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Post by Mathazar on Sept 23, 2010 8:04:26 GMT -7
So tell me (not a Android user but I stayed in a Holiday Inn once) what are the benefits of the launcher? I ask because what Kevin wrote and what I've seen from my brothers Android use (I being the one who has to do the tech support on the device) the launcher indeed hides a lot of functionality from the normal user since the home screen becomes the living area. The calendar it the seller. I've got the next few items on my calender available to review as soon as I unlock my phone. I honestly don't know how anyone in the corporate world could see this as a minor thing. It's huge to be able to see what's coming in my day at a glance without launching an app.
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Post by Mathazar on Sept 23, 2010 8:14:34 GMT -7
I will use android terminology in this post. Home Screen = desktop, Launcher=start menu.
For the sake of argument we'll call Marji a normal. She's smart but not a geek. We got her an incredible a few months back. I've never taught her a thing about it. The UI is intuitive enough for her to rearrange her home screen icons as she see's fit. She goes into the launcher for the apps she uses less often. I don't think she really uses the other home screens (android 2.2 has 5) like I do. But she uses all the same major functions of the device I do except the calendar. Her frustrations are usually limited to the onscreen keyboard and I think that's a pretty universal thing. It's hard to type on a tiny KB while riding in a car or walking.
So I don't think I get Remy's point. The iphone only has a launcher (android term). How would having a home screen be a burden to a normal? Keep in mind the home screen on the incredible came pre populated with a clock/weather, the address book, sms, android user tips and gmail (and maybe 2 others I don't remember exactly). And the button for the launcher has the browser and the phone on it as well.
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Post by Remy on Sept 23, 2010 8:14:48 GMT -7
The context of the article and this discussion is how to bring Android users to the Google Market to buy apps and that the launcher is a roadblock to that process. Are you saying then that the ability to see your calendar overrides the chance to sell apps?
Update: The real question is not to have a launcher or not but the UI design of the current launcher and what can be done better to lay a yellow brick road to the market.
BTW I demo'd to p00p how with the same number of finger swipes on a Android I can see my calendar on the iPhone which is 2. 1 to unlock the phone and see that I have upcoming events and 1 to drill down into said events.
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Post by Remy on Sept 23, 2010 8:22:43 GMT -7
Also to take the Marj example (Again congrats!) When she is looking for new functionality for her Incredible does she look in the launcher trying to discover what is there or does she go to the Market. It was asserted that iPhone users go straight to the App Store to find new functionality which creates a bigger market to sell apps which makes developers money.
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Post by p00p on Sept 23, 2010 9:39:34 GMT -7
Back to the article, so since IOS has the App Store in your face the whole time, more apps are bought? If i'm a user and need an app I go to the app store if it's one tap away or three, it doesn't make a difference. And I won't go to it more just because it's "right there".
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Post by p00p on Oct 4, 2010 21:36:09 GMT -7
Tomorrow marks my first week using Android full-time. .. I really dig it.
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Post by Remy on Oct 5, 2010 0:47:03 GMT -7
Picard has a good 'Data' plan HA HAH HA HAHH A ok sorry
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Post by Mathazar on Oct 5, 2010 1:01:22 GMT -7
Also to take the Marj example (Again congrats!) When she is looking for new functionality for her Incredible does she look in the launcher trying to discover what is there or does she go to the Market. It was asserted that iPhone users go straight to the App Store to find new functionality which creates a bigger market to sell apps which makes developers money. She goes to the web for reviews.
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Post by p00p on Oct 5, 2010 13:47:36 GMT -7
lol @ Remy. That made me lol irl
So are any of you guys running custom roms on your devices? I have an HD2 now and it's running some EVO roms, I'm entirely impressed. Since I'm on AT&T, I only get EDGE data speeds but I think I'm going to keep it as my main phone as the device is fast enough to make up for the slower data rate (so long as I keep the thing 10 feet away form my TV, that is -EDGE freaks out electronics).
The current build I'm on gives me an average Quandrant score of 1480 (out of 3 consecutive runs). Fresh, the rom is supposed to get 1500 i guess. -but I only ran the benchmark after installing my apps and linking all my accounts (on a slow class 2 SD card). I'm super impressed with this thing.
-just curious as to if you guys are toying around with any of the newest kernels 'n shiz.
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Post by Jackdruid on Oct 5, 2010 14:44:31 GMT -7
Being on a Droid X, I have not even tried to get a custom ROM (eFuse has raised my entry cost into that pasture enough that I've avoided it). That said, I got Froyo about 2 weeks ago and it is AWESOME.
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Post by Mathazar on Oct 5, 2010 18:40:35 GMT -7
I loaded several roms before 2.2 was officially released. I was meh about all of them until I switched my loader to clockwork (can't remember the name of the other) and loaded a rom by Adamz. I liked it alot but the gps would go haywire from time to time. About a week into using that the official 2.2 ota update came out and I unrooted and tried it and loved it, very fast and stable. I'm reading good things at Adamz latest release though, all bugs fixed and people running the moto droid OC'd at 1000 mhz stable. I think after my trip to KC I'll load that one.
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Post by Mathazar on Oct 5, 2010 18:50:52 GMT -7
The context of the article and this discussion is how to bring Android users to the Google Market to buy apps and that the launcher is a roadblock to that process. Are you saying then that the ability to see your calendar overrides the chance to sell apps? I don't think I understand the problem. Android already has everything someone would need so they don't need to go to the market? Android hides it functions from users and so they don't even try to find an "app for that"? You say the launcher hides functionality from the user and at the same time hinders them from searching for new apps. These idea's seem contradictory to me.
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Post by Jackdruid on Oct 5, 2010 21:10:17 GMT -7
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Post by Jackdruid on Oct 5, 2010 21:10:46 GMT -7
Picard has a good 'Data' plan HA HAH HA HAHH A ok sorry It's OK. That was funny.
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Post by Jackdruid on Oct 5, 2010 21:16:09 GMT -7
lol @ Remy. That made me lol irl So are any of you guys running custom roms on your devices? I have an HD2 now and it's running some EVO roms, I'm entirely impressed. Since I'm on AT&T, I only get EDGE data speeds but I think I'm going to keep it as my main phone as the device is fast enough to make up for the slower data rate (so long as I keep the thing 10 feet away form my TV, that is -EDGE freaks out electronics). The current build I'm on gives me an average Quandrant score of 1480 (out of 3 consecutive runs). Fresh, the rom is supposed to get 1500 i guess. -but I only ran the benchmark after installing my apps and linking all my accounts (on a slow class 2 SD card). I'm super impressed with this thing. -just curious as to if you guys are toying around with any of the newest kernels 'n shiz. That HD2 is a gorgeous phone, glad to hear you got Android on it (I considered getting the HD2 for a short while). As you have been a longtime Windows Mobile guy, I'd love to hear what impresses you about your Android ROM (mostly sounds like speed - anything else specific that you like?) Also, I imagine you will fiddle with WP7, but do you anticipate going full-bore back to Windows on your phone down the road?
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