I'll bite. HTC Magic devices with Google Experience are branded as such. If your phone says "with Google" on it, then you should have had those applications preinstalled. I expect that may not be true in Thailand or from the carrier with whom you purchased your phone. Android <> Google, although many Android devices are built that way.
One of the best features about Android is actually its flexibility. You aren't tied to one specific app store, launcher, map app, etc. The entire OS is very modular and through the use of intents, allows you to dynamically change what application you want to use to handle a particular task. If you want to compose an email for instance, the OS asks the user if they want that to be GMail or some other Email application. Now I'll concede that the Market needs some (more) work, but it isn't nearly as bad as you make it out to be. If you are running a 1.6 device, and I'll assume that your new hacker buddy put at least that on there, you will have the new Market. There are a few trial apps that are listed in the free area, but the overwhelming majority of those apps are in fact gratis. The apps I've paid for so far have been completely worth it to me, and if you are willing to spend $800 on a device, the $1 most apps cost is money well spent. Spend some time kicking the tires. The OS isn't without its warts, but there are plenty of reasons it is the best platform on the market to date and it looks like it can only get better. /Ryan -----Original Message----- From: Vlad [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Sunday, December 06, 2009 8:25 PM To: Android Discuss Subject: [android-discuss] Why Android Sucks Hello Everyone, I am sorry but I'd like to share my terrible experience & expectations with Andriod system. I bought HTC Magic for about 800 USD in Thailand where I currently live. First of all it was blocked with limited apps. I had to go to local hacker guru to pay $30 extra to upload proper Android OS with App Store, Google Maps etc. Without this, it would be totally useless. My Phone did not even had Maps!! What was the GPS for?! I am experienced IT guy but performance is nowhere near IPhone. I was just expecting solid Andriod OS but so far I am just struggling. I am most upset that Google allowed operators to brick the device for limited use. * App Store just sucks, many apps are marked as free but they are not free * Finding anything good in App Store is not possible * The list of installed apps is just never ending and finding app among many installed ones is not as easy as on iPhone * I am worried how do I get future updates of Android (e.g. 1.6 or 2.0) * Nobody to contact or get help. Since the device was "upgraded" nobody is willing to give me any support I am sorry guys, but I am ready to give up on Andriod and buy and iPhone. Google should be more in charge of making bold and strong decisions and they should not allow HTC or Cell Phone operators to modify Android. If they do so, they would have to _clearly_ mark that the device has limited features. The Android segment will get too fragmented and inconsistent. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Android Discuss" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-discuss?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Android Discuss" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-discuss?hl=en.
