Google closes its $1.1B deal with HTC Corp • Hacker News Board

Re: Google closes its $1.1B deal with HTC Corp

#91

Post by zamalek » Wed, Jan 31, 2018, 9:16 AM UTC

sumedh wrote: post #79

zamalek wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People are used to how their phones work, it's a form of lock-in. I can't figure out how a Mac works, never mind an iPhone. I just get annoyed in the first 10 seconds and give up. If iPhone could be made to work more like Android, I'd switch to the superior Apple privacy story. As it stands I really hate using Apple UIs.

Atleast give some constructive complaints, hating the UI sounds like a personal rant and not a good one as well when the whole world copies Apple's UI.

How is this:

> People are used to how their phones work

hating on iPhone? It's explaining why both parent comments don't share the same opinion. Everything else I said was very explicitly subjective, am I not allowed to express that I don't like using something?

> whole world copies Apple's UI

That is absolutely false, outside of the Apple marketing machine. Everyone copied Xerox and UI subsequently evolved byways of everybody copying everyone else in one way or another. I've also yet to see an integrated menu on Windows or Linux (although I am sure there exists some exotic window manager that does it) - so there's one concept that hasn't been copied and is entirely invented. There's also the Office ribbon. The modern iteration of flat UIs was born of the Metro interface language, a Microsoft invention - this now features strongly on both macOS and iOS.

Re: Google closes its $1.1B deal with HTC Corp

#92

Post by johndoe90 » Wed, Jan 31, 2018, 9:17 AM UTC

MarkCole wrote: post #51

sigmar wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Google's hardware approach sucks What is wrong with the Pixel hardware? (Have never owned one and have only heard good things)

I bought a 1st gen Pixel in December 2016, so it's just over a year old. I'm delighted with every part of the hardware, except the screen. After around 6 months I noticed that the nav buttons are really badly burned in where the nav buttons are located([1] picture is not mine but it demonstates what I mean, I believe at this point mine is much worse than in this picture). This is due to the nav buttons being constant…

There must be an option in Display settings, named “Display Burn-In protection”. Do you have it enabled? Just curious, because I just purchased a Pixel 1.

Re: Google closes its $1.1B deal with HTC Corp

#93

Post by on_and_off » Wed, Jan 31, 2018, 9:18 AM UTC

pokemongoaway wrote: post #59

nicetime wrote: post #34

For sure, the only reason I’ve been on Apple devices these past few years is because Ubuntu is such an abomination. Windows is plainly unthinkable. And if you have my laptop, the mobile devices fall like dominos. I don’t love iPhones, but even at premium prices it’s worth it to integrate with OS X. Android really makes me sick though. Touted as free and open, but you still have to root your phone with shady exploits,…

Exactly, we're going to need a replacement for Google's vanilla Android soon. You can't even take off the Google Now bar - which takes up significant space on all workspaces!

You can replace the launcher to have something very similar to Google's one but configurable.

Re: Google closes its $1.1B deal with HTC Corp

#94

Post by rimliu » Wed, Jan 31, 2018, 9:23 AM UTC

rxhernandez wrote: post #50

shaklee3 wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Those don't exist in the iPhone either, so I'm not sure what you're arguing for. There's a reason most flagships don't have those anymore.

I haven't heard a single good reason beyond the manufacturers' ambitions.

How about this: most users do not care. The only thing I used from what you mention was headphone jack, but with iPhone 7 I got Beats X and all I can say: good riddance. I will argue that for most iPhone users whatever earbuds they find in the box are good enough. SD cards? Why would I want that…

Re: Google closes its $1.1B deal with HTC Corp

#95

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Jan 31, 2018, 9:28 AM UTC

colordrops wrote: post #64

PierceJoy wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Funny, I've never had a problem using my iPhone. Care to elaborate?

