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Siegler writes, “In theory, I’m right there with you. The thought of a truly open mobile operating system is very appealing.”
MacDailyNews Take: Yeah, to botnet herders.
Siegler writes, “The problem is that in practice, that’s just simply not the reality of the situation. Maybe if Google had their way, the system would be truly open. But they don’t. Sadly, they have to deal with a very big roadblock: the carriers.”
MacDailyNews Take: More crap. Let’s get real, shall we? If Google had their way, everyone on earth would fully disclose every pertinent fact about themselves and voluntarily chip themselves for GPS tracking so that Google could serve them ads during every waking minute while creepy Schmidt and Co. figure out a way to serve ads during sleep. Google abuses “open” in order to sell fake iPhones to non-iPhone carrier customers, because every real iPhone that Apple sells has the potential of eliminating Internet users’ morbidly ingrained dependence on Google, thereby sidestepping Google’s ads.
Siegler writes, “The result of this unfortunate situation is that the so-called open system is quickly revealing itself to be anything but. Further, we’re starting to see that in some cases the carriers may actually be able to exploit this ‘openness’ to create a closed system that may leave you crying for Apple’s closed system — at least their’s looks good and behaves as expected.”
“Case in point: the last couple of Android phones I’ve gotten as demo units from Google: the EVO 4G and the Droid 2, have been loaded up with crapware installed by the carriers (Sprint and Verizon, respectively). Apple would never let this fly on the iPhone, but the openness of Android means Google has basically no say in the matter. Consumers will get the crapware and they’ll like it. Not only that, plenty of this junk can’t even be uninstalled,” Siegler writes. “How’s that for ‘open?'”
Siegler writes, “And this is just the tip of the iceberg… One of the great features of Android is that you can install apps without going through an app store, right? Well, not if you have an a Motorola Backflip or a HTC Aria running on AT&T — they’ve locked this feature down. How? Thanks to the open Android OS. Oh, and how about tethering? It’s one of the truly great features of Android 2.2, right? Well, not if you have a carrier that doesn’t want to support it.”
More examples in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: People who buy Android phones because they’re “open” are ignorant, stupid, delusional, and/or liars. Most people who buy Android phones, really wanted an iPhone, but it wasn’t available on the specific carrier that they’ve convinced themselves they need. The main reason to settle for an Android phone will evaporate sooner than later.
Obviously, the head MDN Take writer is back from summer vacation!
The MDN Takes recently are searingly true!
I don’t know how well Android smart phones are doing in Canada but iPhone and Android phones are available on every carrier. It seems Canada’s iPhone vs Android numbers would answer the Android is doing better than iPhone question once and for all.
how can one compare multiple phones on multiple carriers to apple’s single phone on one carrier and claim that android is doing better?
that’s like saying that GM sells more total cars than Chrysler sells of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, so GM must be winning the car sales war!
you can’t take an EVO and go to another carrier, or take an Incredible and go to another carrier, just like you cannot do that with the iphone.
iphones are no less “open” than any other phone. i challenge anyone to break that argument with a real world example of that being incorrect. i have yet to find an iphone hater who can do so. it’s comparable to dear leader maobama and his “hopey, changey” slogan. “open” is just a cute word they like to throw around with no substance behind it.
Those who proclaim android to thehigh heavens are liars because they do not own one.
Hey, look at me, I’m ignorant, stupid, delusional, and a liar! Nevermind the fact that I used my HTC Desire as a Wi-Fi hotspot last night so that a client could send me a very large graphic file that I could work on right away. I’m stupid because I didn’t wait for Apple to bless me with that functionality.
Also, Open is defined as not being able to delete a program that came on your phone? That’s garbage. What about the ability for developers to be able to change almost everything within the system? My Desire came loaded with a bunch of Vodafone 360 stuff, but I just don’t open it. I’m ignorant.
Shoot, I used Chrome to Phone last week to map out and navigate to London last week. I should’ve waited for Apple to add that to Safari, three or four releases from now. That’s just delusional old me again, thinking that something that genuinely benefits me actually benefits me.
Seriously, I love my Mac, but the iPhone isn’t the Savior phone anymore.
Crapware that can’t be removed? Really? I’ll have to mention that, the next time someone tries pushing how wonderful Android phones are.
Let’s face it, what single model of any product has held sway over a multi-product universe before? Anyone have a precedent? If ios phones where in multiple flavirs then you might have a chance of keeping the number one slot. Regardless of the percieved or real inferiorit of android, there are lots of phones with it installed. Some actually look quite strong and the os has some interesting bells and whistles – swype, voice to SMS / email (which works better than ios voice control). It’s, at the very least, a worthy competitor to keep apple on it’s toes. Round 1 to apple, round 2 predictions?
Good article but I know crap Apple Apps I’d like to uninstall:
Stocks
Contacts
Weather
And please, fix that horrible font in Notes.
