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It's a simple question, but without a simple answer. With all of the OEMs in the Android environment, none of them have ever released a phone with vanilla Android without the direct partnership (or prodding) of Google in some way.
Most everyone agrees that the OEMs want to differentiate themselves from the competition and this is how they go about it, but why hasn't one ever released a phone without additional "features" or UI overlays? It doesn't make sense to believe Google isn't somehow leveraging their brand recognition of the Nexus line when dealing with OEMs.
Has an OEM pushed out a vanilla Android Jellybean device (or ICS) not in the Nexus line that still comes with Gapps?
Edit:
Meant for Android General, not Nexus 7 forum.
The LG G2X was pure AOSP and not a Nexus, I'm sure there are other examples. But your specific question is about Jelly Bean, which is probably still too new for a manufacturer to release a phone with a vanilla build. Either way, you are certainly wrong in assuming no OEMs have released a pure AOSP device that wasn't a Nexus.
There's a world out there of stock Android phones non Nexus.
Mostly low end phone though. Also the first Android phones like the G1, mytouch 3g, Motorola Droid, etc. were all stock.
Still phones being released quite lately (t mobile prism, zte avail) are stock.
Sent from my DROID2 using xda premium
In the old days OEMs rrleased with stock android both my htc magic and motorola milestone came with stock android (1.6 and 2.0 respectively).
But these days most phones have very simlar hardware and with so many phones on the market the only way they can stand out is to include there own UI or enhanced apps. Since HTC released there first version of sense there has become a big market for companys to build and change android to make it "better" (some cases done better than others)
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
they're certainly allowed to. it's the OEMs who choose to much their phones up with their custom crap.
And Carriers who don't the same looking phone on store shelves.
sent from my Nexus S ?
If you look at the Asus Padfone and those from Acer, they all come with vanilla Android. So yes, they are allowed to
Sent from that Atrix... Motorola, where's my ICS?!
This discussion started as a question in one of the CM10 threads asking how users that want an AOSP experience over HTC Sense as a daily driver wound up with the Evo 3D. It then began evolving into a debate about Sense versus AOSP so I thought it would be a good idea to move it out of that thread. Please keep it civil here or I'm sure the mods will close this thread, as I would expect them to do.
I'll start off by saying I really don't mind Sense and like the direction it has taken with the 4.x releases, so I don't consider it a compromise to run Sense ROM's to take advantage of more features of the Evo 3D. OTOH, I like to run AOSP ROM's to see what future versions of Android are bringing to our devices, and the simplicity of the AOSP interface is a pleasant change of pace, not to mention things like ParanoidAndroid that aren't available for Sense ROM's.
Here's another Sense user's experience using AOSP.
I'm not sure yet what my next device will be which is one of the reasons I'm interested in this discussion. If everyone else has heard enough in the CM10 thread already, just ignore this one and it will go away in a day or two.
ramjet73
In terms of look and design, AOSP>Sense (graphic designer here). Sense may look flashy and "poppy" but it's the same look that HTC incorporated with in the original WinMo version of sense known as TouchFlo back in 2008 I believe. Back then, this style was all the craze and was fitting for it's time, hence the design style of iOS on the original iPhone, which has also not changed. But that was nearly five years ago, and design style and standards have changed. Google has done a great job of keeping up to date with design by keeping things "clean" by minimizing fake shadows, gradients, and object that are given false dimension. In my opinion, Windows Phone is designed extremely well and is, in some ways, setting the standard on UI design, just look at how it carried that look over to Windows 8 and what MySpace's new look is like. It's all about simplicity. As a graphic designer, I cannot stand the look of Sense; it's dated and overly designed. But unfortunately, I bet that HTC (just like Apple) won't reconsider a major UI overhaul do to recognizability and brand association with Sense. All of this is just just my personal opinion though, and each is entitled their own
Sent from my Jelly Beaned CDMA Evo 3D, compliments of agrabren
Scotty_Two said:
In terms of look and design, AOSP>Sense (graphic designer here). Sense may look flashy and "poppy" but it's the same look that HTC incorporated with in the original WinMo version of sense known as TouchFlo back in 2008 I believe. Back then, this style was all the craze and was fitting for it's time, hence the design style of iOS on the original iPhone, which has also not changed. But that was nearly five years ago, and design style and standards have changed. Google has done a great job of keeping up to date with design by keeping things "clean" by minimizing fake shadows, gradients, and object that are given false dimension. In my opinion, Windows Phone is designed extremely well and is, in some ways, setting the standard on UI design, just look at how it carried that look over to Windows 8 and what MySpace's new look is like. It's all about simplicity. As a graphic designer, I cannot stand the look of Sense; it's dated and overly designed. But unfortunately, I bet that HTC (just like Apple) won't reconsider a major UI overhaul do to recognizability and brand association with Sense. All of this is just just my personal opinion though, and each is entitled their own
Sent from my Jelly Beaned CDMA Evo 3D, compliments of agrabren
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i think i have to agree with that, sense is just too much trying to be accomplished graphically on a 4inch phone. yeah the animations are nice, but they arent worth slowing down your phone. you have a phone to do the things you need it to do, the rest is just bonus.
