Tips for a long-lost android user

jennifilm@beehaw.org to Technology@beehaw.org – 95 points –

Kia ora!

I've been an ios user for 100 years at this point, but used to be deep in the android scene before then. I've just got an android for a work phone and am wondering what's changed in the last 10 years - what are your essential apps, settings, customisations? I've had a hunt around xda but can't seem to find much in the way of roms for my model (Samsung A04) - back in the day it seemed there was a thread for every device!

What do I need to know?

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On the topic of Android, am I the only one who dislikes the google pixel version of android UI?

The skin on Google pixel is actually great. I call it a skin since it has significant differences to AOSP

For me it's the notification bar with the extremely big buttons and clunky animation

I'm on a pixel 7 pro and, what? That's been the least of my annoyances on this thing. The app switcher is bonkers if you use gestures to control the phone. That's my main gripe.

Best thing is almost zero bloat apps. Depends on what you define as bloat though. When I first got my pixel 5 going it had zero AT&T apps on it. No forced facebook, or anything that I couldn't uninstall.

I wish the uninstall was actually an uninstall for some apps. Like chrome, for example, can only be "disabled" and I've had times where it randomly re-enabled itself on my pixel 6 so I occasionally have to check whether or not my phone is doing what I actually wanted it to. All in all the pixel is a pretty solid option, just the odd quirk here and there

Can you uninstall any of the google apps though?

Some yes, some no. Mostly the 'required' ones are uninstallable.

All but the most required of them can be stripped to stock and disabled though.

What is your least required "most required" app?

Files by Google is one I never use but is uninstallable.
Chrome is not uninstallable. It can be factory reset and disabled though.
Play Store can be stripped and disabled.

Ah alright, that isn't too bad

There are more apps but it's mostly the same crap they have on other phones so it doesn't feel out of place. Especially without the carrier branding and apps.

I don't like it because it has become very iPhone-like in the bad ways, meaning it takes several clicks to do simple, common tasks. I much prefer Samsung's OneUI for how easily accessible everything is.

Yes! This trend towards reducing the UI because they assume their user can't comprehend more "complex" words like "Customization", "System settings", "Advanced system settings", instead just opting to remove the settings entirely, or hide them behind categories and stupid drag menus 🤷‍♀️

I love how stock android looks but agree that it's become too iPhone like. One UI has become a great balance!