Sony Testing A 'Stripped Back' Version Of Android

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If Sony wants a version of Android that looks and feels like the stock Google interface, why not just install Lollipop and call it good?

Sony is launching a 500-person Swedish trial of Concept for Android, a "stripped back" take on Android 5.1 for the Xperia Z3 that looks and feels like the stock Google interface while including Sony's more popular apps and features.
 
As a now iphone user, i really do miss stock android on my nexus. That was and is still a good experience IMO. Sure was a snappy UI without all the extra bloat.
 
I wish more vendors would install the stock version of Android. There's no reason you can install that AND include your own apps, too.
 
That screen shot seems to contradict the headline entirely. The navigation buttons on the bottom are totally custom, as are the icons in the top right (and there are a billion of them), the web browser shown also isn't Chrome.
 
Love my nexus 5. Bloatware can gtfo. I actually think stock android 5.x is better than iOS.
 
Ahh sony, why do things the easy way when you can fumblefuck your way through going down the difficult path.
 
Looks more like making 5.x look like 4.4, which is just fine in my books. Love 4.4 on my Z3c, hate 5.1 on my Nexus.
 
Good thing Android is designed in a modular way to allow exactly this! lol what's the point of the article?
 
"stripped back" take on Android 5.1 for the Xperia Z3 that looks and feels like the stock Google interface while including Sony's more popular apps and features.
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PiZ4Jhv.jpg
 
Quix said:
That screen shot seems to contradict the headline entirely. The navigation buttons on the bottom are totally custom, as are the icons in the top right (and there are a billion of them), the web browser shown also isn't Chrome.
Click to expand...

It's probably whatever picture of the Z3 they had on hand.

My Z1 is on Lollipop and has the stock navigation buttons though.
 
After using Nexus 4 and 5 I had only used vanilla android since I had iPhone before that. However I recently got my first non-Nexus Android phone. A Galaxy S6. It is not as bad as I geared. I still prefer vanilla Android but Samsungs version is close enough. It still feels like the same OS with just a different skin.
 
Well honestly, ever iteration of android seems to make it more of a pita to do simple things, so stock android is not that great an experience. I definitely don't want a stupid google search bar on the home screen. And nothing was better than the news and weather app/widget of gingerbread. And being forced into the gmail interface, when the previous email interface was soo much cleaner and less "bubbly" for lack of a better term.

using 5.1 on my temporary moto E and I prefer both gingerbread and ICS that was on my Droid4 a 1000x more.
 
I get the impression the 'bloat' posters don't actually own a Sony device. The stock rom is fast, usable, and I regularly get 4 days without having to charge.

You can whine about 'bloat' all you want. The phone comes with some Sony apps. If you don't like them, don't use them. They sure as heck don't impact negatively on how the phones runs, and many (Stamina mode etc) improve Android tremendously.
 
So they want to strip android to fit more Sony bloatware. Sounds enticing. NOT!
 
Having owned several Sony phones I can honestly say I don't mind some 'bloatware' (which I just deactivate anyway) if it gets me stamina mode, bravia engine and walkman apps.
 
People blindly hating on Sony here. Their bloatware is relatively inobtrusive as far as those things go, and some of the apps are actually useful.

I still don't really see the purpose of this exercise though.
 
Darunion said:
As a now iphone user, i really do miss stock android on my nexus. That was and is still a good experience IMO. Sure was a snappy UI without all the extra bloat.
Click to expand...

Same here, got a new company phone, only option (for IT reasons) was iPhone 6, I still don't like the GUI and over all there are many things that hang often and have to restart it every week to every few days. My Nexus on the other hand was only ever restarted on the odd times I forgot to charge it and it died. Also using other peoples phones, I could not get use to all the bloat floating around everywhere. The stock ROM is great and only missing a few things, which I would rather have to find a few things in the app store than have to spend hours trying to remove bloat or even having to go so far as flashing a new ROM to get rid of uninstallable apps/bloat.
 
