Zuckerberg: Android's Openness Offers Opportunity for 'Way Better' Experience Than iPhone
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I think that's why Google decided to start its own line. The Nexus line use 'stock' android and are very decent devices. I've been using a Nexus 7 for the last few days and the OS is way cleaner and nicer than that of the 3rd party Android handsets and tablets I've used in the past.
The end game is that Android will still be OpenSource, but Google/Motorola devices will probably be the only ones with 'Real Android'. Others will use custom launchers and tweaks, but keep app compatibility. Jelly Bean is a completely different beast to old android versions, and the fragmentation now really only affects the UI for the most part.
BaronMunchause
macrumors newbie
2nd this. This type of argument is one that always ignores the simple fact that Android is an just an open source OS. Amazon, Samsung, HTC, etc. all tailor Android in the way they want and in cases such as Amazon, remove the reliance of Google. There are many other versions of Android floating around Asia that are so far removed from what we are used to, that we would not recognise them.
The user experience usually comes down to the manufacturer, rather than the OS itself.
That said, I still have issues regarding the lack of regulation on the Play store. But that is just my person opinion.
JGIGS
macrumors 68000
Wouldn't the end user decide if they want this on there android device or not?
I sure hope so.
Karma*Police
macrumors 68030
What's an Android experience? Judging by all the skins and forked versions, every company, including Facebook, seems to have a different take on what a good Android experience is, or should be.
macUser2007
macrumors 68000
Nope. Relativism gets you only so far before you hit the wall of reality.
There is no argument that Android is more capable: it provides much more robust user customization, it has true multi-tasking and 4.2.2 is overall a more advanced OS than iOS.
In a couple of months, Google will be unveiling OS 5, which is likely to tighten the UI and make the gap with iOS even wider.
I use both daily, and I really do love Apple products. But these are the facts.
Again, it is irrelevant that you or I do not like the FaceBook launcher (because that's all it really is). You can install it and use it, or not. If you are on Android, it's your choice. If you are on iOS, you don't have a choice and you can't have it. Period.
What matters is that many others will like it and want to use it, and it will sway a lot of users when they are choosing a new phone.
Apple needs to improve and fast, if it wants to stay relevant.
radiohead14
macrumors 6502a
10 band eq and virtualizer effects???
never touch the stuff, but then again, I have quality encodes and good audio reproduction equipment so I don't want that kind of junk getting between my ears and the artist's original intent, hoping to make it "sound better" with a big smiley-face eq curve but to each his own.
oh aren't you just better than me then.
i also have good audio equipment, but you are also listening to digital audio, and no matter how good your encodes are.. you still need a bit of tweaks here and there. plus i was responding to a poster who mentioned he was looking for something better than the iPod for music listening.. not audiophile gear.. you just like to come in here and be pretentious without reading the context.
aerok
macrumors 65816
For a lot of people, more advanced is not always better. Don't get me wrong, at this moment, I prefer Jellybean over iOS6 but I also know a lot of people prefer iOS6 for the right reasons. In my opinion, there is no best OS for everyone.
BaronMunchause
macrumors newbie
Fragmentation will always be Androids biggest issue. Phone manufactures tend to ignore their devices after a year and the user has the experience of being left behind. Microsoft tried to find some middle ground by setting minimum spec requirements and by not allowing manufacturers to build-in their own software, such as Sense UI on Android.
The Nexus 7 is a wonderful device and hopefully Google can push their products to the front of the Android market, allowing users to benefits from the latest OS builds like Apple do.
Opportunity?
Zuckerberg's statement is not surprising.
When he says Android's openness offers opportunity for "way better" experience than iPhone, this is wishful thinking on his part. "Way better" is a relative term. Android is not a way better experience today, and it won't be tomorrow either. Facebook may build a phone using Android, but that's far from actually delivering a way better experience.
It might be better on a Facebook phone, but we'll see how well Zuckerberg and friends can do. So he has a problem with the iPhone, because he doesn't control it. Gee, what a surprise.
Facebook isn't exactly the gold standard for user experience. Far from it.
Zuckerberg's statement is not surprising.
When he says Android's openness offers opportunity for "way better" experience than iPhone, this is wishful thinking on his part. "Way better" is a relative term. Android is not a way better experience today, and it won't be tomorrow either. Facebook may build a phone using Android, but that's far from actually delivering a way better experience.
It might be better on a Facebook phone, but we'll see how well Zuckerberg and friends can do. So he has a problem with the iPhone, because he doesn't control it. Gee, what a surprise.
Facebook isn't exactly the gold standard for user experience. Far from it.
SockRolid
macrumors 68000
And it's not like HTC is going to be in the smartphone business for much longer.