then again, im also a person who uses the classic theme on windows 7 despite having a decent computer to run aero and still run tons of programs at once.
last point, google has come a long way and you're finally able to see that when they released gingerbread. sense 3.0 w/ gingerbread was probably the last sense that i liked that was released otr for our phones because gingerbread was just repulsive. sense 4.0 i love because it's cleaner than the previous, and really snappy. but it's still sense and you get tired of it.
htc makes solid phones, but their os is starting to turn me away. but until samsung makes phones that arent plastic. ill forever use my 3vo and flash aosp roms.
It's funny how everyone on HTC phones hates sense (except me and a few others), yet people on samsung and LG beg for sense...
Sent from my shooter using Tapatalk 2
Let me throw this out for the people that prefer the AOSP look.
Given the changes in the Sense 4.x versions is HTC Sense still salvageable as an enhancement to AOSP or should HTC scrap it and convert it's widgets, which seem to be the most popular part of Sense, to work with Trebuchet and other launchers?
If HTC actually builds a Nexus phone, we may get a chance to vote with our dollars (or whatever currency you use).
ramjet73
VictoriousShooter said:
It's funny how everyone on HTC phones hates sense (except me and a few others), yet people on samsung and LG beg for sense...
Sent from my shooter using Tapatalk 2
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Man I am a die hard sense fan in my mind I don't think nothing else compares to it
Sent from my HTC VLE_U using Tapatalk 2
I got the evo 3D because I though sense was awesome. After a month I got bored and missed AOSP sooo much
Sent from my PG86100 using xda app-developers app
Reason why I bought the EVO was for sense, always liked it always will
( Don't ask me for help, as I couldn't care if your phone explodes, eh!!!)
I originally got the evo 3d because at the time I thought sense 3.0 was awsome it looked cool as hell. As well as it was one of the best phones sprint carried at the time. But then after a month or so I couldn't stand it and I went on the search for aosp or as close to it as I could get. My next device will definitely be a nexus device. Not only because I dislike sense at this point but because of the hell we went through waiting for ics and source code.
Sent from my PG86100 using xda app-developers app
Sense is "pretty" and ya all the ROMs have working cam but aosp just has so much more freedom. Only time I'm rocking sense is when I'm taking a pic
Sent from my PG86100 using Xparent SkyBlue Tapatalk 2
As others have said, first off, I like the "tweakability" of AOSP when compared to sense. Much more freedom to do what I want and this expands with CM, AOKP, and other special builds.
Second, the simplicity and streamlining of AOSP is *far* superior to anything that sense has to offer. I'm not a graphic designer, but I am a photographer so I'd say that, at the very least, I have an eye for the aesthetics of things around me. AOSP, in its newer iterations (namely, ICS and AOSP - since the new standards were introduced) has a ridiculous amount of polish and aesthetic appeal when compared to pretty much any other Android offering.
I understand that aesthetics are a completely subjective thing. A lot of people here seem to like very flashy stuff - gold-themed roms, animated 3d spinning boot screens, really bright colors, outrageous text, biohazard signs, etc. That's not my cup-of-tea personally, but if you're into that stuff I can see why you might not like AOSP.
