Time for Google to step up its Android game

[ControlD]

I'll never own a iPad until it:

1) Play media files with native formats
2) Can read my eBooks locally. (ePubs, etc, without streaming them)
3) Has 2GB of Ram
4) Allow drap/drop files
5) Have MicroSD or High Storage without ridiculous prices.

Doesn't the iBooks app read ePub files? I don't have an iPad anymore but I thought I was able to read my epubs without any major problems.

 

[desura]

Yeah.

I'm coming an ipad mini 2 vs a galaxy tab s. Tab S is newer by like half a year?

Ipad Mini 2 is far superior in just about everything. Only exception is the screen. If it were ipad mini 2 vs galaxy tab pro, ipad wins in a landslide.

I don't have a problem at all with low RAM. no crashes so far.

 

[dawheat]

Since this post the 3 apps have gotten much much better. I no longer get asked to sign in for the WSJ app repeatedly. The Economist and FT apps are now superb.

Good follow-up, but odd that all 3 apps you were having problems with updated over the last month to fix those issues. I've never used those apps but any sign they might be from the same dev shop? Similiar UI?

 

[Red Storm]

Since this post the 3 apps have gotten much much better. I no longer get asked to sign in for the WSJ app repeatedly. The Economist and FT apps are now superb.

Did the apps update? Did your phone update? Would like to know what changed for you, as the thread title is (still) a bit misleading.

 

[Phynaz]

Apple pretty much stuck its head in the sand and hid from the market from 2010 to now, and they're paying for it.

Lolz. I'm sure lots of other companies would love to be "paying for it" the way Apple is. Like every Android phone manufacturer.

 

[QueBert]

Have my Android phone right now, I have a check I want to deposit in my bank. I grabbed my phone forgetting only my banks iOS app lets you take a pic of a check to deposit. While this isn't Android's fault. I have both platforms and around 50 of the "same" apps on both. The iOS ones with maybe 3 exceptions are faster, and feel more developed and polished. Android has come along way app wise I won't deny that, but it has a stupid long way to go still. It's frustrating when a developer seemingly spends about 5% of their time developing the Android version of their app and don't even support it. Apps is one area where Google's huge market lead definitely doesn't mean shit.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I think we're in for a new wave of Android apps with L and ART. But let's hope the devs aren't as slow as they were for Holo.

 

[ControlD]

I think we're in for a new wave of Android apps with L and ART. But let's hope the devs aren't as slow as they were for Holo.

I'm not holding my breath.

QueBert was right on with his assessment of the situation. I'm not sure the app devs even care.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Seems to me that you are doing thing on the watch that are easier to do on the phone then complaining that they are harder to do on the watch.

Pro tip: If you deliberately choose to do things the hard way don't complain when its harder.

It could potentially be easier, but what's the point of the watch then? It sounds like you just want to limit the watch to only mirroring notifications. I'm sure Google doesn't want to relegate Android Wear to just mirroring notifications.

Furthermore, I'm pretty sure Android Wear shouldn't just be limited to working via voice interaction. We all thought Siri was a bit overrated and TBH its not that big of a feature today because you don't have everyone just walking and talking to their phone. The watch still needs to have some decent functionality from the screen itself without having to use voice.

My point with the Starbucks thing wasn't about doing things the hard way. Its just to show that Google probably could've figured out a better way to display POIs in a list so that the user can actually choose between the options.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I'm not holding my breath.

QueBert was right on with his assessment of the situation. I'm not sure the app devs even care.

Well the good thing is Google is pushing harder. Honestly, I see the quality of Android apps similar to the quality of Android tablet apps or Google's effort in the tablet realm.

We've seen 2 or 3 "pushes" for Android tablets now with Google, Honeycomb and the Xoom. A re-push with the Nexus 7, and Nexus 10, and now again with the Nexus 9, but when are they going to get real serious with tablets? I don't know. The latest Hangouts app isn't even tablet optimized.

The good news is that things seem to be getting better and better or picking up pace faster this time around.

