ThatObviousUser
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IRC sucks.
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Android to be the windows of mobiles?
- Thread starter markot
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How many concurrent people use Skype, MSN, Gtalk, SMS messaging? Tens of millions each?
x > y ⇒ x is relevant ⇒ y is irrelevant
That's true when x/y is quite large. In the 2012 general election, Obama and Romney were relevant, Jill Stein was not.
Similarly MSN/Skype/Gtalk/SMS are relevant, IRC is not.
The Faceless Master
Member
IRC was around long before all of them, and will be around long after MSN, as MS is closing out MSN in favor of Skype. Remember ICQ? PowWow? Hotline?
the only thing that's relevant is that to properly use IRC on iOS, you need a jailbroken iDevice.
The Faceless Master
Member
people keep bringing it up. sounds like they care. sounds like it eats at them daily. they wish they could idle on IRC from their mobile handset.
I think the whole "IRC" thing can symbolize the niche market Android cater to.
Basically most Android user has one or two really niche app that's only available on Andoird (and Windows x86). So the more you use it, the harder it is to switch to a weaker econsystem.
It took me forever to give up PalmOS becuase it had a couple "scratch an itch" type of apps that can scratch my itches real good. For my entire ownership of iPhone 1 and Motorola Droid, I was using my Treo as the primary phone and the other thing as the secondary phone.
Things like Tasker, Titanium Backup, offline map apps will never available on other more "controlled" econsystems.
Basically most Android user has one or two really niche app that's only available on Andoird (and Windows x86). So the more you use it, the harder it is to switch to a weaker econsystem.
It took me forever to give up PalmOS becuase it had a couple "scratch an itch" type of apps that can scratch my itches real good. For my entire ownership of iPhone 1 and Motorola Droid, I was using my Treo as the primary phone and the other thing as the secondary phone.
Things like Tasker, Titanium Backup, offline map apps will never available on other more "controlled" econsystems.
People used to farm using plows pulled by oxen "long before" tractors and harvesters were invented. Some people still fam manually. Doesn't mean it's a good way to do it or better, or relevant.
And lol no, I have not used IRC since around 2000/2001 and I never will for the rest of my life. And in this regard, I do not represent the tiny minority, you do. I have the graphs and stats to prove it as well.
Android can keep the IRC geeks, I feel better that my ecosystem doesn't cater to their ilk.
You Are Viewtiful
Member
This isn't even the first time lol
Naked Snake
Member
This is why I'm rooting for Android. I always loved Google products, and having them all integrated in such a beautiful way in the palm of your hand is bless.
The Faceless Master
Member
there's an app for that
So much this.
This is one of my biggest gripes with the iOS. I can't even arrange the icons in the place I want to.
I dont know that niche is something we can label the Android market to anymore. Its absolutely massive worldwide. In fact 'sheep' might be a better fit for an OS which such high penetration as opposed to iOS ironically.
sleeping_dragon
Banned
No need to be agitated tino. It's a fact that Android's marketshare mainly comes from the distribution of the OEMs and the wide range of devices it can cover.
The average person don't go and actively seek Android because of they know what Android stands for. They look to buy a phone and people tend to recommend Android phones by manufacturer brands rather than it's running Android. It happens more often like "here, buy this Samsung phone, and it runs Android", rather than "buy Android, here's a list of phones you can choose from".
How do you convince the average person to buy a phone just solely on the reason it runs Android compared to other smartphones anyway? Maybe because it has 700k apps? It has all the great Google services? Or everyone else is buying it then it must be great?
DietRob
i've been begging for over 5 years.
Android is an ever improving beast of a OS.
Jelly Bean 4.1.2 on a Galaxy 3 is the absolute best phone experience on the market, for now. Just as soon as a 4.2 ROM is available I'll immediately upgrade and its even better.
Android evolves and improves at a faster rate than the competition. For that reason it will be the majority leader on mobile. Especially if Goog presses forward with their mobile plans.
#supernexus
Jelly Bean 4.1.2 on a Galaxy 3 is the absolute best phone experience on the market, for now. Just as soon as a 4.2 ROM is available I'll immediately upgrade and its even better.
Android evolves and improves at a faster rate than the competition. For that reason it will be the majority leader on mobile. Especially if Goog presses forward with their mobile plans.
#supernexus
You're so young, Andrex!
My primary means of communication with my friends is IRC, and has been for over 15 years. I don't know why it matters whether it's popular or not, though - people still use it, so people want to be able to use it on their mobile devices too.
What do you mean mainly comes from distribution of OEMs? There are no 1st party OEMS for android. ALL of the device sales come from OHA members. Every single official Android device sold, with no exceptions.... Thats the point of the OS.... Trying to zing them for it is like laughing at the windows desktop OS for having its massive OS marketshare by running on 3rd party Intel/AMD CPU's and various video cards and whatnot.
I feel for the people not in the GAF IRC when megatons are dropped or something important happens. I lol'd during the elections when Ohio got called. Whole channel erupted.
I wasn't trying to argue about the term of OEMs. Whatever you call them, Android has a lot of manufacturers making phones for them and that's part of the reason that they have a large marketshare. It's not a downside or weakness at all. I'm not taking a zing but just stating what it is, no?
I assumed you were taking a shot considering Samsungs entire line of phones worldwide makes up like 40% of Android leaving another massive, and majority 60% of Android phones being sold by other manufacturers. That sort of takes:
To task... A better way to put it is that people see these devices as Smartphones and iPhones more than likely. Almost the way people referred to PC's and Macs.
Well replace Samsung with X manufacturer.
