Samsung's UI will always be better than stock

[Almeuit]

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

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 and I'm not interested in google.

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

Suits me ??????

That works . I don't downplay people for using Samsung apps and such. I just don't see it as a "need" you could say. If I am going to use an app I will use a Google app versus a device/manufacturer device app.

 

[garak0410]

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

It's the duplicate apps. If only all these OEMs stop investing in building their own dialers, messages and many more and just use Google apps. They could have those in the Play Store as an optional download but baking it into the firmware is where it gets problematic.

This is the biggest reason folks choose Pixel over other Android phones. However you can now see many companies actually use default apps like Essential, Motorola etc., HTC is still mixed and hopefully they will move in that direction as well.

Agreed. The duplicate apps is what has kept me from going back to my Note 8 over the Pixel XL 2. I love the Note 8 as it is so feature rich but the Samsung Apps and Bixby just get in the way.

 

[Ryano89]

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

Agreed. The duplicate apps is what has kept me from going back to my Note 8 over the Pixel XL 2. I love the Note 8 as it is so feature rich but the Samsung Apps and Bixby just get in the way.

I'm all for Stock Android, if that's what you.like, but I still don't understand the "duplicate" apps argument though. It's not like the Note COMES WITH 2 messaging apps, 2 calendars, 2 dialers etc. You create a duplicate by downloading the Google versions.

 

[hgoldner#CB]

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

I've always found stock Android dull and uninteresting, going back to AOSP versions of Froyo. While I prefer Sense, I almost always root and customize my devices to suit myself. Gravity Toolbox is a great tool to do that and relieve the tedium of pure stock Android.

 

[MezJr]

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

For me, it's not just the duplicate apps. It's not just the skin. It's how they're filled to the brim with proprietary apps that you can't remove.

Maybe the Note 8 or S8 would be fine if I had complete app control, but every time I give one of the skinned phones a chance I get frustrated and come back to a stock one. Hell, my Nexus 5x felt snappier than my S7e.

This time I went Essential, so far I'm satisfied, we'll see if I go back to Google next.

 

[ClintRo]

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

I would love to try the Speed and camera of the Pixel. However, I am not willing to give up Samsung Pay my Gear S3 integration and the S-pen. I am sure there are some other software features I would miss once I changed over.

I like stock android, and frequent updates, but not enough to change over.

 

[bhatech]

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

There are few things for which I prefer Pixel 2 XL.

1. Fast platform updates/Monthly security updates which are important to me.
2. Simple UI (boring I agree).
3. Fast buttery smooth performance thru out.
4. Prefer Google apps though I can use this on any device so no big deal.
5. Camera - Having the note 8, iPhone X, Essential (doesn't even come close), I prefer Pixel camera is the best.

Currently, I switched to Note 8 as daily driver after using Pixel 2 XL for a month or so. Honestly other than fast platform/security updates I have no major issues with Note 8. I switched to using Nova launcher, screen is the best in the industry along with iPhone X. Camera great and comparable to iPhone X, Pixel 2. Also this is the first Samsung device where it's been buttery smooth even after owning it for month or more. Overall if I was a normal user not worrying about updates etc I absolutely have no problem using Note 8 as my only device. But I'm not, so I use them all

 

[gregg6942]

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

It's the duplicate apps. If only all these OEMs stop investing in building their own dialers, messages and many more and just use Google apps. They could have those in the Play Store as an optional download but baking it into the firmware is where it gets problematic.

This is the biggest reason folks choose Pixel over other Android phones. However you can now see many companies actually use default apps like Essential, Motorola etc., HTC is still mixed and hopefully they will move in that direction as well.

Not everybody wants to "just use Google apps"

 

[garak0410]

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

I'm all for Stock Android, if that's what you.like, but I still don't understand the "duplicate" apps argument though. It's not like the Note COMES WITH 2 messaging apps, 2 calendars, 2 dialers etc. You create a duplicate by downloading the Google versions.

True but I'd rather use the Google Versions of those same apps and the ability to uninstall or hide the Samsung versions.

 

[LeoRex]

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

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.

Google does capture a lot of data, but it does so with your consent and also fully discloses everything they capture and provides that to you in an easy to use portal ( https://myaccount.google.com/dashboard?pli=1 ). They do not sell your personal information to anyone and only share under a specific set of circumstances and not with the intent of using that information for things like third party ads, etc. The policy is spelled out here : https://www.google.com/policies/privacy


Samsung also captures your data... like Google, the more of their apps and services you use, the more data you provide. ( About SAMSUNG - SAMSUNG ). As to exactly what personal data of yours they've stored, or shared... I don't know since they don't provide that information, or at least provide it easily. Samsung's policy about personal data is similar to Google's.... no personal data is sold, some shared for specific business reasons, only anonymized stuff is seen outside.

Now, the biggest difference is transparency... I can see (and delete) all the stuff Google has stored in my account. Location data, search history, device usage, etc. If Samsung provides such a portal, I have yet to see it. I'm far more comfortable with Google as I not only know their policy, I know what they know and they let me administer it to my liking.

Side note: There was that issue with the Cell ID capture earlier in the year, but it was not nearly as nefarious as it was made out to be. First, cell ID information is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a closely held secret. Anyone that made it out to be either didn't understand what they were or decided to omit that fact to sensationalize the story. Any app or function that has the phone permission can access that data directly.

