Samsung's UI will always be better than stock

[Almeuit]

Re: i don't understand why people like Stock Android so much?

Actually, no third party app can do that with a locked screen. I've tried several and haven't found one that will let you unlock the screen using mirroring without initiating the mirroring first or accepting it on the phone.

I'm sure though everybody has different needs. I just want the safety net even if I might not need it. It's not the first time I tried to recover from Google backup and found that it's not up to date for some reason even if I'm connected online 24/7. Been burned before. Lol.

So now I have multiple redundancies and Sidesync is just another safety net for me.

Even if a 3rd party can't... as I said I am not worried. Truly am not. I have zero files on my phone that can't be reached if I can't access that phone. I learned the lesson of storing stuff in one spot (such as on a phone) only a long time ago with computers. The cloud is a good thing for me .. not the enemy.. So even if it is on my phone it is 100% in my Google Drive or my LastPass Vault (if something sensitive) for me to access. I never ever allow 1 point for something.

The worst that would happen for me if I had to re-do a phone is re-download my Netflix queue for offline play or re-download my Google Play Music Playlists. .

 

[chanchan05]

Re: i don't understand why people like Stock Android so much?

Even if a 3rd party can't... as I said I am not worried. Truly am not. I have zero files on my phone that can't be reached if I can't access that phone. I learned the lesson of storing stuff in one spot (such as on a phone) only a long time ago with computers. The cloud is a good thing for me .. not the enemy.. So even if it is on my phone it is 100% in my Google Drive or my LastPass Vault (if something sensitive) for me to access. I never ever allow 1 point for something.

The worst that would happen for me if I had to re-do a phone is re-download my Netflix queue for offline play or re-download my Google Play Music Playlists. .

Oh I feel those download queue and playlists. Lol.

 

[Doug Moffat]

Re: i don't understand why people like Stock Android so much?

Stock android is reaching urban legend territory.

 

[Aquila]

Re: i don't understand why people like Stock Android so much?

The two biggest features of 7.1 were A:B updates, which Samsung has never implemented, and a whole bunch of API updates that make it possible for devs to improve quality of life. Neither of those are considered user facing. There were quite a few updates to improve the way notifications are handled as well, which is user facing, however is not fully adopted by Samsung devices.

8.0 brought Google Play Protect, more notification improvements, Treble, granular app setting controls, Vitals, a bunch of accessibility improvements OS level support for BT 5 and better codecs, OS level support for color management, instant apps, etc. Some of these things Samsung previously had in a limited fashion, others they did not have - this adds these features into the box so that Samsung can spend their time/money/energy on improving other things.

 

[digitalbreak]

Re: i don't understand why people like Stock Android so much?

Reading some posts I think folks are missing/confusing few points.

Platform level updates like new or updated APIs goes into the Android development which may or may not be consumed in the versions that Google uses for their Pixel phones. They just take time as it takes for any other vendor to properly implement them.

Samsung, with no doubt, has had many of the end user features that Android is slowly baking into it's platform. And unfortunately, it isn't as easy or approachable like in Samsung. Just try picture in picture. It's one of the worst implemented feature that gives no clue to the end user that such feature exists and it's pretty complicated to understand which apps support and don't. Look at the Samsung's multi-tasking features, it's all there with buttons that users can tap and make any app a pop-up or what not.

IMHO, Google is still a new kid when it comes to these new end user features while other vendors have already gotten great feedback and know exactly where they are heading.

If Google wants to lead, they need to innovate and show how it's done. Just providing monthly updates doesn't cut it unfortunately.

 

[Almeuit]

Re: i don't understand why people like Stock Android so much?

Reading some posts I think folks are missing/confusing few points.

Platform level updates like new or updated APIs goes into the Android development which may or may not be consumed in the versions that Google uses for their Pixel phones. They just take time as it takes for any other vendor to properly implement them.

Samsung, with no doubt, has had many of the end user features that Android is slowly baking into it's platform. And unfortunately, it isn't as easy or approachable like in Samsung. Just try picture in picture. It's one of the worst implemented feature that gives no clue to the end user that such feature exists and it's pretty complicated to understand which apps support and don't. Look at the Samsung's multi-tasking features, it's all there with buttons that users can tap and make any app a pop-up or what not.

IMHO, Google is still a new kid when it comes to these new end user features while other vendors have already gotten great feedback and know exactly where they are heading.