Android has three buttons rather than one, reducing menu fatigue. System settings are more customizable and generally easier to and more intuitive to use. Launcher screen be replaced by 3rd party app. Keyboard can be replaced by 3rd party app. Browsers can run any engine they want. Apps can host code. Terminal is a first class citizen. Phones can have the bootloader unlocked legally. Supports launch screen widgets. B…

[deleted]

Re: Google closes its $1.1B deal with HTC Corp

#96

Post by on_and_off » Wed, Jan 31, 2018, 9:28 AM UTC

aphextron wrote: post #41

I wish Google would just buy HTC already and put out a Fuschia based phone so I can be done with iOS.

Fuchsia looks like it is at least 2 years from release (probably more. No wonder O was presented as `the technical foundation of the next 10 years of Android` (from the last IO): it is possible that Google plans Fuchsia as an Android replacement (maybe only at the technical level, as long as they add ART, it can be the next version of Android) but it is not going to happen overnight.

Re: Google closes its $1.1B deal with HTC Corp

#97

Post by jk563 » Wed, Jan 31, 2018, 9:29 AM UTC

fnord77 wrote: post #35

Google has always been tone-deaf when it comes to how they treat their users. Apples treats their users as something special. Apple delights - google, well it's fast, but it sometimes creeps you out. throwing more bodies at the problem isn't going to fix it - this is a top-down issue.

Fairly subjective to be fair. I'd wager that the same features that creep you out are some of the features that delight me.

Re: Google closes its $1.1B deal with HTC Corp

#98

Post by fbdjskajxb » Wed, Jan 31, 2018, 9:32 AM UTC

colordrops wrote: post #64

PierceJoy wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Funny, I've never had a problem using my iPhone. Care to elaborate?

Android has three buttons rather than one, reducing menu fatigue. System settings are more customizable and generally easier to and more intuitive to use. Launcher screen be replaced by 3rd party app. Keyboard can be replaced by 3rd party app. Browsers can run any engine they want. Apps can host code. Terminal is a first class citizen. Phones can have the bootloader unlocked legally. Supports launch screen widgets. B…

Recent Android to iPhone switcher here.

>System settings are more customizable

I don’t know exactly what you mean by system settings, but iOS has a decent settings system. Android’s settings page UI is better, but iOS has a really impressive range of settings especially if you go into the accessibility menu. It has all sorts of detailed changes you can make to the UI and control scheme for the phone.

>Keyboard can be replaced by 3rd party app.

iOS has this now.

There are some things I miss from Android - one is the notification LED. Accessibility sets will let you use the flash as a notification light, but it’s a little bit more than I need.

Face ID is fantastic. I love how it sensors my message notifications until I look directly at the screen (this is configurable).

Re: Google closes its $1.1B deal with HTC Corp

#99

Post by sfifs » Wed, Jan 31, 2018, 9:32 AM UTC

elvirs wrote: post #7

after being an iPhone user for 6 years and recently switching to android (first a pixel, then one plus) I can say with confidence Google's hardware approach sucks. Android can do a lot more than iOS but it does most of the simple things in a user unfriendly way

> most of the simple things in a user unfriendly way

Care to elaborate? The thing I value about Android is how I can setup the things "my way" vs. "Johnny Ive" way and so make important things far more simple to do than on iPhone.

Also interesting that you chose to test waters with sub par hardware vs. going top of the line Samsung. Both Google and OnePlus are well known to have hardware reliability issues.

Re: Google closes its $1.1B deal with HTC Corp

#100

Post by akoncius » Wed, Jan 31, 2018, 9:37 AM UTC

DrScump wrote: post #54

randomString1 wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And if you want things like "receiving updates" and "no bloatware, stock android" you have to compromise on the hardware side. Gets even worse when you add phone carriers and warranty to the mix (depending where you live). I just hope Treble will allow us to install a signed stock ROM (custom ROMs don't count in my book) on any device so all that matters is the hardware and customer support.

you have to compromise on the hardware side Or, root the phone. Rooting has it's own rusks and inconveniences, though.

yeah, it's more like a theoretical option, because rooting voids warranty, plus you have to have technical knowledge how to do it. It is difficult to imagine my dad rooting phone :)