Those popular OpenSignal reports? They are made with cell ID data obtained from users who loaded the app and provided the signal information. Google added those IDs into the data stream that gets captured with the intent of using it to improve their cloud messaging (i.e. notifications) service but ultimately didn't use it but never went back and disabled the item from the data stream. The information was immediately discarded and not used or stored. The chances of a third party sniffing out that information from Google's data stream is extremely remote... they lock that stuff up rather well.. besides, it's FAR easier to just ask the user for the right permission... which many people will readily grant without any idea what they are giving access to.

 

[mayconvert]

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

the Note 8 is stupid fast for me. haven't reset the phone even once.
No lag. No stutters.
I don't think stock is better. Samsung gives me a ton of options that I love.
note 8, to me, is perfect

 

[Byrese]

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

the Note 8 is stupid fast for me. haven't reset the phone even once.
No lag. No stutters.
I don't think stock is better. Samsung gives me a ton of options that I love.
note 8, to me, is perfect

It's an awesome phone but wait a few months and you'll get the shutter.

 

[ClintRo]

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

So far so good... stutter free since '93.... LOL

 

[mmcpher]

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

I have a Note 8, laden with competing apps wrestling and sneaking to gain control of texts, contacts, emails, photos, music, browsers, telephone calls. . . . I am continually having to reset defaults which seem to hang on only for a day or two before they're usurped through some app update or who knows what else. I don't want to have to micro-monitor my phone to keep it honest. I suppose its a trade-off for getting so many options and flexibility in chosing the app that works best for you, but it gets to the greedy point where the app developers or sponsors are trying to spread out to your other devices (or at least that's the effect when you sync or open something from your phone on a pc or tablet). I work from my desktop down because my business requires that I maintain a certain level of uniformity in my docs, emails, apps, etc. So its gone too far when my phone is so bloated that apart from being slow and glitchy, its negatively impacting my other devices. Stock Android is an aspiration rather than a real option for me right now.

I would buy a launcher that "knows" what apps work best with each other and the launcher itself, and that pays particular attention to calendaring and email. I am pretty happy right now with the Arrow/Microsoft Launcher and wouldn't mind if it aggresively and succesfully routed everything through Microsoft's on Android apps and services. I know I can do better than Microsoft by picking the best available app on a use-by-use basis, but I would settle for consistency and competency.

 

[bassplayrguy]

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

It's the duplicate apps. If only all these OEMs stop investing in building their own dialers, messages and many more and just use Google apps. They could have those in the Play Store as an optional download but baking it into the firmware is where it gets problematic.

This is the biggest reason folks choose Pixel over other Android phones. However you can now see many companies actually use default apps like Essential, Motorola etc., HTC is still mixed and hopefully they will move in that direction as well.

I would understand that If pixel was the highest selling Android phone. Other companies make apps because in part, some areas don't have Google products and Google isn't the end all for apps.

 

[billykac]

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

I have been the worst type of Pure Android snob. Mostly Nexus devices and then Pixel last year.

I did have a Note 5 in that mix and a Note 7 briefly, but then back to Pure with the Pixel XL. Now have the N8.

The N8 kills, and so do many Samsung apps. With the Pixel, I really missed Samsung Pay which for me, is so far beyond Android Pay I'll never look back. The Samsung Browser with integrated ad-blocking is insanely-well designed. I just disable unwanted apps or use BK Disabler for just a few. Took a couple of minutes months ago.

For me, "fast-updates" is just a non-starter. I am just fine without constant updates b/c it really just doesn't matter. I find the N8 owner experience very care-free - I don't really think about my phone. It just works perfectly.

Regarding "Samsung Lag", sorry, this topic has been beaten to death on this forum. I've never experienced it with my Samsung devices. I know how to avoid the most obvious pitfalls regardless of brand, and lag just never happens for me. The N8 is simply crazy, crazy fast. Again, I just don't think about it. My entire family now has Samsung phones (S8's) and everyone has super-snappy performance. No one thinks about it.

Pure Android, for me, it just a thing of the past.

 

[Aquila]

I don't want to have to micro-monitor my phone to keep it honest.

This so much.

I find the N8 owner experience very care-free - I don't really think about my phone. It just works perfectly.

And this. Everything that's not these things is really totally irrelevant. Find what works for you.

 

[digitalbreak]

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

I would understand that If pixel was the highest selling Android phone. Other companies make apps because in part, some areas don't have Google products and Google isn't the end all for apps.

Of course other companies make phones and have their specific set of software. All I am saying is that while some of that software will be specific to that build and android version, the core apps shouldn't need to be redeveloped. If a company has to rebuild the core apps for the phone, then there is fundamentally something wrong with the platform.

 

[mayconvert]

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

The purists refuse to believe that the Note 8 can function flawlessly, without lag.
They are Wrong. My phone is just as fast today as it was on release day.
I am Really sick of the "Samsung lag" BS. That horse is dead. Just stop beating it already.

 

[Almeuit]

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

The purists refuse to believe that the Note 8 can function flawlessly, without lag.
They are Wrong. My phone is just as fast today as it was on release day.
I am Really sick of the "Samsung lag" BS. That horse is dead. Just stop beating it already.

I love my Pixel 2 XL but I still can believe a Samsung is fast and works well. Hence why I have owned Galaxy S2 to 8+ and Note 2 to 7. I have definitely tested the waters and am not "Google or die!" as some .