Verizon reverting to old paterns I thought were long gone

[gwlaw99]

The Fascinate using Bing instead of google search and making all navigation functions default to VZ Navigator (can be changed to google, but it is a pain) brings back bad memories of the old days with Verizon when I had to pay 25 cents just to get a single picture off my phone.

Let's hope this behavior doesn't bleed over into the Droid line of phones. I thought the days Verizon would pull stunts like this were long gone.

 

[smacky]

You can root and get around this. If not, then yes, we're back to square one.

And I believe it was Samsung's idea to stick with Bing. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[gwlaw99]

Yea, this can be solved with a custom ROM, but just the idea of them pulling this !@#$%.

http://www.mobilemarketer.com/cms/news/search/7218.html
"“We can confirm that over the coming months, Verizon will announce the launch of new Android devices, which will be pre-loaded with Bing,” Mr. Chu said. "
http://www.mobilemarketer.com/cms/news/search/7218.html

 

[OMJ]

this does take me back to my blackberries that had gps but it was locked down and could only be used by VZ Navigator

 

[UncleMike]

Yea, this can be solved with a custom ROM, but just the idea of them pulling this !@#$%.

http://www.mobilemarketer.com/cms/news/search/7218.html
"

 

[smacky]

The Fascinate using Bing instead of google search and making all navigation functions default to VZ Navigator (can be changed to google, but it is a pain) brings back bad memories of the old days with Verizon when I had to pay 25 cents just to get a single picture off my phone.

Let's hope this behavior doesn't bleed over into the Droid line of phones. I thought the days Verizon would pull stunts like this were long gone.

After further review, you are correct.

http://www.androidguys.com/2010/09/...tm_campaign=Feed:+androidguyscom+(AndroidGuys)

That is just shitty.

 

[Thornfullessrose]

They just had to ruin it, didn't they? Dang it vzw! I would end up not getting it just because of that. Bing? VZ nav? come on dude.
I use neither one and never will.

 

[smacky]

iPhone on GayT&T, here I come!!

 

[Thornfullessrose]

lol "gayt&t"

 

[shadowdude777]

You know, if Verizon had an ounce of common sense, they would look at it this way:

"The original Motorola Droid sold more devices at launch than the iPhone in a shorter amount of time (granted it was later to the party, but still). It saved our sorry asses in the realm of smartphones, and honestly, if not for our superior reception, we would have been sunk long ago. What makes the Droid so different from every other shitty Android phone out there? Riiiiight, Google frickin Experience. Not a Google phone with a Microsoft search engine, not a Google phone with HTC Sense, not a Google phone with Motoblur, not a great Google phone hardware-wise reduced to a shell of its former self by the manufacturer who doesn't know a thing about proper UI design and the carrier that charges some very expensive nickels and dimes."

I guarantee you that if Verizon ever releases another Google Experience phone, it will be another huge hit. Verizon should realize by now that nobody wants their tampering and the only reason that they're still in the smartphone game is the only Google Experience device that they've ever sold, the Droid 1. Do you think the Droid line's launch would have been a fraction of the success that it was with just the Eris? Hell, even an Incredible introducing the line probably wouldn't have had the same degree of success.

/end rant

I thought I'd be renewing my contract with Verizon come November 6, 2011, but Sprint is looking better and better by the moment. Cheaper rates, better phones, and their lockdowns aren't as bad as Verizon's past and what now looks like their future as well. What do I care about coverage? I live in New York City, coverage is pretty much rock-solid with every carrier. But really, everyone should jump on the Droid 1 bandwagon while they're still being sold on eBay because you may not get another unrestricted device on Verizon.

 

[shadowdude777]

iPhone on GayT&T, here I come!!

I wouldn't sink that low... blocking Google Voice? AT&T will probably always be a few circles of hell lower than Verizon.

 

[Thornfullessrose]

Amen shadowdude!

 

[Optimus]

MY D1 is going to be the only Android phone I get from Verizon. These new android devices are getting less and less impressive for me. I just want stock android with great hardware.

 

[snapcase]

It really amazes me. I mean, here VZW is barely staying relevant with no real smartphones in their lineup. Then comes the Moto Droid, a complete departure from what they've done in the past. So rather than VZW realizing that they've struck upon something big, and that it could carry them further than they'd imagined, they decide to go right back to the way they proved doesn't work.

I mean seriously, Biggest success ever and their first reaction is "lets never do that again". I'm amazed at their stupidity, but I'm sadly unsurprised. I'm not sure I'll get another phone from Verizon if/when my Droid dies, and I'm not even sure I'll want another Android device unless it's an open one I can do with what I like. I love my Droid, and now more than ever, I'm glad I got it when I did.

 

[xliderider]

Don't forget the fugly red bar interface Verizon put on all their phones to make it easier for ID10T (in their thinking) average Joe shmo users to use their phones.

