Pure android versus heavily skinned android running on a S5 or HTC One2?

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dafman

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#139501 11-Feb-2014 13:27

Well, my brief love affair with my Nexus 5 has come to an end. My N5, complete with its shattered screen, goes to my insurance company. I get a cheque.

What I loved about my N5:
- Kit Kat/pure android
- Its large hi-res screen
- Kit Kat/pure android
- It was blindingly fast
- Kit Kat/pure android
- Wireless charging (I never want to go back to plugging in cords)
- Did I mention Kit Kat/pure android?
- 4G is great (though, like others, by battery life seemed to suffer more … but cannot be sure if 4G directly responsible)

What I wasn’t so keen about my N5:
- It was fragile. Screen shattered with gentle drop. My old Galaxy S2 is a Sherman tank in comparison
- Battery life should have been better
- Non AMOLED screen. I realise how much I love an AMOLED screen now I am back (temporarily) with the S2

Not sure if I will replace with another N5 – given we are so close to MWC, I think I will wait until the Galaxy S5 and HTC One2 get announced in a couple of weeks.

I expect the S5 and HTC One2 will be nicer kit to look at and hold – the question is: Can I go back to a heavily skinned product after the sheer joy of experiencing pure android?

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#984079 11-Feb-2014 13:33

IMO:

Definitely wait and see what comes out. maybe the answer is another Nexus 5, but I suspect the new S5 in particular will be exceptional.

Are you happy with the size? Because if you are after something bigger the Note 3 is available now and a fantastic device.

Also, if you are so keen on a stock android version, you could look at rooting and flashing a custom ROM. Not for everyone, I know, but might this work for you?

MikeB4

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#984091 11-Feb-2014 13:37

If you liked the OS on the Nexus you will hate the OS on the Samsung. They have gone overboard with their version and ruined it. One of the reasons I dropped Samsung (S3).

nzkc

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#984101 11-Feb-2014 13:48

KiwiNZ: If you liked the OS on the Nexus you will hate the OS on the Samsung. They have gone overboard with their version and ruined it. One of the reasons I dropped Samsung (S3).

+1 to this. Currently running a S3, hate the Samsung junk so installed CyanogenMod. Perhaps this is an option: Device with custom firmware.

dafman

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#984104 11-Feb-2014 13:51

Paulthagerous: IMO:

Are you happy with the size? Because if you are after something bigger the Note 3 is available now and a fantastic device.

The size of the N5 is about my max. And what's with the faux leather back on the Note 3?! If it turns up on the S5, that's definitely out for me.

Coil

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#984106 11-Feb-2014 13:53

I cant stand my bloated slowed down S4, I want pure android.

S-This, S-That, S-more, S-Stuff i dont use. S-low down my phone.

Paulthagerous

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#984110 11-Feb-2014 13:55

dafman:
Paulthagerous: IMO:

Are you happy with the size? Because if you are after something bigger the Note 3 is available now and a fantastic device.

The size of the N5 is about my max. And what's with the faux leather back on the Note 3?! If it turns up on the S5, that's definitely out for me.

Fair enough about the size, now we can discount that from future suggestions :)

You don't like the faux leather? Most people seem to really like it, it feels quite nice in the hand and often people don't believe me when I tell them it isn't real. You don't put your phone in a case?

Would be good if they announced a Google Play Edition of the S5/One2 right away, would sell quite well I suspect.

aim

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#984155 11-Feb-2014 14:47

I was NEVER a fan of touchqiz and Samsung bloat. I've just bought an N5 and am loving it :)

Sharesies kids

Free kids accounts - trade shares and funds (NZ, US) with Sharesies (affiliate link).

Dairyxox

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#984175 11-Feb-2014 15:03

Funnily enough I quite like Samsungs version of android. Don't know about all the s-features bloatware, but some of the small customisations they have make it seem much more complete than stock android.

I know you can fix these niggles with apps, hacks, & customisations, but I don't want to have to do that stuff with a phone (why I like apple, when I'm done 'fixing' computers all week, I don't want to have to come home & fix my phone, I want it to just work.)

Coil

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#984178 11-Feb-2014 15:08

Dairyxox:
I know you can fix these niggles with apps, hacks, & customisations, but I don't want to have to do that stuff with a phone (why I like apple, when I'm done 'fixing' computers all week, I don't want to have to come home & fix my phone, I want it to just work.)

I dont mind apple devices, I dislike their OS for Mac. But much thought currently from myself into do i swap to a Macbook pro. My PC is starting to make me mad, Nvidia and Intel setup. Nvidia drivers constantly cause blue screens. (660Ti, superclocked)
Ask hio77 he will tell you about how often i blue screen each night for no apparent reason.

Dairyxox

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#984192 11-Feb-2014 15:27

Getting off topic now, but if you don't like OS X then you can put Windows or something else on. I'm not sure its worth it then, but it can be done. OS X is pretty neat anyway, especially if you like Nix roots.

tanivula

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#984204 11-Feb-2014 15:36

Google Play edition?? Seems there are more and more of these being released.
Alternatively buy the normal one (easier to source in NZ) and then install the GPe version as a custom ROM.

There can be some drawbacks.... In my experience with the S4, the normal one has a different partition layout than the GPe to allow the system area to incorporate all the S apps and additional tweaks. With the S4 this isn't a huge deal as there's a microSD slot but good to know?

For comparision, the last custom TW ROM I downloaded (with all the 'S-apps') was ~ 1.4gig.... the last GPe ROM I installed was a 350mb or so download.

Advantages of GPe vs something like CyanogenMOD or other AOSP is there are 'more' official support. Again back to the S4 and the camera... in terms of image quality TW ROMs > GPe > AOSP

bradstewart

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#984232 11-Feb-2014 16:01

I'm looking forward to the new HTC One. Sense is actually really nice for an OEM skin and doesn't suffer any of the bloat or lag that Touchwiz does.

My current one has been converted to a GPe, wouldn't go back to anything else now. Even CM isn't an option as the GPe has better camera and also Beats.

Samsung and Google recently reached an agreement for Samsung to stop heavily customising Android so expect future versions to be much closer to the aosp look. Maybe with the S5.

But I'll be first in line for the new One with its dual sensor camera.

dafman

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#984284 11-Feb-2014 16:51

You don't like the faux leather? Most people seem to really like it, it feels quite nice in the hand and often people don't believe me when I tell them it isn't real. You don't put your phone in a case?.

Even if it was real leather, I just don't like the look of the phone. With the leather back paired up with the silver rim that runs around the outside, it's looks like it has landed from the 70's. And plastic leather just doesn't scream quality product ... anyway I look at it. Personal taste I guess, I know a lot of people really like the look.

ashnizzle

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#984624 11-Feb-2014 22:38

i just hope that Google this year has a NZ device store available. fingers crossed here

nzgeek

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#984683 12-Feb-2014 01:57

Just my $0.02... I'd definitely recommend looking at an S4 with either the Google Edition firmware or a custom ROM installed. I'd probably say Google Edition as it's closest to what was on the Nexus.

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