Also, I haven't had one issue with software updates on my Nexus 5 (which indeed comes bloatware free). If I recall correctly, wasn't the iOS7 update a shit show?
- Android has an open source version (that is, a version that is completely open source). Like you mentioned, this gives carriers and OEMs the freedom to do what they want, even fork and bloat.
- Android has a mixed license version, where you get the full experience of the Google Play store, Gmail, and so forth. Google has a lot more control over who it allows to use this version, since many of the components are not free software.
I have the choice to buy a phone without bloatware and I did. I don't know why others don't do the same and then blame the OS maker for allowing their open software to be open.
These policies also allow for cheaper phones to get into the hands of the less affluent. Not everyone can afford the new iPhone, and they would rather have a phone with a bit more bloatware if it cuts the cost of the phone down to something they can reasonably afford. I would consider that a noble endeavor on the part of Google. Instead of saying, "FUCK YOU CARRIERS/OEMS, YOU DO AS WE SAY!", it offered them a means of providing cheaper phones without decimating their bottom line. They can choose to strip out all the bloat and price it high or they can bloat it up and price it low, making up the cost from the recurring fees/ad rev those apps can generate.
The thing is, I have a choice as to what experience I want.
There is Android, which is a complete open source operating system tailored for touchscreen devices. It is completely open source and in principle has no dependencies on any piece of propietary software to function. Android is not usually distributed with just its open source components, however.
There is Google Play Services. This a propietary set of applications and system services that interact with Google's cloud services. Since Google's cloud services are popular - most significantly the Google Play Store for Android apps - these services almost always come bundled with devices on the market. Android and Google Play Services together are also often called "Android" (even by Google itself) which is the cause of the confusion. There is a clear difference between the two, however.
Then there are further customizations in themeing, user interface components and applications made by vendors and carriers.
The problem of bloatware is that Google has only felt responsibility for Google Play Services; the other software on the system, including Android, was the responsibility of the carriers and the vendors. Android is developed by Google as an open source and popular foundation from which to provide its services - either from Android's web capabilities or from its bundled applications.
No, you don't recall correctly. iOS has had the ability to update via iTunes since it's very first release in 2007. iOS users have been able to update their devices regularly to the latest and the greatest without problems for many years, while on Android it's the exception rather than the rule.
This includes iOS 7, which like previous and later releases works across a variety of new and older devices.
The only thing controversial about iOS 7 was the UI was "flatter" and more colorful which some people didm't like.
I would say that an update can't get worse but at least I liked IOS7 when I got to use it so I wasn't too phased. What actually makes me much more miserable is when software updates introduce new bugs, remove features and slow the device down and I can't do anything about it.
Also, the "update shit show" reference was toward the software that was updated, not the update process itself, regardless of the hardware/software needed to pull it off.
Source for the downvoters: http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/10/17/apple-ios-7-pr...
Not sure what you're referring to. I'm happily using iOS7 on a iPhone 4 (a 4 year old phone) to this day.
Bloatware has some good it brings, this good just doesn't have an affect on me.
Similar to taxes, I pay a ton of them and don't really get anything back aside from so-so roads. Where someone who is in a bit worse spot sees a lot of benefits from those taxes. It's something I accept as necessary, but I still do everything I can to keep them as low as possible.
But I don't go around blaming the Federal gov't because California taxes me higher than Washington would. Instead of proposing the feds restrict what can and can't be taxed, I could just move to Washington. The choice is mine! FREEDOM FTW! ;P