Finally, It was incredibly hard to predict exactly what would happen concerning our phones and AOSP. When I picked up my Evo 3D, I was a huge fan of HTC hardware after owning a Mytouch 3G as my first android phone and having it survive two large water accidents. I assumed that great devs would eventually get AOSP working on it and I was ok living with Sense until that happened.
Nothing against Sense, I'm sure there are plenty of reasons for people to like it, but I've spent over a year with both (I very recently switched back to AOSP on my 3D) and I heavily prefer AOSP.
I like sense its not horrible. and the things I've seen done with it through chubbzs ports of 4.0 and 4.1 But I've had sense for quite awhile and I like the simplicity and tweakage of aosp Aokp cm and CnA. It's just different and I'm looking for something different. I know sense is going to be more stable and more functional but I'm willing to deal with a much less stable Rom just for something different. It makes my phone feel like a new phone and its a little smoother IMO
Sent from my PG86100 using xda app-developers app
I'm definitely not married to Sense anymore. When I first got my Evo 4G I really liked it, but once 4G was implemented into AOSP I flashed it and ran AOSP for months. Only going back to Sense once in a while. My Old EVO 4G is back on a Sense ROM though, Karma 7.7.7 (if I remember it right.)
Sense 4 is much sleeker and faster and I wish it was complete. If things weren't broken, I would be all over a Sense 4 ROM. But, I'd do the same on AOSP if there was a complete build of that. Ultimately, that is what keeps me on 3.6. Not it's style, look, how bloated it is (and it does have some heft.) But the fact that everything works, I can't stand not having everything worked that I paid for, whether I use them daily or not.
i liked sense 3.0 when it first came out. it was new and cool. it's still ok to be honest. but i miss AOSP. the newer versions of sense are nice as well but i just refuse to sacrifice 4G. i dont really mind losing 3D. never really used it. and i know 4G doesnt really work on any AOSP roms either. so i just desensify sense based roms to get as close to AOSP as i can. i was using CM9 on an old Droid X i inherited and i loved it. i wish we had a fully functioning CM build....
I really like Sense and I really like AOSP. (especially since ICS) the only possible way to ever choose between both was to own an HTC Device running sense. So that's what I've done since the Hero days. (Granite you needed AOSP for that device)
You can't buy a nexus device, and expect to get Sense on it, but you can buy a Sense device and get AOSP ROM's for it.
I like both, and the ability to choose. That's why I chose the EVO 3D (and HTC phones in general)
:beer:
You can follow me on Twitter - @NotSo1nter3stin
notsointeresting said:
I really like Sense and I really like AOSP. (especially since ICS) the only possible way to ever choose between both was to own an HTC Device running sense. So that's what I've done since the Hero days. (Granite you needed AOSP for that device)
You can't buy a nexus device, and expect to get Sense on it, but you can buy a Sense device and get AOSP ROM's for it.
I like both, and the ability to choose. That's why I chose the EVO 3D (and HTC phones in general)
:beer:
You can follow me on Twitter - @NotSo1nter3stin
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That's actually a really good way to look at it. You can get both on HTC and you can't anywhere else. I don't see many people clammering for TouchWiz on an LG. lol
felacio said:
That's actually a really good way to look at it. You can get both on HTC and you can't anywhere else. I don't see many people clammering for TouchWiz on an LG. lol
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this may sound bad.....
but i actually would like to see touchwiz on an htc device one day. i just wanna experience touchwiz for like a week or so without having to buy a plastic contain to hold all my phone's parts
johnnyboi1994 said:
this may sound bad.....
but i actually would like to see touchwiz on an htc device one day. i just wanna experience touchwiz for like a week or so without having to buy a plastic contain to hold all my phone's parts
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's a rom with touchwiz on the og evo .. I actually liked it when I had my og evo a few months back
johnnyboi1994 said:
this may sound bad.....
but i actually would like to see touchwiz on an htc device one day. i just wanna experience touchwiz for like a week or so without having to buy a plastic contain to hold all my phone's parts
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have at it!
Here's a port of the Galaxy S3 version that's been tested with ICS on the Evo 3D and here's an overview of the S3 version.
