Key differences between phone manufacturers? [closed]

Question

How does the choice of phone manufacturer affect the Android experience?

I ask because I've got an Incredible, and it looks like almost every basic phone function happens through an HTC-specific app (Contacts, SMS, clock, weather, etc). I don't have a lot of experience on other Android phones, but I assume that this still affects the final user experience on the phone even when all hardware specs and Android version are the same. What features are unique to HTC, Motorola, et al?

:edit:

For example, I think HTC phones are the only ones with a curved bar at the bottom of the screen with the big "Phone" button in the middle, and I prefer that over the more squared off buttons I've seen on other phones. Maybe this is a moot point... could I get a Droid X and make it look and behave the same way?

Answer 1

I was comparing my HTC Desire, which has HTC Sense UI like your Incredible, to my collegue's Nexus One. The NO has a VERY different UI than my phone. I've noticed that it lacks a lot of features that these HTC specific apps have. Tbh, it's not something you could convince someone to try if they already have an Android phone as it's mainly a million small features, but put together, they make a powerful combination. I don't think standard Android is good enough on its own anymore after having tried the HTC Sense.

Most manufacturers don't have modifications from the standard Android or have simple modifications here and there. As a result, most of them are pretty similar to each other. There are rumors of another strongly modified distro of Android being developed by Facebook.

I've read that Google aren't liking that very much and plan on adding all these features manufacturers are adding into Android 3 -which if I remember correctly will be released early 2011- so that manufacturers have very little reason for making their own distros of Android to apply on their phones exclusively.

Answer 2

They all create their own "Distribution" of Android by changing the UI as well as toying around with the kernel.

This may cause some difficulties for App-Developers as many of these changes are not originally intended by Android.

I'd reccomend to buy a phone with a mainly stock Android to avoid issues with Apps.

Answer 3

those "basic" phone functions are just skinned by the carrier to look (and act) how they want it to. However there are many aftermarket apps in the Market that you can use to re-skin the phone any way you like. It's not 100% customizable, but pretty close.

Answer 4

LG (at least on the LG GT540) reskinned android 1.6 to give the slide to unlock, and two curved buttons either side of the menu button, it also allows uninstalling from the menu and categories. Afaik, they also added a bookmark and sms widget.

The phone also has two extra physical buttons for end/accept call. Finally, it has a single touch resistive screen that's very useful and doesn't detract from usability.

Answer 5

See also this post by myself.

I have used a Samsung Galaxy Tab and a HTC Desire Z - the Galaxy Tab actually appears much more feature-complete: the video player plays DivX, the music player plays mpga (unlike the HTC which cannot play DivX or mpga). The Samsung comes with a memo (notepad-type) application which the HTC does not.

I haven't compared message (SMS) apps - but the HTC Desire Z message app is almost non-functional considering it takes anywhere from 15 seconds to multiple minutes to send a message - and any attempt to return to the home screen or press the back button will abort the send. Lastly, the HTC Desire Z routinely permanently loses connection to the mobile provider requiring a reboot (unless you switch to GSM-only mode which would be of little use to anybody wanting to use mobile data).