Couple things I have noticed about Android/Google, and the EVO....

[Connectz]

When the first iPhone came out, I traded in my beloved Palm Treo 650 in for the iPhone 1. LOVED it. It was like nothing I used before. I even waited in line for 11 hours to get one!

So I got the iPhone 3G and then the 3GS came out and I said i'd wait. When the iOS 3.0 update came out it bricked my wifi and Apple not only did not ever even acknowledge that this was a problem for 10's of thousands of people, maybe even hundreds of thousands, I don't know the exact number, they never offered a fix! Just go to the Apple support forums and see all the threads on it.

Then when the 4.0 update came out and really did a number on my iPhone 3G, I was REALLY pissed... My 3G iPhone REALLY became almost unusable...

Started researching the Droid and found out about the EVO by accident... I said screw you ATT and and Apple for your non-support and luckily got an EVO on my second attempt at finding one.

So far, I LOVE my EVO and and happy with Sprint service for the most part. My bill is MUCH cheaper and I get more bars in more places than ATT by far.

Now, with all that said, I really think Google could do more with their Android OS. First off, media is where Google is SERIOUSLY lacking. I'll admit, nothing is beating iPhone-iPod/iTunes combination and ease of syncing. It just works and it works EXTREMELY well.

I think Google should put some resources into a working media player that will eventually rival or eclipse iTunes. Now, I read they bought SimplifyMedia a few months ago and MAYBE they have something in store with the gingerbread update that would solve our syncing/music/media player issues but i'm not sure. I used SimplifyMedia on my iPhone while the service worked on the iPhone and it was nice but it streamed at too low a bitrate. It sounded as if it was streaming 64kbps. Hopefully Google fixes the bugs that were in the iPhone version and optimizes it for Android use. Google really needs to make this a stick app and make it GOOD.

Google also needs to standardize the video codec issues. I'm not to privy on all the specifics but I read enough on here to know that it needs work ASAP.

Google needs to also fix the problems with email and make a full "desktop" like app and make it stock while still giving choice to use the hardware manufacturers client. Gmail should work on Android just like it works on the desktop. The Apple rendition of Gmail is better than the Gmail app on the marketplace. Thats not cool! Also, the problems setting up exchange or manually setting up POP or IMAP should be fixed... Google should not drop the ball in one of their areas of expertise.

Google also needs to do something about organizing the marketplace. Its useable but it could be organized a LOT better....

With Android OS devices selling so well, Google really needs to prioritize Android's OS much higher than whatever it currently is. Its on its way to becoming the most used OS in the US and eventually the world.

Just my 2 pennys...

 

[Jahmakan]

I think many here would agree with a lot of what you said, but it's like blasphemy to speak these things against Google.

 

[Connectz]

I think many here would agree with a lot of what you said, but it's like blasphemy to speak these things against Google.

I hear you, I just don't want to see Google following in Apple's footsteps in not acknowledging and fixing problems asap. I'm a Google fan to the core and I really want to see Android do better.

 

[novarider]

The marketplace REALLY needs to be organized better.

 

[docprego]

I am certain that Google is hard at work on a media syncing and purchase app. I bet they just want to do it differently than Apple by making it cloud based. In fact isn't Gingerbread supposed to bring app cloud syncing and purchase? That would be essentially the same ideas that a media app would incorporate.

 

[thekarens]

I agree with all except the email. The email and email choices are fine as far as I'm concerned, but the rest definitely needs work.

 

[cabbie]

I think this article will be very interesting to you. It covers Google Checkout, 'Places', Games and Media.

What Games, Places, Music And News Could Mean For Google Checkout

 

[cabbie]

also, something i say to people is that android isn't a 'mature' OS yet, and won't be till gingerbread. It does need those things mentioned above and its when gingerbread (assuming this stuff is incorporated) will have finally 'arrived'.

The fact that its kicking ass and taking names without being mature is a resounding consumer vote of confidence.

 

[tomhagen]

Totally agree about Gmail being fully functional like on browser. How come it seems so wimp right now?

 

[meyerweb]

I think some of your issues can be addressed via third party apps. There are multiple media players, for both video and audio, in the market. Multiple streaming music apps, too.

I'm not sure what your email issues are. I'm pretty satisfied with the htc mail client for non google mail support, and the gmail app for gmail accounts. I can access multiple email accounts, including my corporate EAS, Yahoo, and gmail. And there are at least 3 third party apps, too.

Google is not about controlling everything like Apple is. They provide the foundation, and are going to rely on 3rd party developers for many things.

Totally agree about the market, though. It's unbelievable that the leader in search has such a lousy search capability in the market. Check out appbrain.com, though. It's an improvement over the market app, at least.

 

[ashykat]

I pretty much agree with everything except the e-mail part, works fine for me. I especially want a better music solution. I don't like having to use DoubleTwist and try out different music apps like btunes, tunewiki, etc that just aren't as good IMO. Hopefully going forward they fix these issues. It sounds like their working on it. When I originally switched from the iPhone it was because of AT&T, but after really getting used to Android there's no way I'd switch back unless they did a major overhault. I'm still a fan of Apple hardware. The iPhone 4 is pretty sexy. My DX is pretty sexy too though. The OS that could make me switch from Android would have to be WebOS. Media features are pretty good on it.