Comscore reports that HTC's smartphone market share dropped from 11% to 9.3% from November '12 to February '13.
http://www.comscore.com/Insights/Press_Releases/2013/4/comScore_Reports_February_2013_U.S._Smartphone_Subscriber_Market_Share
coolspot18
macrumors 65816
In some respects it is - better keyboard, better input/output options. But stability wise, I have to say iOS is better.
Sure, and I'd like to see Kim Jong-Un address his generals in a frilly dress and hat, but neither of those things are going to happen, Zuckerberg.
I'm intrigued by the people working at Facebook. They're so removed from their ethical compass that they think it points 180 degrees from the cesspool they help build.
That's true. But what Zuckerberg means to say is: "We don't have to build our own OS this way. It's nice having a solid OS that's given out for free that we can use instead that a lot of people use."
In terms of usage of this thing, it's going to be a hog. Back ground processes galore. Facebook already rinses the battery through location services and that's just on an app! No way this'll be a good experience on old old Android phones.
That said, I do love some of what they've done with the UI. Message pop over especially.
4TheLoveOfTech
macrumors 6502
I believe that is the point of Android and Google. I have a Nexus 7 and so does my buddies. They are set up completely different and I have what I like on my home screen and apps and so does he.
Just because it's a completely different user experience for everyone (if they want it to be) does not mean it's a bad thing.
How often do you pick up another persons phone or tablet to use it?
If you want to lend your device to another person then just give them another log in to have their own experience without even seeing what you have on your phone or tablet.
That's the point. It's the matter of having a choice.
somethingelsefl
macrumors 6502
Zuckerberg should put his money where his mouth and stop using his iPhone and his Mac. He should dogfood his own product if he believes in them so much.
(Also, how funny is it that my iPhone autocorrected "Zuckerberg" to "sucker berg"?)
(Also, how funny is it that my iPhone autocorrected "Zuckerberg" to "sucker berg"?)
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So, I have a choice between:
Consider the scales tipped [/s]
- A beautiful, functional iPhone that has access to the full Facebook experience
- An ugly, semi-functional Android device that has access to the full Facebook experience plus a laggy Facebook-esque home screen glued on top of it
Consider the scales tipped [/s]
Plutonius
macrumors G3
But the point is without google apps (mail, etc), even the Kindle is a brick. Android requires Google to get anything out of it. It is not open since you need Google.
chumpy34
macrumors 6502
I have a FB page for my business and that's it. I use it when I need to promote but do so through my desktop Mac. I have never used the FB app on my iPhone/iPad and don't plan to. Last thing I want is a phone dedicated or tweaked to FB. I know others will love this, but when Mark makes it sounds like this is the wave of the future, I disagree and I am proof it's not for everyone...
4TheLoveOfTech
macrumors 6502
Your Nexus 7 is made by ASUS and that is a pure Google OS. The Nexus 10 is made my Samsung and is a pure OS. This may change in the future but for now it's just not right.
What you've written doesn't really stand.
Multi-tasking is only as good as the user. I'd argue that many people who say they multi-task are in fact doing multiple different tasks at different times. It doesn't mean what people think it means. I've never come across anything I needed iOS to be doing in the background, so again it's personal preference. iOS isn't less capable in user experience in this regard. It's less capable on a specs sheet but that's a different matter.
Customization isn't proof that it's a more capable operating system either. It's Apples preference to not allow that. Jailbreaking shows that it's more than capable.
When Google unveil OS 5, Apple will have unveiled iOS 7 (which according to reports in the last few days is a hugely different beast), so talking about narrowing the gap when we literally haven't seen either is pure conjecture.
tl;dr: Spec sheet superiority does not equal user experience superiority. That's completely subjective.
SockRolid
macrumors 68000
The end game is that Android will be sheared of its UI entirely and used only as a collection of APIs. Samsung's fork of Android will feature Samsung's own GUI, its own profit layer, and will not natively connect to Google Play or any other Google service. It will become the de facto Android standard due to Samsung's sheer market share, and the "Galaxy" brand will replace both "Google" and "Android."
And if, for some reason, Samsung decides that Android won't fit into their future plans (due to continuing patent-violation lawsuits around the world), there's always Tizen. Samsung will release Tizen-based devices later this year. They could even swap out the remaining Android API and kernel from "Galaxy OS," or whatever they call their Android fork, and replace it with Tizen under the covers. Same GUI that Samsung's customers are used to. Different OS under the GUI layer.
4TheLoveOfTech
macrumors 6502
Just stay with your iPhone. It's easier that way.
Kindle is not a Brick. It's not my choice of Tablets but many people love it as sales will point out. Do they make money on it? I don't know but it is not a brick.
