For a while now I've been really enjoying my Android Galaxy Nexus and my Nexus 7 tablet. I wish Verizon would release the updates to the Galaxy Nexus sooner, but it does get updates in a more timely manner than most other Android phones. So I was really wondering what the hullabaloo was about in folks talking about fragmentation of the Android platform.
Until today.
One of my brothers and his wife came by for me to help them finally move from a feature phone to a smartphone since his work would now pay for them. Someone at work had convinced them Android was the way to go. No problem. So I showed off a bit with my phone and tablet - both running Jelly Bean - and we set out for the Verizon store. (His account was already there, it was the path he wanted to take).
The CSR was very helpful, probably the most helpful I've ever run across in such a store. But my brother & sister-in-law eventually chose the HTC Incredible 4G for themselves. It is running Ice Cream Sandwich, and uses the HTC Sense UI 'skin' for the phone. I let the CSR help them set it up and outside of the store I started to try give some tutorials.
Wow, I had no idea. Since I've been running stock Android with the G Nexus and Nexus 7, I didn't know how much a UI 'skin' could change the whole experience. Also I can't believe how much I've come to depend on some of the Jelly Bean features. It was almost like an unrecognizable phone to me. This isn't just hyperbole. I was having trouble getting around on their brand new phones. They also wanted to see some of the cool things I had demoed to them earlier, but alas those things were mostly Jelly Bean features.
Yes they have Android phones, but those phones work quite differently than mine. The fragmentation is real between the older ICS software, and the Sense UI. I also checked online to see what rumors exist about the Incredible 4G getting Jelly Bean. Of course it is all rumors. HTC won't come right out and say, and who knows how long Verizon will have to test it before releasing it, if ever. So I know my brother will be using the older software and strange UI. Yes I know about custom ROMs, but I just won't take that chance with my brother's phone. If all else fails, I can tell him to call Verizon. He's also bigger, stronger, and younger than me.
I had previously made a decision when my contract is up with Verizon to go with the Nexus 4 (or whatever exists then) from the Google Play store, and run a pure stock experience. I'm also going to recommend that to anyone else I help find a phone. The problem is that now I'm going to be looked at for user support from my brother (who lives over 100 miles away) and I'll have no idea what his phone is doing or how it looks when he calls me for help.
Let's not even talk about one of my sisters who is using some phone still running FroYo on the Cricket network and service.
I'm going with a pure Google experience in the future, but for those who don't, and stick with the special UI's from the phone manufacturers, I feel your pain.
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