Verizon, you need to be slapped

[UNCjigga]

The operating system is still open. You're free to make your own custom ROM. The phone itself? Well, if they want to lock the bootloader or not has nothing to do with Android as an operating system, so its outside the scope of whether or not the OS is open. Find your own way around it, and then hack Android till your little heart's content.

That said, there's nothing to stop you from downloading a widget from the market that searches google, or downloading a different browser that uses google search by default. There is still plenty of openness, even if the search button opens Bing by default.

Rationally, this is a *very* minor detail to the end user with many workarounds. As I've said in other threads, and in this one, its blown out of proportion with nerd-rage for the sake of nerd rage.

Someone else put it best...vote with your wallet. If the search button opening Bing really is the end of the world to you, buy something else. If it still sells well, what incentive does Verizon have to change?

Again, I need to stress that Verizon still offers "with Google" devices--so it's not really a Verizon issue at all, but a matter of personal preference. Droid, Droid X, Droid2 are all "with Google" devices.

I do recall one carrier (AT&T?) used to block access to non-Market apps at one point--talk about not being open!

 

[Deeko]

Again, I need to stress that Verizon still offers "with Google" devices--so it's not really a Verizon issue at all, but a matter of personal preference. Droid, Droid X, Droid2 are all "with Google" devices.

I do recall one carrier (AT&T?) used to block access to non-Market apps at one point--talk about not being open!

Luckily for the consumer, with that openness, comes many different choices. Pick the one that fits what you want. If the GG&P crowd that thinks Bing is the devil buys other products instead, and the general public agrees with them, then Verizon & Co will make different choices in the future.

I agree. Its not like they don't have the Droid 2, Droid X, and Droid Incredible available to them.

 

[Bateluer]

I do recall one carrier (AT&T?) used to block access to non-Market apps at one point--talk about not being open!

Doesn't AT&T still do this?

I agree. Its not like they don't have the Droid 2, Droid X, and Droid Incredible available to them.

So I should settle for a lesser device than the one I want? The Fascinate has its issues, but its still the most powerful phone in Verizon's line up, but if I don't want Bing, I have to downgrade to a D2, DX, or Dinc, of which, only the Dinc is worth while because it has an open bootloader. Unfortunately, it also has the slowest SoC in the entire line up . . .

The USA needs to end the practice of carrier exclusives, let the manufacturers make any phone they wish for any frequency bands they wish. We'll get some fantastic devices that way and foster a lot of competition too.

 

[Deeko]

So I should settle for a lesser device than the one I want? The Fascinate has its issues, but its still the most powerful phone in Verizon's line up, but if I don't want Bing, I have to downgrade to a D2, DX, or Dinc, of which, only the Dinc is worth while because it has an open bootloader. Unfortunately, it also has the slowest SoC in the entire line up . . .

The DroidX is almost on par with the Fascinate speed-wise, along with a bigger, higher resolution screen & what some consider the best software non-swype keyboard available. Its hardly "settling" its just different. And if you reaaally need that extra GPU power for something...like I said above, come on, the search button going to Bing until the Froyo update comes out ain't going to ruin your life.

Its a matter of preference. All of those devices offer unique advantages over the other. Pick the one that fits your needs best. I'd get the Droid 2 over any of them, myself.

The USA needs to end the practice of carrier exclusives, let the manufacturers make any phone they wish for any frequency bands they wish. We'll get some fantastic devices that way and foster a lot of competition too.

Manufacturers *can* makes phones for any band they want and sell it unlocked. Customers just don't buy them....just ask nokia.

 

[zerocool84]

Manufacturers *can* makes phones for any band they want and sell it unlocked. Customers just don't buy them....just ask nokia.

Yea cus we know Nokia is doing SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO horrible.

 

[Deeko]

Yea cus we know Nokia is doing SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO horrible.

Ehm...keep in mind the context of this discussion - smartphones in the US - where they are indeed doing poorly.

 

[Bateluer]

Ehm...keep in mind the context of this discussion - smartphones in the US - where they are indeed doing poorly.

Whats Nokia's answer to the Galaxy S, the Droid X, the Desire HD, the G2, etc?

Maybe its just that they're not making the phones people want, advertising them correctly, and selling them in the right place? If the Nexus One taught businesses one thing, its that people want to be able to physically handle a phone before they buy it. Few are willing to drop 500+ on a device sight unseen.

 

[Deeko]

Whats Nokia's answer to the Galaxy S, the Droid X, the Desire HD, the G2, etc?

Maybe its just that they're not making the phones people want, advertising them correctly, and selling them in the right place? If the Nexus One taught businesses one thing, its that people want to be able to physically handle a phone before they buy it. Few are willing to drop 500+ on a device sight unseen.

N900, N8. Nokia has admittedly fallen behind the curve a bit, but back when the N series was the best you could get (such as the N95's prime), it still didn't sell nearly as well here as it did overseas. I'm sure the lack of physical presence in stores didn't help them, but I'd imagine the average customer would still balk if they walked into a store and saw a $199 T-Mobile Dash w/ contract sitting next to a $700 N95 w/ none, even if the N95 was a far superior device.