 

[cliftonite]

Have my Android phone right now, I have a check I want to deposit in my bank. I grabbed my phone forgetting only my banks iOS app lets you take a pic of a check to deposit. While this isn't Android's fault. I have both platforms and around 50 of the "same" apps on both. The iOS ones with maybe 3 exceptions are faster, and feel more developed and polished. Android has come along way app wise I won't deny that, but it has a stupid long way to go still. It's frustrating when a developer seemingly spends about 5% of their time developing the Android version of their app and don't even support it. Apps is one area where Google's huge market lead definitely doesn't mean shit.

Which bank is this?

 

[QueBert]

Which bank is this?

Arreowhead Credit Union, I completely understand the discrepancies between the iOS and Android version of a paid app. Developers make far more on their iOS app then their Android one, that's fine. But when it's free apps it kind of puzzles me. My banks Android app feels like it was slapped together in an hour, it's missing all sorts of features and just sucks. The iOS version is super polished and does every damn thing. And my bank's app isn't the only free one like this. I have a good number where the Android one is constantly lagging behind development wise.

 

[Dari]

Did the apps update? Did your phone update? Would like to know what changed for you, as the thread title is (still) a bit misleading.

No, my phone hasn't updated in over a year. I have no idea how to do it since AT&T refuses to update phones that are rooted. The apps are updated periodically.

Good follow-up, but odd that all 3 apps you were having problems with updated over the last month to fix those issues. I've never used those apps but any sign they might be from the same dev shop? Similiar UI?

I have no idea who the developers are. My wife is banned from playing candy crush on her phone so she installed it on my phone and tablet and, whenever I'm not using it, she uses them. When playing candy crush, sometimes you have to edit the date and time in order to get more lives. whenever that is done (for months into the future, e.g.) all the apps try to find the latest version and download them. So, yeah, they're getting updated constantly:biggrin:

I'd just like to think that the developers of these apps are reading this thread and responded.

 

[soccerballtux]

maps has been horrible since they left behind v6. I can't believe how laggy it is

 

[blankslate]

Google is improving Android.

Perhaps not as fast as the OP likes.

However, IOS has the advantage of only having to deal with a limited number of phone models whilst Android has more than that.

It's similar to the Windows versus OSX situation. Apple controls the hardware so it's very easy to tune the OS. Android supports more models and doesn't have any real control over the hardware.

As others have mentioned. Android Lollipop is bringing a new runtime that app developers will be able to take advantage off. That should narrow the performance of apps gap between IOS and Android.

As for Android itself slow and kludgy... that's more due to what different handset makers do to the Android UI and what bloatware they include on their phone.

Even Samsung's models can be made to feel very snappy. Just disable included apps that you don't use and get a launcher like Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher.
If you have a rooted phone you can disable more and clear up some storage space and/or install a more stock Android OS.

On their more recent phones slowdowns with the Android UI will be very very rare with a good alternate launcher (compared to touchwiz). Apps will still stutter and stall at times but I'm willing to accept that. It's a trade off for a more open phone OS and Google is not standing still on that issue, although as stated they aren't moving fast enough for the OP.



....

 

[cliftonite]

Arreowhead Credit Union, I completely understand the discrepancies between the iOS and Android version of a paid app. Developers make far more on their iOS app then their Android one, that's fine. But when it's free apps it kind of puzzles me. My banks Android app feels like it was slapped together in an hour, it's missing all sorts of features and just sucks. The iOS version is super polished and does every damn thing. And my bank's app isn't the only free one like this. I have a good number where the Android one is constantly lagging behind development wise.

I dunno the app looks the same to me. What is so much better about the ios version?

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/arrowhead-credit-union/id667092506?mt=8
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.arrowhead.mobile&hl=en

 

[cliftonite]

Have my Android phone right now, I have a check I want to deposit in my bank. I grabbed my phone forgetting only my banks iOS app lets you take a pic of a check to deposit. While this isn't Android's fault. I have both platforms and around 50 of the "same" apps on both. The iOS ones with maybe 3 exceptions are faster, and feel more developed and polished. Android has come along way app wise I won't deny that, but it has a stupid long way to go still. It's frustrating when a developer seemingly spends about 5% of their time developing the Android version of their app and don't even support it. Apps is one area where Google's huge market lead definitely doesn't mean shit.

