Want an Android device w/ iPhone limitations? AT&T has it!

AT&T: The most crippled Android experience

By Taylor Wimberly on Mar 08 15

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We try to be fair to every handset, but the are some we just can’t help but make fun of. Everyone thought Verizon was going to cripple Android, but they became friends with Google and offered the full Android experience.

AT&T is in bed with Apple and has gone to extreme measures to make sure their first Android phone, the Motorola Backflip, was under-powered and locked down. We already knew about the lack of Google search and today another limitation has surfaced.

The Backflip has no option to install applications from unknown sources (aka non-Market applications). This is important to note because every Android phone (that I know of) has included this as a default option of the Android OS.

Maybe it was done to “protect” the users, but this blocks the install of apps purchased on alternative markets and beta apps like Swype. Developers will also be unable to easily load and test their apps on the device before they release them.

Basically, AT&T is offering the same locked-in market experience that iPhone users get to enjoy put up with.

To add insult to injury, customers are also not allowed to remove the dozen or so AT&T apps that come preloaded with the device (bloatware). Android phones already struggle with limited storage space and having the carrier dictate which ones are installed on a user’s phone is a disappointment.

So to recap the AT&T Backflip:

1. Outdated Android 1.5 with Motoblur
2. No Google search (replaced by Yahoo)
3. Uninstallable AT&T bloatware apps
4. Cannot install non-market apps

Let us hope that AT&T offers a more open experience on their future devices, because this is not the Android that we know and love.

• XDA-developers

Related Posts

• AT&T removes Google search from Android in favor of Yahoo
• AT&T ready to backflip for Android
• Motorola Backflip on sale now
• All U.S. Android phones to receive Android 2.1, but some will require a wipe
• AT&T Motorola Backflip will include Google’s Android applications

Tags

• android
• AT&T
• bloatware
• crippled
• fail
• featured
• motorola
• motorola backflip
• popular

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Taylor Wimberly

Taylor is the founder of Android and Me. He loves playing with all kinds of gadgets, but most importantly cell phones. His other hobbies include cooking (BBQ hero!), politics, football, and watching every MMA event possible.

via androidandme.com

Posted via web from kquade's blog