Compatibility between different vendor's Android implementations

ixoy

My understanding is that each phone manufacturer creates their own OS, on top of the Android kernel, to suit their phone's hardware and whatever UI they want to flog (and other bits'n'bobs).

However, beyond that, is there any advantage to each OS? Do all Android apps work with each vendor's Android implementation? I'm not talking about the version (Froyo vs Eclair) but if I have a Samsung Galaxy on Froyo, would I be able to avail of all the same software as a HTC Desire with Froyo? I'd have thought so, given that there's meant to be core libraries, but I get the impression from reading threads that it's otherwise.
If not, how bad are compatibility rates?

Solair

ixoy wrote: »

My understanding is that each phone manufacturer creates their own OS, on top of the Android kernel, to suit their phone's hardware and whatever UI they want to flog (and other bits'n'bobs).

However, beyond that, is there any advantage to each OS? Do all Android apps work with each vendor's Android implementation? I'm not talking about the version (Froyo vs Eclair) but if I have a Samsung Galaxy on Froyo, would I be able to avail of all the same software as a HTC Desire with Froyo? I'd have thought so, given that there's meant to be core libraries, but I get the impression from reading threads that it's otherwise.
If not, how bad are compatibility rates?

Most of the customization they do is just a GUI layer over the Android OS to make it look a little more 'unique'. You can actually download alternative GUI layers e.g. Launcher Pro, which I use on my Galaxy S. I prefer it to TouchWiz (Samsung's own system)

The main difference between phones that will impact on their ability to run certain apps is hardware i.e. screen size, processor power, lack of camera on front/back etc.

The Samsung Galaxy S compares pretty much with HTC Desire and Google Nexus One in terms of specs for screen size etc so it will run anything.

Goodshape

Yeah, they're perfectly compatible.

The manufacturer changes are mostly confined to the layout of the homescreens (known as the launcher) and a few key apps. For instance, HTC includes the HTC Sense launcher, their own Phone, Contacts, Calendar, SMS apps, etc. which will only be available to you if you buy HTC. I'm sure Samsung and others have their versions of those apps too.

Similar to how you might buy a Nokia from 3 Mobile and have a few "3 Mobile" apps pre-installed. But it's still a Nokia. You can still play Snake . If it's Android, it's still Android - the manufacturer has just pre-installed some proprietary stuff.

And those apps mentioned can be replaced with what's in the Market whatever your device. I've got a HTC Desire but don't actually use any of the HTC Sense apps. The setup I have is equally possible on a Samsung or anything else.

ixoy

Grand - that's what I thought.

So why then do people worry about a phone having a small dev community compared to the HTC? What does it matter if they can all work off a particular version of Android?

Also you mention the Market there - I thought Ireland didn't have access (without messing around)? Or can we get free apps? Is the choice of apps here severely limited or can you look elsewhere for apps?

Goodshape

ixoy wrote: »

So why then do people worry about a phone having a small dev community compared to the HTC? What does it matter if they can all work off a particular version of Android?

Wut? "HTC" doesn't have a dev community, Android does. Maybe you picked something up wrong?

Also you mention the Market there - I thought Ireland didn't have access (without messing around)? Or can we get free apps?

Yeah, we have access to the Market -- just not paid apps (without the aforementioned messing around).

Is the choice of apps here severely limited or can you look elsewhere for apps?

Perhaps not severely but it's certainly an issue. The countries that don't have access to paid apps far outweigh those that do, afair, so many developers make provisions. Eg. giving an option to buy direct from the developer website.

ixoy

Goodshape wrote: »

Wut? "HTC" doesn't have a dev community, Android does. Maybe you picked something up wrong?

It's what I got from this post here:

Lads if Samsung were as good at supporting their handsets as HTC, or if the Galaxy S had close to the same dev community as the Desire, I'd recommend it over the Desire, but it doesn't, and very far from it.

Which is what's had me confused. All I can imagine is it's talk of developing software that specifically uses some APIs for the phones? I'd have thought that market was small.

Perhaps not severely but it's certainly an issue. The countries that don't have access to paid apps far outweigh those that do, afair, so many developers make provisions. Eg. giving an option to buy direct from the developer website.

Ah so I won't have much trouble getting some decent applications for the phone then!

Keith186

I think the development community the post is referring to is for custom roms and themes. Basically they are modified OS's for a specific phone that's been rooted.

ixoy

Keith186 wrote: »

I think the development community the post is referring to is for custom roms and themes. Basically they are modified OS's for a specific phone that's been rooted.

Ah thanks. I imagine that's only a small subset of what's out there. I mean if this LauncherPro software is cross-phone compatible and it operates on some low-level tasks, then I doubt I'd be missing out on all that much.

Goodshape

oh yeah, that must be it. Custom ROMS are device specific, nevermind manufacturer specific, so that might be something worth considering if you plan on getting into that side of things. Even with a custom ROM, it's still Android.

patch

Htc users had earlier access to froyo updates.
When you read that htc was more open to custom roms, samsung had a reputation of not updating phone firmware very well.
Since the galaxy s release though, there has been a flood of unofficial updates which proved that earlier fears were unfounded.