Microsoft's Bing Joins the Android Army

The problem is that you think everything is "Us Vs them" when in reality it's not, and it never has been. Just because someone doesn't bash a corporation at every chance doesn't mean they're just parroting the company line.

Considering all corporations evil greedy bastards who are out to harm consumers whenever possible is NOT the consumer point of view.

Neither is is the Consumer point of view to say that Carrier bloatware is somehow offensive to the consumer because the reality is that it's not.

Most consumers don't give a DAMN about what comes on their phone. In fact, a lot of customers consider a pre-loaded blockbuster app to be a BONUS.

You're not a "Consumer" Jay. Posting on this site removes you from that. The average consumer knows nothing about different versions of android, or that devices don't come with Backup assistant (do you have any idea how many Droid sales I lost at launch when they found out they couldn't use backup assistant?)


Sites like these, Engadget, BGR, and the like cater to a MINORITY of users (though growing steadily). Heck, I bet over 90% of users don't even NOTICE that there's bloatware on their phone, because they're used to it and a good chunk of them EXPECT it.

Sure, you might hear more people in passing toss the word around, but if you ask them what bloatware is, will they be able to answer properly? How many of them will call Google Maps bloatware? Or Google Talk?

Most people on this site disagree with you when you complain about companies because a lot of people on this site work for or have worked for those companies. At the very least most of us are Phone Geeks. We understand that we're not average consumers. Far from it.

We're posting in a FORUM on the INTERNET about Cellphones, and not just "oh, I think this app is neat!" But we're aruing over stuff like Javascript programming speeds and which OS is more "open". Does that really sound like a conversation your typical sprint/att/verizon/tmobile customer would have?

As long as customers demand CHEAP phones from carriers in exchange for contracts, we've given up any bargaining chips we have to demand what's on the phones.

I HATE bloatware. I think it's a terrible thing to put on a device and destroys the user experience. But at the same time, I understand that until companies understand that, as consumers, we're interested in something OTHER than getting a device cheaply, not that much will change.

Companies are profit driven. Period. Any company that says otherwise is lying to you. Yes, they may have other goals (helping the earth, improving tech knowledge, etc) but it ALL hinges on remaining profitable. Until we as consumers show carriers there is a PROFIT in shipping devices stock, there is no reason for them to do so. This doesn't make them evil, this makes them profitable, which isn't evil, it makes them functional.