Regarding the power-savings mode selection issue, that is most definitely not a part of stock Android. Google releases Android without any OEM or carrier modifications. If the OEMs/carriers decide to do something, Google is (generally) not involved.

This fragmentation issue is always presented when a flaw like this is incorrectly attributed to Google, but somehow that has nothing to do with Android? That seems like a silly thing to say. Yes, iOS suffers some problems but so does Android, as a fragmented beast that is still stuck on jelly bean as the majority version (which IMO is pretty lacking). I do look forward to Android's future though.

It's really pretty easy to avoid this by buying a Nexus branded device, though.

Agreed, but explain that to a regular consumer in the Verizon store.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that we explain anything to regular consumers in Verizon stores. The point is that an HN member should be able to understand and appreciate the fact that stock Android is very different from what most Android phones have, and that those who want stock Android should get a Nexus.

It's been part of stock Android at least since 2.0. But it's also hidden 4 layers deep within Settings (Wifi / Menu / Advanced / Keep Wifi On During Sleep / ...). Complaining about being "asked to pick" a setting when it's hidden that well is pretty disingenuous.

I'm not making this up. It was a Sony tablet with 3.x (much later there was an update for ICS). It asked me to choose a value for this during initial setup. It didn't even have a recommended setting iirc.

In any case, it's just one of many examples where I feel Android requires more maintenance than iOS. Which is perfectly great for those who want something to tweak and play with.

> In any case, it's just one of many examples where I feel Android requires more maintenance than iOS.

Once again, this is not part of stock Android, it's part of "stock Android + some modifications Sony made." There's a big difference.

That is true. Unfortunately, that's the only first-hand experience with Android I've had so far. It wasn't by choice. If I had to get an Android device, I would without a doubt try a stock Google one. I don't expect a huge difference, but it should be more pleasant.

It actually is a pretty big difference. I had a really bad first impression of Android from using early HTC stuff, but my current job is Android development so I figured I should check out the alternatives--and I still had my iPhone, so I could swap the SIM. The AT&T store sold me a Motorola Atrix HD, running either 4.0 or 4.1, and it was awful. It was ugly, Motoblur stuck a bunch of crap I didn't want everywhere...just bad. I took it back the day I got it and bought a Galaxy Nexus online, with 4.1 on it, and it was remarkably impressive; I've been using Android ever since.

I've seriously considered a Galaxy Note 2, but TouchWiz's existence offends me. :) If there was a decent stock-ish build that supported the pen I'd be all over that.

The setting may be part of stock Android, but being asked to pick one of the options is most definitely not part of stock Android.

Yeah I get that, you might like Google maps more if say you cared about the actual maps.

That'd be Bing maps then - which I use pretty much exclusively these days.

Bing is great… unless you travel. It fails for many countries. Even for major cities in China it will only show the main roads.