Doesn't look like the ios version has mobile deposits either (says its coming soon):

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/arrowhead-credit-union/id667092506?mt=8

 

[lothar]

Have my Android phone right now, I have a check I want to deposit in my bank. I grabbed my phone forgetting only my banks iOS app lets you take a pic of a check to deposit. While this isn't Android's fault. I have both platforms and around 50 of the "same" apps on both. The iOS ones with maybe 3 exceptions are faster, and feel more developed and polished. Android has come along way app wise I won't deny that, but it has a stupid long way to go still. It's frustrating when a developer seemingly spends about 5% of their time developing the Android version of their app and don't even support it. Apps is one area where Google's huge market lead definitely doesn't mean shit.

Arreowhead Credit Union, I completely understand the discrepancies between the iOS and Android version of a paid app. Developers make far more on their iOS app then their Android one, that's fine. But when it's free apps it kind of puzzles me. My banks Android app feels like it was slapped together in an hour, it's missing all sorts of features and just sucks. The iOS version is super polished and does every damn thing. And my bank's app isn't the only free one like this. I have a good number where the Android one is constantly lagging behind development wise.

COMING SOON: Mobile Deposit!
Skip the branch and ATM—you’ll be able to deposit a check by taking a picture of it with your iOS device.

Either you're talking shit as usual, or your bootleg bank developers are incompetent.
Or both.

I checked their website as well, no mention of being able to do mobile deposits.
http://www.arrowheadcu.org/Mobile_App_341.html

 

[lothar]

Doesn't look like the ios version has mobile deposits either (says its coming soon):

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/arrowhead-credit-union/id667092506?mt=8

Mobile deposit is coming soon on both the iOS and Android versions.
Neither of them currently have it.

QueBert is just talking crap as usual.

 

[dawheat]

Mobile deposit is coming soon on both the iOS and Android versions.
Neither of them currently have it.

QueBert is just talking crap as usual.

In all fairness marketing pages aren't always kept up to date. It would not surprise me that a small US based credit union would release functionality on their iOS app before their Android app, nor do I think it's unusual for that to occur, even for larger companies.

Outside the US and maybe Japan however, it wouldn't surprise me if it was the opposite as Android is more dominant outside these markets.

One thing that still annoys me -the Android Yelp app has fewer sort/filter options than the iOS app.

 

[StarTech15]

One of the great things about Android is that it's pretty open and flexible.
One of the bad things about Android is that it's pretty open and flexible.

QFT

 

[blankslate]

Looks like some apps may get a boost from Lollipops new default runtime even with no code modification.

http://twit.cachefly.net/video/aaa/aaa0184/aaa0184_h264m_864x480_500.mp4

An app developer for tumblr talks about it starting at about 24 minutes into the video.


Application performance is getting better with 5.0


....

 

[WelshBloke]

Looks like some apps may get a boost from Lollipops new default runtime even with no code modification.

I'm almost expecting a bunch of apps to break when the new run time hits.

Its definitely one of those situations where I'll not be trying to update first, I'll let the user reports come in first.

 

[blankslate]

I'm almost expecting a bunch of apps to break when the new run time hits.

Yes, I'm thinking that this is a possibility with apps that don't require at least 4.1 to run however I would be surprised if newer apps see a decrease in performance.

The developer preview has been out so hopefully we don't see things like broken apps in Lollipop for the popular apps.


....

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

In all fairness marketing pages aren't always kept up to date. It would not surprise me that a small US based credit union would release functionality on their iOS app before their Android app, nor do I think it's unusual for that to occur, even for larger companies.

Outside the US and maybe Japan however, it wouldn't surprise me if it was the opposite as Android is more dominant outside these markets.

One thing that still annoys me -the Android Yelp app has fewer sort/filter options than the iOS app.

Protip for finding a good Yelp place is to use "most reviewed." Tends to work in places like NYC and SF which are foodie central hubs. I hate not having that option in Android.