I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android
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@kt_ said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
It's funny how people keep downvoting my posts, yet no one has taken the time to defend these shitty design choices, which the most important that aren't about aesthetics are:
- Too large fonts and icons, that steal real estate
Yeah, font size is totally not about aesthetics.
Pop quiz: what's easier to read - a smaller text, or a larger text?
- Gmail app not being able to default to showing unread email, you need to use search function to get there (and wait a moment or two while the app actually performs the search!)
Personal email accounts rarely get more than 5 non-spam emails per day. And almost always they're on top (because if they're unread, it usually means you received them after you checked for the last time). Unread list is just one of thousands possible features which very few people would find useful, but for the rest is essential. See: people's reaction on Firefox 30 something removing "print" from context menu.
- Stolen real estate in the Gmail's drawer to show irrelevant stuff
There are lots of things that to me are irrelevant and steal real estate. But they might be useful to other people - or even simply make them feel better for no reason whatsoever - and if it isn't making other stuff inaccessible, I learned to ignore it.
2/3 of start menu on my desktop is things I never ever used. But I keep it there because square start menu just looks wrong to me. I bet I'm not the only one.
- Inconsistent behaviour when clicking in the line of a completely devoid of meaning arrow icon
TRWTF is click sounds in general.
- Allowing apps to be preloaded without required authorizations
Blame capitalism.
- Allowing apps to be preloaded, when they duplicate the existing functionality, ie take space and annoy users
Also capitalism.
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@kt_ setting up to show unread in outlook took 2 clicks. Take that, Google!
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@Luhmann said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
I was expecting log-off or exit or something.
Isn't that what's generally been used for upload? Which sharing kind of is, but not really I guess?
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@kt_ said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
@kt_ just had this thought. If Windows Phone is as good as Microsoft's mobile software, I understand why people around here are so devastated it got abandoned.
My Windows phone crashed about every 8 hours. And by crashed, I mean rebooted in the least convenient moment (usually when someone called me and I clicked "answer", or during GPS-guided highway trip). It got better after Black update, but IE was still losing tabs, and "back" button took me back 3-4 pages at once. And whenever I read CNN or other mainstream news site, it closed after 30 seconds.
I realize it might have been because Lumia 620 had shitty specs, but even the most shitty Android phones aren't that shitty.
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@Gąska said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
Lumia 620
I've had both a Lumia 920 and a 950 (my current phone), and they've had almost completely flawless stability and reliability
I'm serious: if I actually measured it, my 950's uptime could probably give Linux servers a run for their money.
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@Gąska said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
even the most shitty Android phones aren't that shitty.
You obviously never had to use a 512MB RAM device. It's a doozy. I had the touch-tracking overlay on so that I'd actually know when the touches bothered to register.
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@wharrgarbl said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
Motorola updates their middle range better than Samsung updates their high end, at least that was my experience.
If you think I was trying to say something positive about Samsung, you definitely misunderstood me.
But I disagree with you on your premise, updates aren't worth a 4x in the price.
4x? For comparable hardware? Please show me an example.
I know the difference between a $150 Motorola smartphone and a $400 Motorola smartphone from experience. Trust me, the performance difference is huge!
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@anonymous234 said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
True. But that's no reason to buy a $900 Galaxy S8, that's a reason to buy a Nexus, or a Moto G. Maybe a Xiaomi or a Oneplus?
I'd consider the Moto Z series high-end smartphones, and they are a lot cheaper than $900. Also, did you just suggest Samsung as an example?
:kill_it_with_fire.gif:
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@kt_ said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
Yeah, I used Android phones before so I was prepared for that.
And yet you still asked why it was there, you're confusing Cyanogenmod with Nexus/Pixel, you're asking why people buy budget phones (... because budget); it's pretty obvious that you're just trolling. I would imagine that's why you have been getting downvoted.
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@kt_ said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
btw, how is it that Microsoft makes so awesome applications for mobile and Google can't follow suit? Just look at the office apps, they're marvelous.
Won't argue on this point though. Outlook is as great an e-mail app on mobile as it is on the desktop. My understanding is that it's great on iPhone as well, though I wouldn't know as the MDM software on my work phone doesn't work with it.
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@Maciejasjmj said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
@Gąska said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
even the most shitty Android phones aren't that shitty.
You obviously never had to use a 512MB RAM device. It's a doozy. I had the touch-tracking overlay on so that I'd actually know when the touches bothered to register.
And my Android TV still crashes and reboots once every two weeks. Sony's software is almost as bad as Samsung's. The hardware is a lot nicer, though.