If you Google around a bit you should be able to find some TouchWiz widgets as well.
ramjet73
I like sense but it is heavy and uses more battery compared to aosp. I like aosp too and I prefer it! Is more light, smooth and I like the android grapich
Inviato dal mio HTC EVO 3D X515m con Tapatalk 2
What do you think about the leaked screenshots of Sense 5?
http://www.droiddog.com/android-blog/2013/01/heres-a-sneak-peak-at-the-htc-sense-5-keyboard-and-dialer/
http://www.droiddog.com/android-blog/2013/01/the-design-of-the-htc-m7-has-finally-been-revealed/
I personally think the dialer for sure looks way better than in Sense 4. Hopefully this will be ported whenever some Roms come out! *wishfulthinking*
Looks like some of the keyboard themes I've already come across in the past year.
I have yet to see a stable sense 4.5 (ignoring the 3D), and you are already dreaming of sense 5? Gonna take a loong while. Also, there are literally thousands of keyboards out there, i am pretty sure you can find one like that if you would search
Sent from my HTC EVO 3D X515m using XDA Premium HD app
I actually like the new sense ui. Not really a big fan of sense anymore since I went with aosp jellybean ROM. From the leeked specs I'm practically drooling over the hardware specs and new sense now lol. Giving the variety of carrier options I hope to see it come to Verizon and switch over to that phone when it comes out.
Jsparta26 said:
I actually like the new sense ui. Not really a big fan of sense anymore since I went with aosp jellybean ROM. From the leeked specs I'm practically drooling over the hardware specs and new sense now lol. Giving the variety of carrier options I hope to see it come to Verizon and switch over to that phone when it comes out.
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Used to be a huge fan of Sense( loved the Sense keyboard predictions in my language), but since I tried JB 4.2.1 AOKP, the old boy sense doesn't make any sense anymore. Also I will not change my phone until the poor thing dies. I saw some pics with sense 5, nice, but as someone said, we may wait some time until is available for evo via XDA ofc, or maybe we won't have Sense5 at all.
Sent from my Evo 3D GSM using xda app-developers app
In leaked screenshots it does look a bit nicer and more professional look rather than that childish iOS-ish look but for some reason i really don't like the Browser & Camera icon, the Text and Phone icons look good tough.
I like the new jellybean 4.2.1 . Im running dastins cm 10.1 stable as hell with all features working minus the occasional glitches in video camcorder.
Some lucky b has sense 5 already
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=37016666#post37016666
Are there any difference between an AT&T HTC One and an unlocked HTC One (bought directly from the HTC website)? Also the HTC One Google Play edition, what's the differences?
I have never used an android phone before so this will be my first one. If there are differences, which one would be "better" (for a noob like me)?
Thanks
flyin9monkie said:
Are there any difference between an AT&T HTC One and an unlocked HTC One (bought directly from the HTC website)? Also the HTC One Google Play edition, what's the differences?
I have never used an android phone before so this will be my first one. If there are differences, which one would be "better" (for a noob like me)?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The regular HTC one (in your case AT&T the one from the htc website has a unlocked bootloader to be able to flash custom roms and root easier) Comes with not a normal android ui but HTC's own little thing Called sense. most of htc devices have sense the HTC one has the highest version of sense right now most company's have their own custom android ui. samsungs touchwiz, and motorola motoblur. the HTC one you buy from carrier does not have a unlocked bootloader. the google play editon comes with a unlocked bootloader , but does not come with Sense. it is a pure android jelly bean Stock ui which i prefer most, i would say the google play editions is more for developers or people who want to root it and flash custom roms but the normal everyday person can still use it
Trozzul said:
The regular HTC one (in your case AT&T the one from the htc website has a unlocked bootloader to be able to flash custom roms and root easier) Comes with not a normal android ui but HTC's own little thing Called sense. most of htc devices have sense the HTC one has the highest version of sense right now most company's have their own custom android ui. samsungs touchwiz, and motorola motoblur. the HTC one you buy from carrier does not have a unlocked bootloader. the google play editon comes with a unlocked bootloader , but does not come with Sense. it is a pure android jelly bean Stock ui which i prefer most, i would say the google play editions is more for developers or people who want to root it and flash custom roms but the normal everyday person can still use it
Click to expand...
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It is not pure jelly bean. It still contains HTC frameworks that over write the stock Android ones.