 

[smacky]

This new HTC slider is confirmed for VZW. The dual-band is a bonus I would love to have and no Android phone has so far. But again, it's dual-band, so that means I can run to AT&T or T-Mo if need be. I wonder what it means for CDMA networks. Sprint isn't too bad, price-wise. And if I'm on the islands soon, I can use whatever they have there, most likely a GSM carrier.

 

[gwlaw99]

Well, i've been reading articles that say verizon is being paid 500 million by Microsoft to make Bing the search engine for all android phones. I may actually have to switch to an iphone oif it comes to Verizon or to another carrier.

 

[snapcase]

Well, i've been reading articles that say verizon is being paid 500 million by Microsoft to make Bing the search engine for all android phones. I may actually have to switch to an iphone oif it comes to Verizon or to another carrier.

Nothing would surprise me. Greed ruins all good things.

One thing I am kinda surprised by, is didn't google keep any way to prevent VZW (or any other carrier) from strongarming the OS and filling it with crapware? I mean what happened to their open handset alliance? They create it then let the companies close it off just as bad as any other phone. It's bull.

 

[shadowdude777]

This new HTC slider is confirmed for VZW. The dual-band is a bonus I would love to have and no Android phone has so far. But again, it's dual-band, so that means I can run to AT&T or T-Mo if need be. I wonder what it means for CDMA networks. Sprint isn't too bad, price-wise. And if I'm on the islands soon, I can use whatever they have there, most likely a GSM carrier.

Yeah, but Sense is fugly (at least in my opinion) and you can bet it's going to have Verizon's ugly fingerprints all over it.

Nothing would surprise me. Greed ruins all good things.

One thing I am kinda surprised by, is didn't google keep any way to prevent VZW (or any other carrier) from strongarming the OS and filling it with crapware? I mean what happened to their open handset alliance? They create it then let the companies close it off just as bad as any other phone. It's bull.

No, because the only way to prevent a carrier from tampering with the OS is to make it closed-source. Even then it's possible for them to add things to a Verizon-made ROM.

 

[milrtime83]

Well, i've been reading articles that say verizon is being paid 500 million by Microsoft to make Bing the search engine for all android phones. I may actually have to switch to an iphone oif it comes to Verizon or to another carrier.

Considering that they are supposedly spending 500 million on the whole Windows Phone 7 launch, I doubt they are spending equally as much just to put Bing on a tiny fraction of Android phones.

 

[sooper_droid12]

I don't approve of what VZW is doing with the Fascinate. In fact, I think it's atrocious and I hope that it doesn't become common practice. It actually doesn't surprise me that they're doing this. It was never a question of "if," but "when." If I were to be surprised, I am surprised it took them this long to pull something like this. All this said though, Bing is not that bad. It's a different search behavior. You really have to commit to Bing to appreciate just how good it is compared to Google. It's not the fastest rising search engine for nothing. Bing is now the decision engine behind Yahoo search too! At this point, honestly, the only reason I use Google search anymore is for its scholar and book function, which I use for school. But for web, image and video searches, I use Bing and I absolutely will never go back to Google. It's that much better. Bing search bar is on my Android phone: 1) Because I like it more, 2) it's actually black instead of that gaudy silver color.

 

[Thornfullessrose]

*Hits Verizon with a rolled up newspaper*
"Bad Verizon, Bad!!!"

 

[razorclose]

One theory I've heard, and wouldn't be surprised by, is that Verizon opted to do this in order to weaken the phone, thus driving more sales for the Droid line of devices which would keep having Google at the front.

 

[publicanimal]

One theory I've heard, and wouldn't be surprised by, is that Verizon opted to do this in order to weaken the phone, thus driving more sales for the Droid line of devices which would keep having Google at the front.

Even if that was not the case, that will likely be the unintended consequence. Some suckers will buy the Fascinate, but the savvier consumers will always lean toward the more open Droid devices. As long as I am provided with an open interface, I will be happy. I've got my sights set on the soon to be announced Motorola Droid Pro (1.3 GHz processor and world phone capable). Let's cross our fingers that VZW and Motorola don't do to much tinkering with the Droid Pro and offer us our Android straight, no chaser.

 

[shadowdude777]

I don't approve of what VZW is doing with the Fascinate. In fact, I think it's atrocious and I hope that it doesn't become common practice. It actually doesn't surprise me that they're doing this. It was never a question of "if," but "when." If I were to be surprised, I am surprised it took them this long to pull something like this. All this said though, Bing is not that bad. It's a different search behavior. You really have to commit to Bing to appreciate just how good it is compared to Google. It's not the fastest rising search engine for nothing. Bing is now the decision engine behind Yahoo search too! At this point, honestly, the only reason I use Google search anymore is for its scholar and book function, which I use for school. But for web, image and video searches, I use Bing and I absolutely will never go back to Google. It's that much better. Bing search bar is on my Android phone: 1) Because I like it more, 2) it's actually black instead of that gaudy silver color.

The fact is that Google search is Google's bread and butter and they're replacing it with a search engine from a major competitor? That's just insulting. Most people buying a Google phone expect Google integration.