Samsung Amps Up Its Multi-Window Android Upgrade 229
DeviceGuru writes "New multiwindow, multitasking features in Samsung's recent Jellybean update to the Galaxy Note 10.1 have pushed the user interface of Android tablets into new territory, adding MS Windows-like capabilities that are sure to delight many users — and aggravate others. Although some observers have warned of the dangers of forking Android, Samsung's efforts to extend Android and its ecosystem can be defended as being consistent with Google's master plan for the Android system, most of which is released under ASLv2. And remember: unlike Apple, Android device makers, and the wireless carriers who offer Android smartphones to their customers, need ways to differentiate their products."
Oh, good. (Score:5, Informative)
Awesome. More shit that can cause your app work on one Android tablet and not on another. Because there wasn't enough of that already.
History rewrite time.. (Score:5, Informative)
You've got to love how having multi-window capability is being "MS Windows-like", according to the submitter. I guess we have a bit of computer history to rewrite again...
UX & Customization (Score:4, Informative)
Android device makers, and the wireless carriers who offer Android smartphones to their customers, need ways to differentiate their products.
You do that mainly with hardware and with customer service.
Then you can place own custom wallpaper and custom icons, but stupid way to do is to bake them to Android framework so user can not remove them.
The correct (and smart) way would be to do a own launcher and own icon theme for it and make it available only for your hardware.
OEM could make custom look, custom functions but should always allow easily the user to swap to vanilla Android look and functionality.
Be a good OEM, support Android and give a customer change to actually like your product and use it as they want. OEM is hardware manufacturer what should focus for hardware first and then to user experience.
Re:Man, my head is reeling (Score:3, Informative)
For what it's worth, the term you're looking for is Upper Decker.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Upper+Decker [urbandictionary.com]