Wayne Tech Nexus
zelendel said:
It is not pure jelly bean. It still contains HTC frameworks that over write the stock Android ones.
Wayne Tech Nexus
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Really? I did not know that thanks for correcting me!
Trozzul said:
Really? I did not know that thanks for correcting me!
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Yup thats how they got the camera to work so well for being a 4mp camera. Without HTC closed drivers and such it would never be more then a 4mp camera. The Samsung has it as well.
I'm deciding between these two and I like to put custom roms on my phone. From what I know, both Sony and HTC are pretty easy to root and support devs (much better than Samsung I guess), but which one would have more roms and easily rootable?
bazzanaja said:
I'm deciding between these two and I like to put custom roms on my phone. From what I know, both Sony and HTC are pretty easy to root and support devs (much better than Samsung I guess), but which one would have more roms and easily rootable?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its tough call on which device is easier to root...
as far as developer support is concerned, I for one hope to get the Z2, the FreeXperia team (CM devs) [they get devices directly from Sony] will be supporting it, so there will be official CM support, AOSP/AKOP will be supported [Sony gives devices to these devs too]... other than these there would be a lot of other devs also picking up this phone... so that should give you a good idea...
BTW, in general, Sony devices have lesser developer support as compared to other flagships of HTC & Samsung...
i
bazzanaja said:
I'm deciding between these two and I like to put custom roms on my phone. From what I know, both Sony and HTC are pretty easy to root and support devs (much better than Samsung I guess), but which one would have more roms and easily rootable?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If u wanna phone or device for developing nothing can replace by Nexus or GPE devices
btw famous custom roms are supported for almost of sony and htc and also samsung devices.
and rooting; as u know almost of time u don't need to do anything for rooting ur android. there always a tool from devs that u use some keys and done!
and suggest u to go for xperia z2 (generally cause i will go for it )
Most likely the HTC M8.
Sent from my LG-D800 using Tapatalk
i havent owned any HTC or Sony devices, but their rooting instructions are somewhat complicated comparing to Samsung, not sure where you are getting that Samsungs are hard to root/unlock. Now, they all can be rooted. just that Sony and HTC are a little harder because:
Sony have a protected system partition where it stores its camera drivers, you might have to restore that partition after rooting/unlocking the bootloader, so to install custom ROM you required extra steps and AFAIK the camera wont work the same due to the lack of drivers in custom roms.
HTC they have some extra security for their bootloader it seems (S-ON/S-OFF, google that) but they support most custom ROMs. Just gotta deal with that BS.
Samsung, their main issue is their Qualcom drivers are closed source, so you might have a buggy bluetooth/camera/video driver at first until some devs are able port/improve the original driver to use with AOSP (kind of).
Just got rid of my S4 one month ago since my job got my an iPhone :crying: I am going to get the Z2 even if they dont have as much custom ROM love as the others, but I am tired of Samsung already. Im thinking of either replacing my Nexus 5 or get rid of the iPhone and stay with the Z2 and the N5. That way i can satisfy my flashing and hacking needs with the N5 while having a premium device such as the Z2.
I'm currently trying to decide between the Z2 and M8. Coming from S3 with literally massive dev support, I can see that the M8 is likely to get more dev support than the Z2, but as long as there is some decent stock based ROMs and decent AOSP/CM ROMs then I'd be happy on the Z2.
I do keep reading about broken camera on custom Kernels (on Z1) though. Is this likely to be the case on the Z2?
I've never been on Sony before, so it is new ground to me...
remydlc said:
i havent owned any HTC or Sony devices, but their rooting instructions are somewhat complicated comparing to Samsung, not sure where you are getting that Samsungs are hard to root/unlock. Now, they all can be rooted. just that Sony and HTC are a little harder because:
Sony have a protected system partition where it stores its camera drivers, you might have to restore that partition after rooting/unlocking the bootloader, so to install custom ROM you required extra steps and AFAIK the camera wont work the same due to the lack of drivers in custom roms.
HTC they have some extra security for their bootloader it seems (S-ON/S-OFF, google that) but they support most custom ROMs. Just gotta deal with that BS.
Samsung, their main issue is their Qualcom drivers are closed source, so you might have a buggy bluetooth/camera/video driver at first until some devs are able port/improve the original driver to use with AOSP (kind of).