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@Gąska I think yours was just defective.
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This must be very subjective, because in your exhibits, Android looks better every time. Only thing I hate in GMail is forced message grouping.
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@heterodox said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
@kt_ said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
Yeah, I used Android phones before so I was prepared for that.
And yet you still asked why it was there, you're confusing Cyanogenmod with Nexus/Pixel, you're asking why people buy budget phones (... because budget); it's pretty obvious that you're just trolling. I would imagine that's why you have been getting downvoted.
Wrong wrong and wrong.
I asked why it was there in such a shitty way (not pre-authorized).
I never asked about budget phones. Sure, I criticised the one I got, but I made it clear that it's faults weren't Android's and I even pointed out these probably are because the phone is a budget one. I did leave a plug in there about budget phone being shitty, because they fucking are shitty. That's a simple fact of life and was stated in a response to someone saying that there's no reason to buy a premium phone.
I've never confused Pixel with Cyanogen. I mentioned Pixel because from what I know this is the only pure Android experience out there.
I also pointed out quite a few veeeery bad design decisions which you can't counter, so you decided to shrug it all off as trolling.
You can't parse properly and that's pretty obvious. I won't downvote you for that, though. Feel my mercy.
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Is there a good browser for Android? I remember dolphin being kinda nice but it was a long time ago.
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@kt_ what are you looking for that Chrome and FireFox aren't offering? I suppose there's AdBlock Browser...
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@LB_ said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
@kt_ what are you looking for that Chrome and FireFox aren't offering? I suppose there's AdBlock Browser...
Good UX.
Hey, it seems it can be done on Android! Enter first entry for "browser" in the play store:
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@kt_ Not in my store. What one is that?
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@kt_ said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
this is the only pure Android experience out there
uh... Nexus tablets didn't stop existing just because they're out of support now.
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@kt_ said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
I mentioned Pixel because from what I know this is the only pure Android experience out there.
Nexus is still a thing, btw
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@Erufael said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
@kt_ Not in my store. What one is that?
Via.
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@Magus said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
@Gąska I think yours was just defective.
I know. It had WP8 after all.
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@RaceProUK said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
@kt_ said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
I mentioned Pixel because from what I know this is the only pure Android experience out there.
Nexus is still a thing, btw
Nexus is dead, now that the Pixel is here.
If you want something close to vanilla Android for a reasonable price, buy a OnePlus 3T. Built like a house, gives the S8 a run for its money, awesome battery life (I got 6.5 hrs screen time today, while mostly browsing and using Remote Desktop) and it receives frequent updates.
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@Yamikuronue said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
@kt_ said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
this is the only pure Android experience out there
uh... Nexus tablets didn't stop existing just because they're out of support now.
I didn't even know there were Nexus tablets.
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@kt_ said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
Good UX.
Edge doesn't even let the top bar get in the way.
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@kt_ said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
I didn't even know there were Nexus tablets.
There are: I have a Nexus 7 (the original 2012 model with 32GB storage; the 2013 refresh maxed out at 16GB )
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@RaceProUK said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
@kt_ said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
I mentioned Pixel because from what I know this is the only pure Android experience out there.
Nexus is still a thing, btw
But there won't be any new ones, right?
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@coldandtired said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
@kt_ said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
Good UX.
Edge doesn't even let the top bar get in the way.
This actually looks really nice.
I've heard a lot good about WP. But it has one crucial issue: it was abandoned. :(
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@kt_ said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
I didn't even know there were Nexus tablets.
Nexus 7, 9 and 10. My old tablet is a Nexus 7 and it's an amazing tablet. Had really good value for its price which made it quite popular back in its day. Definitely the best mini tablet I've used, and the 2013 version even got official updates all the way to Android 6. It started showing its age, though. Forgets that it has a SIM card occasionally and can be slow at responding to direction changes. Edit:
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@RaceProUK said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
There are: I have a Nexus 7 (the original 2012 model with 32GB storage; the 2013 refresh maxed out at 16GB )
I have a 32GB 2013 model. So, they were definitely a thing.
@kt_ I think the Nexus brand has been retired in favor of the Pixel brand. I have heard rumors of a Pixel tablet showing up at the end of the year. Will be interesting.
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@Atazhaia said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
I have a 32GB 2013 model. So, they were definitely a thing.
I couldn't find any
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@kt_ It's not completely abandoned but it has moved upmarket. HP make some business phones and the rumoured Surface phone is up there.
