Interestingly I just got my wife a Galaxy S4 Mini for Xmas. We both are longtime iOS users.
It just feels like I bought a Windows computer at a chain store, complete with adware lots of strange applications, unfinished widgets and options. So many options. there are even separate apps that hold options for G+ for example. It also made about 5 software updates in the first two days, one which broke the browser. It worked again after the nect update. I value that Apple rolls their patches into one bundle and preinstalls it when possible.
I wanted to switch to a MotoG on price alone but with that ecperience I dont think I want to.
I would just mindlessly configure around and try to understand all the options ogf my phone or worse, root it and install stock android. Id rather work and earn sone money to pay for the difference.
I think what you ran into was the problems of getting a Samsung phone rather than Android. Full size S4's (I assume mini's are similar) come with 7+ GB of software on top of Google's Android. If you got it from a carrier there may be more.
Samsung provides it's own version of everything, on top of the default apps. So what you get is:
* AOSP, OS and Open Source default apps.
* Google Play stuff. Google requires devices with Google Play store to also include all Google apps. (Eg Gmail)
* Samsung's apps. Samsung provides apps and includes all of them on full feature phones. Along with the Samsung phones.
If you try a Nexus 4 or a MotoG you will get something much closer to what should be on Android no Samsung bloated package.
Just got my brother a Nexus 5 for the holidays. Even those are bloated.
Example: the SMS app is actually Google+ Hangouts. Had to dig for the AOSP SMS app.
Another example: he complains about Google automatically uploading photos to a G+ account that he doesn't care about.
Even "vanilla Android" is getting bloated. Why are users being forced into G+? Why is the default Android SMS app linked to a social network by default?
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Interestingly I just got my wife a Galaxy S4 Mini for Xmas. We both are longtime iOS users. It just feels like I bought a Windows computer at a chain store, complete with adware lots of strange applications, unfinished widgets and options. So many options. there are even separate apps that hold options for G+ for example. It also made about 5 software updates in the first two days, one which broke the browser. It worked again after the nect update. I value that Apple rolls their patches into one bundle and preinstalls it when possible. I wanted to switch to a MotoG on price alone but with that ecperience I dont think I want to. I would just mindlessly configure around and try to understand all the options ogf my phone or worse, root it and install stock android. Id rather work and earn sone money to pay for the difference.
I think what you ran into was the problems of getting a Samsung phone rather than Android. Full size S4's (I assume mini's are similar) come with 7+ GB of software on top of Google's Android. If you got it from a carrier there may be more.
Samsung provides it's own version of everything, on top of the default apps. So what you get is:
* AOSP, OS and Open Source default apps. * Google Play stuff. Google requires devices with Google Play store to also include all Google apps. (Eg Gmail) * Samsung's apps. Samsung provides apps and includes all of them on full feature phones. Along with the Samsung phones.
If you try a Nexus 4 or a MotoG you will get something much closer to what should be on Android no Samsung bloated package.
Just got my brother a Nexus 5 for the holidays. Even those are bloated.
Example: the SMS app is actually Google+ Hangouts. Had to dig for the AOSP SMS app.
Another example: he complains about Google automatically uploading photos to a G+ account that he doesn't care about.
Even "vanilla Android" is getting bloated. Why are users being forced into G+? Why is the default Android SMS app linked to a social network by default?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_true_Scotsman
If you don't include Samsung, then you are ignoring the Android market leader.