Just got rid of my S4 one month ago since my job got my an iPhone :crying: I am going to get the Z2 even if they dont have as much custom ROM love as the others, but I am tired of Samsung already. Im thinking of either replacing my Nexus 5 or get rid of the iPhone and stay with the Z2 and the N5. That way i can satisfy my flashing and hacking needs with the N5 while having a premium device such as the Z2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It really depends because you can just unlock the bootloader and flash a recovery without having to S-OFF if you just want root and custom ROMs for an HTC. Samsung is generally more frustrating because they don't really merge device trees and there are many variants of the phone itself all over the world. Used to own the Exnyos S4 and it was development hell .-. So I switched to the HTC One and I got what I wanted. In currently S-ON and I would only S-off to change CIDs and such. It's quite dangerous to S-ON again from an S-OFF as well. Something to consider if you plan to get an HTC.
Happy Flashing from the proud owner of a HTC One.
---------- Post added at 09:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:01 PM ----------
I plan to buy a Z2 because it has the specs, the functionality and we are gonna have some hands on good devs from the start of development. I truly believe that its the Z2s time to shine as its such a beautiful phone that's hopefully gonna get alot of development. The M8 is meh. I'm an HTC Fan but honestly the m8 doesn't look all too good and I had much higher expectations for HTCs new flagship
Happy Flashing from the proud owner of a HTC One.
Bllooi said:
It really depends because you can just unlock the bootloader and flash a recovery without having to S-OFF if you just want root and custom ROMs for an HTC. Samsung is generally more frustrating because they don't really merge device trees and there are many variants of the phone itself all over the world. Used to own the Exnyos S4 and it was development hell .-. So I switched to the HTC One and I got what I wanted. In currently S-ON and I would only S-off to change CIDs and such. It's quite dangerous to S-ON again from an S-OFF as well. Something to consider if you plan to get an HTC.
Happy Flashing from the proud owner of a HTC One.
---------- Post added at 09:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:01 PM ----------
I plan to buy a Z2 because it has the specs, the functionality and we are gonna have some hands on good devs from the start of development. I truly believe that its the Z2s time to shine as its such a beautiful phone that's hopefully gonna get alot of development. The M8 is meh. I'm an HTC Fan but honestly the m8 doesn't look all too good and I had much higher expectations for HTCs new flagship
Happy Flashing from the proud owner of a HTC One.
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The htc m8 like you said doesnt seem too impressive specially spec wise, but i have a feeling it will get a much bigger development support. Not to mention that sony is going to release another flagship in 6 months.
malek777 said:
The htc m8 like you said doesnt seem too impressive specially spec wise, but i have a feeling it will get a much bigger development support. Not to mention that sony is going to release another flagship in 6 months.
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True... After a while I am considering that a snapdragon 805 might do better. Not much innovation is going on with the current flagships and i think 2014 is going to be a pretty boring tech year for phones and wearables are coming in. I'm a proud owner of the HTC M7 and ive seen the leaks of the M8 im finding the speaker grills look weird and there is no use of the bottom bezel. I have to be honest the M8 looks terrible compared to the HTC One and all these flagships are carrying the 801's which are just a bump up... I think i might wait...
Nah, the M8 will have more support (and legs) due to the fact that it has a GPE version. They are already committed to updating it to the latest version of android for two years. This will be ported across for most of the other variants just like it was on the one and that work will be available not long after the GPE hits the street as the same dev already has it in the works and is just waiting for a dump. Meanwhile here you have a phone that will already be old and pathetic when the 3 comes out on its fancy smanchy 805 chipset before the end of the year.
I bought in here guys so don't get me wrong. I feel this phone will have plenty enough support but if that were my main criteria I would have went with the M8.
bazzanaja said:
I'm deciding between these two and I like to put custom roms on my phone. From what I know, both Sony and HTC are pretty easy to root and support devs (much better than Samsung I guess), but which one would have more roms and easily rootable?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HTC cannot be Compared to Sony for the Quality of the Build Materials but for Developing Section HTC is more far away from Sony.
So if you want have Software support for your device buy Nexus or HTC, if you want have the feeling of an amazing quality phone in your hand, buy Sony.