Earlier quoted context omitted.
Haha, but in Apple case, you can't even see the code, dude.
You would be surprised how little of your Android phone is actually open-source code.
At least is better than 100% closed (Apple).
Introducing Android 9 Pie
361–367 of 367 posts
Re: Introducing Android 9 Pie
#362Re: Introducing Android 9 Pie
#363Earlier quoted context omitted.
Google location services makes the picture much worse though, which the majority of Android users (in the US at least) have enabled.
Yes, it feels really spooky getting notifications to review the supermarket, coffee shop or anything else close to our surroundings. The spookiness is even greater for those of us that know what it means to live under repressive regimes.
I always have location off but my old coworker used to leave hers on. One day after work we were waiting for the bus she took a picture of some grafitti near the bus stop. A minute later she got a notification from google asking if they could, I can't remember if it was, tag the picture or add the picture on google maps or both for the gas station next to the bus stop. It was fairly creepy, i'd never seen one of those before. She started turning her location off after that.
Re: Introducing Android 9 Pie
#364Earlier quoted context omitted.
You're right Google no longer has the trust it used to enjoy. So many apps have been uploading entire call logs and it's really absurd this was so easiy accessible to all apps.
Android may have always been available at no cost, but it was never free. Always assume if you are given a service gratis, that _you_ are the product being sold. This doesn't just apply to Android, but to gmail, Drive, Docs, etc.
I think Dropbox, with its free tier, is a counter-example. The storage offered is advertisement itself.
Re: Introducing Android 9 Pie
#365Earlier quoted context omitted.
You realize the entirety of Google Play Services is closed source, right?
Woops... well, but at least Android core is not, which is better than "everything close" (Apple).
How would that be better? If there is any code that they don't want to see, they would just not show you.
Android and ios are both completely opaque operating systems... stop pretending they are not.
Re: Introducing Android 9 Pie
#366Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think the idea was good, it's just too bad so many apps (many by Google) went the lazy path of leaving the icon as-is and adding a white background layer. Also note that they're only circular on Pixel.
To be fair the API given is pretty c*p when you have to target older Androids as well (and don't want to give them an uglier icon). If I remember right I had to simplify the icon as well (remove transparency I think) because Android doesn't like many things that are okay in svgs.
I just used Android Studio to generate the icon for older versions. Yes, I would assume no transparency, since it needs to be a simple single-layered image, AFAIK.
https://developer.android.com/studio/write/image-asset-studi...
Re: Introducing Android 9 Pie
#367Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yes I would forgive anyone who used pre-s6 devices to think Samsung is some lackluster copycat with slow TouchWiz UI and terrible useability
Why not just flash the ROM and install vanilla Android instead of settling for TouchWiz and other third party bloatware?
I don't consider any of Samsung first party apps to be bloatware especially since I use most of them on a daily basis.
While you could consider all the Samsung apps extra and unnecessary - the Android ecosystem is a loose group of OEM's with varying degree of control over their flavor of Android. The base features are always there on all android phones but Samsung personalized theirs. It's a good decision despite android purists scoffing at it.
Pixel line of phones is there to satisfy those who really want stock that badly they're willing to buy a flagship phone with budget phone features