If you really have to reboot your iPhone every week or every few days you should take it to an Apple store and exchange it because something is obviously wrong with the hardware, lol
 
mope54 said:
If you really have to reboot your iPhone every week or every few days you should take it to an Apple store and exchange it because something is obviously wrong with the hardware, lol
Click to expand...

It is my 2rd one, I just hand it to the IT guy and he has a new one over nighted, I don't mess with anything. I don't HAVE to reboot, but if I don't, it wont see the work WiFi, or tethering to my gauge will not work, or iCloud will not upload photos etc etc. The iPad I have also has the iCloud issue, but none of the others, thinking maybe that one has to do with the iCloud service maybe. Longest I have had it on was 2-3 weeks, after which some apps would become pretty laggy, but only in spikes.
 
DarkSyd said:
I get the impression the 'bloat' posters don't actually own a Sony device. The stock rom is fast, usable, and I regularly get 4 days without having to charge.

You can whine about 'bloat' all you want. The phone comes with some Sony apps. If you don't like them, don't use them. They sure as heck don't impact negatively on how the phones runs, and many (Stamina mode etc) improve Android tremendously.
Click to expand...

My Xperia Z3 came with barely any Sony apps. I had amazing battery life as well with 4.4 Android up until the recent upgrade to 5.0 which turned my once 2 day battery life phone into 1.1 days.
 
DeadSkull said:
My Xperia Z3 came with barely any Sony apps. I had amazing battery life as well with 4.4 Android up until the recent upgrade to 5.0 which turned my once 2 day battery life phone into 1.1 days.
Click to expand...

I've been using my Xperia Z1 since launch and like yours, it had little bloat, just a few Sony apps like their own album and Walkman apps.

I have noticed that Lollipop has slowed it down a bit and battery isn't as good though I still get a day's worth.
 
Hazard said:
I've been using my Xperia Z1 since launch and like yours, it had little bloat, just a few Sony apps like their own album and Walkman apps.

I have noticed that Lollipop has slowed it down a bit and battery isn't as good though I still get a day's worth.
Click to expand...

I had the Z1S ( Tmobile Z1 version) prior to Z3 and it was a great phone. Whatever google did with Lollipop it messed up my Z3 far more then any Sony bloatware could. Battery life has taken a major beating. Maybe it's the GoogleNow app which is constantly reloading news stories, current location, weather and etc.

My sound volume has went down tremendously...with or without earbuds. I googled around and lots of other Lollipop updaters, not exclusive to Z3 owners are reporting same issue.
 
DeadSkull said:
I had the Z1S ( Tmobile Z1 version) prior to Z3 and it was a great phone. Whatever google did with Lollipop it messed up my Z3 far more then any Sony bloatware could. Battery life has taken a major beating. Maybe it's the GoogleNow app which is constantly reloading news stories, current location, weather and etc.

My sound volume has went down tremendously...with or without earbuds. I googled around and lots of other Lollipop updaters, not exclusive to Z3 owners are reporting same issue.
Click to expand...

Really too bad that a new version of Android can mess up such great phones. Maybe I should just go back to 4.4 or something.
 
bosfordjd said:
Well honestly, ever iteration of android seems to make it more of a pita to do simple things, so stock android is not that great an experience. I definitely don't want a stupid google search bar on the home screen. And nothing was better than the news and weather app/widget of gingerbread. And being forced into the gmail interface, when the previous email interface was soo much cleaner and less "bubbly" for lack of a better term.
Click to expand...

Agreed.

Google Apps and Google Play services are the bloatware. With the exception of 1 or 2 of them, Google is making Android and the stock apps worse with every update and revision.

Performance issue? Google Apps and Google Play services
Battery Drain? Google Apps and Google Play services
Buggy/Poor UI of Stock Apps? Google
Missing/Broken Features? Google
 
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