Why Vanilla Android?

[Rominucka]

What they're saying is that the OEM's skin could prevent certain modifications from working where AOSP has no obstacles.

 

[YourMobileGuru]

Most people who want an vanilla device want it because of the misconception that vanilla devices get update faster. This is really only true in Nexus series devices since Google pushes those updates.

In theory the vanilla devices are easier for OEMs to update (and common sense tells you that they should be) but this does not always pan out in practice. For example the Evo 4G (HTC Sense UI) got Froyo before the Motorola Droid (vanilla Android) and the HTC Incredible (also HTC Sense UI) was only like two or three weeks after The Moto Droid. I use these year old examples because there aren't really and newer vanilla devices that are actually getting Gingerbread except of course the Nexus phones.

Vanilla devices also typically have little or no bloatware and less carrier branding than other devices.

I personally have no interest in a vanilla device except the Nexus Prime. The various skins (especially Sense) have added functionality that you have to download additional widgets and launchers (often at a cost) to duplicate (and even then they are not as nice), and even Motoblur is getting pretty good in the newest incarnations. Overall Touchwiz blows but it does have a couple nice features that I wish would be added to the others (e.g. the power management icons in the notification bar instead of wasting home screen space on them).

 

[sndplace]

If you think about it and people have posted it herein the first couple of pages... When companies put there skins on the phones, that have tested it on lots of people and if Sammy sold 10 million GS phones and 1 million of those people hate touchwiz. I don't feel that 10% of its customer base is a big # . the 90% either loves it or at least likes it. on the other hand most people change there skins anyway anyway , Even those with the beloved Sense... I myself have tried LP and AWD . i run Go Ex on my Coby tab.

As VZWRocks said Its more for the Nexus name then the Vanilla part that I would get a V phone... If not a Nexus , then i will just stick to Sammy for now...

 

[zackmack7]

what exactly IS "vanilla Android"? I own an HTC Sensation, and by what everyone is saying, it runs the very opposite of vanilla android, because it uses HTC Sense. But cans someone explain to me what it is?

 

[yankdez]

what exactly IS "vanilla Android"? I own an HTC Sensation, and by what everyone is saying, it runs the very opposite of vanilla android, because it uses HTC Sense. But cans someone explain to me what it is?

Manufacturers (HTC, Samsung, Motorola, etc.) skin their phones to add/modify widgets, lockscreens, etc. From reading this thread, you can see some users like this, and other users dislike this. Some say it adds functionality, others say it slows the phone down and the skin looks like crap. Vanilla android is a non-skinned phone straight from google. All nexus phones run vanilla (aka stock) android. Search youtube for nexus vs sensation, and you'll understand.

 

[rickhamilton620]

Manufacturers (HTC, Samsung, Motorola, etc.) skin their phones to add/modify widgets, lockscreens, etc. From reading this thread, you can see some users like this, and other users dislike this. Some say it adds functionality, others say it slows the phone down and the skin looks like crap. Vanilla android is a non-skinned phone straight from google. All nexus phones run vanilla (aka stock) android. Search youtube for nexus vs sensation, and you'll understand.

Yep, the Motorola Droid 1 was also vanilla, with only the Amazon MP3 store preloaded. Quick question, do people consider the Xperia Play vanilla? It does have some Playstation software but that's because it's obviously a Playstation phone.

 

[experiment 626]

Yep, the Motorola Droid 1 was also vanilla, with only the Amazon MP3 store preloaded. Quick question, do people consider the Xperia Play vanilla? It does have some Playstation software but that's because it's obviously a Playstation phone.

I always thought the Verizon Xperia Play was considered a Vanilla Android device since it doesn't come with SE's TimeScape or MediaScape programs like other SE Androids do. BTW, what exactly is the difference between a Nexus device and an Android device running plain Vanilla Android as it's OS?