 

[Caloy]

I actually agree with the Media Player. Having a program for your computer that will easily sync media to the Evo would be a great way to win more people to the Android platform.

Can you imagine easily syncing all your playlists, music and MOVIES! Ahhh that will be the day when I can just just sync my blue-ray digital copy to my Android phone easily without ripping, and encoding it to a playable media.

 

[cabbie]

i wonder what the media 'solution' will look like. will they put their own brand on it, like google docs and google books, or release an api to sort of consolidate all these other solutions (doubletwist, et al.). Yes there are other methods but none seem to hit a homerun.

 

[aclark414]

Yeah media player is lacking. No problems with the email though. I 100% agree about the Market. The organization of it is such a disappointment. The categories are not helpful whatsoever. I would love to be able to file through a "widget" category.

 

[pwnst*r]

Media player is lacking very much and a GOOD email app is, imo, still missing. The iPhone beats the Android in those two areas, BUT, only those two. I can live with that.

 

[ThatNewAndroidGuy]

I think Google is working on something like itunes/phone syncing like Apple. Some links to look at:

Google Audio music service launching soon? (update: seems it!) -- Engadget

Google setting up music store later this year, looking for search and Android synergy -- Engadget

 

[tomhagen]

I 100% agree about the Market....I would love to be able to file through a "widget" category.

+1


Also...
If you are an intense Gmail user, you know that the Gmail app for Android right now is nothing compared to Gmail on your Computer browser.

Also, for enterprise APPs Android is totally lacking in syncing everything

 

[njbianco]

Im one of the few people that would rather drag and drop all my media onto my phone then do it iTunes style.

 

[BenChase7]

Nice post, OP

I agree with about everything you said.. I came from Palm.. the EVO is my first Android device.
You're particularly right about the Market... its almost unusable unless you know exactly what you want. I have to search around on my desktop for what I need/want.. then go to my phone and download it. It needs an overhaul.
I have been with Sprint for 10 years now.. and the price to plan value is the best out there, hands down. I have travled all over the country (as a pilot) from STL to SAN and have always been impressed with the network coverage. The coverage is outstanding where I live (PHX).
I love my EVO. Glad to hear you do, too, and your transition has been smooth.

 

[dr g]

Im one of the few people that would rather drag and drop all my media onto my phone then do it iTunes style.

Me too, but I see the point. However the options as far as video and audio formats and management styles are one of the great strengths of android. Here's hoping they don't lose all that in the shuffle.

 

[broken1i]

For those who would like a better experience with your apps, I suggest downloading appbrain app market. It shows you the hottest new&old apps, widgets, and best of all organizes your downloaded apps. It even tells you if your apps need to be updated in case you don't have it set to auto-update. It shows the order in which you downloaded your apps, (hmm what else), just give it a try.

 

[cabbie]

appbrain also has a "fast web installer" that will push downloads straight to your phone

 

[Connectz]

Me too, but I see the point. However the options as far as video and audio formats and management styles are one of the great strengths of android. Here's hoping they don't lose all that in the shuffle.

Exactly! What I was saying is they need a standardize the "baseline" but still give the user the ability to go in and configure it the way we want.

 

[nervouschimp]

Another iPhone defector here. Greetz, everyone! I am so glad I discovered appbrain, and Missing Sync... they have made the transition a mostly pleasant experience.

I recently returned my iP4, and grabbed an Evo. I really like the Evo, and although I am total android noob, I havent had any battery problems. It was decent out of the box, and now I've got 2 Seidio 3500Mah extended batteries, so I never plug in this phone. While I run on one extended battery, the other is at home on the charger. Every 2 days I just swap out the battery. It's freaking awesome.

Missing Sync copies my media from my macbook to evo over wifi automatically, as well as syncing my contacts, etc, and it's actually a better experience than the iphone in that regard. I still use itunes, and OS X address book, it's great. And again, appbrain is making me happy too.

I will not give up my macs, I still love my macbook pro and OS X, but I have switched to the mac build of google chrome after installing it to test chrome to phone. So I guess that makes me both a fandroid and apple fanboy at the same time. Don't worry, I'm not here to evangelize for apple, but I do have to wonder why there is this mentally that one must swear allegiance to one side or the other?

Anyway, so yeah, I love all this competition, and I love all the choices we have right now.

It's 6:40pm, and my battery is at 90%, on a phone with real multitasking... awesome!

Sorry, veering off topic here, but I didn't want to start a new thread just to profess my Evo love. The only 2 things I am disappointed with so far is how crappy pandora sounds on 2.2, and how crappy android handles audio books. I hope I can resolve both of these issues soon.

-NC

 

[SubaruB4]

the marketplace really needs to be organized better.

x 1,000!