open the e-mail app; etc. The future of Android is to allow you to do that if you want, but to get rid of the need to do it by providing you the relevant information you need when you need it.
 
Isn't the first thing you do when installing a new app to go to the settings and customize it the way you want?

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums
 
Well, the basic complaint lacks merit. There is no digging involved. Get a notification, decide you don't want more from that app, long press the notification, unclick the notification box.

You still respond to me this way after several other posters told you how to do this.

Instead of saying. "Oh, I didn't know you could do that, that is great"...
You mean like this or this?

Thanks for all the great responses.
Or like this?

Great info, I will try that.

instead you continue on your rant about google settings being a mess.

Perhaps some people see room for further improvement.

The sad part, when someone tells you how it works, you ignore it and go on with your rant.
See above.

My advice to you is to come off your own apple kool-aid high
I'm very sorry I ever criticized Android, it's the bestest OS in the world and anyone who thinks it can be improved doesn't know how to use it and is doing wrong and is an Apple sheep. Feel better now?
 
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I get where you are coming from. I just got here from using iPhone and I think settings and notifications in Android are the biggest mess I've ever seen.
My only problem is, I don't know what I CAN turn off without it messing other things up. Like AT&T locker? what the hell is that? Can I turn it off?
I can't be certain but I Think my phone is being backed up in like 6 places... no idea....

I can live with the settings tho. Take me a while to get them set right, but oh well.

I can tell you what bothers me more than Anything on android is APP Permissions. If you install an app, you are basically saying, here do what ever you feel like with my phone and my personal information. Hell, even if you don't install a single app, you still are doing that.
AT&T locker has permission to change my settings, read my fortune, take nude photos of me while I shower, and tell me what I can and can't eat.
That's one thing I Do like about iOS. Apps do have SOME limitations.... Android apps have ZERO limitations. They are free to do any dam thing they want.

Go to: Settings-Application Manager-swipe over to all apps. Click on random app, say, Evernote. You will get the Application I formation screen. There you will see 2 boxes; force close and disable (or uninstall updates). Underneath will be a show notification check box. Uncheck to not recieve notifications. To disable Evernote, you would click Disable (uninstall updates needs to be clicked first if a stock app).

Sent from a M.O.A.R. Galaxy S3
 
Go to: Settings-Application Manager-swipe over to all apps. Click on random app, say, Evernote. You will get the Application I formation screen. There you will see 2 boxes; force close and disable (or uninstall updates). Underneath will be a show notification check box. Uncheck to not recieve notifications. To disable Evernote, you would click Disable (uninstall updates needs to be clicked first if a stock app).
That's actually what I am doing right now. I'd guess it will take me 15-30 minutes sitting here endlessly clicking to disable the approximately 200 apps (just guessing) pre-installed on this phone, so that I only get notifications on the few I want to receive them on. I find that outright insane that I should have to do that to stop a phone from irritating me with endless notifications I don't want.

Here's an example of how simply and easily this could be addressed with a good interface (which in general I think Android has in spades). I am able to hide pre-installed apps on this phone so they don't show up under apps, I select "hide apps", then select every app I want to hide and they get "check marked" and in 60 seconds I can hide 60 apps. Why don't they do the same thing for notifications? They could even have a "select all" or "deselect all" command. Then a user could set notifications for 1 or 100 apps at the same time in just a minute AND notifications can still stay located under each app (as opposed to a centralized notification area).
 
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That's actually what I am doing right now. I'd guess it will take me 15-30 minutes sitting here endlessly clicking to disable the approximately 200 apps (just guessing) pre-installed on this phone, so that I only get notifications on the few I want to receive them on. I find that outright insane that I should have to do that to stop a phone from irritating me with endless notifications I don't want.

Here's an example of how simply and easily this could be addressed with a good interface (which in general I think Android has in spades). I am able to hide pre-installed apps on this phone so they don't show up under apps, I select "hide apps", then select every app I want to hide and they get "check marked" and in 60 seconds I can hide 60 apps. Why don't they do the same thing for notifications? They could even have a "select all" or "deselect all" command. Then a user could set notifications for 1 or 100 apps at the same time in just a minute AND notifications can still stay located under each app (as opposed to a centralized notification area).

Probably don't need to uncheck all of them. Basically, only the ones that have a unique app photo. So all the ones that have generic android don't need to be unchecked.

Sent from a M.O.A.R. Galaxy S3
 
Perhaps some people see room for further improvement.


I'm very sorry I ever criticized Android, it's the bestest OS in the world and anyone who thinks it can be improved doesn't know how to use it and is doing wrong and is an Apple sheep. Feel better now?

There is definitely room for both criticism and improvement in anything in life. I won't deny that. But do I really need to point out there is a huge world of difference between "room for further improvement" and "Google is SO F'N STUPID" and "experience [is] destroyed by idiotic BS", and an "endless series of useless s*&t shoved down my throat" and "I'd like to shove this phone up someones A$$ at Google right now".

And then, that wasn't enough so 5 minutes laster, this followed "BTW, Apple handles this 10X better.",


You mean like this or this?


Or like this?

I see that even if you said thanks, I will try it, it didn't get you to pause your criticisms until you had. There was no "ah hah! just tired it and that is better" Just that you would try it and then back on to they need a "workflow that stops the user from having to dig through settings to turn off notifications", and and android is "an absolute mess", Apple and windows "better at than Android and Windows is making sure developers can't irritate the hell out of users."

Sounds more like you wanted to complain instead of find a solution to your problem.

Are you surprised that people would react, particularly when you didn't understand how the notification system worked?
 
Here I am thinking that I love all the notifications I get on my S4 versus iPhone.
 
1. Why the hell should I have to spend an hour going through all my apps and turning off endless freaking notifications?

You wouldn't have to do that if you set up each app appropriately after downloading and installing it. Of course it's going to be annoying if you don't set up the app up front and then go through and change all the settings for all the apps at the same time later on.
 
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