It's doubly infuriating when you've watched the development side get closer and closer to sharing all the code between devices.
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@asdf said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
I know the difference between a $150 Motorola smartphone and now own a $400 Motorola smartphone from experience. Trust me, the performance difference is huge!
My Motorola was around R$ 1500 here, a moto G4 plus. An IPhone would be around R$ 4000 here.
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@kt_ said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
Google and the size of icons and letters?
Your dpi is set to Grandma. This is Chrome on my phone:
SO much better!
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@kt_ said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
incredibly awkward way of taking screenshots
Power+Volume down? So much more terrible then Power+Home on iPhone!
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@kt_ said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
As for subjectivity, is searching for unread instead of convenient label freaking subjective
Well considering every view in Gmail technically a search (for example, viewing your "folders" is a search for that "label", it's not surprising in a technical sense. Is it stupid it doesn't hide that away into some kind of toggle? Maybe. But yes, quite subjective.
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@kt_ said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
Two options in a totally different screen that I can get to by clicking an arrow pointing down.
You clicked the equivalent of the user profile icon as seen in all the Google Apps (though on the top right). What did you expect would happen?
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Search on the Gmail app never works properly.
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@AlexMedia said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
If you want something close to vanilla Android for a reasonable price
The Moto G4 Plus is pretty good in my experience. Only non-vanilla features is the Moto Actions app that lets you wiggle the phone in various ways to open the camera or toggle the flashlight without using the screen, and it's completely optional.
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@lucas1 said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
Search on the Gmail app never works properly.
I've yet to find search to work properly anywhere. Even fucking grep is retarded by default!
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@wharrgarbl said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
moto G4 plus
Isn't that the one with the overheating issue?
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@kt_ said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
Is there a good browser for Android? I remember dolphin being kinda nice but it was a long time ago.
Still works pretty okay, it has actual tabs and generally I have no real issues. It just uses Chrome underneath, so the only real difference is the UX from what it seems, but it's solid.
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@Tsaukpaetra nice tip, configured mine and it looks better
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@wharrgarbl said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
@Tsaukpaetra nice tip, configured mine and it looks better
Yeah, it's really weird how many apps work look and feel better when in "phablet" mode, activated merely by a change in the DPI setting....
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@Tsaukpaetra Lucky for you you can do that. Pretty sure my Galaxy S4 isn't capable of that.
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@Erufael said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
@Tsaukpaetra Lucky for you you can do that. Pretty sure my Galaxy S4 isn't capable of that.
Root solves so many problems. ;)
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@kt_ said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
That's one of the indicators of good design decisions:.you.can see that a decision has been made.
Agreed, clearly the Chrome design team decided to show more information rather than less to empower the users.
Again, most of your complaints here are either subjective or because you've got a shitty phone with a bad OEM. I understand your mind is made up, but some of us like having a choice other than the walled-garden overpriced shitty looking crap put out by a certain fruit manufacturer.
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@kt_ that's disgusting. But it's Safari, so... Moving cheese and all.
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@kt_ said in I've been wronged. A tale of being forced to use Android:
It's funny how people keep downvoting my posts, yet no one has taken the time to defend these shitty design choices, which the most important that aren't about aesthetics are:
- Too large fonts and icons, that steal real estate
- Gmail app not being able to default to showing unread email, you need to use search function to get there (and wait a moment or two while the app actually performs the search!)
- Stolen real estate in the Gmail's drawer to show irrelevant stuff
- Inconsistent behaviour when clicking in the line of a completely devoid of meaning arrow icon
- Allowing apps to be preloaded without required authorizations
- Allowing apps to be preloaded, when they duplicate the existing functionality, ie take space and annoy users
Come on, these are so bad it's hard they go unnoticed. Oh, wait, they don't
I'm on mobile, so sorry for the multipost and ugly response.
- Get a better DPI
- Never needed to show unread before, to be honest. Although I also use Inbox exclusively. So...
- I consider the thing that allows me to switch between my 5 Google accounts on my device to be fairly essential. But hey, maybe that's just me. Again, real estate wouldn't be nearly as much of a problem if your phone wasn't a terrible budget device with a DPI of -10000
- Ok, sure, minor bug involving the sound effects or whatever. What's the big deal?
- Would you rather your manufacturer preload bloatware that can read your internal sdcard without any notification and upload it? Because that's kinda the alternative. The only apps that have super cow powers and can "ignore" the permissions system are Google's own first party apps and system apps. Anything else has to go through that gateway.
- Yes, shitty OEMs with shitty devices are shitty. More at 10.