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< Esato Forum Index > Sony Ericsson / Sony > Android > Would you like SE to offer its users vanilla Android? Bookmark topic

Everyone knows a perceived weakness among clued in smartphone consumers is the fragmentation of the Android OS across different manufacturers.

As dedicated SE users, we all know how frustrating it is to know that there is a new Android release but we can't officially update our handsets because we must wait for SE to bring the release, for all the reasons we understand in relation to SE customisation as well as preserving our warranty cover etc.

And the market in general seems to think that SE doesn't offer sufficient differentiation from its competitors to make it a leading smartphone player - as SE's market share proves.

I have wanted SE to offer consumers the option of vanilla Android for a long time now - by all means, if they think that Timescape etc is something worth keeping, offer it as a default launcher, a boot option, whatever. But if SE wish to offer consumers up to the minute Android capability, to differentiate the SE user experience, to limit the amount of time their consumers spend wrestling with buggy, slow, battery draining rubbish (yes, I am looking at you Android 2.3.3) and killing their brand loyalty, or even to reduce their cost base by having less customisation development time on Timescape etc, then surely they should consider allowing all SE Android users the option of running their Arc, Ray, Neo, X8, etc etc etc on vanilla Android.

I would be 100% in favour of that option - I would take it right now. What do you think?

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Posted: 2011-10-01 14:51:37
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is probably the fastest company right now on Android updates, so no I think it's good as it is.
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Posted: 2011-10-01 14:59:04
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I have no issues personally but it's always nice to have the choice and of course updates will come out quicker.

I quite like music player and other tweaks such as the contact list etc.
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Posted: 2011-10-01 15:01:48
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I hear that but it's still a substantial period to wait after the official release.



That's what I see - choose vanilla or SE 'launcher'. It would be very interesting to see the usage statistics in that scenario.

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Posted: 2011-10-01 15:05:46
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I like what they did by dropping Mediascape and sticking with Timescape. I actually think their UI is now more polished and it will get better from here onwards. So, no, I wouldn't like them to offer vanilla Android.

Your suggestion to give the users the option of whether they want to boot up with Timescape or not is something that has been discussed before and it is not a bad idea at all.
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Posted: 2011-10-01 17:38:19
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None of us can know too much but how portable would Timescape be as an app I wonder? Could SEMC offer Timescape, or integrated phonebook or Facebook Inside etc be offered as apps? Could the whole SE UX not be wrapped up in to a launcher for users who like it to use it.

The main point remains for me, it is intensely frustrating to have to wait months for new Android release functionality and bugs like we see in SE's 2.3.3's release are unacceptable (and unneccessary if we can run vanilla android).

Gimme the pure stuff man!


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Posted: 2011-10-01 20:41:42
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Was the 2.3.3 update really that buggy? The onliest serious bug I know was the reduced battery life.
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Posted: 2011-10-01 21:51:58
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Aw mate, my Arc is an embarrassment. I would be afraid to let one of my Apple fan boy mates to play with it cos it is so laggy. Lots of force closes too. And the battery life is indeed catastrophic - I really don't mean to exaggerate but I am getting a half day with moderate usage (I think it's fair to regard FM radio/Spotify (local, not streaming) playing, gmailing and internet usage on the way to work as moderate). The idea of using a Bluetooth Headset with it on top of all that almost makes me laugh.

(As far as I remember, the previous release was very well performing, up until the week or two before I updated.)
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Posted: 2011-10-01 21:59:28
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Wouldnt it just be sensible for the people like us here on sites like this to have the option, even if its not obvious to the joe average user ?

For example, when ICS is released, could SE not simply add a little section to their website to download and install ICS for you, but not put it on new phones through the retail channels. Then, everyone is happy. Joe average gets the Android with all of SE's bells and whistles, SE's phones are differentiated from their rivals Android handsets because they have Timescape etc preinstalled, then the phone pros are kept happy also with their up to date more customisable software.

Oh and then make SE's software downloadable from the same site ?

edit: dont HTC allow their users to launch standard Android now ?

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Posted: 2011-10-01 22:41:03
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@etaab, I totally agree with you. The average consumer doesn't even update apps or firmware when the notification pops up....

AFAIK, is working with outside devs to offer an easy (albeit unofficial =ie: warranty void) rooting and mod path for those that want to use vanilla Android. The purpose of this it to offer the option for more advanced users, while still maintaining legal liability. In all honesty, I agree. I like that they're trying to make it easier for more advanced users to modify their hardware, without assuming the liabilities of the users actions. Kinda like waiving your right. This will allow much faster SW dev, while lowering costs of without having to figure out ways to lock their platform down the way Apple does.


**On that note, I think 4-corner UI found on the Xperia Mini and Mini Pro are quite unique, and I wish they would offer these as alternate launchers for their bigger brothers**

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Posted: 2011-10-02 02:48:10
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