Which Phones have Android w/o proprietary UI?

[gzen1]

Current Blackberry user here, will be switching to Android. Can anyone provide a list of which Android phones do NOT have any carrier proprietary UI (i.e. Sense, MotoBlur, etc...).

I am a bit concerned about the fragmentation of the android OS, so when I make the switch I want to make sure the phone I get doesn't have any of that carrier specific UI overlay. I think the Nexus One doesn't have any such UI, and maybe the Moto Droid as well? Any others?

My choices for carriers for now are CellularSouth (current provider) and Verizon. Had an iPhone on AT&T, but AT&T suckage convinced me to ditch the iPhone. So, I'm on CellSouth with a BB for now (Love CellSouth service and their everything plan is hard to beat at $79.99). I think BB will go the way of Palm eventually. They've gotten too confident and have not progressed much at all. So, it's time to switch yet again. CellSouth I know carries the Hero, but based on the reviews and the fact that it has the Sense UI I'm steering clear of it.

Should I be so worried about the UI overlay? I just don't want an experience like I have w/ blackberry where, due to there being so many different models of phones, OS updates come out staggered depending on model and carrier. Also, app store on BB sucks bad. Once again, due to different phone models, there are some apps I can't even use. Gotta hand it to the iPhone as far as preventing OS fragmentation. Wish Google would have thought this through a little better instead of bending to the wills of different carriers who are all trying to make something they can call their own.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Genetic_Bloom]

Lucky for you Cellular South is releasing the Milestone which is the same as Verizon's Motorola Droid. It runs on stock Android so you don't have to worry about any skins but it's up to the carrier to decide the update schedule so I don't know whether to suggest the Droid with Verizon or the Milestone with CS since they're essentially the same phone.

 

[gzen1]

Re: Milestone

Thanks for the reply. Yup, I just noticed that CS has formally announced the Milestone. So that will be at the top of the list. If I switch to Verizon, I'll be paying a lot more. But, since they pretty much spear-headed the Droid, seems like they would be at the front of the line for OS updates. CellSouth seems to kinda lag behind on everything. I'll have to weigh the pros and cons. Nexus One would also be nice, but I don't have t-mobile in my area and I doubt they could beat CellSouth as far as coverage.

So many variables...think I'll just be patient for now. The BB gets the job done. I'll wait for my contract renewal and see what has developed around that time. Perhaps Google will find a solution to the fragmentation....or iPhone will finally go CDMA.

 

[Kyle Gibb]

The Droid on Verizon and the Nexus 1 for AT&T or TMobile would be your best bet, they all come with stock Android and should be getting 2.2 very soon.

 

[quetzalcoatl]

Well just one correction the carrier UI as you list them are not carrier UI they are from the handset maker. And you might want to try things out I personally do not like Motoblur but like sense.
Reason I say that is because you are so set against them you are turning away your best handset choice being the Incredbile on Verizon.

 

[gzen1]

RE: Manufacturer UI

Thanks for the correction. But no matter where it comes from, I don't want any offshoots of the basic OS. I think this is a smart move to ensure ability to update to the latest OS version as it comes out. Take the phones with MotoBlur for instance, aren't they still stuck back on version 1.6 of android right now? And why is that...because those w/ motoblur phones have to wait for whoever makes motoblur to adapt the UI to the next OS update. I'm not hating on the UIs that are available. SENSE may very well be nice to use. Just saying that having stock android, so that I am less susceptable to long waits for OS updates, is more important to me. Anyone else who is a previous iPhone owner (like me) will understand how great it is to have access to the latest OS update on the same day it's released instead of having to wait for it to filter down through manufacturer's and carriers. If iPhone goes CDMA within the next couple years, that could be a significant variable change that may deter me from going to Android. But, I would really like to try Android and give it a shot. Have to weigh all the factors and go with what I consider the best value for the features I desire.

 

[fulanit01]

Until google starts sending out direct OS updates, it seems you're stuck w/ fragmentation no matter what. Samsung Moment users on Sprint had to wait just as long or longer than Hero users for the update to 2.1, and there was no custom UI on the Moment. Nexus One looks like the closest thing to an instantly upgradeable device.

 

[gzen1]

re: fragmentation

You may be right. Too bad though. I really wanted to plunge into android. But good things come to those who wait.

Android + Fragmentation = No deal. Damn iPhone spoiled me. Burn in Hades AT&T!

 

[Andrew Ruffolo]

Fragmentation isn't all bad. There are some good things that come with fragmentation. I find Sense better for me than Stock Android, so it fits me better. I wouldn't want the cheesy MotoBlur, but it does have 1 feature many Android users are jealous of... Bluetooth voice dialing (maybe only be on the one device). For me I like the 7 pages of Sense, and their magnificently attractive widgets.

 

[Aspiring Developer]

I get 7 pages on my nexus one using LauncherPro + a froyo like set of icons on the bottom.
Iphone? HA. My poor sister in law was jealous as all get out over the tricorder app I have. Said she can't find a decent one for the bloody eye phone. Apple censoring the market. You want that?

 

[gzen1]

Re: Apple censoring

Yeah Yeah...I know. Apple controls their apps pretty tight. It has its benefits though. I just wonder w/ how opensource android is how many malware embeded apps will eventually surface. Total control of course is not the goal, but the polar opposite is not desired either. Kinda like the legal system. We don't want it to be like George Orwell's book 1984, but on the other hand, the lawless wasteland from Mad Max would suck bad too. Have to strike a balance. To be honest, the apps are not the main selling point to me anyway. Sure, I downloaded a bunch from the app store, but when it came down to it there were only a handful that I used on a regular basis. Not trying to sound like an iPhone fanboy here. Just giving credit where credit is due. I have faith in Google. I think it prudential for me just to sit back and let the sparks fly for a little while longer. Just so much competition going on in the market now.

 

[Aspiring Developer]

re security: I hear you. I really hesitate to install apps that invoke privileges out of reasonable bounds for the application. Does a simple flashlight need to make calls that could cost me money, or know where I am? I'd prefer to have finer grain control over that crud than is at my disposal right now. What I'm doing meanwhile is keeping a sharp eye on my various bills for unaccountable charges.