If Google wants to lead, they need to innovate and show how it's done. Just providing monthly updates doesn't cut it unfortunately.

I agree some but I still use all the Google apps and get the same stuff I would if using Samsung except more (for my uses) in terms of being able to use all of them via the web.

For me the security monthly updates do cut it. For most they don't care.. but I do hence why I made my choice.

 

[anon(7901790)]

Re: i don't understand why people like Stock Android so much?

I'm the complete opposite. I use Google apps over Samsung. Google apps work on any Android phone and even iPhone. No way I'd get stuck with Samsung ones since I'd be forced to Samsung then.

I use a combination of Google, Samsung, and Microsoft.

For email, Outlook and Gmail (my company uses Gmail for its corporate email). For note taking I use OneNote. I use the Samsung stock camera and dialer, but use Verizon Messages+ and Google Voice for texting. I also use Microsoft Office apps and OneDrive, which I find are superior to what Google offers.

That's what I like about Samsung phones, I have more options than what I would have on a Pixel or iPhone.

 

[Almeuit]

Re: i don't understand why people like Stock Android so much?

I use a combination of Google, Samsung, and Microsoft.

For email, Outlook and Gmail (my company uses Gmail for its corporate email). For note taking I use OneNote. I use the Samsung stock camera and dialer, but use Verizon Messages+ and Google Voice for texting. I also use Microsoft Office apps and OneDrive, which I find are superior to what Google offers.

That's what I like about Samsung phones, I have more options than what I would have on a Pixel or iPhone.

From the sound of it the only thing you wouldn't get is the Samsung stock camera/dialer on a Pixel. All the other things you said you could do on a Pixel... So not sure what you mean .

 

[anon(7901790)]

Re: i don't understand why people like Stock Android so much?

From the sound of it the only thing you wouldn't get is the Samsung stock camera on a Pixel. All the other things you said you could do on a Pixel... So not sure what you mean .

The Pixel doesn't have S pen, which works well with OneNote. Pixel also doesn't have the Edge apps either. I also use Microsoft Launcher.

I can also easily cast my phone to my Samsung TV (and my Microsoft wireless display adapter) and project what is on my TV to my phone, so I can be making dinner and still watch what's on TV in the living room.

 

[Almeuit]

Re: i don't understand why people like Stock Android so much?

The Pixel doesn't have S pen, which works well with OneNote. Pixel also doesn't have the Edge apps either. I also use Microsoft Launcher.

I can also easily cast my phone to my Samsung TV (and my Microsoft wireless display adapter) and project what is on my TV to my phone, so I can be making dinner and still watch what's on TV in the living room.

Ah you didn't mention using S pen for it... You made it sound like you couldn't somehow install those on a Pixel haha.

Makes more sense now. I can cast to my TV's as well. I have a Chromecast on all of them . No specific model (such as Samsung) needed. Simply use an iPhone.. Android.. or PC.

 

[anon(7901790)]

Re: i don't understand why people like Stock Android so much?

Ah you didn't mention using S pen for it... You made it sound like you couldn't somehow install those on a Pixel haha.

Makes more sense now. I can cast to my TV's as well. I have a Chromecast on all of them . No specific model (such as Samsung) needed. Simply use an iPhone.. Android.. or PC.

Yeah, I'm not much of a purist. Brand loyalty is a well and good, but 22 years in the Army taught me to focus on the desired endstate, not to focus on the tool.

 

[Almeuit]

Re: i don't understand why people like Stock Android so much?

Yeah, I'm not much of a purist. Brand loyalty is a well and good, but 22 years in the Army taught me to focus on the desired endstate, not to focus on the tool.

Understandable. I grew up with the Navy... Although the endstate you're receiving is the same as me so for me it seems the same. You just like to write notes whereas I'd rather type them .

 

[Almeuit]

Re: i don't understand why people like Stock Android so much?

Yeah, I'm not much of a purist. Brand loyalty is a well and good, but 22 years in the Army taught me to focus on the desired endstate, not to focus on the tool.

Also I'm not the definition of a purist. I have used the Samsung S line from 2 to 8+ and Note from 2 to 7.

So I've tried them plus many others from LG, Motorola, etc.. no brand loyalty here except for Android which Google makes.

As I've gotten older I care more for things like security patches over a fancier looking Samsung Note app when Google Keep has worked for me for years plus syncs across everything and not just a certain brand of phone.

