(unpaywalled version on archive.today: https://archive.ph/03cwZ)
Interesting figure that comes out of the article: 87% of US teens prefer iPhones. Also the explanations given aren’t quite surprising, I guess it’s mostly because of iMessage. Teens will feel like outcasts if they get an Android phone while their friends still use iMessage because of the green bubbles.
It’s actually hilarious how we allowed consumerism to take us this far and that we have now peer pressure over smartphones.
“You’re telling me in 2023, you still have a ’Droid? […] You gotta be at least 50 years old.”
ouch 😔
Well, the idea is still the same - allow users to modify their device as they would love to. OneUI is a matter of preference - you should be able to install it on any device, just like you have such ability on Linux. It should come as a package to core Android OS.
Currently you are locked to Android OS modifications when you purchase the device.
Why exactly you should be able to do it? Because of an ideology that you hold? It does not make any sense business wise for Samsung to develop ROM that could be smoothly run on random phones, it is their IP which is their revenue.
Google itself does not provide all of the Pixel-only features because that’s their own thing, they want to sell it not just hand it out.
We in theory already have a mechanism for showing dissatisfaction - Do not like something, do not buy it.
Currently the best options if you want to have a phone with newest OS for a long time:
I was referring to freedom in general. It does not have to be this way. For example, Samsung should allow their phones to be unlocked like pixel does. Samsung should provide kernel sources of their devices, so 3rd party developers can continue support their devices when Samsung decides to abandom them. And there should be an ability to install AOSP on any phone.
Think of a laptop - does not matter which device you buy. It could be HP, could be MSI. Thing is - I can install Windows or Linux on it, reinstall as much as I want to. Manufacturer provides drivers and that’s it. Why can’t we have something similar in smartphones ecosystem?
I wish it does. But guess what - 3rd psrty developers managed to port it. For example - Pixel Experience ROMs.
For myself it’s not an issue. I am referring to those people who purchased random shitty android smartphone, then swapped to iphone, then realised how better iphone is and then became lifelong fans of iphones.