In fact, considering the thread title, I guess this is one thing that Android resembles Windows most. People don't really love Windows as much as it's just the standard OS that runs software that covers most of the needs from the common tasks to the niche things like running IRC. I'd say Android is still very bland, but Windows traditionally has been quite bland too. Samsung just happens to be the most popular hardware manufacturer right now but I wouldn't bet on them staying there that long. But even if Samsung becomes less popular, it wouldn't dent Android much.
In fact, considering the thread title, I guess this is one thing that Android resembles Windows most. People don't really love Windows as much as it's just the standard OS that runs software that covers most of the needs from the common tasks to the niche things like running IRC. I'd say Android is still very bland, but Windows traditionally has been quite bland too. Samsung just happens to be the most popular hardware manufacturer right now but I wouldn't bet on them staying there that long. But even if Samsung becomes less popular, it wouldn't dent Android much.
This comment shows that you are only familiar with the US phone market and don't know anything about the oversea markets.
I really don't spend time convince people to use Android. I am going to get an iPhone 5 for my wife to replace her aging iPhone 3GS.
I am getting a tablet for my dad. I rather get him a iPad 2, but I can't stand the min $320-350 price. I am getting him a $150 tablet instead (just use as a smart photo frame).
You see, when people actually make purchase decision, the most important factor usually is price.
BertramCooper
Banned
If Android is "bland," what does that make iOS? Decrepit? Senile?
The Faceless Master
Member
vs
No Swiftkeyonappstore.jpg
haha that reminds me... Swype, one of the most popular Android apps, isn't even on Google Play!
Yeah, why is that? Seems they're not providing it because it's a Beta. I gather it's to prevent bad reviews from collecting over bugs that will eventually be fixed. They say it's perceptually Beta, though.
It's a beta? It was preinstalled on my dad's Samsung Galaxy Mini.
Android and Windows are only as bland as you let them be.
But haven't you heard, widgets, themes and different roms ("utility apps") are "for people who have too much time to customize their phones" :lol
I don't understand how can you call a system, that you can customize to hell and back, "bland". Every rom I had installed on my phone, every launcher, had some unique and very good (both visually and usability wise) features. Add some widgets, choose a keyboard that suits your need and you have non-bland phone.
It used to be available, but sometime ago they were bought out (if I recall correctly). I remember people sharing apks on xda trying to get back the app because some devices had the original version preinstalled. They lost it after flashing a new ROM of course, but people still wanted to keep it.
Agreed.
I personally think Windows on mobiles is bland. Not sure why but the tiling on windows 8 pc tablet and phones does nothing for me!
Bland out of the box obviously, but we're not just talking about the home screen. Lacking any cohesive design language as a whole throughout the ecosystem. Apps within the Android ecosystem also typically lack cohesion. iOS is more bland because it feels outdated now, but when it came out it was quite appealing and the apps still feel like they belong on iOS. Android never had a strong design since the beginning and Roboto doesn't really permeate into apps to showcase strong design other than Google Now which looks great.
Metro can't be bland, the most it can be is divisive for better or worse.
Metro can't be bland, the most it can be is divisive for better or worse.
Why don't they sell it?
If you're using a phone as it came in the box you're doing it wrong.
I see, what exactly is your point?
The amount of people who bother to customize Windows to make it look fantastic to prove a point are probably the same amount of people using Android who bother to do that. Even so, all that illusion is broken once you go inside another app.
RoadHazard
Gold Member
http://developer.android.com/design/index.html
Not Google's fault that lazy developers port their iOS apps straight over to Android, with gradients and glossy buttons intact, instead of making them look like they belong on an Android phone.
I think you mean Holo. Roboto is just a font.
Right, Holo.
You can't put all the fault with developers because Android in the beginning never had strong design guidelines. Once the ecosystem doesn't have that design cohesiveness in place, it's much harder to enforce it as Holo only came later. The other question is whether there is a strong incentive to follow or redesign to Holo and I don't believe there is. Even the current apps that actually try to follow Holo guidelines doesn't feel that cohesive either. Are there any particular third party apps that you think is really well designed around the Holo guidelines?
You can't put all the fault with developers because Android in the beginning never had strong design guidelines. Once the ecosystem doesn't have that design cohesiveness in place, it's much harder to enforce it as Holo only came later. The other question is whether there is a strong incentive to follow or redesign to Holo and I don't believe there is. Even the current apps that actually try to follow Holo guidelines doesn't feel that cohesive either. Are there any particular third party apps that you think is really well designed around the Holo guidelines?
RoadHazard
Gold Member
You're right that Android lacked strong design guidelines before 4.0, and that is of couse part of the problem. But really, redesigning an app to look Holo isn't very difficult at all, since you get most of it for free by just using standard layout components.
A few third party Holo favorites of mine are Tasks and Timer.
The Holo Everywhere blog has other nice examples.
Tasks, Tweet Lanes, TED, Pocket and The Verge are some of my favourite apps which follow the design guidelines.
Songkick is Holo'd, and I actually like it better on Android than on iOS.
I like Holo a lot because it has a relatively simple, but smooth and clean look that mirrors the direction Android is moving in aesthetically since ICS, and I feel like usability/navigation is high in Holo'd apps. I actually think my favorite thing about Holo in general is the swiping left/right to move between tabs. As far as in-app navigation goes, swiping around just feels "right." It's absence is one of the things that frustrates me with iOS apps when I use them.
The Faceless Master
Member
they do OEM deals and offer it directly from their website. and no, it's not perpetually in beta, but they do usually make announcements to news blogs when they have new beta versions available for people to test...
Any particular? Dude there are a shitload of Holo apps.
I wonder how thats working out for them. Seems a little ambitious.
Define shitload.
The Faceless Master
Member
they're on MILLIONS of OEM devices a year. tons of devices come with Swype baked in.
Ummm helloo..iOS has had offline map apps for years.
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