My main issue here is some seem to not like my response to the OPs question and want to tell me all they can do with Samsung that I can't. So far SideSync is the only thing I've heard of which I negate with my usage by never storing sensitive / desperately needed things on my phone only..oh and Samsung Pay. I do miss Samsung Pay though. That was the one app of Samsung you could say I used.

 

[Anthony Turner4]

Re: i don't understand why people like Stock Android so much?

Pretty much a lot of people have said it already but it's much cleaner and minimalist. I had the Samsung Galaxy S7 (Excellent phone BTW) and to date my major complaint was the damn duplicate apps and the needless bloatware. Without rooting all I can do is disable it and even then Samsung can rear it's ugly head like having S Voice be the defualt Assitant among other things.

With Vanilla Android I can add simply add apps/features I care about without it feeling bloated. Instead of having the features built in I like to have control of my device and dictate what goes on it. Also, Vanilla Android tends to run smoother without hiccups, even modest specs like say, a Moto G5+, can operate on similar speed with an old Flagship.

 

[recDNA]

Re: i don't understand why people like Stock Android so much?

why is it such a big deal? stock experience is kind of boring. take out all the fun stuff and give you only the basic's. Basic phone with a heavy price tag..
OLED screen is cheap aswell.
Don't you think Google is getting abit greedy now?

this is comparing Pixel 2 XL to Note 8 or s8+

Updates. Snappy performance.
I agree Pixel XL2 is overpriced. Samsung offers some built in apps that cannot be duplicated on the Play Store. The thing is for whatever reason Samsung phones lag. Not a matter of if it is only when. I also find scrolling jiggity on Samsung phones and I sometimes type faster than keyboard can handle. The Note 8 has the ram to avoid these problems so I guess Samsung hasn't learned to utilize it well enough.

Still, despite the slower updates and inferior preformance I would choose Sammy for the nicer screen, spen, built in call blocking and other Samsung features lacking in basic Android.

 

[Anthony Turner4]

Re: i don't understand why people like Stock Android so much?

I personally would not pay huge amounts of money to buy a Pixel, I now prefer midrange vanilla Android phones like the Moto G5+ or Nokia 6. I had the Nexus 4/5 and those were amazing phones, especially for the price. Of course they had their disadvantages too, like camera, features, and battery life. I don't feel like the Pixel 2/2 XL are several hundred dollars better than their predecessors.

 

[Byrese]

Re: i don't understand why people like Stock Android so much?

I get you...it is a bit boring and doesn't have as many features as say a Samsung.

But it does get fast updates and, even bigger for me, top performance that lasts longer too.

For example, its well known in forums like this that Samsung begin to experience lag a lot faster than other phones (in some cases even a few weeks). Yes...all phones begin to slow down over time but with Samsung it just seems extra fast. The problem...their skin and all of its features is too heavy.

This is not the case with stock or "Google phones" like the Nexus and Pixel lines. In my experience, they don't slow down that quickly at all.

 

[Billy_Maddison]

Re: i don't understand why people like Stock Android so much?

The two biggest features of 7.1 were A:B updates, which Samsung has never implemented, and a whole bunch of API updates that make it possible for devs to improve quality of life. Neither of those are considered user facing. There were quite a few updates to improve the way notifications are handled as well, which is user facing, however is not fully adopted by Samsung devices.

8.0 brought Google Play Protect, more notification improvements, Treble, granular app setting controls, Vitals, a bunch of accessibility improvements OS level support for BT 5 and better codecs, OS level support for color management, instant apps, etc. Some of these things Samsung previously had in a limited fashion, others they did not have - this adds these features into the box so that Samsung can spend their time/money/energy on improving other things.

I just recently noticed that 7.1.1, on the KEYone, includes Play Protect...

 

[Almeuit]

Re: i don't understand why people like Stock Android so much?

I just recently noticed that 7.1.1, on the KEYone, includes Play Protect...

That's a good thing. Blackberry including that helps all. .

 

[anon(3641385)]

I guess I just see no use. I use the Google ones and they work / I like them. I don't see a need to shift to another app to do what I've already been doing.

Sorry just not for me.

I disable, uninstall, block, you name it, everything google I can, whether it's my note 8 or my BlackBerry phone.

I don't live in the US, I'm not interested in google and I'm not interested in their behind the scenes data capture.

I like samsung, and I particularly like their oem apps.

Suits me