I wonder how 250,000+ apps can make the iPhone a closed system.
Scottie: Why is it you can’t delete apps on YOUR phone?
RE: scottie:
Yes you ARE both ignorant and stupid. Don’t lie by saying the iPhone isn’t the savior phone because you know it is. Your phone is a piece of shit. Your short bus antics get you nowhere. Is that you Eric?
I thought this was a really good article. I don’t know why MDN is slamming it. He makes a strong case that supports the notion that Apple has freed users from carriers’ overbearing crapware and control.
Not to mention how Android is a fractured mess when it comes to parity of apps and features across phones.
Also, Many people buy Android because they will NOT buy Apple. There is a real discrimination attitude in the marketplace.
Generally from a people who can’t discern quality. They hear great reviews about apple products, then to to see that others also do the same. Forget about ease of use, etc. They can’t see it. Hard / easy, works every time, doesn’t matter. They buy on feature set only. Simple minded compare a list of features, price and buy.
Most of these folks subscribe to consumer reports. They need to be told what to buy.
Devil’s food for thought-
Now that my old iPhone has become an iPod touch, why can’t I delete the phone or SMS apps?
“ Crapware that can’t be removed? Really? I’ll have to mention that, the next time someone tries pushing how wonderful Android phones are.”
In that sense it kinda like the MS/Wintel PCs of the 90’s… lots of built in crapware, which the OEMs use to ‘differentiate’ themselves from the competition.. without which they would be totally commodities..
Ironically, on Android, the crapware (skins) are so annoying they push OS release dates back for weeks and weeks.
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@ C1
Because it is still an iPhone but without a carrier. Also deleting the phone apps accidentally when the phone is still with a carrier would be pretty bad. This could easily happen especially if someone else is playing with the phone or a newbie doesn’t really know what they’re doing. You may be able to back it up but what if you’re miles from your computer and you’ve just lost the ability to call.
It’s a safety feature and makes sense to me.
@ DogGone
Agreed… but it seems like it wouldn’t be difficult to give me a way to do it in iTunes – since the SIM card is no longer provisioned that could be a safety check that the software could do.
It’s not really that big a deal… I just put the apps on the last page and never see them. Just a minor irritant.
Helped my neighbour with her new HP laptop the other day. Still loaded with crapware.
Android is open — open to viruses, trojans and malware.
You are just a troll.
@ izune
It simple… When you buy a new PC, you just need to get a stand-alone copy of Windows to go along with it. Then you just have to wipe the drive and start over. Setting up a new machine only takes about 3 hours like this.
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I was thinking about that as I pulled my fully-charged iPhone 4 out of the box.
C1,
Yes, that is IF the PC vendor decided to GIVE you a real copy of Windows. Usually consumer machines only come with a crippled copy that will restore the PC back to its original crappy factory state, much like the way carriers packaged the Android phones.
Which begs the question – if Google gives it’s phone OS away for free, which most of the non-iPhone camp HAS to rely on, yet is unwilling to tell the vendors and carriers to keep it completely open, while Apple does not give anything away, but keeps ATT out of the phone as much as possible – who do you think is on the side of the consumers?
Scottie, blah blah blah
I can do all that with my iPhone, must smarter.
My housemate has a htc desire and its pretty good – no not an iPhone but she pays 1/4 of what she would because the network rewards loyalty with any other phone just not iPhone.
Most buyers aren’t as diehard mac/iPhone fans – simply looking for a new phone and will consider anything out there. You’ll always get someone who will go with a specific network (or not). You’ll always get people that go with the same brands or makers, some focus on cost, looks, what friends have, but you’ll always get some people who buy what the sales person wants them too.
I own an iPhone and its the best phone I’ve had but its not massively different to some of the Android phones and i think some parts of the Android interface are quite good. Once google sets up some kinda iTunes thing they’ll be kinda level playing field for the average consumer.
I’ll still be buying an iPhone though
My original, 3 year old iPhone was not massively different from the Droids my friends are using. The iPhone 4 is another matter.
Beam yourself up, scottie! You appear to be lost in an Android dreamworld.
Not all that is Apple is good. Not all that is Apple is bad. But you wouldn’t have Android without the iPhone, so you can at least pretend to be grateful while HTC and the rest continue to attempt to copy Apple. Apple paid its dues to pave the way, and actually broke the cellphone cartel when it wrested handset control away from AT&T. Google, in its own self-interest, has simply fed the desperate carriers something to counter the iPhone that enables them to mold their own little closed smartphone solutions however they choose. And your favorite Android function today could be gone tomorrow, or only available at extra cost. Even Apple is subject to some of the whims of its carrier, AT&T.
I am glad that you like your phone. Enjoy your freedom to pick your own form of prison. I will do the same.